LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS
Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall AGM.
Now that everyone has their new 2024 calendars on the wall and diaries in pockets, please be sure to write THMH AGM 7.00pm in large letters on the evening of Monday January 22nd. The hall has had a second good year, with income covering running costs, which is exactly the time to make sure we do not sit back and take our eye off the ball. If you value the hall as our principal community building for Baulking, Uffington and Woolstone, please come along to the AGM to find out what the Management Committee have been doing and what is planned for 2024. It is also an opportunity to offer help. The AGM is when the Management Committee members are elected and it is when we find out who will stand for another year!
Geoff Rumble, Current Chair
GENERAL
Children's Air Ambulance Clothing Bank
Please note, the two clothing bins are full once again and the earliest we can expect them to be emptied is later next week, after the New Year break. Please keep your clothing donations at home until the bins have been emptied. Also, my apologies for suggesting in a previous newsletter that you can use the Thames Valley Air Ambulance clothing bin in the pub car park if the hall car park bins are full. I understand the pub bin is no longer in use and will be removed.
Can I also ask that the bins in the hall car park are not used as somewhere to leave unwanted items, that may be of use to others. This can be achieved more effectively on social media and the items are then not at risk of being vandalised.
Geoff Rumble
FROM THE VALE
Council restates its opposition to the Abingdon reservoir at a busy December meeting. In its last full meeting of the year, council debated significant points of interest to the district and its future, with a motion restating the Vale's opposition to the proposed reservoir, SESRO. It also considered the upcoming consultation to the council's forthcoming joint local plan and its future commitment to climate action and nature recovery, ... You can see details on our website by clicking this link
FROM THE POLICE
Man jailed for drugs offences – Faringdon. Following our investigation, a man has been jailed for drugs offences in Faringdon. Read more on our website.
FROM THE CHURCHES OF UFFINGTON BENEFICE
Please find attached the Weekly Sheet for Sunday 31st December: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/fc65d727-f0f1-9eb2-7572-6413837247d4/wsh_2023_12_2431.01.pdf
For all information, please see: https://www.uffingtonbenefice.com/
Village news 22 December 2023 UFFINGTON PARISH COUNCIL
The Council would like to wish all residents of Uffington, Baulking and Woolstone a very Happy Christmas and a healthy, successful year in 2024.
GENERAL
Ridgeway National Trail Winter 2023. Welcome to the Winter edition of The Ridgeway National Trail newsletter; see: Ridgeway National Trail Winter 2023 (mailchi.mp)
FROM THE VALE
Vale News - December 2023.See: Vale News - December 2023 (emailblaster.cloud)
(This includes information on when the Council offices will be closed over the holiday period and all you need to know about waste collections over the Christmas and New Year period).
A statement from Cllr Bethia Thomas, Leader of the Vale of White Horse District Council. : It's been another busy year for us all and I am aware that everyone at the council has been doing their utmost to manage the challenges we face in delivering all that we can for the residents of our district. Looking back, it is clear we have achieved a great deal. The cost-of-living crisis has ... You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Action on anti-social behaviour in Wantage. Vale of White Horse District Council has taken steps to tackle a rise in anti-social behaviour in an area of Wantage. Earlier this year, residents and shoppers raised concerns over issues at Mill Street carpark. Known locally as `The Undercroft', the site was in danger of becoming a hotspot for anti-social behaviour with an increase ... You can see details on our website by clicking this link
COUNTY NEWS
Community First Winter Newsletter 2023. See attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/cf30d337-9efa-6ed9-1fed-bc67aa3204a9/CFO_Newsletter_December_2023.pdf
FROM THE POLICE
Trading Standards December Scam Warnings. Please find on the link below, the December newsletter on scams to be aware of. Attachments:
Scams Newsletter Dec 23.pdf
Thank you and Merry Christmas from Chief Constable Jason Hogg. With the festivities now just around the corner, this is an opportune moment to look back over the year and thank you for the incredible support we've received from our communities.
At Thames Valley Police, we remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting and serving the communities of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire. It is our duty and privilege to work hand in hand with you to keep our communities safe. Your collaboration and support, especially in response to the Community Policing Awards, have not only been recognised but celebrated with immense gratitude. We had a resounding response from the public in 2023, and these awards truly show the inspiring impact that both the winners and other nominees have had on the lives of residents throughout the Thames Valley.
Our police officers and staff are there 24/7, 365 days a year, committed to serving victims, fighting crime and protecting you and all our communities. Indeed, at this time, while many will enjoy the festivities of the Christmas and New Year period, your police will be at work away from their families, keeping people safe and are proud and willing to do so. On behalf of the entire force, I wish everyone across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire a safe and merry Christmas, and a happy new year. Chief Constable Jason Hogg
December update from the PCC. See: December update from the PCC (sp1-brevo.net)
Police & Crime Bulletin Dec '23 - Review of the year and more updates. See: Police & Crime Bulletin Dec '23 - Review of the year and more updates (matthewbarber.co.uk)
FROM THE CHURCHES OF UFFINGTON BENEFICE
Please find attached the Weekly Sheet for Sunday 24th and Sunday 31st December: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/900925f2-9aeb-458d-a116-afb06ec8c246/wsh_2023_12_2431.pdf
There will be no Weekly Sheet next week.
For all information, please see: https://www.uffingtonbenefice.com/
Police appeal for witnesses From Thames Valley Police - Further appeal for witnesses following robbery – Burford, West Oxfordshire.
We are renewing our appeal for witnesses following a robbery in Burford. The incident happened at around 6.15pm on Sunday 19 November, when six offenders approached a man and a woman as they got out of their vehicle on Burford High Street.
