News

Footpath reclassification planned

A footpath route between Charlbury and Spelsbury is set to be reclassified under orders published by Oxfordshire County Council.

The proposal would see:

• The path from the end of Watery Lane, west to the parish boundary at Coldron Brook, upgraded from public footpath to restricted byway (horseriders and cyclists permitted)
• A new footpath created from there north-west to Dean Grove (south of Dean Pit)
• The track from there to Dean Pit upgraded to byway open to all traffic (horseriders, cyclists and motor vehicles permitted)

OCC say that these classifications have been chosen because "public rights were in existence along the route, and despite a lack of modern-day use these rights continue indefinitely (unless brought to an end by use of a statutory provision)".

However, it does lead to the curious situation that horse-riders and cyclists will be able to use almost all the route (waterloggedness of Watery Lane permitting!) apart from a short section in the middle, making the whole exercise arguably of limited use.

You can see the consultation documents here.

Richard Fairhurst · Fri 30 Mar 2012, 15:08 · Link

Bus service review starts 9th April

Oxfordshire County Council is carrying out its regular review of subsidised bus services in the area.

The services affected in Charlbury are the station taxibus (C1/T1) and the X9 to Witney. The S3 to Oxford is run as a commercial service by Stagecoach and is unaffected.

The review starts on 9th April. You can read details here.

Richard Fairhurst · Fri 30 Mar 2012, 14:45 · Link

Riverside launches competition to name Festival beer

Local craft brewer Wychwood is producing an exclusive golden summer beer for this year's Riverside Festival in Charlbury, Oxfordshire. To christen the glorious pint the organisers of Riverside are running a competition to name the beer.
Come up with a taste-tingling name for Riverside's special festival beer and you could win a set of six bespoke T-shirts for you and your friends emblazoned with the name of the beer and your name; and a free round of drinks at the Festival itself.
To enter simply email your idea for the beer's name and your name to beer@ riversidefestival.charlbury.com, by 12pm on Friday 4 May The winner will be announced on Monday 7 May. Entrants must be aged 18 or over.
The Riverside ale will only be on sale at The Riverside Festival in Charlbury on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th June.
For more information on the Riverside Festival visit www.riversidefestival.charlbury.com
For more information on Wychwood Brewery visit www.wychwood.co.uk

Kathryn Custance · Wed 28 Mar 2012, 10:05 · Link

Wilderness Festival 2012 on Witney TV

This short film previewing Wilderness 2012 at Cornbury Park has gone online today:
www.witneytv.co.uk/videos/wilderness-festival-2012

Alison Wright · Thu 15 Mar 2012, 14:22 · Link

Rural Crime Meeting on 29 March

Residents are invited to attend a rural crime meeting on Thursday 29 March at Great Tew Cricket Club, starting at 7pm.
There will be talks from Thames Valley Police, NFU Mutual, Data Tagging and Selectamark. Crime reduction packs will also be handed out.
Refreshments will be available to purchase on the evening.
Contact PCSO Chris Jones on 101 (ask C9516), or just turn up on the evening.

Valou Pakenham-Walsh · Thu 15 Mar 2012, 11:59 · Link

THE FUTURE OF YOUR POST OFFICE

We have just started a campaign at Charlbury Post Office to urge all of our MP's to sign the EDM 2841 this is concerning serious concerns over changes being forced upon the Post Office Network without consultation. The changes could lead to decline in services to consumers and small businesses, as well as potential post office closures.
We have cards available for people to send to our MP's , we need everyones support.

Thank You

Elaine & Pam Charlbury Post Office

Elaine Newbold · Thu 15 Mar 2012, 09:04 · Link

Stop Press- Charlbury Dental Practice Event Postponed!

Charlbury Dental Practice Open House planned for Thursday, March 22nd has been postponed to a later date- to be widely advertised nearer the time- please watch this space! In the meantime, if you would like to visit the practice to hear about our services to patients, or to view our facilities, please call in at any time, and we would be delighted to welcome you for an informal visit to meet the team. Or if you're online, you can visit our website:

www.charlburydental.co.uk for lots of information about what we do, who the team are, and the dental care we can provide for you and your family.

Mary Robson · Thu 15 Mar 2012, 08:43 · Link

Adelante train refurbishment underway

The Oxford Mail reports on the five-coach Adelante trains which are set to make a return to the Cotswold Line:

"The trains are stripped of interior fittings before being repainted inside and out in a process which takes three days per coach. New carpets and seat covers are being fitted, along with power sockets for laptop computers. The first set is expected in service in May, and all five should be in use by late July. The Turbo trains they displace from Cotswold Line duties will be used to add extra coaches to busy peak trains on the Oxford-Reading-London corridor.

