FROM Wantage with Love – business leaders have been invited to a James Bond-style private party and casino.

The black-tie networking event at The Beacon is being organised by Wantage and District Chamber of Commerce.

Special guests will include Wantage MP Ed Vaizey, minister of state for culture and digital industries, and James Cameron, founder and director of Challow’s Mission Motorsport, the nominated charity for the evening.

For a £25 ticket, guests will be given a canape and cocktail on arrival.

Chairman Michael Dale, who runs Umami Deli in Wantage, said he wanted to inject new life into the organisation and revitalise Wantage business.

He said: “It’s going to be the biggest thing for business and commerce in the Vale of White Horse.

“We have sent invitations to every business we can think of in Wantage and the surrounding area.

“Some businesses have already booked a table to themselves.”

The business bash on Friday, September 26, is expected to attract 150 people and will feature a charity casino.

Mission Motorsport helps former soliders rehabilitate physically and mentally by racing cars.

Mr Dale said: “We want to relaunch the chamber because there is a lot that people can do. A lot of interesting things happen but only if people join in.

“We want to do more with the chamber of commerce.

“There are a lot of things happening in Wantage and the surrounding area we can help people with.”

One example, he said, was that chamber president Gurmukh Randhawa is leading a business steering group on the Wantage Neighbourhood Plan committee.

Wantage Town Council is leading the creation of the plan which will outline how the town should develop over coming decades.

Mr Dale added: “We have put together a proposal to maintain the centre of town for commercial interests rather than residential use. We want to get the entire neighbourhood fighting things like the care home plan for Wantage Police Station.”

Thames Valley Police is hoping to sell the former police station and Wantage Magistrates’ Court on Church Street to a care home developer.

Wantage and District Chamber of Commerce currently has 60 business members and meets once a month.

Mr Dale added: “Our primary purpose is to act as a group where people in business can talk about issues but also act as a pressure group to district and county councils.”

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