The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.
Mon 30 Jan 2017, 08:00 · Link
I just wanted to take a few moments to re iterate some advice and re raise some awareness around rogue traders.
For years and years residents locally, county wide and nationwide have become a victim to a person knocking on their door saying that work needs doing to the property.
These people will knock on your door, say that work needs doing and that they will do the work for an agreed sum, often an excessive amount. Further to that they then often demand more money after the work has been completed and will even drive you to the bank for you to get this money! This can be intimidating which therefore, sadly means they get what they want ��" your money for work that wasn't required!! It's a crime. Don't let this happen to you!!
• Do not engage with these people.
• Do not let them do any work ��" Phone the police if they are at your door!!
• They do not need to knock on your door telling you there is an issue with tiles or guttering. A normal genuine working person will not do this!
• If you feel there may be an issue with your property, wait until they have gone, have a look yourself or ask a family member to look, ask a neighbour and if you need to get some genuine quotes then get some from genuine people who advertise.
• Do not let these rogue workmen in your house, not even for a cup of tea or the bathroom!! Just phone the police and report them!
Myself, PC Crawley, PCSO Harrison, PCSO Smith and other local officers, along with trading standards doorstep crime team are committed to looking out for members of the local community. This despicable crime keeps happening, if it does happen to you, please don't be afraid to tell someone but if everyone looks out for one another it can STOP!!
Contact the Neighbourhood Team for "no cold calling" front door stickers.
Many Thanks,
APS 5053 Neal Templey.
Wesley Smith · Sat 28 Jan 2017, 15:22 · Link
GWR confirm that Oxford Parkway is to be added as a destination available on the ticket vending machine at Charlbury Station.
A GWR spokesman says "We continue to chase the supplier for this, but the delay has stemmed from Chiltern's initial notification of the new station service, as the initial request sits with the responsible TOC."
The other issues raised with GWR are still being dealt with and as soon as I hear back I'll post details.
Trevor Taylor · Wed 25 Jan 2017, 10:16 · Link
We are delighted to announce that Charlbury WI now have their own website (www.charlburywi.org). It provides an easy way to find out about upcoming monthly meetings and additional activities, as well as giving links to our social media pages and listing other practical information. Enjoy browsing! Charlbury WI is attracting new members all the time but has plenty of room in our new venue in the Memorial Hall. Do come along and try us out.
Louise Cashman · Sat 21 Jan 2017, 09:53 · Link
As a Charlbury resident I wanted to thank the Charlbury Beer Festival committee members for awarding Cecily's Fund (http://www.cecilysfund.org/) a £1,182 grant. Thank you also to all my fellow residents who attend the festival, making it a success and raising vital funds for community and international projects.
Cecily's Fund was founded in 1997 to continue the work of Cecily Eastwood, who tragically died aged 19 in a car accident whilst volunteering with AIDS orphans in Zambia. Cecily grew up in Stonesfield and her commitment to education and building self-reliance for orphans and vulnerable children remains deeply embedded throughout Cecily's Fund today. Basil and Alison Eastwood, Cecily's parents and Cecily's Fund's co-founders, moved to Charlbury last year.
The grant will fund the purchase of gardening and photography equipment for use by after-school "Sunshine Clubs". These clubs have been set up to benefit orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia to teach them new skills that will improve their life chances.
Cecily's Fund, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, is based in Witney and I have worked there for over 2 years. I visit Zambia twice a year and see first-hand what a difference a donation like this will make to the lives children Cecily's Fund supports.
Thank you once again!
Witney Food Bank are looking for someone in Charlbury who would coordinate the collection of contributions.
"We currently have no collection point in Charlbury, so would be happy to discuss this with you if you would be interested in setting one up somewhere?
"Let us know if you have a church, shop, village hall, scout hut, etc. that would be able to house a donation point you would be able to look after on our behalf, and we can discuss the details!"
If anyone here is interested in coordinating this, please message me by tapping my name below.
