Newsletter no 99, September 30th 2022

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The next meeting of the Parish Council takes place in The Red Lion, at 7pm next Wednesday 5th October. All are welcome and time is allocated at the start of the meeting for residents to raise any matter that may become the subject of agenda items for future meetings.
What’s on at The Red Lion
The quiz night on Thursday was well attended and a great success. Another quiz night is scheduled for 27th October starting at 7.30pm, so for a fun night out put it in your diary now.
Opening times remain the same which are Tuesday to Saturday, 12 noon to 11pm, Sunday from 12 noon to 10pm. Closed Monday.
Food is currently being served on Friday night, Saturday lunchtime (including breakfast baps), and Sunday lunch from 12 noon to 4pm.
A Halloween party is being planned for Saturday 29th October, with optional fancy dress.
Registration of The Red Lion as a Community Asset
The Parish Council has been successful in registering The Red Lion as  a community asset which means that the owners need to give notice of a sale and the PC has six weeks to decide whether a community bid group can be brought together. If so, then the six week period is extended to 6 months, for a bid to be raised. The Parish Council will be discussing this at the next meeting, though our involvement is likely to be limited to that of a facilitator.
Stratton Audley Church
The following is from Becky Adams:
“Thank you to everyone for their contributions to our Harvest collection for the Bicester Food Bank which has been really well supported. Non-perishable food items can still be left in church until Sunday evening and will be delivered early next week. Your generous gifts will be much appreciated by those who find themselves struggling to afford the basics at this very uncertain time.
The next service in Stratton Audley Church will be a service of Compline (a quiet, reflective evening service) at 6pm this Sunday (2nd October) – all are welcome, as ever.
Please check the Shelswell website for details of services elsewhere in the benefice http://www.shelswellparishes.info/services.php
‘Little Lambs’ baby and toddler group continues on Wednesdays in term time in Stratton Audley Church, starting at 9.30am and finishing at 11am. Just turn up or for more information contact Alice  at rector@shelswellparishes.info “.
Stratton Audley Barn
The following is from Richard, Sara and the team:
“Chillier days can only mean one thing……….Christmas is coming to the barn! The elves have been working super hard this week with our Christmas Shop opening THIS COMING SATURDAY1ST OCTOBER! We have some stunning new one off pieces, and more new stock than ever before, not to be missed is our 6ft Nutcracker, pop on down for a selfie!
If you’re looking for a special Christmas Tree we are currently putting together our supplier pre orders for larger trees, get in touch at info@strattonaudleybarn.co.ukwith the size and type of tree you require and we can add your order to the list! We can supply trees from 4-25ft, whether it’s for school, business or your beautiful home, we can source and deliver direct to your door.
Don’t worry if Christmas isn’t for you just yet, check out our gorgeous Italian cashmere blend range of ponchos, snoods, gloves and scarves, perfect for these chilly autumn days!
Hope to see you soon!”
Community Solar Farm Meeting 20th September
This meeting was convened by the Parish Council on behalf of the community in order to hear more from the developer and allow those who had questions and concerns to raise them in an open forum.It was well attended with over 60 residents present.
As Chairman of the  PC it was my intention to chair the meeting, but due to a family emergency I was in London. Unfortunately those who were late to the meeting assumed that I might no longer be involved and this is to set the record straight on this and a number of other points that were  raised.
In my absence fellow Parish Councillor John Edwards did an excellent job in the hot seat, backed up by another councillor Karhyn Walker who took notes, which are purely for the purpose of informing other Parish Councillors and not for general distribution.
To clarify, I am still involved and not going anywhere for the time being. The PC has no intention of abandoning residents located outside the village near the proposed development, as was suggested. Nor are we persuaded to support the scheme because of the money on offer (which incidentally was always muted as £150k and has not been increased). It is premature to consider what could be done with such a sum and we certainly do not have any plans for it, being in surplus currently as a Parish Council. We also made sure that Barry Wood and Ian Corkin attended to hear for themselves how the meeting went. We remain unbiased and will take our cue from the community in due course.
I understand that a number of conversations are taking place with individual residents and those from Goddington, but for now the Parish Council will briefly discuss the matter at the next PC meeting and await the formal planning application.
100 Club Winners
The Winners in the 100 club draw for the month of October 2022 will be drawn next week and as usual placed on the notice board. 
Children’s Halloween Trail & Event
Apart from the party being organised in The Red Lion, there will be a children’s trail around the village possibly culminating in an event in the red room of the pub afterwards. Date and more details to follow shortly.
EWR Reparation works to Park Road
A meeting was held with OCC Highways and a representative from Godington, to confirm and agree reparations to the road that runs form the A4421 to Pound. These had more or less been previously agreed and supported by the community wide survey carried out earlier in the year. The new junction layout with the A4421 will remain although a grass triangular piece of ground will be considered, and the improvement to visibility at the Mill Road intersection will remain. The majority  of passing bays will be removed as well as all unnecessary signage that was put in place. The verges, along the entire road up to Godington and beyond are to be repaired, and this is a matter for OCC to agree with  EWR, but one that will require careful monitoring. It is thought that likely works will begin next Spring.
Stoke Lyne Road Waste Land
The land at the top of the Stoke Lyne Road at the T junction with the A4421will soon have a new lease of life with tonnes of top soil being added to the site, which will be levelled out and allow for new wild flower growth over the entire area.
 
