News Update no 83, February 23rd 2022

Hopefully the power cuts experienced recently will soon be behind us but should another prolonged one occur, this is just to remind everyone that Stratton Audley Church also acts as the Community Centre. Should there be an extended period of outage (6 hours or more), then members of the Parish Council with the help of Stewart Hopkins, will arrange for the generator to be fired up to provide some warmth and electricity to charge mobile phones and make hot drinks.  Last Friday, after a few issues with the battery there was power in the church during the evening prior to the supply being reconnected. Although the village was without power for some 10 hours, we were more fortunate than some like Fringford who remained without power for several days.

Some people have asked about compensation from SSEN, which is governed by Guaranteed Standards of Service set by the regulator, Ofgem. Although it does not apply to any of us on this occasion, it is perhaps interesting to note that under the scheme, customers who have been without power for over 48hrs will be eligible for a payment of £70. A further £70 is due for each additional period of 12 hours in which supply is not restored, up to a cap of £700. And no one needs to contact SSEN to receive this compensation! A cheque will automatically be issued to the address that was impacted by the storms based on the data held.

New Brown bin and food waste collection scheme Starting Next week

The new scheme comes into being next on March1st. From next week you are allowed to put out your silver grey food waste box on a weekly basis. Brown garden waste bins will only be collected if you have signed up to the new scheme. For more details see further down this newsletter.

The Red Lion Update
The following information is from Dillie:

“Following the storming success of the Valentine’s Night Supper club and Verity Taylor’s fabulous cooking, we’re teaming up once more to put on another Monday night supper club on 21st March.  Price and menu to be announced later, but the theme is SIGNS OF SPRING – so get booking!

Immediate news –

Saturday breakfasts – 11-1pm.  A full fry up for £12.95.  Get your stomachs lined for the weekend.  

Sunday lunch as usual – 12-3.  Beef or pork and the usual trimmings.  

Coffee morning is on Wednesdays as usual, and Christine does a wonderful lunch for those who want to stay on.  Please note that we will have to put the price up very soon, we’re very sorry but we have no choice.  

Six Nations Rugby – come in and cheer on your teams – the matches will always be shown at the pub. Sapphy is in charge of the kitchen on Saturdays if you need sustenance during the match. 

Tuesday March 1st is St David’s Day, come in and celebrate with us.  

Thursday March 3rd – another brain-frying quiz from Rich Walsh, starts 7pm.  

Thursday March 17th – it’s St Patrick’s Day AND the Cheltenham Festival and we hope you’ll come and enjoy the racing.  £15.00 for a full Irish fry and a pint of Guinness or a glass of Prosecco from 12 noon onwards. (If you don’t fancy the Guinness or the Prosecco, the full fry will be the normal price of £12.95.) For that you get £100 in fun money and Jonesy the Book will be on hand to take your bets.  Prizes for the three people who end up with the most “cash” at the end of the day. Prize for the person with the best home made hat! Home made tea for two – scone, sandwich, cake – £10. 

News from Stratton Audley Church
The follow information is from Becky Adams on behalf of the Shelswell Benefice:
“This coming Sunday, 27th February, there will be a 9.15am service of Holy Communion in Stratton Audley Church – all are welcome. 

‘Little Lambs’ baby and toddler group continues in Stratton Audley Church every Wednesday in term time (10am – 11.30am) so will be meeting next Wednesday (2nd March) There’s no need to book – just turn up! 

Please check our website for details of services elsewhere in the benefice http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php

Stratton Audley Barn

The following is from Richard, Sara and the Barn team:

Full steam ahead at the Barn, now back open 10 – 4pm Tuesday to Sunday, booking advisable for our busy lunchtime period, call ahead to reserve your table. Exciting news well behaved and clean dogs are now allowed in designated areas of the cafe and also in the shop. Lots of new spring stock arriving daily, look forward to seeing you soon. Check out our Facebook page or message us for more information. Our number is 01869 278184 or email info@strattonaudleybarn.co.uk

Stratton Audley Parish Questionnaire

A parish wide survey will be circulated in the next few weeks and al residents will be invited to give their views on a number of topic, in particular with regard to vehicle speeds and traffic calming measures. This will be printed and hand delivered to each household and also distributed via email.

Queens Platinum Jubilee Celebration
National celebrations will take place from 2-5th June 2022 and in line with the Big Lunch being organised across the country for Sunday 5th June, Stratton Audley is in the process of organising an event to join in the celebrate. If you want to help or join the committee, please email Abbey Short Abbey.Short@olympia.london

More details to follow, but please save the date now – Sunday 5th June.

Bicester Heritage Scramble 23rd & 24th April

Bicester Heritage are once again hosting a scrabble meeting in April and have advised that due to heavy demand for tickets for the Sunday, they have decided to also open up the site on the Saturday for an additional day of family-focused activities. As previously, there is a local residents discount which for Saturday is: SaturdayFlyingBrevets and for Sunday is: FlyingBrevets.

For those who have already purchased passes for the Sunday and would like to switch to Saturday you will need to purchase for the new day and then apply for a refund for your current pass. Refunds can be requested up until seven days before the event is held. Should you wish your Pass to be refunded, please follow the steps set out by Eventbrite by clicking here.

The Parish Council have expressed legitimate concerns regarding the whole weekend after the traffic congestion cause by the last Scramble event. In particular, what additional measures are being taken to avoid the long delays that occurred on the A4421 Buckingham Road at the entrance gates to the airfield?

Defibrillator Training – Date to be confirmed

Nine people have so far asked to participate in Defibrillator training which will take place in the Church building on a Saturday morning (likely 10-12noon). The PC are arranging for St John’s Ambulance to run the training session and there are still a few places remaining – date is yet to be confirmed.

Please email jhonsinger@btconnect.com if you want your name added to the list.

New residents may not be aware that there is a public defibrillator located in the Church Porch which is accessible at all times even when the church is locked at night. It is in a contained in a yellow metal box secured to the wall on the right hand side and ready for use at all times. The code is printed on the box for quick access but the general rule is to phone 999 so the emergency services can locate the position of the box. The moment the defibrillator box is opened you get automatic instructions so that most people can use it without fear of doing the wrong thing.

Time to get walking again!

At this time of year we start to think about the mud drying up and getting out to walk in the beautiful English Countryside again, but where to find new and interesting walks?

John Harris has the answers! Walking in Oxfordshire

https://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/oxfordshire has hundreds of walks to download and print, free of charge. It also has books of walks, details of all the walking groups in the county, and much more. Whether you want to walk on your own or with a group, all the information is there in one place.

John Harris (the custodian of the website) said ‘There is so much walking information on the web but it is difficult to find. Walking in Oxfordshire (part of the Walking in England website) has brought it together in one place so whether you are walking from home, or away on holiday, you will be able to find a walk suitable for you’.

With walks from half a mile to twelve miles plus long, and a note of suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs, everyone can find a walk to enjoy.

So home or away, check out his websites and get walking!

www.walkinginengland.co.uk

OCC Local Transport & Connectivity Plan

Anyone interested in finding out more about Oxfordshire County Council’s new Local Transport Plan proposals should visit  https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/LTCP?fbclid=IwAR2zsGi3hJDi77rdLxDyKoeVRZiA32pm8t5bXdQwX8LT2dqSljh0UM9zqmM

Thy are interested in local views and you can register to participate.

Don’t Forget – Fresh Fish every Thursday 
Jack from Grimsby continues to come to the village on Thursday’s between 6.30-7pm and parks his van outside the Red Lion. He has a wide selection of fresh fish and shellfish. You can just turn up or place orders in advance by text and his mobile number is 07535 935119.

Fish & Chips Van in the village on Saturdays
For those new in the community, a Howe’s Fish and Chip van comes to the village every Saturday lunchtime from 1.30pm to 2pm. You will hear a bell (like a school bell) and his first stop is in Cherry Street. He then drives along Cavendish Place and stops again at the junction with Mill Road.
Howe & Co was established in 1930 and now has over 100 vans serving villages. You can track each van by going to their website and you need to look for van no 4:
https://howeandcofishandchips.co.uk/#findvan
They also have a general number you can call 07809 901761.

And some reminders from the previous newsletters…..

The 100 Club

Just to repeat, the winners in the 100 Club draw for the month of February 2022 are:

£30                             Mhairi Smith            (87)

£20                             Davies family           (121)

£10                             John James              (126)

£10                             Hook family             (111)

Application to become a 20mph village

The Parish Council has registered interest in becoming a 20mph village along with many other villages. This does not mean we will become one but puts us on the Oxfordshire County Council list for consideration. Registration is important so as to have the option to go down this route later on.

Speed Checks in the village

The Parish Council have organised and paid for a speed and traffic volume survey to be put in place at the beginning of March. Monitoring equipment will be set up on all four entry/exit roads just inside the 30mph zone. The data collected will record the number of vehicle movements in each direction and also the speed of vehicles. The Parish Council will be responsible for analysing the data and will circulate the results.

Children’s Speed Awareness Poster Campaign
The children’s speed awareness posters have now been printed onto boards and will be displayed around the village following the completion of the speed check exercise above. So expect to see them mid March.

If there are any children who missed the deadline and would still like to participate just let the Parish Council know.

Conservation Area Review
Some of you may remember that a consultation and review of our Conservation Area was undertaken in Autumn 2018 and by now you will have received a letter from CDC advising that the report has finally been adopted and published.

The public consultation on the document was undertaken from 9th April 2019 to 17th May 2019 and the responses and comments received were subsequently taken into account when the Conservation Area boundary and the appraisal document were finalised.  The final document can be viewed by clicking on this link: https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/directory/34/conservation-area-appraisals. Hard copies of the document can be viewed at Bodicote House as well as Banbury and Bicester Libraries.

New Charge for Garden Waste
As you know Cherwell District Council are introducing a charge for the brown bin (green waste) collection. There has been a good take up already but please note that the start date has been put back from 1st February to the 1st March, so there is still time to sign-up.
For more information and to sign up visit: https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/info/10/rubbish-and-recycling/825/weekly-food-waste-collections

The district’s current recycling rates are ranked in the top 25% of the 340 local authorities in England.  Currently, one third of the waste going into general waste is recyclable.  The initiative to charge for brown bins is to improve the districts recycling rates and reduce our carbon emissions.

Changes to Food Waste Collection

Food waste should no longer be put in the brown bin and in future will be collected weekly by using the small green caddies that most people have and putting these out beside your other bins. There is no charge for this service.

The changes are part of Cherwell District Council’s drive to accelerate their program to help meet UK targets on halving carbon emissions by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.

By separating out our food waste it can now go for anaerobic digestion which will be converted to valuable resources such as bio-fertilisers or green power. It will also make us all more aware of how much food we really waste on a weekly basis. Businesses in the Parish will also need to do their bit by registering their food waste collections and signing up to WRAP: https://wrap.org.uk/taking-action/food-drink/initiatives/food-waste-reduction-roadmap#

To see more on the net zero pledge and actions the council are taking  visit: https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/9828/climate-action-framework-2020.pdf

Bicester Motion ‘Experience Quarter’ Planning Application APPROVED
Outline planning permission was given for the Bicester Motion Experience Quarter at last night’s CDC Planning Committee meeting. The Parish Council was represented by our councillor Martin Arroyo and he did an excellent job in presenting the views of the community. All committee members were personally made aware in advance of our concerns particularly with regard to road safety and congestion, noise pollution and a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists through the site, 24 hours a day. A significant number of them including our own local representative Ian Corkin, spoke up for Stratton Audley and supported our concerns.
It is now a question of further discussions over the plans as they are developed and to what extent the Parish Council can persuade Bicester Motion to come up with satisfactory remedies that meet our concerns, in particular a path access via the site open 24 hours a day. It was agreed that the Chairman of the CDC Planning Committee is to be consulted on the conditions that are applied as they progress and this is good news because normally it would be left at the sole discretion of the Planning Officer to make such decisions.
The CDC Planning Committee meeting has now been archived and you can watch the full discussion by putting the following link into your web browser:
https://cherwell.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/633845?from=meeting_update&update_type=archived&email=jhonsinger%40btconnect.com&h=60ae389f86e8b4b2580d0153367e0094&mail_target_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcherwell.public-i.tv%2Fcore%2Fportal%2Fwebcast_interactive%2F633845
Finally, and just for clarification purposes, no planning application has yet been submitted for the development of the old quarry site. An application for this development known as the Wilderness Quarter is likely to be submitted later this year.

Stratton Audley 100 Club
The following information is from Maggie Woodward:
The club is now up and running for the next 12 months, 158 subscriptions having been taken.  Thank you villagers for your generosity and support.  Special thanks to the amazing team who collected the subscriptions in the rain, wind and freezing cold. Viv, Jeremy, Sally, Angie, Margaret, Emma and Stewart.  The profit this year amounted to £670 which will go towards buying a new noticeboard outside the Church.  The draw takes place at coffee morning in the Red Lion on the first Wednesday in the month, results are posted on the village, pub and Church noticeboards and are published in the Shelswell News and the village newsletter.  If you missed your collector and wish to join the “club” please get in touch with Maggie and, if you wish to know your allocated number please ask your collector. Good luck to you all.

Litter Picking
The Parish Council organise litter picking days from time to time but this is just to thank those that go out and litter pick by themselves or with their partners at other times. Amongst them John Woodward frequently does this on Mill Road leading up to the crossroads and Janet James has been doing this recently on Stoke Lyne Road leading to the junction with the A4421 (the Buckingham Road). I am told there is quite a lot of litter on both the Bicester Road and Launton Road and if anyone is inclined to do something similar, we do have spare black litter bags, so just ask (jhonsinger@btconnect.com).

Helping homeworkers with their wellbeing this winter
Homeworkers in north Oxfordshire are being invited to take part in free online workshops this winter, aimed at supporting mental health. Cherwell District Council is working with Oxfordshire Mind to deliver the group sessions, offering tips on wellbeing as well as how to spot the warning signs if a colleague needs help.
To find out more visit the Cherwell District Council site:
https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/news/article/924/helping-homeworkers-with-their-wellbeing-this-winter?fbclid=IwAR0EF6xfiMhTUY8UJySIOAo3gTKzKOIe8_50-Kra9Aah7koMB3H0L1MCbuw

Local Police Bicester and Kidlington Rural Team News
To report a crime or contact the police there are now three options:
·       Call 999 if you see a crime being committed or in an emergency
·       Call 101 to report anything else to the police – or go online to do so
·       And now police are partnering with CrimeStoppers to remind everyone of ‘The 3rd Number – 0800 555 111’ that enables you to report your information totally anonymously if you prefer.
Finally for the latest crime statistics there is a useful national site into which you can put your post code. Click on this link  Bicester Rural | Police.uk (www.police.uk)

Shelswell History Festival advance notice Save-the-date
The Shelswell Benefice has decided to once again run the Shelswell History Festival and this is due to take place on Saturday 16th July 2022. They are looking for volunteers to help organise it and especially anyone with marketing expertise. Contact Alice Goodall by email alicegoodall313@gmail.com

Collection Point for Disposal of Ink Jet Cartridges
Please continue to pop your ink jet cartridges into the basket in the Glen Close bus shelter.  Please don’t drop larger toner cartridges off as these are not recycled by the RSPB. If you are not sure if your cartridges are suitable for recycling, you can contact Rachel Dewhurst by email at treehouse0@sky.com

Covid-19 
For the latest details on Covid data and other Government’s advice on Coronavirus can be found via these link:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

News Update no 82, 11th February

So we all know it is Valentines Day on Monday but who invented it and caused all the fuss?
Apparently it was Pope Gelasius I, who technically invented it in AD 496 when he established The Feast of Saint Valentine, in memory of the martyred saint who died on that day over 200 years before. The first known link between Valentine’s Day and coupledom was February 14 in 1400 though

The Red Lion Update
The following information is from Dillie:

“Some new things afoot – we’re starting to serve Breakfast – well, Brunch, really, from 11am to 1pm on Saturdays.  A full English fry with tea and coffee for £12.95.  Breakfast baps £9.95 and takeaway baps £6.50.   

