A key decision point is weeks away and following the delivery of a parliamentary petition (4,562 signatures), the GHRA continues to fully support the campaign to keep London Road open. This is a cross-party issue that unites many within Bicester, and we are pleased our local MP, Calum Miller, continues to spearhead the campaign.
In support of the upcoming rally, we are asking those living at Graven Hill to come out if you can to champion access into town that works for everybody – especially us! If a well-designed underpass into Bicester can be secured (serving foot and wheeled transport) it would be a great outcome that would forever benefit all of us living at Graven Hill.
Join the official event and help spread the word (Facebook users)
Option 1 – Gather at the post-box (near Esquires coffee shop) @15.30 and depart Graven Hill @ 15:45 to walk together to Bicester Methodist Church.
Option 2 – Arrive independently at Bicester Methodist Church by 16.30 for a short walk to the London Road crossing to join Calum Miller MP and many others from Bicester for photos and press coverage (expected 17.30 finish)
All ages and abilities please (+pushchairs, mobility scooters, bikes, props & placards, etc)
A big thank you to all involved in making our Summer Fayre happen, with special thanks to Sarah Chaplin who put in a tremendous amount of work both on the day and in the lead up. Thanks also to the volunteers who helped set up and clear down the event, most notably the two marquees.
Hopefully, everyone that was able to attend enjoyed the event and with the defibrillator demonstrations maybe learnt something too. Perhaps you came away thinking that you might be able to help out with future community events and if so, please do get in touch.
We sold 555 raffle tickets on Sunday and somewhat improbably the holder of the last ticket sold was one of those that collected their prize! There were 14 prizes overall with the following five tickets also winning prizes yet to be claimed:
54, 71, 288, 321 and 332
Please email committee@gravenhillra.com to let me us know if you hold one of these tickets, where you are and and when it might be convenient to bring your prize over
There are more events to come, so please be on the lookout for them. Again, thank you Sarah and thanks everyone for coming.
The GHRA recently held an All Residents’ Meeting on Wednesday 7th May. Thanks to all who attended and for those who helped make it happen. Thanks also to Pradeep for the continued use of Wine Valley.
As you will probably be aware, East West Rail (EWR) intends to close the London Road level crossing to vehicles without providing an alternative crossing, and to construct a bridge or underpass for pedestrians and cyclists. The first part of the new line between Oxford and Bletchley is scheduled to open later this year and EWR is expected to close the crossing before it reaches full capacity, which would in any case see the crossing closed for up to 45mins every hour. In order to secure the best possible option for Graven Hill, whatever that looks like for you, you need to comment via https://eastwestrail.co.uk/consultation2024 before the official consultation concludes on Friday 24th January. Even if you have already provided feedback, please read the recommended steps towards the end of this article.
As it stands, cars and other traffic will no longer have access to the town centre and will have to use other routes such as the A41 towards Kingsmere, and Launton Road from around the ring road. This is expected to lead to increased pressure on the roads around Bicester and surrounding villages, affecting all vehicle users and not just those travelling to the town centre. EWR’s own figures from November 2023 indicate that there were 62,283 vehicle crossings per week. Although the closure of the level crossing may promote walking and cycling, residents will have to draw their own conclusions as to how many of these journeys can realistically be replaced this way. On top of this, whatever effect there is on traffic in the short-to-medium term, the situation will be compounded by the addition of 1,300 homes in the next stage at Graven Hill and the 1,500 homes planned at Wretchwick Green, just across the road between us and Langford.
Separate to this, there has also been concern about the proposed EWR designs for a pedestrian/cycling bridge or underpass (see chapter 8: https://eastwestrail-production.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/public/2024-con-docs-/50762a4465/EWR_2024_Con-Doc_v3.pdf#page=30 ). It is not clear, for instance, why sightlines are obstructed by a bend in the underpass, raising safety concerns for vulnerable users and why it needs to be as long as it is for such a short crossing. Alongside that, the proposed bridge is explicitly highlighted as the “cheap” option, compromising on aesthetics and function. Neither option shows the ambition of the Dutch underpass at Bilthoven station (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXX-KKQNs-Y&authuser=0 ) or the Bourg Walk bridge in Aylesbury. Both these examples also provide a lift for improved accessibility, something that EWR has not included.
