MONEY could be set aside by Peppard Parish Council to clear footpaths.

This was among suggestions made at a meeting of the council to consider its budget for next year.

Councillor Clive Mills said it took a long time for Oxfordshire County Council to tackle overgrown paths in the village.

He said: “We should put money into footways as I am upset with the lack of action by the county council.”

Councillor Nick Launders said the parish council was sometimes criticised for not taking action itself, adding: “We can take action with our own money.”


Cllr Mills also suggested improving the sports pavilion in Stoke Row Road.He said: “To expect people to come and pay us money, we have got to deep-clean the place and the kitchen needs modernising. I think £4,000 would go a long way and the income we get would offset some of that.”

Councillor Leeanne Flett asked for £2,700 towards maintenance of Carlings Orchard, including removing two fir trees, grass cutting and installing a new gate off Wyfold Lane.

She said that if the council wanted to interest more children in the orchard a gate was needed because at the moment the land was open to the road and potentially dangerous. Cllr Mills asked to review the grants made by the council to good causes after parish clerk Linda Collison said that it traditionally gave money to the Henley Citizens Advice Bureau.

“I think we should only pay donations for organisations in the parish,” he said. “If we give £50 to this or that, it is meaningless. We could be giving parishioners’ money away to some organisations that they don’t necessarily agree with.”

Cllr Launders replied: “We can’t just give it to anybody, there are criteria that we have to satisfy.”

lWhat do you think? Write to: Letters, Henley Standard, Caxton House 1 Station Road, Henley RG9 1AD or email letters@henleystandard.co.uk

Published 26/11/12