Lockdown news
Vale Town and parish update – 25/02/2021
Please see attached here: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/be378516-e911-4bcd-9ebc-0ac9b24250ab/District_Council_update_25_Feb_2021.pdf
The government has created some handy graphics to make it easier to digest the different steps of a 'Road Map' out of lockdown; they are attached here: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/0b6f0040-63cd-44a1-9796-69162f3a17cb/Road_map_steps_1_to_4.docx
You can also read the full details of the roadmap and the four steps on the government website
Working party required Saturday 27th February at 10am in Upper Common Lane
Tomorrow, 27th February, the Parish Council would like to plant the 120 hedging whips kindly donated by the Woodland Trust this winter. We started this project last year, planting from the stile, and the ground has now been prepared to continue the double hedge line down the lane. Offers of help on 27th would be much appreciated - please bring a spade and trowel, wear wellies, and be prepared to get muddy! Planting instruction will be given.
Speed Reduction in Uffington
Some of you will have noticed 4 'bare' metal poles which have been erected on Broad Street and some of the approach roads to the village. These poles are to support the new vehicle activated sign (VAS) which has been purchased with a combination of OCC County Councillor's Priority Fund, OCC Communities and Parish Council funds following our failed bid to secure funds from the 'Active Travel' initiative last year.
The VAS will be moved between poles on a random basis as this has been shown to create a more effective deterrent to speeding. As well as showing a smiley or angry face, the VAS will record vehicle speeds for further analysis and assist in identifying locations and times where and when police or volunteer mobile speed cameras may be deployed.
Mike
Chairman Uffington Parish Council
Here is a picture of the new VAS: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/5022342c-8250-4625-ab8f-f9a400b1a411.jpg
Uffington Community Garden AGM
The AGM will be held on-line at 7.30pm on Saturday 27 February. This is a public meeting so all are welcome. If you have any queries, please contact Heather Abel - on behalf of Peter Abel (secretary) - heather.abel@hotmail.com or Katherine Foxhall - katfoxhall@gmail.com
For more information about the Community Garden, see attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/801050e2-4a24-41fd-b1cc-dd7f031afe74/COMMUNITY_GARDEN.01.pdf
You are invited to a public scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Uffington Community Garden AGM 2021. Time: Feb 27, 2021 07:30 PM London
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85882869210?pwd=RWhwWEpkdXNJc0FIdlZscTZNRmsxZz09
From the Churches of Uffington Benefice
Please find attached the Weekly Sheet for Sunday 28th February. https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/95173060-ca75-4bed-b9fb-fefc0dbdc66f/wsh_2021_02_28.pdf
Please see the Uffington web site for resources and links for the livestream and Zoom services:
https://www.uffingtonbenefice.com/home
Lockdown news The government has introduced a number of new accessibility improvements to the home testing programme to make it even easier to get tested.
From the Vale
Vale of White Horse - town and parish update – 18 February 2021
See attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/5b2fd528-e353-4ef1-abaf-1b7343873301/District_Council_update_18_Feb_21_.pdf Report on the grants supporting businesses during the pandemic. Please see attached a report detailing the economic support provided for businesses during the pandemic: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/1cff38d3-67fd-4823-bb3f-a64570537adf/Business_Grants_Summary_VOWH_15.2.21.pdf Funding approved for new Shrivenham sports pavilion
A brand-new sports pavilion will be built in Shrivenham, using funds raised by the Vale of White Horse District Council from local housing developments. You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Changes to Vale parking arrangements confirmed following public consultation
Following a public consultation, Vale of White Horse District Council's Cabinet have approved several changes to parking arrangements to help reduce vehicle emissions. At their meeting on Friday 5 February, the council's Cabinet considered the consultation results, and approved that the ...
You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Two district councils join Oxfordshire Greentech to help local businesses tackle the climate emergency. As part of their commitments to help the districts become carbon neutral, Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire District Councils have struck up a brand-new partnership to help local businesses reduce their carbon footprint. As Strategic Partners, the councils will be working with Oxfordshire Greentech to help connect businesses with specialist suppliers, customers and ... You can see details on our website by clicking this link
From David Johnston MP:
Parish newsletter dated 15/2/20212 is attached here: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/276e1d09-34a9-46fe-83f9-580c8001e9b1/Parish_newsletters_15.2.2021.pdf
The link to the Grove Station survey is: Grove Station Survey | David Johnston (david-johnston.org.uk)
From the Police
Bitcoin-Related Scam Emails
We're warning the public to be vigilant of unsolicited emails promoting cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) investment opportunities. We've received over 750 reports this week about Bitcoin-related phishing emails that use fake celebrity endorsements to try and lure victims into investment scams. The links in the emails lead to fraudulent websites that are designed to steal your money, as well as personal and financial information.
How you can protect yourself: - Investment opportunities: Don't be rushed into making an investment. Remember, legitimate organisations will never pressure you into making a transaction on the spot.
- Seek advice first: Speak with a trusted friend or family members, and seek independent professional advice before making significant financial decisions.
