SAVE Dunchurch Action Group’s Mike Judge MBE reflects on the last 12 months…

“Despite the horrid COVID and all its restrictions and the sadness it caused we all continue to battle on in the best traditions of our country. Closer to home last year brought further disappointments to those  of us that love our village. The current nightmare of roadworks in the village, all the more frustrating because we believe it will not deliver the promised mitigation of traffic or pollution. The easy yielding up by the Borough Council of one of the few crumbs the Inspector had given us regarding the height and proportionality of the huge Warehouses next to Thurlaston. The disappointment that the Spine Road doesn’t link with the A45 and there are still no credible guarantees that M40, Oxford/West London/ SWest ports traffic will NOT come thundering through the village.

“The latest consultation regarding the Spine Road was disappointing for a number of other reasons- width of the ‘green buffer’, access for wildlife etc.

“However, we live in a wonderful village with fantastic community groups and people, resilient, caring and generous with their time.

“Who would have thought that still in the midst of this awful pandemic that the Festival Group could organise such a spectacular Family Fun Day and the Players could stage Ladies Day to full houses and, as a result, distribute over £8,000 to local good causes (thus maintaining a forty-year tradition of fun and fun-raising). And what of the meteoric rise and amazing successes of the Friends of Dunchurch who carried on regardless to beautify our village, winning awards after awards! And by its great Village Magazine kept us all in touch.

“The Remembrance Service was able to resume along with the Christmas Tree(s) and Nativity Service.

“The Allotment Society organised a great Scarecrow gathering in showing off their activities, The Churches continued to zoom and minister and the Baptist Church construction has been closely monitored by all.

“The many, many other community organisations, schools, Village Hall and Sportsfield, the Parish Council, Library, WI et al ( too many to mention) performed magnificently, whilst sticking to the rules, along with the shops and enterprises throughout the village. Congratulations and heartfelt thanks to everyone .

“So, continued disappointments regarding the size and impact of ever-expanding developments but we have a great village and a wonderful community and we will continue to try and protect these in the future. Thank you to all our supporters!

“Here is to a very Happy Christmas and a better New Year.”

Mike Judge

Save Dunchurch Action Group