Parish notes
The latest issue of the Parish Notes should have been delivered by now. If not, you can download a copy via Your Community > Parish Notes using the menu bar above.
Unwanted healthcare equipment
/in News/by Adam BernsteinThose with unused health and social care equipment are being urged to return it. Worldwide manufacturing has slowed because of the pandemic, and new equipment is harder to come by.
Oxfordshire’s ‘Hand it Back’ campaign encourages people to get unused items collected from them. An unused chair or piece of equipment can be recycled for someone else in need.
The items being sought are:
Chairs, beds, bed rails and mattresses; wheeled commodes; any electrical items; walking and toilet frames; pendent alarm equipment/sensors (Telecare); and slings.
All items for return must have a barcoded NRS or Millbrook sticker on them, and they can be collected by NRS Healthcare or taken to the NRS Bicester depot. Items must not be taken back to other health or social care buildings.
Those wanting to give back equipment can arrange a collection by calling NRS Healthcare on 01869 225420 or by sending their details to . NRS Bicester Depot is at Unit 8, Longlands Road, OX26 5AH and is open from 8.30am-4.30pm on weekdays.
Free parking days in the run up to Christmas
/in News/by Adam BernsteinMotorists can park for free on specific days this December and are being urged to use this opportunity to support their local shops and cafes in the run up to Christmas. They can park in district council car parks without paying for or displaying a ticket on the following days in December:
- Abingdon – Saturdays (5, 12, 19 December)
- Faringdon – Saturdays (5, 12, 19 December)
- Wantage – Saturdays (5, 12, 19 December)
- Didcot – Mondays (7, 14, 21 December)
- Goring – Saturdays (5, 12, 19 December)
- Henley – Tuesdays (8, 15, 22 December)
- Thame – Saturdays (5, 12, 19 December)
- Wallingford -Thursdays (10, 17, 24 December)
Motorists can also continue to park for free each day outside of the charging period and during the standard free periods but must display a ticket during this time.
SODC Business grants under coronavirus
/in News/by Adam BernsteinSODC has grant money available to firms affected by coronavirus.
Local Restrictions Support Grant (for businesses required to close)
This scheme is for businesses which pay rates and have been forced to close due to the national lockdown. This grant is also available to businesses that have closed their main operations, but who are currently offering take-away or click and collect services. A maximum of £3,000 is available depending upon the individual business’s rateable value.
See southoxon.gov.uk/businessrates
Additional Restrictions Grant
This scheme is for business that aren’t eligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grant, including those that haven’t been temporarily forced to close, but have been severely impacted by the current restrictions, and those that do not pay any business rates. This is a discretionary fund with £2,000 available to support individual businesses. Deadline for applications is 4 December.
See svbs.co.uk
Silent Solution – 999 and 55
/in News/by Adam BernsteinThere may be a situation where someone needs help during an emergency but is unable to talk because of an abuser being in close proximity. Here they can call 999 and press 55. This is known as the Silent Solution and will let the police know there is an emergency.
With Silent Solution, a police system is used to filter out accidental or hoax 999 calls. It also exists to help people who are unable to speak, but who genuinely need police assistance. Callers will hear an automated police message, which lasts for 20 seconds and begins with “you are through to the police”. It will ask the caller to press 55 to be put through to police call management. The BT operator will remain on the line and listen. If the caller presses 55, taps or makes a noise, they will be notified and transfer the call to the police. If none of the above are done, the call will be terminated after 45 seconds.
Thames Valley Police has guidance on using Silent Solution which can be read at https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/silentsolution.
Theft from motor vehicles in beauty spots
/in News/by Adam BernsteinThames Valley Police has received an increase in reports of theft from motor vehicles from beauty spot car parks across the local police area. Due to the current lockdown restrictions, the police have seen an increase in people meeting up to exercise, and leaving more vehicles in the car parks. This has created opportunities for criminals to take advantage.
Please remain vigilant and follow the below advice to help reduce your chances of becoming a victim of this type of crime. Report any suspicious behaviour, and call 999 in an emergency.
- Always keep your vehicle locked. Close all windows and the sun roof, if your vehicle has one.
- Do not leave anything in your vehicle – take all your personal possessions with you and don’t leave anything on display.
- Consider security marking any valuables that you regularly take in your vehicle.
- Do not leave the vehicle’s documents inside the vehicle.
- Park with care – try to park in a well used area.
- Use a steering lock, electronic immobiliser or alarm.
- Secure number plates with security screws.
Village hall play area
/in News/by Adam BernsteinIt’s come to the attention of the parish council that a number of children are breaching the barrier that’s wrapped around an element of the equipment in the play area by the village hall. The item has been closed off for good reason – it’s unsafe. Could parents please keep their children away from that item.
The parish council wants, in the current circumstances, to keep the safe elements of the play area open. But regrettably, if the barrier keeps being breached then the whole play area will have to be closed off.
Please help us to help you.
Neighbourhood Watch launches ‘PROTECT YOUR Pa$$W0rD’
/in News/by Adam BernsteinAccording to Neighbourhood Watch, over one third (34%) of people say that they’re more concerned about cybercrime than physical crime and a startling 1 in 5 people are a victim of cybercrime. In other words, you could be more at risk than you might think.
If strengthening your passwords is something you keep putting off, or you feel overwhelmed by the sea of online security information, you’re not alone.
As part of the Neighbourhood Watch Cyberhood Watch initiative, launched in 2019 in partnership with Avast, it has launched a PROTECT YOUR Pa$$W0Rd campaign that targets both the overwhelmed and complacent, providing everyone with three easy steps to be more secure online.
In summary, Neighbourhood Watch recommends individuals:
- Create a separate password for their email account;
- Use three random words; and
- Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA)
To find out more about each step visit the Password Protection page on the Neighbourhood Watch website .
Older Drivers Forum Webinars
/in News/by Adam BernsteinThames Valley Police is working with the Older Drivers Forum to run a series of free webinars aimed at older drivers, as well as their families and friends, with advice on how to drive safely for longer.
The webinars will take place next week (starting 16 November) coinciding with Brake’s National Road Safety week.
We can all become complacent about our driving and often pick up bad habits, which if not addressed can increase our risk of an incident on the roads. This series of webinars will help give advice on a number of subjects from confidence building appraisals to safe driving tips.
To register for place on a webinar, please visit https://olderdriversforum.com/webinars/
Places are limited.
Monday 16 November – 10.30am to 11.30am – ‘Confidence building appraisals’
Wednesday 18 November – 10.30am to 11.30am – ‘Driving with a Medical Conditions and Eyesight advice’
Friday 20 November – 10.30am to 11.30am – ‘Safe Driving tips’
Emergency contacts
/in News/by Adam BernsteinPeter Tinson, chairman of Aston Rowant Parish Council:
As we enter the second lockdown in England, there will be some within the parish who need assistance because they are self isolating or in quarantine. The parish council has developed a network of volunteers who can help with shopping, collecting prescriptions or just being there to talk to.
The list is downloadable from the link below.