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1
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Leave things as
they are. No change needed.
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2
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I was surprised to
find that my Parish Council had proposed to eject Long Furlong Road
where I live from the parish, while conducting a land grab on the,
presumably more affluent, Boars Hill. I was even more surprised to
first learn of this by reading a supporting document to this
consultation and not from the Parish Council itself. It makes
something of a mockery of representative democracy if the body
elected doesn’t see the necessity of consulting residents
affected by a proposal on their opinions. I am glad that no changes
to the boundary affecting Long Furlong Rd are proposed in the final
plan but I will be making my displeasure to my Parish
Councillors.
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3
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Decisions by the
Parish Councils have been made on the basis of the Parishes that
currently stand, including the made Neighbourhood Plan of Wootton
and St Helen's Without and the Community Centre refurbishment.
Changes to the boundary would result in additional cost not only to
the tax payers of Wootton but to all residents of the parishes.
Furthermore, the delineation would separate Wootton Village and
Boars Hill, which share the same "Boars Hill" postal address and
postcode fragmenting a currently united village. The change as
proposed by Sunningwell only takes into account a small area of
Boars Hill notably along the Ridgeway and not those houses which
are on the slopes above Wootton Village. Additionally, it separates
long standing partnerships of the Cricket Club and the Church which
currently unite the villages. The link between Boars Hill and
Sunningwell is at best tenuous.
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4
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I strongly support
the no change proposal. The parish council serves the communities
of Wootton and Boars Hill well and is best placed to continue to do
so.
Geographically, the communities of Wootton and Boars Hill are
closely linked and should remain so.
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5
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As chair of the
Wootton and Dry Sandford Community Centre I am strongly against the
change of the parish boundary. It will have a detrimental effect on
the community centre's management plan as Wootton PC will have far
less money available for grants.
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6
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There is no
discernable reason to change the parish boundaries as they
currently make sensible lines between parishes. Cumnor's
neighbourhood plan provides and accounts for the properties
affected and ensures a proper overview from the local parish.
Historically Chilswell has been one of the small hamlets, along
with nearby Henwood, that fall within the parish. The original
Parish boundary was established to reflect the land ownership of
four tithings - with Chiswell being part of one of those. An
extract from the Cumnor Neighbourhood Plan shows the importance of
the area to the Parish. There are 3 contiguous and overlapping
designated Important Views within the Parish that span - and
originate at Chilswell. A fourth important view (number 4 Beacon
Hill) has the section of the Parish under discussion in its
foreground. The Chiswell part of the Parish under discussion is
part of a wider specific area of local character – Local
Character Assessment 14 (LCA 14) – along with the Hurst SSSI
and Beacon Hill. As such it shares geology, landscape, ancient
woodlands, form and function with a wider area of the Parish. LCA
14 is crossed by the Oxford Greenbelt Way and by public footpaths
known locally as the ‘Chilswell Paths’.
The properties of Boars Hill in Wootton use the Wootton amenity
directly and as such should remain in Wootton.
This feels like it would be a total waste of public funds during an
economic crisis to consider changing a parish boundary for no real
positive outcome.
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7
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The residents of
Boars Hill already enjoy the benefits of existing facilities, and
will no doubt wish to continue to use them, I see no benefit to
these proposed changes only a continued cost which the residents of
Boars Hill by submitting this proposed change, wish to
avoid!
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8
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This is not a
practical way to start putting additional work load onto these
parishes. The existing boundary have worked for a number of years,
if Boars Hill residences Require this change then I would suggest
they contact the Said parishes directly and not leave it to others
to guess at their requirements.
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9
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I believe that the
current boundary has served well for the last forty plus years and
see no need to change. The financial implications for the parish
could be very costly. Geographically speaking, I can see Boars Hill
from my house and can walk there in under twenty minutes, surely it
should remain.
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10
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Boars Hill
residents will still use the amenities in Wootton and so should
have to pay towards them.
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11
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I do not believe
it is in the interest of the people living in the parish to make
any changes to the boundary.
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12
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I strongly support
the proposal to make no change to the boundary between Sunningwell
Parish and Wootton as I was concerned that our Parish Council
couldn't manage any more responsibility than they currently have
but also would have a negative impact on the diverse communities of
Sunningwell, Bayworth and parts of Boars Hill.
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13
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It would be to the
detriment of the residents of Wootton if the parishes were split
and the boundaries changed in terms of funding etc. the boundaries
and parishes should remain unchanged
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14
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The residents of
Boars Hill and the Boars Hill Association have not attended or are
represented on the Parish Council (there are two vacanbcies.) I
believe they state that their views are not correctly considered by
the Parish Council yet have taken no action to make these known to
Parish Councillors. Two residents on Boars Hill are Sunningwell
Parsh Councillors - why are they not fulfilling that role on the
Wootton and Dry Sandford Parish Council? Surely the answer is to
take part or attend PC meetings. The Boars Hill residents can and
do make full use of the W&DS village hall yet now want to opt
out of the continued funding of that facility but no doubt still
wish to use the village hall.
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15
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Cumnor Parish
Council has submitted a response to the consultation and is pleased
to note that officers are recommending no changes to the
boundary.
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16
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Boars Hill has
always been part of Wootton and I believe it would be divisive to
move the boundary.
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17
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The boundaries
work well as they are and I don’t see benefits to the broader
community to changing it. Those residents would still be making use
of facilities and services supported by the parish council so
moving the boundary seems impractical and unfair.
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18
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It would seem that
the wealthy residents of boars hill want to have their cake and eat
it. They want to spend the money given just on themselves without
having to contribute to the services that they all use as these,
under the current proposal would remain the responsibility of
Wootton parish to pay for. If this was allowed to happen it would
be a travesty of the richest residents taking as much as they can
for themselves and the poorer residents having to pay for all the
services that richest will still want to use, such as the shops,
the Schools, the sports grounds, the playgrounds, the allotments,
the community centre and the churches. This can not be allowed to
happen.
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19
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This questionnaire
appears to be worded in a confusing manner.. is this deliberate or
incompetence?
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20
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This does seem
like a sledgehammer to crack a nut approach and a waste of
councillors' time.An apparent petty squabble that has escalated
into a referendumm on a boundary change which would be clearly
unfair for Wootton residents and create innumerable predictable and
unforeseen administrative problems for no obvious benefit.
We need to work together not become more tribal!
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21
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This is a very
cynical move by Sunningwell Parish Council to attempt to annex only
the high value properties within a neighbouring parish to boost
council tax revenue but provide no additional services. Almost the
entirety of the area proposed to be annexed contains private roads
and drives, meaning the additional maintenance burden on the parish
council would be negligible, whereas the additional council tax
revenue would be substantial. The Sunningwell parish council
already has significant question marks over its constitutional
conduct and transparency of grant allocations from parish funds.
