Mike Eaton, who is part of a group that looks after Fiveways Corner in Aston Rowant, has shared a night movie of a rat in the stream.

It’s not a long movie, but it’s interesting.

SODC wants to know what residents think it, as a district council, should focus on over the coming years.

District councillors are putting together plans for the future of the district and they want everyone living and working here to have their say.

Should it be working with other organisations to help local businesses get back on their feet after lockdown? Should it help people live healthier lives? Or should it tackle the climate emergency? Or are there other concerns?

To have your say visit South Oxfordshire’s website until Thursday 13 August.

SODC hopes to publish and adopt its final corporate plan in the Autumn.

Last week the government announced details for when leisure centres and swimming pools could re-open. South Oxfordshire is working with Better, who runs council leisure facilities, to agree to a re-opening plan for the leisure service that complies with the government guidance and meets the industry standards.

There will be a gradual, phased opening of the centres, with careful measures being put into place for both staff and public safety.

Each leisure centre is being assessed independently as they all have different facilities and availability of space to make any necessary changes. Precisely when they open and how they operate when they are open will reflect that.

When the centres do re-open things will work differently at first, and not everything will be available in the early phases of reopening – for example, many programmes and classes that were running before the coronavirus pandemic will not be available to begin with.  These classes will open at later dates as part of the gradual, phased reintroduction of services.

Throughout this process the council has been following government guidelines and will continue to do so. If necessary, the timing of the phasing could be altered depending on the latest advice, and it might be that not all leisure centres are able to open as soon as the 25 July. The council wants to help residents to stay active and are aware that many swimming clubs are keen to get back in the pools. However, the safety of residents is paramount and access to leisure facilities may vary from town to town to reflect the latest government guidance.

Better leisure centres will be communicating to customers to advise specifically how each programme and access to activity will work.

Chinnor is to see major road works for many weeks.

Starting on the Oakley Road roundabout on 13 July, four way traffic lights will be installed as the work progresses down Station Road.

Station Road will then be closed from 4 August until 9 October (7 weeks total 24 hour closure – access only for residents and emergency services ) unless completed sooner.

These works are for SGN gas work improvements.

Following a recent BBC report on the export of UK originated plastics and recycling to Turkey for burning and improper disposal, SODC’s contractor – Biffa – has issued a press release noting its policies and practices.

Biffa says that it follows UK best practice and does not export recycling to Turkey – only carefully selected countries.

The release is available below.