Petition Update – Meeting with the National Trust
I wanted to share a positive update with everyone who has signed and supported this petition.
Following the petition and the emails sent to the various organisations involved, the National Trust has been in touch. I have now been invited to meet with Keith Assirati-Wilkie, General Manager for the West Oxfordshire Portfolio, on Monday 24th August to discuss the concerns raised and explore whether the National Trust can help improve safety around White Horse Hill.
This meeting is an encouraging step. While I appreciate that the National Trust does not have responsibility for the public highway itself, they are an important stakeholder because of the popularity of White Horse Hill and the significant number of visitors accessing the site each year.
I hope this meeting will be an opportunity to discuss practical measures that could contribute to making this road safer, including improving visibility at the junction, vegetation management, visitor access, and how the National Trust may be able to work alongside Oxfordshire County Council and other organisations.
Nothing has been agreed at this stage, but I wanted to let everyone know that your support has already been noticed. It has helped open doors and start important conversations.
Thank you to every single person who has signed, shared the petition and taken the time to leave thoughtful comments. Your comments will also be reviewed as part of my meeting. Your support keeps this campaign moving forward.
Please continue to share this petition on your Facebook page and other social media if you can. Every share helps us reach more people who care about making our surrounding rural roads safer.
We need to ensure that the areas around our beautiful countryside roads are properly managed, maintained and reviewed more regularly, so that preventable hazards are identified and addressed before they contribute to another serious or fatal collision.
I would also encourage everyone to report any road safety concerns they come across. If you notice overgrown verges, poor visibility at junctions, damaged road signs, potholes, or anything else that could put drivers, cyclists or motorcyclists at risk, please report it straight away using FixMyStreet:
These reports are sent directly to the relevant authority and help ensure hazards are assessed and, where necessary, action is taken. The more people who report issues, the better the picture councils have of recurring problems and locations that may need further investigation.
This campaign has always been about one simple aim: preventing another family from experiencing the devastating loss that Michał's loved ones have suffered.
The invitation to meet with the National Trust, together with Oxfordshire County Council's commitment to review road safety along this route after the summer, represents genuine progress. It shows that people are listening, and that this campaign is helping to bring the issue to the attention of those who have the ability to make a difference.
I'll continue to keep everyone updated as progress is made.