AN amateur artist has been told to knock down the studio he built without planning permission or he could face prosecution. Clive Hemsley lost an appeal against.
Conservatives were almost completely wiped out of South Oxfordshire District Council following the results of the 2023 local election today (Friday).They lost n.
Pub escapes conversion into house following sale );
ONE of Whitchurch’s two pubs has been saved from conversion into a house.
The Greyhound in High Street has been sold to Oak Taverns, a family-run operator based in Thame which owns 13 other premises, including the Red Lion at Chinnor and four breweries.
Punch Taverns put the pub on the market about six months ago, saying it was no longer viable.
The asking price was dropped from £675,000 plus VAT to £495,000 shortly before the sale was completed.
Several parties expressed an interest but Oak was the only one not seeking a residential conversion.
Agreement to protect rural pubs );
A MOTION to protect village pubs across South Oxfordshire has been approved.
Peter Dragonetti, who represents Whitchurch on the district council, put forward the motion in support of a campaign to revive the former White Lion at Crays Pond, which has been closed for eight years.
The motion said the council’s planning officers should use all legal powers to protect pubs, whether or not they are officially designated as assets of community value.
Councillor Dragonetti hopes this will make it easier for villagers to obtain a compulsory purchase order on the White Lion, which was made a community asset some months ago, if owner Satwinder Sandhu won’t sell or relet it.
Green councillor to share new role of ‘tree champion’ );
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A PARISH councillor in Goring Heath has been appointed a “tree champion” by South Oxfordshire District Council.
Peter Dragonetti, who represents Kidmore End and Whitchurch ward on the authority, will promote woodland conservation and tree-growing schemes and help officers produce a tree strategy.
Councillor Dragonetti, who represents the Green party, will share the role with Conservative councillor Ian Snowdon, who chairs the council’s planning committee.
The pair will educate the public about how trees protect the environment and can improve people’s health. They will also speak to community groups and town or parish councils about making the most of the statutory protections applied to trees.