Northamptonshire Steelbacks Women produced a clinical performance with both bat and ball to seal a five-wicket victory over Worcestershire Rapids Women at Wantage Road in first round of the newly formed ECB Knockout Cup After winning the toss and electing to bat first Worcestershire struggled to build momentum with only captain Chloe Hill (18 from 26) and Clare Boycott (16* from 17) making any real headway The Rapids’ innings was stifled by a disciplined Steelbacks attack with standout figures from Lenny Sims (2-12) and Ella Phillips (2-15) while Bethan Robinson (2-16) also impressed with the new ball the Steelbacks made a watchful start in reply Worcestershire’s bowlers struck at regular intervals to keep the match alive  Boycott removed opener Abby Butcher for 16 and Phoene Brett bowled a miserly spell of 4-0-11-1 including the crucial lbw of Alicia Presland quickfire contributions from skipper Gemma Marriott (24) and Sims (10*) guided Northamptonshire home with 22 balls to spare Jess Beach was the pick of the Rapids bowlers The result sees the Steelbacks claim a deserved win in a low-scoring encounter with their composure under pressure and depth in bowling making the difference Rothesay County Championship - Division 1 - 4 Day Vitality T20 Women's County Cup - Twenty20 Northamptonshire Steelbacks Women won by 5 wickets Metro Bank One Day Cup - Women League Two - 50 Over One Day Don't Miss The Biggest Match Of The Season Website designed by £1m investment agreed for Wantage Community Hospital which comes from the District Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Fund followed extensive liaison over the last nine months This saw the initial estimate of £600,000 increased to nearer to £900,000 to reflect the needs identified by the local community to move care closer to home and co-locate more mental health and physical healthcare services at the hospital that have been piloted over the last two years and the local NHS remain committed to identifying and expanding service provision from the refurbished space Additional services will be able to commence their clinics once building works are completed later in 2025 The project will also benefit from a significant legacy left to the Oxford Health Charity specifically for investment in Wantage Community Hospital carer and family access and experience to the newly refurbished spaces Director for Places and Communities at the Buckinghamshire said: “The partnership work undertaken over the last couple of years between the NHS the community and its leaders is a great example of how the needs of local people can be understood when it comes to more routine care being provided closer to where they live The changes happening at Wantage will also help meet national ambitions around people getting treated more quickly.” who is a county councillor for Wantage and Grove and chairs Oxfordshire County Council’s Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee said: “I am delighted at the progress that has been made to date and the funding that has been allocated for investment in our local community hospital A public meeting is scheduled for late February which is when more detail will be provided on the design and anticipated timelines for work to start on refurbishing the hospital’s ground floor along with the likely services that will be coming to use the space.” Her words were echoed by Councillor Jenny Hannaby who is also a county councillor for Wantage and Grove and a member of the council’s Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Chair of the Town Council’s Health Committee who said: “As chair of the Town Council’s Health Committee we have been working very closely with our NHS partners to secure a great future for Wantage community hospital Everyone has come a long way in agreeing that future which we will see coming into fruition from later this year once all the building works have finished.” Oxford Health’s Chief Operating Officer for Community Health Services said: “This investment for Wantage Community Hospital will help us to make real our vision for more local healthcare provision in the community I am very grateful to everyone who has been involved in making this project possible Working in partnership with our health and care partners and the local community to make the case for the funding has been hugely important as it has directly shaped the building designs and the discussions about the services that will come to the refurbished hospital in the future.” A public meeting is to be held on 27th February at the Silver Band Hall The midwife-led maternity service on the hospital’s first floor will continue to be provided as it is currently Follow us on social media to stay up to date We are sorry you did not find this page helpful Tell us how we can improve this page © 2025 Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust A vital new link connecting Wantage and Grove officially opened to traffic on 5 December 2024 The new route will help reduce congestion in Wantage town centre and the surrounding road network the master developer for the Kingsgrove housing development have worked together to construct the new route that extends between the A417 east of Wantage This provides easier travel for both residents of the Kingsgrove housing development and visitors to the area A three-metre wide path for walking and cycling runs along the length of the road while the original entrance to the Kingsgrove development is now for pedestrians Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy said: “Wantage is a historic market town that has seen significant growth in much-needed new homes and associated community facilities The need for this scheme was established long before planning approval was obtained and I am delighted that the entire route is now open “King Alfred Way will encourage active travel through the provision of high-quality pedestrian and cycle facilities together with opportunities for travel by bus It is also expected to help reduce congestion and noise levels “The opening of the road is reflective of the commitment hard work and