There are many disgruntled residents within Sunningwell parish, so
perhaps the council there will be better served by representing the
constituents they already have and getting their house in order,
instead of trying to grow the parish
Many residents of Boars Hill make regular use of the facilities in
Wootton parish, including the Community Centre, Church, School,
recreation areas and nature reserves. There are many rights of way
linking Wootton to Boars Hill, such that passing between these two
areas feels natural and unperturbed. Conversely, the only way to
reach Sunningwell parish involves crossing the busy Fox Lane road,
and the natural landscape clearly divides the two parishes
currently. The proposed new boundary bears no relation to the
landscape and may as well have been drawn on a property website
with the search criteria set to '£1 million +'.
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22
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Make no changes or
we will have to move house from here
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23
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It was very
difficult to understand the full picture behind the proposed
changes. I mean concrete reasons. I contacted BHA for clarification
on Boars Hill concrete issues they were concerned about, but got no
sensible answer which is why I’m voting for no change to
proposal.
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24
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bOARS hILL
RESIDENTS ARE MAKING FULL USE OF THE FACILITIES WITHIN wOOTTON
vILLAGE.
Boars Hill residents are making full use of the facilities within
Wootton Village.
Many of these facilities are not replicated in
Sunningwell.....hence Boars Hill residents will continue to avail
themselves of the amenities/facilities within Wootton but take no
responsibility for any of the costs of running such facilities. It
seems patently unfair.
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25
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It has been a
long-term desire held by many Boars Hill residents that we should
be united under one parish. It is absurd to be part of Wootton
parish as several parts of Boars Hill are actually in both Wootton
and Sunningwell parishes - in Lincombe Lane, for example, although
all of the lane is much closer to Sunningwell.
Sunningwell Parish Council actively encourages the participation of
their Boars Hill residents who play a full role in Sunningwell
matters.
All of Boars Hill has more in common with and a stronger identity
with Sunningwell than with Wootton as Boars Hill and Sunningwell
have a history of being primarily “agricultural and
residential” in contrast to simply “residential”
as official post code descriptions of Wootton state.
A clear majority (two thirds) of those Boars Hill residents who
would be affected want to be in Sunningwell parish. This is a clear
democratic majority and their wishes should be respected.
Changing the name from “Wootton” to “Wootton and
Boars Hill” would be a nonsense as half of Boars Hill is
already in Sunningwell Parish, as also noted above. So this must
not be allowed to happen. Boars Hill makes up only a very small
percentage of Wootton. Wootton parish has three times the
population of Sunningwell and, even after the requested changes,
would remain substantially larger even excluding their expected new
housing developments.
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26
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N/A
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27
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no
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28
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This is a badly
worded proposal. I strongly oppose the proposal.
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29
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I live in Boars
Hill and it has much more to do with Sunningwell than Wootton. The
council of Wootton does nothing to support Boars Hill.
Sunningwell has agricultural roots as does Boars Hill unlike
Wootton which is residential only.
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30
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I strongly oppose
the above proposal because Boars Hill derives no benefit from being
in the Wootton and Cumnor parish. Historically any requests from
Boars Hill residents have been totally ignored by the Wootton and
Cumnor parish council and Boars Hill is purely viewed as an
important “cash cow” for this council.
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31
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As a resident on
Boars Hill for over 80 years I know the vast majority feel drawn to
the parish of Sunningwell. We do not want to in Wooton Boars Hill
and are already part of the Sunningwell community with the chruch
and parish council which does such good work for our area. It would
be much better to unite the community on Boars Hill with
Sunningwell and support the local church and council.
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32
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I fully support
the comments made by Wootton PC in opposing this change of
boundary.
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33
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1 The natural
community boundary of Boars Hill is easily definable and should
clearly all be within the Parish of Sunningwell
2. The views of those of the residents of Boars Hill, whose houses
are currently within Wootton Parish, have been extensively
canvassed, with the rest that there was/is a two thirds majority in
favour of changing the boundaries to incorporate the Wotton part
within Sunningwell.
3. It is not acceptable for Wootton residents outside Boars Hill or
the administrators working for the Vale to ignore and proceed
against the wishes of this clear majority.
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34
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As a resident
currently under Wootton PC I have been very concerned and
disappointed about antagonistic perceptions of parish councillors
to matters important to Bars Hill residents. I prefer to be
resident under Sunningwell PC on the basis that the PC is more
aligned to a countryside persona, similar to Boars Hill.
Sunningwell Parish is much small than Wootton parish and welcomes
and takes notice of Boars Hill resident concerns.
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35
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These proposals
ignore the majority support for the original petition.
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36
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It has been a
long-term desire held by many Boars Hill residents that we should
be united under one parish.
Boars Hill concerns have long been ignored by Wootton Parish
Council and over the last decade or more at least three Boars Hill
residents who have joined the Wootton Parish Council as members
have resigned within months (and in one case weeks) because of how
they were treated by other council members. In contrast,
Sunningwell Parish Council actively encourages the participation of
their Boars Hill residents who play a full role Sunningwell
matters.
All of Boars Hill has more in common and a stronger identity with
Sunningwell than with Wootton as Boars Hill and Sunningwell have a
history of being primarily “agricultural and
residential” rather than simply “residential” as
official post code descriptions of Wootton state.
A large majority (two thirds) of those Boars Hill residents who
would be affected want to be in Sunningwell parish. This is a clear
democratic majority and their wishes should be
respected.
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37
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As a resident of
Boars Hill I would like the area to be unified under the parish of
Sunningwell.
Your survey does not offer this.
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38
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One of the main
complaints Boars Hill residents have about being part of Wootton
Parish is that our opinions on many matters were completely ignored
and now you have done it again by not including in the choices
available exactly what we are asking for, to become part of
Sunningwell Parish.
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39
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I signed a
petition as to this which appears to have been completely ignored.
See below.
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40
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I do not support
either of the two proposals. We, as residents in Boars hill, have
express our strong support for a change of the boundaries to
include the WHOLE OF BOARS HILL in the parish of Sunningwall. You
are procrastinating and refusing to accept our democratic right to
change. Your proposal to change the name of the parish is not only
ridiculous but naive in the extreme.
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41
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Boats hill is
currently split between two parishes which is not ideal. Boars hill
fits better in Sunningwell, and the majority of affected boars hill
residents have already indicated that they would like to join
Sunningwell.
