New Vale parish to be called Western Valley

A new parish aimed at improving local representation in the Harwell area will be known as Western Valley.

Earlier this year, people across Harwell had the chance to comment on the name and governance arrangements for a new parish to the east of the A34 within Harwell, up to the boundary with South Oxfordshire.  97 residents responded to the consultation. 

The area is currently represented by Harwell Parish Council however, with more homes being built and a growing population, Vale of White Horse District Council’s Community Governance Committee agreed that residents would be better served if the area was divided into two parishes. 

The Committee has now confirmed that the new parish will be called Western Valley.  From May 2023, residents will be served by the new Western Valley Parish Council, consisting of eight councillors. The new parish will cover all of Valley Park and more than 900 properties in Great Western Park and will not be divided into separate wards.

Residents will be able to vote for the first Western Valley Parish Council during the local elections on Thursday 4 May 2023.

Cllr Debby Hallett, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Transformation at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “I’m really pleased that we have agreed the final plans for the new Western Valley parish. This will ensure residents in both the new Western Valley parish and in Harwell parish have much better representation going forward and that parish councillors can focus their efforts to support people more locally. I look forward seeing Western Valley and the new parish council up and running next year.”

For more information, visit whitehorsedc.gov.uk/communitygovernance