View from the Church Tower!
The Parish Council held its last official monthly meeting by Zoom this week. Virtual meetings are no longer legal, and face-to-face meetings are to be reintroduced. The first of these will be on July 7th in the church. The Annual meeting of the Parish will also be held on the same evening. This is a meeting organised by the Parish Council on behalf of the whole community. It is a chance for those who wish to speak about any relevant subjects to do so in a public forum. There will be more publicity about this but please:
SAVE THE DATE – ANNUAL MEETING of the PARISH, WEDNESDAY 7th July, 8PM, The Parish Church.
The meeting held this week was the Annual Parish Council Meeting at which the Chairman and Vice Chairman were re-elected for another year (they weren’t given much choice!!) and all other Councillors agreed to continue as members. Marking the passing of another statutory year brings into focus all the hard work Councillors put in to helping run the village as volunteers without pay or expenses. Most of the current councillors have served for many years and cannot be expected to carry on forever so we need fresh faces to come forward. The experience can be rewarding and right now there is a vacancy which needs to be filled, so please consider putting your name forward. No prior experience is necessary. Contact the Chairman or the Clerk on strattonaudley.parishcouncil@gmail.com
Covid-19 Update
Under the third stage of the Government’s road map for easing coronavirus restrictions, foreign holidays will be permitted through a new traffic light system.
At a Downing Street press conference this evening, transport secretary Grant Shapps announced there will be 12 “green” countries that people in England can visit from 17 May without needing to quarantine on their return. Countries on the green list are headed by Portugal including the Azores and Madeira, Iceland, Israel, Gibraltar, Singapore, Brunei, the sunny Falkland’s and Faroe Islands, and finally Australia and New Zealand (who won’t let us in at the moment).
A review of the green, amber and red lists is set for 28 June.
The Government’s ‘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
EWR Road Closure Cancelled this weekend
Please be advised that the repairs and resurfacing works planned for this weekend on Stratton Audley Road, Poundon have been postponed due to weather conditions, so the road will be open all weekend.
A resident of the village suffered a tyre blow-out today when passing another car on the Stratton Audley Park Road near Godington and hitting a deep lorry tyre track on the edge of the road. This matter is being reported to EWR and compensation is being sought, since the verges on this stretch of the road are in an appalling state and are due to be repaired. Please be aware of the danger presented by these verges.
Monday Night with Mitra’s Persian Food
Sorry to anyone who wanted Persian food on Bank Holiday Monday. Mitra turned up but the rain and wind was so bad could not set up and guessed very few people would venture out.
She’s back this Monday (providing the weather is OK) at the usual junction in the centre of the village from about 5pm until dusk. For orders text her in advance during Monday on 07444 364789 and collection from 5-7pm.
A Local Live Staged Production of the Mikada – 3rd to 5th June
The Bicester Choral & Operatic Society is presenting a very innovative staged version of the Mikado, and village resident Tim Lane, who is a member, has asked for a little publicity.
Tickets are easy to book online. Full details are at www.bcoswesing.org.uk
If you have any questions, Tim is happy for you to call him on 277 523.
Finally a chance to go to a live local event!
Wedding Invitation Mystery
Rebecca Paton-Williamson in the Manor has received a letter from Scotland to someone in this village. It is marked ‘wedding invitation’ so is important.
The post code is for Mill Road. Can anyone identify who it might be for?
Bicester Motion Plans for the Automotive Experience
Bicester Motion has submitted a planning application for its Experience Centre, ref: 21/01224/OUT. You can view this application and supporting documents at the District Website: https://planningregister.cherwell.gov.uk/Planning/Display/21/01224/OUT.
The Parish Council has this matter under review and will be circulating its formal response to all residents before the end of the month. Points of concern relate to noise levels; additional traffic congestion with a second access road being opened up near the Bicester Road junction with the A4421; road safety concerns on the Bicester Road and A4421 corner, linked to the apparent lack of a cycle and pedestrian route at this point.
The current deadline for comments is currently 27th May.
Oxford County Council is also being consulted and any comments regarding County Highway matters should also be sent to them at planningconsultations@oxfordshire.gov.uk .
Stratton Audley Barn
The Barn gift shop is now open as well as the café from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Offering outside seating in the open or in the marquee for breakfast, lunch, coffee, cake and home-made ice cream. Booking for lunch is recommended. All of these activities are conducted under the latest Government guidance for social distancing. More information on www.strattonaudleybarn.co.uk or Facebook Stratton Audley Barn .
The Red Lion
The future of the pub is still under discussion but John and Dillie very much hope that they will be able to open on May 17th. A further announcement will be made next week.