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42
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A large majority
(two thirds) of those Boars Hill residents who would be
affected want to be in Sunningwell parish. This is a clear
democratic
majority and their wishes should be respected.
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43
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The clear desire
of Boars Hill residents is to combine their area with Sunningwell,
with whom we have far more issues in common than with Cumnor of
Wootton. We have carried out extensive consultation and a vote to
this effect. We are puzzled, if not vexed, as to why this option is
not included in the current proposals. The process now suggested
appears wasteful and anti-democratic by ignoring clearly stated
wishes of residents.
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44
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Strongly oppose
this proposal as want to be part of sunningwell.
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45
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Very confused by
this as boars hill residents have already voted to become part of
sunningwell parish council. Wootton parish does not seem to take
any of the boars hill residents views into account. Boars hill
already has a strong relationship with Sunningwell.
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46
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As a Boars Hill
resident of many years I have seen a great change in the
demographic of Wootton which has moved it further away from the
demographic of Boars Hill. In short they share no common factors.
Sunningwell in both structure and atmosphere is in tune with and
complementary to that of Boars Hill . Wootton shares none of these
factors. It would be a travesty and inaccurate to refer to the area
as Wootton and Boars Hill since a large part of Boars Hill is
already in the Sunningwell parish . Most Importantly the survey
conducted on Boars Hill gave a clear majority for linking it with
Sunningwell and not Wootton and this democratic vote seems to have
been ignored.
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47
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Boars Hill has
more in common in character with Sunningwell rather than Wootton.
As a resident of Boars Hill I would strongly support changing the
boundaries to incorporate the whole of Boars Hill into Sunningwell
parish.
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*48*
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Refer to the
petition of residents given to you which has already exposed this
view
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49
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The Vale of White
Horse DC should become part of a unitary authority within a new
Oxfordshire Council.
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50
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The survey of
those in Boar’s Hill was in favour of moving the boundary so
that is the democratic result
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51
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We have already
voted to change so you have no right to try to overturn the
decision
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52
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Appears to be
trying to thwart the clearly expressed wishes of the residents
living in western Boars Hill, where as two thirds of the total
asked to join Sunningwell Parish. It is important to note that the
parish boundary legislation actually says that "The views of local
communities and inhabitants are of central importance."
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53
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I am astonished
that The Vale of the White Horse can completely disregard the
wishes of the majority of people on Boars Hill who would like to be
united as one parish, that is, Sunningwell. This is not even
mentioned as an alternative. The Vale should be mindful of the
wishes of its residents. To be frank, the fact that this wish is
not even included, is suspicious to say the least. It hints at
worst of collusion and self interest amongst some powerful
parishes, at best, a don’t give a damn attitude towards most
people who live on Boars Hill.
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54
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The views from the
Boars Hill Association are very relevent. I would suggest you
listen to what they say
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55
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Boars Hill should
be in the parish of Sunningwell, not Wootto, as requested by the
majority of Boars Hill Residents.
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56
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It seems to me
that the majority view after the initial consultation is not served
by either of proposed alternatives!
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57
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No
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58
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Boars Hill
residents request that the whole of Boars Hill should be in
Sunningwell Parish. We want to be united and have a voice in local
matters.
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59
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I am am a resident
in Lincombe Lane and have lived on Boars Hill for 44 years. At
present the boundary runs down Lincombe Lane so that the majority
of the Lane are in Sunningwell Parish and the remaining 10 houses,
one of which is mine, are in Wootton Parish.
This is a complete anomaly. I feel much more affinity with
Sunningwell, geographically closer and my husband is buried in
Sunningwell churlchyard. I really would welcome this opportunity to
join the Sunningwell Parish, where I feel Boars Hill properly
belongs.
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60
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Boars hill should
be in one parish, and it fits better with Sunningwell. Wootton has
no interest in us.
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61
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Why is anyone
voting on this who does not live on boars hill.
This should be a democratic vote only for boars hill
residents.
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62
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Given Cumnor
Parish has a strong and robust Neighbourhood Plan in place with
significant community support,the boundary for Cumnor should stay
the same with no changes.
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63
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Boars Hill exists
and has existed for many years as a community and its current
artificial division into two parts given to Sunningwell and to
Wootton parishes makes no sense. The community has an active
Residents' Association and a strong identity and both would be
served by joining the two parts into the same parish. I believe
that this parish should be Sunningwell.
Moreover, I understand that during a recent consultation process
with the residents of Boars Hill, a considerable majority voted to
unite our community under one parish, namely Sunningwell. A very
small number of residents voted to keep the status quo.
We now have a golden opportunity to unite the area of Boars Hill
under one parish and to do nothing makes no sense.
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64
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Only a small part
of the area which it was proposed should be moved have any
connection with Sunningwell. Insofar as Boars Hill residents on
this side of Boars Hill have any contact with other immediately
local areas it is with the shops, dentist and the Community Centre
in Wootton and the Church and primary school in Old Wootton
Village. The only time most Boars Hill residents go to Sunningwell
is to visit The Flowing Well for a drink or meal or in the past the
Boars Hill Garden Club used the Sunningwell School of Art for its
meetings but currently they meet on line. Those Boars Hill post
code residents who are currently included in Cumnor Parish Council
have even less contact with Sunningwell.
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65
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I am a resident of
Boars Hill. I am aware that there was a recent Parish Boundary
petition, which residents living in the Wootton and Cumnor parts of
Boars Hill were invited to sign six months ago. It requested that
the parish boundaries on Boars Hill be amended to include all of
Boars Hill into a single parish, specifically into ***Sunningwell
Parish***. Two thirds of residents living in the Wootton and Cumnor
parts of Boars Hill signed the petition requesting the change. This
is the change I would support, not least since Boars Hill is closer
to and has a more obvious kinship with the rural parish of
Sunningwell. I am also concerned that the voice of Boars Hill
residents would be lost if we were to be combined into a parish
with Wootton.
I understand that there has not been a positive relationship
between Boars Hill members of the Wootton parish council; this
contrasts with the excellent relationship between Boars Hill
residents and Sunningwell parish council.
Changing the Wootton parish name from “Wootton” to
“Wootton and Boars Hill” is a nonsense as half of Boars
Hill is already in Sunningwell.
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66
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I am a Boars Hill
resident and currently reside in Sunningwell Parish. I do not wish
to be moved into Woottoon or Cumnor parishes. Sunningwell parish
has a strong connection with Boars Hill residents and is supportive
of us. It is nearest to us; it has much more in common with Boars
Hill as it is essentially a rural/agricultural community. The same
cannot be said of Wootton or Cumnor; in addition, the larger
numbers of people in these areas would reduce the voice of Boars
Hill residents in matters which affect specifically us and
Sunningwell parish. I am opposed to this illogical and undesirable
redrawing of Parish boundaries.