Valentine’s night approaches – 14th February of course –  and we still have a couple of places for Verity’s Supper Club – at least, as of the time of writing.  The extremely gifted Verity Taylor will cooking up a storm and we are bringing in some special wines for the occasion.  £30 per head.  Please call the pub 01869 277225.  From 7pm. 

  Creamy king prawn bisque with a dill oil, prawn beignets and samphire

  Roasted cannon of lamb served with a lamb bonbon, sweet potato purée, seasonal greens and a red wine reduction

  Winter Pavlova, poached plums, toasted almonds and mascarpone cream

This Sunday lunch, Christine is taking over the reins in the kitchen and if you’ve tasted her roast potatoes, then you’ve had a taste of heaven… 12-3.

Fish on Fridays as usual… 6pm-8pm, and lunch is now served every day of the week – not Mondays, of course, which is the day we’re closed.  

Meanwhile, it is my sorry duty to let you know that prices will have to go up shortly across the board.  I’m sure this comes as no surprise.  Wine importers in particular are having a hard time as the rules from HMRC keep changing and there are delays at Dover which cost money.  The transport costs have, I believe, gone up from approximately £125 per pallet of wine to about £405 per pallet.  We’d like to keep supporting Mike at North Oxfordshire Wine who is a very good egg, and so I hope you’ll support us in turn”. 

News from Stratton Audley Church
The follow information is from Becky Adams on behalf of the Shelswell Benefice:
“This coming Sunday, 13th February, there will be a 10.45am Morning Service in Stratton Audley Church – all are welcome.

‘Little Lambs’ baby and toddler group continues in Stratton Audley Church every Wednesday in term time (10am – 11.30am) so will be meeting next Wednesday (16th February) but will be having a break for half term the following week.

Please check our website for details of services elsewhere in the benefice http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php

Stratton Audley Barn

The following is from Richard, Sara and the Barn team:

“Full steam ahead at the Barn, now back open 10 – 4pm Tuesday to Sunday, booking advisable for our busy lunchtime period, call ahead to reserve your table. Exciting news well behaved and clean dogs are now allowed in designated areas of the cafe and also in the shop. Lots of new spring stock arriving daily, look forward to seeing you soon. Check out our Facebook page or message us for more information. Our number is 01869 278184 or email info@strattonaudleybarn.co.uk”The 100 Club

The winners in the 100 Club draw for the month of February 2022 are:

£30                             Mhairi Smith            (87)

£20                             Davies family           (121)

£10                             John James              (126)

£10                             Hook family             (111)

Application to become a 20mph village

The Parish Council has registered interest in becoming a 20mph village along with many other villages. This does not mean we will become one but puts us on the Oxfordshire County Council list for consideration. Registration is important so as to have the option to go down this route later on.

Speed Checks in the village

The Parish Council have organised and paid for a speed and traffic volume survey to be put in place at the beginning of March. Monitoring equipment will be set up on all four entry/exit roads just inside the 30mph zone. The data collected will record the number of vehicle movements in each direction and also the speed of vehicles. The Parish Council will be responsible for analysing the data and will circulate the results.

Children’s Speed Awareness Poster Campaign
The children’s speed awareness posters have now been printed onto boards and will be displayed around the village following the completion of the speed check exercise above. So expect to see them mid March.

If there are any children who missed the deadline and would still like to participate just let the Parish Council know.

Interested in Defibrillator and First Aid Training?

New residents may not be aware that there is a public defibrillator located in the Church Porch which is open at all times even when the church is locked at night. It is in a locked metal box secured to the wall on the right hand side and ready for use at all times. The code is printed on the box for quick access but the general rule is to phone 999 so the emergency services can locate the position of the box. The unit is contained in a canvas bag for ease of carrying. The moment the defibrillator is opened you get automatic instructions so that most people can use it without fear of doing the wrong thing.

However, for those with concerns, in the past the village has held training sessions (approximately 2 hours long) which cover basic First Aid and cover the use of the defibrillator. These have been held in the church and funded by the Parish Council. If enough people show interest (whether you have had previous training or are completely new to it) the Parish Council is happy to arrange further training sessions. Please email jhonsinger@btconnect.com and wait for further news.

Time to get walking again!

At this time of year we start to think about the mud drying up and getting out to walk in the beautiful English Countryside again, but where to find new and interesting walks?

John Harris has the answers! Walking in Oxfordshire

https://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/oxfordshire has hundreds of walks to download and print, free of charge. It also has books of walks, details of all the walking groups in the county, and much more. Whether you want to walk on your own or with a group, all the information is there in one place.

John Harris (the custodian of the website) said ‘There is so much walking information on the web but it is difficult to find. Walking in Oxfordshire (part of the Walking in England website) has brought it together in one place so whether you are walking from home, or away on holiday, you will be able to find a walk suitable for you’.

With walks from half a mile to twelve miles plus long, and a note of suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs, everyone can find a walk to enjoy.

So home or away, check out his websites and get walking!

www.walkinginengland.co.uk

Conservation Area Review
Some of you may remember that a consultation and review of our Conservation Area was undertaken in Autumn 2018 and by now you will have received a letter from CDC advising that the report has finally been adopted and published.

The public consultation on the document was undertaken from 9th April 2019 to 17th May 2019 and the responses and comments received were subsequently taken into account when the Conservation Area boundary and the appraisal document were finalised.  The final document can be viewed by clicking on this link: https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/directory/34/conservation-area-appraisals. Hard copies of the document can be viewed at Bodicote House as well as Banbury and Bicester Libraries.

Don’t Forget – Fresh Fish every Thursday 
Jack from Grimsby continues to come to the village on Thursday’s between 6.30-7pm and parks his van outside the Red Lion. He has a wide selection of fresh fish and shellfish. You can just turn up or place orders in advance by text and his mobile number is 07535 935119.

Fish & Chips Van in the village on Saturdays
For those new in the community, a Howe’s Fish and Chip van comes to the village every Saturday lunchtime from 1.30pm to 2pm. You will hear a bell (like a school bell) and his first stop is in Cherry Street. He then drives along Cavendish Place and stops again at the junction with Mill Road.
Howe & Co was established in 1930 and now has over 100 vans serving villages. You can track each van by going to their website and you need to look for van no 4:
https://howeandcofishandchips.co.uk/#findvan
They also have a general number you can call 07809 901761.

Queens Platinum Jubilee – Save the Date
National celebrations will take place from 2-5th June 2022 and in line with the Big Lunch being organised across the country for Sunday 5th June, Stratton Audley will hold a street party that day to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee. If you want to help or join the committee, please email Abbey Short Abbey.Short@olympia.london

And some reminders from the previous newsletters…..

New Charge for Garden Waste
As you know Cherwell District Council are introducing a charge for the brown bin (green waste) collection. There has been a good take up already but please note that the start date has been put back from 1st February to the 1st March, so there is still time to sign-up.
For more information and to sign up visit: https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/info/10/rubbish-and-recycling/825/weekly-food-waste-collections

The district’s current recycling rates are ranked in the top 25% of the 340 local authorities in England.  Currently, one third of the waste going into general waste is recyclable.  The initiative to charge for brown bins is to improve the districts recycling rates and reduce our carbon emissions.

Changes to Food Waste Collection

Food waste should no longer be put in the brown bin and in future will be collected weekly by using the small green caddies that most people have and putting these out beside your other bins. There is no charge for this service.

The changes are part of Cherwell District Council’s drive to accelerate their program to help meet UK targets on halving carbon emissions by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.

By separating out our food waste it can now go for anaerobic digestion which will be converted to valuable resources such as bio-fertilisers or green power. It will also make us all more aware of how much food we really waste on a weekly basis. Businesses in the Parish will also need to do their bit by registering their food waste collections and signing up to WRAP: https://wrap.org.uk/taking-action/food-drink/initiatives/food-waste-reduction-roadmap#

To see more on the net zero pledge and actions the council are taking  visit: https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/9828/climate-action-framework-2020.pdf

Stratton Audley Council Precept

At the recent Parish Council meeting it was resolved not to request any increase in the parish precept from last year because the council holds sufficient reserves to cover any cost increases incurred.

A precept is a tax that Parish Councils charge their local electors to meet their budget requirements and is collected and incorporated into the District Council’s annual tax charge.

Dogs Under Control

On one or two occasions recently, unaccompanied dogs have been seen in Mill Road and I have been asked to remind owners that this should not be happening. Equally whilst dogs off leads in open spaces is allowable providing they are ‘under control’, there have been a few occasions reported recently where this has not been the case with the result that chickens and cats have been chased.

Bicester Motion ‘Experience Quarter’ Planning Application APPROVED
Outline planning permission was given for the Bicester Motion Experience Quarter at last night’s CDC Planning Committee meeting. The Parish Council was represented by our councillor Martin Arroyo and he did an excellent job in presenting the views of the community. All committee members were personally made aware in advance of our concerns particularly with regard to road safety and congestion, noise pollution and a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists through the site, 24 hours a day. A significant number of them including our own local representative Ian Corkin, spoke up for Stratton Audley and supported our concerns.
It is now a question of further discussions over the plans as they are developed and to what extent the Parish Council can persuade Bicester Motion to come up with satisfactory remedies that meet our concerns, in particular a path access via the site open 24 hours a day. It was agreed that the Chairman of the CDC Planning Committee is to be consulted on the conditions that are applied as they progress and this is good news because normally it would be left at the sole discretion of the Planning Officer to make such decisions.
The CDC Planning Committee meeting has now been archived and you can watch the full discussion by putting the following link into your web browser:
https://cherwell.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/633845?from=meeting_update&update_type=archived&email=jhonsinger%40btconnect.com&h=60ae389f86e8b4b2580d0153367e0094&mail_target_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcherwell.public-i.tv%2Fcore%2Fportal%2Fwebcast_interactive%2F633845
Finally, and just for clarification purposes, no planning application has yet been submitted for the development of the old quarry site. An application for this development known as the Wilderness Quarter is likely to be submitted later this year.

Stratton Audley 100 Club
The following information is from Maggie Woodward:
The club is now up and running for the next 12 months, 158 subscriptions having been taken.  Thank you villagers for your generosity and support.  Special thanks to the amazing team who collected the subscriptions in the rain, wind and freezing cold. Viv, Jeremy, Sally, Angie, Margaret, Emma and Stewart.  The profit this year amounted to £670 which will go towards buying a new noticeboard outside the Church.  The draw takes place at coffee morning in the Red Lion on the first Wednesday in the month, results are posted on the village, pub and Church noticeboards and are published in the Shelswell News and the village newsletter.  If you missed your collector and wish to join the “club” please get in touch with Maggie and, if you wish to know your allocated number please ask your collector. Good luck to you all.

Litter Picking
The Parish Council organise litter picking days from time to time but this is just to thank those that go out and litter pick by themselves or with their partners at other times. Amongst them John Woodward frequently does this on Mill Road leading up to the crossroads and Janet James has been doing this recently on Stoke Lyne Road leading to the junction with the A4421 (the Buckingham Road). I am told there is quite a lot of litter on both the Bicester Road and Launton Road and if anyone is inclined to do something similar, we do have spare black litter bags, so just ask (jhonsinger@btconnect.com).

Helping homeworkers with their wellbeing this winter
Homeworkers in north Oxfordshire are being invited to take part in free online workshops this winter, aimed at supporting mental health. Cherwell District Council is working with Oxfordshire Mind to deliver the group sessions, offering tips on wellbeing as well as how to spot the warning signs if a colleague needs help.
To find out more visit the Cherwell District Council site:
https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/news/article/924/helping-homeworkers-with-their-wellbeing-this-winter?fbclid=IwAR0EF6xfiMhTUY8UJySIOAo3gTKzKOIe8_50-Kra9Aah7koMB3H0L1MCbuw

Local Police Bicester and Kidlington Rural Team News
We asked Sergeant Gavin Staniland to provide a local update:
“Hello to all residents of Stratton Audley Parish, I would like to take this opportunity to provide some updates regarding your police team which has undergone a recent restructure. Previously your community has been served by PCSO’s Thomas BAILEY and Louise BEAUMONT and I would like to reassure everyone that this will continue to be the case. However I have now created a larger Rural Neighbourhood team, which will provide a more consistent and resilient means of visible policing.
Cherwell and West Oxfordshire police area recognise the significant impact that rural crime has on the community. In response to this we have just launched rural crime All Crime Attendance. This means that all crime that is reported to us as a rural crime will have follow up and contact from either a Police officer or Police Community Support Officer. Whilst there may not always be investigative opportunities for us to explore it does provide a valuable opportunity to provide Crime prevention and safeguarding advice.
I understand having conducted an extensive ‘Have Your Say’ across the rural community that Speeding is a common concern.  In response to these concerns PCSO Thomas BAILEY has been conducting speed enforcement operations around the rural communities with the assistance of our colleagues from the Roads policing department. 
As a Team we are driven to continue these operations and PCSO BAILEY will be delivering training to the other members of the Team. PC David SCOTT and PCSO BAILEY are your Community Speed watch Contacts for our rural team and will be happy to advise or assist where possible.
PCSO Louise BEAUMONT is reigniting community Have Your Say meetings around all of the villages so please keep an eye on social media and advertisements through the Parish Council for when they will be coming to you”.
To report a crime or contact the police there are now three options:
·       Call 999 if you see a crime being committed or in an emergency
·       Call 101 to report anything else to the police – or go online to do so
·       And now police are partnering with CrimeStoppers to remind everyone of ‘The 3rd Number – 0800 555 111’ that enables you to report your information totally anonymously if you prefer.
Finally for the latest crime statistics there is a useful national site into which you can put your post code. Click on this link  Bicester Rural | Police.uk (www.police.uk)

Shelswell History Festival advance notice Save-the-date
The Shelswell Benefice has decided to once again run the Shelswell History Festival and this is due to take place on Saturday 16th July 2022. They are looking for volunteers to help organise it and especially anyone with marketing expertise. Contact Alice Goodall by email alicegoodall313@gmail.com

Collection Point for Disposal of Ink Jet Cartridges
Please continue to pop your ink jet cartridges into the basket in the Glen Close bus shelter.  Please don’t drop larger toner cartridges off as these are not recycled by the RSPB. If you are not sure if your cartridges are suitable for recycling, you can contact Rachel Dewhurst by email at treehouse0@sky.com

Covid-19 
For the latest details on Covid data and other Government’s advice on Coronavirus can be found via these link:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

 

News Update no 81, January 28th 2022

As we reach the end of the long winters’ month of January and with the Lunar New Year upon us, we can start to think of Spring and brighter days to come. There is much to report and so please read on.

East West Rail Road Closure
There is going to be a temporary road closure on the Stratton Park Road that leads to Poundon on 2 February 2022 between 09:30 and 16:00 hours.