Jon Carpenter · Thu 19 Jan 2017, 11:59 · Link
Thank you so much to all those who came to Southill solar farm on Saturday and planted the trees. It was a really good turn-out and great to see so many adults and kids despite the cold (and some rain). Through the morning we planted 50 orchard trees and 60 whips in just under 3 hours.
These trees will provide many benefits for the solar farm. As they develop the trees will provide additional shielding for the site and nesting habitat for farmland birds. More importantly, the orchard trees should provide an excellent crop of apples of many varieties, as well as a few plums and nuts in future years. Many thanks to Christine Elliot for the wonderful work she's done researching the varieties and coordinating the orchard planting and to Guy Parker for organising and overseeing the activity.
Thanks also to Andy and Kieran from Nicholsons who provided excellent management of the planting and supplied equipment and advice to keep us on track. Thanks also to you professional gardeners out there who provided good tips to us all through the morning!
Thanks again and best wishes,
Tim and the Southill team
West Oxfordshire District Council officers have turned down Vanderbilt Homes' application to build 34 new homes on the site between Grammar School Hill and the Five Ways junction.
The refusal notice cites four reasons:
The development was judged to contradict WODC planning policies in such an unambiguous way that it has not even been placed before councillors for them to make the decision: instead, it was refused by officers under "delegated powers".
The full report cites 179 individual letters of objection, as well as objections from WODC's specialist officers, Historic England, Natural England, Charlbury Town Council, the Cotswold Conservation Board (AONB), Campaign to Protect Rural England, and the Charlbury Conservation Area Advisory Committee.
The developers may still choose to appeal against the refusal: such an appeal proved successful on Blenheim-owned land in Long Hanborough last spring.
(Thanks to Jim Clemence on the forum for posting that the decision had been reached.)
Richard Fairhurst · Mon 16 Jan 2017, 23:26 · Link
The Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group is opening a consultation on our local health service. If you would like to participate, please go to consult.oxfordshireccg.nhs.uk/consult.ti/BigconsultationPhase1/consultationHome
Liz Leffman · Mon 16 Jan 2017, 17:44 · Link
The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.
Mon 16 Jan 2017, 08:00 · Link
Following the survey there was a question about what you would like to see happen in the Corner House.
The results have been analysed as a 'word cloud' where the size of the word indicates the number of times this word was in the response.
So it looks like a big hit for art languages or history activities
We will be looking into how best to provide this now so look out for more news!
We would also like to hear from anyone who might be able to run classes in these areas
Tony H Merry · Fri 13 Jan 2017, 17:16 · Link
Town of Charlbury - notice is hereby given:
Pursuant to section 87(2) of the Local Government Act 1972, that Mr G Clemson, formerly a Member of the above named Town Council, has ceased to be a Member of the Town Council, and that a vacancy now exists in the office of Councillor for the Town.
If, within 14 days after the date of this notice (i.e. no later than 1 February, 2017), a request for an election to fill the vacancy is made to the Head of the Paid Service, West Oxfordshire District Council, Woodgreen, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX28 1NB by TEN electors for the Town, an election will be held to fill the vacancy, otherwise the vacancy will be filled by co-option.
If there is an election, it will take place not later than 30 March, 2017.
Dated: Thursday 12 January, 2017
Mr S.R. Clarke Clerk to Charlbury Town Council
Thu 12 Jan 2017, 16:07 · Link
Heads up to those of us that were issued with strategic placed bags of OCC issue of salt a few years ago. Given the current Met Office snow and ice alert, we should be prepared to salt the pavements to prevent accidents, should the forecast prove accurate.
Stephen Andrews · Thu 12 Jan 2017, 13:32 · Link
Between the 6th and the 9th of January offenders have smashed front nearside window of a Mini parked on Dancers Hill and stolen items from inside. If you have any further information please contact police on 101 and quote crime reference 43170007497.
There was also another theft from vehicle which occurred the same weekend in the layby on Pound Hill. A silver VW Polo. Any further info please quote 43170008824
Wesley Smith · Wed 11 Jan 2017, 09:22 · Link
Following complaints on this website's Forum about unfair parking penalties being issued to drivers caught out by late running trains, I took up the matter with GWR management. As a result the injustices were put right. I agreed with GWR to revisit the situation three months on and to review progress. That review took place yesterday.