I would also point out that there has been a previous petition in
which the majority of Boars Hill residents expressed a desire to be
united in a singe parish - with SUNNINGWELL, and not with
Wootton.
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67
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Many residents of
Boars Hill proper (ie those who actually live on the Hill and not
those who just have Boars Hill in their postal address), have long
had the desire to be part of a single parish. As a community with a
strong community spirit fostered by the Boars Hill Association we
feel we have more in common and a closer identity with Sunningwell,
rather than Wootton, which like Boars Hill, is a semirural
community.
In addition, we have been appalled at the way Wootton PC has
responded to our concerns over the last couple of decades,
particularly recently with reference to the planning application
for Foxcombe Hall, and there is a feeling of resentment and lack of
trust towards WPC. Whilst WPC claims to welcome residents of Boars
Hill on to the council, there has been a history of rudeness and
disrespect towards Boars Hill council members resulting in their
resignations within months. Quite frankly, we are fed up with it.
Although there may be a new chairman of WPC, these issues have been
going on for decades and many of the most disrespectful are still
on the council. Unfortunately over time, the culture of WPC has
been one of negativity towards Boars Hill residents.
Geographically it makes more sense for all Boars Hill residences
(actually on the Hill) to be in one parish and not split over three
ie Sunningwell, Wootton and Cumnor.
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68
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There is a moral
duty to keep them as they are. I believe that, in the proposed plan
as well as on the maps, there has been a deliberate attempt to
confusticate and distract. Ideologies such as environment, ethic
miniaturise and housing have been used as a red herring to disguise
the fact that the Boars hill community are keen to only financially
contribute to themselves and the similarly affluent village of
Sunningwell, etc….
Further, the maps are not as clear as they might be. They are
framed differently so they cannot be compared and in such a way as
to ‘hide’ the joining together with Sunningwell.
I would expect more than what I consider an underhanded offering of
information.
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69
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66% of the
population who will be affected ie all those living on Boars Hill
itself in the Wootton and Cumnor parishes want to be part of
Sunningwell Parish. That is a very clear majority. Also we
absolutely do not want Wootton parish to be called Wootton and
Boars Hill parish. Half of Boars Hill houses are in Sunningwell so
this change would be disastrous and confusing and add
complications. It is clear that the council does not understand the
issues and should inform themselves of the real facts before making
any such untenable decisions.
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70
|
I strongly support
the proposal to make no change to the boundary. Firstly Boars Hill
extends into the majority of Wootton Parish and to suggest that the
boundary change will encompass 'all of Boars Hill' is completely
wrong. Water leaving the Hill doesn't stop at the boundary! There
are houses on the same contour as Old Boars Hill and to suggest
they are not on the Hill is nonsense. My address is Wootton
Village, Boars Hill and this extends throughout of Wootton Parish!
It can be argued that Boars Hill extends to Dry Sandford. The
proposal to change the boundary appears to be driven entirely by
the affluent members of the Boars Hill Residents Association (BHRA)
who also dominate Sunningwell Parish Council. The BHRA does not
represent all of the residents of Boars Hill and I can confirm I
was not consulted on this proposed change. The BHRA are
fundamentally a social club for affluent members with big houses. I
am concerned that the proposal to change the boundary has been
driven by BHRA whose members, who are predominately white, rich and
elderly object to new residents at the old Open University site and
social & affordable housing in Wootton. I am concerned that the
proposed boundary change has underlying social segregation reasons
driven by class and affluence that can't be written down. The
proposed boundary change would remove land owed by the Oxford
Preservation Trust from Wootton Parish. This includes Elizabeth
Daryush garden & house that was donated to the Trust. Elizabeth
Daryush is a famous poet and is buried in Wootton St Peters Church
in Wootton Parish.
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71
|
Badly worded
statement.
I propose that boars hill should form part of Sunningwell parish
NOT Wootton.
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72
|
Boars Hill
residents use Wootton facilities, not Sunningwell's. Therefore it
is only fair that Wootton should receive the correct
remuneration.
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73
|
I am a resident of
Boars Hill and strongly oppose the the proposal to make no change
to the boundary. We have the opportunity to have the whole of Boars
Hill in one parish instead of being split which would make us a
more cohesive community.
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74
|
Many parts of
Boars Hill are close to Sunningwell and feel part of Sunningwell
but are stuck in Wootton parish which is openly hostile to Boars
Hill residents.
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75
|
It would make
entire sense to have the whole of Boars Hill within one parish.
That parish should clearly be Sunningwell, which will still leave
Wootton as a larger parish. The balancing of numbers is
logical.
It has never made sense for an obviously homogeneous area to be
divided into two/three
Parishes.
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|
76
|
For some odd
reason, your questions have very conveniently sidestepped the
boundary change proposal signed by me some six months or more ago
proposing Sunningwell and "Boars Hill" boundary changes
|
|
77
|
Please make no
changes to the boundaries
|
|
78
|
No.
|
|
79
|
I believe strongly
that all of Boars Hill should be incorporated into Sunningwell
Parish and that the current bifurcation of Boars Hill is
undesirable and does not reflect neither the wishes of residents of
Boars Hill or treat the area as the natural single entity it
is
|
|
80
|
I am a resident of
Boars Hill. It was demonstrated by the results of the parish
boundary petition which residents living in the Wootton and Cumnor
parts of Boars Hill were invited to sign six months ago that a
large majority (two thirds) of those Boars Hill residents who would
be affected want to be in Sunningwell parish. This is a clear
democratic majority and their wishes should be
respected.
|
|
81
|
The majority of
the relevant Boars Hill residents wish to be part of Sunningwell
Parish. please do not ignore democracy. Neither proposal has merit
or is the wish of the Boars Hill residents including my
family.
|
|
82
|
Boars hill is
split between two parishes, makes more sense to be united in one
parish and Sunningwell is more aligned with Boars Hill residents
requirements.
|
|
83
|
I believe that all
of Boars Hill should be part of Sunningwell Parish, as does the
vast majority of Boars Hill residents. Boars Hill has a natural fit
with Sunningwell given its rural nature. There should be no split
between different parishes for Boars Hill.
|
|
84
|
If it isn’t
broke, don’t fix it.
|
|
85
|
Why would we wish
to change the parish boundaries????
|
|
86
|
I have lived on
Boars Hill for 44 years and am resident in Lincombe Lane. At
present the boundary runs down Lincombe Lane, cutting off 12
properties (including mine) from the rest of our neighbours in the
Lane - this is a complete anomaly. I feel strong affinity with
Sunningwell, my husband is buried in Sunningwell churchyard, and I
would very much like to join the rest of my friends and neighbours
in Sunningwell Parish. (See Natural Communities, point 77
above.)
|
|
87
|
Boars Hill and
Sunningwell PCs should be united on the grounds of common interest
leading to effective democracy.
|
|
88
|
Boars Hill has
always had a link with Sunningwell They share the same topography.
