News

'Treecycle' after Christmas

A free chipping service is being organised by West Oxfordshire District Council to encourage residents to recycle their Christmas trees.

Chippings will be used locally to create environmentally-friendly biomass energy. All people need to do is take their real Christmas trees along and the rest will be done by professionals, for free. Last Christmas, the chipping service led to 10.5 tonnes of trees being recycled.

Chippers will be at the Spendlove Centre between 10am and 3pm on Saturday, January 6th.

Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “The free chipping service is part of the Council’s work towards reducing waste, increasing recycling and supporting renewable energy. It offers a good opportunity for householders to do their bit and we really hope they will take advantage of it.”

Cllr Harvey said he wished to thank Goodwood Tree Care on behalf of the Council for kindly donating the chippers.

Residents are reminded that the normal weekly refuse and recycling collections differ over the Christmas period. There are no collections during Christmas week. Collections will take place a day later than usual the following week. Normal collections resume from Monday, January 8th.

(Source: West Oxfordshire District Council press release.)

Richard Fairhurst · Thu 21 Dec 2006, 09:35 · Link

David Cameron officially opens the Oxford Environment Centre

The Oxford Environment Centre in Sheep Street, Charlbury was officially opened by David Cameron, M.P last Friday 15th December. The event was also attended by around 25 guests including the local County Councillor- Sue Haffenden, local District Councillors – Glena Chadwick and Mike Breakell, the Chairman of the Charlbury Chamber of Trade and Commerce – Peter Smith, Penny Randall from Second Nature UK Ltd and representatives from Charlbury Town Council and the District Council.

Mr Cameron said that he was very pleased to be asked to open this local environment business and wished it well. He stressed that climatic change is the biggest challenge facing mankind in the 21st century and we all have an important role to play in reducing our carbon foot print. He went on to mention some of the important initiatives being undertaken by business in the UK to reduce their carbon foot prints.

Mr James Robertshaw, the Director of the Oxford Environment Centre, thanked Mr Cameron for coming to open the centre and that climatic change was a major issue cutting through all party politics (as demonstrated in Al Gore’s film “An Inconvenient truth”) and so important that it must transcend party politics.

David Harvey, District Council Cabinet Member for Environmental Matters, “wished the centre every success” and commented that he is “always interested to hear of any new environmental initiatives which take place in our area”.

The centre will sell solar power and hot water systems, wind turbines, timber framed houses, natural insulation products, low energy appliances such as light bulbs, ovens and solar and natural light systems, additives to improve car fuel usage and encourage customers to switch to a renewable energy provider.

The centre offers the domestic property owner a way of meeting their needs with only a low impact on the environment. The centre is financed from commission on the sale of (mainly UK manufactured) environmental products. It is independent of all major utility companies.

A further important role of the centre will be to provide education of the true impact that we all have from our own use of energy on global warming and the environment.

Richard Fairhurst · Sun 17 Dec 2006, 22:46 · Link

Callous theft from Charlbury resident

Residents in West Oxfordshire are being warned not to leave bags and Christmas presents in cars following a theft at Leafield.

Four suitcases along with four bags of wrapped Christmas presents were stolen from a parked car just outside Leafield church last Saturday (9/12). The items had been left in the boot and were partially visible through the rear windscreen.

The victim, Joanna Elliott from Charlbury, had parked her car while she attended a children’s Christmas concert at the nearby church.

“I left my car at 7pm and by 8.30pm the alarm was going off. Someone had smashed my rear windscreen and stolen everything, even the children’s teddies,” explains Joanna Elliott. “I honestly thought the presents and bags would be safe in my car in Leafield but this just goes to show you can’t be too careful wherever you are. I’m hoping that some of my belongings may have been dumped somewhere so I’m asking people to keep an eye out for them.”

The items stolen include:
1) Light blue school rucksack containing year eight work/textbooks
2) Bright green roll bag with girl's overnight things in, including a 'tigger' stuffed toy about 12 inches high
3) Black wheel-along suitcase containing women's clothes and a make up bag
4) Small pink wheel-along case containing girl’s clothes and toys
5) Four carrier bags of wrapped Christmas presents.

