Your Charlbury, your news...

WODC Photographic Competition 2012

A third photographic competition is being run by the Tourism department of West Oxfordshire District Council and they wish local residents of West Oxfordshire to take part. The range of photographs can be from inspirational panoramic views to unstaged action shots, local produce to local wildlife, market towns & villages or people just having a great time in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds - the world really is your oyster.

There is a competition prize of a beautiful canvas print of the winning image created by Blueprint Imaging Limited, Witney www.blueprintimaging.com. The image will be reproduced onto a 30 x 20 inch art canvas.

Closing date for entry is Friday 27th April 2012

For further details, terms & conditions and a competition entry form please visit:

http://www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org/industry/photographic-competition-2012

Temporary Road Closure / “No Waiting” Restriction

Road Closure - Charlbury to Enstone B4022

Library consultation

Temporary Road Closure - The Slade

Grant Applications

The Town Council has approved a new process for grant applications. Applicants should contact the Clerk to obtain an application pack which MUST be returned no later than midday on October 31st. Applications received after that time will be discounted, as well as those not submitted on the required form. Applications for small grants to be considered in November may continue to apply in the normal way(i.e. as previously). If you wish to clarify any of the above please contact the Clerk. He can be contacted by email at charlburytc@btinternet.com or by phone on 01608 810608

Radon testing

Some of you may be aware that West Oxfordshire District Council is supporting the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in a public health Radon awareness campaign.  On Monday 18th July the HPA has written to 9208 houses within the district to tell them about radon gas. The purpose of the work is 'Find & Fix'; that is to:

a) Identify houses with high radon levels and

b) Encourage households to do remedial works to reduce that level.

If you have any queries on the above, please contact the numbers below, who will be able to give you more information.   A copy of the leaflet can be found here.   

For technical enquiries from the public, please direct to our town centre shop on :  01993 861000.

Should you wish to discuss any aspect of the campaign in greater depth, don’t hesitate to contact me using my direct details provided below.

Clive Salisbury

Senior Environmental Health Officer

West Oxfordshire District Council

Elmfield

New Yatt Road

Witney

OX28 1PB

Tel: (01993) 861378

www.westoxon.gov.uk

“Stamp Out Rural Crime” - 28th July

The West Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership is organising a “Stamp Out Rural Crime” event to encourage farmers and rural businesses to protect their property. It will take place on Thursday 28 July at Elderbank Hall, Station Road, Brize Norton. More details are available on www.saferwestoxon.co.uk/stamp-out-rural-crime-event

Concessionary Fares Application Process

From 1st April 2011 Oxfordshire County Council became responsible for the overall management of the Concessionary Travel Scheme in the county.   However, bus passes are still currently issued by local District Councils on an agency agreement, until 31st March 2012.

Public Consultation re. Little Lees

PUBLIC CONSULTATION :  Following a Housing Needs Survey a need for further affordable housing in Charlbury has been identified. On Wednesday June 15th. from 3-00p.m. to 8-00p.m. the proposed scheme will be on display in the Corner House (Anne Downer room) Comments are invited from all interested persons on this proposal and where possible will be reflected in the subsequent formal planning application.Normal consultative procedures on the planning application, once submitted,will follow WODC current practice.Please take this opportunity to put your views forward. Thankyou. Town Council

Annual Boundary Walk

Enstone Road maintenance

Oxfordshire County Council will be undertaking carriageway repair works on Enstone Road, Charlbury. The road works are programmed to commence on 9th May 2011 and are expected to last for four weeks, subject to any bad weather or unforeseen circumstances arising during construction.

Enstone Road and Brown’s Lane will both be closed during the works and diversion routes will be signed. Please see attached plan for extents of road closures. Brown’s Lane closure will be used to manually control HGV access. Vehicular access to properties and businesses on Brown’s Lane will be maintained at all times. Parking may be restricted and this will be indicated with traffic cones.

The works will be constructed in three sections to reduce disruption and allow space for parking. Access to Wychwood Paddocks will be maintained during the works. Access to Enstone Road will either be from Nine Acres Lane/The Slade or from Pooles Lane, subject to progress of the works. Pedestrian access to properties on Enstone Road will be maintained but vehicular access may be restricted at times. You will be notified of access arrangements and any restrictions by the Scheme Supervisor as the works progress. Please contact the Scheme Supervisor if you have any specific requirements regarding access.

