SPADE NEEDS YOU!

Now that the Penbridge development proposal has been revealed in more detail, SPADE needs your active support to counter this threat to our rural community. The full scale of the proposal is shown above, representing a virtual encirclement of Sunningwell and Bay-worth villages by high-density “affordable” housing, a waste incinera-tion plant and a park and ride scheme. Just imagine what this would do to our peaceful rural environment!

Everyone in the community can help by writing to Councillors and officials to set out their opposition to this scheme. SPADE will shortly be circulating some guidance on how best to do this and on some of the key points you may wish to make in your letters.

However, by working together, SPADE can do much more to counter this threat by representing you at public enquiries and ex-aminations. But we need a fighting fund to engage professional ad-visers and to widen our campaign to all those likely to be affected and other groups who can help us oppose this inappropriate and wholly unwelcome proposal.

Our opponents will have huge resources at their disposal. The landowner, property developer and the banks that back them will make a fortune if this development is allowed to proceed. We cannot compete with their resources but, with right on our side, we can fight a compelling case with a fraction of their likely outlay. Even so, our costs will be substantial if we are to be successful in persuading all levels of government to oppose this scheme.

SPADE is actively seeking help from the Parish Council, environmental groups and other potential sources of funding, but most will expect to see us first helping ourselves. To date our activities have been funded by the membership, but we now need assistance from everyone likely to be affected who feels strongly about this issue. To meet our immediate needs and sustain the momentum of our publicity campaign, obtain professional advice and provide a float to sup-port subsequent fund-raising activities (which we hope will be both fun and help to contribute to our sense of community in opposing this scheme), the SPADE Committee estimates that we need to raise about £8,000.

How much should you give? This is a delicate matter but people often welcome guidance. Our immediate needs could be met if every household in the affected area contributed around £20. We do appreciate, though, that this may be beyond the means of some and contributions of whatever size will be welcome. On the other hand, if you can afford more, please give more. As much as you can!

How much is your rural environment worth to you?
Please support SPADE generously!

How you can help. You can contribute by cheque, made payable to SPADE and crossed A/C Payee Only. Please print the form below and return, with your donation, to

Dick Gould
Treasurer, SPADE
2 Bullsmead, Sunningwell
Abingdon, Oxon, OX13 6RL

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please find enclosed my donation to SPADE

Name: _______________________________________

Address: _____________________________________

Amount: £__________________

If you are a UK taxpayer, please help us increase the value of your donation by providing the following Gift Aid information:

Please place a tick in the box below

Yes, I would like SPADE to treat this gift and all future gifts I make as Gift Aid donations until further notice.

Date: _____________ Signature: __________________________

I would like a receipt: Yes / No (delete as applicable)