Slightly further into the future on the same road, there will be an overnight closure from 11 March 2022 at 18:00 through to the following morning at 06:00

The Red Lion Update
The following information is from Dillie:

“The January blues is almost over and the pub is now open Tuesday to Sunday from 12-11pm. Closed Monday. Serving lunches Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

We’re very excited to announce that Verity Taylor is doing a Valentine’s supper club on 14th February.  Her proposed menu is absolutely gorgeous –

  • Creamy king prawn bisque with a dill oil, prawn beignets and samphire
  • Roasted cannon of lamb served with a lamb bonbon, sweet potato purée, seasonal greens and a red wine reduction
  • Winter Pavlova, poached plums, toasted almonds and mascarpone cream

Obviously, there will be alternatives for those with allergies/intolerances/preferences.  To be announced later.  As it’s a Monday, we are not opening the pub as usual, this is a diners-only event and we will start taking bookings immediately.   £30 a head.  If you know the layout of the pub already, you’ll know that we have very few tables for two – so if you fancy a foursome, it’s definitely the night to try it.  

Meanwhile Fish on Friday evenings is as popular as ever, 6pm-8pm – takeaways are available. The fish is fresh from Grimsby.  

And don’t forget our fabulous Sunday lunches 12pm-4pm – Roast Sirloin of Beef or roast Pork from Bicester’s very own Lewis’s family butcher, family style service of local heritage vegetables and cauliflower and broccoli cheese.  If you book before Saturday we will even buy your first drink.  Enjoy the log fire over a winter berry crumble with custard before making tracks.  You’ll be happy to know we can prepare a plant based Roast lunch (suitable for Vegans) when booked by Friday in advance.  

To book, please call – 01869 277225. In our pledge to reduce food waste in support of COP26 Net Zero pledge and limited availability, bookings are encouraged before Fridays”.  

News from Stratton Audley Church
The follow information is from Becky Adams on behalf of the Shelswell Benefice:
“This coming Sunday, 30th January, at 10.45am we have our popular ‘Plough Sunday celebration of Rural Life’ to which we extend a particular invitation to all those involved in the rural economy in our parishes. This year the service takes place at Finmere Grounds Farm MK18 4AT by kind invitation of the Brooks family.  

The next regular service in Stratton Audley Church is the 6pm Compline on Sunday 6th February. 

And ‘Little Lambs’ baby and toddler group continues in Stratton Audley Church every Wednesday in term time (10am – 11.30am) 

Please check our website for details of services elsewhere in the benefice http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php  “

News from Stratton Audley Barn
The following is from Richard, Sara and the Barn team:
“Full steam ahead at the Barn, now back open 10 – 4pm Tuesday to Sunday, booking advisable for our busy lunchtime period, call ahead to reserve your table. Exciting news, well behaved and clean dogs are now allowed in designated areas of the cafe and also in the shop. Lots of new spring stock arriving daily, look forward to seeing you soon. Check out our Facebook page or message us for more information. Our number 01869 278184 or email info@strattonaudleybarn.co.uk ”

Defibrillator and First Aid Training

New residents may not be aware that there is a public defibrillator located in the Church Porch which is open at all times even when the church is locked at night. It is in a locked metal box secured to the wall on the right hand side and ready for use at all times. The code is printed on the box for quick access but the general rule is to phone 999 so the emergency services can locate the position of the box. The unit is contained in a canvas bag for ease of carrying. The moment the defibrillator is opened you get automatic instructions so that most people can use it without fear of doing the wrong thing.

However, for those with concerns in the past, the village has held training sessions (approximately 2 hours long) which cover basic First Aid and cover the use of the defibrillator. These have been held in the church and funded by the Parish Council. If enough people show interest (whether you have had previous training or are completely new to it) the Parish Council is happy to arrange further training sessions. Please email jhonsinger@btconnect.com

New Charge for Garden Waste
As you know Cherwell District Council are introducing a charge for the brown bin (green waste) collection. There has been a good take up already but please note that the start date has been put back from 1st February to the 1st March, so there is still plenty of time to sign-up.
For more information and to sign up visit: https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/info/10/rubbish-and-recycling/825/weekly-food-waste-collections

The district’s current recycling rates are ranked in the top 25% of the 340 local authorities in England.  Currently, one third of the waste going into general waste is recyclable.  The initiative to charge for brown bins is to improve the districts recycling rates and reduce our carbon emissions.

Changes to Food Waste Collection

Food waste should no longer be put in the brown bin and in future will be collected weekly by using the small green caddies that most people have and putting these out beside your other bins. There is no charge for this service.

The changes are part of Cherwell District Council’s drive to accelerate their program to help meet UK targets on halving carbon emissions by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.

By separating out our food waste it can now go for anaerobic digestion which will be converted to valuable resources such as bio-fertilisers or green power. It will also make us all more aware of how much food we really waste on a weekly basis. Businesses in the Parish will also need to do their bit by registering their food waste collections and signing up to WRAP: https://wrap.org.uk/taking-action/food-drink/initiatives/food-waste-reduction-roadmap#

To see more on the net zero pledge and actions the council are taking  visit: https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/9828/climate-action-framework-2020.pdf

Don’t Forget – Fresh Fish every Thursday 
Jack from Grimsby continues to come to the village on Thursday’s between 6.30-7pm and parks his van outside the Red Lion. He has a wide selection of fresh fish and shellfish. You can just turn up or place orders in advance by text and his mobile number is 07535 935119.

Fish & Chips Van in the village on Saturdays
For those new in the community, a Howe’s Fish and Chip van comes to the village every Saturday lunchtime from 1.30pm to 2pm. You will hear a bell (like a school bell) and his first stop is in Cherry Street. He then drives along Cavendish Place and stops again at the junction with Mill Road.
Howe & Co was established in 1930 and now has over 100 vans serving villages. You can track each van by going to their website and you need to look for van no 4:
https://howeandcofishandchips.co.uk/#findvan
They also have a general number you can call 07809 901761.

Queens Platinum Jubilee – Save the Date
National celebrations will take place from 2-5th June 2022 and in line with the Big Lunch being organised across the country for Sunday 5th June, Stratton Audley will hold a street party that day to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee. The first committee meeting was held this week with six attendees. If you want to help or join the committee please email Abbey Short Abbey.Short@olympia.london

Children’s Speed Awareness Poster Campaign
The final number of artworks received was 19 and these are now being printed for external display around the village from mid-February. They should hopefully have an enormous impact and thanks go to all the submitted designs

Stratton Audley Council Precept

At the recent Parish Council meeting it was resolved not to request any increase in the parish precept from last year because the council holds sufficient reserves to cover any cost increases incurred.

A precept is a tax that Parish Councils charge their local electors to meet their budget requirements and is collected and incorporated into the District Council’s annual tax charge.

Hedge Trimming

Just to says thanks to John O’Neill who has trimmed the large hedgerow on the Launton Road just past the Pound Pocket Park. This had become overgrown and a potential hazard for anyone walking along it, who needed to use the grass verges to avoid vehicles travelling along the road.

Dogs Under Control

On one or two occasions recently, unaccompanied dogs have been seen in Mill Road and I have been asked to remind owners that this should not be happening. Equally whilst dogs off leads in open spaces is allowable providing they are ‘under control’, there have been a few occasions reported recently where this has not been the case with the result that chickens and cats have been chased.

Bicester Motion ‘Experience Quarter’ Planning Application APPROVED
Outline planning permission was given for the Bicester Motion Experience Quarter at last night’s CDC Planning Committee meeting. The Parish Council was represented by our councillor Martin Arroyo and he did an excellent job in presenting the views of the community. All committee members were personally made aware in advance of our concerns particularly with regard to road safety and congestion, noise pollution and a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists through the site, 24 hours a day. A significant number of them including our own local representative Ian Corkin, spoke up for Stratton Audley and supported our concerns.
It is now a question of further discussions over the plans as they are developed and to what extent the Parish Council can persuade Bicester Motion to come up with satisfactory remedies that meet our concerns, in particular a path access via the site open 24 hours a day. It was agreed that the Chairman of the CDC Planning Committee is to be consulted on the conditions that are applied as they progress and this is good news because normally it would be left at the sole discretion of the Planning Officer to make such decisions.
The CDC Planning Committee meeting has now been archived and you can watch the full discussion by putting the following link into your web browser:
https://cherwell.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/633845?from=meeting_update&update_type=archived&email=jhonsinger%40btconnect.com&h=60ae389f86e8b4b2580d0153367e0094&mail_target_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcherwell.public-i.tv%2Fcore%2Fportal%2Fwebcast_interactive%2F633845
Finally, and just for clarification purposes, no planning application has yet been submitted for the development of the old quarry site. An application for this development known as the Wilderness Quarter is likely to be submitted later this year.

Stratton Audley 100 Club
The following information is from Maggie Woodward:
The club is now up and running for the next 12 months, 158 subscriptions having been taken.  Thank you villagers for your generosity and support.  Special thanks to the amazing team who collected the subscriptions in the rain, wind and freezing cold. Viv, Jeremy, Sally, Angie, Margaret, Emma and Stewart.  The profit this year amounted to £670 which will go towards buying a new noticeboard outside the Church.  The draw takes place at coffee morning in the Red Lion on the first Wednesday in the month, results are posted on the village, pub and Church noticeboards and are published in the Shelswell News and the village newsletter.  If you missed your collector and wish to join the “club” please get in touch with Maggie and, if you wish to know your allocated number please ask your collector. Good luck to you all.
The winners in the 100 Club draw for the month of January 2022 are:
£30                             Michael McCabe (156)                                         
£20                             Dewhurst Family (118)                                         
£10                             Claire McCabe (155)                                                          
£10                             Jeremy Parkin (24)

 And some reminders from the previous newsletters…..

Litter Picking
The Parish Council organise litter picking days from time to time but this is just to thank those that go out and litter pick by themselves or with their partners at other times. Amongst them John Woodward frequently does this on Mill Road leading up to the crossroads and Janet James has been doing this recently on Stoke Lyne Road leading to the junction with the A4421 (the Buckingham Road). I am told there is quite a lot of litter on both the Bicester Road and Launton Road and if anyone is inclined to do something similar, we do have spare black litter bags, so just ask (jhonsinger@btconnect.com).

Helping homeworkers with their wellbeing this winter
Homeworkers in north Oxfordshire are being invited to take part in free online workshops this winter, aimed at supporting mental health. Cherwell District Council is working with Oxfordshire Mind to deliver the group sessions, offering tips on wellbeing as well as how to spot the warning signs if a colleague needs help.
To find out more visit the Cherwell District Council site:
https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/news/article/924/helping-homeworkers-with-their-wellbeing-this-winter?fbclid=IwAR0EF6xfiMhTUY8UJySIOAo3gTKzKOIe8_50-Kra9Aah7koMB3H0L1MCbuw

Local Police Bicester and Kidlington Rural Team News
We asked Sergeant Gavin Staniland to provide a local update:
“Hello to all residents of Stratton Audley Parish, I would like to take this opportunity to provide some updates regarding your police team which has undergone a recent restructure. Previously your community has been served by PCSO’s Thomas BAILEY and Louise BEAUMONT and I would like to reassure everyone that this will continue to be the case. However I have now created a larger Rural Neighbourhood team, which will provide a more consistent and resilient means of visible policing.
Cherwell and West Oxfordshire police area recognise the significant impact that rural crime has on the community. In response to this we have just launched rural crime All Crime Attendance. This means that all crime that is reported to us as a rural crime will have follow up and contact from either a Police officer or Police Community Support Officer. Whilst there may not always be investigative opportunities for us to explore it does provide a valuable opportunity to provide Crime prevention and safeguarding advice.
I understand having conducted an extensive ‘Have Your Say’ across the rural community that Speeding is a common concern.  In response to these concerns PCSO Thomas BAILEY has been conducting speed enforcement operations around the rural communities with the assistance of our colleagues from the Roads policing department. 
As a Team we are driven to continue these operations and PCSO BAILEY will be delivering training to the other members of the Team. PC David SCOTT and PCSO BAILEY are your Community Speed watch Contacts for our rural team and will be happy to advise or assist where possible.
PCSO Louise BEAUMONT is reigniting community Have Your Say meetings around all of the villages so please keep an eye on social media and advertisements through the Parish Council for when they will be coming to you”.
To report a crime or contact the police there are now three options:
·       Call 999 if you see a crime being committed or in an emergency
·       Call 101 to report anything else to the police – or go online to do so
·       And now police are partnering with CrimeStoppers to remind everyone of ‘The 3rd Number – 0800 555 111’ that enables you to report your information totally anonymously if you prefer.
Finally for the latest crime statistics there is a useful national site into which you can put your post code. Click on this link  Bicester Rural | Police.uk (www.police.uk)

Shelswell History Festival advance notice Save-the-date
The Shelswell Benefice has decided to once again run the Shelswell History Festival and this is due to take place on Saturday 16th July 2022. They are looking for volunteers to help organise it and especially anyone with marketing expertise. Contact Alice Goodall by email alicegoodall313@gmail.com

Collection Point for Disposal of Ink Jet Cartridges
Please continue to pop your ink jet cartridges into the basket in the Glen Close bus shelter.  Please don’t drop larger toner cartridges off as these are not recycled by the RSPB. If you are not sure if your cartridges are suitable for recycling, you can contact Rachel Dewhurst by email at treehouse0@sky.com

Covid-19 
For the latest details on Covid data and other Government’s advice on Coronavirus can be found via these link:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

News Update no 80, January 14th

Bin Collection – new charge for Garden Waste
As you know Cherwell District Council are introducing a charge for the brown bin (green waste) collection. I am told there has been a good take-up already but please note that the start date has been put back from 1st February to the 1st of March, so there is still plenty of time to sign-up.
The CDC website has this information on it:
“The collection frequency will remain the same but the service will be subject to a £40 per annum charge, discounted to £36 for those that join the scheme early. Residents who pay for the service will be given a licence sticker to place on their bins to show the bin men it can be emptied by them. Households will be expected to use their existing brown bin for the revised service. Residents who do not want to use the new service, can ask for their brown bin to be removed but only after June 2022. Households can retain their brown bin even if they do not wish to use the new service, however the bin will not be emptied unless a garden waste licence is attached”.
To clarify a further point, food waste that has been put in the brown bin up until now, will henceforth be collected weekly by using the small green caddies that most people have, and there is no charge for this.

News from The Red Lion
The following information is from Dillie:
“January opening times – closed Monday and Tuesday, open Wednesday to Sunday from 12am to 11pm. From Burns night onwards, the pub will also be back open on Tuesdays from 5pm-11pm.

