Featured Stories

Dear All

Covid-19 Update

Whilst nationally rates of infection continue to fall, one in five local authorities have seen a rise over the last week, causing the Government to remind everyone that it is not over yet. However the number of new coronavirus cases recorded in Cherwell has fallen again in the last 24 hours, with 18 Covid cases recorded, compared to the 27 new cases recorded the day before, according to Government sources.

Figures from Oxfordshire County Council reveal there have been 1,002 deaths recorded in Oxfordshire since the start of the pandemic. The rate of infection in Oxfordshire now stands at 4,618 cases per 100,000 people, lower than the England average of 6,466.

The government has published the ‘COVID-19 Response – Spring 2021’, setting out the roadmap out of the current lockdown for England. Full details can be found via this link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021/covid-19-response-spring-2021-summary

For those who are interested in more precise information on infections, area by area, the link below is useful:

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map

The funeral of William J. “Frank” O’Neill 

Frank was given a great send off by villagers and friends on Monday 22nd with several hundred lining the streets as the cortège made its way around the village, stopping for a short while to listen to the gentle sounds of Irish music caressing the air outside his beloved Red Lion before progressing to the church. The service was live streamed with moving tributes from a number of people including his daughters from Ireland, and was a fitting tribute to a character who in the words of his brother John, was ”a legend in his own lunch time”.  Once again, condolences to all his family and friends who miss him terribly, and particularly to Lesley, Daniel and Matthew, who shared Frank’s life for so many years.

Dillie is compiling a picture record for the family and has asked for anyone with photos or video clips of the occasion to send them to her by email or other means dilliedarling@gmail.com

For those of you who missed the live stream, it’s available by clicking on this link:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0dsu1trwsfdti9t/William%20O%27Neill%2022%202%2021.mp4?dl=0

Jonesy collected £500 in cash outside the pub which was donated in Frank’s memory. This is being given to two charities – like John, he always supported the Injured Jockeys Fund, and Lesley kindly reminded Dillie that he also supported the British Heart Foundation.

Next Parish Council Meeting

In these continuing challenging times, the Parish Council is meeting virtually every two months, and the next meeting is this coming Wednesday 3^rd March, 7-9pm.  The Agenda has been published and is on the Village Notice Board and website. If you would like to attend to ask a specific question or just to watch the proceedings, you are very welcome and should email the Clerk at strattonaudley.parishclerk@gmail.com

Stratton Audley Barn

Good news – Stratton Audley Barn is getting ready to open its doors again. Sara Howson comments:

“Following the latest government advice, we are delighted to announce we will be gradually re-opening our doors. From 12th March we will be open for takeaway only Friday to Sunday 10am-4pm. Grab a cuppa and cake and enjoy a walk, cycle or even a long overdue natter on a park bench….! All being well, we’ll then be back with our marquee & outdoor seating area open from 13th April. Your’s and our teams safety remains our No1 priority and we will therefore continue to follow Covid guidelines & practices to keep everyone safe. Hope to see you soon.”

Litter Picking

Thanks also go to Jon & Fran Hill who have volunteered to pick up litter on the Launton Road.

Kissing Gate in the Pound

As many walkers will have noticed, the wooden fence which forms part of the kissing gate into the field was damaged a while back by hungry horses, but thanks to Stewart Hopkins, the fence has been repaired today and a metal protective sheet added to prevent a repeat the wood being chewed in the future. Great job Stewart.

Flooding and Foul Water

We have now received a response from the Thames Water CEO’s office advising that they have completed a CCTV survey to check the condition of the sewers in the village and will be able to provide a report on their findings soon. We have also asked for schematics of the foul water system and this is being addressed. A fuller response to our other questions and requests has been promised for 3^rd March.

The Manor

Stratton Audley Manor have been in contact to point out for those who are perhaps new to the village, that the grounds of the Manor are private and for the use of their residents as private gardens.

They are concerned that a number of people on bicycles have been seen cycling into and around the grounds, and several have been observed stopping to view the pool.  When challenged they have said they were villagers and were allowed to do so. Apparently a few others regularly walk through with their dogs or use the grounds as a general shortcut.

