Once again there is no local news regarding Covid 19 apart from a note regarding business funding that we have been asked to circulate by Cherwell District Council which is featured at the end of this note. However there are other matters to report.
Plants for Sale in the Limes on Sunday
A man from Bicester Market known to a few residents, has offered to come to the village on Sunday and set up stall in Paddy’s drive in The Limes, with social distancing measures in place. I am told the plants are good quality and very reasonably priced. This will hopefully be of particular interest to older residents who want to add colour to their gardens but can’t go out to garden centres.
The Red Lion
You have probably noticed the work going on in the Red Lion. With Franks blessing, a number of people organised by Tony Jones have been renovating the pub in readiness for the anticipated lifting of restrictions. The garden area is being transformed as pubs with gardens are likely to be amongst the first to be given the go ahead to re-open in a limited way at the beginning of July.
Tony has asked if anyone would like to volunteer to spruce up the area that fronts onto the road – in particular the notice/menu boards, and the seating needs renovating and re-varnishing. Also if anyone has any hanging baskets that they would like to donate and plant up, it would be very much appreciated. Call Tony on 07836 776973 or let me know.
By improving the look of the pub it will help the village retain it when the brewery is reassessing its viability.
AND DON’T FORGET – Stratton Audley Barn is now open
Stratton Audley Barn is now open at weekends from Friday through to Sunday. They are serving takeaway coffee, cake and ice cream from 10am-4pm. It’s going down very well so please pop along and show your appreciation.
Monday is Nepalese Curry Night once again
The Nepalese food wagon turned out to be a great success last Monday with Lamb curry and Chicken curry selling out fast in addition to the original vegetable curry.
George and Bikash will be back in Church Street again this Monday with the same menu. They will be taking pre-orders from 3pm-5pm and will be open from 4pm until 8pm. See attached menu. Pop by or telephone 07976 455654.
PC Trial Meeting by Zoom
The Parish Council trialled a virtual meeting this past week and all went well. The next meeting will be on July 8th and any member of the public wishing to submit an enquiry or who wishes to join the meeting online should contact the Clerk in advance by email strattonaudley.parishclerk@gmail.co.uk This will be publicised again.
Beryl’s Funeral
Beryl Stevens funeral will take place at 12 noon on Wed 17th June. I am pleased to confirm that her nephew Richard and the funeral directors are happy with the plan to drive round the village tracing her usual daily walk. So after leaving the Manor, the cortege will pass the pub, turn right down Cherry Street, then into Cavendish Place and back up Mill Road to the Church.
Let’s try and line the streets and give her a good send-off.
Extended Hours at Recycling Centers
All seven of Oxfordshire’s household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) are now open for an extra hour from 8am to 5pm, seven days a week.
Because of the coronavirus, changes have been made to how each HWRC operates to keep services, users and staff safe. Specific rules and restrictions vary by site and everyone is asked to visit the County Council website www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/wastereopenquestions before leaving home to avoid unnecessary frustration and delay.
Delays at Ardley hardly ever happen!!!!!
Latest COVID-19 funding pot for business launches
We have been asked to circulate a press release issued on Tuesday re the new discretionary business grants. They are designed to help those smaller businesses that have not been able to access previous support grants, perhaps because they are too small, rent a bit of space on a farm etc or don’t pay business rates.
Small businesses affected by coronavirus restrictions are encouraged to claim grants of up to £10,000 as the latest round of Government funding is rolled out.
Cherwell District Council is administering the new, discretionary scheme. It targets organisations that were not eligible for the previous grant schemes and which have ongoing property-related costs. Businesses operating in shared workspaces, market traders, small charities, and bed and breakfasts could all benefit. They will need to evidence a significant fall in income due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Cllr Lynn Pratt, lead member for economy, said: “Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy and we are working hard to get this fresh grant funding to them at this very challenging time.
“We will be assessing their claims against a clear policy, published on our website, and will be using the discretionary powers entrusted to us by Government to focus support on strategically important businesses that are suffering extreme hardship.
“We have previously issued £22m of funding to small and medium businesses as part of the initial round of Government support. This latest offer is designed for small businesses which weren’t able to claim from that funding pot and I encourage anyone who thinks their organisation might be eligible to visit the council website and find out more.”
The amount a business receives will be dependent on its specific circumstances, up to the maximum amount of £10,000. One focus of this scheme will be on businesses which pay inclusive rents and which do not have their own business rates accounts.
Applications will be accepted from Tuesday 2 June until Sunday 14 June. All applications will be reviewed and decided after the closing date.
Eligibility details, the discretionary grants policy, and the application form are available via this link:
https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/info/258/ /675/coronavirus-guidance-for-businesses/4
PLEASE NOTE
If you have anything you think would be of service to locals in these difficult times please let me know.