I am distributing this early, on account of the electricity shutdown on Friday – see below.
Electricity supply – Friday 12 July
It appears from warning notices received from SSE that the electricity supply to the village, and probably much of the local area also, will be shut down on Friday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. If you have any problems or queries I suggest you call the emergency number 105. (I tried the enquiries number given and it went to a personal voice mail message – so not helpful).
Please note that the Uffington Shop and Post Office will be open from 07.00 to 08.45 am only, and will remain closed until c30 minutes after the power comes back up. Some advice and FAQs from SSE are attached here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/f23c84f0-f4b9-497f-9de5-7eee9518c7c0/Power_cut_advice.pdf
Please particularly note the section on 'Our Vulnerable Customers' and check on neighbours who might be in difficulty.
Stamps for The Leprosy Mission
A big 'thank you' to everyone who has collected/is collecting stamps for The Leprosy Mission. Last year the charity raised over £50,000 through stamps and other collectibles like coins and old postcards. Please put your stamps in one of the collecting boxes in the churches in Uffington, Baulking, Woolstone or Shellingford. Or you can give them to me.
We appreciate all stamps, even ordinary first and second class UK ones. The more common ones are sold by weight to dealers, and all stamps eventually have to be soaked off their backing paper. To maximise value, the border round the stamps has to be trimmed to around ¼". Unfortunately I have recently lost my two wonderful 'trimmers', who have moved out of the village. If you could spare an hour or two to help with this simple task, I'd really love to hear from you. Perhaps you could do a bit of trimming while you are watching TV?
Thank you. Mike Thomas
ukmcthomas@gmail.com
07803 035603
Sirinu - Hornepypes and Gigges – Friday 12 July in Baulking Church, at 8.00pm
Tickets in advance £15 (phone 07813 937051) or pay at the door.
'Songs for a Summer's evening'
Faringdon Singers' concert at 7:00 pm on Sunday 14th July in the Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall, in aid of Cancer Research. Folk and traditional songs by English composers for choir and baritone soloist. Followed by pizza and prosecco. Tickets £10 from Carl Oberman at Norton House, or at the door
Uffington Primary School Summer Fete and Auction – Thursday 18 July
The Summer fete will be held on 18 July, from 3 to 5.00 pm, at the School. Auction bids can be placed on line between 11 and 17 July and / or in-person at the School Summer Fete on Thurs 18th July. More information here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/41f72b96-9956-49bd-94ee-d26c0bf5a05f/auction_fete_poster.pdf
Your chance to influence a proposed White Horses Project!
The North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty team is hoping to develop and deliver a project based on the theme of the 'Landscape of the White Horses', but the staff need your help! Please take a couple of minutes to complete the brief survey in the attached link. Answering the questions will help the AONB team better understand the extent to which the White Horses are valued as well as tap your thoughts on how funding to support the project should be spent. Please complete the survey by 31st October 2019 and share the link with others, so that they may participate. Many thanks.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/VDH8BDP
Vale Community Awards
It is that time of year when nominations are sought for the Vale Community Awards Lunch. The lunch is held annually to acknowledge the work of the many volunteers who help make the Vale such a wonderful place to live, and will be held on Saturday 28 September. The only criteria for nomination is that the work is for the benefit of the Vale community and that no payment is received. Nominations are due to be submitted by 9 August.
If you have any ideas for nominations within the Uffington community, please let me know.
From the Police
Prevent Your Home from Becoming Hot Property This Summer - The summer is a time when Thames Valley Police, and other forces around the country, experience an increase in residential burglary. This is due to opportunist thieves taking advantage of doors and windows being left open in hot weather, and properties not being left secure while residents are away on holiday. By working together we can build community resilience to deter burglars from targeting homes in the area.
- It only takes seconds to steal valuables that are within easy reach. Window opening restrictors can be fitted to ground floor windows to allow ventilation while preventing burglars from being able to climb through. If going out, even just in the garden, you should always close and lock your windows and doors.
- The consequences of being burgled reach far beyond the cost and inconvenience of replacing stolen items. It is also the emotional impact of having your summer holiday ruined, and the feeling of being violated, after an uninvited stranger has been in your home.
- If leaving your car at home when you go on holiday, remember to remove any valuables and check the windows are closed and doors are locked. If your vehicle is stolen you could lose your motor insurance excess and no claims bonus. You will still be responsible for any vehicle finance owed and likely to pay higher insurance premiums in the future.
- Avoid checking-in on social networks at the airport and wait to post your holiday photos until you get home. Some home insurance policies become invalidated if you post that you are away from home.
