Month: July 2020

News update no 18 for Stratton Audley

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Time to ‘Face Up’.

As of this coming Friday 24th July, face masks will be compulsory in shops and supermarkets, joining public transport where wearing them has been compulsory since June 15th. The new rules will be enforced by the police, not shop workers who should instead “encourage compliance”, officials said. Children under 11 years old and those with “certain disabilities” will be exempt.

A Government spokesman says: “There is growing evidence that wearing a face covering in an enclosed space helps protect individuals and those around them from coronavirus. But they are not a replacement for washing your hands regularly and maintaining social distances”.

More detail including the exemptions is included at the end of this email.

Around the Village

  • Recently there has been a further incident down at the pond, on this occasion with a couple of young guys camping overnight on the footpath and fishing, which caused concern for some residents and inconvenience for others. As a result, signage is being put in place pointing out that it is private land and people should stick to the public footpath

 

  • With regard to fishing which is not generally permitted, Mrs Gosling remains happy for residents to apply for written permission. Her telephone number is 277 251
  • A number of people commented that the path between the Old Rectory and the back of The Hall was overgrown with vegetation, so the Parish Council arranged for it to be cut back and this has now been done
  • It has been decided to install an additional dog waste bin on the Bicester Road near the entrance to the village as this is the only road that does not have one. For your interest the Parish Council pays Cherwell District Council to empty each bin once a week
  • The white wooden village entry gates and signs have been cleaned. Thanks go to John Woodward for undertaking the work on Mill Road, to Mike Hedgecox for Launton Road, to Mike Gore for Bicester Road and to Anthony Flack for Stoke Lyne Road
  • An idea has been put forward by resident John Edwards to purchase and install boot scrapers in the village and pay for them out of the Village Improvement Fund. This idea was liked and approved by the committee so two will be purchased, one to be positioned on the pond path and the other in the Pound pocket park
  • The roads in the village have been recently sprayed to kill off unsightly weeds. Again, for your interest, The Parish Council pays a contractor to carry out this work three times a year.

 

Glass Bottle Bank Site

A resident recently contacted Cherwell District Council asking if a bottle bank could be installed in the village for the convenience of villagers. Cherwell Council is willing to provide this service free of charge because they do not offer a kerbside glass recycling service like some councils do. This is something that has previously been considered a few years ago and rejected by the Parish Council despite it being in principle a good idea.  The District Council propose installing the unit next to the bins at the bottom of Cherry Street. There would be three standard size wheelie bins held securely in a locked metal frame and they would be emptied regularly. Initially they would be monitored on a weekly basis to establish their usage and there could be a trial period of three months.

The Parish Council recognises that the subject can be fairly polarising and will not be making an immediate decision on the matter. A number of factors including noise and the risk of boxes and carrier bags being dumped next to the bins need to be taken into consideration. That said, it would be convenient for some people who are less mobile.

The matter will be addressed at the next PC meeting but if in the mean time you have a view on the matter then by all means get in touch with the Parish Council via email or one of the Parish Councillors.

The Red Lion

For those of you who haven’t yet visited the refurbished pub, the enlarged beer garden is a great space to relax and enjoy a drink.

The new opening hours are:

Monday: closed

Tuesday – Friday: 3-11pm

Saturday: 12-11pm

Sunday: 12-9pm

The kitchen is closed but finger food will be available from the shack in the garden that can be eaten in or taken away! On Fridays at the moment there is a special “Fizz and chips” on the menu from 5pm -8pm (fish and chips with a glass of Prosecco for £10). The shack will be open at varying times so keep an eye out on our Facebook page or on the notice board outside the pub for all information!

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. And now they have added 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.

East West Rail Road Closure in Launton

Just a reminder of the closure of the Bicester Road in Launton – the stretch of road that goes towards the bridge at Charbridge Lane. I am told this has happened as of today and will last for three days. Traffic is not officially being directed through the village though there has been some seesawing on this matter between Oxon and Bucks county councils.

Nepalese Curry Night OFF THE MENU for now

Please note that the Nepalese curry wagon will not be outside the pub on Mondays for the time being. George says he hopes to return in the near future.

Wearing Face Masks in Shops and Supermarkets – The Detail

Those who do not adhere to the rules face a fine of up to £100. It will be reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.  Compulsory mask wearing will be enforced by police, according to the Government, rather than shop owners and staff themselves, who can call the police or refuse the person entry.

Who is exempt from wearing a face mask?

