NEWS UPDATE – Stratton Park Road NOW CLOSED

As some of you will have found out for yourselves, the Stratton Park road from the A4421 to Poundon is closed along it complete length not just from the crossroads with Mill Road to Godington.

Despite our meeting with senior people on Friday from both EWR and OCC which confirmed that the road past Stratton Park to the cross roads would be open, it has been closed for repairs to the road which had not formed part of the discussion to date.

This is most annoying as it would seem that no one at the Friday meeting knew that the plan to repair and resurface parts of the entire length of the road were still scheduled for this week. According to the EWR Highways project manager controlling the works on the ground, he hopes that the resurfacing works on the stretch from the cross roads to the A4421 will all be complete this week and the road reopened by the weekend. The road in the other direction to Poundon will be closed for a couple of weeks as previously advised, because they will be installing about 16 passing points as well as undertaking road surface repairs.

Residents in Godington have been informed directly and there is access for all residents, farm vehicles or delivery vehicles. Diversion signs for through traffic will mean that the village sees a temporary increase in traffic.

 

News Update no 27, September 26

A Helping Hand

With the on-set of Autumn, the rise in the number of new Covid-19 cases and the new Government restrictions, it is perhaps timely to remind everyone that we have a list of volunteers prepared to help anyone who is feeling poorly and may need assistance. I know that everyone is doing their bit and looking out for their neighbours and each other, so this is intended to back up that effort.

As you know the email database of people living in or connected to the Parish is more important than ever before, and although it is now sent to some 170 addresses, it is not universally received. So please encourage others to sign up by sending me an email or print it out if you are aware of someone who does not use emails regularly.

Stratton Park Road Closure due to East West Rail

This is just a reminder that the road to Poundon from the crossroads with Mill Road up to the turning with Godington is subject to a closure notice from this coming Monday 28th up until Thursday 8th October. Thereafter further closures are likely to this same stretch of road from Godington up to Poundon.

Diversions will provide access to Godington via the Poundon end, although the Mill Road crossroads end will be manned and residents and farm vehicles only will be able to gain access from this direction.

The important point to note is that the same road leading from the Mill Road junction up to the A4421 past Stratton Park will not be closed as these works have been put back to November.

Cake Sale in The Limes this Sunday

The Nash family girls, together with another girl in the village, are holding a cake sale on the driveway of no 5 The Limes, this Sunday, just for an hour from 11am. Do pop along and buy some. All proceeds to the NHS.

Hot off the press……. the cake sale this morning was a sell-out success inside the space of one hour. Well done to the three girls who organised the sale and made the cakes for it –  Scarlett, Martha and Ophelia. The girls raised a fabulous £168 for the NHS!

A big THANKYOU is sent to all those who came along to support the sale and apologies to those who were disappointed not be able to buy anything towards the end. All customers were entered into a draw for a toffee gateaux donated by Nash’s bakery and the winner was Annie from Cavendish Place.

Sadly no more Persian food on Mondays

Unfortunately Mitra will no longer be coming to the village on Monday’s to serve up her delicious Persian dishes. She has been in the process of setting up a wholesale catering business and has to concentrate on the new business with immediate effect.

She sends her sincere apologies for the very short notice, as she had hoped to be able to continue to come to Stratton Audley because in her words ‘everyone she met was so nice and made her feel so welcome’. It was fun whilst it lasted and I am sure we all would like to wish her good luck for her new business venture.

Thanks also to Stig for introducing her to the village.

Stratton Audley Barn

In line with Government guidelines, The Barn is now operating table service only in both inside & outside seating areas. Booking is advised especially at weekends, so please call on 01869 278184 to book your table.

Ice cream will continue to be served until the end of September but in order to manage this safely, during busy periods, this will be on a takeaway only basis.

Face coverings in all areas are also now mandatory by law and must be worn when moving around all areas of the shop & café. They may be removed when seated at a table to eat/drink.

Don’t forget the Coffee Morning in the Pub

This is now happening every Tuesday at 11.00 in the Red Lion. It is £2 per head for coffee and biscuits.  For the time being it is being held in the pub garden because of social distancing, so you might want to wrap up warm.  All welcome.

The Red Lion

In order to comply with the new regulations the pub will be operating in a slightly different way. Upon arrival you will be seated at a table and asked to register your name. Your drinks order will be taken at your table and there is no bar service or standing around next to the bar. The same applies in the garden.

Last orders will be at 9.30pm and everyone will need to have exited the pub before 10pm. This is now the law so please bear with the staff.

The Supper Club on Thursday, with numbers restricted to 30, was a sell-out success and will be repeated every month.  This coming Wednesday is Steak Night which will also be held inside and needs to be booked in advance by phoning 277 225 to make your reservation.

For the latest news check out the Red lion Facebook page or check their website www.redlionstrattonaudley.co.uk

Autumn Day at Evenley Wood Garden

Given that so many activities this year have had to be cancelled, this event outdoors on Sunday, 4 October is not to be missed. From 10am – 4pm, at Evenley Wood Garden, nr Brackley, NN13 5SH. A standard entrance price applies which is £6 for adults and £1 for children.

Welcome the change of season with a day of fun autumn activities.

Bring along your windfall apples for pressing with Paul, take a look inside a real beehive with Simon, see Wreath making and Wood Carving demonstrations and other seasonal crafts, all on sale.

Check out www.evenleywoodgarden.co.uk

Bicester Motion

As you may have heard, Bicester Motion have taken the difficult decision to cancel the 4th October Scramble – unlike the Classic Car Drive-In Weekend which was designed to be COVID-secure – the Scramble’s essence is about coming together in groups, so they have taken the decision to cancel as their priority is the health and safety of their specialists, staff and visitors. Anyone who has bought tickets will be reimbursed.

Dogs off leads in the village

Unfortunately during the last week or so, there have been a number of incidents with dogs off leads not being under control and attacking dogs that are on a lead. I understand no serious harm has been done so far but as all dog owners know, if you walk your dog off lead you need to be confident that you can keep it under control. Unaccompanied dogs are of course another matter. Anyone who is concerned about this should contact the dog warden and ask him to have a word with the owners of the dogs if they can be identified. His name is Chris Cundy and his number is 01295 221621.

Loose dogs may explain some of the reports of dog fouling around the village.

