News from District and County Councillor – Peter Stevens

Peter Stevens – Find your councillor

County and District Cllr Peter Stevens updated the Parish Council meeting held on 25 June 2026 on various items including:

• Fees for using waste/recycling centres – the County Council is to review its charging policy in November. The number of visits is down but more items per visit are being brought.
• FCC: Restoration plan for waste sites in this area needs new strategy because of HIF1 and BESS. The County Council is aware of Appleford’s requirements for effective scrutiny and monitoring.
• HIF1 – County Cllr Liz Leffman is now Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair
• Cllr O’Broin had spoken with Cll Leffman and requested infrastructure for traffic lights at Appleford junction with the HIF1. Sutton Courtenay and Appleford are part of the local liaison group managed by the County Council.
• Cllr Shepherd raised the recent increase in HGV traffic passing through Appleford (is this related to HIF1 work?). Cllr Shepherd knows of informal complaints from villagers, Cllr Stevens advised to contact Jonathan Wright at the County Council.  There is a small budget at the County Council that could be granted to support control measures, including using ANPR recognition, or a weight restriction sign.
• Cllr Stevens has requested a pedestrian crossing at the junction in Sutton Courtenay leading to the bridges, noting recent accident at this junction.
• Hobbyhorse Lane improvements started this week.
• Decision on the Joint local Plan is expected mid-July.
• Cllr O’Broin raised the two s.73 changes to use of the landfill site to extend operations to 2039 and extend capacity from 60,000 tons to 200,000 tons per annum. Cllr Stevens advised that Culham No. 1 waste site is closing and the district needs somewhere for the waste transfer.  The Sutton Courtenay site is most suitable.