Local Plan Consultation – What’s Happening and Why It Matters
West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) has recently published its Local
Plan 2043 ‘Preferred Spatial Options Consultation Paper (October 2025)’.
This is not yet a draft Local Plan, but an early consultation document where
the council sets out its preferred options for how and where future housing
and development could take place across the district up to 2043. It is
important to note that this is not a planning application and does not grant
permission for any development; it simply informs WODC which sites might be
considered in future versions of the Local Plan.
Hopefully many of you will have seen your parish council’s initial response
to this via Tackley Notices, the Spotted Tackley page on Facebook, or our
noticeboard on the village hall; and many of you went to the consultation
event WODC held in the village hall in November. Residents’ concerns
regarding flooding and sewage in particular seemed to be heard by those
present from the planning department.
It is important that as many people as possible respond to the preferred
options. You can do this online by going to
tackley.link/106 — this will open
what looks like just the consultation document, but if you scroll to page 79
you will find the section on Tackley. If you then scroll to page 80 you will
find a link to click to submit your comments.
Local Plan Consultation – Housing and Economic Land Availability
Assessment
The Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment is another
evidence-gathering document used by WODC to identify land that might be
suitable for housing or employment development between 2025 and 2043.
The full document can be found via
tackley.link/107 — and Tackley starts
at page 318.
There are eight plots identified in Tackley, five of which are deemed not
suitable – one being the land off Rousham Road mentioned above (TACK003 area
U) – and two other sites have been identified as ‘suitable in part’: one is
the field between Medcroft Road and Ball Lane, including the allotments and
the woodland/spinney off Lower Hades Road — indicative capacity 22 houses;
TACK005 in the document.
The other is the field to the west of Ball Lane, seen as infill with an
indicative capacity of 15 houses, numbered TACK006.
Again, it is important to note that this is not a planning application and
does not grant permission for any development. It simply informs WODC which
sites might be considered in future versions of the Local Plan.
You can comment on these within the spatial options consultation mentioned
before. It does all seem rather disjointed, and the means of commenting is
not easy to navigate. If that is all too much, please email
planning.consultation@westoxon.gov.uk.
Tree Work
Mark Blake will be conducting some tree work around the village at the
beginning of December, storms permitting. Much of the work is in response to
our village tree survey, and is for safety reasons.
Section 106
The final vote on how the Section 106 funding should be allocated will be
in February.
Councillor Vacancy
Councillor Steve Hill resigned from the parish council last month. I’d like
to thank him for the time and energy he gave to the council.
Thank you to Councillor Angus Paxton who has taken on his roles in planning
and regarding EV chargers.
This means we have a vacancy on the council. If you are interested in what
it entails or would like to apply, please contact our clerk, Cherie, at
parishclerk@tackleyvillage.co.uk. We will be conducting interviews in
January/February.
In April, Tackley Rail User Group met Eleanor Wills in the Gardiner Arms.
Eleanor is the Regional Development Manager for Great Western Railway, and
wanted to talk about future plans for the railways in Oxfordshire, and the
implications for our line. She painted an exciting picture over the next
decade; though with railways going back into public ownership, much will now
depend on the level of Government financial support.
Here are some of the key messages:
Oxfordshire’s Unique Geography
Unlike Cambridge, which is centred around one tight-knit economy,
Oxfordshire is more dispersed — with many smaller towns and economic
‘jewels’. People commute from all directions — from Tackley to Oxford,
Harwell Campus, Milton Park and more. Better connectivity is vital for this
decentralised setup.
The Push for Local Influence
There’s movement towards creating a unitary authority in Oxfordshire. A
simpler structure for local authorities will give them more influence on
train services in their area.
More Trains, But Infrastructure Challenges
Subject to Government funding, battery operated trains will be introduced
on our line in about five years’ time. There is a desire to increase the
frequency of trains – perhaps to hourly – but the line is shared with
express and freight trains, and already at capacity. Closing level crossings
will allow more frequent trains.
