As I write the weather has turned warmer and we have seen some sunny days. A vast improvement on the awful wet weather and flooding that we have experienced recently with some villagers driven from their homes due to flood damage, in some cases for up to 6 months. Our sincere sympathies to those
that have been affected.
Never have I seen the road flooded so badly outside our house with such a strong current it was running like a river. Some cars managed to get through with water coming over the top of their front bumpers. I hope that the engines survived! While a van nearly ended up in the ditch as the driver completely miscalculated where the edge of the road was. We got off quite lightly compared to some, 2 of our stables flooded, but fortunately not our house. Many thanks to all those that helped clear the ditches opposite Home Farm after the flooding. It has definitely made a difference. Further works are
being discussed to alleviate the problem.
Rosalind reports that the “Harvest Festival service in the church this year was made particularly special as it was combined with the Christening of Robert Alexander Heron, otherwise known as Bobby, son of Shona and Tom, his older brother Joss also enjoyed the service and took an interested part. It was a great service; the church decorated with fruit and produce and lots of young families and friends gathered for this combined celebration. David managed a very successful juggling act of this unusual blending of festivities.
The Harvest produce was taken a few days later to Wheatley Church, now newly restored and reopened, where they hold a weekly open house "Larder" session for people to come in and help themselves to food
and contribute something or not, as they wish. The donated food is beautifully presented by helpers and provides a good social afternoon for many."
The Planning Inquiry into the proposed development of the western section of the golf club, finally got underway on Tuesday 15thOctober at the Great Hall Cholsey. Henry has provided a report of the first
week's activities;
“The first topics selected for review were Landscape and Green Belt where Henry Manisty (Landscape) and Michael Tyce (Green Belt) represented Waterstock, and where the (always impressive) Michelle Bolger, who had previously been engaged by Waterstock, represented SODC as their landscape
witness. Then it was the turn of Arabella Whelan, with a barnstorming performance, to set out the horse-riding concerns. Greystoke's expert was mercilessly taken apart by SODC's and our barrister.
Thursday morning was set aside for individuals to make representations to the Planning Inspector. The range and quality of the representations was impressive. Freddie de Mierlo, our MP, Tim Bearder, our
Councillor, made strong supporting contributions, as did Chris Hill (on behalf of Tiddington PC) and David Mancey (Wheatley Society). Wendy Walker and Margaret Allen flew the flag for Waterstock Golf Club members, in particular female members, stressing physical and mental benefits. Troth Wells from Oxford put the case for the equestrian community, as did Tamsin Woods from Ickford,
speaking in her capacity as a coach for the Riding for the Disabled Association and also representing those from Ickford who enjoy the Ickford, Waterstock, Waterperry, circular walk. Waterstock was well represented with contributions from Susie Edmondson, Sarah Godowski, John Wilkinson, Rosalind Portman, Michael Haffey and Jane Harper.
Thursday afternoon was the Inspector’s Site visit, which comprised a long walk that took in visits to the Golf Club, walking the Oxfordshire Way to Waterperry, the two footpaths on the Site and Waterstock Lane. Arabella showed the Inspector around the Riding School. Thankfully, it was a fine afternoon, and it all seemed to go well. One high spot was guest appearances by roe deer on the golf course while we were walking.
On Friday 18th it was the turn of the botanistProfessor Roger Heath-Brown to give evidence on behalf of Waterstock. Roger was quietly effective in pointing to important mistakes and omissions in the
Greystoke case. We expect Nick Marriner to further undermine Gerystoke’s ecology case, by similarly pointing to numerous mistakes and omissions when he gives his evidence on birds on Tuesday 29th October.
It was great that so many Waterstockians made it to Cholsey- NOT a convenient location – to support witnesses. AII in all, things got off to a good start."
A big thank you to everyone who has spent so much of their time on fighting this development from both inside and outside the village. An incredible amount of time has been given to the preparations for fighting the original application and now this appeal. We are so lucky to have people in the village who have the right skill set and are prepared to give so generously of their time to carry out the important work required to fight a case such as this. A big thank you also to all those that have donated funds either directly or through crowd funding to pay our legal costs.
Finally, please make a note on your calendar of the village Carol Service and Supper. This year it will be on Sunday 15th December followed by the normal bring and share village supper at Home Farm afterwards at 6.30pm. This will be the usual buffet style supper so please email me your suggested food and drink contribution for the evening at the following email address janet.shipperley@gmail.com or call me on 07808 403166.