- FCA register: Use the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) register to check if the company is regulated by the FCA. If you deal with a firm (or individual) that isn't regulated, you may not be covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) if things go wrong and you lose your money.
- Report suspicious emails: If you have received an email which you're not quite sure about, you can report it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service by forwarding the email to - report@phishing.gov.uk
To see examples of the Bitcoin-related phishing emails that have been reported to us, follow Action Fraud on Twitter or Facebook.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition Survey
As part of a national survey, Thames Valley Police is looking for your feedback around the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) across our policing area. ANPR technology is used by police forces across the UK to help detect, deter and disrupt criminality, including organised crime groups and terrorists.
Registration plate cameras are most commonly used to alert officers to stolen vehicles, vehicles that have been involved in crime or to help locate missing people. The data they collect can also be used in investigations and they are governed by strict codes of practice. You have probably seen how ANPR works from TV programmes or you may have even visited a petrol station or car park which uses ANPR systems to keep you safe. West Midlands Police have produced a short video which demonstrates how they used ANPR to locate a missing person. To watch the video please click here ANPR Video.
ANPR is a vital tool to help policing stay one-step ahead of criminals and better protect our communities. Your views play an important part in how we do this. The survey is anonymous and only takes a few minutes of your time to complete.
Click here to complete the survey: ANPR Survey.
Facebook Live with The Chief Constable
Do you have a question for the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police? This is your chance to ask the Chief about what is happening with policing across the Thames Valley! - Covid-19 and policing?
- Current crime trends?
- What does 2021 look like for TVP?
- ...Favourite football team?
Date: Thursday 25 February Time: 7pm Location: Tune in and join us via the main Thames Valley Police Facebook account or search for @thamesvp
ACCESS and pancakes
A huge thank you from Fenella and Carl to everyone who supported our "pancake collection service" on Shrove Tuesday, and to those who didn't even want pancakes but made donations. The total so far is an amazing £455! This will go directly to support the work of ACCESS in Bangalore, helping needy children and their families; our friend Thomas Swaroop who runs the charity will be overwhelmed to know how generous you all have been.
From the Churches of Uffington Benefice
Please find attached the Weekly Sheet for Sunday 21 February: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/0f544ad5-7f82-48f8-a1f2-ff32ac4f6499/wsh_2021_02_21.pdf
Please see the Uffington web site for resources and links for this and other services this week https://www.uffingtonbenefice.com/home | | | | 
Garden waste collections Garden Waste collections (brown bins)
Collections start again with effect from tomorrow, 15 February. More details here:
Garden waste - Vale of White Horse District Council (whitehorsedc.gov.uk)
Village news 12 February 2021 Lockdown news
May 2021 polls delivery plan
The May 2021 polls will take place in a similar way to previous polls, but there will be differences as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
From the Vale
Vale of White Horse - town and parish update. (Not available as yet; I will circulate it later if that looks worthwhile)
Litter picking
Vale community litter picking services are currently suspended until further notice due to the pandemic. This is to enable the Vale waste team to focus on essential services whilst building resilience in the workforce and dealing with an increase in staff shortages due to illness. The Vale does not currently have the resources to investigate reports of dumping/fly-tipping or to collect waste resulting from community litter picks.
For the avoidance of any doubt, this is not intended to stop those kind people who take a bag with them when on their permitted exercise, and dispose responsibly of the litter which is dumped on our verges; the Parish Council is very grateful to you all.
Extended support for those struggling to pay their council tax could benefit more than 3,000 households. South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council are to extend the support they are providing to help working age people who are struggling to pay their council tax as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Proposed changes could improve taxi safety and help tackle the climate emergency ¿ have your say! Members of the public and those involved in the taxi trade are being asked to comment on some potential changes to the joint taxi licensing policy for South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse. You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Community Engagement will identify how to prioritise leisure funding into Wantage, Grove and Faringdon.
Community groups and sporting organisations in Wantage, Grove and Faringdon will help to identify how millions of pounds of funding raised from housing developers will be spent in their local areas. You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Leaders statement - Report to Council. Cllr Emily Smith, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, delivered her latest Report to Council at the meeting on 10 February 2021. You can see details on our website by clicking this link
The Thomas Hughes Memorial Halls
There will be regular users of the Halls, who will be wondering when on earth they will be reopening – as does the Management Committee. There may be some of you considering a venue for an occasion you wish to hold after such a prolonged time without a party. And there may be some who have time on their hands and who have never visited the Hall website - Home (thmh.co.uk)
So why not look at it now. During the lengthy closed times the larger Hall has recently been given a decorative facelift, the installation of the new high quality Audio – Visual facility having happened before that. Your attention is drawn especially to the Gallery and the Events sections of the website. May you find it an interesting and worthwhile browse. We shall, of course, be looking to reopen just as soon as the relevant bodies from the Government downwards permit.
Tom Brown's School Museum
We are keeping everything crossed that we will be able to open the museum this year & welcome back lots of visitors. In the meantime, the Friends are on a mission to recruit new members, either to join the rota or simply to support the museum. Volunteering can be as little as 3 hours a year or for a small subscription, a 'Friend' can enjoy organised talks & invitations to open events in the museum. If you would like to join the already 100+ Friends please complete & return the attached subscription form: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/e8872b9e-283d-41ac-a1a0-9caf3730ba58/Friends_membership_2021_FB_version.pdf
On behalf of Jo Coad Chair Friends of TBSM.