Hanborough Growth and Tackley Impacts
Hanborough saw a 50% increase in passenger numbers in just one year, and
the car park is full by 7:30 am. Despite this, there’s currently no
funding available from the Department for Transport (DfT) for additional
parking. Unlocking improvements may depend on Section 106 or Community
Infrastructure Levy funding from local developments.
Substantial growth for parking at Heyford is being planned.
Joined-Up Ticketing
There’s a vision for better integration between buses and trains, allowing
for single-ticket journeys across different modes — a step towards making
public transport simpler and more attractive.
Late Night Saturday and Sunday Services
Eleanor acknowledged that last year’s survey showed very strong support for
reinstating a late night Saturday service from Oxford. Antisocial behaviour
was the main reason the service was withdrawn a few years ago. Antisocial
behaviour has become a serious issue on some services, particularly in the
evenings. In some cases, coach companies have refused to offer rail
replacement buses because of safety concerns. We were encouraged to press
the case for reinstatement, if only on a temporary basis.
Any extension of Sunday services throughout the year will depend on the
financial models being developed by the DfT in the run-up to
renationalisation.
Trial Periods and Future Surveys
There’s openness to trialling new ideas, but any lasting improvements will
need community backing, clear data, and practical mitigation plans.
“Organ playing is the manifestation of a will filled with the vision of
eternity” — so said Charles Marie Widor, composer of the spectacular
Toccata from his 5th Organ Symphony that has been a popular
choice at weddings since the wedding of Princess Anne (now the Princess
Royal) in 1973.
The Cathedral Singers of Christ Church in front of Tackley’s
new organ
On Sunday, 20 July, St Nicholas’ church hosted the last event
organised to celebrate the inauguration of its new pipe organ. The Right Rev
Gavin Collins, Bishop of Dorchester, presided over a service of choral
evensong, sung by members of the Cathedral Singers of Christ Church under
their director, Hilary Punnett, and brilliantly accompanied by their
organist, Simon Hogan. The Cathedral Singers are the mixed adult choir that
sings many of the services in Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, and we were
privileged to host them as a guest choir for this special occasion.
During the service, prayers were said to dedicate the new organ for its
role in providing music to lead worship in church; and the organ was used in
celebration to accompany the psalm, hymns and choral music by the Italian
Renaissance composer Ludovico da Viadana and the 19th century English
organist and composer Thomas Attwood Walmisley. The service concluded with a
magnificent voluntary by Felix Mendelssohn from his 4th Organ Sonata,
skilfully played with panache by Simon Hogan.
So, our new organ is now fully launched! But this is not the end of the
story, only the end of the beginning. As well as being used for regular
church services, we are planning to organise a continuing series of musical
events in the church in the coming months. This will include organ concerts
and special services involving organ music, starting with Advent Sunday,
30 November for an organ meditation. This will be followed by a recital
given by David Bannister from St John’s College, Oxford on Saturday,
6 December and the carol service on Sunday, 21 December. Look out
for announcements of other upcoming events in 2026 to hear the new organ in
action.
Note that we are still fundraising to add some additional stops and
facilities, which could not be accommodated in the initial budget agreed by
the parochial church council, to make the organ even better! New ideas for
fundraising events and activities are always welcome — contact me on email
or via the church.
Heartfelt Thanks for Remembrance Day
Tackley Parish Council
What a moving and well-attended Remembrance Day service we had this year:
the dedication of the entire Tackley community in coming together to honour
those who served.
Thank you to the Tackley Women’s Institute (WI) for volunteering their time
and hard work in preparing the cakes, tea and coffee shared after the
service.
Thank you to all who provided the thoughtful readings.
Special thanks to June Collier for all her efforts in coordinating the
event’s preparation.
A special mention goes to the football match — we are grateful for your
respectful pause mid-match for the two-minute silence.
Thank you once again to everyone who took the time to come together to
remember.
As the festive season approaches, we are preparing for an exciting time at
our school. Our students have been diligently working on three productions,
along with our annual church service, which are sure to be enjoyable for
all.
We would like to thank the community for the support shown during the
recent firework display. Special thanks to Jo Thomas for her leadership of
the PTA committee and to Rob Marshall from the Scouts for their amazing work
in ensuring the event was successful.
