There is little to report specifically on Covid 19 this week that most of us do not already know, but as we go further into this unlock phase, the Government advice to STAY ALERT starts to become more relevant as it is all too easy to forget the social distancing guidelines that we all should follow.

The need for all of us to continue to be sensible and trust our own judgment has never been more important.

Re-opening of the Household Waste Recycling Centres

Household Waste Recycling Centres including Ardley will reopen tomorrow, Monday 18^th May. They will open at 8am and close at 4pm seven days a week, as long as they are not overwhelmed and can operate safely. The number of vehicles allowed onto the site will be reduced by approximately 50% to allow for social distancing. This means that queues are highly likely, especially at peak times such as weekends.

Therefore residents are being asked to exercise restraint and only to visit sites if their trip is essential and they cannot safely store their waste at home for the time being.

Key things to remember when visiting the re-opened centres:

• You should only visit the site if you cannot safely store your waste at home.
• There will continue to be a charge for non-household waste brought to sites and this will be by contactless card payment only. If you are unable to pay by this method you will not be able to deposit non-household waste at the site
• For an initial period, no hire vans or trailers will be permitted onto sites.
• Site teams will be there for guidance only and will not be able to assist residents in unloading their waste.
• Only one resident will be permitted out of the vehicle, unless it is to unload a heavy load which would otherwise be unsafe to remove. Visits are best made by just one person per vehicle.
• Residents are requested to ensure all waste is pre-sorted before arriving at site to ensure minimum time on site.

Path by Pond

As a result of the decision to remove the restrictive signs on the path by the pond, the question of making the path one-way was raised due its the narrowness and difficulty to pass others without breaking the social distancing guidelines. The Parish Council considered the matter and on balance felt that for the time being no such measure should be imposed. Many of the other paths leading in and out of the village also have narrow passing points and it was felt that it was best to leave it to the good sense of everyone to either turn away as they pass or indeed offer to back-up where necessary.

Message from Thames Valley Police

All communities have been asked by Thames Valley Police to make everyone aware that in March, reports of online child sexual abuse in the Thames Valley area were 146% higher than the number of reports received in March 2019.

With the government restrictions in place, many children are spending more time online to stay in touch with friends and loved ones as well as a way to stay entertained. Sadly, some criminals are using these extraordinary circumstances as a way to exploit and target young people when they are online. Thames Valley are looking to encourage parents and carers to take action in protecting their children from falling victim to online sexual abuse. They are urging parents to take this opportunity to have honest conversations about online safety with their children and to review privacy settings on the apps and social networks that they are using.

To support parents during COVID-19, the National Crime Agency’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Division are producing fortnightly activity packs to help discuss staying safe online with your children. These age-appropriate resources, containing two 15-minute activities for each age group, can be found at www.thinkuknow.co.uk

Nepalese Food Wagon

Last Monday proved to be another welcome visit from George with his Nepalese food wagon. He will once again be parked outside the Red Lion tomorrow (Monday) for his fourth visit.

As per last week a separate desk will be set up next to the van to take orders and payment from 3.30pm until 5pm. Pre-orders can be collected between 5pm until 6.30pm.  Normal street servings will take place from 6.30pm until 8pm. Those collection pre-orders after 6.30pm will be asked to join the queue if there is one. All cards and cash can now be accepted. Pre-orders can also be made by phone from 3.30pm on 07976 455654. Menu as per last time (see Facebook).

Free Puzzles

Long-time resident, Janet James, who lives at the entrance to the village on the Stoke Lyne Road, has 10 substantial puzzles that have been completed once and she is happy to let them go to anyone who likes puzzles.

The jigsaws are mainly 1000 pieces, although there are some 500s and one 1500 piece jigsaw. There are a variety of pictures, with about five showing WWII aircraft in the British sky.

Anyone interested should call Janet and pop along to her house where she can show them what is on offer at her front door. Please call 07971 269293.

Covid 19 Government update

The New Government slogan is: Stay Alert. Control the Virus. Save Lives.

I would add: Be sensible. Trust your own judgmentally. Don’t put yourself unnecessarily at risk.

It is clear from the Prime Minister’s statement tonight that the path forward is fraught with difficulties and very much a ‘conditional plan’ which will be influenced by our ability to reduce the ‘R’ rate of infection.

The central message was the recognition that the country needs to get back to work and that there is to be some relaxing of the recreational rules- providing social distancing measures are maintained.

From Wednesday we are all allowed to take unlimited outdoor exercise, to sit in a local park and even drive to places to do this. We will also be allowed to play sport but only with members of our own family and provided we maintain the social distancing rules from other people.

From a village point of view, we will remove the signs requesting people from outside the village not to use the pond path walk. We will also be seeking guidance from Cherwell Council as to when they will allow the re-opening of the village playground and what rules will need to be applied. When we know, we will let you know immediately.

