Split in Banburyshire village deepens as residents are asked for views on a formal separation

A split between two factions in Adderbury has deepened following public comments on a village website.
West Adderbury where the West Adderbury Residents Association wants to re-form a parish council for its part of the village. Picture by GoogleWest Adderbury where the West Adderbury Residents Association wants to re-form a parish council for its part of the village. Picture by Google
West Adderbury where the West Adderbury Residents Association wants to re-form a parish council for its part of the village. Picture by Google

The division has been rumbling for some time as a group of residents from the west side of the village felt their interests were not being represented adequately by Adderbury Parish Council (APC).

A newly formed West Adderbury Residents Association (WARA), with 250 members, is trying to re-form a parish council for their side of the village. It has succeeded in getting Cherwell District Council (CDC) to undertake a Community Governance Review (CGR) which is underway and lasts until the end of August.

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West Adderbury had its own parish council from 1937 - 1972 when many local government functions began to be reorganised. Now, because they feel too many decisions about development of their part of the village are being taken by those representing the east and Twyford (who form the majority) - against their wishes - the west is trying to regain the power to decide issues for their neighbourhood themselves.

A new row has broken out over comments on a community website which have been described by one WARA member as 'a tirade of personal abuses, insults and slanderous remarks directed at innocent individuals '.

One resident of west Adderbury said: "Many more residents would speak out if it were not for the bullying and toxic culture surrounding politics in the parish which has stifled democracy for many years."

WARA's secretary said the offending posts had been taken down, possibly because they were libellous. He said the association faced an uphill battle because the majority in Twyford and east Adderbury may try to stop the west forming its own parish council.

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"To be completely honest with you we have tried over the last three years to discuss our issues in West Adderbury with APC but they have refused to hear us. Once we stood up and went against their vision for the village we were treated as trouble makers and even now, with 250 members, we are called a small group of malcontents. In all that time WARA has never insulted anyone and refuses to act in such an irresponsible way," he said.

"The village has grown too large for the existing parish council to fairly represent everyone’s views."

Cherwell district councillors have been told WARA supporters believe their opponents have used 'bullying' tactics, especially over the development of a field - donated by a Milton Road housing developer - as a sports and social club. The facility would replace the Lucy Plackett playing fields function and be used as a venue for events.

CDC has set up a working group to examine WARA's proposal to create a new parish council. Legislation requires Cherwell to make sure governance arrangements are 'effective and that they promote community cohesion'. A second round of consultation will be carried out in November and the CGR will be completed by February 2021.

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Residents of Adderbury can respond online here, where further information relating to the CGR can be found.

Chairman of APC, Diane Bratt said: "Public arguments between residents are never a good thing but as parish council chairman I cannot make a specific comment on what one group of residents have said about another group.

"It is unfortunate that, having set this process of CGR in motion WARA have chosen to conduct a vociferous propaganda campaign largely against the existing parish council. If they wish to persuade residents that they will make a good parish council surely it would have been sensible to explain what they intend to do if they are put in charge of their part of the village.

"WARA have raised issues many residents believe have already been fully discussed and resolved through two Parish Polls (called by members of WARA), namely the new sports and community facilities on the Milton Road and traffic calming.

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"As parish chairman I would like to encourage all residents to respond to the public consultation so that Cherwell has a clear idea of what all residents want, either way," she said.

* Upper Heyford parish was split into two new parishes in April 2019.