EWR Temporary road Improvements by Stratton Park

There has been much discussion over the last few weeks between OCC, EWR Alliance, the Parish Council and residents who are immediately affected by  proposed works to the road from the A4421 past Stratton Park to Poundon. This is in order to accommodate HGV traffic accessing the East West Rail Poundon compound from now until the line is built in 2022.

A meeting took place on site this week for the residents supported by the Parish Council to explain their objection to the current proposals which are different from what was originally understood to be the case.

EWR presented a revised plan for one area which avoids removing a tree by reducing the length of the passing point. This was welcome news but the tree canopy will still need to be removed to a height of over five meters in a number of places if the current proposals were to go ahead. The residents proposed some alternative passing points on the same bit of road and EWR agreed to reconsider their plans. Other necessary works to the road were discussed and accepted.

A 30mph speed limit on this section of the road up to the cross roads with Mill Road was felt to be essential and OCC agreed to investigate whether this will be possible on a temporary basis. Additionally OCC undertook to consider improving the visibility at the crossroads junction with Mill Road where the hedgerow on the corner makes it difficult to see oncoming traffic/horses.

Works to this section of road will be undertaken in November and December.

Collection Point for disposal of Ink Jet cartridges

A collection box for used ink-jet cartridges is still located in the bus shelter on the Stoke Lyne Road and any money raised from their bulk return will go to the RSPB.

Covid-19 and Christmas

And on a lighter note, one of the current jokes doing the rounds:

  1. Buy a live turkey
  2. Prepare it
  3. Invite 30 people to the funeral

All the best and stay safe.

News Update no 26, September 19th

Covid-19 – Just when we thought it was safe to come out of our homes!

Today’s new confirmed infection figures of 4300 are around 1000 higher than yesterday and the estimate is that the infection rate today is really closer to 6000. The spiralling figures bring the possibility of a new national lockdown ever closer.

Although we are fortunate to still live in an area of below average cases, the numbers are rising across the district and even more so in our local urban areas. It is all too easy to forget how unpleasant and potentially deadly this virus can be and become complacent and let down our guard.

There is growing evidence to suggest that the greatest transmission is happening between friends, family and people we know, rather than via offices, shops and public areas. So I for one am going to redouble my efforts to wash my hands more regularly, keep a decent distance when engaging with everyone and wear a facemask more often.

For clarification, under the new rules, it became illegal to gather in a group of more than six people in any setting indoors or outdoors, including beaches and parks. The ban applies to people of all ages in England, including children, and the police now have the powers to enforce these limits, with rule-breakers facing chunky fines of up to £3,200.

However, there are still quite a number of important exemptions:

  • Single households, or support bubbles that are larger than six, can still gather together
  • Groups with more than six people can also meet outside for work, charitable services and childcare
  • The six-person limit does not apply to gatherings for an educational purpose, like school or university, or other training
  • Covid-19-secure venues such as places of worship, leisure centres, gyms, restaurants and pubs, are still allowed to hold more than six people in total
  • Religious ceremonies are also exempted, however, celebrations of these events is prohibited
  • Organised team sports carried out in a Covid-19-secure way can also have more than six participants. However, this does not include informal sport or fitness activity with family or friends
  • Additionally, weddings and funerals can still take place with a limit of 30 people providing they have taken precautions, but this does not include wakes
  • Protests are also still allowed under the new law!!!
  • Public transport is also not affected by the rules and current rules for face coverings are still valid
  • Legal obligations such as court and jury service are also exempted.

Commenting on the new rules, Thames Valley Police say officers will in the first instance ‘engage, explain and encourage’ people to follow the new regulations before handing out fines. Surprisingly, in the early stages of the virus, between March 27 and April 27, the force had handed the most lockdown fines out of all the police forces in the country – including the capital’s Met Police. So don’t say you haven’t been warned!

Stratton Park Road Closure due to East West Rail

As you know from the last newsletter, the road from the A4421 towards Poundon is to be closed from Monday 28th until 8th October. Whilst it is perfectly possible that there may be a last minute change, at the moment I can now confirm that the closure will be from the crossroads with Mill Road up to the turning with Godington. Access to Godington will be via Poundon although the Mill Road crossroads end will be manned and residents and farm vehicles may be able to gain access from this direction.

The important point to note is that the same road leading from the Mill Road junction up to the A4421 will not be closed as these works have been put back to November.

EWR Temporary road Improvements by Stratton Park

There has been much discussion over the last week between OCC, EWR Alliance, the Parish Council and residents who are immediately affected by the works to the road being used as an access route to the Poundon Compound. Issues have centred on the avenue of trees by Stratton Park, the removal of branches and the number and size of tarmacked passing points. To resolve these matters an on-site meeting has been arranged for the coming week which will hopefully result in a satisfactory outcome.

Closure of Station Road to Launton

If you want to access Launton village from Stratton Audley this coming week please be aware that Station Road will be closed from the crossroads with Launton Road on Monday 21st for two days for de-vegetation works near the hump back bridge.

Roll-on 2024 for the opening of the Line from Bicester to Bletchley

Recently I was asked whether I knew when the new EWR line would be operational for passengers from Bicester to Bletchingdon, so I made some enquiries and thought the answer was interesting. At the moment the compounds are being built and work in this area will start in earnest in early 2021. The plan is to have the line operational to Calvert by the end of 2022 but only for freight traffic. Freight for what? Apparently to supply the build of HS2 in the Calvert area where the two lines cross and a major bridge intersection is to be built. Assuming this remains on schedule the line from Calvert to Bletchley will be completed a year later and so it is hoped passengers will be travelling on the line by mid 2024.

A34/M40 Junction 9 Roundabout Carriageway Repairs

Work to resurface areas of the A34/M40 junction 9 roundabout, in particular to the northern side of the roundabout is currently scheduled to take place over the weekend of Friday 9 to Monday 12 October 2020. The junction will be closed overnight (between 9.00pm and 6.00am) on Friday 9, Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October.

During the day, traffic will still be able to exit the M40 at junction 9 and join the M40 northbound carriageway; as well as travelling north on the A41 to Bicester, and travel north and south on the A34.

This will have a major impact on traffic congestion in that area in particular the A41 southbound carriageways between the B4030 Vendee Drive/Bicester Park & Ride roundabout and the junction 9 roundabout, so worth avoiding if you can.

