The Clifton Hampden Neighbourhood Plan has been signed off and adopted by SODC.
For more information please see below the correspondence received.

Congratulations to everyone involved!!

SODC Correspondence:

The Clifton Hampden Neighbourhood Plan was made by the district council on 24 October 2024.

The final decision report and the made Clifton Hampden Neighbourhood Plan have now been published on the Council’s website.

The Decision Statement and the Clifton Hampden Neighbourhood Plan can also be inspected at:

An Appeal has been lodged by Ethical Power against South Oxfordshire District Council’s decision to reject their proposals for a massive Solar Installation at Burcot Farm. Their applications have been rejected three times, but their appeal directly to the Secretary of State could overturn SODC’s decision, the objections of the vast majority of local residents and the workings of our local democracy.

We need to act NOW to prevent Ethical Power and their team of lawyers winning their appeal and SAVE OUR GREENBELT.

Please send your objections ASAP to the Appeals Casework Portal at SODC – click on ‘Make Representation’ once through to the website:

https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ViewCase.aspx?caseid=3350890

You can also send your comments to:

Alison Bell, The Planning Inspectorate Room, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Bristol BS1 6PN

We need to do more to generate clean electricity and contribute to the fight against global warming and the use of fossil fuels, but this need not come at the expense of our Greenbelt and high-grade agricultural land when there are much more suitable ‘grey belt’ and brown field sites available.

THE DEADLINE FOR OBJECTIONS IS 5^thNOVEMBER SO PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS NOW!

Here are some of the reasons why this development has already been rejected:

• Inappropriate development directly affecting the openness of the Greenbelt, in contravention of SODC’s DES9 policy for renewable energy.

• The existing agricultural land is classified as Best and Most Versatile for food production. DES7 states use of such valuable land for development should be avoided in favour of poorer quality land or brownfield sites.

• The National Planning Policy Framework states that Local Planning Authorities should protect and enhance the landscape - the proposed Solar Farm is in direct conflict with this policy.

• Industrialisation of the landscape in direct view from an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Wittenham Clumps) - also in contravention of DES9.

• The cumulative impact of the destruction of the Greenbelt from Abingdon to Berinsfield. With the Activity centre, new housing in Culham, the Clifton Hampden bypass, a Burcot Solar farm and expansion of Berinsfield forming a continuous stream of development on greenbelt land.

• Compromising locally valued biodiversity.

•  Endangering the safe movement of traffic and pedestrians during the construction phase - again in contravention of DES9.

•  The effects of noise pollution, the intrusive visual impact and the use and storage of hazardous substances are all in contravention of SODC’s DES6 policy covering Residential Amenity.

•  A complete lack of community consultation for this application.

Site Address : Burcot Farm Burcot OX14 3GW Description of development: Installation of a ground mounted solar photovoltaic array, co-located battery energy storage scheme (BES) together with associated infrastructure; security fencing; CCTV; access gate; on-site biodiversity net gain. Application reference: P23/S4132/FUL Appellants name : Burcot Solar Farm Limited Appeal reference : APP/Q3115/W/24/3350890 Appeal start date: 1st October 2024

Many of you know Peter Massam who lived in Clifton Hampden until a few years ago.

He is still an active member of the Wildlife Club, and regularly visits to enjoy the river and woodlands.

Together with Peter, we had a visit from Wild Oxfordshire who have offered their support to the Parish as part of the South Oxfordshire Nature Recovery activities. Peter has kindly written a proposal which can be read below.

A landowner in Burcot has kindly agreed to allow the permissive footpaths across his land to address existing gaps and provide more circular routes within the parish for pedestrians. Parishioners are invited to try out these paths.

Any feedback to on the route can be sent to christine.mcculloch@cliftonhampden.org.uk, before April 2025 when these permissive footpaths will be officially recognised.

Click here to download PDF.

We are through the first stage, the OCC have drafted the plans for the areas proposed for 20MPH.

See proposal map is below.

Click here to download PDF.

Burcot and Clifton Hampden Parish Council is looking for a Parish Clerk and Responsible Finance Officer to support its activities.

The Parish Council has a precept of £ 15k per year and serves a population of around 660 people.

This is primarily a home-based position of 6 hours per week but also requires attendance at Parish Council meetings (typically up to 11 per year), and Annual Parish Meetings.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. SCP 13 -23 (£13.97 - £16.67 per hour).

The Council seeks an existing Clerk or someone who is interested to learn. Training and support will be provided.

Key skills include excellent communication, a high standard of accuracy and numeracy, good administrative organisation, tact and diplomacy.

A full range of IT skills including the use of Word, Excel, PAYE and online banking is also required.

Experience of local government or Parish Council work would be an advantage.

The key duties of the Clerk are:

• Supporting the council in carrying out its duties and implementing its decisions.
• Providing independent advice and support, including managing the Council's website.
• Preparing the agenda for and taking minutes at council meetings.
• Dealing with correspondence and enquiries from the public.
• Managing the council’s finances preparing its annual accounts and managing the annual audit process.
• Ensuring Insurances are up to date and any identified damage / risk to PC land / equipment or any potential insurance claim is dealt with quickly.
• Booking ROSPA Playground Inspections and any required playground repairs.
• In collaboration with the Chair, developing a set of standard operating procedures to assist the day to day running of Council business.
• Managing all Council contracts (such as grass cutting and tree management)
• Managing all Council contracts (such as grass cutting and tree management)

Application deadline: 30th May 2024

Interview date to be agreed at a mutually convenient time.

Starting date: As soon as possible.

Following the resignation of Glenn Pereira from the Parish Councillors a request was made (by 10 electors) to South Oxfordshire District council for an election to fill the vacancy.

Nominations will need to be submitted to the District Council between 8^th and 13^thMay.

Below is a link to guidance for completing the nomination form:

And a link to the nomination pack:

If there are more than 1 nominee, the District Council propose to hold the election on 13th June 2024, and the polling station will be the cricket Club at the Recreation Ground.

If there is only 1 nominee, that person will be declared elected on 16^th May 2024.