February 2021 Newsletter Issue 68 Milcombe Newsletter will be produced each Contributions, by email (Microsoft Word 2010 compatible), month and will be available from the to be received by 18th of month prior to publication to New Road Shop only while Covid-19 restrictions [email protected] or remain in place [email protected] All contributions are published ‘as recieved’ and do not The Milcombe Newsletter is funded by the Milcombe Parish Council necessarily represent the views of the Parish Council. Milcombe Parish Council www.milcombepc.co.uk Follow Milcombe Parish Council on Facebook Tuesday 5 January 2021 Vacancies – Due to resignations, markings had been painted on the road by the Planning applications and comments could there are two vacancies on the Parish junction at the Horse and Groom. be viewed on Cherwell District Council’s web site at: Council. The role entails attending a Grass Cutting Contact – The contract for https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/info/115/plan- Parish Council meeting every other 2021/2022 was awarded to Nigel Prickett. ning/443/see-or-comment-on-a-planning- application23as month, for around 2 hours and you Trees/Bushes/Hedges - Residents were can put in, as much or as little time reminded that trees/bushes/hedges should Meeting Dates - Future meetings, all start- as you have available, in-between not be causing an obstruction because they ing at 8.00pm would be held on Zoom, until were overhanging a boundary onto a footpath further notice. Please contact the Clerk for the the meetings. If you would like any or road. If an obstruction was occurring in details to join the Parish Council meetings. further information, please contact the village, it should be reported to https:// • Tuesday 2 March 2021 fixmystreet.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ the Clerk on 01295 710965 or email • Tuesday 4 May 2021 (Milcombe Annual Parish Meeting) [email protected] Planning - Farnell Fields, Paradise Lane, Milcombe – An application for minor internal Wheelie Bins – Residents are kindly requested works and external works to rooflights and All welcome to attend! not to block the footpaths with their wheelie rainwater goods was approved. bins, where possible. If they could also be Agendas and minutes are available on www. collected back in as soon as they had been Covid-19 - The latest guidance on the milcombe.com or please contact the Clerk, emptied, this would avoid the footpaths being Covid-19 lockdown restrictions can be Theresa Goss, at [email protected] or blocked for those pedestrians with pushchairs found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ ring 01295 710965 during normal office hours. or wheelchair users. national-lockdown-stay-at-home Play Area – The Section 106 funds from the Adverse Weather: BE A RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER Oak Farm Phase 2 development were due to Oxfordshire County Council works closely with CDC are unable to supply any dog bags at be paid to Cherwell District Council shortly. all its partners to monitor the weather and as the present time so please make sure you Quotes for the new play equipment were in a reminder there are some numbers that you take a bag of some description with you to the process of being sought. Cherwell District can call to report weather related issues if you clean up after your dog, particularly along the Council were due to cut back the trees which become aware of them: footpaths, Low field and Paradise field. There are overhanging from the Dovecote into the • To report fallen trees or other debris which is a penalty if you are caught allowing your play area. pose a risk to your safety or the safety of others, dog to foul public footpaths or other land and please call 999 not picking it up. There are plenty of dog bins Dog Fouling – Residents are asked to ensure • To report fallen trees or other debris which around the village for you to use or take it that they clean up after their dogs because a doesn’t pose such a high risk but still needs to home and place in your green bin. Thank you. lot of mess had not be picked up, especially be dealt with, please call 101 along Main Street. Dog waste bags are avail- • If you lose power or can see that a power line able from New Road Stores and the Church has come down please report it by calling 105 porch. • If you are concerned about flooding, you should visit the Oxfordshire Flood Toolkit Snow Warden/Grit Bin – If anyone in the online - https://www.oxfordshirefloodtoolkit. village would to volunteer to be a Snow com – and I will summarise the key numbers Warden to help clear the footpaths in adverse to call below: weather conditions, please contact the Clerk • If you have a flooding emergency which is a to the Parish Council. A new grit bin had been threat