According to the official Government guidance, the below groups are not required to wear a mask:

  • A child under the age of 11
  • An employee of the transport operator, when they are acting in the course of their employment
  • A constable or police community support officer acting in the course of their duty
  • An emergency response member of staff, such as a paramedic or fire officer acting in the course of their duty
  • Other legitimate exemptions listed include those with a disability or a physical or mental illness, and anyone travelling with a deaf person who relies on lip reading to communicate.
  • Wearers are also permitted to remove them if it is necessary to avoid harm or injury, as well as to eat or drink if required, to take medication, or if a police officer or other official requests you to do so.
  • Customers in shops will also be allowed to remove them if they are required to present identification for purchasing alcohol and other age-restricted products.

Are there any exceptions to the rule?

Yes there are some exceptions, which the government have outlined as ‘reasonable’ reasons for not wearing a mask. These include if you’re travelling with someone who requires lip reading, if you suffer from severe distress when you put it on, suffer from a disability where you’re unable to put it on, or you need to eat, drink or take medication.

Those who suffer from autism also don’t have to wear a mask, with the same applying to those who have an impairment which could be affected by putting on a covering.

Are masks required on trains and buses?

The current guidance has required masks to be worn on public transport in England since June 15. Travel operators can refuse to let passengers on board if they are not covering their face, and those who refuse to follow the new protocol could face a fine. Exceptions apply for very young children, disabled people, and those who have breathing difficulties.

Using a face mask

“Wash your hands or use hand sanitiser before putting it on and after taking it off and after use. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth at all times and store used face coverings in a plastic bag until you have an opportunity to wash them.”

“You should wash a face covering regularly. It can go in with other laundry, using your normal detergent.”

Although necessary to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, face coverings can be pretty uncomfortable. So what can you do to make them easier to wear? The link here might be helpful:

https://patient.info/news-and-features/how-to-make-face-masks-and-coverings-more-comfortable?iitt=Efs_O._74IQNbdbJtIVZhuoA4FYDOGl8b.hutIbXxDLuxIb7xI1XbzTT&utm_source=exponea&utm_campaign=PA%20Newsletter%2013th%20edition&utm_medium=email

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If you have anything you feel that the community should be aware of and would make a difference, or have something else you want to raise with the Parish Council, we are always open to ideas and in listening mode.

All the best and continue to stay alert and stay safe.

News update no 17 for Stratton Audley

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I had not planned to put out another email so soon, however a number of matters need publicising, so here goes.

East West Rail Further Information

First a reminder about the closure of the Stratton Park Road at the Poundon end on this coming Monday for probably three days which will cause disruption and mean we are likely to see an increase in traffic through the village on Mill Road/Launton Road.

Additionally, in my email earlier in the week regarding general EWR construction, I highlighted the closure of the Bicester Road in Launton – the stretch of road that goes towards the bridge at Charbridge Lane and that it would be closed for up to three days from the 20th July to complete the EWR compound entrance. Closure now is 22nd in order to accommodate school half term. Whilst this is still going ahead, as a result of contacting the network team at OCC, they have now informed me that traffic will be diverted via Blackthorn Road onto the A41 instead of routing it through Stratton Audley. This is good news although there is not a lot that can be done by those who choose to ignore the official signs.

Also we have requested more details of the measures they are taking to ensure the safety of people, cyclists and horses using the roads and I received an interim response yesterday and I quote:

“The various contract delivery firms have all been given a tutorial on the routes to sites that must be adhered to and on the use of voyager control. The VC is so that we have the ability to track the various vehicles to ensure that they are compliant. We have stressed the importance of being mindful of horses, treading carefully and stopping their vehicles in advance, in the presence of a horse and allowing the horses to pass safely. I am trying to gain more information on the matter which hopefully will be included in the newsletter that we are planning to distribute next week” Thaina Said, Community Liaison Officer.

The Red Lion

The Red Lion opened last weekend and despite the overcast weather, congregating in the enlarged garden area seemed to work pretty well. There is an entirely new wine list which is quite extensive and very drinkable!

The new opening hours are:

Monday: closed

Tuesday – Friday: 3-11pm

Saturday: 12-11pm

Sunday: 12-9pm

The kitchen is closed but a new service, “the food shack” @ the red lion is all set up.  The shack will be serving simple but delicious finger food that can be eaten in or taken away! TONIGHT (Friday) there is a special “Fizz and chips” on the menu from 5pm -8pm (fish and chips with a glass of Prosecco for £10).

The shack will be open at varying times so keep an eye out on our Facebook page or on the notice board outside the pub for all information!