Monday Night is still Persian Food Night

Mitra will be once again serving up her home cooked food between 5 and 8pm on Monday and her gazebo will be located at the junction of Bicester Road and Church Street. No pre-orders, just turn up. If you need to contact Mitra you can text her on 07444 364789

Stratton Audley Barn

The café and shop are now open, Tuesday to Sunday, 10-4pm. There is a new indoor seating area as well as the outside area under canopies all serving up a new menu ….you’ll need to reserve for the indoor area, so call them now on 01869 278184 to book your table!

Don’t forget the Coffee Morning in the Pub

This is now happening every Tuesday at 11.00 in the Red Lion. It is £2 per head for coffee and biscuits.  For the time being it is being held in the pub garden because of social distancing, so you might want to wrap up warm.  All welcome.

The Red Lion

The new website is the place to find out what’s happening in the pub www.redlionstrattonaudley.co.uk .

Of special note this coming week is the Supper Club evening on Thursday, for a set meal at £35 per head, which must be booked in advance. Phone 277 225 to make your reservation.

The pub is closed on Mondays, open Tuesday – Friday from 3-11pm; Saturday: 12-11pm; and Sunday: 12-9pm

Collection Point for disposal of Ink Jet cartridges

A collection box for used ink-jet cartridges is still located in the bus shelter on the Stoke Lyne Road and any money raised from their bulk return will go to the RSPB.

Classic Car Drive-In Weekend at Bicester Heritage – 18th-20th September

As previously publicised the Classic Car Drive In weekend is being held at Bicester Heritage today, tomorrow and Sunday. This event has been approved in terms of social distancing regulations by Cherwell District Council, as being COVID-Compliant.

The event will celebrate Classic Cars in all their glory, with over 500 cars on display, 25 of the UK’s leading Car Clubs present, daily track shows, access to the classic car specialists on the technical site PLUS the Classic Drive In movies in the evenings. Tickets are still available on line by clicking the link above.

There will inevitably be some noise and disruption but the organisers say they will keep this to the minimum possible. I am sure I will get feed-back if this is not the case which I will pass on to Bicester Heritage.

All the best and please stay alert.

John

News update no 25, September 12th, for Stratton Audley

Just a  short newsletter this week.

Stratton Park Road Closure

The road running past Stratton Audley Park to the cross roads with Mill Road and beyond to the road to Godington, is still on schedule to be closed during the daytime from Tuesday 28th September (at 07:30hrs) up to and including 8th October (at 16:30hrs).

The reason, as you know, is for temporary passing bays to be built alongside the road for the large HGV vehicles that will be traveling to and from the East West Rail compound at Poundon.

However we have just discovered that the location of some of the passing points appears to be along the old avenue of trees (shown below) and that the intention of the EWR team is to remove a considerable number of the lower branches of the trees, which will permanently change the look of the tree line.

Urgent discussions are taking place between the Parish Council, the residents immediately impacted by this work, OCC and EWR to see what can be done to reach a more acceptable solution.

Advanced Notice of another Road Closure

Station Road which runs from Launton village to the crossroads with our Launton Road (next to the fishing lake) will be closed on 21st -22nd September for further East West Rail preparatory works by the bridge.

Additionally, the same road will be closed on the 5th  & 6th of October.

Stratton Audley Barn

The café and shop are now open, Tuesday to Sunday, 10-4pm. There is a new indoor seating area as well as the outside area under canopies all serving up a new menu ….you’ll need to reserve for the indoor area, so call them now on 01869 278184 to book your table!

Monday Night is Persian Food Night

Mitra will be once again serving up her home cooked food between 5 and 8pm on Monday and her gazebo will be located at the junction of Bicester Road and Church Street. No pre-orders, just turn up. If you need to contact Mitra you can text her on 07444 364789

Don’t forget the Coffee Morning in the Pub

This is now happening every Tuesday at 11.00 in the Red Lion. It is £2 per head for coffee and biscuits.  For the time being it is being held in the pub garden because of social distancing, so you might want to wrap up warm.  All welcome.

The Red Lion

The new website is the place to find out what’s happening in the pub www.redlionstrattonaudley.co.uk   Alternatively see the pub Facebook page or phone 277 225. The pub is closed on Mondays, open Tuesday – Friday from 3-11pm; Saturday: 12-11pm; and Sunday: 12-9pm

Collection Point for disposal of Ink Jet cartridges

A collection box for used ink-jet cartridges is still located in the bus shelter on the Stoke Lyne Road and any money raised from their bulk return will go to the RSPB.

Drive-in Cinema at Bicester Heritage

Tickets are selling fast for the AA Getaway Drive-in this weekend at Bicester Heritage.  A few spaces still available for Sunday 13th September – 2.30pm showing Baby Driver.

https://aagetaway.seetickets.com/tour/aa-getaway-drive-in-cinema

Next week will see Bicester Heritage play host to The Classic Car Drive In Weekend from 18th-20th September.  A socially distanced, COVID-compliant outdoor event celebrating Classic Cars in all their glory, with over 500 cars on display, 25 of the UK’s leading Car Clubs present, daily track shows, a live auction hosted by Bonham’s, access to the classic car specialists on the technical site PLUS the Classic Drive In.  Cult classic films like The Italian Job, Days of Thunder, Senna, Le Mans 66, Rush will be showing alongside recent blockbusters like Baby Drive, Gone in 60 Seconds and Fast & Furious.  Tickets available here.

Covid-19

I am sure we are all only too familiar with the new rules that come into force as of this coming Monday. Personally I find it disappointing that the Government is introducing a nationwide tightening of the restrictions when we live in an area that has a below average infection rate.

According to Public Health England data, as of last week, Oxfordshire has recorded only 286 people who died within 28 days of positive test for coronavirus, with 40 of these in Oxford. A further 10 people tested positive for coronavirus in Oxford within a 24 hour period on 7th September and they made up an additional 27 new confirmed cases in Oxfordshire, as of the same day.

The rate of infection in Oxfordshire now stands at 522 cases per 100,000 people, lower than the England average of 537.

That’s it for this week.

News update no 24, September 5th

Launton Road CLOSURE for Patching Works

The planned closure of Launton Road and Church Street over the next three weeks has been cancelled indefinitely.

