News Update March 02004

SPADE members have been working hard in the months since our last news update. For newcomers to the Scene, SPADE is an action group formed in November 02003 to represent Sunningwell parishioners campaigning against inappropriate development in the Green Belt. Oxfordshire County Council's draft Structure Plan proposes to allow 1000 houses to be built in Green Belt land on the Southern edge of Oxford at Grenoble Road. At the same time, the Penbridge 'eco village' was announced by developers who aim to build up to 6000 houses, a waste incineration plant and a park and ride car park on Green Belt land surrounding Sunningwell on three sides and running up to the back gardens of homes in Bayworth, Long Furlong, and Whitecross.

In January, we held a public meeting to bring everyone up to date on our activities. The village hall was bursting at the seams, and we apologise to anyone who was unable to get in. The meeting was attended by local residents, and also people from a wider area - who had until SPADE's newsletter campaign, been unaware of the 'Penbridge' proposal and who share our outrage at this scheme and the threat posed to the Green Belt and our rural community. The fantastic turnout confirmed that there can be no doubt that the strength of feeling against this proposal is growing and we are united in our opposition to it.

At the meeting we launched our lobbying campaign, asking everyone to write as many letters as possible to County Councillors, who will be receiving the report on the structure plan consultation shortly. We have delivered our lobbying guidelines to homes in the Sunningwell parish, as well as with the help of Wootton Parish council, widening our net to include the whole of Wootton Parish and further afield into North Abingdon. IF YOU HAVEN'T WRITTEN YET, IT'S NOT TOO LATE - PLEASE DO IT NOW! If you need more advice or help with this, please contact us. It's vital that we make every attempt to sway Councillors' opinions at this time - the agreement to include the development of Green Belt land at Grenoble Road swung on only 6 votes, and we know that many Councillors now see that the inclusion of Grenoble Road has only encouraged speculative inappropriate developments such as 'Penbridge'

We must also say a huge thank you to all of you who have made donations to our fighting fund. We have received many personal donations, matching the funding promised by Sunningwell and Wootton Parish Councils. We are not stopping there, and would encourage you to help raise further funds by giving us a donation for a car sticker (available soon) or joining us at a concert to be held in the Sunningwell Church at 7.30 on Saturday 24th April when the Glasshouse Quartet will perform the Ravel string quartet and Dvorak 'American' Quartet amongst other pieces. Refreshments will be available in the Village hall. Tickets £7.50 (concessions £5). Ticket sales shared between SPADE and Sunningwell Church. Contact us for more info or to buy tickets.

Finally, we will be holding another public meeting in Sunningwell Village Hall on Wednesday 21st April at 8.00 pm - by then, the full Council will have met to discuss the public consultation on the structure plan and will have made recommendations for amendments to the plan. Please put it in your diary and come early to ensure a seat!