Scheme Supervisor: Adrian Powell – 07834 505809

Nominate A Neighbour cards

Thames Valley Police have just taken delivery of some more Nominate A Neighbour cards which are ideal for elderly or vulnerable neighbours and family. 

The idea is that when an unexpected caller comes to the door the Nominate A Neighbour card should be passed through the letterbox, shown at a window or through the gap in a chained door. The card directs the caller to a nominated neighbour who can check their identity.

The occupant is advised not to enter into a conversation with the caller but to just show the card. A genuine caller will not mind following the instructions.

The scheme has proven popular with neighbourhood watch schemes in West Oxfordshire so if you would any more cards please telephone 01993 861640.

If you do receive a visit from a suspicious caller, try and note down as much detail about them and their vehicle as possible, then telephone the police on 0845 8 505 505 or Oxfordshire Trading Standards on 0845 051 0845.

Enstone Road and Browns Lane Road Closure

Because of proposed works by Southern Gas Networks, the Enstone Road and Browns Lane will be closed from 7th March to 8th April. Access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles, residents and businesses within the closure area, subject to the progress of the works.

(Further information from John Jacques on 07989 141899 )

Recruitment for 2011 Census

WODC are now recruiting for Census Collectors in the West Oxfordshire District Council area.  The jobs are part time with hours to suit ranging from 15 hours per week to 37 hours per week.

To get more information and apply for these jobs please log on to www.censusjobs.co.uk

 The areas being covered are  Bampton, Bradwell Grove, Carterton, Clanfield & Northmoor, Burford, Curbridge, Ducklington, Swinbrook & Taynton, Cassington,, Kiddington, Ledwell & Woodstock and Charlbury, Chipping Norton, Churchill & Milton-under-Wychwood.

John Clapton
2011 Census Area Manager
Oxford, West Oxfordshire and Cherwell
Tel: 07801 331476
www.census.gov.uk

C1 Bus Changes because of Road Closure

Finstock Halt
Because the B4022 Charlbury to Witney will be closed from 19th to 27th February, to enable works to take place on Bridge Strengthening there will be no C1 Rail Bus in the morning picking up in Charlbury. However, I have been assured that the C1 bus will pick from the station in the evening and drop off around Charlbury before going towards Shipton. More details on the X9 to follow. The B4022 closure is at Finstock Halt just past Fawler Mill so to get through to Finstock and beyond from Charlbury is not possible.

(Further information from Robin Calver 01865 815168 )

St John's Ambulance want to break a world record

St John’s Ambulance want to break a world record and need more than 1,000 people (current record is 917) to learn the basics of first aid for 30 minutes in aid of St John Ambulance Oxfordshire.

The event will raise £60,000 to buy a new 4 x 4 ambulance for the Oxfordshire area.

 It will take place on the 19^th March at The Kassam Stadium at 12:00 (for a 12:45 start).

 St John’s are contacting all the town councils to see if any of staff members / communities would like to be involved. From winter weather to flooding, tough terrain to isolated rural communities, St John Ambulance is the only provider of invaluable 4 x 4 ambulances in the county and the two they currently have are over 20 years old. St John Ambulance aim to train as many people as possible to be the difference between a life lost, and a life saved. Your support can help make that aim a reality.

 To register for the event just visit www.sja.org.uk/oxfordshire and follow the links. Alternatively you can call 01865 309 521.

 By being involved participants will be entered into a free raffle that includes a helicopter ride over Oxfordshire, the chance to lead out the Oxford United team on match day, 2 tickets to watch an Oxford Utd match from the director’s box, a signed Oxford Utd shirt AND four tickets for a show at the New Theatre (amongst other things!)

 To take part they ask that you raise a minimum of £10 sponsorship. You can use JustGiving^TM for this event. Simply go to www.justgiving.com/sja, create your account and when asked, click on 'an organised event'. In the list of events available, please select, 'World Record Attempt on the Largest First Aid Class'. Alternatively you can download a sponsership form from the website.

 If you have any questions just contact St John Ambulance on 01865 309 521.

 Grace Chapman

Broadcast Assistant

BBC Radio Oxford 95.2FM

01865 311 444

Photographic Competition 2011

Below is information about a competition that the Tourism department of West Oxfordshire District Council are running again during 2011.  They are particularly looking to engage the local residents in this; for them to come up with inspirational unstaged images that can used in WODC tourism publications.  

There is a lovely prize for the winning entry comprising of a one hour spa treatment for two at Witney Lakes Resort followed by dinner in their restaurant (Terms and Conditions apply).