As we understand it, a meeting took place at Oxford County Council on Thursday morning this week to look at ways to save money across the board, due to additional costs that have been incurred by the authority on Covid-19 at the same time as experiencing a reduction in revenues for the same reason. As a result, a directive was issued to manage any such overspends within the existing budgets as far as possible and the planned road repairs in Launton Road and Church Street became one of the first casualties.

This is disappointing as a great deal of time and effort over the last year went into persuading the County to carry out these works in the first place. In an attempt to take something positive out of this set-back, I have proposed that the time is used to reassess the programme of works. I have previously requested that if the road is being closed for such a long period of time, that the whole road should be repaired right up to the cross roads for the Launton turn-off by Billy Evans farm, as this is in an equally poor state of repair. Furthermore, given the significant amount of patching work that is required, consideration should now be given to resurface whole sections of the road. This might be possible if the project were to become part of a capital expenditure programme to materially improve the value of the asset. It will require a new site assessment and an initial undertaking has been made to pursue this route, although it will inevitably mean a delay to any major improvements until well into next year.

Stratton Audley Barn

Due to the 11th hour cancellation of the planned road closure, the good news is that the café and shop will be open as usual this coming week, Tuesday to Sunday 10-4pm. This weekend they are working hard to prepare their indoor seating area ahead of schedule, ready to serve up a new menu from Tuesday 8th September….you’ll need to reserve so call them now on 01869 278184 to book your table!

Advanced notice of Road Closure – Stratton Park Road

This is still happening as planned!

Notices have been posted for the temporary closure of the road that runs passed Stratton Audley Park to the cross roads with Mill Road and beyond to the road to Godington. The closure will take place from Tuesday 28th September (at 07:30hrs) up to and including 8th October (at 16:30hrs). This closure is for the day time from 07:30hrs to 16:30hrs. Distance of the closure is 1.75miles.

The reason, as many of you know, is for temporary passing bays to be built alongside the road for large HGV vehicles that will be traveling to and from the East West Rail compound at Poundon.

REMINDERS

Don’t forget the Coffee Morning in the Pub

This is now happening every Tuesday at 11.00 in the Red Lion. It is £2 per head for coffee and biscuits.  For the time being it is being held in the pub garden because of social distancing, so you might want to wrap up warm.  All welcome.

Monday Night is Persian Night

Mitra will be serving up again between 5 & 8pm on Monday and her gazebo will be located at the junction of Bicester Road and Church Street. No pre-orders, just turn up. If you need to contact Mitra you can text her on 07444 364789.

The Red Lion

The new website is up and the place to find out what’s happening www.redlionstrattonaudley.co.uk   Alternatively see the pub or village Facebook page or phone 277 225.

Opening hours are:

Monday: closed; Tuesday – Friday: 3-11pm; Saturday: 12-11pm; Sunday: 12-9pm

C0llection Point for disposal of Ink Jet cartridges

A collection box for used ink-jet cartridges has placed in the bus shelter on the Stoke Lyne Road and any money raised from their bulk return will go to the RSPB.

Barb Cabaret Night at the Red Lion – a musical success

A great time was had on Thursday evening with international cabaret artist Barb Jungr performing renditions of songs, in particular by Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen with many amusing anecdotes thrown in. The back-drop of the old stone wall to the rear of the garden was beautifully lit and provided a simple but perfect setting for what turned out to be a surprisingly warm evening.

Some 70 tickets were sold allowing for correct social distancing and Dillie is to be congratulated for staging the show and encouraged to organise another similar event soon!

Around the Village

 

Last Saturday Stewart Hopkins, Paul Roberts and myself expended a little energy on a few minor jobs around the village. We cleared debris at the bottom of Cherry Street to clearly show the footpath sign and bins and in the process uncovered a fire hydrant! We also leveled out and improved the footpath that leads off the Stoke Lyne Road removing large stones that were potential trip hazards. Finally we installed a vintage boot scraper in the Pound Pocket Park at the start of the Cross Bucks Way. This was kindly donated by Malachy O’Neill. See photos below.

                                         Clearance of debris at bottom of Cherry Street

                                                                Stoke Lyne Road footpath

Boot Scraper in the Pound

Foul Water flooding in Mill Road

Emergency work to alleviate the flooding and clear blockages in Mill Road on Sunday 16th was carried out by Thames Water.  The blockage was due to what is referred to as “paper and rag”, this can include wet wipes, paper/hand towels, mixed with other items getting stuck in the pipe work.

 

That’s it for this week.

 

 

News Update No 23 – August 29th 2020

This week we start with some sad news and end with the reminders and a word of caution on Covid-19.

Roni Howarth

Many of you will already know that Roni Howarth died unexpectedly in hospital on August 18th.   Although he had become increasing unwell it was a complete shock when he went into hospital for blood tests, suffered a stroke and died on the following day.

Roni was a lovely, smiling, giant of a man who always saw the best in others.   He was a hard-working member of the Church community, being a keen bell-ringer, organiser of the Ride and Stride, and a former Church Warden.   Roni loved this village, regularly sitting in the garden with his breakfast, gazing round and blessing his good fortune in having moved here.

His funeral will take place in Stratton Audley church on Thursday, September 10th at 12.30pm, with a limited congregation as dictated by the Government.   He will be sorely missed by Dorothy and Bronte and all who knew and loved him.   Dorothy is particularly grateful for the many wonderful cards, tributes and flowers she has received, together with the constant support of all their friends and neighbours.

Parish Council Meeting 2nd September

Due to Covid-19 the rules over holding Council meetings were changed to allow for remote video meetings. Stratton Audley Parish Council usually meets every month in the Red Lion but for the time being has opted to meet every two months via Zoom video conferencing. The next one is set for September 2nd at 7pm and if you have an item for the Agenda or wish to join-in please email the Clerk at strattonaudley.parishclerk@gmail.com

Launton Road CLOSURE for Patching Works

The long awaited patching of the road surface in Launton Road is on schedule to start on Tuesday the 8th September and run through to the end of the following week 18th September. The week immediately after this on Tuesday 22nd, Church Street will be closed for 4 days until Friday 25th. This is going to cause disruption particularly for through-traffic which will be diverted. However residents and businesses will be allowed to access their premises and so too will any delivery vehicles or commercial contractors. Parking will be prohibited on the road as the contractors will need to be able to have full access to the entire road.