successful collaboration between the county council and St Modwen – together with suppliers working on behalf of both parties.” said: "We’re incredibly proud to have played a central role in delivering the new road a project that not only enhances local infrastructure but also supports our growing Kingsgrove community “By improving connectivity and prioritising sustainable travel options this road reflects our commitment to creating thriving MP for Wantage and Didcot and Councillor Iain Cameron the link’s new title – King Alfred Way – commemorates Wantage’s royal history The name pays tribute to King Alfred the Great and who is the inspiration for the name of the Kingsgrove community – referencing Alfred’s apple orchards MP for Wantage and Didcot said: “Residents in Wantage and beyond have been eagerly awaiting the opening of this road for some time I am pleased to see it open and hope it will be of benefit to all road users in the coming months and years.” Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter The event is being held at Wantage Silver Band Hall starting at 6.00pm on Thursday People living in the Wantage and Grove area are invited to come along to a public meeting that is being hosted jointly by Wantage Town Council and the NHS on the evening of Thursday 27 February 2025 to hear about the final refurbishment plans for the ground floor of Wantage community hospital which is being held at the Wantage Silver Band Hall on Reading Road (OX12 8HW) with the meeting itself due to finish at 7.30pm All local residents are welcome to come along Further information about the project, including the indicative timelines for the refurbishment of the community hospital’s ground floor, can be found on Oxford Health’s website A refurbished sewage treatment works near Wantage will be powered by renewable energy thanks to Vale of White Horse District Council.  The treatment plant – owned and managed by the council – serves around 31 properties at the village of Sparsholt The equipment at the site was nearing end-of-life and needed an upgrade pump station and pipework and constructed a new road to provide improved access for tankers to empty the plant (see below) They also installed 22 solar panels at the site and these will generate the majority of electricity required to run the treatment unit and pump It is estimated that these will save two tonnes of carbon emissions each year Vale of White Horse District Council’s Head of Corporate landlord said “It was great news that we were able to add the solar panels to this refurbishment project helping the council towards its net zero goals While the site still requires a back-up mains electric supply most of the electricity needed will be produced by the solar panels And on very sunny days we are planning to sell excess energy back to the grid.”  Make an enquiry 01235 422 422(Text phone users add18001 before dialing) © 2025 Vale of White Horse District Council A feasibility study into a new railway station at Wantage and Grove is to be carried out this year Oxfordshire County Council has commissioned SLC Rail to put together the strategic outline business case for the project It is expected to be published by the end of September 2025 Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy said: “Oxfordshire County Council has long been an advocate of a proposed Wantage and Grove Station “This area has had a rapid increase in population in recent years and if we are going to be able to meet our ambitious targets set in our Local Transport and Connectivity Plan regular and reliable transport options that serve our local communities and businesses across the region is essential for supporting the people our economic centres and climate change objectives.” The proposed new station would support the substantial growth in population that has taken place over recent years and provide residents with a high-quality and sustainable alternative means of travel Oxfordshire County Council is leading on the promotion of the station and will be working closely with Network Rail Great Western Railways (GWR) and South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils to progress any plans Network Rail’s industry programme director said: “We welcome the feasibility study into a proposed new station for Wantage and Grove “The industry strategy – the Oxfordshire Rail Corridor Study jointly commissioned by the county and city councils and the Department for Transport – highlighted opportunities to expand Oxfordshire’s railway and help deliver economic growth to the region This recommended a number of potential future improvements to support increasing interconnectivity across Oxfordshire which could support the provision of new stations.” A Wantage and Grove station was initially opened in 1846 but has seen no trains since 1964 GWR’s Business Development Portfolio Director Tom Pierpoint said: “We welcome the development of new stations across our network and are proud of our record working with partners to connect communities to the railway in recent years with new stations opening in Bristol “We look forward to engaging with the study rolling stock and crew requirements.” Proposals for the new station will feature in Oxfordshire County Council’s emerging OxRail 2040: Plan for Rail strategy which is expected to be adopted later this year according to an independent opinion in 2018 it is estimated to become the fifth busiest station in Oxfordshire attracting at least a million users a year There is also a strong economic case for the station as it is estimated to generate £2.48 for every £1 invested Rail Business Daily’s market leading news and profile enhancement services enable your business to tell your story to the wider rail community Engage with thousands of readers via our rail news platforms including the hugely popular 7am newsletter rail news website and Rail Director magazine you agree to us sending you emails on behalf of railbusinessdaily.com The hub is just down the road from Sainsbury’s in Limborough Street and serves the people of Wantage A new Keystone Mental Health & Wellbeing hub has opened