A word of thanks goes to our volunteers who hear the children read. Your
contribution is important for their learning. Additionally, we thank all
parents for their involvement, especially in supporting the PTA fundraising
events; every effort counts towards improving our children’s education.
As we near the end of the year, from all at Tackley School, we wish you a
merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
We’re delighted to say it’s been a really productive year for the village
hall. Behind the scenes, a huge amount of progress has been made — from
improvements to the building itself, to planning for future projects and
preparing a packed calendar of events. None of this would be possible
without the continued support of the village, and we’re excited to share
what’s been happening.
A Warmer Future: Improving the Hall for Everyone
As part of our ongoing effort to prepare the hall for future expansion,
we’ve invested in several upgrades to improve comfort, efficiency and
usability for everyone who hires it.
We’ve installed a brand new industrial oven, are in the process of
upgrading our heating systems, and have added insulation to the roof to
improve warmth and energy efficiency. These changes form part of our
Warmer Future project — a long-term plan to make the hall more
accessible, more comfortable, and better suited to the groups and events
that rely on it.
We would like to say a huge thank-you to the village shop and the parish
council for donating funds to support these improvements. Community backing
like this makes all the difference.
We’ve just been awarded £15,650 from a Spacehive fundraising programme.
£8,000 came from the Westhive main fund and £7,650 from the Community
Infrastructure Fund to help fund our Warmer Future project —
but to unlock it, we need your help!
Building up to the village hall extension, we are applying for grants. Some
grants, like this one, can only be used for smaller, specific projects that
can be completed on their own, rather than as part of a larger build.
That’s why we created the Warmer Future project — a key
stepping stone towards the bigger vision. This phase focuses on improving
insulation and energy efficiency, helping us reduce heating costs, lower
carbon emissions, and make the hall warmer and more welcoming in the
meantime — and prepped for the larger project. It’s a practical step forward
that brings immediate benefits to the community while building momentum
towards the full extension. But here’s where we need your help: we
need to raise £2,000 to show local support to unlock the £15,000. So far we
have raised more than £600!
To donate, visit
tackley.link/warmer or search
‘tackley village hall spacehive’.
The village hall has always been a place where friendships form, memories
are made, and our community comes together. Every bit of support, no matter
how small, helps us preserve that spirit and ensure the hall will serve
generations to come.
Extension: We Need Your Expertise
We’ve recently refined and scaled down our original extension plans. This
allows us to pursue a project that is more manageable for our volunteer-run
committee, especially as we don’t have specialist building development
expertise.
However, we know Tackley is full of people with knowledge, experience and
skills that could help us ask the right questions, avoid pitfalls, and move
forward confidently. There is no commitment required — even one conversation
or a bit of guidance would be incredibly valuable to us. We are looking for
anyone with experience in:
Building design or construction
Planning permission
Project management
Architecture or surveying
Budgeting/build cost estimation
Utilities or mechanical/electrical systems
Or simply anyone who has overseen a home extension or project and can offer
insight.
Again, we are not asking for you to commit any more than you are willing to
give. Any tips, advice or contacts would be very helpful!
If you’re willing to offer a little support, please get in touch with Julie
Farren at chair@tvmh.org.uk. We would
truly appreciate it.
Roof Repairs
We’ve recently carried out repairs to the village hall roof after several
tiles were damaged. Unfortunately, we believe that children climbing onto
the roof is still an issue, and further tiles have now broken. Please could
parents and carers have a word with their children about staying off the
roof — it’s not only a safety concern but also creates extra repair costs
for the hall.
These repairs were especially important as the shop experienced leaks last
winter; and with the current weather, we’re keeping a close eye on
everything.
Village-Wide Garage Sale
We’re excited to announce a village-wide garage sale event planned for late
April Residents will have the option to be listed on an event map so
visitors know exactly where to find you. For those without a driveway or
garage, we will also be offering sale spaces at the village hall. There will
be:
Refreshments at the hall
A raffle
A map with sale locations
A treasure-hunt-style for all participants
More details will be shared nearer the time, but we’re looking forward to
this being a great community day and fundraiser.