Other previously reported matters
East West Rail Advanced Road Closure Notices
Stratton Audley Park Road from the crossroads with Mill Lane to the junction with the A4421
A temporary Notice is being made by East West Rail Alliance to implement the temporary closures and will operate from the 29 May 2021 up to and including the 30 May 2021 whilst HS2 works are carried out.
Stratton Audley Park Road from the Mill Lane crossroad to Poundon.
Subsequently there will be a further temporary closure of the road that leads in the opposite direction to Poundon from 5 June 2021 up to and including 6 June 2021
The diversion route will be Mill Road-Launton Road-Main Street and vice versa
Further information regarding the works may be obtained from East West Rail website, contact@eastwestrail.co.uk or phone 0330 1340067
Additionally, you should have received notification by Network Rail of weekend closures on the same road between Godington and Poundon which run from 8th May until 23rd May, from 7am to 6pm.
Finally, a reminder that Station Road (from the crossroads with Launton Road) that leads to Launton is now closed and will remain so for about a year.
EWR Stratton Audley Park Road Junction with A4421
We have been advised that the safety report itself will not be shared with the community and no specific reasons are being given as to why this is the case. That said, we have been given a summary of the key recommendations agreed between EWR designers and OCC
The remedial works include:
- Relocate direction signing in north/west verge of A4421
- Add a 2nd ‘keep-left’ bollard in the splitter island facing oncoming traffic from the side road
- Resurface the “damaged/worn” surface course
- White lining – move the ‘give-way’ line forward and add additional hatched markings in centre of minor road around the splitter island.
East West Rail 2nd Non Statutory Consultation
EWR have just launched the next stage of public consultation. They are inviting
comments from all interested parties including the public.
Two of the key areas of focus for the consultation in our area are:
- How to improve Oxford Station and its supporting infrastructure - including Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village stations
- Options for avoiding lengthy periods of delays at the London Road level crossing, Bicester (there are six options for this crossing all of which propose tunnels or bridges).
You can share your views using the online feedback form available on their website at www.eastwestrail.co.uk, by emailing your comments to them at consultation@eastwestrail.co.uk or writing via FREEPOST East West Rail.
Alternatively, you can request a paper copy of the feedback form to be sent to you online at www.eastwestrail.co.uk, by emailing them at contact@eastwestrail.co.uk or by calling on 0330 134 0067.
The closing date for the consultation is 9 June 2021.
Stratton Audley Church
The Church is once again open during the day for private prayer and reflection. It is no longer necessary to book for services, though masks and hand sanitising will still be required and social distancing will be strictly observed.
The next service in Stratton is the Ascension Day service on Thursday 13th May (6pm).
The next monthly Muddy Church (Stoke Lyne Churchyard, not Stoke Lyne Road) get together is on 16th May.
You can find all the details of services in the benefice on the website www.shelswellparishes.info
New FREE Bus Service Exclusively for the village
Please don’t forget to try the free bus service into Bicester which is now in operation two times a week on Tuesday and Thursday.
If we want to keep the service it is important that it is used regularly so please spread the word particularly to your neighbours who may not receive this newsletter.
Pick up in Stratton Audley
10:46 – Bus Stop Adjacent to Glen Close
10:49 – Bus Stop Bicester Road
Drop off
11:00 – Sainsburys, Bicester
Pick Up in Bicester
1:00 – Sainsburys, Bicester
Drop Off
1:10 – Opposite Bus Stop Bicester Road
1:14 – Opposite Bus Stop Adjacent to Glen Close
Resurfacing of Launton Road
The major resurfacing works that were postponed last year have now been scheduled in for August (provisionally 9/8/21). The works to Launton Road & Church Street will result in the closure of the roads except for access and this will be done in sections.
OCC are very aware of the dangerous state of parts of the Launton Road and interim interventions will be required before August. Fixmystreet is still the best way for all of us to report any matter (not just potholes) to do with Highways https://fixmystreet.oxfordshire.gov.uk
Calling All “Baby Lambs”
For those who are new to the village and have a baby who isn’t yet mobile, Little Lambs has started up again with “Baby Lambs”.
Although for the moment restrictions limit what can be done, the organiser’s would love to see you. It is every Wednesday in the Stratton Audley Church from 10am – 10.45am (Term Time)
Contact Jen Iddon via jeniddoncfw@gmail.com
Jen who organises it says:
- We need to stay in our own bubbles
- Bring our own drinks and snacks
- Bring your own baby mat / toys
- Any toys must be kept in our own bubbles
- We cannot mix (hence babies not toddlers)
- Max 15 people, but just turn up as we’re not expecting many to start with
- Story, Chats and Prayers.
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