They have a similar lay out of a mainly ribbon development and both
give the onlooker and occupants a feel of being in a village.
Wootton evokes none of these feelings. It’s large in
comparison, has a parade of shops and an extensive new population
in new estates.
|
|
89
|
It is not clear
that there is any advantage in making any changes. In the absence
of that it makes sense to leave the boundary as it is for
now.
|
|
90
|
Boars Hill
residence like to be above the rest
|
|
91
|
Two thirds of
residents living in the Wootton part of Boars Hill signed the
petition requesting the change of parish boundary, specifically to
include all of Boars Hill into Sunningwell Parish.
STRONGLY OPPOSE your proposal to make No change to the
boundary.
|
|
92
|
To speak in a
positive sense, I strongly support the proposal to change the
boundary of the parishes. The people of Boars Hill want it, as
evidenced by the recent petition. The people of Boars Hill are one
community with a distinct character and sphere of interest; as is
also the separate case in Wootton and Dry Sandford. It is far more
appropriate that all of Boars Hill is included in Sunningwell
Parish because both are rural villages, whereas Wootton is
essentially urban at its heart.
Further evidence of the association with Sunningwell is the fact
that Sunningwell fully supported the important local matter of the
PHBS expansion and change of use in the Greenbelt, to the extent of
a £5K contribution to consultant's fees. Conversely, Wootton
was initially not helpful in representing residents opinions and
only at the last opportunity became slightly more helpful. Wootton
charges the Ukraine group for using their Hall; Sunningwell offered
free use. I do not complain about this; simply present the facts as
evidence of different interests of Wootton compared to Boars Hill's
community. Residents of Boars Hill would rather be part of the
supportive Sunningwell Parish, as residents and representing their
views.
(BTW: The 'Request for Feedback' is badly framed as a double
negative. This will be confusing for some. The question should have
read "Do you support a change of boundary as proposed". Less words
and no confusion.)
|
|
93
|
I think Boars Hill
should be part of Sunningwell; both are rural villages.
|
|
94
|
Many people on
Boars Hill are affiliated with Sunningwell, going to the Church in
Sunningwell and attending social events in Sunningwell. We don't
have that connection with Wootton. We can walk to Sunningwell
safely. We cannot walk to Wootton safely due to lack if road paths.
We have friends in Sunningwell. We know no-one in
Wootton.
|
|
95
|
Boars Hill
residents overwhelmingly wish to be part of Sunningwell parish, and
have no connection with wootton parish.
|
|
96
|
I attend St Peters
Church and have a Boars Hill postcode. The church has historically
(for centuries) been the church serving a good part of Boars Hill
and the ecclesiastical parish boundaries reflect this. It would be
wrong to separate Boars Hill from the historic links with Wootton
Village.
|
|
97
|
I strongly support
the proposal not to make the change to the boundary. Both the WPC
and the surrounding parishes (with the exception of Sunningwell
obviously) are unanimous in the support for NOT making any changes.
Aside from the huge administrative work to change everything WPC
does - remember we are all volunteers - there are financial,
social, and historical reasons to keep the boundaries as is.
In addition it is crucial to note that the joint Neighbourhood Plan
that links our two Parishes, another reason for leaving the Parish
Boundary as it is. After all the hard work (and canvassing the
views of the residents of both Parishes) that went into producing
that plan I do not think any boundary changes would be beneficial
or should be allowed.
Finally it’s important to note that fairness plays an
important role in not making any boundary change. The residents of
Boars Hill have always made full use of the Wootton and Dry
Sandford Community Centre and belong to many of the societies that
enjoy its facilities.
As Sunningwell Parish has no equivalent Community Centre, the Boars
Hill residents will continue to do use WADSCC, just as they will
continue to use the other amenities in the village, such as the
cricket club and field (already called The Wootton and Boars Hill
Cricket Club), primary school, St Peter’s church and the
community park. All these community facilities are supported
financially by Wootton Parish Council either directly or indirectly
(through a grant to the Wootton Primary School PTA to provide
laptops for home learning during lockdown, for instance).
It seems very unjust that the residents of a new, smaller Wootton
Parish should pay a higher proportion per head towards repaying the
Community Centre loan and maintaining other existing amenities in
the village, while residents of Boars Hill, who use these
facilities, contribute nothing at all. It is all the more unfair
that as the overall precept will be smaller, the amount available
to spend on these local amenities will be reduced.
|
|
98
|
We have had little
support from Wootton. When entering Wootton from whichever
direction, it has white gates, a village name, a reminder to drive
carefully and a bold 30mph sign. Similarly, so do Dry Sandford,
Cotthill, Whitecross and even little Gozzards Ford. However, the
busiest road of all i.e. Fox Lane, has just a 30mph sign nestled in
the hedgerow and just a few metres from the first resident
driveway. Why have we not been provided with similar road
furniture? (gates, village name etc?!! ). Half of Boars Hill is
already within Sunningwell parish and it makes perfect sense to
also incorporate the small area currently under discussion into
Sunningwell.
|
|
99
|
I have lived on
Boars Hill for nearly 20 years and there is no doubt that the
community has a strong feeling of unity. Our newsletter said that
over two thirds of the residents who live in the Wootton and Cumnor
parts of the Hill had signed a petition asking to be transferred to
Sunningwell parish. Your council seems to operate in a strange way
as I am now rather surprised to find that you are asking us to vote
on a proposition which is opposite to that which was requested. So
I now have to vote against what you are suggesting to get what the
residents on Boars Hill actually asked for: which is for us all to
be together in one Sunningwell parish.
|
|
100
|
I have been a
playing member and member of the committee of Wootton and Boars
Hill Cricket for nearly 30 years. As the name implies, the Village
and Boars Hill have made up the cricket club since the turn of the
20th century and certainly since its reforming around 1989. Wootton
Parish Council grants a significant amount of money every year to
support Wootton and |Boars Hill Cricket Club. If the Parish is
split we believe that it won't be able to support the cricket club
to the same extent. Loss of revenue in terms of support in paying
fuel bills, water rates and management of the pavilion and any
increase in the rent of the pavilion would seriously impact on the
cricket club's ability to function and would put its continuation
in doubt. It is not only the cricket club that benefits from
generous support from the Parish Council. It gives thousands of
pounds to the WADS Community Centre (I am an executive member of
the community centre executive committee). If the Parish is split I
believe the Parish won't be able to support the Centre to the same
amount. The centre provides a crucial focus for a whole range of
local clubs, a centre for residents to hire for social events, a
venue for celebrations (e.g. WADS STOCK and the jubilee picnic) and
a meeting place for local organisations. The Boars Hill Community
freely use the centre, but if they break away, they will not be
contributing via their council tax whilst continuing to benefit
from its use.
|
|
101
|
I am responsible
as minister of St Peters for parishioners. This includes a good
section of Boars Hill. The church has strong links with Boars Hill
residents - a number attend, weddings and funerals are taking place
at the church for BH residents. This has been true for centuries.