Bicester Heritage October Scramble
Just a reminder that tickets for the next Scramble meeting on the 9th of October are available to local residents at 50% off, accessible via the sales agents – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/
Promocode: BristolBoxkite
Church Street and Launton Road Closure
By now all residents should have received a letter confirming that there will be a full road closure of Church Street and Launton Road on Monday 17th October from 19:00-06:00hrs, where Highways will carry out some wholesale resurfacing.This includes  inlay areas between the Red Lion and the Church, the junction with Launton Rd/Mill Rd/Church St and a narrow section further down the Launton Road which is suitable for overlay.
There will subsequent be full road closures of Church Street & Launton Road on Tuesday 18 & Wednesday 19 October from 19:00-06:00hrs, for additional patching including overlay works up to the turning with the Bradburys.
This work has been under discussion for several years but was delayed due to Covid and other priorities and the good news is that there are no planned day time works, so disruption around the village should be minimal.
In summary all works (inlay/overlay & patching) will be overnight and via the full road closure over the 3 nights.
And a few previous items that are still relevant:
Parking on Grass Verges
A number of comments have been relayed to the Parish Council about cars being parked on more than one occasion, on the grass verges in the village. This is sometimes unavoidable, however it can be a danger for pedestrians especially where the verges are used by pedestrians in the absence of footpaths. It is also a problem when the grass is to be cut which is done on a frequent basis.
The verges are an attractive part of the village and we are lucky to have such greenery, especially in the absence of a proper village green and not only is it unsightly, some verges are slowly being eroded. 
It has long been the convention to keep the verges free of vehicles and the Parish Council respectfully wishes to take this opportunity to bring this matter to the attention of everyone especially those new in the community.

Keeping Dogs under control in open fields
There is currently a foal in the field immediately adjacent to The Pound at the start of the Cross Bucks Way and this week a dog was seen off the lead, harassing the animal and its mother. Signs have been placed in the field by the owner, to ask those with dogs to keep them on their lead when walking through on the footpath for the time being. Whilst most people know it is not illegal to have a dog off the lead providing you have it under control, it can present a danger so to be on the safe side your co-operation is appreciated.Defibrillator Training – View this short video
As you know we have been planning to run some defibrillator training in the church for some time and this has not happened for a variety of reasons. Over a dozen people put their names down for it and it is not being abandoned.
However a new Parish councillor, John Edwards came across an excellent short St John’s Ambulance video on YouTube which is  authoritative, short, and clear and really worth viewing for everyone. This is the link:
https://youtu.be/

Access to The Manor Grounds in Church Street
From time-to-time residents of the Manor have legitimate cause to remind everyone, especially visitors to the village and those who are new in the village, that the grounds of the Manor are private. This is not necessarily obvious as the gates are kept permanently open for ease of access by residents. Situated next to the pub, it means vehicles of people visiting the pub are frequently identified as parking in the Manor grounds. Likewise a few Manor residents have recently seen an increase in dog walking, pushing prams and generally using the grounds as either a recreational area or as a cut through to Mill Road.
The Management Committee of the Manor are looking at new signage to install at the entrance, but have asked for it to be pointed out that the grounds are private for the use of the residents and invited visitors.
Don’t Forget – Fresh Fish every Thursday 
Jack from Grimsby continues to come to the village on Thursday’s between 6.30-7pm and parks his van outside the Red Lion. He has a wide selection of fresh fish and shellfish. You can just turn up or place orders in advance by text and his mobile number is 07535 935119.

Fish & Chips Van in the village on Saturdays
For those new in the community, a Howe’s Fish and Chip van comes to the village every Saturday lunchtime from 1.30pm to 2pm. You will hear a bell (like a school bell) and his first stop is in Cherry Street. He then drives along Cavendish Place and stops again at the junction with Mill Road.
Howe & Co was established in 1930 and now has over 100 vans serving villages. You can track each van by going to their website and you need to look for van no 4:
https://howeandcofishandchips.co.uk/#findvan
They also have a general number you can call 07809 901761.

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

Village Questionnaire Top Line Results
A PowerPoint presentation of the findings has been created and placed on the website. 106 questionnaires were received which is a very good response taking everything into account. It represents a 55% return rate, which coincidentally, is similar to the last survey carried out in 2015.
A significant majority of residents are concerned about speeding and large vehicle numbers in the village and there is overwhelming support for progressing the idea of introducing a 20mph zone within the village. A majority are in favour of electronic speed signs at the entrances to both the Launton and Mill Road. Most people are against any other forms of physical traffic calming solutions although chicanes are approved of by some 40% of respondents. Finally, a massive 84% indicated they would be in favour of reducing the speed limit on the roads in and out of the village to 50mph.

Local Police Bicester and Kidlington Rural Team News
To report a crime or contact the police there are now three options:
·       Call 999 if you see a crime being committed or in an emergency
·       Call 101 to report anything else to the police – or go online to do so
·       And now police are partnering with CrimeStoppers to remind everyone of ‘The 3rd Number – 0800 555 111’ that enables you to report your information totally anonymously if you prefer.
Finally for the latest crime statistics there is a useful national site into which you can put your post code. Click on this link  Bicester Rural | Police.uk (www.police.uk)