Bits and Pieces: a look back at a very busy week by Julie Mabberley at Wantage and Grove Campaign Group

THIS week has been very busy so this article will comprise of a number of bits and pieces that may be of interest.

Last week I focused on the changes to bus services around Wantage and Grove.

I have an update on the route of the 38 bus from 24 July: it will leave Wantage Market Place via Mill St and turn right at Camel crossroads. Then along the Denchworth Road to the aeroplane roundabout, turning right into Mably Way. It will go past the Health Centre, left into the A338 and thence into Grove, take the Mayfield avenue route to the other end of Grove then back via Brereton Drive, Mably Way and Seesen Way to the Market Place.

It will not go through Stockham Park, Charlton or Springfield Road. Apparently this is because all the roadside parking makes it difficult to get the buses through.

At the same time, we understand that Thames Water are planning to close Manor Road, Wantage, for a number of weeks but we don’t have any details at the moment. This is from the A338 to the M4 and used as a diversion route when there are problems on the A34 so this could have a significant impact on traffic in the town.

As you probably know there was a Wantage Neighbourhood Plan hearing in the Beacon last week when the planning inspector heard representations from a number of people objecting to particular parts of the plan. He has now gone away to continue his deliberations and we expect a report sometime next month.

Now back to health services.

The inpatient facility at Wantage Community Hospital closed to new patients on July 1 and all existing patients were relocated by the 8th. At the same time the Oxford Health NHS Trust have been requested by the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee to seek the opinion of Public Health England on the closure and provide assurance that this has been considered by the Executive Team and the Board in relation to the decision to close the inpatient ward at Wantage Community Hospital.

As far as we know Physiotherapy and Maternity services are currently operating normally.

Finally the NHS in Oxfordshire is holding Big Conversation Roadshows over the next few weeks and Wantage is one of the first places they are going to.

Next Monday 18 July, 6pm – 9pm, there will be a drop-in session at The Beacon in Wantage where NHS clinicians and staff will be on hand to take questions and feedback on how local GP, community and hospital services should develop.

This is the only session in the Vale of the White Horse so it’s really important that we all go along and give them our views and show them how much we care about our local health service.