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Archive for category: News

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ARCC this week

/in News/by Adam Bernstein

Whilst 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 Bernstein

The 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 Bernstein

Almost 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 Bernstein

SODC 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 Bernstein

SODC 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 Bernstein

Defibrillator 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.

Thefts of heating oil

/in News/by Adam Bernstein

With the rising in the cost of living, there has been recent attempts to steal domestic heating oil from tanks due to its increase in value. The police are asking all homeowners to remain vigilant and offer the following crime prevention advice:

  • Install an alarm on your heating tank to alert you of a dip in your oil levels – this can alert you from indoors or when you are out through your mobile. Make sure you display a sign above the tank to warn thieves that your tank is alarmed.
  • Put gravel around your tank to make the area noisy so that it deters thieves and draws attention when any attempts are made.
  • Try to hide the location of your tank through adding walls or putting plants around – all concealments must comply with OFTEC fire safety recommendations – see Oil Tank Installation – OFTEC Requirements – Direct Water Tanks
  • Lock up your tank with a good quality all-weather padlock and give the code to your fuel supplier for delivery access
  • Install CCTV to monitor your tank and show a visible deterrent for thieves
  • Install security lighting to brighten the area as many thieves strike in the darkness of night

If see you any suspicious activity or wish to report a theft call the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

ARCC this weekend

/in News/by Adam Bernstein

This weekend sees a very busy and important weekend for the club. On Saturday there’s the Rowachella music and beer festival. There are a few tickets are still available at £10; the event starts at 6pm when the usual pavilion bar will close. Tickets and details at www.rowachella.com.

In terms of the cricket:

Saturday sees the 1st team v Slough on the top pitch from 11.30, and the 4th team v Waddesdon on bottom pitch start from 1pm.

The bar open from 12.30.

On Sunday, there’s Heartaches v ARCC, featuring an invitational team run by Sir Tim Rice, on the top pitch from 2.30.

In other news, the 1st team qualified for the last eight of the National Cup with a last ball victory over Sudbury last Sunday. The next round is away against Potterne CC, provisionally on July 31st.

And on Sunday 24th, ARCC is hosting an MCC XI against an Aston Rowant XI, more details next week.

ARCC News

/in News/by Adam Bernstein

A note from the cricket club:

“It’s a busy two weeks for the cricket club – a huge cup game on Sunday after league cricket on Saturday and then next weekend there’s the Rowachella beer festival.

In more detail, on Saturday we have a double header against Banbury. The first team are away at Banbury and the second team is at home starting at 12.30pm. Also on Saturday we have the third team at home to Bledlow Village second team again at 12.30. The bar will be open at 3pm.

Sunday is the biggest game for a number of years, we have Sunbury at home in the last 16 of the National Knockout Cup – the game starts at 1pm  and the bar opens at 12.30. It should be a fantastic day, the weather forecast is good let’s make it a day to remember.

Then next weekend we have the return of the Annual Beer Festival, tickets remain on sale but are selling fast.

Please look at our web site astonrowantcc.com for more details.”

Parish council meeting location

/in News/by Adam Bernstein

Just a reminder that the next meeting of the parish council is in the church in Aston Rowant at 1930hrs on Wednesday 13 July.

For the record, meetings held in June and July are normally held in the church.