The Launton Road works will start in the village by the church and finish at the stream a couple of hundred meters outside the village gate boundary. No-entry (except for access) signs will be placed at both ends – in the village and again at the intersection a  couple of miles down the road at the crossroads for Launton Village. Customers wishing to access the Stratton Audley Barn café by car will be able to do this for most of the time by traveling to it from the Launton village end. We understand that the only time when the road will be completely unpassable is when works are carried out by the right angle corner pinch-point in the village, outside Mulberry Farm House and the Old Dairy. Furthermore the road will be opened up at weekends, unless for any unforeseen reason it is impossible to do this safely.

I am sure with a little goodwill on all sides we will endure this short term inconvenience and benefit in the long run.

Advanced notice of Road Closure – Stratton Park Road

Notices have been posted for the temporary closure of the road that runs passed Stratton Audley Park to the cross roads with Mill Road and beyond to the road to Godington. The closure will take place from Tuesday 28th September (at 07:30hrs) up to and including 8th October (at 16:30hrs). This closure is for the day time and each day from 07:30hrs to 16:30hrs. Distance of the closure is 1.75miles.

The reason as many of you know is for temporary passing bays to be built alongside the road for large HGV vehicles that will be traveling to and from the East West Rail compound at Poundon.

Re-Establishing the Coffee Morning in the Pub

This week we see the reinstatement of the coffee morning on Tuesday 1st September at 11.00. It is £2 per head for coffee and biscuits.  It will be held in the pub garden because of social distancing.  All welcome.

REMINDERS

Monday Night is Persian Night

Mitra will be serving up again between 5 & 8pm on Monday at her new location at the junction of Bicester Road and Church Street. No pre-orders, just turn up. If you need to contact Mitra you can text her on 07444 364789.

The Red Lion

 

The new website is up and worth checking out for details of what’s happening www.redlionstrattonaudley.co.uk

Alternatively see the pub or village Facebook page or phone 277 225.

Opening hours are:

Monday: closed

Tuesday – Friday: 3-11pm

Saturday: 12-11pm

Sunday: 12-9pm

Stratton Audley Barn

The café is open Tuesday to Sunday 10-4pm serving coffee, paninis, cakes and gelato ice cream. There’s a designated seating area provided in the paddock with tables, parasols and a few Bell tents.

Collection Point for disposal of Ink Jet cartridges

A collection box for used ink-jet cartridges has placed in the bus shelter on the Stoke Lyne Road and any money raised from their bulk return will go to the RSPB.

Cabaret Evening at the Red Lion – SOLD OUT

Delighted to report that tickets for this event on Thursday 3rd of September in the Red Lion are all sold out. Please note that whilst the pub will be open and serving drinks in the bar area, the beer garden is likely to be closed from mid-afternoon.

And finally a Cautionary Note on Covid-19

The number of new daily cases is rising in Oxford City and the reality is that measures that would slam the brakes on Oxford’s gradual emergence from lockdown have moved a step closer. The number of cases in Oxford in the week ending August 21 was 41 – which is 26.9 cases per 100,000 and sees the city moving ever closer to figures in parts of the country that have been labelled by central Government as areas of concern or that require intervention.

Ansaf Azhar, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director for Public Health, said: “With a Bank Holiday coming up, the need for people to abide by all of the things that we know stop the spread of this virus is greater than ever. Undoubtedly the 18-29 year age group is driving this rise in cases but my appeal is to everyone. We were able to leave lockdown and stay out of it because we were suppressing the virus locally by our own actions. We were keeping our distance from each other, sanitising and wearing masks. We all need to act responsibly and continue to follow this very simple advice. If we do that collectively, we will reverse this upward trend that we are seeing in Oxford”.

So perhaps if you are planning to take a trip into Oxford take extra care of yourself.

The better news is that in the Cherwell area there were only 14 active cases as of this week. To put that into context there are an estimated 18,340 cases currently across the UK.

Have a great Bank Holiday weekend.

 

News Update No 22, August 22nd

A few reminders to start and some NEW NEWS towards the end!

REMINDERS

Monday Night is Persian Night

Mitra will be serving up again between 5 & 8pm on Monday until further notice. No pre-orders, just turn up. If you need to contact Mitra you can text her on 07444 364789.

The Red Lion

For details of what’s happening check the pub or village Facebook page or their website www.redlionstrattonaudley.com or phone 01869 277225.

Opening hours are:

Monday: closed

Tuesday – Friday: 3-11pm

Saturday: 12-11pm

Sunday: 12-9pm

Stratton Audley Barn

The café is open Tuesday to Sunday 10-4pm serving coffee, paninis, cakes and gelato ice cream. There’s a designated seating area provided in the paddock with tables, parasols and a few Bell tents. The shop is also open.

Collection Point for disposal of Ink Jet cartridges

A collection box for used ink-jet cartridges has placed in the bus shelter on the Stoke Lyne Road and any money raised from their bulk return will go to the RSPB.

International British Cabaret Star to Perform at the Red Lion

Over half the tickets for this event have already been sold. It is being organised by Dillie Keane for Thursday 3rd of September in the Red Lion at 8pm.

Barb Jungr is a phenomenal international cabaret artist who is known for her amazing renditions of modern pop songs.  Instead of the usual Cole Porter/Noel Coward fare, she has concentrated on more recent performers and her programme will contain songs by Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and other more contemporary songwriters.

Tickets are booked on a first-come first-served basis and are of course limited because of social distancing.  Although not essential, people are encouraged to book in bubbles or groups of 2,3,4 or more. Single people will be given the option to either sit with someone else or separately prior to the gig.  To apply please email Dillie on dillie@dilliekeane.co.uk or call 07968 393 428 stating the number of tickets required and she will then send you her bank details for payments. In return, personalised tickets will be sent out in advance.

And in other news

Parish Council Meeting 2nd September

Due to Covid-19 the rules over holding Council meetings were changed to allow for remote video meetings. Stratton Audley Parish Council usually meets every month in the Red Lion but for the time being has opted to meet every two months via Zoom video conferencing. The next one is set for September 2nd at 7pm and if you have an item for the Agenda or wish to join-in please email the Clerk at strattonaudley.parishclerk@gmail.com

Bicester Heritage Sunday Scramble – local offer code – Sunday 4th October

The good news is that the Sunday Scramble postponed from April will take place on Sunday 4th October. The Events Team have notified us that the local promotional code is: Balbo. All tickets are now £11 and the discount code will give a 25% reduction.