Interest in a Village Allotment

Investigations are on-going as per previous emails.

A total of some 14 have indicated interest in an allotment.

However the immediate issue remains finding a suitable parcel of land. If you are a land owner and have any suggestions, please get in touch.

Tree Planting

More information on this subject will be available following the next PC meeting where it is to be discussed.

East West Rail Local Update

The Bicester Road that leads to Marsh Gibbon from the crossroads at Billy Evans farm remains closed and the latest information remains that it will not open until 12 March as the removal of the bridge and other works have been rolled together.

The safety report from Oxford County Council on the new junction at Stratton Audley Park Road and the A4421 is still awaited and has been chased up by the Parish Council and EWR.

Shelswell Parishes Church Service

There will be the usual 10am service on Sunday morning which will be available on-line. Find it on Facebook Shelswell News Group or YouTube Shelswell Parishes channel. It will actually have been recorded (rather than livestream) to try and get round some of the technical issues they have been having with the signal needed for livestream.

The 10 Year National Census – Sunday 21 March, Advance Notice

The census is a survey that happens every 10 years and gives us a picture of all the people and households in England and Wales. The census is unique. There’s simply nothing else that gives so much detail about us and the society we live in.

For information about why and how the census will take place during the coronavirus pandemic visit www.census.gov.uk

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

And finally on a frivolous note…..

…….only joking!

Dear All.

Another quiet week for news and a time for reflection.

The funeral of William J. “Frank” O’Neill 

There will be a procession from Hall Farm starting at 12.50 when we will follow the hearse into the village, past the pub and the church, and looping round via Cavendish Place and Cherry Street.  As the coffin comes up Church Street once more, it will stop for 5-10 minutes outside the pub and there will be a small socially distanced ‘event’ when some music will be played.

The service will start in the church at 1.30pm.  Due to government guidelines on public gatherings, the funeral is sadly very limited, however it will be streamed on the following link which will be activated on Monday:

William O’Neill Funeral 22^nd February 1:30pm

No flowers.  If people wish to make a donation in Frank’s memory, the chosen charities are The Injured Jockey’s Fund and the British Heart Foundation, both of which Frank supported.  There will be a collection plate in the church and Tony Jones will have a collection jar outside the pub, and we will divide donations between the two charities.  If people would prefer to donate directly, the websites are here.

British Heart Foundation   https://www.bhf.org.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxcPbs5nx7gIVgp7tCh23qwemEAAYASAAEgKZvPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Injured Jockeys Fund.  https://injuredjockeys.co.uk

Local COVID-19 Update
For those who are interested in more precise information on infections, area by area, the link below is useful:

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map

For full details on the rules and regulations visit:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know#high-alert

Litter Picking

Thanks go to Sally and Martin Rowe from Willows Lodge, who took up the offer of a pair of litter picking sticks plus sacks, and volunteered to clear Stoke Lyne Road where they collected some 8 bags of mainly cans and bottles. Spurred on by the sheer amount of rubbish, they decided to tackle Bicester Road where they were joined by Stewart Hopkins. Together they filled a similar number of bags which were then collected by Cherwell Council. Thanks also go to John and Maggie Woodward who on a regular basis pick up litter on Mill Road as far up as the cross roads.

Flooding and Foul Water

We are awaiting a detailed response from Thames Waters to the complaints submitted on 4^th February.

Interest in a Village Allotment

Investigations are on-going as per previous emails.

A total of some 14 have indicated interest in an allotment.

However the immediate issue remains finding a suitable parcel of land. If you are a land owner and have any suggestions, please get in touch.

Tree Planting

Investigations are on-going as per last weeks email. Over a dozen people have volunteered to help plant trees as and when required.

East West Rail Local Update

The Bicester Road that leads to Marsh Gibbon from the crossroads at Billy Evans farm remains closed and the latest information is that it will not open until 12 March as the removal of the bridge and other works have been rolled together.

The safety report on the new junction at Stratton Audley Park Road and the A4421 is still under review with the County Council, so EWR are therefore unable to comment at this stage.