Tackley’s Pop-Up Pub had a fantastic year, with our First Friday
Nights Live events bringing in big crowds and creating a brilliant
atmosphere. These nights were incredibly well attended and enjoyed by
all.
We made the decision not to open regularly over the winter so we can
instead focus our energy on delivering more of these high-quality events
next season.
Returning to our ethos for 2026, we propose:
Community – Contribution – Celebration
Gather – Give – Grow
Support local groups through fundraising
Last season, most food was provided by visiting vendors. Many had
exceptionally busy nights, with profits ranging from £200 to more than £500.
While this was great for them, we want to take the next step and ensure that
this kind of income is being reinvested back into Tackley.
Next year, we want to actively encourage local groups, clubs, charities,
and community initiatives to use the Pop-Up Pub as a fundraising
opportunity.
Whether you have experience running events, or absolutely no idea where to
start, we are here to help you.
The PTA has shown how successful this partnership can be, and we want all
community groups to have the same chance. If you’d like to discuss ideas or
would like support in running a fundraising night, please reach out.
We’re returning to our roots next year with a renewed focus on
sustainability. In the past, we’ve provided glasses, seating, and other
amenities — but this has significantly increased the workload for our small
team of volunteers.
From next season onwards, we kindly ask that you:
Bring your own glasses
Bring your own chairs (when the event is outside)
Or, if you do use items provided by the hall, please help us by clearing
away.
We are also always looking for extra hands, whether as a one-off or on a
more regular basis — helping behind the bar, assisting with setup, or even
offering food. If you’re interested, please contact Julie Farren at
chair@tvmh.org.uk or Matt Ollman at
secretary@tvmh.org.uk — or simply
chat to either of them at any upcoming event.
Christmas & New Year Events
Christmas Eve karaoke – free
New Year’s Eve party – tickets £10
Tickets are available behind the bar on Christmas Eve or by contacting a
committee member.
Looking Ahead
Next year, the Pop-Up Pub will focus strongly on giving back to the
community, creating more ways for local groups to raise money and for the
whole village to come together. We can’t wait to see what the new season
brings.
Poppy Appeal
Sue Pitts
A total of £753.59 was raised in the village for this year’s Poppy
Appeal.
This included the collections from the Remembrance Day service at the
village hall and the evening service at the church. A donation was also
received from Tackley Parish Council.
Thank you to the village shop and Sturdy’s Castle for having collection
boxes; and also to the school, where children gave their time to sell items
from an activity box.
My thanks to everyone who gave so generously, and a special thank-you to
Lin who gave her time to help me at the village hall on the two Saturday
mornings.
The volunteer mowers who have kept the churchyard neat and tidy for so long
have taken a well-deserved retirement. We now need new volunteers to start
mowing next season. We already have one volunteer, but we need more to be
able to cover the full area. If you feel you might be able to spare some
time to help with the mowing, please contact me to find out more.
In the church, the countdown to Christmas officially begins on Advent
Sunday, the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Many people today count down to
24 December with an Advent calendar, and in the church we count down
the Sundays to Christmas with our Advent wreath.
The lead-up to Christmas is a delightful and busy mix of events and
preparations, from parties and Christmas plays to shopping and cooking. In
all this excitement and busyness, it is worth taking a moment to pause and
think about what we are looking forward to and preparing to celebrate.
The Advent wreath helps us to reflect as we light the four outer candles,
remembering the people and their dreams in the long journey through time
towards Christ’s first coming at Christmas. The patriarchs or fathers of the
Christian faith – Abraham, Issac and Jacob – and the hope they had for the
future. The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel who told us of the birth
of Christ, who would bring peace between God and us — and one another. John
the Baptist, who in God’s love was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. And
Mary, the mother of Jesus, who responded with joy at the news of Christ’s
coming.
As we listen to the news of wars across the world and abundant suffering,
we are reminded again of the importance of holding on to and working
together with hope, peace, love and joy. As we hope for a better world, we
build peace with small simple acts of love, helping everyone to find joy
everyday.