Please see below the link to the ticket page:

https://bicesterheritage.co.uk/?ticket=super-scramble-tickets-3

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scramble-tickets-94358443645

Bicester Motion gives birth to The Bicester Aerodrome Company Ltd

The new company was launched in July 2020.  Many historic airfields have failed to adapt themselves to ensure they remain viable as centres for flight for the longer term and have been forced to close. So Bicester Motion have established The Bicester Aerodrome Company to help safeguard the future of the airfield operations. The plan is to widen the doors to additional flight activity so the sight of gliders in the skies above Bicester will continue, alongside more historic aircraft, such as the Tiger Moths and other powered flying machines.

The airfield remains unlicensed meaning no commercial passenger aviation on site but with  the possibility of some pilot training.  Two specified grass runways only, with specific measures and instructions, will help limit noise and nuisance.  This new structure provides the opportunity to attract new wave electric, low carbon, lower noise aviation alongside the historic aircraft.

For further details see www.bicesteraero.com

Elm Farm Quarry

Meanwhile there is little to report with regard to progress on other developments at Bicester Motion such as the new hotel, and plans for Elm Farm quarry are likely to be delayed further.

Following the County Enforcement Notice that was served in December 2018 on the holding company Hungerford Leisure, to carry out restoration works in the Quarry, there have been on-going discussions with the County Council, complicated by the conflicting imperative to protect & preserve the newly establish flora and fauna on the site. All have been working towards establishing the framework for an agreement which would allow a new planning application to be submitted by 31st March 2021. However a request has been received to extend the time period for the submission of the detailed planning application into Autumn 2021, in order to take into account the full impact of Covid-19 which is still unknown. This will push back the deadline further and so any public consultation on this matter is unlikely to begin until well into 2021.

The Parish Council is keen to see the site restored in an environmentally sustainable way to allow for public access whilst recognising that this is likely to be part of a wider sympathetic scheme with some commercial elements.

Latest Coronavirus Data for Oxfordshire

In the 7 days up to 14 August, there has been a total of 65 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Oxfordshire, this is an increase from 44 cases in the previous week. So cases have slightly increased but as with the figures generally across the whole country, the figures are stable. This is equivalent to a weekly rate of new cases of 9.4 per 100,000 residents.

Cases of coronavirus by district
Area nameTotal casesCases in 7 days up to 14/8/2020Weekly rate per 100,000 populationWeekly rate alert status
Cherwell730106.67light green
Oxford9562818.4yellow
South Oxfordshire62774.95dark green
Vale of White Horse503107.4light green
West Oxfordshire552109.0light green
Oxfordshire3,368659.4light green

Data correct as at 4pm on 19 August.

Key: Weekly rate per 100,000 population alert status

red: more than 50
amber: more than 25, up to 50
yellow: more than 15, up to 25
light green: more than 5, up to 15
dark green: 0 to 5

Abbreviated Message from Ansaf Azhar, Director of Public Health at Oxfordshire County Council:

 

“In Oxfordshire, we’ve managed to bring COVID-19 cases down and that is thanks to all the hard work put in by everyone. But the threat from the virus is far from over.

I urge everyone to keep their distance, to avoid busy gatherings and wash their hands as frequently as possible which is known to be the most effective way to stop the spread of the virus. We are acutely aware of the risk of a second peak and with our partners have drawn together a comprehensive local plan to manage outbreaks as and when they happen.

We will keep a close eye on local spikes and flare ups and we’ll manage them promptly. If you’ve got symptoms of coronavirus, we ask you to self-isolate and call 119 who will then arrange a test for you and will also trace your contacts, and I also ask them to self-isolate.

We are settling into a new normal. I recognise the huge amount of effort that communities have put into this and have come together, looking out for their neighbours, volunteering throughout this pandemic and they’ve done a fantastic job.

We owe it to our neighbours, our families, our loved ones. And our safety is literally in our hands. So, I urge you to stay safe and to be sensible, and to follow the guidelines. Thankyou”.

Best regards

John

News Update no 21, 15th August

Covid-19

There are further signs that the Government is keen to improve our lot, with the announcement of plans to go ahead with the easing of restrictions for wedding receptions, sporting events and some indoor performances. All the measures that were put on hold two weeks ago will now take effect as of today, August 15. This will apply across England, except for areas under local lockdown.

Wedding receptions of up to 30 people will now be allowed, as will the reopening of casinos, bowling alleys and skating rinks. Beauty salons, tattoo studios and spas will be able to offer all close “services and treatments”.

Plans to start indoor performances with socially-distanced audiences, and pilots of larger gatherings in sports venues and conference centres will also resume.

Allowing spectators at sporting events is planned for October 1. Pilots at the Goodwood races, the world snooker final and county cricket games earlier this month were suspended, after the Government put the brakes on easing lockdown measures given concerns over a second wave. In addition, indoor play and soft play centres will reopen, provided they have in place the necessary coronavirus precautions.

Meanwhile those returning today after 4.30pm from France, the Netherlands, Malta and some Caribbean countries will need to quarantine themselves for 14 days on their return. Although annoying for the individuals affected and a set-back for international travel, it is being imposed for understandable reasons.

Road Sweeping THIS WEDNESDAY – Advanced Warning

The roads in Stratton Audley will be swept on Wednesday 19th August from 8am and as usual all residents with vehicles on the streets are asked to move them the night before or when they hear the road sweeper vehicle during the morning, to make the collection of dirt & debris as effective as possible.

Monday Night is Persian Night

Mitra served up her Persian food again on Monday from a stall outside the Red Lion and it went down well with a steady stream of locals. She’ll be serving up again between 5 & 8pm each Monday until further notice. No pre-orders, just turn up. There’ll probably be a short wait but it’s enjoyable as there are bound to be other people ….. at a distance of course!

If you need to contact Mitra you can text her on 07444 364789.

The Red Lion

The Red Lion’s new website www.redlionstrattonaudley.com is going live soon with all the news and events happening at the pub and in the food shack, but in the meantime see also the village Facebook page. There’s a steak night every fortnight, tapas evenings and the regular fish & chips or “Fizz and chips” night on Fridays from 5pm-8pm. For bookings, phone 01869 277225.