Shelswell Parishes Church Service

There will be the usual 10am service on Sunday morning which will be available on-line. Find it on Facebook Shelswell News Group or YouTube Shelswell Parishes channel. It will actually have been recorded (rather than livestream) to try and get round some of the technical issues they have been having with the signal needed for livestream.

The 10 Year National Census – Sunday 21 March, Advance Notice

The census is a survey that happens every 10 years and gives us a picture of all the people and households in England and Wales. The census is unique. There’s simply nothing else that gives so much detail about us and the society we live in.

For information about why and how the census will take place during the coronavirus pandemic visit www.census.gov.uk

All kinds of organisations, from local authorities to charities, use the information to help provide the services we all need, including transport, education and healthcare. Without the census, it would be much more difficult to do this.

The first census was in 1801 and the most recent in 2011. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) runs the census in England & Wales and the next one will happen on Sunday 21 March 2021.

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

Snowmen in the village!

Villagers, exercising and social distancing, in Mill Road last weekend (adapted photo courtesy of Carolyn Goss)

Local COVID-19 Update
Rates of new infections continue to fall in Oxfordshire as a whole, although they are still above the national average.

For those who are interested in more precise information on infections, area by area, the link below is useful:

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map

For full details on the rules and regulations visit:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know#high-alert

Interest in a Village Allotment

So far about a dozen people have expressed interest in having an allotment in the village. If you are interested and have not responded please do so soon.

The Parish Council has made enquiries of the OCC to establish whether there is any public land bordering the village that could be utilised although none is immediately apparent. Discussions will be held with land owners/farmers to see if any suitable land could be gifted or leased.

Police Consultation on Removal of Front Desks including Bicester

Earlier this month Thames Valley Police launched a public consultation to hear what people think about plans to adapt to the different ways in which people contact the police, to meet the changing needs of the diverse communities served and to make necessary savings.
According to TVP, “the consultation seeks views on a proposed reduction in the number of front counters in the region from 16 to 11, which would save approximately £1.4m. Since March 2020, due to Covid-19, TVP has actually operated with just five of its 16 front counter sites open. The proposal does not affect police officer numbers nor the number of operational police bases, so the public will not experience any difference in officer visibility in our communities”.
If you want to have your say just click on the link here https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/police-forces/thames-valley-police/areas/au/proposed-front-counter-provision/

And when in the site, at the bottom of the page there is a link to a brief survey which will take just a couple of minutes. The consultation ends this Sunday 31st January.

Flooding and Foul Water

An on-site meeting was held with an executive from Cherwell District Council this week to consider ways to alleviate flooding in Mill Road from a combination of surface water and the stream running under the road. Ideas were discussed and a report is to be prepared.

Foul water flooding continues to affect a number of properties in Mill Road and Launton Road where manhole covers are lifting and sewage seeping out.

Thames Water have had pumping vehicles on site and accept that the situation is unacceptable. Their engineers maintain that the pumping station and the pipes leading to and from it are adequate for the size for the village and that water ingress through damages pipes is a key source of the problem. Camera survey work has been undertaken over the last year with some successes but it seems unlikely to be the root cause of the persistent problems.

The Parish Council has therefore asked for the matter to be taken to a higher level and suggested that an independent engineering consultant should be brought in to provide a fresh view.

East West Rail Local Update

The Bicester Road that leads to Marsh Gibbon from the crossroads at Billy Evans farm remains closed. A further works order has been published showing that the road will be closed again from 11 February until 12 March in order to demolish the existing railway bridge.

EWR have also issued a new closure notice for the Bicester Road at Launton (the main road from Launton to Bicester) which will now be closed for some two months from 08/02/2021 to 01/04/2021 for bridge replacement works.

Looking further ahead, Station Road from the crossroads at Billy Evans leading to Launton, will be closed for nearly a year from 03 March 2021 to 22 April 2022.

Tree Planting

A few more residents have confirmed their support for tree planting next to roads leading to and from the village. More information as to how to go about this is being gathered and the idea is being investigated further.