The big event this month is Burns Night on 25th January.  Starts at 7pm.  For a mere £21.50, you can celebrate the great poet in company with fellow denizens of this charming village.  Villagers guarding what remains of their hearing will be relieved to know we’re not booking a piper, as much to keep costs down as anything.  Instead, you get a tot of whisky to drink or pour over your haggis.  Please book by 21st latest as we need to order the haggis specially.  Please also let us know if you would like to come but would prefer something else – I’m sure we can drum up a wee beef stew.  Note also that we can serve a vegetarian haggis (it’s pretty good).  Oh, and £2 from each dinner goes to support our local church.  01869-277225
Here’s the menu.  
Cullen Skink (a Scottish chowder style soup) or Vegetarian Cock-a-Leekie
~~~~~
Haggis, Needs & Tattoos or Vegetarian Haggis
~~~~~
Cranachan (toasted oats, cream and raspberries) or sorbet with shortbread or Glasgow Special Deep Fried Mars Bar
~~~~~
and a dram of Whisky for all!

It’s all yummy.  

Meanwhile Fish on Friday evenings is getting very popular, 6pm-8pm – takeaways are available. 

And don’t forget our fabulous Sunday lunches 12pm-4pm – Roast Sirloin of Beef or roast Pork from Bicester’s very own Lewis’s family butcher, family style service of local heritage vegetables and cauliflower and broccoli cheese.  If you book before Saturday we will even buy your first drink.  Enjoy the log fire over a winter berry crumble with custard before making tracks.  You’ll be happy to know we can prepare a plant based Roast lunch (suitable for Vegans) when booked by Friday in advance.  

To book, please call – 01869 277225. In our pledge to reduce food waste in support of COP26 Net Zero pledge and limited availability, bookings are encouraged before Fridays”.  

News from Stratton Audley Church
The follow information is from Becky Adams on behalf of the Shelswell Benefice:

“Some families who enjoyed the ‘Fun at Four’ Christingle on the Sunday before Christmas might like to join the next ‘Fun at Four’ event this coming Sunday (16th January) at Stoke Lyne Church(see attached). 

And ‘Little Lambs’ baby and toddler group continues in Stratton Audley Church every Wednesday in term time (10am – 11.30am)

The next regular service in Stratton Audley Church is the 9.15am Holy Communion on Sunday 23rd January.

On Sunday 30th January (10.45am) we have our popular ‘Plough Sunday celebration of Rural Life’ to which we extend a particular invitation to all those involved in the rural economy in our parishes. This year the service takes place at Finmere Grounds Farm MK18 4AT by kind invitation of the Brooks family. 

Please check our website for details of services elsewhere in the benefice http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php ”

News from Stratton Audley Barn
The following is from Richard, Sara and the Barn team:

“We are now open each day except Monday from 10.00 to 16.00 hours and are also now recruiting for new staff. Check out our Facebook page or message us for more information.
Wishing you and all your families a happy New Year from us all at Stratton Audley Barn. Our number 01869 278184 info@strattonaudleybarn.co.uk ”.

Don’t Forget – Fresh Fish every Thursday 
Jack from Grimsby is now back in the village every Thursday.  He comes between 6.30-7pm and parks his van outside the Red Lion. He has a wide selection of fresh fish and shellfish. You can just turn up or place orders in advance by text and his mobile number is 07535 935119.

Stratton Audley 100 Club
The following information is from Maggie Woodward:

The club is now up and running for the next 12 months, 158 subscriptions having been taken.  Thank you villagers for your generosity and support.  Special thanks to the amazing team who collected the subscriptions in the rain, wind and freezing cold. Viv, Jeremy, Sally, Angie, Margaret, Emma and Stewart.  The profit this year amounted to £670 which will go towards buying a new noticeboard outside the Church.  The draw takes place at coffee morning in the Red Lion on the first Wednesday in the month, results are posted on the village, pub and Church noticeboards and are published in the Shelswell News and the village newsletter.  If you missed your collector and wish to join the “club” please get in touch with Maggie and, if you wish to know your allocated number please ask your collector. Good luck to you all.

The winners in the 100 Club draw for the month of January 2022 are:
£30                             Michael McCabe (156)                                         
£20                             Dewhurst Family (118)                                         
£10                             Claire McCabe (155)                                                          
£10                             Jeremy Parkin (24)

East West Rail Road Closure
There is going to be a temporary road closure on the Stratton Park Road that leads to Poundon on 2 February 2022 between 09:30 and 16:00 hours.

Bicester Motion ‘Experience Quarter’ Planning Application Approval
Outline planning permission was given for the Bicester Motion Experience Quarter at last night’s CDC Planning Committee meeting. The Parish Council was represented by our councillor Martin Arroyo and he did an excellent job in presenting the views of the community. All committee members were personally made aware in advance of our concerns particularly with regard to road safety and congestion, noise pollution and a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists through the site, 24 hours a day. A significant number of them including our own local representative Ian Corkin, spoke up for Stratton Audley and supported our concerns.
It is now a question of further discussions over the plans as they are developed and to what extent the Parish Council can persuade Bicester Motion to come up with satisfactory remedies that meet our concerns. It was agreed that the Chairman of the CDC Planning Committee is to be consulted on the conditions that are applied as they progress and this is good news because normally it would be left at the sole discretion of the Planning Officer to make such decisions.
The CDC Planning Committee meeting has now been archived and you can watch the full discussion by putting the following link into your web browser:
https://cherwell.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/633845?from=meeting_update&update_type=archived&email=jhonsinger%40btconnect.com&h=60ae389f86e8b4b2580d0153367e0094&mail_target_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcherwell.public-i.tv%2Fcore%2Fportal%2Fwebcast_interactive%2F633845
The subject is number two on the agenda and lasts for less than an hour.
Finally, and just for clarification purposes, no planning application has yet been submitted for the development of the old quarry site which some of us visited before Christmas. A planning application for this development known as the Wilderness Quarter is likely to be submitted later this year.

Litter Picking
The Parish Council organise litter picking days from time to time but this is just to thank those that go out and litter pick by themselves or with their partners at other times. Amongst them John Woodward frequently does this on Mill Road leading up to the crossroads and Janet James has been doing this recently on Stoke Lyne Road leading to the junction with the A4421 (the Buckingham Road). I am told there is quite a lot of litter on both the Bicester Road and Launton Road and if anyone is inclined to do something similar, we do have spare black litter bags, so just ask (jhonsinger@btconnect.com).

Fish & Chips Van in the village on Saturdays
For those new in the community, a Howe’s Fish and Chip van comes to the village every Saturday lunchtime from 1.30pm to 2pm. You will hear a bell (like a school bell) and his first stop is in Cherry Street. He then drives along Cavendish Place and stops again at the junction with Mill Road.
Howe & Co was established in 1930 and now has over 100 vans serving villages. You can track each van by going to their website and you need to look for van no 4:
https://howeandcofishandchips.co.uk/#findvan
They also have a general number you can call 07809 901761.

Children’s Speed Awareness Poster Campaign
Delighted to report that we now have some 20 children’s speed awareness posters that have been submitted.
All designs will be laminated and displayed around the village once printed. If in the meantime you have any questions please email Kathryn at strattonaudley.kw@gmail.com  who brought this programme together.

And some reminders from the previous newsletters…..

Helping homeworkers with their wellbeing this winter
Homeworkers in north Oxfordshire are being invited to take part in free online workshops this winter, aimed at supporting mental health. Cherwell District Council is working with Oxfordshire Mind to deliver the group sessions, offering tips on wellbeing as well as how to spot the warning signs if a colleague needs help.
To find out more visit the Cherwell District Council site:
https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/news/article/924/helping-homeworkers-with-their-wellbeing-this-winter?fbclid=IwAR0EF6xfiMhTUY8UJySIOAo3gTKzKOIe8_50-Kra9Aah7koMB3H0L1MCbuw

Local Police Bicester and Kidlington Rural Team News
We asked Sergeant Gavin Staniland to provide a local update:
“Hello to all residents of Stratton Audley Parish, I would like to take this opportunity to provide some updates regarding your police team which has undergone a recent restructure. Previously your community has been served by PCSO’s Thomas BAILEY and Louise BEAUMONT and I would like to reassure everyone that this will continue to be the case. However I have now created a larger Rural Neighbourhood team, which will provide a more consistent and resilient means of visible policing.
Cherwell and West Oxfordshire police area recognise the significant impact that rural crime has on the community. In response to this we have just launched rural crime All Crime Attendance. This means that all crime that is reported to us as a rural crime will have follow up and contact from either a Police officer or Police Community Support Officer. Whilst there may not always be investigative opportunities for us to explore it does provide a valuable opportunity to provide Crime prevention and safeguarding advice.
I understand having conducted an extensive ‘Have Your Say’ across the rural community that Speeding is a common concern.  In response to these concerns PCSO Thomas BAILEY has been conducting speed enforcement operations around the rural communities with the assistance of our colleagues from the Roads policing department. 
As a Team we are driven to continue these operations and PCSO BAILEY will be delivering training to the other members of the Team. PC David SCOTT and PCSO BAILEY are your Community Speed watch Contacts for our rural team and will be happy to advise or assist where possible.
PCSO Louise BEAUMONT is reigniting community Have Your Say meetings around all of the villages so please keep an eye on social media and advertisements through the Parish Council for when they will be coming to you”.
To report a crime or contact the police there are now three options:
·       Call 999 if you see a crime being committed or in an emergency
·       Call 101 to report anything else to the police – or go online to do so
·       And now police are partnering with CrimeStoppers to remind everyone of ‘The 3rd Number – 0800 555 111’ that enables you to report your information totally anonymously if you prefer.
Finally for the latest crime statistics there is a useful national site into which you can put your post code. Click on this link  Bicester Rural | Police.uk (www.police.uk)

Queens Platinum Jubilee – Join the Committee
A community wide street party will be held to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee. National celebrations will take place from 2-5th June 2022 and we have pencilled in Sunday 5th June as our day of celebration. If you want to help or join the committee please let me know.

Shelswell History Festival advance notice Save-the-date
The Shelswell Benefice has decided to once again run the Shelswell History Festival and this is due to take place on Saturday 16th July 2022. They are looking for volunteers to help organise it and especially anyone with marketing expertise. Contact Alice Goodall by email alicegoodall313@gmail.com

Collection Point for Disposal of Ink Jet Cartridges
Please continue to pop your ink jet cartridges into the basket in the Glen Close bus shelter.  Please don’t drop larger toner cartridges off as these are not recycled by the RSPB. If you are not sure if your cartridges are suitable for recycling, you can contact Rachel Dewhurst by email at treehouse0@sky.com

Covid-19 
For the latest details on Covid data and other Government’s advice on Coronavirus can be found via these link:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

 

 

 

News Update no 79, December 31st 2021

New Years Greetings

On behalf of the Parish Council I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the new year. Let us all look forward to 2022 with hope in our hearts and raise a glass to better things to come.

Please Note: This newsletter is being sent by the Mailchimp service to make it easier to send out and allow for personalisation, but if you notice anything that doesn’t look right please let me know. You can always contact me directly via my email jhonsinger@btconnect.co

Bin Collection next week and new charge for Garden Waste
As previously reported the bin collection next week of the blue and brown bin is as per normal on Tuesday 4th January.

Last week you will have seen the notification leaflet left on the green bin that our district council are introducing a charge for the brown bin from February.

I have just lifted the following from the Cherwell district website which h clarifies wat is happening:

“Garden waste: From February 2022, the brown bin will revert to being a garden waste bin only. The collection frequency will remain the same but the service will be subject to a £40 per annum charge, discounted to £36 for those that join the scheme before 1 February 2022.

Residents who pay for the service will be given a licence sticker to place on their bins to show the bin men it can be emptied by them. Households will be expected to use their existing brown bin for the revised service. If residents do not want to use the new service, they can ask for their brown bin to be removed but only after June 2022. Households can retain their brown bin even if they do not wish to use the new service, however the bin will not be emptied unless a garden waste licence is attached.

The collection of garden waste has been a paid-for service in all the other Oxfordshire Council areas for several years. Prices in Cherwell are comparable to Conservative-controlled West Oxfordshire District Council (£35pa) and much better than Labour or Labour/Lib Dem/Green controlled Oxford City (£57pa) and South and Vale at (circa £50pa).

From January 2022, food waste will be collected weekly.”

Fish & Chips Van in the village on Saturdays
For those new in the village, a Howe’s Fish and Chip van comes to the village every Saturday lunchtime at the new time of 1.30pm to 2pm. You will hear a bell (like a school bell) and his first stops is in Cherry Street. He then drives along Cavendish Place and stops again at the junction with Mill Road.
Howe & Co was established in 1930 and now has over 100 vans serving villages. You can track each van by going to their website and you need to look for van no 4:
https://howeandcofishandchips.co.uk/#findvan
They also have a general number you can call 07809 901761.

News from The Red Lion
The following information is from Dillie:
“The non-lockdown (a nervous “phew” here) means the pub will be open for New Year’s Eve celebrations which will be a little quieter for obvious reasons, but we hope you will come in and join us.  Chilli and Baked Potatoes £7.95 from 7.pm, and last orders around 1.40am.  

We will be open on Bank Holiday Monday from noon till 11pm – we’ve decided that as long as we are running the pub, it will be our policy to open the pub on all Bank Holiday Mondays.

However, we will be closed on all other Mondays, and please note that we will also be closing on Tuesdays 4th, 11th and 18th January as we are expecting January to be quiet.  We re-start Tuesday openings on 25th for Burns Night.  

Friday nights – due to the success of Christine’s fish and chips, we’re discontinuing steaks on that night.  Take-aways have also proved very popular.  Quiz Night with Rich Walsh is on 20th January.  

Burns Night (25th January) should be fun.  Again, we’re not going to make a massive song and dance and genuine Scots (sorry, George) will be disappointed to learn that we’re not booking a piper.  With rising costs everywhere, we’re anxious to keep the price of the evening down.   The menu will include a starter of Cullen Skink (basically, a Scottish Chowder), haggis (plus a vegetarian version) and Cranachan for pudding (cream, raspberries and toasted oatmeal). There will be alternatives for those who fancy the evening out but don’t like fish or haggis.  (Which is incomprehensible to those of us who regard Cullen Skink followed by Haggis as one of the Great Meals Of The World.)   Plus a tot of whisky for everyone.  

If you are interested in coming along, it is a ‘bookings only’ event.  £21.50 with £2 of that going to our lovely church.  Do please speak to any one of our brilliant staff or call us on 01869 277225.  

Finally, we received a letter from Pipers Crisps a couple of weeks before Christmas to say that they’re putting the price of their wholesale product up a whopping 9.2%.   Blimey!!!  Actually, we have changed supplier and are buying our crisps and some of our snacks from a company called Made For Drink as their packaging is fully compostable…  but it did look like a portent of things to come and we are constantly being warned in the press that the price of everything is going to go up in the New Year.  We will do our best to keep prices down.”  

News from Stratton Audley Church
The follow information is from Becky Adams on behalf of the Shelswell Benefice:
“We are running services in the same way with compulsory masks and hand sanitising but no other restrictions currently. Upcoming services in Stratton Audley are : 10.45am Morning Service on Sunday 9th January 

9.15am Holy Communion on Sunday 23rd January 

On Sunday 30th January (10.45am) we have our popular ‘Plough Sunday celebration of Rural Life’ to which we extend a particular invitation to all those involved in the rural economy in our parishes. This year the service takes place at Finmere Grounds Farm MK18 4AT by kind invitation of the Brooks family. 
Please check our website for details of services elsewhere in the benefice 
http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php ”

News from Stratton Audley Barn
The following is from Richard, Sara and the Barn team:
“We re-open 10am on Friday 7th January and are also now recruiting for the new year too, check out our Facebook page or message us for more information.
Wishing you and all your families a happy New Year from us all at the Barn.
Stratton Audley Barn. 01869 278184 info@strattonaudleybarn.co.uk ”.


Don’t Forget – Fresh Fish every Thursday – But not this coming week
Just to let you know that Jack from Grimsby is on an extended break, returning on Thursday 13th January. He comes to the village on a Thursday between 6.30-7pm and parks his van outside the Red Lion. He has a wide selection of fresh fish and shellfish. You can just turn up or place orders in advance by text and his mobile number is 07535 935119.

