The latest news and some update items are as follows:
Monday Night is Mitra Night
Mitra returned to the village earlier this week and will be coming each Monday to serve up her delicious Persian food, at the junction in the centre of the village. She’ll be serving from about 4pm until around 7pm.
Just turn up or text her in advance if you have a large order on 07444 364789.
If you want to bring your own container or pot to save on plastic waste please do so.
The Red Lion
Dillie has asked me to include the following announcement with regard to the pub and a request for everyone to provide answers to a few open-ended questions.
“After much agonising, we have decided not to open the pub on 12th April. The weather will still be chilly and we would only be allowed to open the garden. As the Executor, John has a duty to the Estate to make sure the pub is in profit, and the combination of staffing costs and possibly inclement weather are just too risky. So it looks as though mid-May might be an option.
Meanwhile, we wonder if we could persuade you to answer a little questionnaire…!!!
1 Do you use the pub?
2 If so, when did you last come into the pub?
3. How regularly do you think you would you visit once restrictions are lifted?
4. Are there any improvements you would like to see?
5 Would you be willing to volunteer to help in any way… behind the bar, serving food, painting and decorating?
John and I both feel very strongly that the village should have a vibrant and busy pub. Last year’s efforts by Tony Jones and the Taylor family (with the fantastic help of assorted villagers) was incredibly encouraging, and Tony will remain part of the team until we clarify the long-term position with the Brewery.
Please respond directly to Dillie at dilliedarling@gmail.com
Local Elections
Despite the closure, The Red Lion will be the location for the polling station on 6th May.
East West Rail Local Update
Work to rectify the road markings at the junction of the Stratton Audley Park Road with the A4421 are due to be changed by the EWR Highways Team this weekend to improve safety, at the same time as they are undertaking other remedial works to that stretch of road. The full safety audit report is also to be published during the week.
The Bicester Road that leads to Marsh Gibbon from the crossroads at Billy Evans farm should now be open but since I haven’t been up that way this evening I can’t say for certain.
The closure of the Stratton Audley Road at Poundon is due to take place this weekend just for the two days.
Stratton Audley Barn
Stratton Audley Barn is now 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….!
Bicester Motion Scramble – Discount Resident Vouchers
The next Scramble is to be held on 5th/6th of June and neighbourhood discounted tickets are still available for Sunday 6th June. When purchasing you will need to put FlyingBrevets into the promo code box which will immediately allocate a 50% discount. You will be required to input your OX27 or OX26 postcode and this will be checked.
https://bicesterheritage.co.uk/tickets/october-scramble-tickets/
Passes previously purchased for the January and April scrambles are still valid.
Comet Bus Services
No further news.
But for the time being please remember that Comet operate a dial-a-ride service for those that require transport for medical or essential shopping reasons. There is a cost of 75p per mile which works out at under £5 for a round trip into Bicester. The service operates Monday to Friday between the hours of 10am and 2pm. Should anyone wish to make a booking please contact the Comet team on 01865 323201.
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.
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
Covid-19 Update
The governments ‘COVID-19 Response – Spring 2021’, setting out the roadmap out of the current lockdown for England 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
And finally don’t forget that the clocks go forward this Saturday night bringing lighter summer nights ever closer!