Harwell Village News and Gossip

The weather obliged with a perfect day of warm to hot temperatures and full sun. The event started with a fly past and parade through the high street. The floats were adorned with many happy children's faces and I think I even saw the tractor drivers smiling with pride.

The sports ground was full to capacity with vintage cars, vintage tractors, a car boot sale, a huge tent of arts and crafts, bouncy castles and several arenas (with dog shows, ferret racing, morris dancing and more). The owl and the donkey deserve a mention here too as they were unfussed by the constant crowds.

My personal favorite was the cream tea provided by the Scouts. There is just nothing like sitting back on a nice hot and sunny afternoon in England drinking tea and eating scones.

We've had loads of emails praising the feast - and by that they are praising the organisers and the people who dedicated their time to make Harwell's annual feast a stunning success.

With the temperatures soaring in our little village and predictions of the hottest summer for decades, most of the villagers are looking forward to bbq's, garden parties and evenings in the sun reading good books drinking great wine (well at least I am!).

Whilst this weather continues, Harwell is likely to continue to lead the pollution charts in England. We are consistently a top 20 entry and suffer greatly from airbourne pollution and sound pollution from the A34. We beat places like - Hull, Sheffield, and Birmingham - all perceived by some to be 'polluted'. For those outside the village, the A34 cuts around the outside of the village and is a fast dual carriageway link between the M4 and M40.

Perhaps, just perhaps, the out of date Parish Council will slowly recognise the importance of this pollution in our daily lives. The particulate pollution cannot be good for anyone, and especially bad for the elderly or those with Asthma; and the sound pollution spoils our idyllic village and keeps some awake at night.

And if the Parish Council finally recognise this, then perhaps, just perhaps, they will use the Didcot Development to ensure that we have full sound proofing, and ensure that any relief road takes us into account.

btw... and I'm sure this is an aside, did anyone see any of the planned relief roads going past a councillors house?