The following topics raised by Charlbury residents were put to GWR management and I await a response. When I receive a full response I'll post details on the Forum with a summary here.
1: What progress has been made in establishing a system of communicating details of delayed trains to Apcoa so that unfair penalty notices are no longer issued?
2: Request that the 20-minute 'no charge' period be extended to 40 minutes as late running services are frequently delayed by more than 20 minutes.
3: Request that the signage be improved to make the duration of the no-charge period very clear.
4: Request that drop off bays be provided and the existing temporary bay be significantly improved.
5: Request that car park and station lighting be switched off after the last train to reduce light pollution and save energy.
6: Ask for an explanation as to why Oxford Parkway does not appear on the list of destinations available on the Charlbury Station ticket machine.
Trevor Taylor.
Trevor Taylor · Tue 10 Jan 2017, 11:55 · Link
West Oxfordshire District Council is conducting a consultation on line on their proposed budget for 2017/18. You can have your say at https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/
Liz Leffman · Mon 9 Jan 2017, 10:00 · Link
The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.
Mon 9 Jan 2017, 08:00 · Link
Charlbury Refugee Action Group's Bring and Buy in the Friends Meeting House this morning raised a record-breaking £1007. That's a record in the sense that it raised more money than any other single fundraising event we have put on.
Thanks go to Gene and Fran for organising it, and all the people who donated their unwanted gifts and other things too numerous to count, plus an envious array of cakes. We also thank the Quakers for letting us use their premises for free, and a bevy of willing helpers on the day.
Secondly, our appeal for knitted squares to make up blankets for refugees in Syria got off to a good start, when Meraud collected 25 squares, three knitted hats and a lovely little child's cardigan from the collection box in the Corner House bookshop. The photo is of part of the donations. There is more information about this collection at www.charlbury.info/news/1998
Thank you everyone so much.
Jon Carpenter · Sat 7 Jan 2017, 18:20 · Link
If you are thinking about a holiday now that we are into the new year, you will want to avoid going away during the CHARLBURY FESTIVAL which will run from 10th to 18th June.
The Festival (organised by the Charlbury Art Society) will be a comprehensive programme of workshops and entertainment providing something for everybody.
The emphasis will be on participation and involvement so there will be an extensive range of workshops for all ages and abilities. For example on the opening Saturday we will be making mega prints with a steamroller and firing pots outdoors in Raku kilns before plunging them into sawdust.
There will be classical and jazz evenings and lunchtime recitals, open air theatre, literature, poetry, dance, cinema, singing, art lectures, storytelling, pilgrimage and heritage walks and a sculpture trail.
We plan to deliver a detailed programme to every household in the town and events will be publicised here on the Charlbury website.
Kati Eidenbenz · Thu 5 Jan 2017, 13:32 · Link
(Your friends from far and wide can join in too: why not send an email round family and friends, telling them what you are doing?)
Yarn bombers: now's your chance to bomb people with love and warmth!
Meraud tells us:
"Woolly Hugs (charity registration number 116741) is an online community of people making and collecting knitted and crocheted items for a variety of important causes.
One of their current projects is making blankets and other items for refugees. I thought that there might be a number of people in Charlbury who would want to contribute!
I have put a small (labelled) plastic collection box in the book room upstairs in the Corner House, and another next to the food bank box in St. Mary's.
I'm also happy to collect items directly from people who might like to contribute but are not able to get out and about.
If you have spare acrylic double-knit yarn, but no time to make anything, please leave it in the collection boxes, so I can pass it around to others with no yarn and more time!
Woolly Hugs' requirements are listed below, but please feel free to email me on MeraudFH@gmail.com or call me on 810151 if you'd like further information."
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What we are collecting:
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Please help if you can.
Charlbury Refugee Action Group
charlburyrefugee@gmail.com
Jon Carpenter · Mon 2 Jan 2017, 09:51 · Link