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August 2008 Community Activities
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This month has proved to be busier than expected. Whilst Cherwell District Council (CDC) activities have been minor because of the holiday season and only Cropredy PC had a meeting in August, there has still been much to do. Fairport / Cropredy Convention happened over the weekend 7/10 August. The crowd was less than 2007 and traffic was better controlled and marshalled as a result. The festival organisers were well prepared although the wet conditions on Saturday did create problems for departing visitors. Problems identified and reported to the organisers were mainly concerned with traffic congestion in and around Cropredy / non compliance with parking restrictions / insufficient lighting on Williamscot Road / ineffective police presence. These and other considerations will be reviewed with the festival organisers in due course as a basis for improvements for 2009. I have agreed a timetable with Gareth Williams for the review process and
discussion with community interested parties. Mr and Mrs Rolphs retirement from the Cropredy Post Office arrived quicker than many people expected. This followed the PO review process for Oxfordshire which was announced in March. Mr and Mrs O'Hara from Bridge Stores have decided to apply for the PO service which will operate from The Spar shop. I have supported them with the accompanying paperwork and the application / business plan documentation has been submitted. There will be a quiet period now until the PO have considered matters and it seems likely that the new service will not commence at the soonest until October. I have also been in regular contact with Geoff Amos Coaches. The decision to postpone the new bus service route to Banbury / Rugby through Cropredy and The Bourtons came as a surprise but I remain confident the service will commence before the end of the year. I know many residents have been patiently
waiting for services to start and the delay has created some anxiety within the community. I am keeping the Parish Councils informed of developmentsa and working also with the others to see whether an improved service can also be arranged as part of the local transport review currently underway by OCC. Resident contacts have mainly been concerned with a Claydon based commercial site (Portaloos) for which planning approval will be needed for the change of use from agricultural. CDC Planning Committee are to consider matters on 28th.August and I have received several e-mails and phone calls in support of refusal along with the many already sent to CDC setting out the local issues. I have been instrumental in arranging for the application to be referred to the Planning Committee to ensure matters are fully explored and reviewed before a decision is made. 26th.August 2008
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