Childrey & Sparsholt

Newsletter www.sparsholtandwestcot.org

www.childrey.org.uk Contact for newsletter articles: Claire Turner 751275 [email protected]

Please submit articles by the 18th of the month

FEBRUARY 2017 Proposal to Abolish All Six Councils in Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire county council wants to abolished and replaced with one know what you think about its draft new unitary council which proposal to abolish all six councils in would save £20m each year – Oxfordshire and replace them with a money that would pay for better one new council for the whole services and keep council tax low. county, called a ‘unitary’ council. That money would be enough to fill Why change? over 300,000 potholes or provide 1 Central government is changing the million hours of home care. way councils are funded, and The new council would be simpler councils will soon have to pay for for residents and business, with one services mainly from council tax and website and one point of contact. business rates. Unless local One councillor would represent government is reorganised, your community and be Oxfordshire councils will not be able accountable for all services. As to pay for vital public services for members of an ‘area board’ serving local communities and vulnerable the existing district or city areas, people as the population increases each councillor would take and gets older. decisions affecting their community

The proposal and the county as a whole. Oxfordshire currently has a two-tier Environmental services such as local government – a county council street cleaning, countryside services plus five district and city & grounds maintenance would be councils. Oxfordshire County properly joined up and managed Council thinks that all of locally to (cont…) Oxfordshire’s six councils should be respond to community needs. Bringing Chat from the Clerk Residents wishing to use this service together social services, housing, leisure must register by telephoning John Please could the owners of trees with and welfare benefits would mean joined Hatcher on 01367 820417. When you up support for people who need extra overhanging branches, especially in wish to travel the registered users the Holloway, check that the help, improving health and wellbeing. must telephone John to ensure the And joining up planning, housing, jobs branches/trees are safe and that they driver of the minibus knows to pick and transport would mean Oxfordshire’s will not fall onto passing them up in the Village. Can we please housing shortage can be addressed, pedestrians/vehicles. help to support this service. There is along with investment in vital I have also been asked to mention the always a need for drivers and the infrastructure such as roads. infamous “dog poo” again, please be Without changing local government in commitment to drive is only around considerate and pick up after your dog Oxfordshire, further service cuts may be half a day every 4 weeks, driver age and use the dog poo bins provided. A needed. The government is reducing range is 18 to mid 70’s. If you would fine can be imposed if a person is funding and a unitary council is more like to help as a driver, please financially sustainable in the long term. caught not complying with the rules. contact John Hatcher. Oxfordshire County Council believes There have been a few burglaries to Clerk to both parishes: Debbie Lewis-Pryde sheds and outbuildings in the Vale. It a new council for the whole county 01235 751923. makes most sense. Simpler. Better may be worth checking your house services. More local. Lower cost. That’s insurance to see if you would be Wantage Gardeners what ‘One Oxfordshire’ means. covered. Association is a friendly, not for Join the debate Childrey Parish Council meeting profit organisation seeking to promote This is a draft proposal and Oxfordshire th Wednesday 8 February 2017 starting gardening in the community by providing County Council wants to hear from at 7.30pm in Childrey Village Hall. fertilisers, composts and a wide range of residents, before finalising the proposal Please check the website and notice gardening essentials at very reasonable and sending it to the government for a board as there may be a planning prices. decision. Find out more and have your meeting if required. We also sell potatoes, garlic and onions at say, go to www.oneoxfordshire.org or [email protected] bulk prices and offer 30% discount on Kings come to a drop-in event at a library near professional quality seeds to members. you WANTAGE LIBRARY FRI 3rd FEB Sparsholt Parish Council meeting rd The shop can be found in Springfield Road 13:00-15:00. Other venue dates & events Friday 3 March 2017 starting at behind the Scout hut and we re-open are available on the website. 7.30pm in Griffin Memorial Hall, on Saturday 4th Feb, 9 – 12. Sparsholt. [email protected] Please visit the web site at Tear Fund Lunch BUS UPDATE - New FRIDAY www.wantagegardeners.org.uk for details. Friday 3rd February sees the ONLY SERVICE Childrey is now able first Tear Fund Lunch of 2017. to offer a Community Bus Service each Childrey & Sparsholt WI Friday, starting from Childrey Village To be held at Paddocks End West February 21st 7:30pm Childrey Village Hall at 1.30pm to Wantage Town Street, Childrey by kind invitation hall. Barbara Hately will give a talk on of Pat and Bryan Winsley. They Centre. This service will return from “The History and Meaning of Nursery look forward to seeing you there Sainsburys in Wantage at 3.30pm. The Rhymes” Contact Pauline Higgs UBW Friday service will start on 3rd from 12.30 onwards. HELD IN SUPPORT OF CHILDREY VILLAGE HALL 751544 Visitors Welcome. February and Bus Passes may be used. Anywhere you would prevent access for Defibrillator Now Available Community Policing Emergency Services. Childrey Village PCSO Howard Pack C9600 Opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a Every year, over 10,000 people in the Hall e-mail UK collapse and stop breathing, due Thames Valley Police Rural Patrol junction, except in an authorised parking space. to cardiac arrest. To survive such an Recently, residents have seen several Near the brow of a hill or hump bridge. booking. Opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an