Local elections are happening next week and here is a run-down of what is likely to be at stake in the West Oxfordshire district.

West Oxfordshire District Council is run by by the 'West Oxfordshire Alliance' made up of the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green groups after the Conservatives lost control of the council for the first time in 22 years following the 2022 local elections.

The council leader is Liberal Democrat Andy Graham and the composition of the council is 18 Liberal Democrat, 10 Labour, three Green, 17 Conservative and one Independent as it stands.

Oxford Mail: West Oxfordshire council offices.West Oxfordshire council offices. (Image: Ed Halford)

Elections for the district council are held in three out of every four years, with one third of the council being chosen at each one.

Below is a graph which indicates what the likely swing seats are for the upcoming elections:

As you'll see, these seats lie in the Chipping Norton, Stonesfield and Tackley, Hailey Minster Lovell and Leafield, Bampton and Clanfield, Carterton South, Carterton North West, Carterton North East, Ducklington, Witney South, Witney East, Witney North and Witney Central areas.

We have calculated swing seats by areas where there was a 20 per cent difference in vote between the top two parties in the last local election.

Since the last full review of boundaries in 2002, the council has comprised of 49 councillors representing 27 wards.

Oxford Mail: Lib Dem leader Andy Graham at last year's local election vote count.Lib Dem leader Andy Graham at last year's local election vote count. (Image: Ed Halford)

We have previously done an article outlining the full list of West Oxfordshire candidates which you can read here.

Below is also an infographic to show you what the current political makeup of the council looks like:

Made with Flourish

 

Some of the big issues that have cropped up in West Oxfordshire include land-related concerns around new-builds as the district is mainly rural with the main economic activities being farming and associated trades.

Sewage dumping in rivers has also been on the radar especially as West Oxfordshire lies within the River Thames catchment area, with the Thames itself and its tributaries including the River Evenlode and River Windrush.

Parts of the district suffered severe flooding during the 2007 floods which were widespread across the country.

Only last week, West Oxfordshire protesters were rallying in Westminster against a solar farm the size of Heathrow Airport to push for new restrictions on solar development amid plans to build a new one in Botley.

West Oxfordshire district was created in April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of five former districts, which were all abolished at the same time.

It was aptly given its name due to geographically being located west within the wider county.

The district council has seen in run-ins with former Top Gear star-turned farmer Jeremy Clarkson over planning committee decisions in relation to expansion of his Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington. 

The authority is expected to feature in the upcoming series of Clarkson's Farm on Amazon Prime which airs from Friday, May 3.

West Oxfordshire district was created in April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of five former districts, which were all abolished at the same time.

It was aptly given its name due to geographically being located west within the wider county.

Some areas of West Oxfordshire lie within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Towns in the district include Woodstock, Burford, Chipping Norton, Charlbury, Carterton and Witney, where the council is based.