Local news
Sunday 14 August. Rupert and Julia Lycett-Green will be hosting a "Thank You Tea Party" for Rose and Dave to thank them for all their efforts at the Shop through the pandemic, on Sunday 14 August at 16.00. Everyone is invited to tea in the garden at Mill House, Fernham Road, SN7 7RD. There will be a small presentation.
Uffington Wed Walk - 3rd August. We're so glad that lots of you joined us for our July walk around East Garston with a sociable lunch shared at The Queens Arms pub afterwards – see attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/2621e709-3bd1-0a26-03bb-ad9c756021a5/The_East_Garston_Walk.pdf
Wed 3rd August 9:30 Uffington Village Hall. For our August walk we have taken into account the recent very warm weather and chosen a shorter shadier walk. We will be following the Letcombe Brook Discovery Trail, exploring the brook through Letcombe Regis and Bassett nature reserve. Three miles in total on a linear there and back route. The weather forecast promises 21 degrees sunny intervals and a gentle breeze. Could not be more perfect for a walk like this.
Meeting at Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall Uffington SN7 7RH at 9:20 for car sharing and 9:30 departure. Or if preferred at Letcombe Village Hall at 9:45. If you would like to find some refreshments afterwards there is a cafe in Letcombe village or, if preferred, the Greyhound Pub.
The Walking Group committee, Verity, Pamela, Hilary and Joe. Verity Cavanagh veritycavanagh@gmail.com 07975 861790
Ukraine. In recent months, Uffington, Baulking and Woolstone residents have been extremely generous with donations to people in Ukraine; these have been delivered by Fay and other helpers to the collection point in Shrivenham, for onward transportation to the Humanitarian hubs in Swindon and then to Ukraine and neighbouring countries. Thank you for making such a valuable contribution to the aid effort.
It now appears that across Swindon the level of donations has slowed down to a trickle, and in Shrivenham, donations of items/food have almost stopped. This is understandable - good people have already donated generously; governments and NGOs are in the lead and implementing their humanitarian support plans; and attention is moving elsewhere. The Shrivenham Refugee Support Network is therefore winding up, so UBW collection points will close down.
In future, those wishing to help should donate money through one of the well-established charities such as the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) or the Red Cross. Some helpful websites are shown below: Locally, it is thought that a Ukrainian family will shortly arrive in Uffington and Fay's support group remains in existence if help is required.
Improvement of Uffington footpaths. Following the installation of three kissing gates on Footpath 26, the attached press release has been distributed to a number of local outlets: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/4c9f29b6-f9cb-0f4a-e6e0-aae3d3628419/FP_26_press_release_.pdf
Vale District Council news
Vale news: Vale News - July 2022 (emailblaster.cloud)
(Uffington is included in the Litter Bug Detectives Trail, from 6 August to 4 September).
Cost of living. Councillors have agreed a series of steps designed to help those in the district, who are most in need, through the cost-of-living crisis. You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Voter registration. Residents across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse are being urged to check the details on a letter they will receive from their district council from the end of July. South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils will be sending a `Canvass Communication Form' to all homes which requires the occupants ... You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Local democracy. Vale of White Horse District Council has welcomed a petition presented by a 10-year-old and is encouraging other young people to get involved in local democracy. Lizzie Pugh from Faringdon gave a presentation arguing the need for a new splash park at her hometown to the council's Cabinet meeting on Friday 22 July. In her ... You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Climate change. Communities and groups across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse are being urged to put plans in place now, so they are ready to plant trees in record numbers during the annual tree planting season, later this year. Carbon dioxide (CO2) produced through the burning of fossil fuels, waste, and other materials is ... You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Litter mapping project. This is a repeat, with more detail, of an earlier notice.
In case you are not aware, Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire district councils recently launched a joint litter mapping project aimed at identifying where and what type of items are littered, this information will then be used to target those areas. The summer-long survey asks litter pickers to record the location and types of litter either online using our survey or by post using a set number of criteria available on our website. Litter is defined as any item left out in public which should have been put in a bin. While the results from litter pickers might include some surprise items (a recent litter pick in Drayton St Leonard unearthed a Victorian Bovril bottle) the survey includes categories for the most commonly-littered items including: - Bagged dog poo
- Bottles
- Cans
- Cigarette butts
- Food items
- Fast food packaging
- Face masks and disposable gloves
When results are collated later this year, then littering in the districts can be more accurately mapped and the information passed on to the councils' envirocrime team to ensure those areas are regularly patrolled. In addition, the councils' waste team can use the mapping to increase awareness among communities of any litter issues in their areas. The project results can also feed into the ongoing review of litter bins in the districts.