There are grounds for optimism though. EWR is a national project and £750m has been set aside for its completion. This includes funds to address issues along the length of the line. Consequently, the challenge for residents is not to convince anyone to assign any new funds but to acquire a bigger slice of the pie by making the case that Bicester’s need is greater than that of others along the line. Our local MP, Calum Miller, also recently secured a debate in the House of Commons about the matter. He presented a compelling argument centred around “fairness” which has left the door open (or at least slightly ajar) for Bicester to improve upon the EWR proposals ( https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2024-12-11/debates/01CF065A-29BB-4C33-8FE9-5C708AC99511/NationallySignificantInfrastructureProjectsAndLocalRoadNetworks ).
So, what can we do? Whether you want to maintain the road link to the town centre via London Road or simply improve the pedestrian/cycle options currently on the table, it is very important that as many residents as possible (not just one per household) provide feedback as part of the EWR consultation process. This can only be done if an official form was completed at one of their consultation meetings or through the web form at https://eastwestrail.co.uk/consultation2024 . It should be noted that no other type of feedback provided to EWR will be taken into consideration. In addition to the formal consultation feedback, it is recommended that letters are also written to the Minister for Rail, Peter Hendy, at hendyp@parliament.uk making your views known. Please also copy in our local MP at calum.miller.mp@parliament.uk .
When providing your consultation feedback, the key question for Graven Hill residents is Q5 which is concerned with the Oxford to Bletchley portion of the line. If you believe access to the town centre via London Road by car is important, then select “Other” and explain why. If you favour a pedestrian/cyclist “bridge” or an “underpass”, still select “Other” to emphasise any concerns you have with the designs that have been put forward. The same applies if you don’t have a preference between either option for pedestrians and cyclists. Further help with annotated screenshots can be found at https://lvca.org.uk/london-road-online-responding-to-the-consultation/. As mentioned, the deadline for this feedback is when the consultation ends on Friday 24th January.
Bicester Foodbank needs tinned food donations for Christmas. Book a doorstep collection by the GHRA or use a drop-off point at Wine Valley.
For many, Christmas is a special time of year. It can though also prove to be a particularly difficult period for those less fortunate. The cost of living crisis has led to a situation where there are at least 2900 food banks across the UK – more than twice the number of branches of McDonalds.
This is a national issue but one that also impacts us locally in Bicester and here at Graven Hill. As a result, the GHRA wants to play a small part in helping out by undertaking a “Cans for Christmas” food drive for the Bicester Foodbank. So, in addition to being able to contribute directly to local food banks as usual, to make it even easier during this week, a member of the GHRA committee will collect your non-perishable food donation from your doorstep. Simply get in touch by messaging our Facebook account, replying to this post, or emailing us at committee@gravenhillra.com. All we need to know is where you are and a few convenient times to collect. There is also a drop-off point this week at Wine Valley.
Bicester Foodbank is especially looking for the following: tinned vegetables (including tomatoes), tinned fish, tinned meat or vegetarian meals, and tinned rice pudding. As well as tinned goods, they are also short of long-life milk (whole or semi-skimmed), long-life fruit juice or squash, hygiene products (shower gel, shampoo, soap, toothpaste), jars of coffee, pasta sauces or cooking sauces, tea bags, and crisps or snacks. Please ensure any donations are at least four weeks within their sell-by date and note that the Bicester Foodbank cannot, at this time, take dried pasta, rice, or breakfast cereals. They also are fully stocked up on Christmas-related items.
If you are one of the increasing number struggling this Christmas and think you would benefit from the assistance of a food bank, there are a number of options available locally. Please see the links at the very end of this post for more details. Unfortunately, the GHRA is unable to distribute food directly at this time. We will though be exploring ways to better support those in need in our community over the coming year.
