Much planning is going into organising the Food, Beer & Music Festival in the village on 4th June by a small number of people, and we really need more people to come forward to help.

We estimate that we will require 30-40 part-time volunteers on the day for various jobs. There will be 2-hour shifts for all volunteers so nobody will get stuck with one task.

We need volunteers to help put out the road closure signs in the morning, set up the two Marquees from 8pm and organise and help all the street vendors as they arrive in their vehicles.

We also need people to distribute leaflets and put up posters and signage prior to the event. Also to sell tickets for the prize draw prior to the event

It is a big undertaking from which we hope to raise considerable money for a number of charities and the Church Porch Restoration Fund. So please help us make this day a great success.

Get in touch via the festival email: safoodfest@gmail.com

As notified by the Parish Council, the roads were once again swept in Stratton Audley, today Wednesday 6th April,and Harry the driver spent a couple of hours sweeping each of the principle roads in the village several times and in a few cases waiting for some cars to be moved. On this occasion more cars remained on the streets than on previous occasions with about 12 vehicles being noted of which Church Street was the most affected.
Thanks to everyone who moved their cars and made for cleaner streets. We have been told that we are one of the few villages who coordinate with the district council and it is much appreciated.

Following on from the hard work by councillors and the community last year in cutting back the path on the Bicester Road and a further request to Oxfordshire County Council to tarmac it, we are delighted that they managed to find some money to carry out the work at the end of February. It would seem that they were impressed by our efforts to improve the path and decided to make it one of their priorities.

Thanks. Great job.

HELP NEEDED TO SECURE STRATTON’S FUTURE

A CLP (Community Led Plan) group was set up three years ago to help organise events and establish views and attitudes of local people. This led to a parish wide survey in early 2015 which was completed by over 55% of households, the results of which  can be view here SA Survey results .

During this time the Parish Council registered an interest with the District Council to develop a Neighbourhood Plan. A Neighbourhood Plan is a legal document that sets out what development the people who live in an area want or do not want to take place. Once adopted, following a formal referendum, planning officers are required by law to work within the requirements of the Neighbourhood Plan.

Last year Cherwell’s Plan for 2011-31 was approved. It gave clear guidance that no new development was to take place in Stratton Audley except for agricultural conversions and property extensions.   However, changes in the law as to what classifies as green belt or brown field’s sites might alter the Cherwell Plan and ultimately have a knock on effect within the village.   For this reason Stratton Audley Parish Council have resolved to develop a Neighbourhood Plan to ensure that the wishes of the village are respected in future planning applications.

Jon Hill, who is facilitating the development of the Plan, is assembling a group of interested residents to hold discussions with key stakeholder groups within the Parish, including householders, children, the Church, the Hunt, landowners, and local businesses with a view to having an outline of a 10-15 year vision for the whole village to discuss at the Annual Open meeting of the Parish in May.  It is expected that the referendum would follow in 2017.

Help is required to take the ideas and feedback from the recent survey, consult with the stakeholders and come up with the draft vision. If you are interested in helping then please contact the team on strattonplan@gmail.com or drop a note into Pound House with your name and number and Jon will contact you.

This event is a must date for your diary and we are looking forward to welcoming many people from the surrounding area and villages in the Shelswell Benefice to what will hopefully become an annual event.  This will be a family day with free entrance for all.

We will be closing Church Street between the Red Lion Pub and the Church of St Mary and St Edburga for the duration of the event, which takes place between 11am-6pm.  We are planning to have some 30 food stall holders and live music throughout the day with a mixture of Country, 60’s revival and two permanences from the well known Bletchingdon Brass Band. There’ll be pub food, a mini beer event plus a hog roast in the street and tea and cakes in the church.  Activities for children such as a bouncy castle, and a professional face painter sponsored by Bicester Village, a tombola and a major prize draw is being planned to entertain all the family throughout the day.

The event will raise money for the church porch restoration fund, since the church importantly acts as our village hall, together with nominated local charities.   We already have support from a number of local businesses including funding from Finders Keeper, Thomas Merrifield and Bicester Heritage and would be interested to hear from anyone else who’d like to participate, as a food stall holder (£25 per pitch), or by giving an item for the tombola or prize draw or simply by volunteering some time or other help.

Contact Sarah on 07971 437485 or email safoodfest@gmail.com

PLEASE HELP MAKE THIS DAY A DAY TO REMEMBER.