suspicious vehicles (normally vans) out in the event, there needs to be access to obstruction) another parked vehicle. The hall can now be booked countryside that appear to be looking for a defibrillators in public places, and Where the kerb has been lowered to help via e-mail by sending your the person suffering the attack suitable place to dump the contents of their wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles. booking request, including needs a trained person with a vehicle or ‘Fly Tip’; I have followed up each In front of an entrance to a property. report and to date have found nothing. What On a bend. date, time & event type to defibrillator to attend to the victim you should do if you find this while ‘out and Most of the HIGHWAY CODE is common sense [email protected] within minutes. Reducing delay ------about’; If you can ‘safely’ obtain the vehicle but as always where the Police receive a increases the chances of a successful registration, please contact the Police on 101. complaint this will be investigated and when an outcome. If the fly tipping is on private land then it will be offence has occurred there might be a Fixed Fun Race Night Thanks to a £2,000 grant from Penalty ticket involved or a vehicle might get the private owner's responsibility to arrange Friday 24th March! Scottish and Southern Electricity, towed away. clearance. The best contact number for anyone Sparsholt has now purchased a Vulnerable Residents - With the recent colder to phone is 03000 610610 which is the The Ridgeway C of E Primary defibrillator which is available to temperature could I ask the Residents in council's contractor called Biffa who will record School, in Childrey is anyone with the requisite knowledge CHILDREY to help me and the Neighbourhood all details and then contact the council if there holding a night of Policing team by keeping an ‘eye’ on Vulnerable and training to save a life. It is is any evidence. horseracing fun. It is located on the outside of Sparsholt Parking - Over recent months I have spent a members of the Community, especially the one of the most entertaining ways Village Hall, and having contacted lot of duty time dealing with Parking issues in elderly, and if you have any concerns please let the Ambulance Service, it can be WANTAGE Town Centre especially with the us know via 101 or contact one of our to enjoy the excitement of a race enforcement of YELLOW LINES, DOUBLE Partnership Agencies eg. Local Councils, Social meeting and not have any of the used to bridge the gap in time between a person experiencing a YELLOW Lines mean NO WAITING at any Services. Where we are notified of a possible trouble of travelling to the event! time and SINGLE YELLOWS are dependent vulnerable person we will contact them via a visit heart attack and a trained person You get the best seats in the on the Restrictions shown on a nearby Time or telephone call and ensure they have the help having the equipment available to house right at the start finish Plate eg. NO WAITING Monday to Saturday they require. commence resuscitation. between 8:30 am and 6pm (This can vary). Please use 101 to report any ‘Non-Urgent’ line! There will be a bar & food The Parish Council is organising a Vehicles have also been illegally parked in Crime related matters...Report it so that we too! Places are limited so book training session (or sessions if ‘Disabled badge holder’s only bays’ in the know about it. If you’d like to receive FREE your place now! This great fun required) on the use of this piece of MARKET PLACE, this risks a £30 fine and I crime alerts and info about where you live by evening is on Friday 24th March, equipment, which is suitable to be have issued a number of Fixed Penalty Tickets Email, Phone or Text then please contact me on to offenders. 101 or when you see me on patrol and I will be doors open at 7pm, first race at used by any mature person, and Please can I remind residents of some good happy to ‘sign you up’ alternatively please 7.30pm. Tickets available from Mrs which can to be used on adults or advice found in the HIGHWAY CODE; register at www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk and Davies at the school. All funds children. Rule 240 - You MUST NOT stop or park on a please use www.thamesvalley.police.uk to visit If you are interested in attending a raised go towards providing events pedestrian crossing, including the area marked our Website. Useful Numbers The 24-hour non- training session, please email by the zig-zag lines eg. Potential penalty of and equipment for our young emergency number for Thames Valley Police is Norman Downie at £100 fine and 3 points on your Driving ‘101’ or 999 in emergencies. The email is children. [email protected] and Licence. [email protected]. you will be notified of a session Rule 243 - DO NOT stop or park near a school police.uk entrance. which you may attend. Regards, Howard Operation Education IPads!! NEWS FROM ST. MARY’S Christingle Service. Over 100 adults and I am currently helping the foundation unit Thank You Nipun children came to hear the Christingle story. of Charlton school to raise funds to The Ridgeway School choir sang beautifully. purchase 6 IPads needed for supporting The service had a very special atmosphere the phonics learning of the 60 children in with candlelight adding to the effect and their care. Unfortunately, the school do over £260 was raised for The Children’s not have sufficient money in general funds to buy these. The foundation stage Society. Christmas Tree Festival. 16 parents are therefore trying to raise the trees were donated and decorated by money to give to the school so that they various organisations from the village. What can buy them, or find a kindly IT supplier a fabulous community effort! The hard work or retailer who might be able to donate and thought that all the contributors put them (!), or connect with a company, into decorating their trees was stunning and individual or charity with an interest in the church looked magical! Thanks to education locally who might want to help! everyone who helped and came along, and If anyone has any info or connections to especially to Jane Bardell for putting the anyone who might want to support the whole event together. £520 was raised to