its doors in Wantage The hub in Limborough Road was opened by Expert by Experience Leith Greig-Connor who represented all the members of the public who have been involved in co-creating the hubs She was joined by Wantage Mayor Dr Angela Dunford and Trust chair David Walker a patient experience group made up of people who use or have used Oxford Health mental health services The group has been integral in the development of the Keystone hubs since the project’s inception more than three years ago Our Voice developed out of a willingness to shape mental health services sharing constructive feedback and ideas for the future Our Voice identified the challenges people used to experience moving between GP and secondary mental health services People said they wanted dynamic and responsive easy to access support when they felt their mental health was taking a downturn as well as wrap around support with all the areas of their life affected by or which affects their mental health That’s where they idea for the Keystone hubs was born Adults experiencing mental health challenges can draw on support from the Keystone hub thanks to NHS mental health professionals Peers Support workers who have their own experience of mental health challenges and third-sector mental health services The Keystone hub is also linked to local GPs Alongside mental health care there is also support with leisure and socialising and just like its namesake the Keystone hub is the central pillar and the heart of local mental health and wellbeing care Leith Greig-Connor opened Wantage Keystone hub on behalf of all the members of Our Voice Leith said: “I feel very proud to be opening the Wantage hub on behalf of all the Experts by Experience involved with developing the Keystone hubs we hope the hubs will promote the accessibility of mental health care I love seeing hubs on the high street because it shows that looking after your mental health is nothing to hide or feel ashamed of Everyone’s mental health matters and getting the help we need is so important.” Some Our Voice members have moved onto permanent paid roles as Peer Support Workers in the hub and will be on hand to welcome people going through similar experiences as their own A regular men’s group is just one of the activities on the horizon Wantage clinical lead Karlie Spice said: “We are so pleased to open our doors to the local community and excited to share what support we can offer The Keystone hubs are all about bringing mental health support and awareness to the heart of communities quick access to help when and where people need it the most I’m really looking forward to people popping in and being able to help people when they really need it.” You can find out about your local Keystone Mental Health & Wellbeing hub in Oxfordshire on the Oxford Health website: Keystone Mental Health & Wellbeing Hubs The last nine months or so has seen intensive – and welcome – engagement with the residents of Wantage and Grove over the future services that can be provided from Wantage Community Hospital Local people’s views were at the heart of a joint report between the NHS and the Wantage Town Council Health Committee that was discussed by Oxfordshire’s Joint Health and Overview and Scrutiny Committee Following this period of working closely with the community we are planning to refurbish the ground floor of the community hospital subject to a successful application for community investment levy (CIL) funding from Vale of White Horse District Council The plan is to submit an application after an open public meeting that was held at The Beacon in Wantage on Thursday, 11 July, which was when the proposed refurbishment design and an update on the types of services that could operate from the ground floor space of the hospital was shared with local people. The slides used on the night are now available online The CIL funding application is being made during 2025 with the aim of contractors being appointed and work starting on refurbishing the hospital’s ground floor ready for new services to start from Autumn 2025 A further public meeting was held on Thursday, 27 February (6.00 to 7.30pm) at the Wantage Silver Band Hall on the Reading Road between Wantage and Grove – the slides used at that meeting are available online Further updates will be provided as soon as they are made available The current maternity unit service on the top floor is not affected by these changes the following outpatient services have been piloted and will continue to be provided going forward: These piloted services are in addition to those provided at the hospital already We are currently liaising with local healthcare providers including Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Connect Health and Health Share to identify a range of sustainable services that could be offered from the ground floor to best meet the needs of the local population Following the period of public engagement that took place during Autumn 2023 that helped inform the future of Wantage Community Hospital we continue to engage with local community groups to understand their views on how best to configure services and access to them on the ground floor of the hospital Work begins next week at Wantage Leisure Centre on a multi-million-pound energy efficiency programme with solar panels and extensive insulation of the roof to lower the site’s carbon emissions From Monday 10 March contractors will start work at the site and are expecting to complete it before the end of 2025 as well as replacing and insulating the roof and adding three large air source heat pump units and 115 solar panels to heat the building in place of end-of-life gas boilers Users of the centre should notice little change inside the leisure centre itself Notice will be given for any planned disruption A small area of the car park has been allocated to the project The centre’s new energy efficient measures have been made possible by the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix The scheme has given Vale of White Horse District Council nearly £6m towards upgrading the heating at Wantage