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A sound as of the girding of loins can be heard throughout Longworth and Hinton, as their inhabitants rouse themselves to defend their countryside in the face of Hanson's sand extraction proposal. A village meeting in Longworth last month, called to put questions to the Oxfordshire County Council's planners, attracted almost one hundred villagers - at least one quarter being from Hinton. The County's men were honest enough, but sadly and perhaps expectedly failed to quell the fears of the more perceptive listeners. It may not yet be understood by all, that this excavation, if the proposal goes through, will impact not merely the small number of houses along Lodge Lane and Pine Woods Road that lie immediately next to the field, nor even just the crops of the market gardener adjoining it. Planning approval and a decade's subsequent despoliation could prove to be no more than the thin edge of a very thick wedge. Longworth and Hinton are surrounded by prime quality building sand, ripe and ready for easy extraction. Financial profit by one firm (and the margins are indeed great) could not only lead to further Hanson 'development', but attract other operators - of whom the excavator of nearby Tubney Wood, whose impact we can all clearly see, might be only one.
Rallying to defend the right to live in peace and tranquillity, an Action Group has been duly formed; composed not merely of those most closely affected, but of representatives from both villages and from Longworth Parish Council. Soon, posters will appear, leaflets will circulate, and there will be more public meetings to report progress; already the first of these will be held on Friday, November 12th, in Longworth Manor Barn. We can take comfort from the fact that we are not the first to be threatened in this way; and though many have been obliged to submit (for example our near neighbours, Appleton), others have managed to stem the disruptive tide. But we need expertise. Any parishioner who has knowledge and experience that might be useful (ecological, legal, financial, hydrological, dealing with anonymous officials - anything, really), is invited to come forward and contribute. They've made me chairman; so please call me on 820052 if you think you can help.
Meantime, our school's Head Teacher, Sandra North, a new broom sweeping, has undertaken a monumental spring-clean of the school and its ways. Now, in her own words, she is 'setting high expectations for each and every child so that they have the chance to be the best that they can be.' Parents have told us that, quite simply, learning is the priority for their children; teachers and governors alike have heard and will respond. In support of this, funds are already forthcoming from various sources, state and private, intended both to improve and enlarge the school buildings and to make better use of its generous grounds; who knows, one day we might even get a proper car park!
Finally, a timely warning; a daring opportunistic burglary in Hinton, carried out last month in full daylight in an elapsed time of just four minutes, and while the house owners were actually working in their garden, should alert us all. Please lock up your doors, even when sweeping the autumn leaves…
Alan Boyce
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