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Fencott & Murcott Parish

The parish of Fencott & Murcott, Oxfordshire is found about 14km due East of Blenheim Palace, (Latitude 51°50'N, Longtitude 1°10'W). It is bounded on the North and West by the River Ray, and covers an area of approximately 1350 hectares, including most of Otmoor, and the newly established RSPB nature reserve. The current population is about 250 residents. There are no shops or post office in the parish, and the Nut Tree Inn Murcott is the only pub.
The M40 motorway runs through the northern portion of the parish. While this has had a significant impact on the parish's peace and tranquility. The original published route of the motorway would have a much greater impact, bisecting the parish and creating a barrier between the two villages.

A vigorous campaign by local councillors and environmentalists, which included the purchase and division of Alice's Meadow managed to divert the motorway and preserve at least some of the parish's tranquility; as well as providing a ongoing additional income to the parish council through the sale of grazing rights for the field. (Here is copy of the Invitation to Tender notice.)

Fencott & Murcott Links

Fencott & Murcott Parish Council has no independent presence on the web - but the following pages may be useful:-

The entry on the Oxfordshire County Council website showing contact details for Fencott & Murcott Parish Council.
The Fencott & Murcott page on the Otmoor Notice Board website produced by Tim Hallchurch. This has some nice pictures of the parish.
The Fencott & Murcott page on the OWLS website produced by Oxfordshire County Council. This shows the different landscape types and sites of special scientific interest (SSIs) within the parish.
The Fencott & Murcott Parish Council presentation to the 2003 National Association of Local Councils conference, delivered by Steve Taylor.