Building this better world filled with hope, peace, love and joy takes
time, and continues beyond Christmas Day into 2026. If you would like to
think about how to find joy in the simple things, please search ‘Twelve Joys
of Christmas’ or go to
cofe.io/TheJoyOfChristmas
for a series of meditations written by Nicholas Papadopulos, the Dean of
Salisbury.
I wish you all a Christmas filled with hope, peace, love and joy.
At Features we continue to show a variety of films each month: some old and
some new, some light-hearted and some more challenging. We try to show a
balance of films that people will enjoy. Our recent films have included
varied subject matter such as the choosing of a new pope, the effects on a
community of the closure of the local coal mine, the discovery of Saxon
treasures, and the story of a couple’s long walk to find healing and home.
The one thing we try to ensure is that the films all tell a good story
well.
We generally show films with a PG, 12A or 15 classification. Details of
what the classification means for a particular film can be found on the
British Board of Film Classification
website.
Our films are free but we have a donations box. We are very grateful to all
who attend Features and have given so generously to the various charities we
have supported including Mind, Shelter, Crisis, Flexicare and Tackley
Methodist Church. We are pleased to support smaller, local charities as well
as those that are better known.
We have a variety of films planned for the next few months including a look
back at some older films that are definitely worth seeing again.
We look forward to seeing you at the Methodist church for a cuppa and a
film at 7 pm on the following Thursdays: 22 January,
19 February, 12 March, 23 April and 21 May.
Keep a look out for email notifications through Tackley Notices, posts on
the Spotted Tackley Facebook page, and the posters we place on noticeboards
in the week before each film. Our film licence means that we are unable to
externally advertise the names of the films, hence the rather cryptic
posters. You can, however, have access to the programme of films by emailing
us.
Tackley WI continued to enjoy an interesting and varied programme of events
in October and November, and welcomed several visitors to our meetings.
On Tuesday, 2 December our members have a Christmas craft evening,
making Christmas tree decorations. We are looking forward to a creative and
festive evening.
In January, Tackley WI takes a short break and does not hold a meeting.
We have a full programme of talks and activities planned for 2026, covering
a wide variety of topics and practical crafts.
On Tuesday, 3 February our guest speaker, Jackie Allen, will
demonstrate how to pack the ultimate capsule suitcase. Inspiration for our
travels! There will also be fashion items and accessories for sale.
All women are warmly invited to come along and enjoy our evening meetings.
Visitors £5, including refreshments.
Tackley WI has a friendly and welcoming membership. Most months we hold a
coffee morning for our members, which provides an additional social
opportunity to meet and chat. Our members have wide and varied interests,
and our ages range from 30s to 90s.
Tackley WI meets on the first Tuesday of the month (excluding January) at
7:30 for 7:45 pm at Tackley Village Memorial Hall.
For any enquiries, please do email us.
Tackley WI would like to take this opportunity to wish you all season’s
greetings, and very best wishes for a happy Christmas and New Year.
We are a small, friendly club that meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays
of the month at 7 pm at Tackley Village Memorial Hall. We don’t have
any meetings in December, but our dates for January are Tuesday,
13 January and Tuesday, 27 January.
Members often bring their own projects, but recently some of us have been
trying counted cross stitch and origami. We may try some simple macramé in
the new year.
Our series of talks continues until April. On Monday, 26 January
Stephen Barker’s theme is Women in the First World War. See the
website for more details.
Our Gift From Tackley’s Distant Past
One day in 2018 some of us stood in a field that used to be Tackley
farmland and watched the skeleton of a Roman villa complex emerging from the
earth. Nobody will forget what we saw: it was a revelation. It was proof
that people had lived where we live now, going about their business –
worrying, quarrelling, labouring, laughing – more than 1,600 years ago. Even
sitting outside on a summer evening drinking wine. They had left their
evidence for us all to see.
Perhaps you missed that moment, having come to the village in the last few
years. Perhaps you live in one of the houses in Roman Place, and it’s your
turn to drink wine there on a summer evening, and you’d like to know why
it’s your address. The
Tackley Local History Group
website would be a good first step. A brochure is available, published
by Thames Valley Archaeological Services who carried out the excavation
under David Sanchez. And if you want to know more, you can see his full
report. It’s a fascinating story of treasure discovered on our doorstep, in
our lifetime.