Opening hours are:

Monday: closed

Tuesday – Friday: 3-11pm

Saturday: 12-11pm

Sunday: 12-9pm

Stratton Audley Barn

The café is now open Tuesday to Sunday 10-4pm serving coffee, paninis, cakes and gelato ice cream. It’s takeout only to the designated seating area provided in the paddock with tables, parasols and a few Bell tents. The shop is also open.

Surface Drain Clearing

On Thursday this  week the County Council sent a team to clean out the surface drains in the village. Thanks go to them for their good timing given the thundery weather. There’s nothing like a good flushing!

New Dog Waste Bin

Great news for dog owners – a new waste bin has been installed on the Bicester Road at the entrance to the village. Up until now this has been the only road in the village that did not have one. So no excuse to foul up now!

No 18 Bus Route Restarts

The once-a-day no 18 bus service courtesy of Langston & Tasker between Bicester and Buckingham has returned to normal service through the village. It leaves Stratton Audley for Bicester at 10.20 and returns at 13.15, Monday to Friday.

Collection Point for disposal of Ink Jet cartridges

Rachel Dewhurst, a resident in the village has suggested the idea of a central collection point for ink-jet cartridges which are generally quite difficult to dispose of in an environmentally friendly way. She has placed a collection box in the bus shelter on the Stoke Lyne Road and has agreed to get them recycled with all proceeds going to the RSPB.  This could be a useful service for those who like me feel guilty about putting them in the general waste bin.

International British Cabaret Star to Perform at the Red Lion

Our very own beloved Dillie Keane has decided to put on a promoters hat and organise a concert for Thursday September 3rd in Stratton Audley. She is presenting the amazing Barb Jungr who is a phenomenal cabaret artist and singer/songwriter who has global appeal. There will be two acts, with a 20 minute interval, and the show is expected to be over by 9.45pm  latest.  Latecomers will be admitted but only between songs

Barb is known for her amazing renditions of modern pop songs.  Instead of the usual Cole Porter/Noel Coward fare, she has concentrated on more recent performers and her programme will contain songs by Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and other more contemporary songwriters. Check her out at http://www.barbjungr.co.uk/

Tickets are booked on a first-come first-served basis and are of course limited because of social distancing.  Although not essential, people are encouraged to book in bubbles of 4 or 6. To apply please email Dillie on dillie@dilliekeane.co.uk or call 07968 393 428 stating the number of tickets required and she will then send you her bank details for payments. In return, personalised tickets will be sent out in advance.

….and remember this has all only been made possible thanks to Covid-19!

Continuing to Improve Communication

As you know during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Parish Council stopped delivering its regular quarterly newsletter by door drop, and instead introduced a weekly news update in order to keep up with the rapidly changing situation. At the start of lockdown, residents were encouraged to supply their email addresses which doubled the size of the database and made it viable to reach most of the households in the Parish. The news is also posted weekly on the www.strattonaudley.org so do check it out. The idea has been well received, although there are still people who are not on the list who may be feeling left out. So if you know someone in this category, please encourage them to supply their email address or alternatively print off a copy of the newsletter for them. Thank you to everyone for your support and feed-back, and please continue to spread the word.

News Update no 20

It occurs to me that I should say how much I appreciate the feed-back about these news update that I have been getting over the last few months. It gives me great encouragement as they are virtually all complimentary and on the odd occasion where they are not, then they have been helpful insights offered with the best of intentions.

As most will know, prior to these emails, the Parish Council put out a quarterly news sheet that was double sided and limited in space. It was hand-delivered and also reproduced on the website. The idea of a regular newsletter delivered by email would not have been possible before Covid-19 because we only had about 80 emails on the database. Now the list has risen to some 160 people who live in the Parish. However there are still quite a number who are not on the list and so I encourage all to consider whether you know someone in this category and either print it off to give them a copy, or encourage them to supply their email address. I hope it goes without saying that the database will only ever be used to communicate with residents and keep all informed.

So thank you for your support and please spread the word.

No 18 Bus Route Restarts

The once-a-day no 18 service courtesy of Langston and Tasker between Bicester and Buckingham has returned to normal service. It leaves Stratton Audley for Bicester at 10.20 and returns at 13.15, Monday to Friday.

Monday Night is Mitran Night

Mitra served up her Persian Food again on Monday from a stall outside the Red Lion and it went down well with a steady stream of locals. She’ll be serving up again between 5 & 8pm each Monday until further notice. No pre-orders, just turn up. There’ll probably be a short wait but it’s enjoyable as there are bound to be people to chat to that you know – at a distance!

If you need to contact Mitra you can text her on 07444 364789.

The Red Lion

The Red Lion’s new website is going live this weekend with all the news and events happening at the pub and in the food shack!  www.redlionstrattonaudley.com

The first steak night was held on Wednesday with great success and is likely to be repeated every fortnight. Check the website or the village Facebook page for what may be happening this Wednesday and note that all meals must be pre- booked by phoning 01869 277225.

The regular fish & chips or “Fizz and chips” night is continuing on Fridays from 5pm -8pm.

Opening hours are:

Monday: closed

Tuesday – Friday: 3-11pm

Saturday: 12-11pm

Sunday: 12-9pm

See also the pub’s Facebook page.

Pub Parking

New signage has been placed outside the entry gate to the Manor and also outside the doors to the Red Lion following issues with parking in Church Street and also some pub visitors mistakenly parking in the Manor grounds.

All visitors with cars are being asked to park considerately and check whether they have left sufficient space for vehicles entering and exiting the Manor, and also for large farm vehicles on the road when cars are parked bumper to bumper on both sides of the street.

If issues continue the Parish Council may have to consider other options.

Stratton Audley Barn

The café is now open Tuesday to Sunday 10-4pm serving coffee, paninis, cakes and gelato ice cream. It’s takeout only to the designated seating area provided in the paddock with tables, parasols and a few Bell tents. The shop is also open.

Road Sweeping – Advanced Warning & Diary Date

The roads in Stratton Audley will be swept on Wednesday 19th August from 8am and as usual all residents with cars on the streets are requested to move them the night before or when they hear the road sweeper vehicle during the morning, to make the collection of debris as effective as possible.