to someone’s life, contact Oxfordshire FREE Adverts for local business installed at the entrance to Dovecote Close. Fire and Rescue Service on 999 • To report flooding relating to a highway such Village Hall – The Hall was still closed due as blocked ditches, blocked drains or flooding to the Covid-19 Pandemic, however the on a road call Oxfordshire County Council Committee is planning something for children Floodline on 0345 310 1111 at Easter as Christmas activities were cancelled. • To report flooding from a main river contact The Parish Council agreed to make a financial the Environment Agency through the Floodline contribution to the event. (Tel: 0345 988 1188 or 0800 80 70 60) or visit their website Highways – Repairs which were required to • If your property is at immediate risk of surface potholes should be reported to the County water flooding please contact Thames Valley Council’s Fix My Street web site. https:// Police on 101 fixmystreet.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ New road Reminders: Electricity: SSE 0800 294 3259 or text phone Roads (including potholes)/footpaths/street 0800 316 5457, UK Power Networks – 0800 lighting/overhanging trees/hedges: Report 169 9970, Western Power Distribution – 0800 to Oxfordshire County Council https://fix- 096 3080 mystreet.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ Water: Thames Water 0800 009 3652 or text Faulty Street Lights: Report on freephone phone 0800 316 6899, Anglian Water 03457 0800 317802 giving exact destination and 91 91 55 pole number if possible. Power failure: If there’s a power cut call the Dog Bags: These are available from New Road free number 105 to check what’s happening Stores and in the Church porch. Please clear with your local provider up after your dog - it is an offence not to. Tel: 01295 722142 [email protected] thehorseandgroominn.co.uk MILCOMBE VILLAGE HALL FREE Adverts for local business [email protected] VILLAGE HALLS AND COMMUNITY THE VILLAGE HALL IS STILL DESPERATELY CENTRES, due to their communal nature, IN NEED OF A TREASURER. are vulnerable to the spread of Coronavirus. There must be somebody in Milcombe who Managers of community facilities have discre- cares enough about the village and the tion as to whether it is safe to re-open such Village Hall who would be willing to take on premises and whether they can put in place this task. the necessary protection. Much depends on the size of the facility and space available as A NEW COVERED AND LOCKABLE the 2- meter social distancing must be strictly NOTICEBOARD is still sitting in the foyer of adhered to and consideration given to pinch the Hall awaiting a volunteer to remove the points such as entrances and exists and par- old one and install the new one. ticularly in Milcombe Village Hall the narrow Raychel Pomroy is still kindly carrying out FREE Adverts for local business passageway to toilets and kitchen area. weekly checks on the Hall and she is thanked Further information can be found on for volunteering to do this. COVID 19 GUIDANCE FOR THE SAFE USE OF The Village Hall Committee (Milcombe MULTIPURPOSE COMMUNITY FACILITIES Charities Trustees) is overseen by the follow- issued by the Ministry of Housing, ing members: Rev. Dale Gingrich (Chairman Communities and Local Government 5.1.2021. – [email protected]), Marlene Due to this latest guidance and the 4th Cowell (Minute Secretary – marlene.cowell@ lockdown currently in place, regrettably milcombe.com), Amy Jackson (Bookings), Milcombe Village Hall remains closed. It is an Sally Ashmole, Sacha Cowley, Raychel Pomroy ever- changing situation which the trustees of and Suzette Watson. the Village Hall will continue to monitor. All members can be reached on the following email: [email protected] The Countryside Code The Countryside Code gives advice on how you If you find a gate closed, close it when you pass All litter is unsightly. Glass, tins and plastic bags can enjoy your visit to the countryside and also through to prevent animals straying. Farmers can be dangerous to people, livestock and act responsibly to protect the countryside. The sometimes leave gates open to allow animals wildlife. Keep the countryside clean by taking code explains that is important to plan ahead, to pass from one field to another to graze or home your own litter and any which you may stay safe, control your dog near livestock and drink. Help a farmer by leaving gates as you find. Guard against all risk of fire prevent fires. find them. If in doubt, close a gate. The countryside is vulnerable to fire espe- Do not interfere with livestock, machinery cially during dry weather. Accidental fires pose The code and crops. These are valuable commodities a great risk to farmers and foresters. Be careful The following simple messages make up the and should be left alone.