Sir, In line with Harwell, West Hagbourne similarly fears being swamped in time by new housing and losing its village status.

Planners have consistently refused to allocate a guaranteed buffer zone between new housing and the village. Planners have also refused to approve in principle the few affordable homes West Hagbourne residents agreed as being acceptable, as they apparently do not coincide with future plans for the area.

I commiserate with Harwell; both villages are very likely to end up as part of greater Didcot.

Sadly, there is little democracy embedded in our local planning culture, in which residents’ wishes are clearly held in contempt.

Marion Judd

Grove Terrace

West Hagbourne