Covid-19 at a Local Level

Whilst we in this area have few cases, the City of Oxford has been more affected and so I thought some local statistics might be of interest.

Updated ONS data reveals that since the start of the pandemic, 75 people have died in the city with the virus noted on their death certificate out of a total of 311 fatalities. It means between March and June almost one in four deaths (24 per cent) were down, at least in part, to coronavirus. The impact has varied across the city with Cowley South and Iffley having 35 per cent of deaths (14 out of 40) coronavirus related compared with North Central Oxford which only had one death out of 19 connected to the virus.

In Oxfordshire as of July 30, the number of cases per 100,000 people is 16.2 compared with19.4 at the same time the previous week.  To date there have now been 3,256 confirmed positive tests of which 912 were recorded in the city.  At one point the City ranked 15th highest in the UK for cases.

A test for coronavirus which gives results in just 90 minutes is now available and has been developed by an Oxford based company. The LamPORE test will be able to process swab and saliva samples to detect the presence of Covid-19 as well as other winter viruses like flu. It has the same sensitivity as the widely-used PCR swab test, but can be used to process swabs in labs, as well as on-location through pop-up labs.

South Central Ambulance Service – Call for Governors

Do you want to make a difference to your local ambulance services? If so, why not put your name forward to become a Governor and play a key role in shaping the future of their services. Two vacancies exist for Oxfordshire and anyone over the age of 16 can apply. To register your interest in putting yourself forward for election start the ball rolling by emailing: company.secretary@scas.nhs.uk

Governors play an important role in helping to shape and support the emergency and non-emergency services that the Trust provides in the South Central region. The role of Governor is entirely voluntary but also demanding and rewarding, asthey have specific statutory duties to fulfil and the opportunity to be the crucial link between our communities and the Trust.

Find out more about the role at https://www.scas.nhs.uk/elections/.

End

News update no19

Exciting news as another mobile food stall comes to the village on Mondays

Not Nepalese but Persian. Mitra had an unpublicised trial run on Monday this week and will be returning this coming Monday. Those who heard about it on the grape vine gave full marks for her delicious food. She lives locally, has a regular stall in several markets in the area and has a great reputation. A good range  of lamb, chicken or halloumi wraps, portions or kebabs all with salads and veggie & vegan options.

She will be setting up from 4pm and ready to serve from 5pm. You can simply turn up or order in advance by phoning: 07444 364789

The Red Lion

The Red Lion’s new website is going live this weekend with all the news and events happening at the pub and in the food shack!  www.redlionstrattonaudley.com

The first Red Lion steak night will be happening on Wednesday which will be pre- booking only! More information will be available in the pub! To make a booking phone the pub on 01869 277225 .

The regular fish & chips or “Fizz and chips” night is continuing on Fridays from 5pm -8pm.

Opening hours are:

Monday: closed

Tuesday – Friday: 3-11pm

Saturday: 12-11pm

Sunday: 12-9pm

See also the pub’s Facebook page.

Stratton Audley Barn

Stratton Audley Barn is now open from Thursday to Sunday and are serving coffee, cake and ice cream from 10am to 4pm either to takeaway or eat on the premises. Also available are savoury Panini’s available from 10-2.30pm. Villagers and OAPs can still get half price take-away coffee or ice cream on a Friday morning between 10-11am. There is an enclosed seating area in the paddock with tables, parasols and a few Bell tents to enjoy your refreshments in comfort.

Stratton Park Road Closure

As you may know over the last week the Stratton Park Road from the Mill Road cross road intersection, leading down to Poundon has been closed, apart from for local access. This is for construction of some temporary passing bays being installed by the  East West Rail Consortium. The work is due to continue next week and possibly up to 13th August. So expect some further disruption.

East West Rail Newsletter

To keep you updated on progress as work gets underway please find a link  EWR2 Project Newsletter – July 2020 to the latest East West Rail project newsletter. This includes general project progress and also localised information for communities in the affected areas.

Post Pandemic Future put on Hold

Just when we thought it was possible that we could look forward to establishing  a ‘new normal’, latest Government measures have been announced with the Chief Medical Officer saying that we are at the outer edge of what the Government can do to ease restrictions and open up safely to society.

The key change for the whole country is that from 8th August, the wearing of face coverings will be extended to most public indoor settings, including cinemas, museums and places of worship.

It comes as the daily number of new coronavirus cases in the UK doubles to over 4000 since the beginning of June when it hit its lowest point.

Latest Covid-19 Update for Oxfordshire

In the seven-day period up to Friday 17 July, there were 26 new cases of coronavirus identified through testing services in Oxfordshire. This is down from 34 in the previous week.

  • The 7-day average number of cases was 7 new cases per day.
  • Using the average number of cases for the last week, the daily rate for new cases is 5 per 100,000 residents.

Although the figures are two weeks out of date, the levels of infection in Oxfordshire, with the possible exception of East Oxford, do not appear to suggest we are seeing a surge in levels as seen in other parts of England.

Cases of coronavirus by district are summarised in the table below.

Area nameTotal casesCases in 7 days up to 17/07/20
Cherwell6988
Oxford8549
South Oxfordshire606<5
Vale of White Horse469<5
West Oxfordshire522<5
Oxfordshire3,14926

Cherwell announce a review of the adopted Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031

A Community Involvement Paper Consultation titled the ‘Cherwell Local Plan Review 2040’ is now being undertaken to provide information for a review of the adopted Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031.

The district-wide plan is being prepared to meet employment, housing, leisure, community facilities and infrastructure needs to 2040 and to provide a strategy for the pattern, scale and quality of development. The review provides the opportunity to develop newer planning policies for addressing climate change, healthy places,  biodiversity, our urban and rural areas and design, and help to support economic and social recovery in response to COVID-19.

The documents are available to view on-line at www.cherwell.gov.uk/planningpolicyconsultation and at a number other locations including public libraries.

The consultation will run for six weeks from Friday 31 July 2020 to Monday 14 September 2020. Comments on the Paper, the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report and Call for Sites submissions should be sent:

By email to PlanningPolicyConsultation@cherwell-dc.gov.uk

Or by post to:

Cherwell District Council

Planning Policy Team

Bodicote House

Bodicote, OX15 4AA

Tel: 01295 227985

____________________________

All the best and continue to stay safe.