Lifestyle

Floodwatch

Local Flooding

With the incessant rain and the flooding in the local area, residents are asked to unblock any drains filled with mud and leaves outside their property with a shovel, fork etc. This has been successful in Station Road.

You can sign up to the District Flood Warning service here to receive email  alerts:

https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/residents/environment/flooding/

This page also gives you contact details in case of:

  • Burst water main
  • Roads, blocked gullies, gratings and drains
  • Main rivers
  • Other watercourses such as streams or ditches

 

November 15, 2019 in Community, Lifestyle

New Saturday Bus Service to Witney from December

New Saturday Bus Service to Witney from December

West Oxfordshire Community Transport (WOCT) have been listening to passengers’ comments about the service and the most frequently raised issues are the request for a Saturday service, facility to take contactless payments and greater punctuality.

Thanks to a grant from Oxfordshire Community Foundation, they have been able to purchase and install new ticket machines that can process contactless payments.

They are delighted to say that they will be providing a Saturday service with effect from week beginning 9th December – the first Saturday service will be on 14th December 2019.

To improve punctuality they have decided to provide 5 services each way on Mondays to Fridays.  Again, the new timetable will come into effect from Monday 9th December.

October 22, 2019 in Community, Lifestyle

Views sought on Council Tax support changes  

Views sought on Council Tax support changes

Date:  7 October 2019

 West Oxfordshire District Council is calling on residents to give their views on proposed changes to its Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

The Council has launched a consultation which runs until Friday 15 November and is open to all residents in the district, not just those in receipt of support. If agreed, the changes would come into effect in 1 April 2020.

Changes proposed include:

  • Introducing a new income banded scheme to take account of different groups from single occupants to couples and families with children.
  • Introducing an ‘extended period’ of up to eight weeks to support the transition of households whose increased income sees them move into higher banding.
  • Removal of the two child limit to help blended families have more disposable income
  • Introducing an increase to the maximum amount of savings claimants can have, from £6,001 to £10,000.

Cllr Toby Morris, Deputy Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “Our aim is to ensure that this scheme is as simple and effective as it can be and that we are making sure that people in greatest need are receiving the support they require. This consultation is an important part of that process and only by consulting with our residents can we be sure we’re getting it right.

 

“I would encourage anyone who can to spare two minutes and complete the survey via our website, or pick up a paper copy from one of our reception points.”

Following the consultation, a report will be considered by councillors before a decision is made.

The survey can be found online at www.westoxon.gov.uk/CTRS, while paper copies can be found at: Witney Town Centre Shop, Welch Way, Witney, Woodgreen Council Offices, Elmfield Council Offices and the Guild Hall, Chipping Norton.

 

October 9, 2019 in Lifestyle

Update on installation of superfast broadband

Please see below latest communication from Gigaclear:

As you will be aware, the Shipton build was due to commence on 18th July.  Unfortunately due to sick leave, this has been delayed slightly and the build will now commence tomorrow Tuesday 23rd July.  I apologise for the delay.

I also wanted to make you aware that work to install the plinth for the main cabinet will start on Thursday 25th July.

July 22, 2019 in Community, Lifestyle

Cotswold Line Promotion Group 2019 Train Excursion

CLPG’s 2019 excursion makes tracks for the Settle & Carlisle Line

The Cotswold Line Promotion Group’s 2019 charter train will take passengers from the Cotswolds to the famous Settle & Carlisle Line through the Yorkshire Dales and the Eden Valley in Cumbria.

The Cotswold-Eden Express will run from Oxford to Appleby, in Cumbria, on the August Bank Holiday Monday, August 26.

Plans to run the train last year, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the CLPG, were unsuccessful but a partnership with Pathfinder Railtours has made this year’s trip possible.

The train will be hauled both ways between Oxford and Worcester by a Class 66 diesel locomotive, with the rest of the journey to Appleby and then back to Worcester powered by a pair of vintage Class 50 locomotives (subject to availability).

The train will leave Oxford at 05.30, then call to pick up passengers at station along the line to Worcester, with departure from Ascott-under-Wychwood expected to be at about 06.10 and Kingham at 06.20, with the return train expected to arrive at Kingham at 22.50 and Ascott at 23.00. All timings are approximate and subject to confirmation at this stage.

