Winter lunches
26th February will be our final Winter Lunch for this season. As always it will run from 12 noon until 1.30 in the THMH and we will be serving a variety of delicious soups with bread and cheese. We don't charge but simply ask for a donation towards costs and any profit is being donated to the school P.T.A.
This new venture has been a wonderful way to get the whole community together and everyone is welcome; please join us on Tuesday 26 February to help us to finish this season on a high!
Shrove Tuesday 5th March, 12 - 2.00 pm and 6 - 8.30 pm
You are invited to Norton House, Broad Street, Uffington, to enjoy pancakes with both savoury and sweet fillings, so come and make a meal of it! Donations will be welcome for ACCESS, the charity we support in India helping with the education of the children of quarry workers around Bangalore. Any enquiries to Carl and Fenella, 820230.
From the Vale
Report to council by Cllr Roger Cox, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council is available here: http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news/2019/2019-02/leader%E2%80%99s-report-vale-white-horse-district-council-%E2%80%93-wednesday-13-february-2019
Give our recycling wheels a spin. See: http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news/2019/2019-02/give-our-recycling-wheels-spin
Proposed modifications to Vale Local Plan published for consultation: http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news/2019/2019-02/proposed-modifications-vale-local-plan-published-consultation
Back in Time
Wall to Wall Media are a television company and produce a variety of programmes including the recent Living History Series - Back in Time for Tea and Back in Time for School airing now on BBC Two. For their new series they are looking for a family to immerse themselves in the world of the rural village shop, and experience the lives of those who ran them. They are filming the series in Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties over the school summer holidays 2019 and are looking for a local family with children aged 8+ who would like to take part. A casting flyer is attached which has further details about the series and how to apply. See: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/86e9d32e-40d4-4016-b3dd-e67b88a130be/Back_in_Time_.pdf
I am not sure that the links in this flyer are working properly, so for the avoidance of any doubt, they are as follows:
https://www.walltowall.co.uk/whatwedo.aspx and https://www.walltowall.co.uk/casting/new-back-in-time-series_1251.aspx
Planning application - Outline application with all matters reserved bar access, for erection of 20 dwellings, on land east of Fernham Road Uffington
You may wish to be aware that the applicants submitted additional documents on 11 February 2019, and the consultation period has been extended to 1 March. This timescale is short and the Parish Council has asked for an extension to after our next meeting on 11 March, when it can be properly be discussed, including in 'open forum'; we do not yet know if that extension has been granted. Residents can in any case make their comments to the Vale (by 1 March) or to any Parish Council member. The papers are available here:
http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/java/support/Main.jsp?MODULE=ApplicationDetails&REF=P18/V2199/O#exactline
From the Police
The Neighbourhood Watch E-Newsletter. The February 2019 edition of Our News is out now. In this edition, we reveal the theme of this year's Neighbourhood Watch Week in June. We also report from the pre-launch of a new NW force association that will cover the West Midlands and we round up the national media coverage in recent weeks since we challenged media portrayals of our members. You can download it via our website at:
www.ourwatch.org.uk/new-issue-of-our-news-now-out/
Police and Crime bulletin - the February newsletter from Matthew Barber (Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner) is here: https://mailchi.mp/matthewbarber/police-crime-bulletin-january-2019-chief-constable-appointment-council-tax-and-more-2314173?e=1a0db8a8b7
Coercive control and emotional abuse. Victims First, which supports victims of crime and abuse across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, has launched a campaign to raise awareness of coercive control and emotional abuse in relationships. The campaign is called 'Know this isn't Love' and focuses on early warning signs of controlling behaviour and emotional abuse to help victims identify any potential signs within their own relationships and seek support.
Coercive control became a criminal offence in 2015 and involves an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse by a perpetrator that is used to harm, punish or frighten their victim. Although many people associate domestic abuse with physical violence, coercive control recognises the damaging impact of other forms of abuse in relationships as well. Some examples of this type of abuse include: - Isolating you from friends and family
- Depriving you of basic needs, such as food
- Monitoring your time and activities
- Taking control over aspects of your everyday life, such as where you can go, who you can see, what you can wear and when you can sleep
- Repeatedly putting you down, such as saying 'you're worthless'
- Humiliating, degrading or dehumanising you
- Controlling your finances
- Making threats or using intimidation
The campaign focuses on various aspects of emotional abuse and controlling behaviour and is told through both male and female examples and also includes examples from same sex relationships. Victims First recently surveyed victims of coercive control and some key findings include: - A third of people who responded to the survey have been in more than one abusive relationship
- Half of the abusive relationships began when the victim was under the age of 25
- 45% of people who responded to the survey were in the abusive relationship for more than 10 years
If you have been affected by coercive control or domestic abuse you can access support through Victims First on 0300 1234 148 or online at www.victims-first.org.uk.