education of local foundation age children help support the church roof repair fund. or wishes to donate, please contact Suzy Little Ducks Nativity. The children On the 18th Jan. Childrey village performed their nativity play to parents and Alder on 01235 751892 / 07774686877 / hall was filled to capacity to [email protected]. friends for the very first time at St Mary’s. give a very fond farewell to Any help would be so appreciated. Another memorable and special occasion enjoyed by everyone. We hope they will all Nipun & to wish him all the best come back again next year? for the future on his imminent Ridgeway School Carol Service. We were delighted to welcome all the children, departure to pastures new. Childrey & District staff, parents and friends for the annual Nipun was presented with a Tuesday Club school carol service. Again, it was a pleasure beautiful painting (currently on Colin Fox - 'The Mary Rose' to have the school choir sing and to hear the display in Childrey Stores) by Class 3 children reading out the prayers th 7 February 2:30pm Childrey they had written specially for the occasion. local artist Pat Winsley & we all village hall. Thanks, too, to the Open the Book team for hope it will remind him of happy If you notice any potholes, overgrown footpaths or telling the story of the First Christmas. times in the village. A huge verges or any other Highways issues please report to Church Roof Update: we should hear in ‘thank you’ once again to the “fixmystreet” website. Highways respond quicker the Spring whether we have been successful to the problems that have the most logs on their site. in the first round of our application for a Nipun from all those many Please DO NOT wait for a parish Council meeting to report Highways issues. Both Parish Councils reserve Heritage Lottery Fund grant to repair the people you have helped over the right to change the meeting dates, times and south transept roof after the lead theft. the years. You will be very much venues – please always check the notice board for Meanwhile, a state of the art alarm system correct information – Agendas are published three has been installed on the nave roof and we missed by your many friends. clear working days before each Parish Council meeting. are grateful to Oxfordshire Historic Thank you also to the organisers Planning meetings will be inserted periodically to allow the Parish Council to discuss and respond before the Churches Trust for part-funding this. for arranging such a splendid VOWHDC deadlines and the Agenda will be published Linda & John farewell party for a very on the notice board three clear working days prior to [email protected] Tel:751297 deserving gentleman. the meeting. Planning applications can be viewed on [email protected] Tel:751809 the VOWHDC planning register. Proceeds in aid of hall funds