We would be very grateful if you could share this information with any litter pickers you know of in your areas. The litter picks do not need to have taken place on district council land: the more data we gather, the better! The survey and more information can be found on our website here: www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/littermapping
County news
Your Oxfordshire: Your choices matter, summer of fun and LTN decision. See: Whoops! We made a mistake (mailchi.mp)
Road closure 26 September to 2 November. We have been notified that the B4507 will be closed from 26 September to 2 November, for that part of the B4507 between Ashbury village and the crossroads with Knighton Hill at Compton Beauchamp. A map showing the closed section and recommended diversion route (very long) is attached here: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/c283bb59-996d-3e65-afce-9fc5376a9a52/B4507_Ashbury_to_Compton_Beauchamp_Diversion_Route_SIGNED.pdf
Oxfordshire transport and travel bulletin. See: Modular Template Patterns (mailchi.mp)
From the Police
Help Our Call Handlers To Help You. Our Call Handlers are under more pressure at the moment due to the unprecedented amount of calls coming in. Firstly, we want to say thank you to them for their amazing work. However, we also need to highlight that you should only call 999 if there is a genuine emergency. We need to keep the lines clear for those who need to contact us. Don't forget, for any non-emergencies you can visit our website https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/ro/report/ or call 101.
Supt Matt Bullivant explains more in this video: https://youtu.be/85EhLpS8ZxU
Fire precautions
The hot weather has brought an increase in individuals lighting fires on grass areas across South & Vale. We would like to remind the public that these fires can cause damage & harm to those nearby & offer the following safety advice: - Help stop fires from starting by never lighting open fires in the countryside
- Only use BBQ's in safe, designated areas when in the countryside & don't leave them unattended. Make sure they are fully extinguished & cold before disposal
- Don't light fires in close proximity to trees, bushes, livestock or property as the fire is more likely to spread should it get out of control
- Extinguish cigarettes properly & don't throw the end on the ground or throw them out car windows
- Take rubbish, bottles & glasses with you when leaving the countryside as sunlight shining through glass can start fires
If you see a fire make sure you are out of immediate danger & report the fire immediately by calling 999.
Advice For Dog Owners - Increase in Reported Dog Attacks. We have recently seen an increase in reports of dog attacks. We would like to remind dog owners to take reasonable steps to keep your dog under control, as follows: - Keep your dog on a lead in public places
- Ensure your dog is comfortable off a lead and will respond to your recall
- Use a muzzle if you are concerned about your dog in public
- Keep your dog on a lead when near livestock
- See advice from the local Vet Surgery if you have any concerns
It is your responsibility to ensure that your dog is under control at all times. Your dog must be wearing a collar with an identity tag that has the owners name and address on it - just a telephone number is not enough. For more information on this issue and ways to report crime, please visit the Thames Valley Police website.
From the Churches of Uffington Benefice
Please find attached the Weekly Sheet for Sunday 31 July 2022: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/163f4d7b-ad85-6ae9-d1ca-378d8e412d92/wsh_2022_07_31.pdf
https://www.uffingtonbenefice.com/
Village news 22 July 2022 Local news
Uffington Market. This Sunday, from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm
Improvement of Uffington Footpaths
Uffington Parish Council is very pleased to announce that access to another village footpath has been significantly improved by the replacement of stiles with kissing gates. Three kissing gates have been installed this week on Footpath 26 – this is the one which leads from behind the telephone box on Broad Street to the Woolstone Road, across the small fields in the heart of the Uffington Conservation Area. As part of the project, the ancient stone footbridge over the stream at the southern end has also been repaired.
This has been made possible with another generous grant from Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment (TOE) with funds from Grundon Waste Management Ltd, from their own funds and through the Landfill Communities Fund. Uffington Parish Council is extremely grateful to TOE and Grundon Waste Management Ltd.