Bicester Motion ‘Experience Quarter’ Planning Application

The Parish Council has now submitted additional comments regarding  the Outline Planning Application from Bicester Motion for the Automotive Experience Quarter and these can be viewed by visiting the Cherwell District Council planning portal by clicking on this link- Planning application: 21/01224/OUT – Planning register | Planning register | Cherwell District Council (once in the site go to ‘Support Documents’ and scroll down until you get to ‘Consultee Responses’ listed by date posted and scroll down).

The two biggest issues identified by the Parish Council concern potential noise pollution from track events and the lack of provision for 24 hour access through the site for a pedestrian and cycle path, all of which is explained in more detail in our submission.
This matter is scheduled for discussion at a full planning committee meeting on Thursday 13th January. As it is an outline application it is likely to get approval, so it will come down to what caveats and conditions the committee decide to impose on approval.


Children’s Speed Awareness Poster Campaign

Over a dozen really powerful designs have already been submitted and this is a last call for anyone who has not yet got around to registering with Kathryn Walker. To participate and get your A2 sheet of paper, please contact Kathryn at strattonaudley.kw@gmail.com
All designs submitted will be laminated and displayed around the village in the New Year. The cut off deadline has been extended to the new year to allow for some families to complete their design over the holidays.

Bicester Heritage January Scramble
The Events team have asked me to notify you of the local code for the first Scramble of 2022, on the 16th of January. The link for tickets is accessible via their website. Local Promo code is:  FlyingBrevets
All tickets are now £14.00 (+£1.10 Fee & Tax) and the discount code will give 50% discount.
https://bicesterheritage.co.uk/whaton/january2022scramble-2-2/

And some reminders from the previous newsletters…..

Helping homeworkers with their wellbeing this winter
Homeworkers in north Oxfordshire are being invited to take part in free online workshops this winter, aimed at supporting mental health. Cherwell District Council is working with Oxfordshire Mind to deliver the group sessions, offering tips on wellbeing as well as how to spot the warning signs if a colleague needs help.
To find out more visit the Cherwell District Council site:
https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/news/article/924/helping-homeworkers-with-their-wellbeing-this-winter?fbclid=IwAR0EF6xfiMhTUY8UJySIOAo3gTKzKOIe8_50-Kra9Aah7koMB3H0L1MCbuw

Local Police Bicester and Kidlington Rural Team News
We asked Sergeant Gavin Staniland to provide a local update:
“Hello to all residents of Stratton Audley Parish, I would like to take this opportunity to provide some updates regarding your police team which has undergone a recent restructure. Previously your community has been served by PCSO’s Thomas BAILEY and Louise BEAUMONT and I would like to reassure everyone that this will continue to be the case. However I have now created a larger Rural Neighbourhood team, which will provide a more consistent and resilient means of visible policing.
Cherwell and West Oxfordshire police area recognise the significant impact that rural crime has on the community. In response to this we have just launched rural crime All Crime Attendance. This means that all crime that is reported to us as a rural crime will have follow up and contact from either a Police officer or Police Community Support Officer. Whilst there may not always be investigative opportunities for us to explore it does provide a valuable opportunity to provide Crime prevention and safeguarding advice.
I understand having conducted an extensive ‘Have Your Say’ across the rural community that Speeding is a common concern.  In response to these concerns PCSO Thomas BAILEY has been conducting speed enforcement operations around the rural communities with the assistance of our colleagues from the Roads policing department.
As a Team we are driven to continue these operations and PCSO BAILEY will be delivering training to the other members of the Team. PC David SCOTT and PCSO BAILEY are your Community Speed watch Contacts for our rural team and will be happy to advise or assist where possible.
PCSO Louise BEAUMONT is reigniting community Have Your Say meetings around all of the villages so please keep an eye on social media and advertisements through the Parish Council for when they will be coming to you”.
To report a crime or contact the police there are now three options:
·       Call 999 if you see a crime being committed or in an emergency
·       Call 101 to report anything else to the police – or go online to do so
·       And now police are partnering with CrimeStoppers to remind everyone of ‘The 3rd Number – 0800 555 111’ that enables you to report your information totally anonymously if you prefer.
Finally for the latest crime statistics there is a useful national site into which you can put your post code. Click on this link  Bicester Rural | Police.uk (www.police.uk)

The return of the very popular 100 Club
The following is from Maggie Woodward who organises this draw.
“It has been decided to start the 100 club again having had to take a break because of Covid.  The subscriptions will be due in November/December, a collector from the team will be knocking on your door for your subscription which is £10, but more than one subscription per household can be taken if desired.  There will be four prizes, £30, £20 and two at £10, the prize money will be doubled in December. The money will be delivered to the winners.  The first draw will take place on Wednesday 5th January 2022 in The Red Lion at coffee morning and thereafter on the first Wednesday of the month. The list of winners will be displayed on the Parish Council, The Red Lion and Church noticeboards and will be published in the Shelswell News. Any profit from the club will go towards a village project.
The collectors are as follows:
Willows Lodge                                                           Jeff
Glen Close and Stoke Lyne Road                            Angie
Cherry Street and The Limes                                   Paddy
Cavendish Place                                                        Stewart
Mill Road                                                                   Jeremy
Launton Road                                                            Viv
Bicester Road                                                            Maggie
The Manor                                                                 Emma
Please give generously and support your village.  Many thanks and good luck!”

Queens Platinum Jubilee – Join the Committee
A community wide street party will be held to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee. National celebrations will take place from 2-5th June 2022 and we have pencilled in Sunday 5th June as our day of celebration. If you want to help or join the committee please let me know.

Shelswell History Festival advance notice Save-the-date
The Shelswell Benefice has decided to once again run the Shelswell History Festival and this is due to take place on Saturday 16th July 2022. They are looking for volunteers to help organise it and especially anyone with marketing expertise. Contact Alice Goodall by email alicegoodall313@gmail.com

Collection Point for Disposal of Ink Jet Cartridges
Please continue to pop your ink jet cartridges into the basket in the Glen Close bus shelter.  Please don’t drop larger toner cartridges off as these are not recycled by the RSPB. If you are not sure if your cartridges are suitable for recycling, you can contact Rachel Dewhurst by email at treehouse0@sky.com

Covid-19 
For the latest details on Covid data and other Government’s advice on Coronavirus can be found via these link:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

 

News Update 78, December 16th

Christmas Greetings

On behalf of the Parish Council I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the festive season. Let us all look forward to 2022 in the hope that it is the year that starts to bring Covid 19 under control throughout the world.

Please Note: This newsletter is being sent by a Mailchimp programme to make it easier to send out and allow for personalisation, but if you notice anything that doesn’t look right please let me know.

A Tale of Two Stories…….

Goodwill at Christmas. Alice Goodall recently received the letter below and we thought it deserved wider publicity:
“Dear Rector
You wont know me from a block of cheese since I live in Worcester, but I am writing with a message of thanks – to someone!
On Friday 3rd December at about 9.45am, I parked my red Ford Focus a few yards North of The Red Lion at Stratton Audley, meeting a friend in order to spend the morning walking , on the local footpaths. Slightly late and eager to get started, I quickly changed my shoes for my walking boots and we set off. On our return some hours later, I spotted my shoes which some kind person had neatly moved out of obvious sight and protected from the weather, well under the back bumper. I must have stupidly forgotten to place them in the car at the start of the walk. 
I’m extremely grateful to whoever carried out this act of kindness and rather touched by it. Not only were the shoes newish and not cheap but driving a car in muddy walking boots back to Worcester is not to be advised!  
Best wishes
Alastair Graham”

But watch out thieves are about……..
The new residents in the house next to the church thought it would be nice to place a small Christmas tree outside their door and decorate it only to discover that it had been removed by a light-footed individual. Sad but true.

Bin Collection Over Christmas Period
There will be no interruptions to our normal bin collection services. The Tuesday 28thDecember collection of the general green bin will go ahead as normal and the blue/brown bin collection the following Tuesday 4th will also be as usual. The refuse collection teams do a great job all year round and are deserving of our thanks.

Pound Lights and Christmas Tree
Thanks go to the Hill family at Pound House for once again supplying the power and turning on the lights in the small oak tree in the Pound Pocket Park.
Also thanks go to Jeremy Adams and Richard Howson for putting up the Village Christmas tree on The Green and to the Papenfus’s for supplying the electricity for the lights.

East West Rail Update
Good news, Charbridge Lane, Bicester is now open.
Most other works in the area will also come to a pause at the end of this week and will commence again on Monday 3rd January. There are no new planned road closures.

News from The Red Lion
The following information is from Dillie:
”Oh dear.  Just when we thought we were getting on our feet, along comes the wretched Omicron virus.  But we soldier on, and visors have been delivered for all the staff to wear.  Please don’t hesitate to ask for table service if you would prefer that to going up to the bar.  
Christine’s Christmas menu has been very popular and people are still booking which is encouraging.  Don’t forget we have the small dining room – the Hunt Room – which is a good size for family gatherings in safe-size groups.  
In the meantime, we’re not serving Sunday lunch on 19th.  The kitchen is closing on 23rd for a few days so that we can deep clean.  But the pub will be open over Christmas as usual.  On Christmas Eve, I was planning a bit of a sing-song, but I think that’s unwise now.  Who’d have thought that community singing was more risky than cave diving?  Heigh ho, strange new world.  
Anyhow, we shall be open on Christmas day between 12-2pm, and John is perfecting his Bloody Mary recipe for Boxing Day.  
Beyond that, we just hope to get through December and see how the land lies after that. Wish us luck.  And a huge thank you to Richard and Sarah at Stratton Audley Barn for their extremely generous gift of a Christmas Tree to go outside the pub. Dave Tucker says he’ll put it up properly so that it doesn’t blow down as in days of yore.  Big thanks to him as well. “

News from Stratton Audley Church
The follow information is from Becky Adams on behalf of the Shelswell Benefice:
“As things stand we are able to go ahead with planned services, though masks are now mandatory in church and we are encouraging hand sanitising and as much space between people as possible.
 On Sunday 19th December we have our ‘Fun at Four’ Christingle Service for all ages (4pm) in Stratton Audley Church. 
 On Christmas Eve the Crib Service is in Stratton Audley Church at 4pm. This is particularly suitable for young children, but is a delightful service for anyone who would like to share in the children’s excitement.
There is no Midnight Communion Service in Stratton this year, but there are Midnight services nearby:
10pm ‘Early’ Midnight Communion at Finmere
11.30pm Midnight Communion in Fringford and Cottisford
On Christmas Morning we will be celebrating with a Family Communion service in Stratton Audley Church at 11am. 
Check our website for details of services elsewhere in the benefice http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php ”

News from Stratton Audley Barn
The following is from Richard, Sara and the Barn team:
“We are now open 7 days a week 10am – 4pm and with this, our final weekend of the year, join us for a complimentary mulled wine and lots of festive cheer while you shop or dine! 
From Saturday 18th December until we close on 4pm Wednesday 22nd December, we are also offering 30% off ALL Christmas decorations, with an extra 10% for village residents (just flash us a copy of this email!)
Fresh trees are still available in all sizes and………..If you’re stuck in isolation and need some extra help with your shopping give us a call, we offer free delivery to all villagers and are very happy to help you shop or order over the phone!
We re-open 10am on Friday 7th January and are also now recruiting for the new year too, check out our Facebook page or message us for more information.
Wishing you and all your families a very Merry and Safe Christmas from us all at the Barn.
Stratton Audley Barn. 01869 278184 info@strattonaudleybarn.co.uk ”.

Don’t Forget – Fresh Fish every Thursday – Outside the Red Lion

If you want to buy some fresh fish without leaving the village, come to Church Street on Thursday evenings. Jack Evans from Grimsby parks his van outside the Red Lion between 6.30-7pm. He will be here next week on 23rd Dec and then taking a break, returning on Thursday 13th January.
He has a wide selection of fresh fish and shellfish. He is happy to provide a door-to-door service around the village if that is more convenient. You can just turn up or place orders in advance by text and his mobile number is 07535 935119.

Bicester Motion ‘Experience Quarter’ Planning Application

The Parish Council has now submitted additional comments regarding  the Outline Planning Application from Bicester Motion for the Automotive Experience Quarter and these can be viewed by visiting the Cherwell District Council planning portal by clicking on this link- Planning application: 21/01224/OUT – Planning register | Planning register | Cherwell District Council (once in the site go to ‘Support Documents’ and scroll down until you get to ‘Consultee Responses’ listed by date posted and scroll down).

The two biggest issues identified by the Parish Council concern potential noise pollution from track events and the lack of provision for 24 hour access through the site for a pedestrian and cycle path, all of which is explained in more detail in our submission.
This matter is scheduled for discussion at a full planning committee meeting in January. As it is an outline application it is likely to get approval, so it will come down to what caveats and conditions the committee decided to impose on approval.


Children’s Speed Awareness Poster Campaign

Over a dozen really powerful designs have already been submitted and this is a last call for anyone who has not yet got around to registering with Kathryn Walker. To participate and get your A2 sheet of paper, please contact Kathryn at strattonaudley.kw@gmail.com
All designs submitted will be laminated and displayed around the village in the New Year. The cut off deadline has been extended to the new year to allow for some families to complete their design over the holidays.

Helping homeworkers with their wellbeing this winter
Homeworkers in north Oxfordshire are being invited to take part in free online workshops this winter, aimed at supporting mental health. Cherwell District Council is working with Oxfordshire Mind to deliver the group sessions, offering tips on wellbeing as well as how to spot the warning signs if a colleague needs help.
To find out more visit the Cherwell District Council site:
https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/news/article/924/helping-homeworkers-with-their-wellbeing-this-winter?fbclid=IwAR0EF6xfiMhTUY8UJySIOAo3gTKzKOIe8_50-Kra9Aah7koMB3H0L1MCbuw

Bicester Heritage January Scramble
The Events team have asked me to notify you of the local code for the first Scramble of 2022, on the 16th of January. The link for tickets is accessible via their website. Local Promo code is:  FlyingBrevets
All tickets are now £14.00 (+£1.10 Fee & Tax) and the discount code will give 50% discount.
https://bicesterheritage.co.uk/whaton/january2022scramble-2-2/

And some reminders from the previous newsletters…..

Local Police Bicester and Kidlington Rural Team News
We asked Sergeant Gavin Staniland to provide a local update:
“Hello to all residents of Stratton Audley Parish, I would like to take this opportunity to provide some updates regarding your police team which has undergone a recent restructure. Previously your community has been served by PCSO’s Thomas BAILEY and Louise BEAUMONT and I would like to reassure everyone that this will continue to be the case. However I have now created a larger Rural Neighbourhood team, which will provide a more consistent and resilient means of visible policing.
Cherwell and West Oxfordshire police area recognise the significant impact that rural crime has on the community. In response to this we have just launched rural crime All Crime Attendance. This means that all crime that is reported to us as a rural crime will have follow up and contact from either a Police officer or Police Community Support Officer. Whilst there may not always be investigative opportunities for us to explore it does provide a valuable opportunity to provide Crime prevention and safeguarding advice.
I understand having conducted an extensive ‘Have Your Say’ across the rural community that Speeding is a common concern.  In response to these concerns PCSO Thomas BAILEY has been conducting speed enforcement operations around the rural communities with the assistance of our colleagues from the Roads policing department. 
As a Team we are driven to continue these operations and PCSO BAILEY will be delivering training to the other members of the Team. PC David SCOTT and PCSO BAILEY are your Community Speed watch Contacts for our rural team and will be happy to advise or assist where possible.
PCSO Louise BEAUMONT is reigniting community Have Your Say meetings around all of the villages so please keep an eye on social media and advertisements through the Parish Council for when they will be coming to you”.
To report a crime or contact the police there are now three options:
·       Call 999 if you see a crime being committed or in an emergency
·       Call 101 to report anything else to the police – or go online to do so