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For more information about the increase in use of food banks:
Bicester Foodbank: you need a referral from front-line professionals such as your GP, Citizen’s Advice Bureau or a number of other agencies, including Bromford Housing: https://bicester.foodbank.org.uk/get-help/how-to-get-help/ (The Beacon, Wesley Lane, Bicester, OX26 6JU)
Bicester Community Fridge: youcan turn up without any referral but food choice is not guaranteed and may be limited. They respectfully discourage users from queuing ahead of opening times to avoid disruption the to day centre: https://fisd.oxfordshire.gov.uk/…/direc…/service.page… (Bicester Community Support Services, Launton Road, Bicester, OX26 6DJ)
Bicester Community Hub: free and youcan turn up without any referral but food choice is not guaranteed and may be limited as sourced by food surplus: https://m.facebook.com/BicesterHub/ (Perch Eco Business Centre, Bicester, OX26 8BL)
Open Doors Café: youcan turn up without any referral for a nutritious meal made from surplus food, served in a supportive, community-focused environment. Pay what you can afford: https://bicesteropendoors.org.uk (Bicester Methodist Church, Sheep Street, Bicester, OX26 6JQ)
Salvation Army: A training café for students with additional needs. Pay what you feel is a fair price: https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/bicester (The Vine, Training Café, Hart Place, Bicester OX26 4FR)
We have microphones for the online participants, so everyone here will be heard.
Introduce existing Committee and new nominees
But first, we are going to get right down to business with a Q&A with the leadership of GHVDC. We have with us tonight Adrian Unitt, Managing Director and Gemma Davis, Customer Experience Director.
GHVDC Q&A
Roads and Pavements
Resident asked if road sweepers could clean streets regularly as they used to; need to remove leaves clogging drains was highlighted.
Developer said there would be road sweeping and the frequency will increase in winter.
Resident asked if the village is any closer to getting finished roads and pavements.
Developer said resurfacing of roads in phases 1A and 1B should start Mid November 2024 and finish April 2025
Traffic and Speed Control
A resident asked whether the developer planned to implement speed control measures, particularly around the school area where safety concerns were raised.
The developer explained that traffic calming measures are included in the road designs, which will be implemented in the final works. These have been agreed with the highway’s authority.
It was highlighted that enforcement remains a challenge until formal traffic regulation orders (TROs) are in place. Once TROs are implemented, enforcement can begin.
Parking Issues
Parking was noted as a significant challenge, with the developer pushing back on proposals from Oxfordshire County Council to reduce parking spaces for new homes in Stage 2. The developer acknowledged that parking pressures are likely to increase as many households own multiple vehicles.
Developer believes reducing parking provision a retrograde step and will increase fly parking on roads.
Once TROs are enforced, Cherwell District Council will take over responsibility for parking restrictions.
Public Transport
A lack of bus services was highlighted by residents as exacerbating parking and traffic problems and suggested this lack could make GHV a special case with regards to having more parking.
Developer: encouraged residents to make strong representations for adequate parking in upcoming Stage 2 consultation.
Green Spaces
Developer said efforts are underway to transfer several community spaces, including the village green, entrance green, and Gateway Parks East and West, to the District Council.
Transfer process is delayed due to complications with the Section 106 agreement.
Minor defects are being addressed to meet council requirements and expedite the transfer.
Resident asked why Gateway Park is still not open 5 years after it was completed
Developer said inspections at Gateway Park found major issue with the boardwalk- absence of handrails. Council in 2018 requested handrails be omitted for aesthetic reasons; health and safety being met by reed planting, Council now demands handrail installation.
Adding handrails would cost £30,000, impacting development funds and housing costs; developer believes this is an unreasonable change of rules.
Council and developer at an impasse: Hence park remains closed, with no timescale for when it will open.
Councillors present at the meeting said they would pursue this to help resolve the issue.
Site Management
Resident questioned if developer would appoint a Health and Safety Officer
Developer said its construction director oversees site safety, with independent inspections from two companies, and no reportable incidents.
GHRA asked about reporting process for site issues.
Developer is recruiting a new Resident Liaison Officer who will be single point of contact. Meanwhile, concerns can go to Give My View portal or GHVDC’s Gemma Davis.
Resident asked if developer would install good quality CCTV due to recent crime and vandalism on site
Developer said CCTV is in place, but issues e.g. use of false number plates, limit its effectiveness to identify criminals; Neighbourhood Watch suggested for added security.
Residents Association said it would be supportive of any residents wishing to start a Neighbourhood Watch
The Future
Resident asked what progress on public consultation for stage 2.
Developer is sending feedback leaflet on Stage 2 consultation to all GH households, with revised proposals available on Give My View from October 30.
Public feedback event (November 8 at the developer’s sales office) will allow residents to discuss updates with the developer and third parties.
Updated proposal incorporates input from the February-March consultation and a design review panel.
