Harwell Parish Council

01/06/2026

An update from SNG on works planned for tomorrow and Wednesday on Gaveston Road and Westfield (outside the flats)

📍 On Tuesday 2nd & Wednesday 3rd June, consultants working on behalf of SNG will be visiting the Westfield area of Harwell to carry out ground investigation surveys.

· They will dig some small trenches and trial holes at locations around Westfield and Gaveston Road

· JCBs will be on site to carry out the digging

· The works will take place between 8am and 4.30pm

· Excavated areas will be securely fenced off

· You may experience some noise whilst the digging takes place

We apologise for any inconvenience whilst these works take place.

The information from these surveys will support SNG in understanding the ground conditions in the area.

If you have any questions, please contact Lillian on 0800 654 6269 or email [email protected].

21/05/2026

We're hiring! 🌿

Harwell Parish Council is looking for two people to join our grounds maintenance team:
✅ Apprentice Grounds Maintenance Worker (full time)
✅ Casual Grounds Maintenance Worker (flexible, seasonal)

Both roles involve practical outdoor work across Harwell and neighbouring parishes, helping to keep our local area looking its best, including maintaining green spaces, recreation grounds, streets, and more.

The closing date is 11 June 2026, but we'll be arranging interviews as applications come in and may close early if we find the right candidates, so don't hang around!

For full details and to find out how to apply, visit:

21/05/2026

Live in or near Abingdon? Got an old bike that still works but isn't used? Could you donate it? There's a bike donation event at Abingdon Fire station in Ock Street this Saturday (23 May) 10am - midday. See details

20/05/2026

Harwell Feast is almost here and the committee needs YOUR help to make it the brilliant village celebration it always is!

There are two key volunteer slots they're looking to fill:
🕖 7.45am – Help with setting up on the recreation ground (just an hour of your time)
🚦 10.30am to 11.15am – Traffic management to keep the parade route clear during the road closure

To get involved, fill in the volunteer form at www.harwellfeast.com or drop them an email at [email protected].

For a full round-up of what the Feast committee have planned this year, take a look at their report from the Annual Parish Meeting: https://harwellparish.gov.uk/the-parish/annual-meeting-of-the-parish/harwell-feast-committee-report-to-the-parish-council/

Discover Harwell Feast, an annual community event featuring food vendors, classic cars, attractions, and a parade. Join us for family fun this May at Harwell Recreation Ground.

19/05/2026

📣 Wantage & Grove NHPT 📣

We’re stepping away from the light hearted posts today because an important message needs to be heard.

The Harwell BMX pump track is a brilliant project for local young people — but it’s still under construction.

Recently, some individuals have been entering the site on electric bikes and motorbikes, putting themselves at risk and causing delays.
Heavy machinery is operating. The site is unsafe. And the more it’s interfered with, the longer it will take to open.

We are already in the process of identifying those responsible, and action will be taken.

This track is for you — don’t destroy it before it’s even finished.

Officers will continue patrolling, and illegal electric bikes or motorbikes being ridden illegally will be seized and crushed.

Make sensible decisions. Respect your community.

13/05/2026

😔 A difficult update on the Harwell Pump Track+

We're very sad to have to share this.

Motorised bikes, including two green Revvi's, have been illegally breaking into and riding on the unfinished pump track site. Despite our best efforts to secure and maintain the safety barrier to the site, they have resorted to bending and climbing the fencing to get in. They have caused extensive damage to the track surface and to fencing on site. Because the surface isn't finished and was never designed for motorised vehicles, the damage is serious enough that we're now facing significant repair costs and a delay to opening.

So much hard work by local volunteers has been destroyed.

When people have challenged them on site, the response has been abusive and threatening. We have reported this and the break-ins to the police and will continue to do so every time it happens. We are also escalating the issue to the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Please be aware: these bikes are illegal. If found by the police they will be seized and destroyed.

The site is still under construction and we will be working over the coming weeks to repair the damage. If you see anyone riding the track who does not appear to be part of the build team, please call the police on 101 straight away. And if you know the young people involved, please make their parents or guardians aware of the damage they have caused.

We'd love this to stop before it goes any further and destroys a facility designed by the community, for the community. 💚

05/05/2026

📢 Annual Parish Meeting on Friday 15 May 2026

Harwell Parish Council warmly invites all residents and local groups to attend this year's Annual Parish Meeting on Friday 15th May 2026, starting at 7pm in the Cherry Hall, Harwell Village Hall.

This is your opportunity to hear what's been happening across the parish, share updates from local groups, and have your voice heard as part of our village community.

Refreshments will be served after the meeting. 🍰

If you represent a local group or organisation and would like to submit a written report to be included in the meeting, please send it to [email protected] by Monday 11th May.

All welcome, we hope to see you there!

📅 Friday 15th May 2026
📍 Cherry Hall, Harwell Village Hall
🕐 7pm

29/04/2026

📢 Update on bus services during the High Street resurfacing, 10-12 June.

We have now heard back from the contractor and the bus operator, and wanted to share the full picture.

During the three overnight closures, buses will not be able to serve the stops within Harwell village itself, as there is no room to turn around. However, two temporary bus stops will be in place: one at the A417 at Wantage Road, and a second at the Didcot Road roundabout, which has been added specifically in response to residents' concerns.

We want to be honest: the walking distances to those temporary stops are around 750 to 900 metres from Drewitts Corner, depending on which stop you use. For many residents that will be fine. For some, particularly older or less mobile residents travelling late at night, it will not be straightforward.

The works run for three nights only, 8pm to 6am, on 10, 11 and 12 June.

🚗 If you think you will genuinely struggle to get to a temporary stop on any of those nights, please email [email protected] or telephone 07749 361 957 and we will do our best to connect you with a volunteer driver.

🚗 If you are willing to help as a volunteer driver on any of those three nights, please also email [email protected] or telephone 07749 361 957 so we can match people up.

📋 If this affects you, please also complete our survey. Every response matters.

👉 https://ee-eu.kobotoolbox.org/DnJKNdl9

28/04/2026

🙏 Can anyone help us out at short notice?

Tomorrow, we need to transport our ride-on mower (750kg) and have been let down by our trailer hire at the last minute. We're looking to borrow a set of loading ramps so we can get it loaded onto a truck.

The mower is located locally in the parish, so if you have a suitable set or know someone who does, please comment below or send us a message as soon as possible.

Thank you so much. We really appreciate any help the community can offer! 🙏

27/04/2026

📢 Heads up, Harwell (again).

We have been notified of another temporary road closure, this time on Jennings Lane.

🚧 Jennings Lane will be closed for pole installation works from Wednesday 17 June to Friday 19 June, 8am to 6pm daily.

The diversion route runs via Drewitts Corner. Access will be maintained for emergency vehicles and for properties within the closed section, subject to the progress of works.

The works are being carried out by Circet UK Ltd on behalf of a telecoms provider. If you need more information about the works themselves, you can contact Thomas Cowan at Circet UK Ltd: [email protected]

We know this follows hard on the heels of the High Street resurfacing works beginning on 10 June. We understand the frustration, and we are continuing to push for better coordination and earlier notice on all works affecting the village.

📋 If this closure affects you, please do tell us via our ongoing survey. Every response strengthens our case.

👉 Take the survey here: https://ee-eu.kobotoolbox.org/DnJKNdl9