Shelswell Parishes Church Service

There will be the usual 10am service on Sunday morning which will be available on-line. Find it on Facebook Shelswell News Group or YouTube Shelswell Parishes channel. It will actually have been recorded (rather than livestream) to try and get round some of the technical issues they have been having with the signal needed for livestream.

Grit Bins for Village Use

Just another reminder with temperatures falling to below zero, that there are three yellow grit bins located in the village as shown below. These are not locked and are there to be used by residents as required. Someone in Cherry Street has recently put some grit on the pavements and the road which is to be applauded.

 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

Local COVID-19 Update
Rates of new infection are now falling although the County is still above the national average. Public Health England also revealed there were 254 new coronavirus cases in Oxfordshire in the 24 hours leading up to 9am yesterday 21^st January. These are the latest cases:

• Oxford – 73
• South Oxfordshire – 42
• West Oxfordshire – 10
• Cherwell – 93
• Vale of White Horse – 36
• Oxfordshire Total – 254
• South East – 4,987
• England – 34,371

For those who are interested in more precise information on infections, area by area, the link below is useful:

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map

For full details on the rules and regulations visit:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know#high-alert

Volunteering to Help at Bicester Motion Vaccine Centre

Don’t forget that the three GP health centres that are running the vaccine operation at Bicester Motion would be pleased to hear from anyone, as they need a large pool of volunteers to call upon for support in the months ahead.

There are a range of duties from car park marshalling, check-in, data entry and patient marshalling inside the building. Volunteers should email the Operations Support Manager, NHS Volunteers, at Montgomery House Surgery at bicester.nhsvolunteers@nhs.net

Allotments

Local resident Charlie Trousdell has asked the Parish Council to investigate the feasibility of creating a community allotment. This is a subject that has come up on a number of occasions over the last decade, but on previous occasions  there has been insufficient interest to take the matter forward. However times change and the Parish Council are keen to establish whether there is now an appetite for the growing of your own food to be palatable! (pun)

So before looking into where this might be located and how it could be funded through a land purchase or lease agreement, we are asking everyone to express their views and tell us whether you personally would like to participate in its development. Simply reply to this email or drop a note to the Parish Clerk strattonaudleyparishclerk@gmail.com

Matters Arising in the Virtual Parish Council Meeting on 6^th January

For those who do not read the Minutes on the Parish Notice Board or website (www.strattonaudley.org), here are a few matters covered at our recent meeting. These meetings are open to all even in these video conferencing days. You just have to send a request to the clerk at the email address above.

Playground inspection report

The Parish Council noted that a recent safety inspection of the playground had indicated some minor work needing attention. It agreed that the required work should be carried out and in particular the three buddleias in the playground should be cut back.

Village bus service

The Parish Council has been made aware of proposals to end the current service through the village. In discussions with OCC, the best option would appear to be to provide a service with its COMET operation which will be available again once the current lockdown is lifted. The Parish Council will investigate financial support options and in the meantime the Comet “Dial a Ride” service for individual journeys is available and has been advertised to the village.

Great Wolf Application Chesterton

The Parish Council agreed to support Chesterton in its opposition to this development, on the basis that it was not in accordance with CDC’s Development Plan. In the words of our District and County Councillor, Ian Corkin “As well as the very considerable impacts a wholly car dependant 500 room resort/hotel (with 900 car parking spaces!) on the villages in the immediate vicinity,  there is a very important principle at stake about large scale development in countryside that lies outside the 2031 local plan.  It would leave all of our communities open to very large speculative developments, something the local plan is meant to protect rural areas from”.

Village Activities 2021

The Parish Council agreed to consider options for a village community event in the late summer/early autumn 2021, assuming Government guidance allows it. In the meantime to support an Easter trail on similar lines to the much appreciated Halloween and Christmas Elves trails.

Tree planting

A resident has asked the Parish Council to consider planting trees in the Parish in accordance with the Prince of Wales’ current initiative. Noting that this was on the Agenda, another resident attended to discuss how such an initiative could be developed. The Parish Council owns little land itself so this would need to be supported by local land owners. The council agreed that options should be explored further. Other interested parties should make themselves known.

