News

Changes at Kiddywinks Day Nursery

The lease for Kiddywinks Day Nursery at Chapman's House in Church Street will expire on 16 June. At present it is not clear whether the owner, Janet Lambert, will be transferring the business to another site.

The nursery manager Kelly Harley has secured a lease at the same premises to begin a new day nursery business there within a few days after 16 June, with the expectation of employing the current staff at Kiddywinks. Please contact Kelly for further information via littlemonkeyscharlbury@hotmail.co.uk.

Parents with children at Kiddywinks are advised to check their invoices for June are accurate to reflect the shorter month.

Andrew Chapman · Thu 31 May 2012, 09:54 · Link

Bin collections only one day late

Despite the double bank holiday, recycle bins will be collected only one day later next week. For Charlbury, that means Wednesday, not Tuesday - see the West Oxfordshire District Council website.

Richard Fairhurst · Wed 30 May 2012, 16:11 · Link

They're back!

The five-carriage Adelante trains have returned to the Cotswold Line for the first time in over three years.

The 11.20 from Paddington to Great Malvern (12.36 at Charlbury) and 14.26 from Great Malvern to Paddington (15.41 at Charlbury) are now operated by an Adelante train, replacing a slower, more cramped three-carriage Turbo train. The first one in passenger service is pictured running today, 28th May. Later this year, First Great Western aims to have five of the trains in service on the line, replacing almost all the weekday Turbo services.

Work is also now underway on enlarging the station car park into the old allotments area (see earlier news items).

Richard Fairhurst · Mon 28 May 2012, 13:05 · Link

AND THE NAME OF THE BEER IS...

Local craft brewer Wychwood is producing an exclusive golden summer beer for this year's Riverside Festival in Charlbury, Oxfordshire. After a hotly contested competition to name the pint, the Riverside beer naming committee along with a couple of random Canadian tourists who happened to be drinking in our 'committee rooms' have picked 'Evenloder' , named in honour of The Evenlode, the River that puts the River in Riverside, which was suggested by Colin Varney from Kiddlington and John Lanyon from Charlbury.
Now to the exciting bit…
You can WIN BEER FOR A YEAR
To celebrate this glorious pint, Wychwood brewery is giving a year's supply of beer (365 cans of Hobgoblin) to one lucky Riversider. To be in with a chance of winning visit our Facebook page on.fb.me/RiversideFestival and share the link you find there with your friends. This competition closes at 12pm on Sunday 17 June and the winner will be picked at random at the Riverside Festival.
To enter you must be over 18 and must be able to collect the beer from The Wychwood brewery in Witney.
Evenloder will only be available at Riverside Festival on Saturday 16 (12pm-10pm) and Sunday 17 June (11am-8pm). Join us at Riverside to sample this delicious pint.
Cheers from all of us at Riverside

Kathryn Custance · Thu 24 May 2012, 16:46 · Link

"A Fantastic Evening! Very talented with great humour!"

Just one of the many terrific reviews for the Opera Dudes show in Cassington recently. This coming Saturday they are appearing at the Memorial Hall. The Dudes are both classically trained tenors and musicians. Neil Allen has taken the lead in many touring operas and Tim Lole is a former St Paul's chorister, classical pianist and experienced opera singer. He was conductor of the Scottish Opera for over five years. Their unique blend of opera classics, showstoppers, piano solos and humour has something for everyone. Don't miss this opportunity to see them in Charlbury, it is sure to be a very entertaining evening.
Full details in the events listing.

Mon 21 May 2012, 21:16 · Link

Consultation on our local bus services

Oxfordshire County Council (OCC)contracts for the X9 bus service between Chipping Norton, Charlbury and Witney, the 243 bus service which serves Finstock and Fawler, and the Charlbury Rail Bus will expire on December 8th 2012. The services are currently being reviewed and OCC are conducting a public consultation.

You can register your views on the OCC website by using this link: https://myconsultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk/consult.ti/ChippingNortonReview/consultationHome You can also reach the consultation by going to "Consultations" on the home page of the OCC website

The consultation will close at midnight on June 8th.

Liz Leffman · Thu 17 May 2012, 09:23 · Link

Changes to The Good Food Shop

'The Charlbury Deli and Café (formerly the Good Food Shop) has been feeling the effect of the current economic climate, and is considering how best to keep its market share and remain viable when other shops in the town have already been forced to close. Charlbury Deli and Café does not want to find itself in the same position.
Lynne and her staff are committed to providing Charlbury and the surrounding area with a top quality fresh bakery, Deli and catering facility, and offer visitors morning coffees, light breakfasts and lunches, and afternoon teas. Orders can be delivered by prior arrangement, and are welcomed on a one-off or repeat basis. Sample menus are also available. Phoning orders ahead will ensure they are ready on time. Catering for special events is available to individuals as well as businesses. The shop will stock hard-to-get special dietary goods by request. Phone an order to us: 01608 811157

Vicky Buser · Fri 11 May 2012, 22:32 · Link

Article in Oxford Times about Wilderness taster sessions in Cornbury Park

www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/9684321.Go_wild_in_the_country/

Alison Wright · Wed 9 May 2012, 21:08 · Link

Charlbury Town Council election results

The following candidates have been elected to Charlbury Town Council, with number of votes cast:

• Nick Potter*: 666
• Valou Pakenham-Walsh*: 636
• Susie Finch*: 633
• Richard Fairhurst: 618
• Liz Reason*: 586
• Reg James*: 538
• Peter Kenrick: 514
• Jim Holah: 510
• Willem Hackmann*: 483
• Tony Merry: 462
• Kathy Broughton: 455
• Russell Robson: 432

Not elected:

• Ron Prew*: 395
• Fergus McVey: 375

Turnout was 48.43%, again the highest of any Town/Parish Council election in West Oxfordshire. * indicates incumbent.

Richard Fairhurst · Fri 4 May 2012, 01:11 · Link

Liz Leffman is Charlbury's new District Councillor

Liz Leffman, the Liberal Democrat candidate, has won one of the two West Oxfordshire District Council seats for Charlbury & Finstock. The seat was previously held by Glena Chadwick, who stood down at this election after 12 years. (The other seat is held by Hywel Davies, Conservative from Finstock, and was not up for re-election this year.)

The result was:

• Liz Leffman, Liberal Democrat: 956
• Rory MacArthur, Conservative: 476

At 49.26%, the turnout was the highest recorded for any of the WODC seats.

Richard Fairhurst · Fri 4 May 2012, 01:02 · Link

Work to start on station car park extension

The long-awaited extension to Charlbury station's car park is to be built this summer.

According to car park operators APCOA:

"I am delighted to let you know that work on the new car park at Charlbury Station will start on 14 May, with equipment arriving from 8 May. This is something our customers have needed for some time and it is great news that contractors will soon be on site.

"When complete we will be able to offer an additional 75 spaces in the North car park, and a further 8 spaces for disables passengers in the South car park. This is an important improvement for the station and something we have been keen to deliver for some time. Contractors have been appointed to do the work and are committed to complete by the end of September.

"We have worked with them to ensure the development will only cause the minimum amount of disruption to our customers. However, there will be a short period during the early phase of the works when the contractors will need to use some spaces in the existing car park. Every effort will be made to ensure they release these spaces as soon as they possibly can.

"The new car park is part of our commitment to Putting Customers First and represents more investment in Charlbury station of over £470,000. This follows the doubling of the track, the new footbridge and improvements to services. The additional spaces will make parking and subsequent rail travel from Charlbury much more convenient, and I hope you agree that this will benefit the local community."

Richard Fairhurst · Thu 3 May 2012, 20:52 · Link