Brize Norton Parish Council Newsletter

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Here is the text from the June 2012 Newsletter Published here with permission of the Parish Council.

CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

This is the recent press release from Paul Slater, Senior Planner (Policy), West Oxfordshire District Council which we have copied in full for your information.

West Oxfordshire Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy
Update May 2012

The Core Strategy is the most important part of the LDF setting out the overall pattern of future growth in West Oxfordshire. The strategy has been through an extensive period of ongoing stakeholder engagement and it was anticipated that the final proposed submission draft would have been considered by Cabinet and Council in March 2012 and formally published in May 2012.

However, shortly before the March meetings were due to take place, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) informed the Council that they are unlikely to require as many houses in Carterton for service personnel as originally envisaged.

Given this material change in circumstances, consideration of the Core Strategy was deferred until May/June 2012 in order to assess the implications.  However as discussions with the DIO and other key stakeholders remain ongoing, the next report to Cabinet on 23rd May will now be in the nature of an update report on the Core Strategy with a revised programme.  The actual document will follow for consideration by Cabinet on 25th July.

It should be noted that the July Cabinet will be asked to approve another consultation version of the Core Strategy rather than the final submission draft to give people a further opportunity to comment in light of the change in circumstances.

Consultation will take place in August/September 2012 and will allow interested parties the opportunity to comment on the implications of the DIO announcement and the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) recently published by the Government. Further consultation will also ensure that all alternative options or combination of options have been adequately tested and consulted upon prior to the Core Strategy being finalised.

Depending on the volume and nature of consultation responses received, the final proposed submission draft will be reported to Cabinet and Council in October / November 2012 and formally published shortly thereafter.

A further LDF update will be circulated prior to the Cabinet meeting in July. 

Further information on the preparation of the Core Strategy to date is available on the Council's website - www.westoxon.gov.uk/corestrategy

This means that we, as a village, will have to make further comments in August.  We would strongly encourage you to do so, as the Council take note of strength of feeling, and your individual responses are very important.  We, as a Parish Council, continue to engage on your behalves, but the threat of 700 to 1,000 houses being built right up against our village is a real possibility and YOUR ACTION IS REQUIRED.  We would thank you for your support up until now, and I am pleased to say that the petition has just been presented to the WODC Council.  We do, however, need you to continue to take an active interest, and make your comments whenever you are able.

My thanks to Garry Griffin for preparing this report

Keith

CALENDAR OF EVENTS - read on more for further information

26 May            The Brize Norton 'Drips' and BNS&SC Beer festival 2pm until late
                                     The Recreation Ground Brize Norton
29 May            Over 60's picnic White Horse Hill
2-5 June          Diamond Jubilee Celebrations - The Chequers
4 June             The Chequers, Diamond Jubilee Street Party from midday
8 June             Screenings of UEFA Euro football Games at The Chequers begin
10 June           National Garden Scheme - Open gardens
12 June           WI meeting - 7.30pm EB Hall - 'The Oldest Road'
19 June           Over 60's cream tea
23 June           Opera in the Garden, Grange Farm St Britius Roof fund
28 June           Last dance club before summer break EB Hall, 7.30pm
29 June           'Best of British' themed School fete 5.30-7.30pm
1 July              Cream teas in Aid of Stop the Drips - at Tim & Judy Gush's Painswick House, Carterton Road
3 July              Over 60's coach trip to Leamington Spa
10 July            WI meeting - 7.30pm EB Hall - 'Witney Blankets'
17 July            Over 60's meeting - quiz and games
7 Aug              Over 60's picnic and visit to Bill Faulkner's motorcycles
11 Sep            WI meeting - 7.30pm EB Hall - Face and Body Art
21 Sep            St Brits Ball, Witney Lakes   
9 Oct               WI meeting - 7.30pm EB Hall - Stained Glass

REPATRIATIONS

Details of repatriations are usually received on a Monday.  Notices will be displayed on the village notice boards at the earliest opportunity. Further details may be found on the Oxfordshire County Council web site. Please note timings are always subject to change.

Brize Norton Diamond Jubilee celebrations

Thursday 31 May - Unveiling of Diamond Jubilee commemorative bench at midday at The Elderbank Hall.
Primary School children receive their commemorative mugs

The Chequers Brize Norton is celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee with a four day weekend packed full with events.

• We are having a four day beer and cider festival with many new and also traditional ales and ciders at a great price for all to enjoy
• Saturday 2 June - Band Day From 2pm to 10pm - live music from six local bands and singers in our recently redesigned garden with plenty of activities to keep the children entertained, including a mega bouncy castle.  The whole family can enjoy the day.
• Sunday 3 June - a traditional Carvery and the activities in the garden to keep the children entertained.
• Monday 4 June - THE CHEQUERS STREET PARTY in true British style from midday. We have a pig roast supplied by Foxbury Farm to eat, the beer and cider to drink and music all day plus many more activities to entertain the children, a bouncy castle, face painting, sale of cup cakes.  Children are invited to come in fancy dress (any theme) and presents will be awarded for their fancy dress.  BBC TV is coming in the afternoon to record the fun and celebrations.  The Diamond Jubilee Concert being held in London will be broadcast on the 'Big Screen'.
• Tuesday 5 June - the celebrations happening in London will be broadcast on our 'Big Screen'.  Come along and wave your Union Jack flags and feel included in the parades.

We would like everyone in the village to come along to one or all of our 'weekend' events and especially would love to see you all there on Monday to make it an amazing village experience to tell our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren about!

For more information please visit our events page at www.thechequersatbrizenorton.co.uk or email Charlotte on the_chequers@hotmail.co.uk or call 01993 842379.

Thank you to all those parents who registered their children (born since 1 September 2000) to receive a commemorative mug.  All those children attending the village primary school will receive a mug on Thursday 31 May at the school Diamond Jubilee tea party.  For all other eligible children please come to collect your mug on Monday 4 June from The Chequers between 3pm and 5pm or contact the clerk to arrange collection as soon after this date as possible and definitely by 30 June.  There are a small number of spare mugs and these will be available on a 'first come first served basis' from 1 July.  Please contact the clerk if you would like a chance to receive one of these.

Discounted heating oil buying scheme.

Want to save money on the cost of your heating oil? Join the community-based, county wide oil buying syndicate.

What's the scheme about? ORCC Trading Ltd has set up a new social enterprise that will reduce the cost of your domestic heating oil each time you place an order.  All you need to do to take advantage of the scheme is to pay an annual membership fee, which will cover as many oil orders as you need during the course of the year.
	What's the snag? There isn't one. The scheme is being promoted by Oxfordshire Rural community Council; a long established and well respected Oxfordshire Charity.  By bringing communities throughout Oxfordshire  together and making the most of joint buying power, we can make savings and pass them directly to people like you whose fuel costs are high simply because you use oil fired central heating.

How do you join the syndicate?

To take advantage of this scheme, either visit www.oxonrcc.org.uk or telephone

01865 883488. Membership costs £20 for domestic, Community buildings £50 & Business £100 per annum. The saving for members of the scheme in March 2012 was £48.30 on 1000 litres.

Stuart Finlayson 01993 846386 - Village coordinator.

AFFORDABLE WARMTH PROJECT

And, for those with gas and electric advice, from Oxfordshire Affordable Warmth Project - REDUCE FUEL BILLS NOW, AND FOR THE FUTURE - 5 'top tips':-

1) If the colder winter weather is behind us, consider adjusting your central heating timers to provide less heating hours (or can it be turned off completely?)

2) If you do feel chilly, make sure you're dressed accordingly in the first instance. Some natural material can be better than synthetic ones, so grab your nice warm woollen jumper! A hot, healthy meal will help you to feel warm too, but if it's still cold, put the heating on (the evenings can be especially cold if it has been a lovely sunny day with little cloud around)

3) Draw curtains at dusk to trap the heat in the home - tuck them behind radiators where appropriate.

4) Insulate your home - now really is the best time to get unfilled cavity walls, and lofts topped up. Insulation is unlikely to be this cheap ever again!

5) And finally, to get your free, no obligation survey for insulation, or for more advice on heating, keeping warm, saving money on energy bills, grants, switching supplier, and a whole host of other helpful ways to cut your bills, call us on free phone 0800 107 0044. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

The Affordable Warmth Network for Oxfordshire is a friendly team from United Sustainable Energy Agency, a local not-for-profit organisation devoted to helping people achieve affordable warmth, reduce carbon, adapt to climate change, tackle fuel poverty and build community spirit. This is supported by the District Councils across Oxfordshire, County Council and the Primary Care Trust.

BRIZE NORTON OVER 60's CLUB

We have enjoyed two trips to Coventry and Cirencester.  The weather was fine on both occasions.  The talk on Old Witney was very interesting and our trip to the Witney Pantomime was excellent.  We have also enjoyed a meal at The Chequers and a sing-a-long with Cliff.

Future events are:

May 29th	Picnic at White Horse Hill then onto Wantage
June 19th	Cream Tea
July 3rd	Coach trip to Leamington Spa
July 17th	Meeting - quiz and games
August 7th	Visit and picnic to Bill Faulkner's Motorcycles

Thank you to all who attended the last coffee morning.  We made a £100 profit.  We are a small club, 27 members, for village residents.  We meet at 4 Squires Close from 2.30 to 4.30pm.  Thank you to Benita, Connie and June for providing tea, sandwiches and home made cakes.

For more information contact Joy on 01993 842373

BRIZE NORTON WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

We started our new year's programme in April with a visit from Bill Heine who gave us an interesting insight into aspects of his job at the BBC and sold signed copies of his latest book.  This month we also hosted the Group Meeting and entertained 70 WI members from various villages from the local area.  The talk was on Mercy Ships and we heard how everyone on the ships, including the Captain and surgeons down to the tea boy all worked on a voluntary basis in order to completely alter the health of many poor people and transform their lives.  We will again be doing the teas for the Garden's Open Day and intend to have a stall at the August Bank Holiday Cricket Fete.

June 12th	Russell Cherry talking on 'The Oldest Road   - The Ridgeway	'
July 10th	Valerie Burton talking on 'The History and       Memories of Witney Blankets'
September 11th	Gita Konschak - Face and body art
October 9th	Philip Dove - Stained glass

We are hoping to have some extra events in between our meetings including a river trip with a cream tea, a garden party at Andrea's in Kelmscot, and a walk including lunch at a pub.

We meet in the Elderbank Hall on the second Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm and we would love to see a few more of you.

Sue Calcutt

BRIZE NORTON DANCE CLUB

We meet every Thursday 7.30-9.30pm in the Elderbank Hall.  Only £2 each.  We dance ballroom, Latin American and sequence dances to CDs.  Thank you to Jean and Mabel who serve refreshments of tea and biscuits.  Our last session before the summer break will be Thursday 28 June to start again in September.

For more information contact Joy on 01993 842373.

WITNEY AND CARTERTON HEALTH WALKS

Witney

We meet at Witney Leisure Centre at 10am on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  There is no charge.  We do two walks; one is 1-2 miles long, the other 2-3 miles.

During the summer, evening walks on 2nd and 4th Wednesdays starting at 6.45pm take place from different start points eg Minster Lovell, Thrupp, Woodstock and Alvescot.  For a programme of walks please contact Joy - 01993 842373.  No charge

Carterton

On Monday and Saturday we meet at the Town Hall, Carterton at 10am, and on Thursday at 10am at the Leisure Centre, Broadshires Way.   The walks are 1 - 2 miles long. For more information contact Barbara Goudal on 01993 845923.

GETTING READY FOR WINTER!

Many of you will be aware that West Oxfordshire District Council in partnership with the Oxfordshire County Council and our neighbouring authorities offer a free electric blanket test to all our residents on 2 days a year. The venues are at Witney and Chipping Norton. The days have been set for this year and are below.  Testing is by appointment only and it was very popular last year with both venues being completely booked.  The telephone number for appointments is 01993 861060. (Booking lines will not be open until June/July 2012 - look out for posters on village notice board).

Community Services
www.westoxon.gov.uk

ST BRITIUS CHURCH

The church will be open and full of flowers arranged by ladies who are opening their gardens for the NGS Gardens Open Day on Sunday 10 June from 1pm to 6pm.

At the Horticultural Show and Cricket Festival on August Bank Holiday Monday, members of the church will be providing teas and refreshments, and a tombola stall.

The Friends of St Britius have already raised £1,826 in the first three months of this year. We would like to thank everyone in the village for their fantastic support and the Fund Raising Team for their time and commitment.  The work on phase 1 of the roof is due to start on September 10th. 

Please see our special website - www.brizenorton.org.uk/stbritiusroof for more info.

We ask for your support for the following events:

Opera in the Garden - Saturday June 23rd, 6 p.m. at Grange Farm

Now that the weather has warmed up (!) tickets are selling fast for the Opera in the Garden in aid of "Stop the drips at St. Brits" church roof fund. Lucy & Mark Artus invite you to grab a few friends, pack up a picnic and come and listen to "Charity Opera" sing all the best known pieces from popular operas and musicals. What could be better on a summer's evening?  Bring your own gazebo plus table and chairs if you wish or just a picnic blanket if you prefer.  Tickets are £12.50 per person and there is a 10% discount for groups of 6 or more.  After Monday June 11th, tickets go up to £15 per person (to try and discourage people who are waiting to see what the weather will do!) so be brave - you can always bring an umbrella or an extra blanket!  There will be Pimms, wine, beer and soft drinks on offer as well as strawberries and cream, Pavlova and other yummy desserts.  There will also be a fantastic raffle - 1st prize - luxury picnic hamper and 2nd prize - dinner + bed & breakfast at Charingworth Manor Hotel near Chipping Campden.  For tickets or any questions, please contact Lucy Artus 843713 or Jackie Bellenger at A.K. Timms 842172

Cream Teas - Sunday 1st July, Painswick House, Carterton Road

Cream teas will be served in the garden from 2.30 until 5 pm.   Please note that this event has been moved forward from 8th July to 1st July

St Brits Ball on Saturday 21st September at Witney Lakes.

This will be a repeat of our successful Ball last year.  It will be black tie, dancing to a live band "Breeze" and includes a two course hot meal.  Tickets will be available from Tammy Howard (846123).

Help please

The Fund Raising Team is always thinking up new activities and working very hard to make them work.  They would love for some more people to come and join them.  If you are interested please ring Jackie Bellenger at AK Timms (842172) 

1st BRIZE NORTON BROWNIES AND RAINBOWS

Brownies meet on Monday evenings during school term time at the Elderbank Hall from 6pm to 7.30pm. Brownies is for girls aged between 7and 10 years old. Rainbows meet on Wednesday afternoons during term time at the Elderbank Hall from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.  Rainbows is for girls aged between 5 - 7 years old.

We have lots of fun, playing games, cooking, craft projects, singing, themed meetings and sometimes there are weekend activities.  In June the Brownies and Rainbows are on a day trip to Woburn Safari Park.  Also in June some of the Brownies are away on the District Olympic weekend camp in Gloucestershire.  This is a weekend of sporting and cultural activities with a chance of making new friends from other Brownie packs in the District.

Come and join in the fun, anyone is welcome to come and visit for an evening.

We are looking for interested people who would like to help out at Rainbows and Brownies.  Contact Shirley Ingham, Brown Owl   01993 213075

Oxfordshire's Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy

The new Health & Wellbeing Board has put together a draft strategy which identifies a vision and set of priorities for the people of Oxfordshire. It aims to say what we want to do to improve the health and wellbeing of children, young people, families, adults and older people in the county and what targets we will use to measure how we are doing.

We would like to hear from as many people as possible so that we can find out:

- Have we got our priorities right?

- Have we got our targets right?

- What else should we include?

- Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

There are many ways you can tell us what you think: answer the online survey, respond by post, comment on the strategy document or attend one of our face-to-face workshops. Visit the consultation website at http://bit.ly/health-wellbeing-strategy or email talking.health@oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk for more information.

20:20:20 (ZUMBA:STEP:TONE)

A great class for all levels of Fitness.   Wednesday 8-9pm at the Elderbank Hall, Brize Norton. Steph Hill (steph_fitness@hotmail.co.uk)  07970831061)

BRIZE NORTON OPEN GARDENS

Brize Norton is opening its gardens once again this year for the National Gardens Scheme, on Sunday 10th June, from 1.00 - 6.00pm.  This year we have 15 gardens for you to visit; we have some new gardens as well as existing gardens, some of which have had big changes to how they look.  If you would like a preview of what to expect you can go on the National Gardens Scheme website (www.ngs.org.uk) and see all the gardens in Brize Norton that are opening this year.

Once again the WI will be providing teas and cakes in the Elderbank Hall and the Church are providing tea and cakes at the other end of the village at Grange Farm so you can always break for a quick refreshing stop to revive you as you visit the gardens throughout the village.

We look forward to see you on the 10th June - let us hope we have a sunny and warm afternoon. Don't miss out on this enjoyable afternoon.

BRIZE NORTON SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB

Since the last report things at the club have continued to move forward, if a little slowly at time.  The building is looking clean and bright after its coat of paint and the football club have placed their photographs back on the wall. Just need to add the old cricketing ones now!

There is a dart board for social games, plus we have just started a Thursday evening Aunt Sally team. The team will be playing in the league every Thursday on a home and away basis, so if you fancy hitting the 'dolly' pop down and have a go. The team will welcome your support.

 

Cricket will also be played during the summer, on Saturdays. There are fixture booklets in the pavilion if you are interested.

By the time this newsletter is published the beer festival will have come and gone, so the next big event for the S&SC will be the August Bank Holiday annual Fete, Cricket and Horticultural show on Monday 27th August. If you would like to play cricket, (six/seven-a-side format) have a stall, or just support the event you will be very welcome. Just get in contact and join in.

Lastly a plea, we wish to update/replace the club's furniture and were hoping that someone may have contacts with contractors that refurbish hotels, pubs etc, where we can pick up fairly decent furniture and very reasonable prices. If you can help please do let me know. Many thanks in advance.

Best wishes
Tim Gush

BRIZE NORTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

It has been another busy term at Brize Norton Primary School. We started the term with what has become an annual family breakfast. Tammy kindly cooked a delicious breakfast for ninety children and parents. It was lovely to also be able to invite members of the WI, Over 60s and Parish Council to the breakfast. This term our whole school theme has centred round the Diamond Jubilee. The children have been learning about the lives of Kings and Queens and how the monarchy has shaped our lives today. Our youngest children enjoyed an art inspired day at The Ashmolean, Oxford and our older children have enjoyed a fantastic day out in London, visiting the National Portrait Gallery and Buckingham Palace. Later this term we will be working with an artist, Bryony McCombe, on a Jubilee Palace art project which we are very excited about. Our topic will culminate in a 1950s style party at the end of term to mark the Diamond Jubilee.

This term we have established a new School Association committee. The members give up a great deal of their time to help provide events and raise money for the school, for which we are very grateful. Our next big event is 'The Best of British' Summer Fete which is being held on Friday 29th June from 5.30 to 7.30pm. Please come along and support us if you can at the school.

As always you can keep up to date with all the exciting things we have been doing by visiting our school website at, http://www.bnschool.org.

ALLOTMENT NEWS

All allotments are taken up for this new growing season and generally being well attended.  If you would like to be put on the waiting list for when allotments become available for rent then please contact the clerk.

Although late in the season there are still sunflower and pumpkin seeds available if you would like to take part in the 'biggest sunflower head', 'tallest sunflower' and 'heaviest pumpkin' competition.  This is open to everyone in the village.  Please contact

Paul Claridge at paulcl44@btinternet.com or 01993 842268 for more info and seeds.

DOGS

There are a few irresponsible and inconsiderate dog owners in the village who are allowing their dogs to foul the pavements, footpaths and open spaces.  It is requested that all dog owners take responsibility and clear up after their dogs.

Also it has been noticed that occasionally dogs are being walked on the rec and the pathway to the play park.  May we remind you that there are no dogs allowed in this area.  Thank you

Brize Norton Horticultural Show - Monday August 27th

We are looking forward to another bumper crop of entries for the Horticultural Show on August Bank Holiday Monday.  Once the weather warms up your vegetables and flowers will start to grow for you to enter into one of our many classes.

Not only are there vegetables to show, but cakes, preserves, flowers, flower arranging and handicraft. You don't have to enter everything (although you can if you want to!), just have a go.  The more entries we have the more interesting it is for people to look at.

We have a children's competition section which is free to enter.  It would be lovely to see more children's entries this year.

Last year we were featured on Witney TV - have a look and you can see what you are missing by not entering.

Schedules and entry forms are available from Judy Gush, Painswick House, Carterton Road, (846730), Bev Tyrell, 91 Station Road (843450) or from the Post Office in the Pavilion. Make sure you pick one up so you can join in with the fun.

Come along on the day and see who has entered what and who has won the trophies.

We look forward to another successful year.

YOUR VILLAGE POST OFFICE (AT YOUR SERVICE)

Did you know that your village Post Office provides all of the following services and lots more?

• Traditional letter and parcel posting, next day deliveries and eBay services.
• Banking - (Cash/Cheque/Bank card deposits and withdrawal) if you bank with the following banks: Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Cahoot, Clydesdale, Co-op, Lloyds TSB, Nationwide Building Society NatWest, Santander and Smile.
• National Savings & Investment including Premium bonds, Pension bonds and Children Bonus Bonds.
• Bill Payment - Most household bills can be paid free of fees.
• Foreign currency - generally commission free with 3 days notice, MoneyGram.
• Travel Insurance - Inland and overseas (provided on the spot).
• Home Phone - Incentive to transfer your current home telephone service.
• Household Home Insurance - Competitive.
• Car Insurance - There is £50 cash back on take up.
• Mobile phone Top-up.
• Groceries - limited quantity of snacks and groceries too.

Michael your postmaster attends the Sports Pavilion on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9.30am and 12.30pm.

Thank you for your continued support. Michael

All entries for inclusion in the September 2012 issue should be received by the clerk
 by 15 August 2012.