Category: Village News
New May meeting date: 19th May
12th May 2026
The revised date for the Annual Parish Council Meeting has been set as Tuesday the 19th May at 7:15pm in the Village Hall. To find the agenda, click here: AWE-PC-Meeting-19th-May-2026.pdf
Grouping AWE Parish Council and Besselsleigh Parish Meeting
30th March 2026
The consultation has now closed. Information on the possible grouping can be found below along with what happens next.
Could your parish be about to change?
Residents of several parishes in the Vale of White Horse have the chance to comment on potential changes for the area that their parish council covers.
People taking part in the 2026 Community Governance Review will play their part in helping to ensure that their local council is effective, efficient and better reflects the interests of the community it serves.
The review includes:
Appleton with Eaton parish and Besselsleigh parish – review the option of grouping the parishes under one parish council.
Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor parish and Fyfield and Tubney parish – review the parish boundary to consider whether to include a new housing development, currently in Fyfield and Tubney parish, within Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor parish.
Kennington parish and Radley parish – review the parish boundary to consider whether to include housing north of Sugworth Lane, currently in Radley parish, within Kennington parish.
What happens next
Following the consultation, the council’s Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee will collate all feedback to produce draft proposals. A follow up consultation is then expected to take place later this year, with any final changes scheduled to be implemented in time for the May 2027 local elections.
Speed limit sign changes
25th March 2026
Residents may have seen work to change the speed limit signs on the A420 in recent days. The Parish Council has been made aware that the speed limit signs in Oaksmere may be done by the 27th of March as well. We have been informed there will be two-way traffic signals. The County Council has not sent a traffic order, so we do not have a map to share at this time.
Community Governance Review
12th March 2026
The Vale of White Horse District Council is holding a meeting tonight and one of the agenda item is Community Governance Review. The following will be considered:
Appleton with Eaton Parish Council and Besselsleigh Parish Meeting have requested that a community governance review is undertaken on a proposal to group the parishes under one parish council. Officers recommend that this review is taken forward.
Meeting information can be found here:
Agenda for Community Governance and Electoral Issues Committee on Thursday, 12 March 2026, 7.00 pm
The Parish Council will update residents once we have been made aware of the outcome.
Jubilee Park
2nd March 2026
There will be work being carried out to the flower beds and sleepers on the mounds by the zip wire the week of the 2nd March. Work will be completed no later than Thursday the 5th March.
The Park is still open, but the Parish Council wanted to make people aware that workmen will be in attendance this week.
Local Government Reorganisation Consultation
As you may be aware, the Government is holding a consultation on 3 models being considered for Local Government Reorganisation. Details on the consultation and the 3 models can be found here: Local government reorganisation in Oxfordshire – GOV.UK.
The Parish Council will be considering their response at the meeting on the 9th March.
Residents are invited to comment. The consultation closed on the 26th March at 11:59pm.
Appleton Village Cinema – Groundhog Day!
1st February 2026
Appleton Village Cinema will be showing Groundhog Day on the 18th February with doors at 7pm; show at 7:30pm.
Tickets can be purchased at the door: £6 for adults; £4 for under 16s.
District Council services over Christmas
18th December 2025
The District Council office reception at Abbey House will close from 5pm on Wednesday 24 December 2025 and will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026. Details about council services over the Christmas and New Year period are available on the council website:
Council services over Christmas and New Year 2025/26 – Vale of White Horse District Council
Christmas Services 2025 – St Laurence, Appleton and St Lawrence, Besselsleigh
You are warmly invited to attend any or all of the following services this Christmas
Sunday 21 December
10am – Parish Eucharist of Advent IV
5pm – Carols in St Lawrence, Besselsleigh
Wednesday 24 (Christmas Eve)
10am – Last Eucharist of Advent
4pm – The Crib Service – all-age opportunity to dress up and release your inner shepherd, angel or Wise Man – FAMILY FRIENDLY
6pm – Carol Service – traditional service of Lessons and Carols for all the community
11.30pm – Midnight Mass – the magic and the mystery of Christ’s Coming
Thursday 25 (Christmas Day)
10am – All-age FAMILY FRIENDLY Eucharist of Christmas.
We look forward to seeing you and wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Good New Year!
District Council urges everyone to take part in Thames Water’s reservoir consultation
Vale of White Horse District Council is encouraging everyone in the local area to take part in Thames Water’s public consultation on the proposed South East Strategic Reservoir Option (SESRO), before the 13 January 2026 deadline.
The feedback Thames Water gather will inform their Development Consent Order (DCO) application to the government, which they expect to submit in autumn 2026.
People can read more about the proposals here.