Wrong Plan. Wrong Site. would like to recognise the considerable work being carried out by the Piddington community campaign led by Tim McNally in response to the proposed use of MOD Bicester Site A.
Members of the WPWS team were recently invited to attend a Piddington Parish Council meeting, where they were welcomed by Tim and others involved in the local campaign.
The meeting reinforced something WPWS already believes strongly: although our organisations are separate, there is much to be gained by working together where our objectives align.
A shared determination to challenge Site A
Those attending from WPWS were struck by the determination, focus and openness of the Piddington team.
The discussion covered the continuing opposition to the Government’s plans, the work already under way in Piddington, the challenges ahead, and the growing links between communities elsewhere in the country facing similar proposals.
It was also clear that Piddington is keen to remain independent in its own approach while being open to cooperation and collaboration where that can strengthen the wider challenge.
That is a position WPWS respects and supports.
Sharing information and avoiding duplication
WPWS and the Piddington campaign are separate organisations with their own structures and ways of working, but we remain in regular contact.
Where appropriate, we intend to share information, evidence, research and professional expertise, avoid unnecessary duplication and cooperate on areas such as planning, technical evidence and any future formal legal challenge.
Where both campaigns are contributing towards the same professional or legal work, we are also open to coordinating resources and funding where that is appropriate, agreed and in the best interests of the overall challenge.
The principle is straightforward:
Piddington remains independent. WPWS remains independent. Where working together strengthens the case against Site A, we should work together.
Different strengths, one shared objective
Piddington brings deep local knowledge, strong community organisation and direct representation of one of the villages closest to the proposed site.
WPWS is developing wider capacity across Bicester and surrounding communities in areas including evidence and research, communications, fundraising, stakeholder engagement, planning and legal support.
Those strengths should complement one another, not compete.
There is no need for one organisation to be everything to everyone.
What matters is that local communities share useful information, learn from each other and work together where doing so strengthens the overall campaign.
Communities are beginning to connect
One of the most encouraging themes from the meeting was the growing contact between communities affected by similar proposals elsewhere in the UK.
WPWS believes there is real value in those relationships.
Sharing experience, evidence and lessons from other sites can help local communities ask better questions, identify issues earlier and avoid repeating work that has already been done elsewhere.
Full support for Piddington
Piddington has the full support of Wrong Plan. Wrong Site.
We thank Tim McNally and everyone involved in the Piddington campaign for the work they continue to do, and for the constructive and welcoming way in which they are engaging with WPWS.
We look forward to continuing that relationship and working together wherever it strengthens the challenge to the proposed use of MOD Bicester Site A.
Different groups. Different strengths. One shared objective.