GHRA asked how developer can freeze the design when there is no up-to-date tree survey. Developer said to wait and see the plans
Residents asked when convenience store would be built. Developer said this is part of Phase 1 plans. Timescale 2026.
Resident asked if residential home being built on former health hub site changed plans for extra care home opposite the school.
Developer said residential home does not impact plans for an extra care facility opposite the school. Added that extra care is part of the Stage 2 application and the current Section 106 agreement, providing affordable care through local authority. Developer said there is operator interest who seeks to remove the facility from the Section 106 agreement to secure grants, which are essential for viability. County Council declined to do this.
Resident asked when we would get a community centre, as now have over 500 residents, and developer in breach of 106 agreement which states building should have commenced.
Developer said building of community centre is now with Cherwell District Council and residents being consulted to move forward with it.
Build Defects
A resident raised concerns about a serious build defect that was discovered by residents, not through the developer’s quality control, questioning if the developer relies on residents to report issues. Resident said defect has serious implications, and had it remained undiscovered, would have had worse consequences in future.
Developer said it didn’t rely on residents to report defects, didn’t want to deliver defects, has reviewed procedures,
GHRA member Alex Bell, experienced structural engineer, described a site walk-around with developer’s Construction Manager Grant Gibson 6 months ago, who explained the developer’s quality control procedures, involving multiple levels – builder, contractor, Housing Association, GHVDC, building control. Notwithstanding these measures, Alex discovered several significant defects which could not be considered snagging, and wrote a report to the developer describing the defects what needed rectifying
Response to GHRA was that there was no problem, that the developer had just employed a design person (who does not deal with Quality Control), and no addressing of the actual defects. There were suggestions that libel and legal action might be taken against the GHRA.
Resident asked when libel action would be taken by developer against GHRA
Developer said that they were not bringing a libel case against GHRA. Resident asked why they had made an idle threat that could be considered bullying. Developer said they didn’t agree that the mention of libel was a threat, that they beg to differ with areas of Alex Bell’s report. Alex asked the developer to explain the technical justification for those differences, rather than just stating a difference of opinion.
Developer went on to say the chair of the Graven Hill board had outlined the developer position with regard to this in the letter and he couldn’t comment further on the matter.
GHRA said no response had been made to the letter from the Chair of GHDVC as yet and this will be a matter for the new committee. GHRA also said it will be following up on this defect issue on behalf of residents.
Prior to the vote, a resident suggested a comma be added to the following paragraph: “Any committee member may propose a single motion to be voted on by the Committee the next time the Committee meet. Any such motion must be discussed, for up to ten minutes.”
The Chair accepted the proposed revision and requested that the Committee vote on the proposed changes to the Constitution including the addition of the comma. The amendments were unanimously approved by the Committee present.
Treasurer’s Report
The financial report was presented, outlining an income of just over £3,000 for the year, which was lower than the previous year. Expenditures were around £4,500, leading to a deficit of £1,461.
Despite the deficit, the association’s reserves remained healthy at £7,208 at the close of the year, down slightly from the previous balance.
Chair’s Report
Events and Community Engagement
The Chair highlighted the success of various events, including the Christmas Cracker and Easter Egg Trail, which saw strong attendance despite weather challenges.
A significant focus for the year has been the relationship between self-builders and the developer, with efforts made to improve communication and support for those involved in the self-build process.
The Chair emphasised the work of the Build Standards group, who have been actively involved in identifying issues with construction quality and raising these with the developer.
Green Spaces and Landscaping
There has been noticeable improvement in the appearance and maintenance of green spaces on the development, although challenges remain in getting these areas transferred to the District Council for long-term management.
Discussions are ongoing about the handover of key public spaces, including the village green and various parks.
Community Centre/Sports Pavilion Update
Progress and Delays
The development of the community centre and sports pavilion remains delayed. The land and funding transfer from the developer to Cherwell District Council (CDC) is expected to occur by February of next year.
The delay has been partly due to ongoing negotiations between the developer and CDC regarding the costs associated with preparing the land for development.
The CDC is committed to working with residents on the design of the community centre. The project is expected to take several years, with an estimated opening around 2027.
Resident Input and Concerns
The residents’ association will continue working closely with CDC to ensure that the community’s needs are met in the design of the centre and associated facilities. John, an experienced architect volunteering with the association, will contribute to the design process to ensure the best use of the available space.