Police are renewing their warning to people not to leave goods in parked vehicles and to keep newly bought presents out of sight, even at home.

“People should ensure that presents aren’t left under Christmas trees where they can be easily seen from outside the house. Empty boxes should also be disposed of carefully so as not to advertise the new goods indoors to would-be burglars,” says Bill Butcher, Crime Reduction Adviser for West Oxfordshire.

“You should also take all belongings with you when you leave your parked vehicle. At this time of year, thieves will risk the chance of seeing whether the boot contains high value presents. It’s very tempting whilst out shopping to drop some bags off at the car and then continue shopping but bear in mind who may be watching you.”

(Source: Thames Valley Police press release)

Richard Fairhurst · Thu 14 Dec 2006, 15:44 · Link

Independent names Charlbury as top place to live

An article in the Independent's property section highlights Charlbury as the first of four "affordable idylls for the London commuter". The article writes:

CHARLBURY, OXFORDSHIRE
Travel time: 66 minutes into Paddington
Annual season ticket: £4,520
Distance from London: 68 miles

The small market town of Charlbury sits snugly in the Evenlode Valley between Cornbury Park Estate and Wychwood Forest.

It's well away from major roads, yet it has a mainline station that'll get you to Oxford in 15 minutes and London in just over an hour. Distinctive Cotswold stone is everywhere, even on the new developments, and there's a small central green, Playing Close, that has a cluster of attractive cottages overlooking a drinking fountain.

A two-bedroom former toll house in the town, with a good-sized garden and room for expansion, is on at £299,950 (King & Woolley, 01608 642 111). A striking contemporary house just outside the town, with five receptions, four bedrooms and a vaulted living space all set in 2.2 acres of landscaped grounds, is also on the market. Made of timber, stone and bamboo, it's a one-off that'll set you apart from the other locals, but will leave you just under £1.6m lighter (Kemp & Kemp, 01865 510 000).

Three miles away, Chadlington also offers the genuine Cotswolds experience without the over-inflated Oxford price tag. For £625,000, you get a four-bedroom period house in the village with a farmhouse kitchen and beautiful garden that includes a stone garage (Jackson-Stops, 01993 822 661).

Charlbury is an honest town that escapes the tourist traps from which nearby villages such as Burford and Woodstock suffer. It has a post office, a doctor's and dentist's surgery, a number of pubs and an excellent primary school. There's a beer festival every July and Cornbury Park has an eclectic annual music carnival that's very English and perfect for the whole family.

Richard Fairhurst · Thu 14 Dec 2006, 10:22 · Link

Katharine House Hospice Coffee Morning........

The Coffee Morning raised £611.60. This is very much appreciated by The Hospice and will be invaluable in heling the medical and nursing teams continue to provide comfort and care for their patients at Adderbury.

Thank you to everyone who braved the incredibly wet weather to come and support the above event and my greatful thanks to everyone who helped me on the day, baked cakes, made pickles and donated raffle prizes.

Alison Cherry

Alison Cherry · Mon 11 Dec 2006, 22:39 · Link

Charlbury LibDem picked for top seat

Charlbury resident Liz Leffman, who was the local Liberal Democrat candidate at the last General Election, has been selected for one of the party's top target seats.

The newly created seat, called Meon Valley, incorporates parts of the currently LibDem-held Winchester seat, and the towns of Waterlooville and Horndean. According to Wikipedia, it has a "notional Conservative majority" of 2,000. In an e-mail to local supporters, Liz writes that "Although Mike and I will continue to live in Charlbury, I will be looking for a flat in Meon Valley and I will be spending most of my time there."

More in a news story at Portsmouth Today.

Richard Fairhurst · Mon 11 Dec 2006, 13:05 · Link

AUCTION OF PROMISES

Held at the school on Friday 1st December.
Thank you to everyone who supported this event - those who made the promises, those who hunted for them, our sponsors, the local businesses who constantly support our events and of course those who turned up on a terribly wet night to bid for them.
We sold every promise and made an amazing £4000. This will go directly towards our plans to build an outdoor classroom and adventure playground.

liz donnelly · Mon 4 Dec 2006, 22:59 · Link