It would be good if the council parish boundaries are in line with
the ecclesiastical parish boundaries (which will not be
changing).
|
|
102
|
Until the late
nineteenth century the hamlets of Wootton and Old Boars Hill were
outlying parts of Cumnor parish. Since then they have formed a
separate parish with the same boundaries as today and over the
years have developed into a single large village of some 3,000
inhabitants, centred around the Besselsleigh Rd shops, the Wootton
and Dry Sandford Community Centre and the Bystander Public House.
Although different parts of the village, such as Old Wootton, Boars
Hill, and the B4017 corridor, have their distinctive social and
architectural characters, the village is a well- integrated
community as is evidenced in the replies to the questionnaire sent
out in preparing our Joint Neighbourhood Plan with St Helen Without
(made December 2019). There was a strong feeling of belonging to a
neighbourhood and a strong satisfaction with the area as a place to
live.
|
|
103
|
I am really
concerned to find that the VoWH District Council appears to be
trying to thwart the clearly expressed wishes of the Boars Hill
community despite the legislation actually saying that "The views
of local communities and inhabitants are of central
importance."
The omission of the very request of the residents, to unite Boars
Hill within a single parish, is what prompted this consultation in
the first place and to have their request excluded, as it has been,
is a complete travesty of the democratic process.
The residents of the western and northern parts of Boars Hill
petitioned by a very large majority to join Sunningwell parish. You
have tipped the whole thing on its head! It is of no concern to the
Boars Hill residents that Wootton PC decided to build a village
hall which it could not afford without taking out a big loan.
Having ignored the wishes of Boars Hill for many years, Wootton PC
is now trying to resist the loss of its Boars Hill “milch
cow”.
When Scotland and Wales were consulted on devolution, voters
elsewhere (ie in England) were not asked if they would like to
overturn the decision. The Boars Hill petition for a change came
from the residents of the area requesting the change and those
living elsewhere should not be allowed to block it.
Wootton parish has three times the population of Sunningwell and,
even after the requested changes, would still remain substantially
larger.
Cumnor parish has six times the population of Sunningwell and the
Boars Hill part, which has asked to join Sunningwell, amounts to
only about 30 voters of which over 80% want to join
Sunningwell.
|
|
104
|
Wootton Parish
Council have spent a lot of time creating a wonderfully informative
website about our Parish particularly around the history and walks
within the Parish which includes the Boars Hill area. Reworking the
website will be a considerable burden to undertake especially given
how much time we we would prefer to spend making improvements to
our Parish.
|
|
105
|
I strongly oppose
the proposal to make no change, the BHA survey clearly identifies
that the majority of residents in the affected area would like a
change. As a resident of Sunningwell, my view is solely based on
what the residents of Boars Hill desire.
|
|
106
|
Sunningwell Parish
Council (SPC) accepted in good faith the request from the Boars
Hill residents to join our parish. Sunningwell is quite a small
parish and the boundary changes requested would make it more viable
whilst still leaving the parishes of Wootton and Cumnor with
substantially larger populations than Sunningwell. The changes
would also fulfil a longstanding wish of Boars Hill residents to be
within a single parish.
The Boars Hill Association petition was demonstrably a well
organised operation in line with the community governance
legislation. The report was well presented and clearly showed that
a very large majority of the residents in the petition area were in
favour of revising the parish boundaries so that the western and
northern parts of Boars Hill would join the rest of Boars Hill as a
part of Sunningwell parish.
The parish council discussed the latest online consultation at its
monthly meeting yesterday, ie on 28th July 2022.
The Vale of White Horse District Council (the Vale) has twisted the
original request of the residents so as to present a consultation
which is a complete reversal of what was actually requested! This
makes a mockery of the democratic process and has caused
considerable dismay and indeed has prompted some of our councillors
to express such disillusionment that they are considering resigning
as councillors.
SPC also notes that despite having written to the Vale on several
occasions attaching its formal acceptance document, nevertheless
the Vale has continued to post on line an erroneous document which
was neither discussed nor accepted by SPC. This original error was
pointed out to Vale officers on a number of occasions with the
request that it should be replaced with the correct formally
debated and approved submission from SPC to the Vale. SPC considers
the fact that the Vale has continued to ignore this is a serious
dereliction of their duty of care and impartiality as it provides
an incorrect document to consultees and thus is likely to distort
the consultation results against SPC.
A copy of the Boars Hill Association report as adopted by SPC is
attached and some of the key messages asking that SPC have their
correct submission put forward are shown below.
From: Colin Weyer
Sent: 02 March 2022 16:09
To: Flowers, Michael
Cc: Corrigan, Steven; Democratic Services; Clerk Sunningwell
PC
Subject: Community Governance Review committee meeting -
URGENT
**EXTERNAL**
Dear Michael,
I am concerned that the submission from Sunningwell Parish Council
as set out in Appendix 5 is INCORRECT.
I called yesterday and again today but, having had no reply, I am
sending you this email.
The minutes of our meeting held on 25th November made no definitive
decision in this matter as shown below:
156/21 Vale of White Horse parish boundary review
The council has been advised by Vale of White Horse District
Council’s Democratic department that a Community Governance
Review will be undertaken in 2022, with any changes implemented for
the 2023 elections. Changes can alter boundaries, council names,
electoral arrangements and so on.
Cllr James Greenman is keen to unite all of Boars Hill in one
parish as the current arrangement has it divided between the
parishes of Sunningwell and Wootton. He suggested the Boars Hill
Association might like to seek parishioners’ views. Based on
the outcome, the parish council could then consider putting a
proposal to the Democratic department.
The Boars Hill Association took up this suggestion and set up a
petition in accordance with the legislation.