Speeding in the village
To help address the many ongoing requests, the Parish Council is introducing a fresh initiative to reduce speeding in the village. With generous funding from Cllr Constance's county council budget, OCC Highways and the Parish Council, we hope that Highways will shortly be installing new poles on the Fawler, Station, and Fernham Roads into Uffington, and on the verge between the Village Hall car park and The Green. These poles will hold a new Speed Indication Device which will be capable of being moved around as required; it will hold data which we will be able to download and send to the Police, to indicate speeding 'hot spots'.
We are also hopeful that the Police are going to re-activate the local Speed Watch initiative, so the data from the new SID will help to inform the positioning of the Speed Watch team. (This is unlikely to happen whilst the pandemic remains a threat).
Benefice 200 Club – Draw No. 3 for 2020/2021
Whilst Lockdown continues, we are unable to hold the Benefice 200 Club Draws during a local event. So we held the third draw at St. Nicholas Church in Baulking on the 10th February, with the Vicar present. This quarter's winners are attached here: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/f38f3ef1-9421-427c-acd6-e3e1af4c6ef2/BENEFICE_200_CLUB_DRAW_10_February_2021.pdf
If you would like to join please contact stevecharris@btinternet.com
From OCC
Connecting Oxford Newsletter Winter 2021. Plans are now moving ahead for the next stage of the development of Connecting Oxford to address the need to reduce congestion, cut carbon emissions, improve bus routes, and introduce improved infrastructure for cycling and walking across Oxford. For more information, see: Connecting Oxford Newsletter Winter 2021 (mailchi.mp)
Shrove Tuesday - 16th February - pancakes at Norton House
Sadly, we will be unable to hold our annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Party to raise funds for ACCESS, the charity we support helping the children and families of quarry workers in Bangalore, India. However, if you would like to pre-order some home-made pancakes from us, they will be available for collection from Norton House, Broad Street, Uffington on Tuesday 16th. All you will need to do is reheat them. Unfortunately, we will be unable to provide any fillings, but this will be your chance to experiment for yourselves!
To order, please e-mail/phone in your requirements and approximate collection time on Tuesday 16th (between 10am and 5pm please), and the pancakes will be bagged, labelled and in our porch. There will be a donations box there, or if you would like the ACCESS UK bank details to we can let you have them.
India is suffering during the pandemic like the rest of the world - Thomas Swaroop and his team at ACCESS are busy handing out food parcels to needy families in addition to funding their usual work of running playgroups, funding schoolchildren and students and helping with women's education. Anything we can send them at this difficult time will be much appreciated, so we hope you will be able to support our "Shrove Tuesday pancake non-party" as generously as you are able.
Carl and Fenella Oberman
Norton House, Broad Street, Uffington
01367 820230
07748 792765
fenella.oberman@btinternet.com
Neighbourhood Watch - Tvnhwa AGM 15th May 2021
This is early advice that we will again be holding our AGM online, using Zoom, but this year it will be a live meeting, with several Speakers, just as if it was a traditional face-to-face event. The Meeting will start at 10.00 a.m. and finish at 12 noon. However, we are limited to a maximum of 100 attendees, so links to attend will be forwarded on a 'first come, first served' basis after the confirmation email goes out. There is no limit to numbers who wish to vote.
In due course, the usual documents, such as the Financial Report & Accounts will be published on our website at www.tvnhwa.org.uk and we will advise everyone when this has been done. Similarly, the names of those standing for election, and their personal profiles, will also be available for your consideration before voting. If there are items you would like to see on the AGM Agenda, or if you wish to raise questions for discussion at the event, please let me know in good time.
Finally, we are very keen to hear from any members who believe in the value of NHW and who are interested in helping our future development. Across Thames Valley there are numerous vacancies for Coordinators, Area Coordinators, Multi-Scheme Administrators and Area Representatives. We would also like to hear from anyone who will volunteer their services as an Officer of the TV Association, as Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary or Treasurer, or simply as a specialist in a field such as social media or public relations. All such applications need to be with me by the 15th April, please, to allow time to get names onto the Voting Form.
Further information will follow as soon as possible.
David Alder, Secretary, Thames Valley Neighbourhood Watch Association (TVNHWA)
Classified
Looking for a property for short term let. Looking for a safe local small property for a short term let, possibly 8 weeks. To allow pets ideally. Elderly lady waiting for her house to be built but due to Covid, building work has been seriously delayed.
Please contact Sarah at sarahcarolinejohnson@btinternet.com if you have anything that could fit the bill. Thank you.
From the Churches of Uffington Benefice
Please find attached the Weekly Sheet for Sunday 14th February: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/1a3e4477-d567-4b5f-be10-528ba60cb19c/wsh_2021_02_14.pdf
Please see the Uffington web site for resources and links for the livestream and Zoom services:
https://www.uffingtonbenefice.com/home
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