Stratton Audley Church

The Shelswell Benefice are delighted to announce that there will be a service of Holy Communion this Sunday, 12th July, at 10 am in Stratton Audley Church! To enable social distancing, space is limited so you need to book your place – see details in Guidelines below.

The church recognise that not everyone will feel safe coming to a service at this time so the alternative is to join in at the same time via the live stream available on Facebook (under Shelswell News) which will also be uploaded to YouTube later in the day (look for Shelswell Parishes).

Finally a reminder that the church is now open each day for private prayer and for anyone who wishes to sit peacefully by themselves.

Sratton Audley Barn

Now open at weekends from Friday through to Sunday, they are serving coffee, cake and ice cream from 10am to 4pm either to takeaway or eat on the premises. And now they have added 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.

The gift shop is back in action together with the online shop. There is also an enclosed seating area in the paddock with tables, parasols and a few Bell tents to enjoy your refreshments in comfort.

Reopening the Playground

As you know the Playground was opened last weekend and has seen a steady stream of visitors from both the village and the surrounding area.

All going well so far, but managing any potential risk is the responsibility of each and every one of us, therefore all are requested to follow the guidelines provided and to cooperate with each other to ensure maximum safety from the spread of infection whilst accessing the playground.

A sanitising spray together with wipes has been placed near the entrance for general use but we encourage everyone to bring their own where possible.

 

Some sobering facts regard Coronavirus in our own area

A more accurate picture of coronavirus cases in the county has now been revealed.

Oxfordshire positive tests as of Monday this week stand at 3,087, up more than 900 on the same time last week. This is not down to a sudden rise in new infections but a change in what data is released.

The rate of infection in Oxfordshire now stands at 449 cases per 100,000 people, surprisingly slightly higher than the England average of 439.

A new tracker has revealed how likely it is that Oxford City will be put on a local lockdown. The city has been ranked 16th in the top 25 places in England when it comes to the number of new cases per 100,000 people in the population which is higher than London. And it is one of the only cities in the south of England to be featured, alongside Peterborough.

Centre for Cities, the think tank which compiled the list, say it could indicate where the next local lockdown could be. Using data from Public Health England, the list said that Oxford – which has a population of 154,327, had 12 new confirmed cases per 100,000 people in the past week.

Deaths in Oxford remained higher than normal levels in May following a spike the previous month, official figures show. Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show 79 deaths were recorded in Oxford during May. That was seven more than the number recorded in the previous year during May. However, it was lower than the average increase of 19 per cent seen across Oxfordshire’s five local authorities.

Oxford also saw a jump in fatalities in the previous month, with 86 more deaths recorded compared to April 2019. It means that in the year to the end of May 2020 there were 106 (27 per cent) more deaths than at the same point last year.

Also of interest is a new Oxford study published this week on face masks, which says everyone should be wearing them even if homemade.

Professor Melinda Mills, director of the Leverhulme Centre and author of the study said: “The evidence is clear that people should wear masks to reduce virus transmission and protect themselves, with most countries recommending the public to wear them. The study shows that, just days after the World Health Organisation announced the pandemic in mid-March, many countries (some 70) immediately recommended mask wearing and this number has now grown to more than 120 countries with most requiring mask wearing everywhere in public.

The study also shows that some coverings are not as effective as others.

Loosely woven fabrics, such as scarves have been shown to be the least effective.

Professor Mills said: “Attention must also be placed on how well it fits on the face; it should loop around the ears or around the back of the neck for better coverage.

“The general public does not need to wear surgical masks or respirators. “We find that masks made from high quality material such as high-grade cotton, multiple layers and particularly hybrid constructions are effective. “For instance, combining cotton and silk or flannel provide over 95 per cent filtration, so wearing a mask can protect others.”

The report also finds that wearing a cotton mask protects the mask wearer as well.

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If you have anything you feel that the community should be aware of and would make a difference, or have something else you want to raise with the Parish Council, we are always open to ideas and in listening mode.

All the best and continue to stay  alert and stay safe.

John

Chairman, Stratton Audley Parish Council

Independent Report published on the Pound refurbishment project

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Part of the requirement of the grant was to commission an End of Grant Report.

Set out in the attached file is our End of Grant Report that tells the story of how our project (the refurbishment of The Pound) was conceived, delivered and now benefits the population of Stratton Audley and the surrounding area.

Since this was produced the Park has enjoyed many weeks of Spring flowers followed by months of a superb wild flower area which has come in for high praise and has been the subject of much photography, some of which  can bee seen on this website.

SA POUND end of project report (Final)

Coronavirus News Update no 16.