Shelswell Parishes Church Service

There will be the usual 10am service on Sunday morning which will be available on-line. Find it on Facebook Shelswell News Group or YouTube Shelswell Parishes channel. It will actually have been recorded (rather than livestream) to try and get round some of the technical issues they have been having with the signal needed for livestream.

Grit Bins for village use

Just another reminder with temperatures falling to below zero, it is perhaps worth pointing out, particularly for newer residents, that there are three yellow grit bins located in the village as shown below. These are not locked and are there to be used by residents as required.

OCC does send a gritter lorry in severe weather conditions but it prioritises main roads, so our roads can remain slippery for longer. Please feel free to take your shovel and spread grit on the pavement or road outside your premises. Every little bit helps and everyone will benefit.

East West Rail Local Update

The Bicester Road that leads to Marsh Gibbon from the crossroads at Billy Evans farm remains closed and is now due to open on 17/02/2021. However this is subject to change as there are works that may need to be conducted that may result in this closure being extended.

EWR have issued a new closure notice for the Bicester Road at Launton (the main road from Launton to Bicester) which will now be closed for some two months from 08/02/2021 to 01/04/2021 for bridge replacement works. This may result in more traffic through our village but spare a thought for those in Launton who are much more directly affected.

Local Milk

Just a repeat from last week, that Will & Abi Lambourne who run Townsend Farm in Marsh Gibbon, are selling fresh organic milk direct from their farm.

Their location is Townsend Farm, Townsend, Marsh Gibbon OX27 0EY. For more details see their Facebook Page ‘The Milk Churn’ or call them on 07369 236928.

Another company that delivers milk to your door that you might want to check out, is Milk & More: www.milkandmore.co.uk They offer a convenient service and already have several customers in the village.

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

All the best

Local COVID-19 Update
Rates of infection in the immediate area and across the County as a whole are down from last week but are still well above the average for England.

For those who are interested in more precise information on infections, area by area, the link below is useful:

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map

For full details on the rules and regulations visit:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know#high-alert

Volunteering to Help at Bicester Motion Vaccine Centre

As you know the vaccine centre at Bicester Motion (Bicester Heritage) is in full swing and they have been inundated with volunteers to help. Maybe some people from Stratton Audley have already signed-up to help but if not, the centre would be pleased to hear from you as they need a large core group of volunteers to call upon for the weeks ahead.

There are a range of duties from Car Park Marshal, check in, data entry and patient marshalling inside the building. Volunteers will just need to complete the attached form, or alternatively email the Operations Support Manager, NHS Volunteers, at Montgomery House Surgery at bicester.nhsvolunteers@nhs.net

Thames Valley Alert-Action Fraud

As of 7 January 2021, Action Fraud had received 57 reports from members of the public who have been sent text messages claiming to be from the NHS, offering them the opportunity to sign up for coronavirus vaccinations. The texts ask the recipient to click on a link which takes them to an online form where they are prompted to input personal and financial details.

Action Fraud say that if you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you are suspicious about an email you have received, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to the number 7726, which is free of charge.
If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report this to Action Fraud as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.

East West Rail Local Update

An update from EWR was due today regarding road closures towards Marsh Gibbon and the safety audit of the Stratton Audley Park Road junction with the A4421 but these have been delayed and will be included in next week’s newsletter.

Shelswell Parishes Church Service

There will be the usual 10am service on Sunday morning which will be available on line. Find it on Facebook Shelswell News Group or YouTube Shelswell Parishes channel. It will actually have been recorded (rather than livestream) to try and get round some of the technical issues they have been having with the signal needed for livestream.

Local Milk

Just a repeat from last week, that Will & Abi Lambourne who run Townsend Farm in Marsh Gibbon, are selling fresh organic milk direct from their farm. Situated just inside the farm gates in the village, there are two self-service vending machines, one dispensing one litre of organic milk and another allowing people to buy a one litre reusable glass bottle.

They are open 7 days a week; from 7am to 7pm. Both cash and contactless card payment is available. Their location is Townsend Farm, Townsend, Marsh Gibbon OX27 0EY. For more details see their Facebook Page ‘The Milk Churn’ or call them on 07369 236928.

