3rd May – Village Tea Party, 8th May – a compelling talk about VE Day. 8th May – 6.30pm nationwide bell binging. 10th May, the Rock & Roll Choir. Click on this link for more details.
Sign up to the Somerton Parish Council news letters
Important amendment Jan 3rd 2025
In our December news letter we shared details of a Q class pre application for the barns on the Fritwell road. I made a mistake in sharing the wrong link with you, which was a specific link for the Mid Cherwell Neighbourhood Plan Forum. (MCNP) and should you have used this link it was registered as a comment from the MCNP and so is null and void.
If you want to make a comment on this application you need to register with Cherwell District Council Planning and then submit your comment under your own details.
I have contacted the designated planning officer Sophie Browne to request an extension, but I recommend you register and add your comments ASAP.
Prior approval application under Schedule 2, Part 3, Class Q of the GPDO for conversion of an existing agricultural barn to a total of 10 no residential dwelling houses
Detail on this application 24/03096/Q56
click on link above and then on “supporting documents” for more information on the application, there is also a button to ” Comment on this application”
Please note: this application is a Prior approval application under Schedule 2, Part 3, Class Q of the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) for conversion of an existing agricultural barn to a total of 10 no residential dwelling houses.
This isn’t an application for planning permission, bur rather permitted development subject to a prior approval process. That prior approval process can only consider:
(a) transport and highways impacts of the development,
(b) noise impacts of the development,
(c) contamination risks on the site,
(d) flooding risks on the site,
(e) whether the location or siting of the building makes it otherwise impractical or undesirable for the building to change from agricultural use to a use falling within Class C3 (dwellinghouses) of Schedule 1 to the Use Classes Order,
(f) the design or external appearance of the building, and
(g) the provision of adequate natural light in all habitable rooms of the dwellinghouses,
Planning at CDC will only consider the above things and whether the development meets the permitted development criteria set out in the GPDO
Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042
CDC have prepared a new Local Plan for Cherwell District and would like your views before we submit it to the Secretary of State for independent examination.
All comments must be submitted by 11:59pm on Friday 14 February 2025.
The Local Plan will guide our decisions on planning applications and contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. It is a Plan to meet our development needs, to respond to climate change, to protect the environment and to support our local economy and communities.
The Plan sets out a vision and proposes homes, employment land, infrastructure and other essential services required to support the local community over the plan period.
In making your comments we would like you to consider whether the Plan is ‘sound’ and whether it complies with the necessary legal requirements for plan making. The Planning Inspectorate has produced a useful guide to making representations at this stage of the plan making process. The guide is available to view here.
December 2024 Parish Council News Letter
I hope this newsletter finds you all in good health and high spirits as we approach the festive Christmas season. It is a pleasure to connect with you and share some updates and news about our lovely village.
Firstly, on behalf of the Parish Council, I extend warm wishes to everyone in our community. This time of year is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our shared achievements, celebrate our traditions, and prepare for the joys of the holiday season.
New Councillor
We were delighted to formally sign up our new Parish Councillor Paul Fennemore at our November Meeting. Paul brings with him a wealth of experience from a career in business management and IT and we very much look forward to working with him on our future projects.
Indeed Paul has already made a start on our website improvements; we are working towards moving our site to a .gov domain, this offers us more security and is considered best practice.
There has been a considerable amount of work involved with this and we are very grateful for Paul’s management of the project.
New Website
The new website will be launched Today, information on our wonderful village in one place,
We welcome your feed back and contributions to the new website, which can be sent directly from this new site.
Speed Indicator Device and Section 106 funding update
With the assistance of resident David Spencer, we’ve been working on a new SID for Water Street. It has been purchased, and the logistics have been arranged—though I’ll spare you the details. Let’s just say it wasn’t without its challenges, but we’ve overcome them and hope to have it installed very soon.
The Parish Council has purchased the device using funds we’ve precepted over the past five years. Following the recent reorganisation at OCC Highways, we’ve reopened discussions, Deborah Critchley and I have been exploring practical options.
This includes what we can achieve now with the current budget of £15.5K and planning for four years ahead, when the larger funding allocation of £75K becomes available.
Broadband
The Village Hall has been successful in a bid for faster broadband, this is a scheme paid for by OCC for three years. There is some windfall benefit to a few residents who happen to share the same connection box as the Village Hall.
The additional premises, that have been provided with incidental coverage in Somerton are:
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Planning
Prior approval application under Schedule 2, Part 3, Class Q of the GPDO for conversion of an existing agricultural barn to a total of 10 no residential dwelling houses
Detail on this application can be found here click on “supporting documents” for more information.
Closing date for comments is 17 December However the Parish council have requested an extension which has been granted to 31 December.
Your views on the council’s budget – Plus! A40 changes, dementia support and the future of the NHS
Consultation opens on council budget
North Oxfordshire residents, businesses and communities can now have their say on the district council’s budget proposals for next year.
Cherwell District Council is consulting on a balanced budget position for 2025-2026. People can have their say from Friday, 22 November, with the consultation drawing to a close on Monday, 23 December.
The council is balancing the books through a combination of back-office efficiencies, the strategic use of reserves, and increasing income in certain areas.
Closes 23rd December 2024
Free Hedging available this year and applications being taken for next year
We received a message recently, Wild Oxfordshire have some left over funds for hedging: for new hedgerow creation or gapping or perhaps you would like to rejuvenate hedgerow by coppicing or laying this winter. The hedgerow will have to be on publicly accessible land or one you can view from a road/path. There is spare budget for this year’s Hedgerow Heroes project and they like to use as much of the budget otherwise it could be lost.
If you are interested, please contact Jessica Bouwer [email protected] if your requirement meets the following criteria:
+ Is it new hedgerow creation, gapping, laying, or coppicing?
+ Meters of hedging required or hedge to be laid or coppiced?
+ If you have landowner permission.
+ Please send photos of the site.
Wild Oxfordshire will also be putting in an application for next year’s Hedgerow Heroes project so please let Jessica know if you would to be included.
If you are interested in the 2025/26 HH, please contact Jessica directly.
More information can be found here Wild Oxfordshire
Defibrillator and CPR Training
As I’m sure you know, we have a defibrillator at the Village hall; paid for and maintained by the Parish Council.
In the first instance; you call 999 for help and they will give you the code for the box.
We plan to run a CPR training and familiarisation session some time in the new year so watch this space…
Stay Involved
We always welcome your suggestions and involvement in village matters. If you have any ideas, concerns, or would like to contribute to our initiatives, please do not hesitate to reach out.
In 2025 we will be meeting monthly, normally the last Wednesday of the month. We absolutely welcome members of the public to join us at any of the meeting: should you wish for an item to be discussed, please email our clerk at least 5 working days before the meeting to allow time to add to the agenda.
Let’s continue to support one another and make our village a warm, welcoming, and vibrant place to live.
I look forward to celebrating the season with you all and wish you a peaceful and joyous Christmas.
Warm regards,
Alison Smith Chair
on behalf of the Somerton Parish Council Team
Neil Clare, Deborah Critchley, Kay Bishop, Bryony Afferson Day, Paul Fennemore & Cathy Fleet (Clerk)
Have your say
Please use this contact form if you would like to know more about the parish council projects and or make any suggestions.