Father Christmas and the Telly Tubbies will surprise children at a new housing development in Wantage with some early Christmas presents. The visit will start a party at 4pm on 14 December to mark the completion of 24 new homes developed by Thames Valley Housing and Abingdon based Vale Housing Association.
The former mobile home site at Haven Vale has been converted, at a cost of £2.3 million, into a mix of affordable homes for rent and shared ownership for local people. An adjacent play area has also been upgraded as part of the project. The Vale of White Horse District Council contributed a £766,000 grant.
The new residents with their young families will join housing staff, contractors and councillors for a marquee event with mulled wine, sweet chestnuts and mince pies. Senior members of the Vale Housing Associations staff have volunteered to dress up as the Telly Tubbies.
Tinky Winky alias Philip Cringle, Head of Development; Lala alias John Martin, Head of Design; Dipsey alias James Rippin, Area Housing Manager; and Po alias Anne Robins, Area Housing Assistant will all be attending the party. Father Christmas is well known Grove resident Tony Stenning, who recently retired as Head of the Vale's Wantage office.
Haven Vale demonstrates what can be achieved on a brown-field town centre site. It means young families are close to all the facilities Wantage provides and aren't forced out of the area by high house prices.
commented Bill Henderson, Vale Housing Association's Director of Housing.