As SPC was not due to meet until the end of January, on 6th January
confirmation was obtained from Steven Corrigan that SPC could make
its submission in early February.
A very detailed report from the Boars Hill Association was
submitted to SPC at its meeting held on 27th January.
This was formally accepted and approved; as per the minute
below:
14/22 Community Governance Review
There is an upcoming Community Governance Review being undertaken
by the Vale of White Horse Democratic Services Department and at
its last meeting Sunningwell Parish Council proposed that the Boars
Hill Association might wish to ascertain the views of those parts
of Boars Hill not currently a part of Sunningwell with a view to
amending the boundaries so that all of Boars Hill should be in
Sunningwell Parish.
The Boars Hill Association has prepared a formal report and
request, following a petition delivered to each household in those
parts of Boars Hill not currently in Sunningwell Parish. An Excel
spreadsheet has been prepared detailing the names and addresses of
all those who signed the petition which showed approximately two
thirds in favour.
The report and spreadsheet were formally accepted and approved by
the meeting. The clerk was asked to forward the information to the
Democratic Services Department of the Vale of White Horse District
Council.
The report and spreadsheet were submitted to Stephen Corrigan on
31st January (see email below) and he confirmed the same day that
the report would be submitted to the meeting.
However this was NOT done and instead a fairly meaningless appendix
5 was circulated which of course was not the SPC submission.
I now request that SPC minutes with explanations (as above), the
SPC submission email (as below) together with the full adopted
report (as attached) be circulated by email to all members of the
committee, and their substitutes, in advance of Monday's meeting to
allow them adequate time to read the report. If you wish to protect
the identity of those who signed, the spreadsheet itself may be
omitted.
In view of the confusion please note that I will attend and wish to
speak at your meeting on Monday evening at 7pm.
Since the submission some more residents have taken the trouble to
sign and deliver their petition forms requesting the boundary
change and we now know the exact number of voters in the Cumnor
area.
The final summary is:
Combined Results Wootton Cumnor Combined
Total dwellings 184 13 197
Voters per electoral roll 343 32 375
Total signatures 209 26 235
Percentage in favour 60.93% 81.25% 62.67%
Majority 38 10 48
Total Yes % of registered voters - excluding those households who
did not answer when called on.
66.35% 81.25% 67.72%
+ Non-voting signatures 21
As you will see this is a very substantial vote in favour of the
new boundaries.
Please let me have a copy of your email to the members of the
committee.
Many thanks
Best regards
Colin Weyer
Chairman,
Sunningwell Parish Council
<redacted>
________________________________________
From: "Clerk Sunningwell PC"
To: "Steven Corrigan"
Sent: Monday, 31
January, 2022 10:45:19
Subject: Sunningwell Parish boundary review
Good morning Steven,
This is with reference to our earlier emails on the upcoming
Community Governance Review and Sunningwell Parish Council's
proposal that the boundaries be amended so that all of Boars Hill
can be in Sunningwell Parish please.
I have attached the formal report and request, prepared by the
Boars Hill Association together with the Excel spreadsheet
detailing names and addresses of all those who signed the
petition.
These were formally accepted, approved and minuted at the
Sunningwell Parish Council meeting held last Thursday on 27 January
2022.
The Excel file includes the live formulas used to calculate the
results and this will enable Vale's Democratic Services Department
to satisfy themselves as to their reliability.
The B0ars Hill Association has provided the original petition
sheets which can be delivered to the Vale offices in Milton Park if
required.
Thank you for your help and for extending the deadline.
With kind regards
Brian
Brian Rixon
Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer
On behalf of Sunningwell Parish Council
<redacted>
Telephone <redacted>
Email
<redacted>
========================================
Re: URGENT - Re: April 2022 District Councillors' Report to
Parishes 1 April, 2022 19:24
From: "colin weyer"
To: "emily smith"
Cc: "debby hallett" "Clerk Sunningwell PC"
Thank you Emily,
I attended that meeting and pointed out that this was incorrect and
that the only decision made by SPC was on 27th January as shown
below:
The relevant minutes are:
Council meeting on 25th November 2021.
156/21
Vale of White Horse parish boundary review
The council has been advised by Vale of White Horse District
Council’s Democratic department that a Community Governance
Review will be undertaken in 2022, with any changes implemented for
the 2023 elections. Changes can alter boundaries, council names,
electoral arrangements and so on.
Cllr James Greenman is keen to unite all of Boars Hill in one
parish as the current arrangement has it divided between the
parishes of Sunningwell and Wootton. He suggested the Boars Hill
Association might like to seek parishioners’ views. Based on
the outcome, the parish council could then consider putting a
proposal to the Democratic department.
And the operative minute from the meeting held on 27th January at
which a formal request was made:
14/22
Community Governance Review
There is an upcoming Community Governance Review being undertaken
by the Vale of White Horse Democratic Services Department and at
its last meeting Sunningwell Parish Council proposed that the Boars
Hill Association might wish to ascertain the views of those parts
of Boars Hill not currently a part of Sunningwell with a view to
amending the boundaries so that all of Boars Hill should be in
Sunningwell Parish.
The Boars Hill Association has prepared a formal report and
request, following a petition delivered to each household in those
parts of Boars Hill not currently in Sunningwell Parish. An Excel
spreadsheet has been prepared detailing the names and addresses of
all those who signed the petition which showed approximately two
thirds in favour.
The report and spreadsheet were formally accepted and approved by
the meeting. The clerk was asked to forward the information to the
Democratic Services Department of the Vale of White Horse District
Council.
This minute was sent to Democratic Services and, after my pointing
out the error, the relevant officers should have corrected their
records.
We need the documents to be corrected asap.
Many thanks
Best wishes
Colin Weyer
________________________________________
From: "emily smith"
To: "colin weyer",
"debby hallett"
Cc: "Clerk Sunningwell PC"
Sent: Friday, 1
April, 2022 19:03:22
Subject: Re: URGENT - Re: April 2022 District Councillors' Report
to Parishes
Hi Colin
I got the information about Sunningwell's suggestion that Long
Furlong may be moved into Wootton from the reports pack that the
committee for community governance and electoral issues considered
on 7th March. Appendix 5 on page 17 is the email request from
Sunningwell Parish Council following your meeting on 25th
November.
(Public Pack)Agenda Document for Community Governance and Electoral
Issues Committee, 07/03/2022 19:00 (whitehorsedc.gov.uk)
The link to this report is part of the information we are inviting
public responses about. Are you saying the email request from the
Parish Council is not accurately represented in Appendix 5?