The new kissing gates are all on land owned by Mr and Mrs David Coxhead, to whom Uffington Parish Council are very grateful, for their support and cooperation to the project. We are also very grateful to Pepler Fine Fencing Ltd (of Goosey) who did the installation, on the two days this week when new records for the temperature in UK were set. The Council would also like to thank Mr and Mrs Anthony Parsons for repairing the stile and adding a 'dog gate' where Footpath 25 leads into Packers Lane.
David Johnston MP. David's article for August is attached here: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/7a72432b-c7c5-8f39-41cd-29a1bd084cab/David_Johnston_MP_August.01.pdf
Vale District Council news
The Didcot Garden Party is returning throughout the summer holidays to bring exciting events and sports activities to Cornerstone Arts Centre and local parks in the town. South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are bringing lots of free activities for families and young people from 23 July up until 31 August. The ... You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Energy saving in Botley, a new community hub in Shrivenham and draught busting in Wantage are just some of the many community projects which will receive funding from Vale of White Horse District Council to help tackle climate change. Thirteen projects across the district will receive a share of £50,000 after successfully applying to the ... You can see details on our website by clicking this link
The district councils in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse receive seven per cent of your council tax, so it's important you know how they're doing and that you're getting value for money. Both councils are committed to transparency and to being accountable for their actions, and as part of that commitment they've ... You can see details on our website by clicking this link
From the Churches of Uffington Benefice
Please find attached the Weekly Sheet for Sunday 24 July 2022: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/be9ed411-276f-75b3-2381-907e92e9d4f0/wsh_2022_07_24.pdf
https://www.uffingtonbenefice.com/
Village news 15 July 2022 - part 2 Local news
The anticipated record-breaking temperatures next week are being widely trailed in the media, but here are a couple of relevant items which have appeared since the newsletter earlier today:
From the Police. Emergency Services unite to ask communities to use services responsibly amid weather warning. Blue Light Services from across the Thames Valley are joining forces to remind residents around dialling 999 responsibly ahead of the heatwave over the coming days.
The Met Office have today (15/7) issued a red extreme heat warning for Monday (18/7) and Tuesday (19/7) across the South East. In response, Thames Valley Police, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, and Fire and Rescue Services from Oxfordshire, Royal Berkshire and Buckinghamshire are collectively issuing advice to residents on steps they can take to reduce demand on their services.
Read more: Emergency Services unite to ask communities to use services responsibly amid weather warning | Thames Valley Police
From the Vale. Message re the waste service and the extreme heat expected next week. Please put your bins out the night before they're due to be emptied this week. Biffa will begin waste collections at 5am on Monday 18 July and Tuesday 19 July due to the expected heatwave. This should help their crews avoid being out at the hottest part of the day.
Even with the early start, it's possible Biffa's waste collection crews may not be able to complete their rounds. If this happens and your bins are not emptied, please leave them out for two days after your scheduled collection day and the crews will aim to catch up later in the week. More information is on our missed bins page (South / Vale).
From Thames Water (less the graphics)
The heat is on to keep taps flowing. More than ever, we need your help to make sure there's enough water to go around.
With a record-breaking hot spell looming, demand for water is soaring. We're doing all we can to keep taps flowing, but there's a small chance some customers may see their pressure drop or water stop. We don't want that to happen – so we're on a mission to save every drop.
Top tips to save water in the heat: - Swap sprinklers for watering cans - Sprinklers use as much water in half an hour as an average family of four does in a whole day.
- Take shorter showers - On average, showers make up 25% of a household's water use. A 10-minute shower can use 100 litres!
- Turn off taps - A running tap uses six to eight litres a minute, so turn off while you wash up or brush your teeth.
- Embrace the dirt - Why not leave cleaning the car a little longer till the heatwave has passed?
- Chill and refill - Pop a jug of water in the fridge to stay hydrated and avoid having to run the tap till it's cold.
We've got lots more suggestions for saving water in the garden and indoors.
If you're already cutting down on your water use, we're really grateful for your support.
As your water company, we never want you to worry about water. It's our job to provide what you need, all year round, and that means working harder than ever in extreme weather.