A holiday checklist and a link to a free Home Security Guide on the TVP website are included in the Faringdon Neighbourhood Policing newsletter for July, attached: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/1a07d09d-c4a0-4676-9c92-d9fea6c74235/Faringdon_NH_newsletter_July_19.pdf
Thefts from Vehicles At Local Beauty Spots
Yesterday, Thames Valley Police were made aware of 5 separate incidents of theft from vehicles at beauty spot locations across the Faringdon and Wantage area. Two incidents were reported at Ashbury, two incidents at Scutchamers Knob in East Hendred and one incident at Blowingstone Hill in Kingston Lisle.
We wish to reassure you that our PCSO's and officers are tasked to be out in these areas but we ask that members of the public remain vigilant, report suspicious persons or vehicles on 999 and remove all valuables from their vehicles if leaving them at beauty spot locations. We advise against hiding valuables inside your vehicles and encourage you to park in places that are visible to passing traffic or members of the public, where offenders will be discouraged from targeting parked vehicles.
Firearms Licensing - Changes To Telephone Line Opening Hours
Due to feedback from the firearms licensing community and the general public the Firearms Licensing Department is trialling a change of its telephone opening hours. As of 03 July 2019, the public telephone opening times are changing to 08.00 – 10.00 hours (Monday – Friday). Our telephone number 01865 541556 remains the same. The Firearms Licensing Department can also be contacted via the Single Online Home Platform www.thamesvalley.police.uk/ or FirearmsLicensing@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
Drivers Targeted With Fake Fines
Action Fraud have received an increase in reports and intelligence where elderly victims are being targeted by individuals purporting to be police officers or traffic wardens. The victims are being approached whilst parked in a car park and are told by the suspect that they have parked illegally or broken a speed limit and a photo has been taken of their car for 'evidence'.
Victims are advised that they will face a substantial penalty fine unless they pay a smaller upfront fee immediately. Victims, who opt for paying the smaller penalty, will be directed to a parking meter and asked to enter their card and PIN. These parking meters have been tampered with by the suspect in order to retain the card.
Once the victim inserts their card and are asked for their PIN, the victims are shoulder surfed for their PIN by the suspect. Once victims input their PIN, the card is retained by the machine and victims are told by the suspect to seek help from the company who operates the parking meter or their bank.
What you need to do - If you are suspicious about the authenticity of the fine, do not pay it until you have verified it with your local council.
- Always shield your PIN from view when using an ATM machine, and never share your PIN with anyone.
- If your bank card is retained by an ATM machine, contact your bank immediately to inform them.
Neighbourhood Watch
The latest edition of Our News – the Neighbourhood Watch e-newsletter – is out now. In this issue, we round up events from Neighbourhood Watch week and hear about the launch a new good practice database entitled Neighbourhood Watch Inspiration.
The newsletter can be downloaded from our website at: www.ourwatch.org.uk/knowledge/news-read-latest-e-newsletter/
From Oxfordshire County Council - OCC Climate Action Programme
OCC's current action on the environment/climate: - OCC to review energy strategy : new target to achieve net zero emission by 2030 (ahead of current target of 2050 as achieving 6% reduction per annum)
- Install 50,000 LED street lights as they come due for replacement: 6,000 this year
- Continue support for 65 Community Action Groups on environment projects, incl. energy generation, flood management, food waste (largest number in UK)
- OCC support for Local Energy Oxfordshire (LEO) new inter-county generation project funded by EDF and SSE ( launched 26/06/19)
- Through OEP (Oxon Environment Partnership) with District Councils/ Oxford City set target to recycle 70% waste by 2030 (OCC currently top recycling county in UK)
- Agreed with DC/City partners at OEP to new post : Environment Partnership (EP) officer to drive the agenda
- Introduce electric vehicles EV to OCC fleet as contracts become due. OCC has 2 EVs.
- Zero Emissions Zone (ZEZ) introduced in centre Oxford City: from 2020 buses required to be Euro 6; taxis to be zero emissions by 2025 and dates set for other vehicles as the ZEZ area expands. All buses and taxis will take lower emissions to every town and village in the county
- Traffic congestion management programme with Oxford City is well advanced with consultation planned for the summer
- Safer schools trial programme launched last week to increase awareness of pollution risk around schools.
- OCC won 2 national awards on Thurs 19 June: one for setting up Recycling Cafés; the other for health and safety projects, which demonstrates OCC's cutting edge capability and appetite for improving every service.
- OCC supports an innovative team of research scientists in the iHUB which now connects 500 scientists and businessmen in Oxfordshire to develop cutting edge technology in motor industry, bio sciences, energy (efficiency as well as generation and distribution), housing and others. It is a central contributor to the global reach Oxfordshire now enjoys in science and technology. OCC is part of developing the technologies which will drive the UK economy in 21st century.
Cllr Yvonne Constance
From the Vale
A big step to tackle the climate emergency. Senior councillors in the Vale of White Horse are hoping to establish a new committee to help the council tackle issues around the climate emergency. More information here: http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news/2019/2019-07/big-step-tackle-climate-emergency
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