Another company that delivers milk to your door that you might want to check out, is Milk & More: www.milkandmore.co.uk  They offer a convenient service and already have several customers in the village.

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

Thanks for the Christmas lights

In my enthusiasm to thank those involved for helping with the Christmas tree and lights, I omitted to thank Simon Goss for his considerable help in putting it up and safely securing it to withstand the wind and rain.

Happy New Year and thank you for the numerous messages of support received with regard to this newsletter.  Over the months I have been surprised by the number of people who say they appreciate the details provided and enjoy reading the updates. The Newsletter aims to provide information that has come from others and apologies if occasionally there has been too much detail.

With the commencement of a new year it is perhaps useful to reflect on the purpose of the newsletter. It started with the arrival of Coronavirus, outlining our emergency plans and actions to be taken and was a substitute for the Parish Council’s usual method of door-drop leaflet communication. It is intended to be helpful and supportive to the community, to provide information on relevant local services and outline issues that affect us locally. Each service, whether commercial or otherwise, is assessed by the Parish Council prior to its inclusion bearing in mind the degree to which it is of benefit to residents particularly in these exceptional times.

With regard to Coronavirus, many people watch the news and take on board all the relevant points but others don’t, and continue to say that they rely on the newsletter for their Covid updates and guidance. Going forward less needs to be said.

The newsletter remains our best way of keeping in touch but not everyone is on the mailing list. So if you come across someone who would like their name added please let me know. Equally, anyone who does not wish to receive the newsletter anymore should email me to be deleted.

Local COVID-19 Update
Rates continue to rise in the area and are still well above the average for England. In Cherwell for the seven days to 2^nd January, the total number of recorded cases was 1369, up from 666 (93%) from the previous week.

For those who are interested in more precise information on infections, area by area, the link below is useful:

https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map

For full details on the rules and regulations visit:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know#high-alert

On a positive note, the new vaccine centre at Bicester Motion is fully functional and a number of residents from Stratton have already received their first jab.

Covid-19 Volunteer List

Although everyone is supporting and keeping an eye out for each other, attached once again is the list of volunteers prepared early last year detailing those throughout the parish who are prepared to help.

Our Playground

In the last newsletter reference was made to information supplied by the Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils regarding outside recreation centres stating: ‘Parks, public open spaces etc. stay open for exercise (not recreation) this includes playgrounds but outdoor sports such as tennis, golf and swimming pools etc. are to close, as should outdoor gyms’. One or two people asked for clarification on what ‘not recreation’ meant and whether our playground would remain open.

The answer is that our playground is and will remain open whilst it is safe to do so. Having double checked with OALC, it means what it indicates. That playgrounds should be used for the exercise of children (which is acceptable) and not to have a social gathering with others adults or children, and that the rule of no more than two people exercising together applies unless they are part of your bubble.

The Parish Council has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that our playground complies with national guidelines with signage reminding users to maintain social distancing and also providing hand sanitizer for all to use. As an unsupervised area it is for all users to consider the risks associated with using the facilities in the playground.

Live Streaming Only of Church Services

Under the new lockdown, the advice from the Diocese at this time is that whilst churches continue to be open, live streaming of services is to be encouraged. Alice has therefore confirmed that the service for this Sunday will be live streamed only. It will go out live at 10 am on Sunday on Facebook – Shelswell News group page – and you can join it then or at any time after. It will then be uploaded to YouTube – Shelswell Parishes, and it should be available by 12 noon at the latest.

Also, please note that the short reflective service on Monday has been moved back to 12 noon – Thursday.  This also goes out on Facebook – Shelswell News group.

Baubles

On behalf of the Church, Alex Smith would like to thank all those that hung baubles and decorations in the church porch. There were some lovely designs and messages. These have been taken down before twelfth night, but will be left in the porch until Monday 11th to allow for keepsakes to be taken as desired. If children/parents do not want them back, they will be safely stored for likely use next year.

Advent Window Competition Answers

There was no-one who managed to get all the answers correct, but well done to the Goss Family who got the most right!

