New issue of the Parish Notes
The latest issue of the Parish Notes is online and will be through letter boxes shortly.
Look under Your Community > Parish Notes.
ARCC this week
/in News/by Adam BernsteinThis weekend at the cricket club is dominated by the National Cup Knock Out quarter final on Sunday which is away at Potterne CC.
But at Butts Way there is league cricket on Saturday:
Aston Rowant 2nd v Twyford 1st. Start at 12.30 on the top pitch.
Aston Rowant 3rd v Abingdon 2nd. Start at 12.30 on the bottom pitch.
The bar will be open from 3pm.
On Sunday, Sydenham will host Haddenham in a friendly on the top pitch.
Residents urged to check their voter registration details
/in News/by Adam BernsteinResidents across South Oxfordshire are being urged to check the details on a letter they will receive from their district council from the end of July.
South Oxfordshire District Council is sending a ‘Canvass Communication Form’ to all homes which requires the occupants to check the details of everyone over the age of 16 living there. Local authorities need to do this each year to ensure the electoral register is up to date.
The letter people receive in July/August will depend on whether or not records indicate that there has been a change in the registered voters at their property – for instance, if a registered voter recently moved in then that address will receive a yellow letter, but if the occupants have remained the same since the last election, they will receive a green letter.
What you need to do:
If your household receives a yellow letter:
Once you have checked the details, please visit householdresponse.com/southandvale to either confirm that everything is correct, or to update the information for your property. You will need the two-part code on the letter to do this.
If your household receives a green letter:
- if the details are correct – you don’t need to do anything, you can simply keep the letter for your records or shred it and put it in your recycling bin.
- if the information is not correct – please visit householdresponse.com/southandvale to update the details for your property, you will need the two-part code on the letter to do this.
In either case, the letter will explain exactly what you need to do – it is very important that you read it carefully.
If you are required to either confirm or update your details, please do so as quickly as possible – this helps to ensure that the councils will not need to contact you again to confirm the information.
For information about how our Elections team holds, uses and stores personal data please visit southoxon.gov.uk/electionsdata
Increase in reported dog attacks
/in News/by Adam BernsteinThames Valley Police say that they have recently seen an increase in reports of dog attacks. It would “like to remind dog owners to take reasonable steps to keep your dog under control by considering the following:
- Consider keeping your dog on a lead in public places
- Ensure your dog is comfortable off a lead and will respond to your recall
- Use a muzzle if you are concerned about your dog in public
- Keep your dog on a lead when near livestock
- See advice from the local veterinary surgery if you have any concerns
It is your responsibility to ensure that your dog is under control at all times.
Your dog must be wearing a collar with an identity tag that has the owners name and address on it – just a telephone number is not enough.”
For more information on this issue and ways to report crime, please visit the Thames Valley Police website.
ARCC this week
/in News/by Adam BernsteinWhilst there is league cricket this weekend, the highlight will be the invitational game on Sunday between a Aston Rowant XI and a MCC XI. The game will start at 11.30 and the bar will be open from 12.15.
On Saturday we have two games:
Aston Rowant 2nd team v Didcot 2nd team starting at 12.30pm.
Aston Rowant 4th ream v Bledlow Ridge 2nd team starting at 1pm.
The bar will be open from 3pm.
On Sunday as well as the MCC, we are hosting a friendly between Sydenham and Sonning on the bottom pitch.
Next Sunday 31st July we are travelling to Potterne CC for the quarter final of the National Knockout Cup. More details on this and anything else on our web site astonrowantcc.com.
Financial boost to keep residents active
/in News/by Adam BernsteinThe Everyone Active grant scheme has launched today in South Oxfordshire to support local initiatives that improve the health and wellbeing of residents in the district.
SODC is providing £50,000 in funding for community organisations and individuals to apply for, with a maximum grant of £1,000. Applicants will need to show that their projects will help communities to become more active or sustain activity.
Scheme rules include:
- Projects should provide benefit to more than one person becoming active or support ongoing activity
- The maximum grant that can be applied for is £1,000
- Applications can be for revenue costs or capital items
- 100 per cent of project costs can be requested
- The project must complete within 12 months of the award decision
- We will accept one application only from each individual or organisation
The grant is open for a wide range of groups and organisations in the district. Not-for-profit groups (including sports clubs), town and parish councils and parish meetings, not-for-profit preschools, Parent Teacher Association’s and other local authority run schools or academies for non-statutory elements of the education programme. An individual can also apply who is supporting their community to become active or sustain activity.
The funding can be used in a variety of ways including:
- Buying new leisure or playground equipment
- Projects to introduce or improve physical activity
- Running training courses for volunteers or staff to help improve physical and mental wellbeing
- Setting up a community garden to share the physical and health benefits of growing fruit and vegetables
More information about the grant can be found on SODC’s website southoxon.gov.uk/grants or organisations can contact the council’s Community Enablement team on or 01235 422405 or
The deadline for applications is midday Friday 30 September.
New EV chargers across South Oxfordshire
/in News/by Adam BernsteinAlmost 50 new electric vehicle charging points are now available across four of SODC’s public car parks.
The EV chargers are located at Cattlemarket and Goldsmith’s Lane car parks in Wallingford, Greys Road car parks in Henley and Southern Road car park in Thame. Chargers will also be available in Kings Road in Henley from 18 July.
Getting families active
/in News/by Adam BernsteinSODC has just launched YouMove – a new initiative providing low-cost or free activities for children and families who receive benefits-related free school meals in Oxfordshire.
Activities available so far include cricket, swimming, and badminton. More detail is on SODC website at southoxon.gov.uk/youmove
Bin collections to begin earlier next week
/in News/by Adam BernsteinSODC is asking residents to put their bins out the night before they’re due to be emptied this coming week. This is because Biffa will begin waste collections at 5am on Monday 18 July and Tuesday 19 July due to the expected heatwave. This should help their crews avoid being out at the hottest part of the day.
Even with the early start, it’s possible Biffa’s waste collection crews may not be able to complete their rounds. If this happens and bins are not emptied, please leave them out for two days after the scheduled collection day and the crews will aim to catch up later in the week. More information is on SODC’s missed bins page.
Defibrillator training
/in News/by Adam BernsteinDefibrillator training
Following the note on how to give CPR and use a defibrillator in the last issue of the Parish Notes, I am pleased to say that, finally, the new defibrillator and box are now on a wall by the church. (A large ‘thank you’ to Richard Boarder for permitting the placement of the box on his wall).
The box is green and should be reasonably obvious to all, but if heading out of the village from the Green – with the church on the right – look to the left. It’s where the old telephone box used to be.
The parish is now organising training for residents on CPR and how to use a defibrillator. There are two events being held in Kingston Blount Village Hall – Tuesday 6 September and Thursday 8 September. Both starting at 1930hrs and are free to attend.
Please try to come along to one or other of them; an hour spent understanding CPR and getting familiarised with a defibrillator unit may well save the life of someone close to you.
Just to gauge numbers it would be helpful to know who is coming via email to .
The parish is planning to put another defibrillator on the B4009 in Kingston Blount. Unfortunately, that will have to wait to next year and a new budget.
Lastly, to find a defibrillator – anywhere in the UK – visit https://www.defibfinder.uk. It will show the 10 closest to the postcode or town entered. Please bookmark this page.