WODC are looking for a range of photographs from panoramic views to action shots, local produce to wildlife, market towns & villages or people having a great time in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds - the world is your oyster. 

Closing date for entry is Friday 29th April 2011

For further details, terms & conditions and a competition entry form please visit: www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org/photos

Invitation

Copyright information

Terms and conditions

Road closures advanced warning

Finstock Halt

Being neighbourly & hints during the cold weather

Road closures due to gas works

A MAJOR project is taking place to renew the gas mains network in Charlbury.

The £166,000 Southern Gas Network project will replace dilapidated iron gas mains in Nine Acres Lane, Sheep Street, Fishers Lane and Enstone Road with modern, durable plastic polyethylene pipes as part of the ongoing mains replacement programme developed with the Health and Safety Executive.

The project is estimated to take 18 weeks and began at Nine Acres Lane on November 22.  Sheep Street will be closed for eight weeks from January 4, and Enstone Road will be closed from mid-March during the works.

Access will be maintained for emergency services, residents and businesses within the closed area, subject to the progress of the works.   If you need further information, please contact either Oxfordshire County Council 0845 310 11 11 or Southern Gas (John Jacques) 01865 845961 or 07989 141899.

Cornbury Park Licence Application

• for all events, from 10.00 to 02.00 hrs, on any or all of the seven days of the week
• provision of late night refreshment - on any or all of the seven days of the week from 23.00 to 05.00 hrs
• supply of alcohol - on any or all of the seven days of the week – 00.00 to 00.00 hrs – 24 hours a day

10 events would not exceed a maximum capacity of 5,000.

To put the noise issue into perspective – measurements are taken from the nearest inhabited dwelling, which, for this year’s Cornbury Festival, was at the front of Wellington Cottages in Hixet Wood.

The Environmental Health Officer has informed the Town Council that at no point did sound levels exceed 55 decibels. National guidelines suggest that, for an event like that, 65 decibels is acceptable. Decibels work on a logarithmic scale, which means that an increase of 10 decibels means a doubling of the volume, similarly the decrease by 10 decibels means a reduction in half of the volume.

If you wish to write in objection or in support of this application, please contact:

Bill Oddy at West Oxfordshire District Council, Elmfield, Witney, Oxon OX28 1PB

bill.oddy@westoxon.gov.uk

Events in Charlbury

New waste collection service starting Nov 2010

The new service will comprise of:

• Weekly food waste collections
• Weekly recycling collections – as current service, using black boxes
• Optional fortnightly garden waste collections
• Fortnightly household waste collection

More information can be found by clicking on here.

Cotswolds Hack - in aid of NSPCC

The Cotswolds HACK will take place on Sunday 5th September and is a 25 mile sponsored challenge walk in aid of the NSPCC’s  Child’s Voice Appeal, which will help expand the NSPCC's vital helpline services- Childline the UK's free, confidential 24 hour helpline for children and the NSPCC Helpline for adults concerned about a child.

The scenic route will start and finish in Cornbury Park and will also travel through Blenheim Estate and Ditchley Park.

The registration fee is £15 per person and the walk is for over 18's only. The registration deadline is Monday 23rd. August. For further details, to register online and information on payments log on to www.nspcc.org.uk/hackor contact the NSPCC East appeals office on 01908 328060 or e mail cotswoldshack@nspcc.org.uk

Your Community, Your Call

Free Garden Waste Collections

Sign up now for FREE garden waste collections

All West Oxfordshire households now have the chance to sign up for free fortnightly garden waste recycling collections.

If you would like garden waste collections, you need to tell West Oxfordshire District Council as soon as possible. Register:

·         Online at www.westoxon.gov.uk/garden

·         By calling 01993 861025

 This is the first time that garden waste collections will be available in West Oxfordshire.

 Currently, this is a paid-for service for 5,500 households. If you are an existing garden waste customer, you will automatically receive free garden waste collections.

 All garden waste collected will be recycled into compost. Free garden waste collections are part of a new recycling and waste service starting in November 2010 which will give you more opportunities to recycle.

 Find out more at www.westoxon.gov.uk/waste or by calling 01993 861025.

Oxfordshire Waste Infrastructure Programme

This series of updates  is to inform  and up date you on the progress on the improvements being made to Oxfordshire County Council’s Waste Recycling Centres (WRCs) under the Waste Management Group’s waste infrastructure improvement programme.

Background

As a result of government and EU targets to reduce the amount of household waste that is sent to landfill, Oxfordshire County Council has developed a programme to enhance the county’s waste recycling facilities and promote the importance of recycling via education and reuse.

