An opportunity to speak with your Neighbourhood Officers to discuss any issues of concern.

As usual, the papers have misreported it, so let me set out what I actually have said.  Europe is moving towards digital radio, so I have put in place plan to make it easier for people to get radio stations on digital radios – this means increasing coverage and lowering the prices of digital radios.  But given that most people still listen to FM, we have not set a date to switchover to digital, and will only do so when most people are listening to digital, and when coverage is as good as FM.  Some people think this could be as soon as 2015 but I have made it clear we wont go ahead unless the listening public are with us.

There you have it – please feel free to get in touch on any specific concerns you have.

In terms of a surreal experience, I got to announce the winner of the UK City of Culture (the first such award) on a roof top in Liverpool, live on the One Show (a lot of people seem to have seen it).  I then flew to visit the winning city, which is Derry/Londonderry, a beautiful but of course troubled place on the western shore of Northern Ireland.  I have never been involved in a media scrum before, but there were lots of cameras and reporters.  Nor have I ever enjoyed, if that is the right word, armed protection.  I hope the city is able to make the most of this new and unique opportunity.

Locally, I remain as busy as ever.  I have visited the new Thames Valley Housing Development at St Mary’s Wantage; had a briefing on the amazing anglo-saxon burial find at West Hanney (including a brooch of which there are only nine examples in the country); been to various fetes including Buckland and Milton ; been to Oxford Instruments to celebrate their Queen’s Award for Industry; visited Didcot Power Station, which incidentally may close as early as 2013; visited the television transmitter at Beckley which burnt down and affected all our television coverage; visited the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and the Diamond Synchrotron; had a meeting with Didcot First; been to a school concert in Wantage; and opened the excellent Faringdon Arts Festival and the Wallingford Rugfest.

I continue to seek a meeting with the Department for Transport to progress the Wantage Road station proposal.  Housing development is continuing to cause concern, with many people disappointed by the quality of the proposals put forward for both Wallingford and Grove.  Sadly developers do not in my view put in enough work to make their proposals special or exciting and I will be seeking meetings with them to hear more about what their plans are.

I can be contacted as always on vaizeye@parliament.uk; House of Commons London SW1A 0AA; 020 7219 6350

Saturday 4^th September, 1.00-4.00 pm

in the gardens of Charney Manor

Irish Dancing display, Wantage Silver Band, BBQ, cream teas, home baking, all sorts of stalls and games!

We’re going potty in Charney Bassett!  Look out for our flower-pot fun and games around the church and village.

We still need lots more volunteers please – for preparing and running stalls, for helping with setting up and clearing up, etc! 

Contact David Douglas on 868788.

If you have any items to donate for stalls or prizes, please would you take to the following people:

Books, CDs, DVDs – Lorraine Ashton, 868011, 8 Orchard Close;

Bottles for tombola – Stephanie Wright, 867418, 2 Barnfield;

Bric-a-brac – Jan Ganesh, 868868, Shilla Mill, New Rd;

Cakes – Anna Greenacre, 867141, Gratwick Barn, The Green;

Children’s toys & tombola – Tracy Burge, 868897, 24 New Rd;

Plants, preserves and produce – Mary Daglish, 868557, 1 Barnfield;

Sponsorship / advertising – Sue Wales, 868182, The Well House

Stephen Cowlam

Clerk to the Parish Council.

Applications will be considered by the Trustees who meet in January, May and September. For further details please contact the Clerk: Mrs Frances Rothwell, Oldwalls, Buckland Road, Charney Bassett, Tel: 868704, E-mail: fc.rothwell@tiscali.co.uk

 The next meeting of the CLET Trustees will be on Wednesday 1^st September 2010. Forms for applications to be considered at this meeting may be obtained from the Clerk and should be returned to her as soon as possible.

As a local MP, it is interesting to consider how these responsibilities affect people in the constituency.  The first and most obvious is broadband rollout.  About ten per cent of all homes do not have broadband at all, and about one in 3 have very poor broadband, mainly in rural areas. There are some parts of the constituency that remain affected.  Our aim is to get everyone to have a basic broadband service by the end of 2012, and to roll out high speed broadband over the next few years. If you have any issues with broadband do let me  know.   I also cover what is known as illegal file sharing.  This is a hugely controversial new law which would allow internet companies to temporarily disconnect people if it could be proved that they have been copying music or films without proper authorisation.  This is something we have to act on, as every piece of music that is copied illegally takes money away from artists and creators, who provide a lot of money for the economy. We’re looking to introduce the new measures next year, but no one will be cut off (and then only temporarily) without plenty of warning and a chance to change their behaviour .       

 Another issue that is likely to be prominent is libraries, which I also cover.  Libraries are very important to local communities, but as money becomes tighter, they may suffer.  I will use my position to try and ensure that we can make responsible savings so that libraries continue to provide important services for local people – not just book borrowing, but also education and access to broadband and other local and national services.

One local issue has already cropped up which affects my ministerial responsibilities directly.  The local television transmitter burnt down, and cannot be replaced until September (they have to build a new one from scratch).  Many people have had their TV coverage affected and are understandably looking for a speedy solution and I am looking into this.                           

 I continue to focus on other local issues as normal.  I met with those campaigning against the reservoir, ahead of the public enquiry.  I am continuing to campaign for a new station at Grove. And I was delighted that the new Government threw out the housing targets which have led to plans for huge housing developments across the constituency.  It may not affect those where planning permission has already been granted but it could lead to a rethink where no decision has yet been made. 

Recent constituency engagements include a spot of metal detecting (I also cover archaeology!) and as a judge for Didcot’s Got Talent, a great night for pupils aged 6-11 to show off their talents.  I tried not to be too Simon Cowell-ish!

Topics often discussed by us village folk, all of whom are unanimous as to the privilege and unspeakable joy of residing in this rural spot are , on the …

Up note:- in not having street lamps, our nocturnal glimpse aloft is exceptionally free from light pollution. However as individual homeowners this could be improved further if our security lights were to be canted downwards and if we all ask the question “ Is it possible my lamps are not distressing any of my neighbours?”  

…..and on the

Down note:- not having a street cleaner, villagers will have noticed our gutters and pathways are not everywhere a pretty site. The suggestion is that we all take responsibility for the portion that fronts our own property, with a view to giving a hand to those whom age or infirmity prevents from doing this.

 I’m sure we would all like to extend our thanks to those who plant and maintain so well our roadside approach Flower Boxes …..well done all!         

Jim Harper