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.