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And so the big weekend is upon us and whilst it has got to be good news, a word of caution.

Although we may be fed up with lock-down and it is important to get the economy on the move, the virus is still as infectious and deadly as when it first appeared in China over six months ago. The risk for outdoor gatherings is far less and  providing we observe social distancing advice, places like the Red Lion, Stratton Audley Barn, the Church and the Playground will be welcoming visitors and are to be congratulated for being amongst the first to re-open their doors.

The advice seems to be to take it slowly, try and stay outside and don’t get caught in an indoor setting with large numbers of people. The next three months are critical as the chance of further spikes is highly likely and we must all do our bit to guard against this.

Newsletter

This weekly email will now come out less frequently, probably fortnightly or as and when necessary. Don’t forget that news is also posted on the notice board in the village, on the parish website www.strattonaudley.org and on the village pages on Facebook.

Apologies in advance that this email is quite long but there is some really good stuff in it, so it’s worth sitting down with a cuppa when you have time.

Reopening The Red Lion

As expected the Pub has confirmed that they will be opening their doors tomorrow and asked for this message to be passed on:

“The pub has finished the renovation and will be open from 1pm on Saturday. A lot of hard work has been put in by locals to restore it for everyone to enjoy, which we greatly appreciate. Frank will now be stepping aside and hopefully will be seen frequently on the other side of the bar. We thank him for his years of service here during both the ups and downs with many stories to tell over the 15 years with him at the helm. We hope the Red Lion will become the hub of the village and so we would like to invite all the villagers to come between 12.30 and 2 before the pub opens on Sunday to see the hard work that has been carried out by all the volunteers and join us for a drink. We look forward to welcoming you into the Red Lion. 

Opening hours thereafter: 

Wednesday to Saturday 2pm till 11pm 

Sunday 12pm till 9pm

All COVID precautions have been put in place to ensure the safest possible environment for you to enjoy.”  

Stratton Audley Barn Update

As you know Stratton Audley Barn is now open at weekends from Friday through to Sunday. They are serving takeaway coffee, cake and ice cream from 10am to 4pm and new from Saturday, savoury panini’s from 10-2.30pm only. It is going well and they are offering Villagers and OAPs half price take-away coffee or ice cream on a Friday morning between 10-11am.

From this Saturday the 4th July, the gift shop will be back in action together with the online shop. The good news is there will also be an enclosed seating area in the paddock with tables, parasols and a few Bell tents to enjoy your refreshments in comfort. Please be aware that they are operating in compliance with the government safety guidelines.

Reopening the Playground

Delighted to announce that the playground in Cherry Street will be reopened this Saturday morning, 4th July.

The Parish Council has carried out a risk assessment in compliance with Government guidelines and this is accessible on the parish council website. We have also produced a few non statutory guidance notes for parents, guardians and carers and these are detailed on the website and displayed prominently in the playground.

Managing any potential risk is the responsibility of each and every one of us, therefore all responsible adults are requested to follow these guidelines and to cooperate with each other to ensure maximum safety from the spread of infection whilst accessing the playground. If you become aware of these rules being ignored, please report it ASAP to the Parish Council.

The Parish Council is under no obligation to keep the playground open and will close it, temporarily, should it become clear that the level of acceptable risk of the spread of Coronavirus is too great.

A sanitising spray dispenser has been placed near the entrance, but we cannot guarantee this will always be full. Therefore adults are asked to bring their own hand sanitiser gel or wipes to clean their children’s hands particularly at the beginning and end of play and where possible to clean touch points on equipment before and after use.

It has had a spring clean and is looking better than ever before. Mike has done a great job caring for the grass and ground cover whilst closed and used the time to safely remove all the ivy from the wooden fences. Then the Dewhurst family volunteered to repaint the wooden fence mural which Rachel originally created over twenty years ago. In the process they took the opportunity to paint the blank far end fence as well with fun images, including a rainbow to reflect the sign of the times. They have done a brilliant job and a big thank goes to Emma, Hannah, Zoe and of course Rachel from the village.

The Church

A reminder that the church is now open for private prayer and for anyone who wishes to sit peacefully by themselves.

Additionally the church is taking feedback on the type of services and activities that people would like to see in the future, because during lockdown they have been using some new internet based services. If you would like to participate in a questionnaire about future services please contact admin@shelswellparishes.info

Good Neighbour information from the County Council

The attached ‘Good neighbour, safe neighbour’ leaflet has been developed by Oxfordshire’s County and District Councils and follow Government guidance. The aim is to provide advice on how individual residents can check in on their neighbours safely and how to contact the council if they are concerned.  Please share this with your neighbours

SSEN

Most of us will be aware that we are regularly at the mercy of short power cuts which are extremely disruptive particularly at this time when many of us are having to work from home. Even a 10 second power cut knocks out the router so kills the internet which is a pain to say the least!