Tenancy Deposit Scheme Alert
Action Fraud have received several reports where fraudsters are claiming to be landlords of properties offered for rent online. Prior to a viewing the suspect requests that the individuals pay a deposit and sometimes a month's rent upfront, claiming that this money will be put into the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, and is therefore protected under government legislation.
After the individual pays the money, the suspect sends a bogus email purporting to be from the Tenancy Deposit Scheme confirming they have received their deposit. However, this is not the case as the money was sent directly to an account associated with the suspect and the victim is left out of pocket and without the home they had thought to be putting a deposit on.
What You Need To Do - Always make sure you, or a reliable contact, has viewed the property with an agent or landlord before agreeing to rent a property.
- Don't be rushed or pressured into making a decision. Only transfer funds when you're satisfied a genuine property, safety certificates and valid contract are in place.
- Only pay for goods or service by bank transfer if you know and trust the person. Payments via bank transfer offer you no protection if you become a victim of fraud.
- Once you've paid your deposit, you can check whether it's protected by entering your tenancy deposit certificate code on TDS website (www.tenancydepositscheme.com).
Rubbish Visits!
The Vale has arranged a series of tours to show what happens to the contents of your grey (Ardley) and food bins (Wallingford) on the following dates:
Energy from food waste plant – where the contents of the food bin goes to. This is based at the plant in Wallingford. All tours start at 10am and last around 1.5 hours. Dates: 25 February, 2 April, 6 June, 7 August, 3 October, 9 November.
Energy from waste plant – where the contents of the black bin goes to. This is based at the plant in Ardley. All tours start at 10am and last around 2.5 hours. Dates: 11 April, 8 July, 31 October.
The tours are very interesting and educational and are presented by a member of staff from each of the plants. If you would like to attend, please contact: Eleanor Bunn, Waste and Recycling Officer, on 01235 422173, or waste.team@southandvale.gov.uk
Please note that individuals wanting to attend these tours will need to arrange their own transport.
Uffington benefice
The Weekly Sheet for Sunday 24 February 2019 is here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/4666b314-9623-4090-8577-3bff2307b564/wsh_2019_02_24.pdf
Village news 15 February 2019 Local Council Elections – May 2019
Local elections for district and parish councils will take place on 2 May 2019. If more than six residents of Uffington put themselves forward for election, there will be a 'contested' election for the 6 Councillor positions on Uffington Parish Council. (Regrettably the application for an additional councillor to reflect the increase in number of inhabitants in the village has not yet been authorised by the District Council). All councillors are volunteers and the work of the parish council is non-political.
Uffington Parish Council has worked very well together during the last 4 years. We have worked in the interests of all sections of the community and it has been an interesting, challenging, busy and, in our view, a very successful period. However, all organisations need new blood from time to time, and we would therefore like to encourage all residents of Uffington to think about standing in the forthcoming elections.
Anyone volunteering is required to complete a nomination pack and to submit it to the Vale District Council in the period between 18 March and 3 April; this will be sent to anybody requesting it. If you are interested and would like more information about what we do, please speak to any member of the Council and / or come to the March meeting, on Monday 11 March, in the THMH. If you would just like a copy of the nomination pack this can be obtained from the Parish Clerk, Julia Evans, by email parishcouncil@uffington.net or by phoning 01235 833466.
Speedwatch - we need your support!!
A very strong desire for measures to reduce speeding in the village was expressed in the 2015 UBW CLP. Three steps have been taken so far: - The first step taken by the Parish Council was to install a sign on the Fawler Road approach into Uffington which lights up to show your speed if you are travelling at more than 30 mph.
- Thanks to the generosity of a number of residents, the School warning lights on Broad Street were resuscitated.
- The third initiative was to borrow some equipment to measure the speed of vehicles inside the 30 mph limit. 3 people were trained by the Police and some interesting results were obtained at a number of sessions late last year.
Because these sessions were obviously effective in reducing speed, the Parish Council has budgeted to make some money available in the coming year to invest in a set of monitoring equipment, in a share arrangement with other villages. BUT, there is no point doing this unless we have more people trained to operate the equipment – to show the support of residents. If you would like to help the current small team which has been trained by the Police, please get in touch with the Parish Council. If we do not get sufficient support, we will have to assume, probably wrongly, that speeding inside the 30 mph limit is no longer a concern.
BRIDGE AFTERNOON
Tuesday's afternoon of friendly Bridge together with a really good tea was a very cheerful occasion and raised about £1,400 in aid of our 4 Churches of Baulking, Shellingford, Uffington and Woolstone (£350.00 for each Church). Very many thanks to all those who contributed such delicious cakes, biscuits and sandwiches and helped to make it so successful.
