‘A year of change’: Oxfordshire MP sends Christmas message to readers

Christmas is a time of reflection and relaxation for so many: I wish everyone an enjoyable holiday period.

I am conscious though that Christmas can also be a lonely time, and one of financial worry and cold.

I would therefore like to remind constituents of local sources of help and support available via the South and Vale Councils’ Community Hub on 01235 422600 and on the district council websites.

2024 has been a year of change, both here with the new Labour government, and with political change in many other countries.

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Olly Glover with bikes at Milton Park. (Image: Jacqueline Cross)

Here in the UK, I hope that the new government will settle down and deliver positive change.

However, many constituents have contacted me, worried about the impact of the withdrawal of winter fuel payments, the impact of the Budget on local businesses, and rises in bus and rail fares.

As your MP, I have been working hard to represent these concerns in Parliament, and campaigning to get progress on key local priorities.

Flooding has once again impacted huge swathes of the area: I am sorry so many residents have been affected.

I am pressing the many agencies and individuals involved to work together, not blame each other, on preventative actions that can be taken: Thames Water, local councils, Environment Agency, landowners, and others.

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Sustainable Wantage. (Image: Olly Glover)

In the summer, I pressed the NHS’s regional care board on the need to publish a timetable for delivery of the much-delayed GP surgery on Didcot Great Western Park.

I am pleased that, for the first time, they have published an outline timetable for making it happen (Great Western Park, Didcot GP Services | BOB ICB).

It is hoped that construction will finally start by the end of 2025.

Also in the summer, I represented residents who were affected by the ongoing smell caused by water mixing with rubbish at the Sutton Courtenay landfill site.

I am pleased that the operator of the site was able to resolve this problem, but I will continue to watch them closely to make sure they manage the impact from the site carefully.

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Olly Glover with Lib Dem leader, Sir Ed Davey. (Image: Lib Dems)

Elsewhere, I secured a meeting with Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy, to discuss the very clear case for a new railway station serving Grove and Wantage.

The next step in my plan to get the station plan moving will be finding local companies willing to make a financial contribution and pressing Oxfordshire County Council to deliver a promised business case study of the timetable and railway changes needed to enable trains to call at the proposed new station.

As 2025 approaches, I look forward to meeting more of you in person. Please do get in touch if I can help or support. My email address is [email protected], or you can leave a voicemail at 0207 219 7657 and a member of my team will get back to you.

I wish you and those close to you all the best for 2025.

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