"Wabtec Rail Scotland site director Craig Gibson said the work being carried out by his staff would give the Adelantes and extra HST coaches the look and feel of brand-new trains, matching FGW's existing express fleet."

Picture courtesy of the @FGW Twitter feed.

Richard Fairhurst · Tue 13 Mar 2012, 00:19 · Link

An extra hour at the Co-op

The Co-op will now be open on Sundays until 10pm instead of the previous 9pm.

Richard Fairhurst · Tue 13 Mar 2012, 00:14 · Link

Sir Ben Kingsley chooses his 'Desert Island Flicks'

Tickets for the Charlbury Community Centre Appeal's first big event of the year - Sir Ben Kingsley choosing his 'Desert Island Flicks' at Memorial Hall on Thursday 19 April - went on sale in Charlbury this weekend. They're currently available from Evenlode Books and Cotswold Frames, and are expected to sell out fast! See the Events listings for further details.

Edward Fenton · Sat 10 Mar 2012, 08:57 · Link

Nomination Papers for Town Council election

Nomination Papers for the election to the Town Council are available from the Town Clerk as of 6th March and can be collected by appointment Telephone 01608 810608.

Alternatively there are forms at WODC please telephone Mrs. Ellison on 01993 861525 to arrange collection.

Susie Finch · Mon 5 Mar 2012, 17:05 · Link

Charlbury to Spelsbury - B4026‏ Road Closure

The road works which were due to be started on 19th March on this stretch of road have unfortunately had to be cancelled.

Susie Finch · Mon 5 Mar 2012, 16:57 · Link

May 2012 Election Timetable - Town Council Election

The Town Council is up for election this year, and some long standing councillors are standing down - hopefully to make room for some new younger blood. The timetable can be found here however if you have any queries, please contact Roger Clarke at charlburytc@btinternet.com

Susie Finch · Thu 1 Mar 2012, 15:23 · Link

Temporary Road Closure – Spelsbury - Chadlington Road

It will be necessary for Oxfordshire County Council to close the section of Chadlington Road that runs between its junction with the road to Dean and the B4026 in Spelsbury, to facilitate carriageway reconstruction works at the Spelsbury end of the closed section.

A Temporary Traffic Regulation Order is being made to implement the temporary closure and will operate from Wednesday 7 March 2012. It is planned to take approximately five days. (The maximum duration of such a temporary closure will be 18 months or until completion of the works whichever is the earlier.)

Limited access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and also overnight access for those residents within the closure area, subject to the progress of the works. Please note that access routes will depend on exactly where the works vehicles are at any time and may need to be negotiated with the gang on site as necessary. More detailed information can be found on the Town Council website at www.charlburytowncouncil.co.uk

Susie Finch · Thu 1 Mar 2012, 13:53 · Link

Temporary Prohibition of Through Traffic and Waiting - Witney, West End - B4022

This road closure is being introduced because of repair works to the sewer main which is anticipated to take 3-5 days of 24 hour working and will operate from the evening of 30 March 2012. The estimated duration of the works is 3 to 5 days (Friday to Tuesday probable maximum)

The effect of the Order is to temporarily prohibit any vehicle proceeding in the length of the B4022 West End, between its junctions with the A4095 Woodgreen Hill and Crawley Road.

The Order also temporarily prohibits vehicles waiting in the length of the B4022 Hailey Road between Crawley Road and Farmers Close, and in any of the main through route of Farmers Close, and in part of New Yatt Road and the roads which surround Wood Green, including the A4095 Woodgreen Hill. These will be used as local diversions which includes buses.

The alternative route for traffic affected by the West End closure is via the A4095 eastwards towards Woodstock, the A44 north-westwards, the B4437 westwards to Charlbury, the B4022 southwards towards Witney and vice versa. More information, including maps showing the affected area can be found on the Town Council website at www.charlburytowncouncil.co.uk

Susie Finch · Thu 1 Mar 2012, 13:41 · Link

Wilderness line-up announced

The line-up has been announced for the second Wilderness Festival, to be held at Cornbury Park on 10th-12th August. Headliners include Rodrigo y Gabriela, Wilco and Spiritualized, plus chefs Yotam Ottolenghi and Fergus Henderson. Full details are at the Wilderness website.

Richard Fairhurst · Thu 1 Mar 2012, 10:27 · Link