It will run to Settle station in Yorkshire for a 30-minute stop, to allow time for the unveiling of a memorial plaque for the CLPG’s founding chairman Oliver Lovell, who helped the Friends of the Settle & Carlisle Line to fight British Rail’s plan to close the route in the 1980s.

The train will then continue to Appleby, where there will be a two-hour break during the afternoon, before heading for home via Carlisle and the West Coast Main Line.

There will be four classes of accommodation available on board the train: standard, first class, first class plus and premier dining.

Go to http://www.clpg.org.uk/blog/settle-carlisle-charter-train/ for more information and details of how to book seats on the exception.

CLPG members are entitled to claim a 10 per cent discount on the ticket prices advertised at Pathfinder’s website, where tickets can be booked online, or use the booking form included in the new edition of the Cotswold & Malvern Line News newsletter. There are also discounts for bookings for a group of four people.

  • The photograph shows Class 50 locomotives 50007 and 50049 at Arten Gill viaduct on the Settle & Carlisle Line with Pathfinder Railtours’ Cumbrian Hoovers excursion on April 14 last year. Picture is courtesy of Martin Loader/www.hondawanderer.com

April 29, 2019 in Culture, Lifestyle

Superfast Broadband in Shipton

Gigaclear comes to Shipton

Gigaclear will be installing superfast broadband in Shipton this summer. Their current aim is to start in May and finish in October.

This will inevitably result in disruption and road closures through the village.

If you have any concerns/questions before the work starts, please contact Louise Appleton, the Community Engagement Manager on:

louise.appleton@gigaclear.com

07790 812873

Once the work has started, please contact the Network Build Care Team on:

networkbuildcare@gigaclear.com

01865 591137

Louise Appleton will be attending the Annual Parish Meeting on 18th April to give a short presentation and answer questions. Details on the meeting to follow.

 

 

March 27, 2019 in Community, Lifestyle

Logs from Wild Garden available

Logs Available, ideal for storing for next winter!
We have split logs available from  the recent tree work in the Wild Garden. The logs are mixed wood and have been freshly cut and split. We can deliver locally in the Wychwoods villages. A trailer load contains about 150/200 logs.

Please leave a voice message on 0845 8056804 or send an email to info@wychwoodwildgarden.org.uk giving your name, address and contact number and we will contact you to arrange a delivery or collection.

If you live outside our delivery area, then we can organise a time for you to pick up a load using your own transport.

Suggested donation, £45 a load, all funds to the Wild Garden.

March 18, 2019 in Community, Lifestyle

Waste service disruption on 1 February 2019

Due to the snowfall and cold temperatures overnight leading to icy surfaces waste and recycling collections will be suspended.

Why

The road and path conditions make it very difficult, and too dangerous, for the heavy collection vehicles and Collection Crews to access certain parts of the District.

Injuries to collection crews or members of the public by moving collection vehicles are invariably severe or fatal.

West Oxfordshire District Council work in line with our Health and Safety Service Plan and aim to protect the health, safety and welfare of our residents affected by the work activities of us or our contractors.

What services will be affected

All services;
 Recycling collections
 Refuse collections
 Garden waste collections
 Food waste collections
 Bulky waste collections
 Clinical waste collections
 Emptying of bring sites
 Trade waste

What should residents do?

Leave their bins at the kerbside to allow for the Collection Crews to catch-up. For more information and the latest update visit: www.westoxon.gov.uk, follow West Oxfordshire District Council on Facebook or Twitter or call 01993 861025.
What Ubico will do?

Weather and road conditions permitting; Friday’s scheduled collections will be collected on Monday. This will have a knock on affect for the rest of the week however we anticipate that Ubico will be able to able to start some of Mondays scheduled collections on Monday.

Ubico will call the bulky waste to rearrange collections.

 

February 1, 2019 in Lifestyle

Make-over for Allotments at Shipton

     

 

Is it Time to Grow your Own?

In the next month or two, Shipton allotments on Fiddlers Hill will undergo an extensive clear-up.

To benefit from this work, now is the time to apply for an allotment. We will allocate the cleared ones on a first come first served basis. So if you fancy growing your own this season please contact the clerk for more information.

Allotments cost just £20 per year, or £10 for half a plot. You don’t have to live in Shipton to rent an allotment here.

Know nothing about keeping allotments? Read the beginners guide to allotments, published in the News section of this website. Everyone has to start somewhere!

   

January 30, 2019 in Community, Lifestyle