Recently Charlie Trousdell in Cherry Street has taken the matter up with them directly. He has been told that the most recent interruptions were due to lightning strikes causing damage to the overhead cable network.

The Parish Council regularly raises the matter with SSE and has just received the following response as a result of our latest enquiries:

“We have carried out work on your circuit to improve the supply reliability, however there is further work to be done.

We identified that 323 affected spans required tree cutting and have completed works on the majority, of which 44 are remaining. Three Planned Supply Interruptions (PSI’s) have been completed the most recent being on the 25/06 and there are a further 3 outages which will complete approximately 30 of the remaining sites. The remaining sites left after the outages are then delayed due to Network Rail sites, landowner requests and a small amount of refusals.

In addition we are investing over £200 000 in upgrading the network which will include replacing assets. These works have been agreed because it has been recognised that the supply reliability in your area needs improvement. It is expected that once these works are completed, there will be an improvement.

Although our network complies with the standards set by our regulator Ofgem, it is not always possible for Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) to guarantee a continual supply of electricity.  Whilst we carry out regular maintenance to help safeguard against instances of unplanned interruptions to the supply, faults do occur in situations which are out of our control.  This is recognised by the industry regulator and under the appropriate act which governs the electricity industry”.

I know we have heard this sort of thing before but it is encouraging news. However keeping on their case is paramount and the more residents register complaints directly (and not just to the Parish Council) the better.

The customer complaints email address is customercomplaints@ssen.co.uk

Thames Water Surface Drain Cleaning

Following the recent heavy thunderstorms, a number of the surface drains caused isolated and temporary flooding on a few roads. This matter was reported to the County and I am pleased to say that within days contractors were sent to clear debris from the blocked-up drains in the centre of the village.

Local Mobile Hairdresser

Hairdressers are allowed back to work from this weekend. I have been contacted by a resident who is a mobile hairdresser living in the parish. She has been a hairdresser for over 20 years and is fully compliant with all Government Covid 19 requirements on PPE.

Since it is still early days and some people may feel a bit nervous about going into a busy salon, a haircut at home, even in your garden, weather permitting, could be preferable for some people who opt to remain housebound.

Her name is Liz Clarke and she can be contacted on 07545 579037.

Other News

Matters that I have been made aware of during the last week:

Theft

Regrettably an opportunistic theft of power tools took place from a builders van parked outside Moat House in Launton Road on Monday. No tools were on display but a passing van stopped and it obviously all happened in a flash.

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If you have anything you feel that the community should be aware of and would make a difference, or have something else you want to raise with the Parish Council, we are always open to ideas and in listening mode.

All the best and continue to stay alert.

John Honsinger

Chairman, Stratton Audley Parish Council

Opening up the Playground

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The Parish Council has carried out a risk assessment (RISK ASSESSMENT.docx ) in compliance with Government guidelines and as a result we are delighted to announce that the playground in Cherry Street will be reopened this Saturday morning, 4th July.

We have also produced a few non statutory guidance notes for parents, guardians and carers and these are detailed  in the playground and here ( Playground Advisory Sheet Covid-19 )

Managing any potential risk is the responsibility of each and every one of us, therefore all responsible adults are requested to follow these guidelines and to cooperate with each other to ensure maximum safety from the spread of infection whilst accessing the playground. If you become aware of these rules being ignored, please report it ASAP to the Parish Council.

The Parish Council is under no obligation to keep the playground open and will close it, temporarily, should it become clear that the level of acceptable risk of the spread of Coronavirus is too great.

A sanitising spray dispenser has been placed near the entrance, but we cannot guarantee this will always be full. Therefore adults are asked to bring their own hand sanitiser gel or wipes to clean their children’s hands particularly at the beginning and end of play and where possible to clean touch points on equipment before and after use.

 

It has had a spring clean and is looking better than ever before. Mike has done a great job caring for the grass and ground cover whilst closed and used the time to safely remove all the ivy from the wooden fences. Then the Dewhurst family volunteered to repaint the wooden fence mural which Rachel originally created over twenty years ago. In the process they took the opportunity to paint the blank far end fence as well with fun images, including a rainbow to reflect the sign of the times. They have done a brilliant job and a big thank goes to Emma, Hannah, Zoe and of course Rachel from the village.