“I remember the early days…very quiet, little lighting, regular power outages, but quite special in its own way.”

That’s the memory of one resident of Madley Park, an estate of around 1,200 homes on the eastern edge of Witney, who has lived there since the first homes were occupied in the summer of 2001.

Now the estate is a hive of activity with a wide range of community groups; parents and toddlers, young people, over 60s, sports, faith, book circles, bridge players, knitting, and more.

The opening of the new Community Hall on Madley Park last year has brought with it more activities to explore and enjoy. The hall is fully booked each weekday night and many daytime activities also taking place such as arts, dance and photography.

Integral to the community feel of the estate is the Residents’ Association, set up in 2004 further to the appointment of a Church of England curate and community worker on Madley Park. Rev Penny Joyce had great energy and enthusiasm and was a driving force in the creation of a number of community groups, and activities.

The volunteers of the Residents’ Association have worked over the last eight years on a large range of issues to improve the community life and infrastructure on the estate.

Residents are kept up to date with a quarterly newsletter and Facebook all produced by volunteers. The Residents’ Association runs events such as the litter pick where around 50 residents spend a Saturday morning clearing up the estate. With numbers and interest increasing, the event is now run twice a year which is equivalent to about 80 hours of volunteering. The impact on the estate is noticeable.

Chairman David Bates said: “We do also recognise that with lots of young families on the estate there will be an increasing need for activities for our older young people and teenagers, so we are currently in discussion with these groups, the Town and District councils and other stakeholders with a view providing a new youth play area.”

The Residents’ Association is holding its AGM on Friday, November 16, in Madley Park Hall and all residents are invited to go along between 7-9pm to meet other residents over drinks, hear a report on the last year and to put questions to local councillors and the police.          

Visit madleyparkresidents.btck.co.uk or like on facebook on.fb.me/QHVZeB for more information. Visit madleyparkhall.co.uk for details of events and classes at the hall.