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Although
(and perhaps, because) West Hagbourne is only about
two miles south of the expanding town of Didcot, we
have
a strong sense of community. The village is a pleasant and friendly
place to live; local farmers take an keen interest in conserving
the countryside; we have an active parish council; several village
organisations and a useful parish newsletter produced
bi-monthly
by the parish council. Now the village is hoping to secure a piece
of land to build a village meeting hall.
The
need for a parish plan was
identified by the village in around 2003 and in 2006, after about
three years of discussions with villagers to identify what they
value about their village and what changes they would like to
see, a comprehensive five-year parish plan was produced which
it is hoped will inspire everyone in the village to become involved
and ensure that the community continues to thrive.
The
future of West Hagbourne is inexorably tied to the future of Didcot.
The town is developing fast - the new Orchard shopping centre,
Cineworld cinema and
Cornerstone Arts Centre are
all open for business, and more shops are expected. And of course
more houses!
There are current proposals for more than 3,000 new homes to be
built at Great Western Park to the west and southwest of Didcot
which will bring the town nearer to the village. A further 5,000
homes to be built at Didcot have
been proposed by the South East England Regional Assembly. The
district council has not yet decided where the 5,000 houses will
go, but many
village people fear that West Hagbourne could be swamped by a
march southwards of new housing. Siting the houses to the south
of Didcot is vigorously opposed by the West Hagbourne Parish Council.
Traffic is thought by some people to be a problem too. Certainly
through traffic to and from Didcot has been increasing and when
the proposed new housing in Didcot goes ahead the increase is
likely to be greater. The parish council has been pushing for
a bypass for the village for some time and at long last the county
council's traffic consultants have proposed such a road to serve
as a bypass for West Hagbourne and Harwell. They have also suggested
a southern ring road for Didcot. These roads would remove much
of the through traffic from the village thereby changing its character
considerably. As long as these new roads do not pass too close
to the northern boundary of the village their desirability is
not questionable.
So
the future of the village in the context of an expanding Didcot
may not be certain but residents are proud and protective of their
beautiful, historic village. Even if Didcot's houses come closer,
West Hagbourne as a village will continue and will still be the
pleasant and friendly place it has always been! The biggest challenge
for the village though will be to maintain its rural environment
in the face of an ever expanding town which is already less than
two miles away.
Click
here
to see an
indicative map showing the route of the West Hagbourne and Harwell
bypass and the southern ring road.
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