News – Page 49 – Aston Rowant Parish Council

New Year Parish Walk

Friday, 3rd Dec 2021/in News/by Adam Bernstein

The now traditional New Year Parish Walk is on Sunday 9th January, starting at 1000hrs.

Meet at Lambert Hotel for a 6.2 mile walk. Parking is available either to the left side of the minor road to Lewknor near the hotel, or on the right hand side of Butts Way. Please do not park in the hotel car park unless booked in for lunch.

The walk will follow the Aston Rowant Discovery Trail (see www.chilternsaonb.org/ccbmaps/1607/137/aston-rowant-discovery-trail) taking in Lewknor, Hill Road, Ridgeway, Aston Rowant Nature Reserve and Beacon Hill, National Trust Aston Woods and Juniper Bank, returning via Woodway Farm.

We expect to be back by 13.00.

Please wear boots and bring a snack and water.

Everyone is very welcome; the walk is free of charge and is at a leisurely pace, stopping from time to time to look at the scenery and talk about some of the history of the area. Hope you can join us. There is no need to book.

For more information, contact Peter Hetherington, walk leader, on 07767 647714.

This is a joint event organised by Aston Rowant Parish Council with Thame and Wheatley Ramblers.

Latest issue of the Parish Notes

Friday, 3rd Dec 2021/in News/by Adam Bernstein

The latest issue of the Parish Notes – December 2020 / January 2021 – is now out and should be through letterboxes any day.

In the meantime, the issue can be read on the website by navigating to Your Community > Parish Notes.

Extra funding for SODC businesses this winter

Monday, 29th Nov 2021/in News/by Adam Bernstein

SODC is to make extra funding available to help businesses that have been severely affected by Covid-19 restrictions to get through the winter months.

Local businesses can apply for a grant of up to £15,000 to help to keep them going through the quieter trading months. In total, South Oxfordshire District Council has £1,239,551 available.

The funds are available for new businesses or those in the events, travel and tourism sectors, and comes from the government’s Additional Restrictions Grant, which aims to help organisation most affected by the ongoing pandemic.

Businesses based in the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts can find out if they are eligible via the South and Vale Business Support website.

Applications for support are open until midday on 16 December.

Applicants will be assessed on evidence that demonstrates the ongoing effect of the pandemic on their business and those eligible will receive support early in the new year.

Wildlife at Fiveways

Wednesday, 24th Nov 2021/in News/by Adam Bernstein

Mike Eaton has given the parish three more night-time videos of wildlife at Fiveways.

Navigate to Your Community > Fiveways Corner and scroll to the bottom to see a deer and a fox.

Parish litter pick – reminder

Tuesday, 23rd Nov 2021/in News/by Adam Bernstein

A reminder that the autumn parish litter pick is being held this weekend – 27/28^th November.

The Saturday morning pick will cover Kingston Hill while the Sunday morning will see Aston Rowant and the A40 and B4009 covered.

As to where to meet, for the Saturday pick meet at the bus stop by the Cherry Tree at 10am. And for the Sunday pick, meet at the lay-by by the Lambert Arms at 10am.

All are welcome to help (so long as they’re over 16). Each pick should only take two hours at most.

For more details contact Steven Sowerby on 01844 351392 or .

Rural isolation – have your say

Thursday, 18th Nov 2021/in News/by Adam Bernstein

Have your say on rural isolation. Are you affected by it? Do you know someone that is?

Community First Oxfordshire on behalf of Healthwatch Oxfordshire is undertaking a short survey to better understand the levels of rural isolation felt in rural communities.

The survey is designed for everyone to have their say and is anonymous – you do not need to say who you are.

To complete the online survey click this link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/RuralIsolationOxon

A report of the survey results, which will include recommendations based on these results, will be produced and published in March 2022.

Please complete the survey by 20 December 2021

Grants funding available

Wednesday, 17th Nov 2021/in News/by Adam Bernstein

Do you know any local voluntary and community groups looking for funding this Autumn? If so, South Oxfordshire District Council has capital and revenue grants currently available for constituted not-for-profit organisations.

Please visit southoxon.gov.uk/grants for further information on deadlines and details on whether your project or group is eligible. Any questions, contact the Community Enablement team on .

FTTP in the parish is go!

Tuesday, 16th Nov 2021/in News/by Adam Bernstein

Openreach has just stated that the scheme to bring FTTP to the parish has been approved by DCMS, “declared active”, and the telco can now start to process applications for each resident.

Residents need to visit www.openreach.co.uk/connectmycommunity. Ignore the name ‘Aston Park’; that will be corrected. The link will ask for your details for the pledge. This will be passed to DCMS which will email directly to verify the voucher. Openreach will submit the pledges in batches so don’t be surprised if there’s a delay between your pledge going onto Openreach and DCMS making contact.

We have 89 days (until 13 February 2022) to get all the pledges in. If we don’t get enough then the scheme will not go ahead.

Note: The link above will only permit addresses from our community to access and register. Also, be aware that once you pledge, and the install goes ahead, you have two months to sign up for FTTP with the ISP of your choice. If you do not, then Openreach may reclaim costs from you. Remember, you can choose any provider you wish – BT, Sky, Talk Talk…

Once Openreach has all the vouchers validated, and returned, and the gap cost is covered by funding, it should then be able to proceed forward to delivery.

Free parking days returns in the run up to Christmas

Monday, 15th Nov 2021/in News/by Adam Bernstein

Shoppers in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse are being given a helping hand to buy local this Christmas.

Those who are unable to get to local businesses by walking, cycling or public transport can take advantage of free parking in district council car parks.

The annual free parking tradition is provided by South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils to encourage shopping locally for Christmas presents.

The free parking days allocated to each area are agreed with the individual town councils depending on which day would best suit local traders.

Free Christmas parking days also means no need to pay to park to catch up with friends and family in the pubs, cafés and restaurants found across southern Oxfordshire’s towns during the festive period.

Drivers will be able to park for free in South and Vale car parks on the following days:

Abingdon – Saturdays 4, 11 and 18 December
Didcot – Mondays – 6, 13 and 20 December
Faringdon – Saturdays 27 November, and 4 and 11 December
Goring – Saturdays 4, 11 and 18 December
Henley – Fridays 10, 17 and 24 December
Thame – Saturdays 4, 11 and 18 December
Wallingford – Thursdays 9, 16 and 23 December
Wantage – Saturdays 4, 11 and 18 December

On the above days there’s no need to display a ticket, however maximum stay times will still apply in specific car parks. For details on parking in southern Oxfordshire visit southoxon.gov.uk/parking or whitehorsedc.gov.uk/parking.

Dogs: A request

Thursday, 11th Nov 2021/in News/by Adam Bernstein

A polite request to dog owners:

There have been a few incidents in the parish recently with regard to dogs either biting or causing alarm amongst the public.

While the parish council has no jurisdiction – it’s purely a matter for the police – we would ask that dog owners remember their obligation to keep their dog under control at all times when in a public space.

Clearly the vast majority of dogs are docile, and similarly, owners consider their dogs to be harmless. But to non-dog owners, a dog can cause alarm.

This link gives the relevant law on dogs, but in essence, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 covers not just situations where a dog has bitten, but also where it causes someone to have a ‘reasonable’ fear they could be injured.

To repeat, the council is unable to help with complaints about dog attacks, it’s a matter for the police on 101 or 999.

Unlikely as it may be, no-one wants a repetition of the death, last week, of the child from a dog mauling. And nor does the council want to see action taken against owners of their dogs.

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