·       And now police are partnering with CrimeStoppers to remind everyone of ‘The 3rd Number – 0800 555 111’ that enables you to report your information totally anonymously if you prefer.
Finally for the latest crime statistics there is a useful national site into which you can put your post code. Click on this link  Bicester Rural | Police.uk (www.police.uk)

Fish & Chips Van in the village on Saturdays
For those new in the village, a Howe’s Fish and Chip van comes to the village every Saturday lunchtime at 1pm – 1:15pm. It plays a traditional tune (like an ice cream van) when entering the village and stops first in Cherry Street. I believe he then drives down Cavendish Place and stops again in Mill Road.
Howe & Co was established in 1930 and now has over 100 vans serving villages. You can track each van by going to their website
https://howeandcofishandchips.co.uk/#findvan
They also have a general number you can call 07809 901761.

The return of the very popular 100 Club
The following is from Maggie Woodward who organises this draw.
“It has been decided to start the 100 club again having had to take a break because of Covid.  The subscriptions will be due in November/December, a collector from the team will be knocking on your door for your subscription which is £10, but more than one subscription per household can be taken if desired.  There will be four prizes, £30, £20 and two at £10, the prize money will be doubled in December. The money will be delivered to the winners.  The first draw will take place on Wednesday 5th January 2022 in The Red Lion at coffee morning and thereafter on the first Wednesday of the month. The list of winners will be displayed on the Parish Council, The Red Lion and Church noticeboards and will be published in the Shelswell News. Any profit from the club will go towards a village project.  
The collectors are as follows:
Willows Lodge                                                           Jeff 
Glen Close and Stoke Lyne Road                            Angie
Cherry Street and The Limes                                   Paddy
Cavendish Place                                                        Stewart
Mill Road                                                                   Jeremy
Launton Road                                                            Viv
Bicester Road                                                            Maggie
The Manor                                                                 Emma
Please give generously and support your village.  Many thanks and good luck!”

Queens Platinum Jubilee – Join the Committee
A community wide street party will be held to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee. National celebrations will take place from 2-5th June 2022 and we have pencilled in Sunday 5th June as our day of celebration. If you want to help or join the committee please let me know.

Shelswell History Festival advance notice Save-the-date
The Shelswell Benefice has decided to once again run the Shelswell History Festival and this is due to take place on Saturday 16th July 2022. They are looking for volunteers to help organise it and especially anyone with marketing expertise. Contact Alice Goodall by email alicegoodall313@gmail.com

Collection Point for Disposal of Ink Jet Cartridges
Please continue to pop your ink jet cartridges into the basket in the Glen Close bus shelter.  Please don’t drop larger toner cartridges off as these are not recycled by the RSPB. If you are not sure if your cartridges are suitable for recycling, you can contact Rachel Dewhurst by email at treehouse0@sky.com

Covid-19 
For the latest details on Covid data and other Government’s advice on Coronavirus can be found via these link:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

News Update no 77, December 2nd

Cross Bucks Way early one morning, courtesy of Rebecca Paton

Another fortnight since the last email and only a few weeks until Christmas! But with the arrival of the new Covid variant there is natural concern as to how this may affect us all and let us hope it is less invasive than feared. If necessary, interim newsletters will bring you any important updates as soon as they are available.
This newsletter is formatted differently using a Mailchimp programme to make it easier to send out and allow for personalisation, but if you notice anything that doesn’t look right please let me know.

 

Road Sweep Thursday 9 December
The road sweeper will be in the village from about 8am next Thursday and as usual everyone is asked to park their cars off the street if possible or move them when you hear the hum of the sweeper vehicle, which will come past your home several times during the morning.
If you are fit and well and able to help, you should sweep or blow any debris off the pavements outside your home, into the road gutters for the sweeper to collect.
This is a service provided to the village three times a year by Cherwell District Council and as residents we are fortunate to have such a dedicated street cleaning team of people serving our community, so please show your appreciation to the driver.

News from The Red Lion
The following information is from Dillie:
“Given the unwelcome arrival of the new Omicron Covid variant, we appreciate that people might be a bit nervous about going out.  Safety for customers and staff is absolutely our No 1 priority so we will be discussing plans this week and we may well be going back to masking up for those staff who would feel happier in masks.  However, if you want to come to the pub and you would prefer table service rather than coming up to the bar to get drinks, you have only to ask when you arrive.  Meanwhile, please be reassured that we still deep clean and use sanitisers.  
Meanwhile, the pub is now open 6 days a week from Tuesday through to Sunday.  Lunches from Wednesday through Saturday and most Sundays.  Christine’s Friday night takeaways are taking off – but you can always sit in the pub and enjoy her fish and steak Fridays!  
Christmas plans include…
25th Dec – Continuing in the Frank O’Neill tradition, we’re opening for two hours from 12 noon. Everyone gets a free drink!  
26th – John’s Bloody Mary from 12 noon.  
Meanwhile, the improvements continue.  The function room at the end has a new carpet!!!  We have invested in some fancy new crockery.  And Zara’s super-talented mum has made some gorgeous Christmas decorations.  It’s the little things that get this old girl’s heart going.  
Please note that the whole pub is closed on 9th December from approximately 4pm for a private party”.  

Bicester Motion ‘Experience Quarter’ Planning Application
The Parish Council has now submitted additional comments regarding  the Outline Planning Application from Bicester Motion for the Automotive Experience Quarter and these can be viewed by visiting the Cherwell District Council planning portal by clicking on this link- Planning application: 21/01224/OUT – Planning register | Planning register | Cherwell District Council This matter is scheduled for discussion at a full planning committee but this will not now be until their meeting in the first part of January. There has been an extensive period of consultation and since the initial submission in May 2021, when the Parish Council amongst others submitted its comments, some amendments have been made by Bicester Motion. There remain serious concerns within the village about noise pollution from the proposed track facilities which currently remain unresolved.

Bicester Motion ‘Wilderness Quarter’ COMMUNITY CONSULTATION DAY: Sunday 5th December 2021
Have you registered to visit the old Quarry site this Sunday? It is still not too late but the cut-off time is 12 noon this Friday.
Bicester Motion has decided that the best way to introduce the Wilderness Quarter and engage with the local community is to hold a consultation day on-site. In order to attend, you will need to email them hq@bicestermotion.com  confirming your first and second choice from the three available sessions.
Bicester Motion intends to submit outline plans for The Wilderness Quarter in the first half of 2022 which aim to provide a deliverable solution to restore the former Stratton Audley Quarry, by creating a space for visitors to unwind in nature.
We understand that the proposal for the Wilderness Quarter has two core components which will be connected to the wider Bicester Motion site. These components are:

  • A Reserve which will provide a place for the local community to explore nature along a discovery trail as well as areas to relax on the Northern Lake edge
  • The Southern lakes will provide Eco-lodges for visitors to Oxfordshire and Bicester Motion.

Village Christmas Carol Service – 12th December
The village Christmas Carol Service in the church will be held on Sunday 12th December at 6pm. There is no charge so please come along and join in with the singing. All are welcome and there will be refreshments afterwards plus a chance to buy or place an order for a very special bottle of Nocino, a walnut liqueur (yes I had never heard of it either!) made from local walnuts.
If you can’t make the carol service then to order a bottle of Nocino you can email david@betteroutliers.com .  All donations go directly to maintaining the church building and anyone pre-ordering is invited to go into the church and see their liqueur develop – the process to make Nocino takes 40 – 60 days and needs someone to gently shake the Nocino kilners/vat jars every 2-3 days.

Other News from Stratton Audley Church
The follow information is from Becky Adams on behalf of the Shelswell Benefice:
“There is a carol service in the Godington church Carol on Friday 17th December (7pm), all welcome. 
On Sunday 19th December we have our ‘Fun at Four’ Christingle Service for all ages (4pm) in Stratton Audley Church. 
On Christmas Eve the Crib Service is in Stratton Audley Church at 4pm. This is particularly suitable for young children, but is a delightful service for anyone who would like to share in the children’s excitement.
 There is no Midnight Communion Service in Stratton this year, but there are Midnight services nearby:10pm ‘Early’ Midnight Communion at Finmere and 11.30pm Midnight Communion in Fringford and Cottisford.
 On Christmas Morning we will be celebrating with a Family Communion service in Stratton Audley Church at 11am. 
Check our website for details of services elsewhere in the benefice http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php “

Carols by Candlelight – Newton Purcell
St Michaels and all Angels Church in Newton Purcell is holding a carol service on Friday 10thDecember at 7.15pm with a performance from the Phoenix Singer, an accomplished Oxfordshire chamber choir. Tickets are £10 to include refreshments

Don’t Forget – Fresh Fish every Thursday – Outside the Red Lion
Unfortunately, Jack didn’t make it to the village last week, but he assures me he is here this evening. If you want to buy some fresh fish without leaving the village, come to Church Street on any Thursday evening. Jack Evans from Grimsby parks his van outside the Red Lion between 6.30-7pm.
He has a wide selection of fresh fish and shellfish. He is happy to provide a door-to-door service around the village if that is more convenient. You can just turn up or place orders in advance by text and his mobile number is 07535 935119.

News from Stratton Audley Barn
The following is from Richard, Sara and the Barn team:
“Our Christmas shop is now filled with festive goodies for you, your home and your tree! From nutcrackers to novelty games, Gonks to Garlands, beautiful baubles and beads for your fireside or tree, there really is lots to see! Beautiful real Christmas Trees from our British supplier are now on sale! In our Cafe, hearty soups, toasted paninis, baked potatoes and our chunky deep filled doorstop sandwiches are back & served daily between 12 -2:30
Our homemade cakes and slices, warming hot choccy & spicy cinnamon Latte’s are perfect for these chilly autumn days too. With a marquee providing extra seating attached to our cafe, bring your family & friends, grab a cosy blanket or 2, get comfy under a heater and tuck into a tasty treat and enjoy your festive visit.
Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-4pm, booking advised for our busy lunchtime period, call ahead to reserve your table. We hope to see you soon”.

Cake Sale in aid of Children in Need
Thanks go to all the friends and neighbours who came to Hannah’s bake sale and raised the fabulous sum of £70 for Children in Need. The Dewhurst family are also pleased to report that a donation of £105 has been made to the RSPB as a result of recycling all the ink cartridges that have been deposited in the bus shelter on the Stoke Lyne Road. Please keeping them coming.

Children’s Speed Awareness Poster Campaign
Have you requested your large sheet of A2 paper yet? It’s not too late.
As previously reported the Parish Council is reviewing traffic calming measures in the village which will require consultation and take time to implement. A short term measure is to put posters up to remind everyone to check their speed and drive slowly through the village.
If you’re a parent or grandparent please get your children to design a poster which will then be laminated and displayed in the village. A nice colourful design would be great with simple words such as “we play here please keep us safe”, “I walk here so please don’t drive too fast” or “If you can’t read this, you’re going to fast”.
To participate and get your A2 sheet of paper, please contact Kathryn Walker at strattonaudley.kw@gmail.com

Helping homeworkers with their wellbeing this winter
Homeworkers in north Oxfordshire are being invited to take part in free online workshops this winter, aimed at supporting mental health. Cherwell District Council is working with Oxfordshire Mind to deliver the group sessions, offering tips on wellbeing as well as how to spot the warning signs if a colleague needs help.
To find out more visit the Cherwell District Council site:
https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/news/article/924/helping-homeworkers-with-their-wellbeing-this-winter?fbclid=IwAR0EF6xfiMhTUY8UJySIOAo3gTKzKOIe8_50-Kra9Aah7koMB3H0L1MCbuw

Bicester Heritage January Scramble
The Events team have asked me to notify you of the local code for the first Scramble of 2022, on the 16th of January. Tickets will be going live on the 15th November (Monday) at 1pm, and the link can be accessible via our website.
Local Promo code is:  FlyingBrevets
All tickets are now £14.00 (+£1.10 Fee & Tax) and the discount code will give 50% discount.

Local Police Bicester and Kidlington Rural Team News
We asked Sergeant Gavin Staniland to provide a local update:
“Hello to all residents of Stratton Audley Parish, I would like to take this opportunity to provide some updates regarding your police team which has undergone a recent restructure. Previously your community has been served by PCSO’s Thomas BAILEY and Louise BEAUMONT and I would like to reassure everyone that this will continue to be the case. However I have now created a larger Rural Neighbourhood team, which will provide a more consistent and resilient means of visible policing.
Cherwell and West Oxfordshire police area recognise the significant impact that rural crime has on the community. In response to this we have just launched rural crime All Crime Attendance. This means that all crime that is reported to us as a rural crime will have follow up and contact from either a Police officer or Police Community Support Officer. Whilst there may not always be investigative opportunities for us to explore it does provide a valuable opportunity to provide Crime prevention and safeguarding advice.
I understand having conducted an extensive ‘Have Your Say’ across the rural community that Speeding is a common concern.  In response to these concerns PCSO Thomas BAILEY has been conducting speed enforcement operations around the rural communities with the assistance of our colleagues from the Roads policing department. 
As a Team we are driven to continue these operations and PCSO BAILEY will be delivering training to the other members of the Team. PC David SCOTT and PCSO BAILEY are your Community Speed watch Contacts for our rural team and will be happy to advise or assist where possible.
PCSO Louise BEAUMONT is reigniting community Have Your Say meetings around all of the villages so please keep an eye on social media and advertisements through the Parish Council for when they will be coming to you”.
To report a crime or contact the police there are now three options:

  • Call 999 if you see a crime being committed or in an emergency
  • Call 101 to report anything else to the police – or go online to do so
  • And now police are partnering with CrimeStoppers to remind everyone of ‘The 3rd Number – 0800 555 111’ that enables you to report your information totally anonymously if you prefer.

Finally for the latest crime statistics there is a useful national site into which you can put your post code. Click on this link  Bicester Rural | Police.uk (www.police.uk)

And some reminders from the previous newsletters…..

Fish & Chips Van in the village on Saturdays
For those new in the village, a Howe’s Fish and Chip van comes to the village every Saturday lunchtime at 1pm – 1:15pm. It plays a traditional tune (like an ice cream van) when entering the village and stops first in Cherry Street. I believe he then drives down Cavendish Road and stops again in Mill Road.
Howe & Co was established in 1930 and now has over 100 vans serving villages. You can track each van by going to their website
https://howeandcofishandchips.co.uk/#findvan
They also have a general number you can call 07809 901761.

The return of the very popular 100 Club
The following is from Maggie Woodward who organises this draw.
“It has been decided to start the 100 club again having had to take a break because of Covid.  The subscriptions will be due in November/December, a collector from the team will be knocking on your door for your subscription which is £10, but more than one subscription per household can be taken if desired.  There will be four prizes, £30, £20 and two at £10, the prize money will be doubled in December. The money will be delivered to the winners.  The first draw will take place on Wednesday 5th January 2022 in The Red Lion at coffee morning and thereafter on the first Wednesday of the month. The list of winners will be displayed on the Parish Council, The Red Lion and Church noticeboards and will be published in the Shelswell News. Any profit from the club will go towards a village project.  
The collectors are as follows:
Willows Lodge                                                          Jeff 
Glen Close and Stoke Lyne Road                        Angie
Cherry Street and The Limes                               Paddy
Cavendish Place                                                      Stewart
Mill Road                                                                  Jeremy
Launton Road                                                           Viv
Bicester Road                                                          Maggie
The Manor                                                               Emma
Please give generously and support your village.  Many thanks and good luck!”

EWR Road Closure of Stratton Audley Park Road to Poundon 
Charbridge Lane, Bicester remains closed until 17thDecember.

Queens Platinum Jubilee – Join the Committee
A community wide street party will be held to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee. National celebrations will take place from 2-5th June 2022 and we have pencilled in Sunday 5th June as our day of celebration. If you want to help or join the committee please let me know.

Shelswell History Festival advance notice Save-the-date
