Christmas period refuse collections
As per usual, refuse collection dates will alter over the Christmas period.
See the attachment for details of the changes.
SODC’s Disabled Facilities Grant
/in News/by Adam BernsteinSouth Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils continue to offer the Disabled Facilities Grant to help disabled and vulnerable residents make their homes safer, more comfortable, and better suited to their needs.
The Disabled Facilities Grant is a means-tested grant providing financial help for home adaptations such as installing ramps and stairlifts for easier access, fitting level-access showers, or improving heating and insulation.
The grant is up to a maximum of £50,000 to help those who need it most.
The grant aims to:
- support more disabled residents to live independently in their homes
- reduce hospital admissions and enable prompt hospital discharges
- reduce the need for residential care by allowing people with disabilities to live independently in their own homes
- support tailored home adaptations for those who need them including people with dementia
To apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant, the first step is to contact an Occupational Therapist to see if you’re eligible. For more information on applying for grants and loans please see our dedicated website page (South / Vale).
Parish walk details
/in News/by Adam BernsteinSunday 4 January sees the next parish walk.
It starts at 10.00 from Stokenchurch, meeting at the bus stop by the defunct Kings Arms in the centre of the village at 9.50. There is a small car park and plenty of parking to the side of the small roads by the green.
The route is 4.5 miles long; there are no stiles and we walk on well defined footpaths through beech woods and open farmland. This route has been chosen as it is well known as the least muddy in the area.
We stop half way round for a banana break (other snacks allowed! ) and walk at the speed of the slowest with a back marker. There are a few downs and ups as you would expect on an Chiltern Walk.
Unfortunately there is now no cafe in Stokenchurch.
The walk is a joint venture between the Aston Rowant Parish Council and Thame and Wheatley Ramblers. You don’t have to be a parishioner nor a Rambler’s member to join the walk. Booking is advised.
Peter Hetherington – Accredited Ramblers leader – 07767 647714
B4009 road closure notice
/in News/by Adam BernsteinThe parish council has had notification of the closure of the B4009 between the A40 and Kingston Hill on 4 December.
See the attachments below.
Household rubbish can only be collected if bin lids are fully closed
/in News/by Adam BernsteinSouth Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are reminding residents that crews can only empty household wheelie bins if the lids are fully closed lids.
Crew members check to make sure that the waste is fully contained within each bin. They need to do this because there is a real risk that an overfilled bin won’t attach properly to the lifting equipment at the rear of the collection vehicle. In such cases, it’s common for bins to become unattached and end up being thrown from the lift, causing a serious danger to collection staff, the public and motorists who might be in the vicinity.
Waste can also drop from overfilled bins while they are being wheeled to the collection vehicle, creating a street cleansing issue. Closed lids minimize spillage and help to prevent vermin (such as foxes and gulls) from taking items from bins, which leads to dirtier streets.
As part of their safe working requirements, to minimise the chance of injury, collection crews are instructed to adopt correct manual handling techniques when lifting, carrying and wheeling waste receptacles to the collection vehicle. Unfortunately, it is human nature to try and catch waste falling from a bin while it is in motion, which can lead to injury. A closed bin lid will stop waste from falling out and prevent this from happening.
The councils’ waste and recycling policy states that bin lids must be fully closed in order for the bin to be emptied on the scheduled collection day. This requirement applies to all wheelie bins – including general rubbish, recycling and garden waste.
If a household has more waste than will fit in their bin with the lid shut, residents should:
- for general rubbish and garden waste– hold it back for next time or take to their local Household Waste and Recycling Centre (you won’t get charged for household waste)
- for recycling– put the extra items in a clear plastic sack or cardboard box and leave it next to the bin ready for collection.
Road closure – B4009
/in News/by Adam BernsteinThe parish council has not been notified as yet, but can see that there’s a planned road closure on the B4009 between Aston Rowant/Woodway Farm and Kingston Blount/Kingston Hill on Thursday 4 December between 0930 and 1530hrs.
More detail will be published when more is made known. In the meantime, see the map below for the detail that the council presently has.
School admissions
/in News/by Adam BernsteinAs part of the application process for Reception entry to infant and primary school, OCC is advertising the need for parents and carers of children born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 to apply for a school place.
Parents and carers can apply from 4 November 2025 to 15 January 2026 for a Reception place at primary or infant school for entry to school in the 2026/27 academic year.
Parents or carers with any questions should visit oxfordshire.gov.uk/primaryadmissions. Alternatively, the School Admissions Team can be contacted direct on 01865 519800 Option 2
or via
The deadline for receipt of completed school applications for Reception is 15 January 2026.
See attachment below for more information.
South Oxfordshire Christmas Fair
/in Local Events, News/by Adam BernsteinOn Tuesday 18th November, the very best of our carefully curated makers, growers and artisans will come together to provide a magical shopping experience whilst raising funds for two local charities that touch hundreds of lives each year: SeeSaw Oxford (child bereavement services) and Style Acre (supporting young people with autism and learning difficulties with living and employment help).
Come and shop, buy a raffle ticket or two and bring your friends.
Tuesday 18th November 9:30 until 4pm at The Oxfordshire Golf Hotel Spa.
See the attachment below for more details.
Parish litter pick on 1st and 2nd November
/in News/by Adam BernsteinThe parish Litter Pick has been confirmed for Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd November – as detailed in the most recent issue of the Parish Notes.
Both start at 1000hrs. On Saturday, we meet in the Cherry Tree car park, and on Sunday we meet in the lay-by on the A40 opposite the Lambert Arms.
If we have enough helpers the picks will be done in an hour or so. We’re a parish of some 1300 people – please don’t leave it to others to care for our villages.
Bags, hi-viz jackets and pick sticks will be provided, but please bring gloves and of course, wear suitable footwear.
For more information, call Steven Sowerby on 07802 814625.
OCC testing plan and needs help
/in News/by Adam BernsteinA note from Oxfordshire County Council:
“On Thursday 13th November we are running a Humanitarian Assistance Centre (HAC) exercise at Kings Centre, Osney Mead, Oxford,OX2 0ES from 10:00-14:30. There is free parking, or it is a short walk from train station or city centre. We will be providing drinks and refreshments.
We need to exercise our plan to ensure that we are prepared should we need to activate it and train those who would respond. A HAC is the centre that is set up 24/48 hours after an incident to support those affected to contact their insurance company, access accommodation (after first emergency night in a hotel), replace items such as walking frames, train passes, bus passes. Those affected may have lost everything or simply their wallet or mobile phone.
We need people to play the evacuees and attend the centre for an hour or for the whole session. You will be given a role card and be asked to come into the centre and be looked after and hopefully have your problems on your role card resolved. We want people of all ages, so you are welcome to bring a parent, a partner, friends, children. Those attending all day will be given lunch.
If you are able to help please respond to with any useful information such as languages spoken, if you use mobility equipment, age range, dietary requirements etc so that we can make the exercise as realistic as possible and include what times you can attend for on the day.
The only way for us to be fully prepared is to train and exercise and we would really appreciate your support to make this exercise a success.”