Leisure Centre and the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre in Abingdon where similar work began last month money for the work has also come from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) – which is money from new developments in the area which goes towards local infrastructure The UK Shared Prosperity Fund has also contributed towards this decarbonisation work the council has calculated that its overall carbon emissions should be reduced by more than 25 per cent which will help it reach its target to become carbon neutral in its own operations by 2030 It is anticipated that when the measures are in place at Wantage the council could save around 800,000 kWh per year Cabinet Member for Finance and Property at Vale of White Horse District Council said: “We are delighted to see this work take place at Wantage Using renewable energy is not only better for the planet It will make the site cheaper to run and more economically viable in the long term As soon as the decarbonisation work is completed then we can concentrate on the next phase for Wantage – a full refurbishment of the changing facilities and gym.” Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery at Vale of White Horse District Council sustainable heating system reduces our reliance on fossil fuels which have the dual problem of contributing to climate change and exposing those who rely on them to sudden rises in energy bills The work on the two leisure centres at Abingdon and Wantage alone will hugely help us towards our target for the Vale to be a carbon neutral council by 2030.” The council is one of 183 organisations across the country awarded grants for 231 decarbonisation projects under the government scheme which aims to reduce public sector buildings’ reliance on gas and oil Director of Public Sector Decarbonisation at Salix said: “Climate change is already happening and we have no time to waste in reducing our carbon footprint ensuring that all of us are working towards a cleaner future for our planet “The work being undertaken by Vale of White Horse District Council at Wantage and Abingdon will help them reach their 2030 target to be carbon neutral.  This will not only mean the council is creating more energy efficient buildings “Our teams are looking forward to supporting the council on its net zero journey.” Updated information will be available on the work going at the leisure centres will be on the council’s webpage The work at the Wantage Leisure Centre is being carried out by Ashe Construction Ltd and consultants The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme provides grants for public sector bodies to fund energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation measures.  You can find out more about it on the government website The finance is delivered by Salix Finance on behalf of the government run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, aims to tackle emissions from heating public sector buildings aid a green recovery and support the UK’s 2050 net zero target and clean growth goals About Salix: Salix’s role is to support the UK government in driving the transition to a low carbon future and meet challenging net zero targets We deliver and administer grant and loan funding on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero the Department for Education and the Scottish and Welsh governments This is delivered across the public sector as well as housing The schemes we deliver provide funding for energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation projects for public sector buildings as well as the housing sector Our schemes are dedicated to reducing carbon emissions and supporting the government’s ambitious net zero targets These programmes include the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme the Low Carbon Skills Fund and Scotland’s Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Fund The sports hall at Wantage Leisure Centre has been given a new lease of life this month with a £24,000 revamp The popular sports hall floor had seen better days with the wear and tear from its constant use leading to general damage and worn-out lines the floor was sanded down and all the linework renewed The newly refurbished floor is protected with a strong sealant to expand its lifespan by at least 5 years have been corrected and the moveable nets readjusted The walls have also been painted in a fresh blue colour to bring the hall in line with Sport England guidelines The newly painted walls are perfectly complemented with the LED lights that were installed during a previous lighting improvement project and offers a much better environment for racquet sports like badminton Find out more and book activities at Wantage Leisure Centre here: www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/vale-of-white-horse/wantage-leisure-centre Vale of White Horse District Council’s Deputy Leader said: “This is great news for users of this popular sports hall basketball and netball will be a much-improved experience “I’m glad we were able to invest this improvement project which is just part of the picture of our investment at Wantage Leisure Centre and across all of our leisure centres There will be more to come with work on the swimming pool changing rooms and major energy-saving work which will significantly contribute towards reducing our overall carbon emissions.” A total of £24,984 was invested in the project part funded by £17,334 of S106 developer contributions towards improving existing facilities in the local area The council also have plans to refurbish the swimming pool changing rooms over the next year adding a further upgrade to the town’s leisure facilities.  There will be a multi-million-pound major energy-saving project at both Wantage Leisure Centre and White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre This will involve the installation of insulation air source heat pumps and external wall insulation the measures are expected to reduce the council’s overall carbon emissions by more than 25 per cent This work is expected to be completed by March 2025