The Shelswell Benefice has decided to once again run the Shelswell History Festival and this is due to take place on Saturday 16th July 2022. They are looking for volunteers to help organise it and especially anyone with marketing expertise. Contact Alice Goodall by email alicegoodall313@gmail.com

Collection Point for Disposal of Ink Jet Cartridges
Please continue to pop your ink jet cartridges into the basket in the Glen Close bus shelter.  Please don’t drop larger toner cartridges off as these are not recycled by the RSPB. If you are not sure if your cartridges are suitable for recycling, you can contact Rachel Dewhurst by email at treehouse0@sky.com

Covid-19 
For the latest details on Covid data and other Government’s advice on Coronavirus can be found via these link:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

All the best and stay safe. John

 

News Update no 76, November 17th

Another fortnight and this issue is packed with new information.

But first, a great photo of our church (which doubles up as our village community centre) taken by Jonathan Beech who lives in the village. We asked him to take some close-up photography of the church tower with his drone to get a bird’s eye view of the layout for reference purposes and he supplied some very professional photos including this one.

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Beech jjb.uk@mac.com

Cake Sale in aid of Children in Need this Friday

Please pop along and support this very worthy cause, organised by the Dewhurst family this Friday 19th November from 3.30 to 4.40, at 1 Glen Close.

EWR Road Closure of Stratton Audley Park Road to Poundon

Please note the temporary closure of the road that runs from the crossroads up to the Godington turn-off is now happening this Saturday morning, 20th November from 07:00 until 18.00 on the same day.

Charbridge Lane, Bicester remains closed until 17thDecember.

News from The Red Lion

The following information is from Dillie:

“Lunches weekdays and Sundays as usual, coffee morning on Wednesdays as usual.  Please check the board outside the pub because the wonderful Christine is offering some takeaways, particularly on Friday nights.  

The pub is now open each day apart from Monday. “Frank Night”, on 6th November celebrating Frank’s birthday was a wonderful occasion with live music provided by Malachy O’Neill and much merriment.  

The Christmas Wine Tasting evening on 9th November was also popular and Mike from North Oxfordshire Wines did a great job”.

Quiz night this Thursday 18th with Rich Walsh setting some ferocious questions, 7.30 start. 

And the indefatigable Sapphy has insisted that we do another breakfast on Saturday 27th – LAST BANGER BEFORE CHRISTMAS.  Booking advisable, it was mega popular last time.  Full English, tea, coffee, toast etc 11am – 2pm, £11.95”.  

Bicester Motion ‘Experience Quarter’ Planning Application

The delayed Outline Planning Application from Bicester Motion for the Automotive Experience Quarter (no. 21/01224/OUT) has now been submitted to Cherwell District Council and will go before the planning committee on 2nd December. There has been an extensive period of consultation and since the initial submission in May 2021, when the Parish Council amongst others submitted its comments (as published on the CDC portal), some amendments have been made by Bicester Motion. There remain serious concerns within the village with regard to noise pollution and representations are currently being made on this matter. If you have concerns and wish to comment in an individual capacity then please visit  Planning application: 21/01224/OUT – Planning register | Planning register | Cherwell District Council .

Bicester Motion ‘Wilderness Quarter’ COMMUNITY CONSULTATION DAY: Sunday 5th December 2021

Bicester Motion intends to submit outline plans for The Wilderness Quarter in the first half of 2022 which aim to provide a deliverable solution to restore the former Stratton Audley Quarry, by creating a space for visitors to unwind in nature.

We are told that the proposal for the Wilderness Quarter has two core components which will be connected to the wider Bicester Motion site. These components are:

  • A Reserve which will provide a place for the local community to explore nature along a discovery trail as well as areas to relax on the Northern Lake edge
  • The Southern lakes will provide Eco-lodges for visitors to Oxfordshire and Bicester Motion.

Bicester Motion has decided that the best way to introduce the Wilderness Quarter and engage with the local community is to hold a consultation day on-site with three separate sessions. In order to attend, you will need to email them hq@bicestermotion.com  confirming your first and second choice from the three available session timings. See attached PDF on this subject.

News from Stratton Audley Barn

The following is from Richard, Sara and the Barn team:

“Our Christmas shop is now filled with festive goodies for you, your home and your tree! From nutcrackers to novelty games, Gonks to Garlands, beautiful baubles and beads for your fireside or tree, there really is lots to see! Beautiful real Christmas Trees from our British supplier will be on sale here from 26th November too! In our Cafe, hearty soups, toasted paninis, baked potatoes and our chunky deep filled doorstop sandwiches are back & served daily between 12 -2:30.

Our homemade cakes and slices, warming hot choccy & spicy cinnamon Latte’s are perfect for these chilly autumn days too. With a marquee providing extra seating attached to our cafe, bring your family & friends, grab a cosy blanket or 2, get comfy under a heater and tuck into a tasty treat and enjoy your festive visit.

Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-4pm, booking advised for our busy lunchtime period, call ahead to reserve your table. We hope to see you soon”.

News from Stratton Audley Church

The following information is from Becky Adams on behalf of the Shelswell Benefice:

“Full details of all our services can be found on the usual link http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php

‘Little Lambs’ baby and toddler group continues on Wednesday mornings (10 – 11.30am). There is no need to book – just turn up with your under-5s. We have play, music and stories and can now serve refreshments for both adults and children.

Shelswell Youth Group has started meeting on alternate Friday evenings (7-9pm) in Fringford. The next meeting is this Friday 19th November – For more details, including the venue, contact Yvonne curate@shelswellparishes.info  “

As many of you will have noticed the church clock and chimes stopped working a few weeks ago. It turned out to be mainly an electrical fault requiring a new capacitor and it was fixed in time for the Remembrance Day service last Sunday. Thanks go to Roger Cross and Jeremy Adams.

Don’t Forget – Fresh Fish every Thursday – Outside the Red Lion

If you want to buy some fresh fish without leaving the village, come to Church Street on any Thursday evening. Jack Evans from Grimsby already supplies fish to a number of local residents and now parks his van outside the Red Lion between 6.30-7pm.

He has a wide selection of fresh fish and shellfish. He is happy to provide a door-to-door service around the village if that is more convenient. You can just turn up or place orders in advance by text and his mobile number is 07535 935119.

Children’s Speed Awareness Poster Campaign

Have you requested your large sheet of A2 paper yet?

As previously reported the Parish Council is reviewing traffic calming measures in the village which will require consultation and take time to implement. A short term measure is to put posters up to remind everyone to check their speed and drive slowly through the village.

If you’re a parent or grandparent please get your children to design a poster which will then be laminated and displayed in the village. A nice colourful design would be great with simple words such as “we play here please keep us safe”, “I walk here so please don’t drive too fast” or “Enjoy a long life. Slow Down” or “If you can’t Read this – slow down”.

To participate and get your A2 sheet of paper, please contact Kathryn Walker at strattonaudley.kw@gmail.com

Bicester Heritage January Scramble

The Events team have asked me to notify you of the local code for the first Scramble of 2022, on the 16th of January.

Tickets will be going live on the 15th November (Monday) at 1pm, and the link can be accessible via our website.

Local Promo code is:  FlyingBrevets

All tickets are now £14.00 (+£1.10 Fee & Tax) and the discount code will give 50% discount.

Local Police Bicester and Kidlington Rural Team News

We asked Sergeant Gavin Staniland to provide a local update:

“Hello to all residents of Stratton Audley Parish, I would like to take this opportunity to provide some updates regarding your police team which has undergone a recent restructure. Previously your community has been served by PCSO’s Thomas BAILEY and Louise BEAUMONT and I would like to reassure everyone that this will continue to be the case. However I have now created a larger Rural Neighbourhood team, which will provide a more consistent and resilient means of visible policing.

Cherwell and West Oxfordshire police area recognise the significant impact that rural crime has on the community. In response to this we have just launched rural crime All Crime Attendance. This means that all crime that is reported to us as a rural crime will have follow up and contact from either a Police officer or Police Community Support Officer. Whilst there may not always be investigative opportunities for us to explore it does provide a valuable opportunity to provide Crime prevention and safeguarding advice.

I understand having conducted an extensive ‘Have Your Say’ across the rural community that Speeding is a common concern.  In response to these concerns PCSO Thomas BAILEY has been conducting speed enforcement operations around the rural communities with the assistance of our colleagues from the Roads policing department.

As a Team we are driven to continue these operations and PCSO BAILEY will be delivering training to the other members of the Team. PC David SCOTT and PCSO BAILEY are your Community Speed watch Contacts for our rural team and will be happy to advise or assist where possible.

PCSO Louise BEAUMONT is reigniting community Have Your Say meetings around all of the villages so please keep an eye on social media and advertisements through the Parish Council for when they will be coming to you”.

To report a crime or contact the police there are now three options:

  • Call 999 if you see a crime being committed or in an emergency
  • Call 101 to report anything else to the police – or go online to do so
  • And now police are partnering with CrimeStoppers to remind everyone of ‘The 3rd Number – 0800 555 111’ that enables you to report your information totally anonymously if you prefer.

Finally for the latest crime statistics there is a useful national site into which you can put your post code. Click on this link  Bicester Rural | Police.uk (www.police.uk)

Christmas Carol Service

The village Christmas Carol Service in the church will be held on Sunday 12th December at 6pm, so save the date now.

Help for Fringford Primary School

Great news! As you may recall Fringford Primary School was selected for the Tesco Community Grant (Blue token) scheme and this scheme came second in terms of the support it received from shoppers. They were awarded a £1,000 grant towards their Forest School and Sensory Garden Project.

They wish to thank all Villagers who supported their cause.

And some reminders from the previous newsletters…..

Order a bottle of Nocino – all funds go to the Church building

David Young is taking orders for people who want their very own bottle of Nocino walnut liqueur in time for some relaxing autumn and Christmas cheer.

To order a bottle, please rsvp to david@betteroutliers.com .  All donations go directly to maintaining the church building and anyone pre-ordering is invited to go into the church and see their liqueur develop – the process to make Nocino takes 40 – 60 days and needs someone to gently shake the Nocino kilners/vat jars every 2-3 days.

Queens Platinum Jubilee – Join the Committee

A community wide street party will be held to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee. National celebrations will take place from 2-5th June 2022 and we have pencilled in Sunday 5th June as our day of celebration. If you want to help or join the committee please let me know.

Fish & Chips Van in the village on Saturdays

For those new in the village, a Howe’s Fish and Chip van comes to the village every Saturday lunchtime at 1pm – 1:15pm. It plays a traditional tune (like an ice cream van) when entering the village and stops first in Cherry Street. I believe he then drives down Cavendish Road and stops again in Mill Road.

Howe & Co was established in 1930 and now has over 100 vans serving villages. You can track each van by going to their website

https://howeandcofishandchips.co.uk/#findvan

They also have a general number you can call 07809 901761.

The return of the very popular 100 Club

The following is from Maggie Woodward who organises this draw.

“It has been decided to start the 100 club again having had to take a break because of Covid.  The subscriptions will be due in November/December, a collector from the team will be knocking on your door for your subscription which is £10, but more than one subscription per household can be taken if desired.  There will be four prizes, £30, £20 and two at £10, the prize money will be doubled in December. The money will be delivered to the winners.  The first draw will take place on Wednesday 5th January 2022 in The Red Lion at coffee morning and thereafter on the first Wednesday of the month. The list of winners will be displayed on the Parish Council, The Red Lion and Church noticeboards and will be published in the Shelswell News. Any profit from the club will go towards a village project. 

The collectors are as follows:

Willows Lodge                                                         Jeff

Glen Close and Stoke Lyne Road                         Angie

Cherry Street and The Limes                              Paddy

Cavendish Place                                                     Stewart

Mill Road                                                                  Jeremy

Launton Road                                                          Viv

Bicester Road                                                          Maggie

The Manor                                                               Emma

Please give generously and support your village.  Many thanks and good luck!”

Shelswell History Festival advance notice Save-the-date

The Shelswell Benefice has decided to once again run the Shelswell History Festival and this is due to take place on Saturday 16th July 2022. They are looking for volunteers to help organise it and especially anyone with marketing expertise. Contact Alice Goodall by email alicegoodall313@gmail.com

Collection Point for Disposal of Ink Jet Cartridges

Please continue to pop your ink jet cartridges into the basket in the Glen Close bus shelter.  Please don’t drop larger toner cartridges off as these are not recycled by the RSPB. If you are not sure if your cartridges are suitable for recycling, you can contact Rachel Dewhurst by email at treehouse0@sky.com

Covid-19

For the latest details on Covid data and other Government’s advice on Coronavirus can be found via these link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

News update no 75, November 5th

Dear All

Another fortnight and lots of new things to report……

The Bicester Round Table Charity Firework Spectacular

Known locally as the Pingle Field Fireworks, it tomorrow night, 6th November at Pingle Field in Bicester. Gates open at 6.00pm. Bonfire 7.00pm and display at 7.30pm.Tickets cost £6.00 per person on the gate. Children under five go free.

Advance fast track tickets are now available for £5.00 at the following local vendors – Nando’s, WAH HONG in Market Square, SUN WAH in Langford Village, Savoir Fare and the Bicester Village Visitor Centre.

Parking is available at Bicester Village.

EWR Road Closure of Stratton Audley Park Road to Poundon this SATURDAY

Please note the temporary closure of the road that runs from the crossroads up to the Godington turn-off which is effective for one day from Saturday morning on 6th November at 07:00 until 18.00.

 

EWR News Update in the Bicester Area

I have taken the unusual step of attaching to this newsletter, a pdf news update from EWR, as there is a substantial amount of information on their construction progress in our area, which some will undoubtedly find interest. At the moment they appear to be slightly ahead of schedule!

News from The Red Lion

The following information is from Dillie:

“Lunches weekdays and Sundays as usual, coffee morning on Wednesdays as usual.  Please check the board outside the pub because the wonderful Christine is offering some takeaways, particularly on Friday nights.  

The pub is now also open on Tuesdays. There are no plans to open Mondays though. 

This Saturday, 6th November is  “Frank Night”.  Celebrating Frank’s birthday.  Music, bunting, Irish stew (£9.50) and black velvet.  Please come along and cheer us up.  

The Christmas Wine Tasting evening on 9th November is getting popular, starting at 6pm.  Mike from North Oxfordshire Wines is bringing along 20 wines to taste, including reds, whites, sparkling and a port or two, plus plenty of nibbles, mainly of the superior cheese variety.  Please contact anyone on the bar to buy tickets.  

The function room is undergoing a gradual transformation and is much nicer. Wifi should shortly be available in there and it is certainly respectable enough for functions!  Please contact anyone on the bar if you would like to hire it”.  

Stratton Audley Barn

The following is from Richard, Sara and the Barn team:

“There’s a chill in the air and almost a frost on the ground this week and it couldn’t be better timed as it’s all about Christmas here at the Barn! If you’re looking to get organised and starting to plan ahead, real Christmas trees are now available to order online for delivery or collection and will be on sale here at the barn from Friday 26th November. Check out our trees and place your order on www.strattonaudleybarn.co.uk. Whether its 4ft or 24ft we can find your tree. (Stock Trees available in 4-10ft.) For special order trees email info@strattonaudleybarn.co.uk letting us know your requirements and we can send you a quote.

Our Christmas shop is now filled with festive goodies for you, your home and your tree! From nutcrackers to novelty games, Gonks to Garlands, beautiful baubles and beads for your fireside or tree, there really is lots to see!

In our Cafe, hearty soups, toasted paninis, baked potatoes and our chunky deep filled doorstop sandwiches are back & served daily between 12 -2:30. Our homemade cakes and slices, warming hot choccy & spicy cinnamon Latte’s are perfect for these chilly autumn days too. With a marquee providing extra seating attached to our cafe, bring your family & friends, grab a cosy blanket or 2, get comfy under a heater and tuck into a tasty treat and enjoy your festive visit.

Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-4pm, booking advised for our busy lunchtime period, call ahead to reserve your table. We hope to see you soon”.

Don’t Forget – Fresh Fish every Thursday – Outside the Red Lion

If you want to buy some fresh first without leaving the village, come to Church Street on any Thursday evening. Jack Evans from Grimsby already supplies fish to a number of local residents and now parks his van outside the Red Lion between 6.30-7pm.