Oxfordshire County Council’s current waste infrastructure portfolio has 8 Waste Recycling Centres (WRC’s) which help the county achieve a recycling rate of over 48%. The strategic benefits of the current sites have been assessed and opportunities for improvement have been analysed, with waste diversion from landfill being the key driver.

The 1^st phase of this programme involves Oxfordshire County Council transforming its waste recycling services with the refurbishment of Redbridge WRC, the relocation of Dean Pit WRC within West Oxfordshire and the creation of a new flagship recycling centre complete with reuse outlet and a dedicated area to promote recycling and reuse, and the ability to accommodate school visits at Kidlington. The latter is intended to help improve county recycling rates and alleviate pressure at (and also enable the redevelopment of) Redbridge WRC. The new and improved facilities are intended to help achieve the target of 55% recycling and composting identified in the joint municipal waste strategy by 2020.

Progress on the Waste Infrastructure Programme  - Waste Recycling Centres 

Planning

It is proposed to submit an outline planning application (Matters Reserved) for the new facilities at, Kidlington in May 2010.

Next steps

The work to complete formal planning for Kidlington WRC is to be completed by summer 2010.  

Dean Pit  

Dean pit planning permission expires at the end of September 2011.

An extensive search has recently been undertaken to establish a suitable site for a replacement Waste Recycling Centre (WRC) within 5 miles of Dean Pit and Chipping Norton.

381 development sites within this area were identified and scored on their suitability for development of a WRC.

This number was finally reduced this week to 2 main options, and 2 slightly lower scoring option, within the localised area, most being around Enstone. 

The next phase is to pursue the sites with a regard to develop a viable replacement WRC , the final site selection and officer recommendation for Dean Pit’s replacement WRC is planned for early summer 2010.

The  objective is to establish a solution by the time planning permission expires.

Redbridge   

The refurbishment of Redbridge WRC will commence once Kidlington WRC has been commissioned summer 2011.

Communications

The information on the Oxfordshire County Council website continues to be regularly updated. Please follow the link here for more information.

WODC Photographic Competition

Below is some information about a competition that the Tourism department of West Oxfordshire District Council are running.  They are particularly looking to engage the local residents in this; for them to come up with an unstaged/inspired image that could be used in one or more of the publications that WODC put out.

There is a fantastic prize for the winning entry.

They are looking for a wide range of photographs from panoramic views to action shots, photographs of local produce, wildlife, market towns & villages, eating out and people enjoying what the Oxfordshire Cotswolds has to offer. 

Closing date for entry is Friday 30^th July 2010

For further details, terms & conditions and a competition entry form please visit: www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org/photos

Town Council Surgeries

Ever wanted to ask your Town Councillor a question?    Do you know who your Town Councillors are.    If you would like to talk to a town councillor about any issue you may have, the Town Council are holding three planned surgeries on 5th June, 3rd July and 4th September.   All will start at 10am and finish at 12pm and will be held in the Corner House, in the Morris Room and Watney Room.

Street Lighting Update

The Town Council would like to report that having carefully considered all responses and further questioning of OCC, at the Town Council's last meeting it decided to retain the status quo in respect of street lighting. Representations have been made to OCC to ask that their proposal to switch off lights be mandatory rather than optional. If the policy changes then the matter will be reconsidered.

Logs for Recycling

A large tree has recently been felled on Nine Acres and the wood has been cut into logs and left on site. Residents may help themselves to this and can find the logs near to the steps up into the field at the top of Nine Acres Lane. Please take what you need and help recycle the timber.

Winter & Neighbours Leaflet

The Town Council have been issued with the following Governmentleaflet, giving hints etc on what to do in severe weather, how we can help our neighbours, and yes, clear pavements without fear of prosecution. The document can be found here

Help your neighbours

OCC and Age Concern have issued a brief leaflet which can be viewed here giving emergency numbers etc.

Public Meeting on Street Lighting Proposals by Oxfordshire County Council

A public meeting will be held on Friday 23rd October at 8pm in the Memorial Hall to discuss the consultation by Oxfordshire County Council with regard to switching off the street lights from 12am to 5.30am.

Speakers from Oxfordshire County Council will be present to discuss the proposal and climate change in its wider context.

Street Lighting Poster

Swine Flu Update from WODC

Reporting Crime

Proposed Speed Limit changes

Swine Flu Update from WODC

Housing Needs Survey Update