Stratton Audley Barn

Richard and Sarah have decided that with the present situation in the country, they feel it is not the right time to open the takeaway café and so it will remain closed until further notice.

Village Bus Service

As previously advised there is no longer to be a once-a-day bus service through Stratton Audley into Bicester. Under discussion for when lockdown is lifted is the introduction of a once-a-week Mini Bus scheduled service operated by Comet.

In the meantime Comet operate a dial-a-ride service for those that require transport for medical or essential shopping. There is a cost of 75p per mile which works out at under £5 for a round trip into Bicester, which is cheaper than a taxi both ways. The service operates Monday to Friday between the hours of 10am and 2pm.  Should anyone require further information or wish to make a booking please contact the Comet team on 01865 323201.

Local Milk

Will Lambourne and his wife Abi who run Townsend Farm in Marsh Gibbon (4^th generation), have recently started a business selling fresh organic milk direct from their farm. Called The Milk Churn and situated just inside the farm gates in the village, there are two self-service vending machines, one dispensing one litre of organic milk and another allowing people to buy a one litre reusable glass bottle. They also have 12 flavoured milkshake syrups available some include chocolate, strawberry and butterscotch.

They are open 7 days a week; from 7am to 7pm. Both cash and contactless card payment is available. Their location is Townsend Farm, Townsend, Marsh Gibbon OX27 0EY. For more details see their Facebook Page ‘The Milk Churn’ or call them on 07369 236928.

Another company that delivers milk to your door that you might want to check out, is Milk & More : www.milkandmore.co.uk They offer a convenient service and already have several customers in the village.

Giving a Helping Hand to Spread Grit in the village

Three yellow grit bins are located in the village, as shown below. These are not locked and are there to be used by residents as required. OCC does send a gritter lorry in severe weather conditions but it prioritises main routes so our roads can remain treacherous for longer. The Parish Council are keen to encourage everyone who is able to take a shovel and spread grit on the pavements or roads nearby or wherever you see slippery conditions. Every little bit helps and everyone will benefit.

EWR Local Disruption

Just another reminder that the road that leads to Marsh Gibbon beyond the crossroads remains closed until 15^th January. And Station Road from the same point is also subject to some disruption, so best to avoid if you can.

The County Council are carrying out a road safety audit with EWR at the junction of the SA Park Road with the A4421, this Monday 9^th January, to address safety concerns raised by residents, and outcomes will be published.

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 reehouse0@sky.com

Thanks for the Christmas lights

Thanks to the Hill family at Pound House for providing power to light up the tree in The Pound and to the Papenfus family at The Green for electricity to light the village Christmas tree. Also thanks to Jeremy Adams for putting the tree up with help from Richard Howson and then adding the lights.

 There will be no newsletter next weekend so on behalf of the Parish Council, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy Christmas albeit one with a difference.

COVID cases in Oxfordshire
Last week saw a total of 568 confirmed cases in Oxfordshire, which is equivalent to a weekly rate of 82 per 100,000 residents. Whilst the weekly rate in the County remains lower than the South-East average, there has been a substantial increase in cases among the over 60s.

The good news is that Oxfordshire remains in tier 2 when others near us like Buckinghamshire have been placed into tier 3. But the bad news is that rates are continuing to rise in our county over the last few days, and were this trend to continue over the Christmas period, then come January we may find ourselves in tier 3 or perhaps more likely part of another national lockdown.

For full details on the rules and regulations visit:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know#high-alert

Covid-19 Vaccination Centre to be sited at Bicester Heritage

An agreement has been reached for the Bicester Covid-19 Vaccination Centre to operate from premises at Bicester Heritage. Patients from all three of Bicester’s GP practices (Alchester Medical Group, Bicester Health Centre and Montgomery House Surgery) will be invited to receive their vaccinations at this location and these will be carried out by nurses and clinicians from the Bicester practices.

The NHS has set up a system to invite people who are at greatest risk from Covid-19 to attend for a vaccination first. Patients in our area are asked to wait until they are contacted and they will then be required to attend the Vaccination Centre twice.

