Local News
Carriageway resurfacing at Oaksmere – 29th October
21st October 2025
Oxfordshire County Council will be undertaking some carriageway resurfacing work at Oaksmere, Appleton between Fettiplace Close and approx 100 meters south of the village.
The works are programmed to start at 07:00 on Wednesday 29th October and is expected
to take 1 day to complete subject to any bad weather conditions or unforeseen
circumstances during construction.
Due to the nature and location of the required carriageway resurfacing, the works will be
carried out under a full road closure between the hours of 07:00 and 17:00. A fully signed
diversion route will be put in place.
There will be no access to the village possible from the A420. Access to Appleton village will
only be possible from Eaton Road and Netherton Road. We apologise in advance for any
inconvenience caused.
Emergency Vehicle access though the work will be unaffected.
Please be aware that buses are not able to come through these works and therefore please
refer to the Bus Companies website or refer to posted up notices at the village bus stops for
details of the changes in the service and where to catch the bus during the works.
If you think the works will cause you problems with access or deliveries or require further
information, then please telephone the appropriate contact below and we will be happy to
answer any queries that you may have.
Office Contact
Please use in advance of the works regarding any issues raised in this letter
Gordon Kelman
Senior Officer
(Highway Schemes, Vale)
Tel: 0345 310 1111
highwayschemes@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Site Contact
Please use during the works
highwayschemes@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Stuart Bowler
Schemes Supervisor ( Milestone )
Oxfordshire County Council
0345 310 1111
Highway.Enquiries@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Bingo Night – 25th October!
19th October 2025
Come join us at Bingo Night on the 25th October at the Village Hall! Doors open at 7pm.
Tickets are £12 for adults and £8 for children to include a baked potato. Tickets can be purchased from the Village Shop.
A paying bar will be available.
‘Greater Oxford’ Unitary Authority
17th October 2025
Two local council have been working on a campaign to raise awareness to concerns bout the ‘Greater Oxford’ Unitary Authority and has compiled several reasons they feel this shouldn’t go forward.
Harm from Development
By 2040, an additional 43,000 to 67,000 new homes could be brought forward under the greater Oxford proposals – in the Green Belt Countryside on the edge of Oxford. 67,000 more houses would mean a similar number of additional cars and 160,800 more people. Hundreds of acres of Green Belt countryside around Oxford have already been given up for Oxford’s ‘unmet house need’, 200 acres in South Oxfordshire alone.
Delivery of Services and Costs to Council Taxpayers
Currently the County Council delivers approximately 80% of services with expenditure in 2024/5 of £1,439 million on adult social care, SEND, education, highways, transport, fire and rescue etc. The budget for social care alone is 51%. The districts provide planning, housing, environmental health, licensing, rubbish collection etc. Oxford City Council’s expenditure last year was £246 million. There would be significant set up costs for services not currently delivered and increases in the costs per person from a smaller council each year.
Transport
The problem of accessing Oxford for commuters has not been addressed or solved and will restrict expansion. Building on the edge of Oxford will not solve, but exacerbate traffic congestion and journey times. Many rural parishes have inadequate public transport and little alternative to the car.
Environment and Climate Change
A number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest are already under threat from developments for Oxford’s ‘unmet housing need’ along with rare and protected species. Destruction of substantial amounts of Green Belt countryside will contribute to the UK being one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. The extensive development will cause a significant increase in CO2 emissions and contribute to climate change
Harm to Communities
Oxford currently has a population of 165,200 which would increase to only 240,000 under their proposals, while cutting up districts and some parishes. A ‘Greater Oxford’ would be heavily dominated by the City, which would retain numerical supremacy and control over the annexed rural parishes.
To view the Greater Oxford proposal: Our Proposal | Greater Oxford
Should you wish to object, there is a petition which can be signed: Petition · REJECT THE ‘GREATER OXFORD’ UNITARY AUTHORITY – United Kingdom · Change.org
Comments can be posted on the relevant sites:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/OxfordCityCouncil
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/oxfordcitycouncil/
Twitter – X – https://x.com/oxfordcity
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/oxfordcitycouncil
Linked-In – https://www.linkedin.com/company/oxford-city-council
AWEPC and BPM Merger Online Consultation
30th September 2025
Appleton with Eaton Parish Council (AWEPC) has been approached by Besselsleigh Parish Meeting (BPM) to consider a merger between AWEPC and BPM following the 2027 Community Governance Review.
Temporary Road Closure at Besselsleigh, road running through Besselsleigh
15th September 2025
A request has been received from Thames Water for a temporary road closure to apply to a length of the road running through Besselsleigh whilst essential boundary box installation works are carried out.
A temporary Notice is being made by Oxfordshire County Council to implement the temporary restriction and will operate from 20 October 2025 up to and including22 October 2025, 24 hours each day.
Please note that Notices for urgent works can last up to 5 consecutive days only.
To view the notice, click here
Further information regarding the works may be obtained by contacting Thames Water helpline on 0800 316 9800
Harvest Supper: 10th October
Come to the Harvest Supper on the 10th October from 6 – 8:30pm at the Barn at South Lawn! Tickets are £10 for Adults, £5 for children aged 6-14 and free for under 6 and over 75. Tickets can be purchased at the Appleton Community Shop.
Pavilion Plans
Thank you to all who who attended and helped with the recent Pavilion event.
Remembering South and Vale’s New Waste Services Number is as easy as 123
14th September 2025
Residents in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse should use a new number for district council waste and recycling enquiries: 01235 422 123.
The previous number (03000 610 610) is being phased out and will be switched off soon. The new number is already active, so residents should update their records and start using it right away.
01235 422 123 is new number is for all household waste, recycling, food, garden waste (collections only*), bulky waste collections, clinical waste collections and street cleaning services. It is also the number to call to report fly-tipping and abandoned vehicles.
*For queries about garden waste permits, residents should continue to call 01235 422 422.
For enquiries relating to Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRC’s), please continue to contact the county council on 0345 310 1111.
Education Sunday – 14th September
12th September 2025
Come to St Laurence Church at 10am this Sunday the 14th September (coffee and pastries from 9:40am) for Education Sunday!
CANCELLED – Parish Council meeting, Monday 8th September
5th September 2025
The Parish Council meeting on Monday the 8th September has been cancelled as the Council will not be quorate. The next meeting scheduled is Monday the 13th October. If another is scheduled before that date, the Council will widely publicise this.