From District Councillor Dec 2009

SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS

FROM ELIZABETH GILLESPIE

I am delighted to report that our battle to protect our Green Belt has been very

successful. As you know, SODC together with CPRE and the University challenged

the Secretary of State to a judicial review on the proposed urban extension of Oxford

City into the South Oxfordshire Green Belt south of Grenoble Road.

The Secretary of State declined to defend this and we are expecting the current

government to issue an order to take all references to Grenoble Road out of the South

East Plan, thereby forcing Oxford City Council to modify the City's Local Plan. I

would like to add here that I have been assured that the Conservative Party is

committed to protecting our Green Belt.

In terms of expansion of employment and housing I remain firm in my belief that

there should be co-ordinated development in our County Towns; thus distributing

prosperity to the whole County.

SODC have initiated the new recycling system and it has exceeded all our

expectations: we now have one of the highest rates of recycling in the country. I

would like to take this opportunity to thank you all very much indeed for your

cooperation and patience over the establishing of this set up: quite apart from the

crucial eco value of it, we also have the not inconsiderable financial benefit from the

grant we have received from the County Council, which is at least five times that

earned under the previous scheme; savings for your Council to the benefit of all of

South Oxfordshire!

On a more practical level: for those families of six and over who are finding the

current bins inadequate please do apply to the Council and you will be re-assessed for

additional plastic bags and thereafter put on the list for the larger 360 litre bins which

are due to arrive early in year, as are the smaller bins.

As we are nearing Christmas-tide I would like to wish everyone a wonderful

Christmas and a very good 2010.

Many thanks,

Elizabeth