We're moving water around using our pipes and tankers to boost supplies in the areas that need it most. By taking the simple steps above, you can help us make the most of every drop – and take less from the environment too. Thank you for your help and understanding – we really appreciate it.
The Thames Water Team
Village news 15 July 2022 Local news
Mikron Theatre Company are a professional theatre company from Huddersfield and each summer they tour the country in their canal boat and a van. This is their 50th year. Mikron will be performing 'Raising Agents' in our field near White Horse Hill, Uffington on Sunday July 17th at 1pm. Gates open at 12noon. Please Bring your own chair, food and drink. I have hired a marquee in case it rains. No tickets required but Mikron will do a collection at the end of the show.
https://www.mikron.org.uk/shows
More information attached here – 2 pages: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/cda4fcb0-3639-1bc9-c1b7-8b07a45ddcb2/Micron_.01.pdf
Ruth
Raising funds for Ukraine - a Concert in Brightwalton Church on 31 July. Piotr Jordan is the highly talented leader of Wantage Orchestra; Chris Terepin is a brilliant young professional cellist who has played several concertos with the orchestra, including the Elgar, and also helped us to make a recording during the Covid lockdown. See attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/1661c840-c32a-f33d-9e6a-2a7a6ab8d67a/Advert_for_concert_31.07.22_1_.pdf
Mike Thomas
Vale District Council news
An online guide that helps create high-quality and sustainable development in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse has been improved and extended following feedback from users. The Joint Design Guide is an up-to-date, innovative, concise, engaging and interactive document that acts as a tool for anyone undertaking a development to ensure it fits ... You can see details on our website by clicking this link
A new website offering practical advice for Oxfordshire people wanting to reduce their carbon footprint and save energy has gone live today [11 July 2022]. Climate Action Oxfordshire. Climate Action Oxfordshire lists measures people can take and rates them according to effort, impact, and cost. It also gives people an idea of what financial savings they can ...You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Cllr Emily Smith, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, delivered her Leader's statement to Council at the meeting on 13 July 2022. You can see details on our website by clicking this link
County news
YourOxfordshire. Cost of living support, bus travel and quirky crafts. See: Cost of living support, bus travel and quirky crafts (mailchi.mp)
The Ridgeway National Trail news for summer 2022. See: The Ridgeway National Trail news for summer 2022 (mailchi.mp)
From the Police
Theft of Domestic Heating Oil. With the rising cost of living, there has been recent attempts to steal domestic heating oil from tanks due to its increase in value. We are asking all homeowners to remain vigilant & offer the following crime prevention advice: - Install an alarm on your heating tank to alert you of a dip in your oil levels – this can alert you from indoors or when you are out through your mobile. Make sure you display a sign above the tank to warn thieves that your tank is alarmed.
- Put gravel around your tank to make the area noisy so that it deters thieves & draws attention when any attempts are made.
- Try to hide the location of your tank through adding walls or putting plants around – all concealments must comply with OFTEC fire safety recommendations please see here: Oil Tank Installation - OFTEC Requirements - Direct Water Tanks
- Lock up your tank with a good quality all-weather padlock & give the code to your fuel supplier for delivery access
- Install CCTV to monitor your tank & show a visible deterrent for thieves
- Install security lighting to brighten the area as many thieves strike in the darkness of night
If see you any suspicious activity or wish to report a theft call us on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
Gate and Metal Thefts. There has been a recent spate of gate thefts (metal & wooden) as well as other metal objects from farms in the past week. We ask all landowners, businesses & those in rural communities to remain vigilant & report any suspicious activity or thefts through 101 or 999 in an emergency. Please see below some crime prevention to help protect your property: - Make sure items that can be, are locked away through a padlock in a secure building. An alarm system & security lighting may also offer extra target hardening of buildings.
- Mark all your property by etching your postcode on items & also by using smartwater which forensically marks items so the thieves can be more easily identified
- Install closed circuit CCTV to help monitor property of value.
Rural Crime Bulletin 12 July 2022. See attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/b16b155b-7011-59b1-d808-0f4d91a1437d/Rural_Crime_Bulletin_12.7.2022.pdf
From the Churches of Uffington Benefice
No Weekly Sheet for Sunday 17 July available as yet.
https://www.uffingtonbenefice.com/
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