A bus roadshow will soon be touring the county seeking the views of Oxfordshire.
For five days from Monday 18 February, the Oxford Bus Company vehicle will be visiting towns and villages to encourage people to have their say on the Oxfordshire Plan 2050.
The Plan is part of the £215m Housing & Growth Deal agreed by the Oxfordshire Growth Board with the Government, and is being formed by all Oxfordshire’s authorities.
It will set out aspirations for the county’s future and consider how best to deliver new homes and infrastructure and other improvements to achieve these for a better quality of life for all.
We want to make sure the Plan reflects what is important to our communities, local organisations and businesses and include their views at the earliest stage of the plan-making process.
From Monday 11 February until Monday 25 March people can read the first draft document and leave their comments online at:
https://oxfordshireplan.inconsult.uk/consult.ti [1]
We are also hitting the road to give as many different communities, organisations and businesses the chance to have their say.
The roadshow will give people the chance to talk to the team working on the Plan, find out more about the Plan, what’s in the consultation document and share their thoughts.
And as it takes place in half-term week, there will also be a range of family fun activities such as arts and craft, pedal generators, rowing machines and more on offer at each roadshow location.
Following the bus tour, there will be five further drop-in exhibitions across the county during the consultation period where the team will again be on hand to help with any queries.
Councillor James Mills, chair of the Oxfordshire Plan Member Sub-Group and Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “This is the start of the conversation as we begin to think about what we want our county to look like in 2050.
“It is our opportunity to achieve a better future for all and we want to ensure it reflects the views of as many people as possible. I’d encourage everyone to get involved either online or at one of our consultation events and have their say.”
Phil Southall, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director said: “We’re pleased to support the Oxfordshire 2050 roadshow by providing the transport.
It’s so important people contribute their views and have a say on the future of their county, and what better way than on one of our modern, eco-friendly vehicles.”
Here is the full list of events:
BUS ROADSHOW
Weds 20 Feb
9am – 11.30am
Leisure Centre, Chipping Norton
Weds 20 Feb
1pm – 3.30pm
Town Hall, Carterton
Thurs 21 Feb
9am – 11.30am
Exeter Hall, Kidlington
Thurs 21 Feb
1pm – 3.30pm
Templars Square Shopping Centre, Cowley, Oxford*
Friday 22 Feb
9am – 11.30am
Sheep Street, Bicester
Friday 22 Feb
1pm – 3.30pm
Ferry Leisure Centre, Summertown, Oxford
EXHIBITIONS
Mon 25 Feb
3pm – 8pm
Guildhall, Abingdon
Wed 27 Feb
3pm – 8pm
Cornerstone, Didcot
Mon 4 March
3pm – 8pm
Corn Exchange, Witney
Wed 13 March
3pm – 8pm
Town Hall, Banbury
Thurs 14 March
3pm – 8pm
Town Hall, Oxford
_*Please note the Cowley event is an indoor pop-up exhibition___
The consultation comes after all six Oxfordshire authorities approved the draft document following a series of meetings over the past few weeks.
The document was also subject to recommendations from the Oxfordshire Growth Board Scrutiny Panel.
You can find out more about the Oxfordshire Plan and the public consultation at www.oxfordshireplan.org [2]
ENDS
ANDREW SMITH
Communications Officer (West Oxfordshire District Council)