It is still going to be very much incumbent on all of us to exercise great caution in order to ensure that the self-sacrifice we have all made in our day-to-day life is not undone over night.

International Nursing Day

The public is being asked to “shine a light” in their window this coming Tuesday 12^th May at 8.30pm, in a similar way that we show our gratitude to the wider NHS with Clap for Carers, every Thursday evening at 8pm.

The World Health Organisation designated 2020 as International Year of the Nurse to mark the bicentenary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. So this year it is specifically to recognise the efforts of nursing professionals around the world as they help to tackle coronavirus.

A Big Shout-out for all the Volunteers in Stratton Audley

It is now seven weeks since the official announcement of the Lockdown when we circulated details of our local response to Covid 19.

Part of our response was to organise a parish-wide volunteer list and to commit to keeping everyone informed. This is just to acknowledge that many people on this list have been regularly helping others in the community in particular with shopping and it is to their credit that this is done willingly and silently. In a sense the volunteers on this list have supplemented the generous spirit of what already existed between many neighbours and we are indeed fortunate to live in this community.

Continuing to Wrestle with the Covid 19 Mugger

 Whilst we all want to start seeing some easement of the Lockdown restrictions, in reality we know they are going to continue for some weeks. We have been asked to remind everyone to adhere strictly to the government’s guidance, so please:

• Continue to stay at home – only go out for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)
• If you do go out, stay two metres away from other people at all times
• Wash your hands before you go out and especially as soon as you get home
• Wearing gloves and a face mask is optional

Please remember– you can spread the virus even if you do not have any symptoms.

To find the latest Government advice and information about Covid 19, go to: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

The NHS has information on how to prevent the virus spreading at: www.nhs.uk/coronavirus

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

We have been asked to share the following information about the availability of health services in the County.

A&E: The Emergency Departments at the John Radcliffe and Horton General Hospitals are still open 24/7 to anyone who becomes ill with serious health conditions including stroke, heart conditions, difficulty breathing, unconsciousness, or heavy bleeding. People should be reassured that systems are in place to treat patients with suspected COVID-19 in a different area, so everyone who comes to one of the hospitals with other conditions will be treated in a separate and safe manner.

For other worrying health concerns that are not an emergency please contact your GP practice; they are open or partially open and will be able to give advice and support over the phone in the first instance. The national advice for people who think they may have COVID-19 is to visit NHS 111 online and self-isolate for seven days. OCC urge people to seek help if you need it. Avoiding medical care can lead to reduced recovery rates, and even prove fatal.

Stratton Audley Volunteers still standing by and ready to help

A reminder that if you need help, most likely with shopping, there are many people in the parish who are willing and available to help. Please do not feel you cannot pick up the phone to anyone on the Volunteer list

Delivery of Medication

As most people know, we joined a Cherwell Council initiative to pick up medication every Thursday from Montgomery House Surgery, Bicester Health Centre and/or Alchester Surgery and deliver them to residents in Stratton Audley, Godington and several other local villages. 12 volunteered from Stratton Audley and for the time being the task has been taken on by two people who are coordinating their efforts. So this is just to acknowledge and thank them  – Clare Hedgecox for Stratton Audley and Alice Broome from Godington.

VE Day Celebrations

As you know, Friday 8th May (only 8 days’ time) is a bank holiday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day and although most of the public celebrations have been cancelled because of the emergency, Cherwell Council have suggested we show our support by decorating our houses with Union flags and bunting.

The link below includes a template so that children can help make bunting, which strikes me as a brilliant prop for an impromptu history lesson while they are all being home educated.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4TrqYDyf4PMdLypxzyTwGDg/great-british-bunting

Furthermore, everyone is being encouraged to undertake the ‘Nation’s Toast to the Heroes of WW2’ at 3pm on the day, from the safety of their own home or door step, by standing up and raising a glass with a toast – “To those who gave so much to ensure we all enjoy and share the freedom we have today, we thank you”.

Why not also invoke the spirit of Vera Lynn with some impromptu sing-a-longs of her famous song….”We’ll meet again”

Additionally, BBC Radio Oxford is backing the call to make your own bunting which can be decorated with pictures of people who fought on the frontline or those who worked on the Homefront.  Or they are suggesting it could be poppies to commemorate the fallen, doves to celebrate lasting peace or rainbows to symbolise hope. For more ideas see their website bbc.co.uk/makeadifference.

They are also asking people to send their pictures and to tag @BBCOxford in their social media as well as using the hashtags #GreatBritishBunting and #VEDay75 so that all the effort people put in can be shared far and wide.

All the Best

John

P.S. There will be more news at the weekend specifically on local services that may be on interest, including the return on Monday of the Nepalese food wagon.