ORA Office Closed For Easter Break

Please be aware that the ORA office will be closed for the Easter break from Friday, 29th March 2013 until Monday, 8th April 2013.

ORA Office Closed For Summer Break

Please be aware that the ORA office will be closed for the summer break from 23 July 2012 until 7 September 2012.

Tadpole Farm Debate - Let's not gild the lily

After a recent spate of tweeting with people in Oakhurst we think the time has come to put the record straight.  ORA are not running with a political agenda despite what local councillors and their friends are saying.

If the councillors and a body of people, whether in joint enterprise or by disparate commonality, want to ambush ordinary Oakhurst residents and ORA then let them carry on.  We in Oakhurst know that the Association does not have a political agenda.  We had no influence in the council chamber.  We could not have a vote in what happened and ORA were only allowed three minutes to give their point of view.

So why is a little residents association that takes on the might of the ruling party being treated in such a way?  The story of David and Goliath is well known to people and if Oakhurst has to play the part of the former rather than the latter it is not a position we relish. 

Our aim in this campaign has always been against the inappropriate development of Tadpole Farm.  Our position has always been clear.  We want to see new roads such as the Purton/Iffley Road link and a northern spine road.  We all know the pressing need for additional primary school places in North Swindon but more worryingly plans for secondary provision are woefully lacking too.

When this is balanced against the local councillors’ desire for a community centre in Redhouse, ORA are even more concerned that the same effort has not been applied to secure the necessary infrastructure in the Oakhurst area. 

It is outrageous that councillors think that they can concrete over Oakhurst Way and scandalous that it is so easily spoken about as a general subject in North Swindon and at meetings.

We are not being political as we know that politicians from the main parties are in favour of the principle of developing Swindon.  However, what politicians need to understand is that their favour for development must not ride roughshod over this community’s favour for proper and adequate schools, roads and the right to a private life that is not disturbed by the imposition of a traffic route.

Be advised that various meetings are taking place with politicians over the next week and if you would like any representations made you can contact the Chairman, Paul Exell, directly on 01793 703276, email: paul.exell@rwe.com or go to the meetings and voice your opinion on the development or your objection.

Are There Two Sides to Community Engagement?

At a recent Full Council meeting, the Chair of ORA spoke in support of the petition that 450 local residents had signed.  The Chair urged the Councillors to take account of the views of the large majority of Oakhurst residents:

The Leader of the Council has been reported as saying that all discussions have two sides - and that is a view that I think all residents will agree with, but unfortunately one that many will also feel does not apply when it comes to many community consultations that are carried by the Council. 

ORA Committee Positions

Our current committee now consists as follows:

Chair:	Ian Birch
Vice-Chair:	Rob Nyman
Membership Secretary:	Stephanie Exell
Treasurer:	Andrew Oakes
Minutes Secretary:	Brychan Travers
Committee Members:	Henry Mandikutse

ORA Constitution published

The ORA Committee met on Wednesday 9th February to cover a range of issues, one of which was to adopt and sign the Constitution of the Oakhurst Residents' Association.  This has been reproduced below:

ORA Committee Meeting this week

The ORA Committee will be meeting this week to continue their work on their campaign. 

If there is anything that you feel should be covered in the meeting, please feel free to email me.

Oakhurst Residents' Association New Committee Member

Our current committee now consists as follows:

Chairman:
Secretary:	Stephanie Exell
Treasurer:	Andrew Oakes
Committee:	Ian Birch Henry Mandikutse Rob Nyman Brychan Travers

ORA continue to keep the pressure up...

The Oakhurst Residents' Association Committee will be meeting on Thursday 20th January 2011 to discuss the excellent turnout from the meeting of 11th January, how to best continue their efforts in addressing the development of the Tadpole Farm site, and what else it can do to serve our community.

Should anyone have anything they think should be raised at the meeting, please drop us an email...

Inaugural Meeting 23rd November 2010

Here are the basic minutes from the first meeting of the Oakhurst Residents' Association, as transcribed by Jeff Hill: