Noticeboard
Music and maths tutors required
Caroline is looking for a music teacher to teach vocal beginners for a ten-year-old, and a maths teacher who could teach algebra 1/2 for a 14-year-old.
They live in Steeple Aston, and the children could be available during the day as they are home schooled.
Please contact Caroline on 01869 349981.
Police warnings on metal theft and scams
Thames Valley Police have asked residents to be extra vigilant after an increase in metal thefts in the area.
There was a theft of copper from Gosford Hill School in Kidlington overnight on the 4th/5th August.
Also train services from Oxfordshire to London Paddington were severely disrupted on Friday 6th August after a theft of copper cabling at Tilehurst. That was the second copper theft from the line in a week. A theft on Wednesday 4th caused disruption for hundreds of passengers in the afternoon.
With the upsurge in crime surrounding metal theft, police are asking residents to be extra vigilant. They say: “If you overlook a school, church and or indeed any other property and see any unusual activity please call the police immediately. If possible please note registration number and colour and make of any vehicles.
If you have any information you think may assist with enquiries please call the switchboard on 0845 8 505 505.
If you believe there is a crime in progress please dial 999, otherwise call the switchboard on 0845 8 505 505.
If you have information about crime but do not want to speak to the police, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
‘Inland Revenue’ scam
The police have also warned about a new scam in the county. An elderly person in Oxfordshire was phoned recently by someone telling her that she is entitled to a rebate of over £2,000 from the Inland Revenue. In order to receive this rebate she had to pay £195. The person that called wanted to make an appointment to visit the very elderly lady to collect the money.
Oxfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards department are making ongoing enquiries about this.
The police say: “Could you please alert all your neighbours about this and assure them that the Inland Revenue would definitely not work in this way. If you have any other incidents to report please contact Trading Standards on 0845 051 0845 and the police.”
For more information from Trading Standards Oxfordshire about the latest scams and how to avoid them, please click here.
Cherwell Crime Partnership
Tesco on Pingle Drive has become most recent member to join the Bicester arm of the Cherwell Crime Partnership. Their new manager, Sean Purnell, is adopting a pro-active approach in tackling shop theft within the store and will be working very closely with the partnership and Thames Valley Police in future.
The Cherwell Crime Partnership works closely with local retailers, Thames Valley Police, Cherwell District Council, and Banbury and Bicester Town Councils, to deter and prevent retail crime and anti-social behaviour within the Cherwell Valley area via a number of methods, such as circulating photos of known trouble makers, keeping in touch with Storenet radio, and sharing information between partners about known criminal activity.
Bicester currently has 28 members and Banbury has 67. The partnership also covers local Pubwatch schemes.
Cherwell Crime Partnership Co-ordinator for Bicester, Kym Curtis, said: “This latest addition provides the missing link in the partnership, connecting Bicester Avenue, Bicester Village and the town centre, and will help us further reduce retail crime and disorder within Bicester.”
“We are very proud of this award winning partnership, scooping a Partnership Excellence Award for Promoting Community Safety in April. It is very satisfying seeing the partnership grow and strengthen the community cohesion within the area.”
The partnership started life in 2001 as the Banbury Crime Partnership, and Banbury’s success enabled the partnership to expand to become the Cherwell Crime Partnership covering Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington in April 2009.
Each member receives a handbook containing a photo album of suspected local offenders so that they can identify and monitor individuals in their stores. In return, members furnish the partnership with information of suspicious and unlawful activity, which is noted on a database.
Three times a year the partnership will analyse this database and issue an Exclusion Order to the most prolific offenders (these are served by a Thames Valley Police officer in a police interview situation), which bans them from entering any member store for 12 months. In addition to the album, each member is offered the chance to join the Storenet Radio Scheme, which enables them to communicate live information on local and travelling offenders between themselves and local CCTV operators.
The partnership is a member of and is accredited by the Association of Business Crime Partnerships (formally Action Against Business Crime). At ABCPs recent national conference on 29 April, the partnership received a commendation in the Partnership Excellence Awards for Promoting Community Safety.
Who likes a good film?
And food and drink and fellowship?
There has been talk since the issue was raised in the Village Plan about some sort of film club or society in Steeple, and it is becoming clear that different people have different ideas about what such an organisation should be and should do.
At a meeting recently to discuss these ideas we felt that it should be possible to provide what most people seemed to want in flexible and affordable ways, and give us all yet another reason to be glad we live in Steeple Aston. But we need feed back from more people as to what sort of films they would really like to be able to watch in the village and how they would like to watch them before we can go firm on any plans.
Some might want children's matinees at the weekends with ice creams and soft drinks so that you can save dragging the family off to Banbury or Oxford at great cost in time and money. Others might want to watch a classic or foreign film on a weekday evening with a quiet glass of wine: others enjoy a mainstream popular film with a meal and good company.
If we could get an idea of how many people would support what sort of programme we could plan accordingly. Incidentally, this is envisaged as complementing, not replacing, the Movies on the Move that are already showing in the Village Hall every two months on Sunday evenings and which are being much enjoyed by those who are coming.
So if you have any ideas to offer about films in the village - what you would like to see or how you would like to see them - please let me know: either by phoning 01869 347168 or by e-mailing mikemckinley7777@aol.com.
Mike McKinley
Steeple Aston Parish Council
NOTICE OF VACANCY
IN OFFICE OF PARISH COUNCILLOR
PARISH OF STEEPLE ASTON
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to section 87(2) of the Local Government Act 1972, Dorothy Willatt, has ceased to be a member of Steeple Aston Parish Council, and that a vacancy now exists in the office of Councillor for the said Parish Council.
In accordance with the Local Elections Rules an election to fill the vacancy shall be held if, within 14 days after the date of this notice (i.e. no later than 21st July 2010), a request for an election to fill the said vacancy is made in writing to the Chief Executive, Cherwell District Council, Bodicote House, Bodicote, Banbury OX15 4AA by TEN electors for the said Parish.
In the event that no such request is received by 21st July 2010 the vacancy will be filled by co-option.
Mary Harpley
Returning Officer
Dated this 1st July 2010
Note: In computing the fourteen days Saturdays, Sundays, day of Christmas break, of the Easter break or of a bank holiday or day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning are disregarded
It pays to insulate with the Council’s £99 deal
Local homeowners could start pocketing savings within 12 months of taking up the Cherwell District Council’s new home insulation offer.
Under the deal, local homeowners and private tenants can get cavity wall or loft insulation fitted for a standard price of £99 each. At this price insulation pays for itself fast in reduced energy bills. The low price has been made possible by a performance related grant from central government.
The £99 offer is limited by available funds on a first come, first served basis when the installers provide the quotation at the time of survey and at the time of installation. If the funds have all been used up by then, you will be quoted the standard installer fees under their CERT grant scheme. At present there is no shortage of funds, but they are expected to run out within three to six months, so it is important to apply as soon as possible.
If you are 70 or over, or receive means-tested benefits, you may get the work done free.
The Council’s insulation offer is being managed exclusively by Cocoon, a long- standing partner of the Council. Cocoon offers a fast on-line self-referral option at www.cocoonyourhome.co.uk.
Or to find out more, call 0800 8048 777 and ask for the ‘Oxon Deal’.
www.pactcharity.org
Have YOU ever thought about FOSTERING?
There is a recognised shortage of 10,000 Foster Carers in the UK. PACT, founded in 1911, is also known as the Oxford Diocesan Council for Social Work inc. We are a registered charity working to improve life chances for children. The focus of our work is within Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire and aims to build and strengthen families.
We are an approved Adoption and Fostering Agency. We have a history of finding safe, loving families for children in care. Here are a few facts about Fostering:
1.Did you know you don’t have to be married to become a Foster Carer?
2.You don’t have to have children already although you do need to have experience of caring for children.
3.Did you know you get paid a Fostering Allowance of £335.70 a week to be a Foster Carer which is tax free and won’t affect any other benefits?
4.Most of the children who need fostering are known as ‘hard to place’ children, they will usually be 8+ years of age.
Fostering is a hard but very rewarding job. If you think you might have what it takes to become a Permanent Foster Carer or you want to find out more then contact PACT now on 0800 731 1845 e-mail fostering@pactcharity.org
Katherine House Hospice Lottery
Support your local hospice lottery for just £1 a week.
Over £100,000 is raised every year.
Every week there is a first prize of £1,000 plus:
2 x £100 prizes
2 x £50 prizes
5 x £20 prizes
10 x £10 prizes
Contact
Wendy Crosse in Fundraising
Katharine House Hospice
East End
Adderbury
Banbury
OX17 3NL
Tel: 01295 812161
Email : lottery@khh.org.uk
Or download an application form from their website: www.khh.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 297099
Steeple Aston Emergency Response Plan
To view the Emergency Plan, please click here.Marie Curie Nurses Need You!!
Marie Curie Cancer Care provides high-quality nursing, totally free, to give people with terminal cancer & other illnesses the choice of dying at home supported by their families.
Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Great Daffodil Appeal, will be taking place throughout March 2010 and the fundraising office needs your help.
“Give us an hour it will help someone in their final hours, because we’d like to collect your time not your money”
Can you spare two hours to help support and collect at your local supermarket or street collection??
If you can help, please contact Shir Hunt on 01869 246655 OR email: Shiralyn.hunt@mariecurie.org.uk for more information & your nearest collection!!
Steeple Aston Baby and Toddler Group
If you have pre-school age children and are looking for a new activity, why not come along to Steeple Aston Baby & Toddler Group?
We meet every Thursday (including most school holidays) from 9.30 to 11.30 in the village Sports & Recreation Hall.
Our friendly, parent-run group has plenty of toys and craft activities to occupy children while grown-ups catch up over tea and coffee. The cost is £1.50 (per family) per session.
For further information contact either
Emily Burt (01869 349198) or
Emily Robinson (01869 347194)
Steeple Aston Tennis Club
It’s time to renew your membership for 2010 or become a new member. Come and join for the year and take advantage of the two courts available for the village to use. Membership is a minimal charge just to help us cover maintenance.
Steeple Aston Tennis Club is open to everyone in the village.
The club uses the two courts on the school grounds after 4pm on school days and at any time during weekends and school holidays. All you have to do is join, then come along and play, no booking necessary.
David and Heather Brooks – 01869 340032
For a membership application form that you can print and complete, please click here.
Energy saving light bulb myth buster
Why use them?
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use 80% less electricity, save you about £3 a year each, and last up to 12 times longer than old fashioned tungsten bulbs.
What are they?
Think of them as compact versions of the strip lights in work places since the 1950s.
Have they improved?
You can now get all shapes and sizes, fittings and levels of brightness, including 150W equivalent and dimmable options. A recent blind test of 761 shoppers, found that 64% preferred the light from them.
Is it better to leave them running?
No, switching them on uses the equivalent electricity as leaving them on for a few minutes. Most now light instantaneously.
How should I dispose of them?
Use the service your local council provides for the safe disposal of fluorescent tubes.
Is mercury an issue?
Ironically, installing CFLs ought to help reduce the need for coal-fired electricity production - a major cause of global mercury emissions. CFLs contain mercury - about 5mg. Locked into its tube, this is harmless.
What should I do if I smash one?
Ventilate the room for 15 minutes. Put on your rubber gloves, brush the bits into a bag, seal it and drop it at your local waste and recycling centre next time you visit.
Are tungsten bulbs banned?
No. Manufacturers have agreed to withdraw them for sale, starting with 100W this year, 60W in 2010 and 40W in 2011.
Where can I find out more?
Contact the Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512 012 or go to their website: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
This article was produced by United Sustainable Energy Agency (USEA), an organisation created by the merger of Milton Keynes Energy Agency & Thames Valley Energy Centre in May 2008.
USEA works in partnership with local authorities throughout Bucks, Berks, Beds, Herts, Oxon, Hants and the Isle of Wight. It has just been awarded a new contract with the Energy Saving Trust (a not-for-profit organisation funded by Central Government and the private sector) to operate an Energy Saving Trust advice centre for the South East. The centre provides impartial energy saving advice to the residents of Bucks, Berks, Oxon, Hants and the Isle of Wight. USEA also offers a free insulation price comparison service called Cocoon
For more information on the blind-test mentioned in the article, visit: http://crave.cnet.co.uk/greentech/0,250000598,10001096,00.htm
Contact
Gordon Glass, Marketing Co-ordinator
Email: gordon.glass@usea.org.uk
Website: www.usea.org.uk
Bicester Rural neighbourhood update - August
from WPC Caroline Brown
Crimes
In relation to crimes for your villages the following were reported to Police in July:
A window to a house was smashed in Steeple Aston and in Middle Aston a set of number plates were stolen from a car.
As part of our continuing pledge to improve our quality of service provided to you and improving how we keep you up to date, I wanted to use this opportunity to draw your attention to some important recent developments that may be of interest to you.
We are often asked to provide an overview of crime trends for the parish meetings, however the details provided will enable you to have access to this data at any time for your neighbourhood. There is a wealth of information about crime types and how we compare to similar forces in delivering our service via a report card. There is information linked to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour together with all the latest team information through the force website under Neighbourhood Policing.
http://maps.police.uk/view/thames-valley
www.hmic.gov.uk/PoliceReportCard/ThamesValley
www.thamesvalley.police.uk
Anti Social Behaviour (ASB)
If you believe ASB is taking place then please ring it in at the time on 0845 8505505 and we can hopefully get a unit out at the time to both identify and deal with offenders and also prevent it getting worse.
Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG)
The NAG met in July and updates were given on progress to the existing priorities and locations, speeding, parking and ASB. We are in the process of completing the annual consultation where we ask people to identify issues that the NAG can address in the coming year.
Members of the team assisted with the village cycle event in Stratton Audley and ensured that participants made it around the course safely. If you have a village event that you would like us to attend then please by emailing me on caroline.brown@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk and we will do our best to attend.
At the end of June we said goodbye to PS Scott Evans who was with us for 18 months, and welcomed in his place PS Bruce Riddell. We look forward to working with PS Riddell who has several years experience as a Police Officer.
Future events
You can meet members of the team at the following locations:
5th September from 2-4pm at Bucknell Village Hall
16th September between 6-7pm outside Fritwell Village Hall
25th September between 4-5pm outside Piddington Village Hall
9th October between 4-5pm outside Middleton Stoney Village Hall
10th October between 3-4pm outside Finmere School.