Cherwell

Cherwell is 590km² in area; it offers a unique and successful combination: its fine rural landscape provides some of the most attractive and picturesque scenery in Oxfordshire, whilst thriving commercial and industrial centres brings prosperity and economic strength in a highly accessible and desirable location.

Cherwell is a relatively affluent area but there are significant differences in wealth distribution. Banbury in particular has pockets of severe deprivation, second only to Oxford in the County. Other forms of deprivation derive from rural isolation. There are 75 parishes and three main urban centres' - Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington - which contain 65% of the residents. So Cherwell's population is, perhaps surprisingly, mostly urban, which gives rise to challenges more often associated with urban areas, in addition to common rural issues.

District community strategy vision

Delivering a better quality of life in Cherwell.

Priorities

Priorities include (for further information please see the delivery plan):

• Help you feel safe in your home and community, working to reduce further very low levels of crime
• Co-ordinate, improve and provide more diverse and accessible health provision and advice through improved education, partnership working, better local access and increased choice
• Raise the standards in schools and colleges to meet the needs of Cherwell's businesses
• Make it easier for you to get where you need to go
• Secure more affordable housing
• Protect and enhance our environment, wildlife habitats and the countryside
• Reduce carbon emissions
• Improve further our already high recycling rates so that we can reduce the amount of landfill waste
• Make it easier for you to lead a healthy and active life
• Improve local services and opportunities in rural areas
• Develop the unique characters of Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington and engender a sense of pride, belonging to the community and heritage
• Improving the quality of life for all, particularly older people, the young, disabled people and ethnic minorities recognising and supporting the important role of the family, carers, voluntary sector and faith communities

Further information

Find out more at www.cherwell.gov.uk.

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