Joanna Jenkins
ABBA Tribute Night- ABBA Tribute Band Sensation
Saturday 9th March - 7pm till 11pm - Supper included – Bar -Tickets £20.
078841 67800 or chris_higgs@live.com Also available from Uffington Stores
From the Police
Faringdon Neighbourhood Policing newsletter for February 2019 is attached here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/e6f7da4e-637c-48a1-b103-c4d7d9d0e13c/Faringdon_NH_newsletter_Feb_019.pdf
Road closure – Shotover
The southern end of Shotover will be closed to vehicular traffic for 2 weeks commencing 18th February to allow replacement of a small culvert which has partially collapsed, causing a local flood risk; a map showing the diversion (via Woolstone) is on the Parish Council notice board.
Uffington benefice
The Weekly Sheet for Sunday 17 February 2019 is here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/b4de02ee-e593-4205-b5fd-1281b570e40f/wsh_2019_02_17.pdf
Village news 8 February 2019 The January Quiz
The quiz has now finished. We received nine correct quiz sheets and a winner was chosen at random in the shop. Congratulations to Mark Leahy, who received the bottle of Prosecco. In total, 51 quiz sheets were purchased and £51 goes to the Uffington School PTA. If anyone would like to know the answers, there is a copy in the shop. If you want an electronic copy, email me at geoff.rumble@btinternet,com.
Thank you to everyone who took part. Geoff Rumble
Farmers Market – Sunday 10 February
The Farmers Market is back on Sunday, from 10.00 am till 12.30 pm. Plenty of old favourites, and some new faces; your support is always appreciated. Food and drinks will be available. Tickets will also be available for the ABBA Tribute Band Sensation; after a great evening last year, they are returning on Saturday 9th March to perform their 70's and 80's show. A fab night out.
Email: chris_higgs@live.com for details.
From the Friends of the Ridgeway
Please find attached a Spring Newsletter for the Friends of the Ridgeway: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/fa01f143-88e6-4d67-bf64-47620ec705b1/FOR_Newsletter_Jan_2019.pdf
Following the letter from the Chairman, this Newsletter gives a report on administrative matters from the Secretary, an article on History of the Ridgeway, Swire Ridgeway Arts Prize update, and a circular pub walks on the Ridgeway. Please do note the date of 28 April 2019 as the Ridgeway Friends Day which will include our AGM as well as other activities and a chance to view the art exhibition. And if you can volunteer to assist with the web site, please do so.
Star Count 2019 - Take Part: 2 February - 23 February Help us reclaim our dark skies
Dark, starry skies are one of the most magical sights the countryside can offer. But light pollution means many of us can't see the stars. We want to reconnect people with the wonder of our glorious night skies. You can take part in #StarCount2019 and help us find our darkest skies, to ensure more of us can experience this natural wonder.
Our Star Count will take place this February, with support from the British Astronomical Association, and we'll be asking you to look up at the night sky and tell us how many you can see in Orion. You can do this from anywhere in England.
Your results will help us to create a map showing the best places to enjoy the stars. And it will also support our work to combat light pollution and reclaim our dark skies. More information here: https://www.cpre.org.uk/what-we-do/countryside/dark-skies/star-count-2019?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=star-count-instructions&utm_content=Star+Count+2019+instructions+email
Defibrillators
All six defibrillators are now installed and live on South Central Ambulance Service's systems. The 'UBW' Parish Council / Parish Meetings are extremely grateful to the Russ family for their lively, informative and amusing awareness / training sessions. The remaining sessions are: - Monday 11th February - Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall (large hall) at 7.00 pm
- Thursday 14th February - Baulking Church at 7.00 pm
You do not need any training or qualification to use a defibrillator as you just follow the voice instructions, but as many people as possible are encouraged to attend, to find out why they are so important and how they work - You may need to use one in a hurry.
Road closure – Shotover
The southern end of Shotover will be closed to vehicular traffic for 2 weeks commencing 18th February to allow replacement of a small culvert which has partially collapsed, causing a local flood risk; a map showing the diversion via Woolstone is on the Parish Council notice board.
From BT
Here's how to protect yourself from scam telephone calls (I had one myself recently). It's probably a scam call if someone calls you out of the blue to: - tell you that your service has been hacked
- try to remotely take control of your computer or another device
- tell you they've found a problem with your computer
- ask you for an urgent payment and threaten to disconnect your service
- ask for payment details to activate Call Protect, Caller Display, or any of our free services
If something doesn't seem right, you can still stay in control. Make sure not to give out any personal details, hang up the phone, and report the call on our website at bt.com/scams
Uffington benefice
The Weekly Sheet for Sunday 10 February 2019 is here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/1dc7ee6c-9378-42dc-b1c9-135156410b76/wsh_2019_02_10.pdf
Casino night on 8 February | | | | | | | | | | | |
