Wallingford Town Council

08/09/2026

Two Minutes’ Silence – Tomorrow at 11am

Tomorrow, Wednesday 9 September, we will gather outside Wallingford Town Hall for a two-minute silence at 11am in memory of Flying Officer John Wilding and Flight Sergeant John Andrew.

On 9 September 1944, their Halifax bomber got into difficulties over Wallingford. While the rest of the crew bailed out, Wilding and Andrew remained at their posts, steering the aircraft away from the town before it crashed at Newnham Murren. Both men lost their lives.

82 years on, we continue to remember their courage and sacrifice.

Residents are warmly invited to join us outside the Town Hall at 11am.

The annual memorial service will also take place this Sunday 13 September at 1pm, at the memorial cairn on the corner of Wilding Road and Andrew Road. All are welcome to attend and pay their respects.

Please note: On Sunday, a temporary road closure will be in place around the junction of Wilding Road and Andrew Road from 12.30pm, to allow the memorial service to take place safely.

We will remember them.

08/09/2026

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION – OXFORDSHIRE UPDATE

The future structure of local government in Oxfordshire is once again uncertain following the Government’s decision to pause and review its Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) programme.

In July, the Government announced that it had selected a new three-council structure for Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, which was due to come into effect in April 2028.

Under those plans, the existing county, district and city councils would be replaced by:

• Ridgeway Council – bringing together West Berkshire with most of South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse. Wallingford would fall within this new authority.

• Greater Oxford Council – combining Oxford City with surrounding areas, including a number of neighbouring parishes currently within South Oxfordshire.

• Northern Oxfordshire Council – covering most of the existing Cherwell and West Oxfordshire districts.

The changes would therefore have involved not only replacing South Oxfordshire District Council and Oxfordshire County Council, but also redrawing local authority boundaries around Oxford and moving some communities currently within South Oxfordshire into the new Greater Oxford authority.

Those plans are now affected by the Government’s announcement that the reorganisation process is being paused and reviewed following updated legal advice.

The Government has also indicated that local elections scheduled for May 2027 will proceed under the existing council structure and boundaries while that review takes place.

It is not yet clear whether the three-council model previously agreed for Oxfordshire and West Berkshire will ultimately proceed unchanged, be revised, or be reconsidered as part of the review.

For Wallingford, this is a significant development in a process that would have fundamentally changed the councils responsible for delivering many of our local services.

We will continue to follow the situation closely and will share further information as the implications for Wallingford and Oxfordshire become clearer.

07/09/2026

It’s not just letters at the library – your numbers matter too! ❤️

You can now check your blood pressure for free at all 44 Oxfordshire libraries, including Wallingford Library.

There’s no appointment needed – simply drop in and take a reading.

Knowing your numbers is important because high blood pressure often has no obvious symptoms. A quick check can help spot potential problems early and reduce the risk of serious conditions such as heart disease and stroke.

So next time you’re at the library, why not check out more than a book and check your numbers too?

👉 Find out more about blood pressure and what your numbers mean:
https://www.bloodpressureuk.org/

07/09/2026

Funding available for local community projects

Local community groups and organisations could receive grants of up to £10,000 through the latest round of the Thames Valley Community Fund.

A total of £200,000 is available, with the fund supporting projects that help prevent crime and make communities safer.

Funding is available for projects focused on:

🔹 Protecting Communities – including tackling anti-social behaviour and improving road safety
🔹 Protecting People – including domestic abuse and the night-time economy
🔹 Protecting Property – including cybercrime, fraud and retail crime

The fund is provided by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley and Thames Valley Police, using money raised through the sale of property seized from criminals that cannot be returned to its rightful owners.

Applications close at 12 noon on Monday 28 September 2026.

Community groups and organisations in Wallingford are encouraged to take a look at the eligibility criteria and consider whether the fund could support a local project.

👉 Find out more and apply: https://www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/community-fund/

Please share with any local groups or organisations that might benefit.

The Community Fund supports voluntary and community groups that help to prevent crime and keep communities safe.

07/09/2026

🎾 FREE tennis is coming to Wallingford! 🎾

We're launching Barclays Free Park Tennis at The Bullcroft on Saturday 12th September — and it's running every single week.

✅ Saturdays, 10–11am at The Bullcroft, Wallingford
✅ Ages 4+ — kids, parents, grandparents, everyone welcome
✅ Totally FREE, every week
✅ Rackets and balls provided — just turn up in trainers
✅ No experience needed

Whether you've never picked up a racket or you're dusting one off, this is tennis for everyone.