He has a wide selection of fresh fish and shellfish, including cod, haddock, salmon, plaice, lemon sole, tuna, hake, dressed crab, smoked fish and more. He is happy to provide a door-to-door service around the village if that is more convenient. You can just turn up or place orders in advance by text and his mobile number is 07535 935119.

News from Stratton Audley Church

The follow information is from Becky Adams on behalf of the Shelswell Benefice:

“The next service in Stratton Audley is the Remembrance Service on Sunday 14th November, starting at 10.45am and including an Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial as close to 11am as possible. Full details of all our services can be found on the usual link http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php

‘Little Lambs’ baby and toddler group continues on Wednesday mornings (10 – 11.30am). There is no need to book – just turn up with your under-5s. We have play, music and stories and can now serve refreshments for both adults and children.

Shelswell Youth Group has started meeting on alternate Friday evenings (7-9pm) in Fringford. The next meetings are on Fridays 5th and 19th November – For more details, including the venue, contact Yvonne curate@shelswellparishes.info  “

Children’s Speed Awareness Poster Campaign

The Parish Council is reviewing traffic calming measures in the village which will require consultation and take time to implement. A short term measure is to put posters up to remind everyone to check their speed like the “20’s plenty” posters that you can buy off the shelf. However, a better idea has come up and is being launched today which involves the children in the community. It is an idea that has worked well in other villages and involves children being asked to do some drawings on a large A2 sheet of paper that will be provide by the Parish Council. Parents/grandparents are encouraged to help with some wording for example “we play here please keep us safe” “I walk here so please don’t drive too fast”, something along these lines around which children can create a nice piece of artwork. The posters will then be laminated and put up around the village at key strategic points.

To participate and get your A2 sheet of paper, please contact Kathryn Walker at strattonaudley.kw@gmail.com

Christmas Carol Service

The village Christmas carol service in the church will be held on Sunday 12th December at 6pm, so save the date now.

Order a bottle of Nocino – all funds go to the Church building

David Young is taking orders for people who want their very own bottle of Nocino walnut liqueur in time for some relaxing autumn and Christmas cheer.

To order a bottle, please rsvp to david@betteroutliers.com .  All donations go directly to maintaining the church building and anyone pre-ordering is invited to go into the church and see their liqueur develop – the process to make Nocino takes 40 – 60 days and needs someone to gently shake the Nocino kilners/vat jars every 2-3 days.

Queens Platinum Jubilee – Join the Committee

A community wide street party will be held to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee. National celebrations will take place from 2-5th June 2022 and we have pencilled in Sunday 5th June as our day of celebration, as this is the official day suggested for the Big Lunch across the country. It is likely to be a similar format to previous events held in the village with Church Street closed off but all this is still to be decided. Members of the Parish Council have all agreed to join the committee and members of the community are also welcome. Please contact John Honsinger if you would like to join the planning committee which will hold its first meeting prior to Christmas.

And some reminders from the previous newsletters…..

A change to parking controls in Oxfordshire

From 1st November, on-street parking enforcement will be changing in South Oxfordshire, the Vale of White Horse and Cherwell to bring them in line with the rest of the county. Currently in these districts, Thames Valley Police enforce the parking restrictions but Oxfordshire County Council teams will now be responsible for the whole county, giving continuity and clarity for all road users. More information is here on the County Council website New civil parking enforcement (CPE) for Cherwell, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse | Oxfordshire County Council

Cherwell Local Plan Review – Have your Say

This is a reminder that the consultation on the Cherwell Local Plan Review Community Involvement Paper 2: Developing our Options closes on the 10th November.

This is an opportunity to provide comments on the vision and objectives for the new Cherwell Local Plan as well as the other key issues that the plan will need to address such as:

How we may develop a sustainable local economy, meet the challenge of climate change, and encourage healthy and active lifestyles.

There are also detailed discussions about Cherwell’s towns and rural areas.  You are encouraged to respond online using the consultation portal: https://letstalk.cherwell.gov.uk/cherwell-local-plan-review

Fish & Chips Van in the village on Saturdays

For those new in the village, a Howe’s Fish and Chip van comes to the village every Saturday lunchtime at 1pm – 1:15pm. It plays a traditional tune (like an ice cream van) when entering the village and stops first in Cherry Street. I believe he then drives down Cavendish Road and stops again in Mill Road.

Howe & Co was established in 1930 and now has over 100 vans serving villages. You can track each van by going to their website

https://howeandcofishandchips.co.uk/#findvan

They also have a general number you can call 07809 901761.

The return of the very popular 100 Club

The following is from Maggie Woodward who organises this draw.

“It has been decided to start the 100 club again having had to take a break because of Covid.  The subscriptions will be due in November/December, a collector from the team will be knocking on your door for your subscription which is £10, but more than one subscription per household can be taken if desired.  There will be four prizes, £30, £20 and two at £10, the prize money will be doubled in December. The money will be delivered to the winners.  The first draw will take place on Wednesday 5th January 2022 in The Red Lion at coffee morning and thereafter on the first Wednesday of the month. The list of winners will be displayed on the Parish Council, The Red Lion and Church noticeboards and will be published in the Shelswell News. Any profit from the club will go towards a village project. 

The collectors are as follows:

Willows Lodge                                                         Jeff

Glen Close and Stoke Lyne Road                        Angie

Cherry Street and The Limes                              Paddy

Cavendish Place                                                     Stewart

Mill Road                                                                  Jeremy

Launton Road                                                          Viv

Bicester Road                                                          Maggie

The Manor                                                               Emma

Please give generously and support your village.  Many thanks and good luck!”

Shelswell History Festival advance notice Save-the-date

The Shelswell Benefice has decided to once again run the Shelswell History Festival and this is due to take place on Saturday 16th July 2022. They are looking for volunteers to help organise it and especially anyone with marketing expertise. Contact Alice Goodall by email alicegoodall313@gmail.com

Collection Point for Disposal of Ink Jet Cartridges

Please continue to pop your ink jet cartridges into the basket in the Glen Close bus shelter.  Please don’t drop larger toner cartridges off as these are not recycled by the RSPB. If you are not sure if your cartridges are suitable for recycling, you can contact Rachel Dewhurst by email at treehouse0@sky.com

Covid-19

For the latest details on Covid data and other Government’s advice on Coronavirus can be found via these link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

News Update no 74, October 22nd

Another fortnight has nearly elapsed since the last newsletter and there is news of a new fresh fish delivery service coming to the village and the welcome announcement of the return of the 100 Club. So please read on…….

News from The Red Lion

The following information is from Dillie:

“Lunches weekdays and Sundays as usual, coffee morning as usual.  

Thursday 21st October is Quiz night.  Richard Walsh is our quizmaster.

2nd November – we start opening on Tuesdays as well.  No plans to open Mondays though. 

6th November – “Frank Night”.  Celebrating Frank’s birthday.  Music, bunting, Irish stew and black velvet.  Please come along and cheer us up.  

9th November – Christmas Wine Tasting evening with Mike from North Oxfordshire Wines.  £20 per head in the Red Room (which is actually no longer red…!). 20 wines to taste, including reds, whites, sparkling and a port or two, plus plenty of nibbles, mainly of the superior cheese variety.  Please contact anyone on the bar to buy tickets”.  

 

Stratton Audley Barn

The following is from Richard and Sara:

“The Barn is now open and awash with Christmas Goodies in the shop. The Cafe has extended into a festive warm and cosy heated marquee with the new brunch & lunch menu proving popular. We are continuing our homemade Ice Cream through the winter season with a reduced offering of flavours so you can still treat the kiddies or order your favourite milkshake too! We are open Tuesday to Sunday 10am – 4pm, pop along to the Barn soon & try a little delicious something new from the menu…..”

EWR Road Closure of Stratton Audley Park Road to Poundon –This Weekend

Just another reminder of the weekend closure of the road that runs from the  Godington turn off up to Poundon. The temporary closure will operate from Saturday morning on 23 October at 07:00 until Sunday 24 October at 17:00.

EWR Closure of Charbridge Lane

Just to remind everyone that Charbridge Lane (the road that leads from Bicester to Launton) is now closed and is not scheduled to be re-opened until Friday 17 December.  The work is to construct the new tie-in to the roundabout, complete part of the bridge slip road and enable the diversion of the road onto the new bridge.

Fish &Chips Van in the village on Saturdays

For those new in the village a Howe’s Fish and Chip van comes to the village every Saturday lunchtime at 1pm – 1:15pm. It plays a traditional tune (like an ice cream van) when entering the village and stops first in Cherry Street. I believe he then drives down Cavendish Road and stops again in Mill Road.

Howe & Co was established in 1930 and now has over 100 vans serving villages. You can track each van by going to their website

https://howeandcofishandchips.co.uk/#findvan

They also have a general number you can call 07809 901761.

New Service to the Village – Fresh Fish every Thursday – from next Thursday

Jack Evans is a very personable young chap who already supplies fresh fish from Grimsby to a number of residents in the village and surrounding area and they have suggested others might like to try him out.  He packs his refrigerated van up on a Wednesday morning and drives south, where he attends various markets and some villages before heading back home on a Friday afternoon.
He has a wide selection of fresh fish and shellfish, including cod, haddock, salmon, plaice, lemon sole, tuna, hake, dressed crab, smoked fish and more. He has agreed to come to Stratton Audley on Thursday evenings around 6:30-7:30 (from next Thursday 28th October). He will initially park outside Stratton House at the Bicester Road T junction with Church Street, where our Persian food lady used to be located. He is happy to provide a door-to-door service around the village if that is more convenient. You can just turn up or place orders in advance by text and his mobile number is 07535 935119.

News from Stratton Audley Church

The follow information is from Becky Adams on behalf of the Shelswell Benefice:

“The next service in Stratton Audley is 9.30am Holy Communion on Sunday 24th October and then on Sunday 31st October we are holding a special Benefice Service of Holy Communion for Climate Sunday. This will be at 11am and is very much open to anyone from across all the parishes of the benefice. Full details of all our services can be found on the usual link http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php

The Benefice is holding a Service of Commemoration of the Departed in Finmere Church on Sunday 31st October. All are very welcome to this service to remember loved ones who have passed away, either recently or longer ago, but please note that the service is at 4pm not 6pm. If you would like us to remember someone by name in the service then do let us know (whether you can attend in person or not).

Please note that next week is half term so there is no ‘Little Lambs’ meeting on Wednesday 27thin the Church. It will be back the following Wednesday,  3rd November in the mornings (10 – 11.30am). There is no need to book – just turn up with your under-5s. We have play, music and stories and can now serve refreshments for both adults and children.

Shelswell Youth Group has started meeting on alternate Friday evenings (7-9pm) in Fringford. The next meeting is on Friday 22nd October – For more details, including the venue, contact Yvonne curate@shelswellparishes.info

The return of the very popular 100 Club

The following is from Maggie Woodward who organises this draw.

“It has been decided to start the 100 club again having had to take a break because of Covid.  The subscriptions will be due in November/December, a collector from the team will be knocking on your door for your subscription which is £10, but more than one subscription per household can be taken if desired.  There will be four prizes, £30, £20 and two at £10, the prize money will be doubled in December. The money will be delivered to the winners.  The first draw will take place on Wednesday 5th January 2022 in The Red Lion at coffee morning and thereafter on the first Wednesday of the month. The list of winners will be displayed on the Parish Council, The Red Lion and Church noticeboards and will be published in the Shelswell News. Any profit from the club will go towards a village project. 

The collectors are as follows:

Willows Lodge                                                         Jeff

Glen Close and Stoke Lyne Road                        Angie

Cherry Street and The Limes                              Paddy

Cavendish Place                                                     Stewart

Mill Road                                                                  Jeremy

Launton Road                                                          Viv

Bicester Road                                                          Maggie

The Manor                                                               Emma

Please give generously and support your village.  Many thanks and good luck!”

EWR reparations to the Park Road from the A4421 junction to Poundon

  • EWR are ahead of schedule and starting to plan for the ending of HGV access traffic to the compound at Poundon which should happen in the Spring next year
  • Discussions are being held to establish whether any of the road changes made during the construction of the compound at Poundon, should be retained
  • If anyone has a view that they wish to express on this matter please email me about it
  • Following an initial meeting the general feeling is that all passing bays from the A4421 up to the cross roads with Mill Road should be removed and the verges restored. New turf and re-seeding as necessary
  • Retention of the new junction layout where the road meets the A4421. Whilst it is recognised that some people wish to return to the original layout which had an attractive grass triangle in the middle, the new configuration is thought to be safer
  • With regard to returning the cross roads to their original state there was a detailed discussion of the pros and cons and on balance it was felt that visibility had been improved particularly for traffic approaching the cross roads from Stratton Audley. Again it is accepted that some people may feel differently
  • Whilst the majority of passing bays from the cross roads all the way to Poundon will be removed and reinstatement measures put in place, a small number were identified as useful to be retained on safety grounds, where the road is particularly narrow or on a bend
  • Removal of some of the large unnecessary pedestrian warning signs (List to be supplied by EWR)
  • Elsewhere along the entire road there is damage to the verges caused by HGV lorries and these need to be repaired
  • No final decisions have yet been taken.

And some reminders from the previous newsletters…..

Dillie on Tour with Fascinating Aida

As many of you will know over very own Dillie is back on tour with her long term partners in crime, Adèle Anderson and Liza Pulman.

With a selection of old favourites, songs you haven’t heard before and some you wish you’d never heard in the first place. The songs are hilarious and topical – the glamour is unstoppable. With three Olivier Award nominations and over 25 million YouTube and Facebook hits for Cheap Flights and their incredibly rude Christmas song how can you possibly miss them?

The nearest gig to us is Oxford, this Saturday 23rd October at the Oxford Playhouse.

Queens Platinum Jubilee – Save the Date.

It was agreed that a community wide street party will be held to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee. National celebrations will take place from 2-5th June 2022 and we have pencilled in Sunday 5th June as our day of celebration, although this may change to Saturday if enough people prefer that day. It is likely to be a similar format to previous events held in the village with Church Street closed off but all this is still to be decided. Members of the Parish Council have all agreed to join the committee and members of the community will be welcome to join or form part of sub groups.

 

Shelswell History Festival advance notice Save-the-date

The Shelswell Benefice has decided to once again run the Shelswell History Festival and this is due to take place on Saturday 16th July 2022. They are looking for volunteers to help organise it and especially anyone with marketing expertise. Contact Alice Goodall by email alicegoodall313@gmail.com

Order a bottle of Nocino – all funds go to the Church building

David Young has started taking pre-orders for people who want their very own bottle of Nocino walnut liqueur in time for a relaxing autumn and Christmas.

To order a bottle, please rsvp to david@betteroutliers.com .  All donations go directly to maintaining the church building and anyone pre-ordering is invited to go into the church and see their liqueur develop – the process to make Nocino takes 40 – 60 days and needs someone to gently shake the Nocino kilners/vat jars every 2-3 days.

Collection Point for Disposal of Ink Jet Cartridges

Please continue to pop your ink jet cartridges into the basket in the Glen Close bus shelter.  Please don’t drop larger toner cartridges off as these are not recycled by the RSPB. If you are not sure if your cartridges are suitable for recycling, you can contact Rachel Dewhurst by email at treehouse0@sky.com

Covid-19

For the latest details on Covid data and other Government’s advice on Coronavirus can be found via these link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/