The members of the Parish Council would like to thank all those families that completed the questionnaire about the village play areas. They particularly liked the children’s designs. The final total of questionnaires received was 45. The number of children and grandchildren represented by the responses was 98. This was about 10% of the number of young people under the age of 19 according to the 2001 Census. The members of the working group considered the results of the survey at a meeting in February. They noted that of the three play areas; the one with the most negative comments and possibility for expansion was at the Playfield Road Playing Fields. Therefore they will be concentrating on a plan to upgrade that area. The next task was to visit the play areas in Oxford and Abingdon that people said were excellent and they used regularly. They hoped to enlist the help of the landscape team in the Vale to produce something that would enhance the field as well as being fun to play on. A strong message that came out of the responses was that there was not enough for under 5s and teenagers. If you missed the deadline it was still possible to send your form to the Clerk. Spare forms were available in the library and from the Clerk. The working group would particularly like to hear from families with teenagers.
The Clerk reported the following potholes to Oxfordshire Highways.
- Bagley Close –damaged tarmac on the road between Nos 1 and 2 and the junction with Upper Road.
- Kennington Road-hole in road near the roundabout at the junction with Upper Road, outside Nos 52 and 128.
- The Avenue-hole in road near St Swithun’s church.
- Bagley Wood Road-hole outside No 9.
- Meadow View Road-hole in pavement outside No 49.
She had been told that the request for the completion of the work at Poplar Grove would be considered for the 2008/9 financial year. Verges in St Swithun’s Road, which had been damaged by vehicles when it was used as the bus route, had been levelled and spread with new soil. A large pothole in St. Swithun’s Road had been repaired.
It was agreed to do a survey of the street furniture in the village to see if there were any items that could be removed to make the streets less cluttered. The Clerk prepared a check sheet for each councillor to record their findings. They would also report any faded or missing street signs so they could be renewed by the Vale.
A County Council officer met the Clerk near St. Swithun’s School and she showed him where the Parish Council would like to plant shrubs to prevent parking. If the County Council agreed to a planting licence he would suggest suitable plants.