📅 Book your free place online:

Free, social tennis sessions, every weekend, in a park court near you. Find out more about Barclays Free Park Tennis and how to book your local session.

06/09/2026

🎶 One more day of BunkFest!

What a weekend it’s been so far – and there’s still another full day of music, dancing, entertainment and Fringe performances to enjoy across Wallingford.

🎸 Blue Water Giants headline the Main Stage tonight, bringing BunkFest 2026 to its musical finale.

And at 2.30pm on the Main Stage, there will be a particularly special moment as BunkFest is formally presented with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

After seeing just how much work goes into delivering BunkFest, it’s easy to understand why its volunteers have received such prestigious recognition. The festival is the result of an extraordinary community effort, with people giving their time throughout the year and across the weekend to make it happen.

Congratulations and thank you to the entire BunkFest team and all of its volunteers.

We hope everyone enjoys the final day – and don’t forget to share your favourite moments from the weekend.

💬 What has been your BunkFest 2026 highlight?

05/09/2026

Good morning, BunkFest!

After a fantastic opening day, there’s a full Saturday of BunkFest ahead across Wallingford!

There’s so much happening today, with live music, Fringe performances across town, dance displays, workshops, entertainment and plenty more to discover.

🎸 Tonight’s Main Stage headliner is the legendary Dr. Feelgood, bringing their unmistakable rhythm and blues sound to the Kinecroft.

It’s wonderful to see Wallingford so busy and full of life, and it’s all made possible by the BunkFest organisers and the army of volunteers working throughout the weekend – from those you see around the festival sites to the many people working behind the scenes.

A huge well done to everyone involved.

💬 What was your highlight from Friday – and what are you looking forward to seeing today?

Have a brilliant Saturday, everyone! 🎶☀️🍻

04/09/2026

🎶 BunkFest is here! 🎶

After months of hard work by the BunkFest team and their incredible volunteers, BunkFest 2026 gets underway today!

Over the next three days, Wallingford will be filled with live music, dancing, entertainment, food, drink and that unmistakable BunkFest atmosphere – from the Kinecroft and Bull Croft to venues across the town, as well as the river and railway.

Tonight’s Main Stage headliner is The Delicate Sound of Pink Floyd, bringing Friday’s entertainment to a spectacular close.

BunkFest is a huge undertaking, organised and delivered by volunteers who give an enormous amount of time and energy to make the festival happen. We’d like to wish the whole team a fantastic weekend – and thank them for once again bringing such a brilliant event to Wallingford.

Whether you’re heading for the music, looking forward to the dancing, exploring the Fringe or simply soaking up the atmosphere around town, we hope everyone has a wonderful time.

💬 What are you most looking forward to at BunkFest this year?

Have a fantastic festival, Wallingford! 🎪🎸🎶

03/09/2026

Equalities Roadshow coming to Wallingford

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are taking their Equalities Roadshow on tour this autumn – and it will be visiting Wallingford Charter Market later this month.

📅 Friday 25 September
⏰ 9am–2pm
📍 Wallingford Market, Market Place

Council officers will be on hand to chat about the support and services available to residents, including opportunities to get more active through programmes such as Move Together and YouMove, financial support for people with disabilities, help with council services and information about the councils’ work around equality and inclusion.

It’s also an opportunity to speak directly to the team, ask questions and find out more about the support that may be available to you.

Look out for the Equalities Roadshow at the Charter Market on Friday 25 September.

03/09/2026

Calling Wallingford’s hospitality, tourism and visitor economy businesses!

Are you looking to attract more visitors, strengthen your business and connect with others working across the local visitor economy?

The South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils Business Support Team is hosting Visitor Economy Connect – a FREE networking and business support event specifically for hospitality and tourism businesses.

📅 Tuesday 29 September
⏰ 10am–12pm
📍 Sudbury House Hotel, Faringdon

The morning is a chance to:
• Meet and network with other local hospitality and tourism businesses
• Discover free training opportunities and apprenticeship support from Enterprise Oxfordshire
• Find out more about the Visit Southern Oxfordshire project, including upcoming campaigns and visitor statistics
• Share ideas, challenges and best practice with others in the sector
• Enjoy tea, coffee and pastries while making new connections

If you run a shop, café, pub, restaurant, accommodation, attraction, experience or other business that benefits from visitors to our area, this could be a useful opportunity to make connections and find out what support is available.

Attendance is free, but places are limited, so early booking is recommended.

👉 Book your place:

Find out how apprenticeships, free certified training and incentives can help you build a stronger workforce!