The offenders stole a significant amount of jewellery from the rear of the car and left the scene in more than one vehicle. One vehicle the offenders made off in was a dark coloured SUV. Neither the man or woman were injured as a result of the incident. Further investigation has found that the SUV was displaying false number plates which had been stolen from another vehicle in the local area shortly before the robbery.
Witnesses may have seen this vehicle parked at the side of the road between the Burford High Street and the A40, and possibly somewhere along Priory Lane and Tanners Lane, prior to the incident. Some of the items stolen have been recovered after being discarded just outside the village of Hatford, which is off the A420 near Stanford in the Vale, on the Ridgeway outside Letcombe Regis, Wantage, and in Farley Hill towards Finchampstead.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Paddy O'Grady, said: "We are continuing our investigation following this robbery and are following a number of lines of enquiry, however at this time no arrests have been made. This incident happened in the early evening on Burford High Street, so we are sure that there are witnesses who may have information who have not yet come forward.
"We would ask anyone who saw this incident, or may have seen the getaway vehicle prior to the incident to please get in touch. Additionally, if anyone has CCTV or dash-cam footage please can they get in touch if it shows anything which may assist our enquiries.
You can contact us by calling Thames Valley Police on 101 or through our online pages. Please quote reference 43230520986. Or if you do not wish to speak to the police you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
Thanks, Thames Valley Police
Village news 15 December 2023 LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS
Uffington Carol Service – this Sunday. Come & get into the festive season and Spirit of Christmas at St Mary's Carol Service this Sunday at 6.00 pm - all welcome and refreshments afterwards.
Soup lunch. Next weeks soup lunch will be on Wednesday 20th December at 12:30. No set charge, just a small donation to cover costs. This is primarily for pensioners and carers, who are welcome for soup and a chat.
Christmas Concert – 20 December There will be a celebration of Christmas music in St Mary's Uffington on Wednesday 20 December at 7.00 pm. Poster attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/b303a565-fcbc-b989-6a6c-7e4b441ea343/Christmas_concert_2023.03.pdf
GENERAL
David Johnston MP Article. Please see David's latest article attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/2e80ecde-dcbd-bba6-ea39-28c51d8a6fdb/David_Johnston_MP_Article_December.pdf
Children's Air Ambulance. The two clothing bank containers in the village hall car park have been very successful for the Children's Air Ambulance Charity. They are most grateful to donors of clothing and they aim to regularly empty the bins. However, we have a problem. The bins sometimes become full very quickly and we then rely on phoning to have them emptied. Some donors, on finding the bins full, are leaving bags of clothing by the side of the bins. This means the contents quickly become wet and, to make matters worse, the bags are sometimes torn open by animals. This is not helpful because it not only creates a mess but ensures the donation is not useable and must be sent for landfill. Can anyone who brings clothing to the bank and finds the bins full, please consider either using the Thames Valley Air Ambulance bin in the Pub car park or taking their clothing bags home and returning when the two bins are once more empty.
Can I also ask everyone to think carefully as to whether their donation is suitable. In particular, items such as carpet, rugs, duvets and pillows have no recycle value and cost the Charity time and money. Please help to ensure the clothing collection continues to be a valuable source of income for the Charity and that we are not forced to consider having the bins removed.
Thank you, Geoff Rumble, THMH Committee
FROM THE VALE
Council services over Christmas and New Year 2023/24. A guide to council services over the Christmas and New Year period when the council offices are closed to the public. Abbey House Reception will close at Abbey House from 4.30pm on Friday 22 December 2023 and will reopen on Tuesday 2 January 2024. Waste collections: all you need to know about waste collections over ... You can see details on our website by clicking this link
For information on Christmas and New Year waste collections, including for trees, see: Christmas Waste - Vale of White Horse District Council (whitehorsedc.gov.uk)
Leisure centres install fan-tastic new energy saving measures. New measures at the Didcot centre follow a similar installation at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre, in Abingdon in the Vale of White Horse district in June this year. You can see details on our website by clicking this link
Leader's statement - 14 December 2023. A statement from Cllr Bethia Thomas, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council As we all know, it is coming to that time of the year again. A time where we look back and reflect on the last twelve months, but also an opportunity to anticipate the year ahead of us, and what we ... You can see details on our website by clicking this link
COUNTY NEWS
Oxfordshire's transport and travel bulletin. See: Modular Template Patterns (mailchi.mp)
YourOxfordshire. Practical support for the winter and help our county stand out. See: Practical support for the winter and help our county stand out (mailchi.mp)
FROM THE POLICE
2023 Community Policing Awards. The best of the Thames Valley were celebrated at the 2023 Community Policing Awards with numerous honours handed out to people who went above and beyond. Congratulations to all of the winners and read more about them on our website
Fully committed to tackling rural crime in the Thames Valley. We will be focused on working with our partners and communities to create a hostile environment for those who commit rural crime. That is our pledge as we launch our new rural crime strategy for 2023-2026, which is our plan for reducing offending, improving co-operation and bringing offenders to justice. We will focus on increasing our ability to identify rural crime, which is defined as involving agriculture, the environmental, heritage and wildlife, to better tackle criminality and improving our response to communities impacted. Read more on our website.
FROM THE CHURCHES OF UFFINGTON BENEFICE
The Weekly Sheet for Sunday 17 December is attached here: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/8b8864cf-4d68-bf03-bddb-eb1aa119f23d/wsh_2023_12_17_updated.pdf
For all information, please see: https://www.uffingtonbenefice.com/
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