As you’ll know if you watch archaeology programmes on television, sites
like this are afterwards cleared for new building and the evidence removed.
The Tackley finds will be processed by the Oxfordshire Museum. It’s a long
process, but eventually we can hope to see them for real as well as in
photographs. And there’s one important exception, because what remains of
one of the mosaic floors belongs to our community.
The history group has prepared a storyboard about the discovery of the
mosaic — look out for it appearing shortly in the lobby of the village hall.
Notice an important figure in the centre: John Perkins, the inspirational
former chair of the group, who masterminded the operation with such
enthusiasm; and whose death in 2023 was a sad loss to our village. We must
carry forward his mission.
Farming on the site began soon after the Roman legions arrived in Britain;
and in the four centuries until they left, it prospered. A stone building of
increasing size housed a lifestyle of increasing importance. Nothing
reflects this as clearly as the mosaic floors that emerged from the
excavation. One of them has been preserved by the digging team, and in
recognition of the significance of the discovery of the villa complex to the
people of Tackley, the developers, Deanfield Homes, have donated it to the
village.
Have you ever been given a wonderful gift that presents problems? A whole
fresh salmon, say, when you don’t possess a fridge big enough for it? This
is our situation. We want to have our mosaic on display — as much a symbol
of the place as our coronation oak trees. It could be mounted on a wall or
under a floor. Everyone would like to see it, but where? Suggestions,
please. This gift is for everyone, now and in the future.
The walking group is a friendly way to get to know our local countryside
and surrounding areas. We have had glorious weather for the summer season,
although particularly hot weather meant that one of our walks did not take
place in July. As we are now enjoying the lovely autumn colours and move
towards winter, there are some very nice walks to look forward to.
We arrange two walks each month. Walks on second Saturdays meet at
9:30 am and are approximately 5–8 miles, while those on fourth
Wednesdays meet at 2 pm and are approximately 3–5 miles.
We meet at the village hall before each walk to arrange car sharing, bus or
train to the start of the walk. Most walks are in North Oxfordshire, but we
sometimes venture a bit further afield. Some walks conclude with an optional
lunch or refreshment at a local pub or cafe. Routes are often suitable for
dogs kept under close control.
We warmly welcome regular and new members to join us.
Our programme to the end of September, below, can also be found on the
village website. Further details of each route will be sent out via Tackley
Notices.
Please note that walks may be subject to change, and that walkers take
responsibility for their own safety.
Saturday, 13 December at 9:30 am: An Oxford walk down to
Iffley Lock, led by Robert Maybank.
Saturday, 10 December at 9:30 am: A walk around Farmoor
Reservoir, led by Alison Matthews.
Wednesday, 28 January at 2 pm: Snowdrop walk around the pretty
Tews, led by Anne Martin.
Saturday, 7 February at 9:30 am: A walk in the Charlbury area,
led by Rachel Strachan.
Wednesday, 25 February at 2 pm: Explore the parks in the
Headington area of Oxford, led by Sue Lygo.
Saturday, 14 March at 9:30 am: A walk taking in Witney Lakes
and Ducklington, led by Annabelle Smith.
Wednesday, 26 March at 2 pm: A walk around Yarnton and out to
Bladon, led by Ken Kahn.
Donald Wearing
Kristina Wearing
Sharon, Ryan and I would like to thank all who attended Don’s funeral at
North Oxfordshire Crematorium in November. Sturdy’s Castle was packed
afterwards, and so many lovely stories were shared.
We also wish to thank everyone who couldn’t attend but signed the book of
condolences in the village shop, as well as those who sent cards and
flowers.
Almost £1,000 has so far been raised for Cancer Research UK and Macmillan
Cancer Support. If you’d like to donate, please visit tackley.link/108.
Please accept my sincere apologies for the lack of a Tackley Newsletter in
June, August and October owing to my ill health. Normal service should now
resume.