Thanks
Emily
Cllr Emily Smith
Liberal Democrat Member for Botley and Sunningwell Ward
Direct Line: <redacted>
Executive Support Officer: <redacted>
www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Advance notice of leave: 16th - 25th April, 27th May - 6th
June
Our privacy policies are available by clicking
http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/about-us/contact-us/requesting-information/data-protection/privacy-policy
________________________________________
From: Colin Weyer
Sent: 01 April 2022 17:32
To: Hallett, Debby
Cc: Smith, Emily; Clerk Sunningwell PC
Subject: Re: URGENT - Re: April 2022 District Councillors' Report
to Parishes
**EXTERNAL**
Many thanks Debby - C
________________________________________
From: "debby hallett"
To: "colin
weyer"
Cc: "emily smith", "Clerk Sunningwell PC"
Sent: Friday, 1 April, 2022 17:14:19
Subject: Re: URGENT - Re: April 2022 District Councillors' Report
to Parishes
Hi Colin.
I will seek clarification for you the minute office doors open on
Monday.
Regards,
Debby
Debby Hallett
Councillor for Botley & Sunningwell
<redacted>
Advance notice of leave:
12-23 May, 8-16 Sep 2022
________________________________________
From: Colin Weyer
Sent: Friday, April 1, 2022 4:42:29 PM
To: Hallett, Debby
Cc: Smith, Emily; Clerk Sunningwell PC
Subject: URGENT -
Re: April 2022 District Councillors' Report to Parishes
**EXTERNAL**
Dear Debby,
Thank you for your interesting report.
You must forgive me for thinking that this is indeed a prank given
that I am rather confused by two aspects of the boundary review
relating to Sunningwell parish as set out in your report and the
Vale website consultation page.
Firstly, in your report you state:
"Sunningwell (Wootton, Cumnor) – amend the parish boundary to
include more of Boars Hill and some homes in Cumnor parish, and
also to remove Long Furlong Road and the surrounding section of
Sunningwell Road and place them into Wootton Parish"
I must advise you that Sunningwell parish has passed no resolution
requesting to the removal of the Long Furlong Road community from
our parish - in fact the council has not even discussed it.
Then on the VoWH consultation page, to which you link in your
report, it says:
"Sunningwell (Wootton and Cumnor) – amending the parish
boundary to include the area of Boars Hill currently in Wootton and
Cumnor parishes and amending the parish name to reflect the
change"
In this case there is (correctly) no reference to Long
Furlong!
I must advise you that Sunningwell parish has passed no resolution
relating to amending the name and, again, the matter has not even
been discussed.
I am very concerned to see these two inconsistent and confusing
matters included given that our parish council has neither
requested nor discussed either of them.
Please can you take urgent steps to have these corrected in all
necessary documents - not least those in the public domain!
If the Vale has powers to suggest or make its own changes in regard
to these matters, then I have to say I would be greatly disturbed
that no one at the Vale has had the courtesy to discuss them with
us first.
Please advise when all the necessary corrections have been
made.
Many thanks.
Best regards
Colin Weyer
Chairman, SPC
<redacted>
________________________________________
From: "debby hallett"
To: "emily
smith"
Sent: Friday, 1 April, 2022 12:11:39
Subject: April 2022 District Councillors' Report to Parishes
Hi everybody - this email is going out to all councillors and
clerks. (I don't much like pranking, so everything here is
legitimate.)
Our April 2022 report is on Dropbox here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fhyr4qgaxd30rqe/Apr%2022.pdf?dl=0
And all the historical reports are here:
http://cllrdebbyhallett.com/district-councillor-reports/
I hope you're all well and happy, and that your life is full of
meaning.
Regards,
Debby
Cllr Debby Hallett
Liberal Democrat member for Botley & Sunningwell ward
<redacted>
|
|
107
|
Dividing the
parish would detriment the residents of Wootton village
|
|
108
|
If their is a
change to boundaries then their would also be an implication
regarding who can have a tenancy agreement at Wootton Allotments
possibly.
|
|
109
|
Email response
received below.
Your two choices regarding parish boundary changes make no
sense.
One is to combine Wootton with Boars Hill which is a terrible idea
a. because half of Boars Hill is already in Sunningwell (I am) and
b. because the two areas are not remotely alike, the one being
purely residential while the other is much more
agricultural/residential
Two was to do nothing - odd as two thirds of Boars Hill residents
have voted to join up with Sunningwell - something you have
apparently ignored.
If these really are the only options I would do nothing but it is
not very democratic
|
|
110
|
Response below
received via email.
Wootton Parish Council wishes to express its support in retaining
the existing Parish Boundary and to rename Wootton Parish to
Wootton and Boars Hill.
Despite the Vale of White Horse DC’s link to the online
survey being published after the publication of the Community
Magazine the Parish Council has obtained 234 signatures on a
petition to demonstrate the desire of residents to maintain the
existing boundary.
The Parish centers around the Wootton and Dry Sandford Community
Centre and Pre-School, the Boars Hill and Wootton Cricket Club, the
Community Park, all of which receive significant financial support
from Wootton Parish Council in addition to the Bystander Public
House and the Besselsleigh
Road shops, which are at the heart of the Community and are all
resources extensively used by residents of the area which has been
identified for review. Currently the Boars Hill Association
delivers their publication to Wootton Village as this shares the
same “Boars Hill” postal address were
some areas of Boars Hill to be separated from the existing Parish,
this would cause ill-feeling among those residents.
Additionally, the area under review represents a significant
portion of the Parish’s income from Precept and given that
the loan on the Community Centre was taken with a term of 50 years,
the result would be a significant increase of precept on the
remaining population.
Although different parts of the village, such as Old Wootton, Boars
Hill, and the B4017 corridor, have their distinctive social and
architectural characters, the village is a well-integrated
community as is evidenced in the replies to the questionnaire sent
out in preparing our Joint Neighbourhood Plan with St Helen Without
(made December 2019). There was a strong feeling of belonging to a
neighbourhood and a strong satisfaction with the area as a place to
live. This sense of community has been enhanced by the lack of
significant housing development in the parish since 1970, apart
from the relatively small Deerhurst Park. While there will be some
development over the next ten years - notably a new housing estate
on the old industrial park - there will not be a substantial
increase in population and little change to the village’s
existing character.
Wootton is a medium-sized rural parish with a diverse social,
economic and, to a growing degree, ethnic profile, and the Wootton
PC see no reason why its boundaries should be altered under the
Community Governance Review. It also feels that the views of this
diverse community are well represented on the current Parish
Council which has a positive gender, age and work experience
balance and has ambitions to enhance further the parish’s
pleasant and welcoming environment in the coming years.
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