CMO (Community Management Organisation) Update
The CMO update focused on plans to establish a body that will take over the management of shared spaces and facilities in the Graven Hill development. The CMO will be responsible for managing green spaces, play areas, and potentially the community centre once built.
The District Council has agreed to fund a feasibility study into the establishment of the CMO, with results expected later in the year.
Announcement of Voting and Introduction of the New Committee
One person stood for each of four named positions hence no vote was held. The following persons took the named roles for 2024/25:
Paul Davis (Chair)
Robert Haxton (Vice Chair)
Fred Goldie (Secretary)
Sam Omotayo (Treasurer)
Nine residents stood for eight available general committee positions. A paper and online vote was held and eight were elected for 2024/25. They were:
Paul Bannister
Alex Bell
Sarah Chaplin
Iskra Garbachkova
Chris Grasby
Jitinder Hari
Tim Lobanov
Stephen Aggett
The new committee expressed their commitment to building on the work of their predecessors and ensuring that residents’ voices are heard in ongoing development discussions.
The outgoing Chair delivered a farewell speech, reflecting on the progress made over the past year and thanking all the volunteers who helped make events and initiatives a success.
The Chair expressed confidence in the incoming committee and their ability to continue advancing the association’s goals, particularly around community engagement, build standards, and the development of shared spaces.
Update from Town and District Councillor Chris Pruden
Councillor Chris Pruden provided an update from the Town Council, addressing some of the broader issues affecting Graven Hill, including the lack of public transport and ongoing discussions with the District Council about parking enforcement and community facilities.
He encouraged residents to stay involved in local consultations and to continue working with the Town Council to address any concerns.
Open Floor from the New Committee: What Do Residents Want the Committee to Focus On This Year?
The floor was opened to residents to share their priorities for the coming year. Several key areas were highlighted, including:
Continued focus on parking and traffic management
Ensuring that the community centre is developed in line with residents’ needs
Improving communication between self-builders and the developer
In accordance with the current Constitution, which reads:
Amendments to the constitution may only be made at the AGM or EGM.
Any proposal to amend the Constitution must be given to the Secretary in writing with the justification and proposed text of the amendment. These details must then be circulated with the notice of the meeting.
Any proposal to amend the Constitution requires a 2/3 majority vote of the Committee Members present.
We are giving advance notice of the below proposed changes to the GHRA Constitution via the “Graven Hill Residents and Self Builders – Official” Facebook group, http://www.gravenhillra.com, and flyer distribution.
The changes include:
Addition of “political affiliation” to sentence beginning “and that is not discriminatory in any way, in particular […]”
Increase in Committee size from 10 to 12
Addition of the sentence, “Committee members should be mindful of their comments in person and on official social platforms.”
Addition of the sentence, “Any committee member may propose a single motion to be voted on by the Committee the next time the Committee meet. Any such motion must be discussed for up to ten minutes.”
Come along to Chadwick Place (or to Graven Hill School if wet) to enjoy our 2nd annual fete. Looking to make it as good as last year.
Different date, but all the fun is the same: bouncy castle, games, food /drink vans, craft home-made cake, tombolas and much more. Four free tickets for the GHRA games for every GH household. These will be printed on a flyer which you will get through your door 2 weeks before the fete. Keep these safe and bring them along on the day to get your free turns. If you didn’t get them please contact us at officers@gravenhillra.com.
As last year, all GHRA games, the tombolas and bouncy castle are ticket-only payment. Tickets available using credit card or cash at the Ticket Booth at the fete entrance. All other stalls and food vans accept cash or cards depending on the vendor.
If you have a business and you’d like a stall at the fete to sell your goods, it’s £10 a pitch (bring your own table and chair )(and gazebo if you wish) Spaces are limited so contact us at officers@gravenhillra.com to reserve your place.
We are also looking for donations of:
Home-made cakes for the day of the fete
preloved teddies (or other soft toys) for the Teddy Tombola.
preloved books and DVDs for the book stall
If you can help with any of these, please email officers@gravenhillra.com to arrange drop off or collection (at least two weeks in advance of the fete for teddies and books and on the day for cakes)
The GHRA held an EGM to propose constitutional amendments and discuss the latest developments at Graven Hill with self builders, residents and local Councillors. You can download the slides and minutes of the meeting below.
Graven Hill Residents' Association 