The Vaccination Centre is located in a specially adapted building within Bicester Heritage which has the capacity for many people to be vaccinated at the same time and is well suited to meeting the various demands of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

Immunisation at this location will begin in the early part of January.

Christmas Services in the Church

This coming Sunday there will be two services that you can attend in person; a service of Holy Communion (CW) at 10 am in Stoke Lyne Church  and the new ‘Muddy Church’ at 3pm in the Churchyard at Stoke Lyne. To enable social distancing, space is limited so you need to book your place at whichever service you would like to attend. For full guidelines, together with details of Christmas church services in our area, go to the website: www.shelswellparishes.info . Alternatively, you can join the online service which will be livestreamed at 10am on Monday 21st on Facebook (Shelswell News). You can also join the Benefice Carol Service which was recorded by the choir in Stratton Audley Church last week and will be broadcast on both Facebook (Shelswell News Group) and YouTube (Shelswell Parishes Channel) at 6pm this Sunday.

Elf Trail this Sunday 20 December 2-3.30pm

Please join in with your children on the village Elf trail which is being expertly laid out by Sandra Edwards. Look out for the Elves which in the main will be attached to gates and trees. Children can tick off what they see as they go round and goody bags will be packaged and waiting for them in the Pound.

The Elf images will be left up for a few days so any children who are away can do the trail when they come back.

Children may wish to dress up in their Christmas jumpers and hats or anything else they think suitable for a walk around the village. This is just a bit of festive fun for young and old to kick off the holiday season in these challenging times.

‘Ringing a bell’ on Christmas Eve at 6pm

The idea is for everyone to go out on their doorsteps and ring a bell, use something else to make a noise or just greet your neighbours from a distance, all to spread the Christmas spirit and help Santa on his way.

Jeremy Adams will also ring a single bell in the church to begin the process, so please join in if you can. Thursday 24^th December at 6pm.

Church Clock Tower Repair

As many people have already noticed, the church clock has now been repaired and is once again operating with both hands. Great news and a great job which included some renovation touch-ups to the clock face. Once again thanks must go to our County Councillor Ian Corkin for his financial support through his Priority Fund.

The Red Lion

For details on when the pub is open and what is happening look on Facebook, visit www.redlionstrattonaudley.co.uk or call Verity on 07713 891619.

Please remember that socialising with people outside your family or your bubble is not permitted inside the pub and in order to be served alcohol you need to order a ‘substantial’ meal and stick within your group.

Momo Man not here next week

George will not be outside the pub on Tuesday, but will be returning with his Nepalese food mid-January.

Stratton Audley Barn Xmas Trees

This is the last weekend that the Christmas Barn is open prior to Christmas. For details go to https://www.strattonaudleybarn.co.uk or visit their Facebook page.

Advent Window Trail 2020

10 windows have already been revealed. Have you seen them yet and worked out which Carol theme they each represent?

For those not getting out and about so much on these colder evenings, a photo of each window is being posted on the village Facebook page for all to view.

Free Baubles and Trees for Children to Decorate and Place in the Church Porch

Have you painted one of the free cardboard baubles/trees which are available in the church porch yet? There are still quite a few just waiting to be collected.

All completed baubles and trees should be returned to the porch where they can be hung on the string.

EWR Local Disruption

Just another reminder that the road that leads to Marsh Gibbon remains closed until 15^th January. On a separate matter, the Parish Council together with other members of the community in both Stratton and Godington, have voiced serious safety concerns over the new junction layout on the A4421 with Stratton Audley Park Road. In response EWR have now confirmed that they will bring forward the Safety Audit to Monday 11^th January, which is the earliest possible date that could be arranged. In the meantime they are reviewing the signage and hope to have some extra signage up in the next few days.

Village Bus Service

Thanks to those who have let me know their usage of the bus through the village. A decision on whether the service will be withdrawn is now likely in January.

Police

This week we all received a mailing with lots of information from Sergeant Gavin Staniland. In particular there was a ‘Have your say sheet’ which invites everyone to identify their chief concern, be it speeding, noise, large trucks or not enough police on the beat. Do fill it out and return in the pre-stamped envelope.

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 reehouse0@sky.com

All the best and Happy Christmas.