Welcome to the Didcot Garden Town Newsletter
March 2021


Didcot map of interesting things

We are currently working on a fantastic public arts project and want to hear your thoughts and ideas.

Where do you think the best places or facilities are in the town to have some great new art installations?

Are there any areas of interest that we should celebrate?

Perhaps you are aware of some great walking and cycling routes
that could be shared with others.

Contact us on didcotgardentown@southandvale.gov.uk to tell us more!

We will reveal the project in the up coming months!

Above is a sneak pic of one of the brilliant pictures that will feature!
Didcot Garden Town Advisory Board

You can catch up and watch the most recent advisory board meeting, held on Monday 25 January, by clicking on the link below! 

Key topics raised included feedback from the Residents Sounding Board and updates on garden town projects.
 

Business
Sounding Board

Thanks to all 35 business representatives that attended our first Business Sounding Board on 8 February. During the meeting, attendees were given the opportunity, in virtual workshops, to discuss their ideas about the town's future.   

We're now looking at this feedback to look at options on how we can help support our local business sector. 
                                                                   
 

Business Sounding Board poll
We carried out a quick poll with during our Business Sounding Board last month.  Here's the results:

Top Recyclers!

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts are in the top three in the country - again!

Excellent results with south being 18.5 per cent above the country's average and Vale being 17.8 per cent above the country's average!

Local councillors have thanked all involved and ask to keep up the good work!
 

                                                     

Council and MEPC review Milton Park's Local Development Order

 
Vale of White Horse District Council and MEPC, owners of Milton Park, have agreed to review the Local Development Order (LDO) to help bring more sustainable investment to the park. 
 
The review will look at how the changes can be made to align to the council’s own commitment to help tackle the climate emergency and create healthy communities, and to support the Park’s 2040 Vision to build more sustainable development.

Further information is available below: 


New Tree Champions embark on ecology and climate work for South Oxfordshire

Cllrs Ian Snowdon and Peter Dragonetti have become Tree Champions for South Oxfordshire district council.  This comes after the news came that the council had declared an ecological emergency at its meeting on 11 February. 

Although the district boasts the highest tree cover in the county, it is still a long way behind the average in Europe. The area, therefore, needs more trees and woodlands to help enhance nature and wildlife. 
The councillors new roles will include encouraging people to reconnect with nature and promote woodland protection/conservation and tree-growing initiatives. 

Work starts on GWP Extra Care Living development

Work has begun on a new 80 apartment Extra Care Living development on Great Western Park.

The three-storey building, being developed by Housing 21, is on land at Greenwood Way, which has received funding from the Oxfordshire Housing and Growth Deal.



The Extra Care scheme offers self-contained, private accommodation to support local older people and has been built with the changing needs associated with age in mind.

The building will provide 60 rented apartments and 20 shared ownership apartments for people over the age of 55 and has been designed to be three linked blocks arranged around an internal courtyard, providing open, green space for residents.

There will also be on-site communal facilities such as a café/bistro, hair salon and communal lounge for both residents and the local community. 

The building work is expected to be completed by December 2022. 
Consultation on the future of the Willowbrook building


Didcot Town Council are holding a consultation on the future of the Willowbrook building and would like to find out what facilities and activities you, the residents of Didcot and regular users of the Willowbrook building would like to see in the future.
Longstanding photographer volunteer scoops UNSUNG HERO award

Didcot Railway Centre’s volunteer photographer, Frank Dumbleton was named an “Unsung Hero” at Tourism South East’s prestigious Beautiful South Awards for Excellence at a recent online ceremony.

Frank is one of the centre’s longest-standing volunteers. He was recognised for the countless hours he puts in taking photographs, as well as his efforts as a guide, museum steward and compiling the popular “On This Day in History” posts.

 

Didcot Garden Town dates for your diary

  • Parish Councils Sounding Board - 29 March
  • Advisory board - 26 April

Science Vale Business Update


Harwell Campus 



Harwell Campus expands to Support Strong Life Science Appetite.


Milton Park 


Oxford Immunotec Global PLC, a global, high-growth diagnostics company has announced that it has released the T-SPOT COVID test.


Culham Science Centre



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 January 2021