Local water tower "Old Walter" is set to be demolished by developers to fulfil the planning obligations. In order to do this, established woodland will be destroyed & woodland creatures evicted. Bunkers Hill plant nursery has offered to sponsor Old Walter & surrounding woodland in order to save them from this fate but this is not possible if his demolition remains in the s106 agreement. 

In addition to saving Old Walter we want to highlight the plight of many rural communities, like Bunkers Hill, who are falling prey to developers. Originally residents were offered lots of benefits in order to gain support for a housing development on the old sports club & bowling green site. This was prior to the outline planning application but most of these have evaporated once planning was given leaving Bunkers Hill to remain as an unsustainable rural community.

Aspirations:

1. Stop Old Walter being demolished & protect him for the future so he can provide a roosting home for bats.

2. For the development to go back to planning to reconsider the lost benefits that were offered to Bunkers Hill community previously.

3. If Old Walter's demolition is removed from the s106 agreement then for the revised demolition costs (£56k) to go to the community as a benefit in lieu. 

4. For a safe footpath/cycle path to be provided from Bunkers Hill to the nearest shops (Kidlington) along the A4260 in order to make the development sustainable.

5. Pedestrian crossing on the A4260 between the north and south bus stops to provide a safe crossing and promote public transport rather than private car use.

6. A new mains fed water supply to Bunkers Hill to provide clean, fresh water at a sufficient pressure to avoid the risk of E.Coli and coliform from holding tanks as previously experienced. 

7. Replacement of lead pipes as originally promised. 

8. Provision of an acre for recreation as originally promised e.g. allotments, dog walking area, and for children to play or cycle as there is no area onsite at the moment.

9. 20 years maintenance free sewage system for residents as originally promised. 

10. Re-evaluate the planning process to ensure elected councillors cannot override local planning department's advice or government policy so that borderline planning applications such as Bunkers Hill are only given if development is truly sustainable & provides real benefits for the existing community.

See Old Walter's amazing story here! - Save Old Walter facebook page

Thank you for your support! 

Andrew & Lucy