Local Elections May 2024

There will be 4 candidates standing for the local Cherwell District Council ward (Bicester South and Ambrosden) at the election on May 2nd.

Click here for details of the candidates as shown in the elections notice of April 5th.

We will also be asked to cast a vote to elect Thames Valley’s police and crime commissioner (PCC).

Click here to find some details about the candidates who’re standing for PCC.

The Langford Village polling stations will be open on May 2nd from 7am to 10pm.

A springtime walking route through Langford and Graven Hill

The new 2024 walking route we posted to our facebook page has proved quite popular so here it is for our website followers and friends who’re up for somewhere else to stroll nearby.

You can walk from any point on the map/route though the marked start (A) and finish point for this one is the postbox at the Peregrine Way and Shearwater Drive junction. Start with a walk down to Jubilee Lake then over to Graven Hill via the Rodney House roundabout and back through the tunnel beneath the A41 and over the London Road to return to Langford again.

To download and print off a copy of the map just click here

OR to download a gtx file for a navigation device or phone app click here

The full distance of the route is around 3.5 miles and so it will take between an hour or two to complete, longer if you choose to stop at one of the two coffee shops, the wine bar or the pub – all of which you’ll be passing. Why not let us know how you get on with a comment here?

Daffodils near the entrance to Graven Hill in late March 2024 (outside of the public access area)

posted by Chris A’Court

The Welcome to Langford leaflet is here

Do you know of new people who’re moving onto Langford Village?

Langford Village Community Association and FLTR Coffee have recently worked together to produce a leaflet with essential local information to assist all Langford newcomers as they start to settle in here.

All our local Bicester estate agents and letting agencies now have supplies of the leaflet to hand out and there are also some in FLTR and at the Langford Village Community Centre Hall, in Nightingale Place, OX26 6XX.

Please ask any new residents if they’ve received a leaflet and, if they haven’t got one, encourage them to pick up a copy soon – or you could help out by dropping a copy to them.

Many thanks,

Carole, Chairman LVCA

Preparing for the next EWR consultation

Understanding the formal process for a solution to London Road Crossing

Every person on Langford Village should be involved with the process beginning in June regarding the EWR proposals for the solution to London Road Crossing. 

On May 9th we all get a chance to understand this process before we see the proposals in the following month.

EWR are holding an event at Weyland Hall in Bicester from 2.00pm to 7.00pm on that day which is open to all.

This event is designed to help people understand the statutory consultation and Development Consent Order (DCO) processes. Members of the EWR DCO and engagement teams will attend to answer any questions and queries people might have.

These sessions are not formal consultation events and there will be no specific design information or proposals available to view, however that design information will of course be available at the statutory consultation, where there will then be the opportunity to share feedback about the proposals.

June will see the first phase of the statutory consultation and we will have sight of the first plans of the two proposed sites for a bridge for access to town to replace the London Road crossing at which people will be able to give feedback.

One of the proposals, as far as we know, is to have a bridge over the railway at Gavray Drive, anyone backing on to or near Gavray needs to be ready to comment as it would mean Gavray being turned into much busier road with an extra 7.000 vehicle  journeys daily. it also means we have lost an access road into town as that would feed into Launton Road.

The other proposal, as far as we know, is a curved bridge alongside London Road cutting through the carparks near the ambulance building and coming down along Station Approach, a much more sensible option retaining an existing road into town.

Whatever happens will have a huge impact on everyone south of London Road Crossing.

Carole

Chairman, Langford Village Community Association

Follow the level of Langford Brook

This shows the level of water in Langford Brook in near real time. If you check back regularly through any day you’ll be able to see how water levels may be rising or falling.

To see a graph of how the Brook has been over the last few days please click here.

Here is the record for Sunday 18th to Saturday 24th February 2024.

Our image below is from Sunday 18th February 2023 (in ‘flooding possible’ status)

Your LVCA progress report (February 2024)

✅ We have spent nearly three years battling with Thames Water regarding the state of the paths around Jubilee Lake. At long last they have repaired some of the damaged surfaces around the lake. Sadly, they ignored the pathway from Avocet Way to the lake, and the pathway from the post box opposite Shearwater Drive to the lake. They have been incredibly difficult to deal with.

✅ We hope you like the improvements to the play area in Langford Park, we worked with Bicester Town Council (BTC) and are delighted with the upgraded play equipment. 

✅ We are loving the new signs erected to Langford Park, plus the information board, the two new seats, and the information posts to encourage children to find out information. Again, we have been involved with BTC on the improvements

✅ Over the next few weeks you will see some road name signs replaced, we have worked with Cherwell District Council to bring this about. We hope gradually to get all the old signs replaced however have concentrated on the worse ones.

✅ We have obtained another socket for the speed awareness device, which will be situated near the school. Once this has been installed, we will move the device to this location.

We are currently trying to obtain grants to undertake the refurb of the ladies’ toilets in the summer holidays plus a grant for loft insulation which is needed.

We hope you approve of the things we are tackling to improve Langford Village and the Community Centre for us all to enjoy. 

Carole Hetherington

Chairman, Langford Village Community Association (LVCA)

Sign up here for Langford Community news by email

Do you know that there are often LVCA e-newsletters for all Langford’s residents? Hundreds of people are already signed up to receive them but if you haven’t yet done so it’s easy to join in by using the link here ➡️ https://bit.ly/lvca_eNews

Calling All Langford Crafters

OPEN CRAFTING SESSIONS – NEW AT LANGFORD VILLAGE HALL – STARTING SOON

Do you have crafts projects that you’re working on and that you’d enjoy completing in the company of others? If so you’re warmly invited to come along to the first of our open crafting sessions at the Hall on Wednesday 21st February from 2pm to 4pm.

Just bring your knitting, sewing, cross stitch jigsaws, painting or other crafty things into our warm and social setting where tea and coffee is also provided.

Perhaps the new sessions, to be held of the third Wednesday of each month, are just what you need to help finish projects started long ago and the place for you to ask questions or pick up hints and tips from like minded people living on Langford.

There’s no need to book and the cost is just £3 per person for each session.  

These sessions are organised by the Langford Village Community Association which will expect all crafters to ensure that all areas are left clean at the end of the afternoon.  

If you’ve any further questions about this activity please contact Sandra by email addressed to bookings@lvca.org.uk

Langford’s New Bus Service Goes Live

PLEASE ‘USE IT OR LOSE IT’

Langford Village now has a Monday to Saturday bus service on a restricted timetable. It would be wonderful to get a more comprehensive timetable, however it all depends on usage. This is the number 108 bus.

You can catch a bus into Bicester town centre at 11.00am and 14.10pm and there are returns from the town centre at 11.20am and 14.30pm – far from perfect however it’s a start.

I am concerned that there are people living on Langford Village who may still be unaware of this service. Please would you let any neighbours know who may not be on social media. Although the service exists it’s not being well used currently.

Many thanks, Carole – Chairman Langford Village Community Association ( LVCA)

(Please see the timetable posted here and please address any questions or enquires about the service direct to the Oxford Bus Company, which runs it.)

To PRINT OFF a timetable just click here for a pdf version that’s handy to keep with you.

Book now to hire the Hall for your 2024 event

It’s already possible to book the Hall for a children’s party or event at any time during this year.

The diary fills fast and our weekend dates always go quickly – so booking early can really help avoid disappointment later.

Everything you need to make a booking to hire the Hall is found right here.

Book early to hire the Hall.