Duns Tew Quarry – works beginning 29th Jan

As part of the final restoration work for the quarry west of the Duns Tew Road we are required to remove the former road crossing infrastructure associated with the sand extraction campaigns. The pairs of double gates will be replaced with single farm gates and the hedge and highway verge will be reinstated. This work is starting next Monday 29th January and we have commissioned Civil engineers Greenford Ltd to carry out the works for us. The Highways Authority and the County Council planning department are all aware of the work.

Kind regards,

Martin Layer
Planning & Estates Manager
Smith & Sons (Bletchington) Ltd, Enslow, Kidlington, OX5 3AY
t: 01869 331281
m: 07966 678674
e: martinl@smithsbletchington.co.uk

Oxfordshire Artweeks May Festival 2018

Registration for Oxfordshire Artweeks May Festival 2018 is now open.

CLOSING DATE for entries is the 31st December 2017.

See www.artweeks.org or contact Jo Golding – Artweeks Administrator artweeks@artweeks.org 01865 865596 for more details.

Don’t miss your chance to take part: Artweeks is non-selective and open to all amateur and professional artists and craft makers living or working in Oxfordshire. Artweeks is also open to artists that live outside the county but are members of an established Oxfordshire based art group, society or guild. Artweeks festival is organised by a not for profit members company.

If you are new to Artweeks you may like to attend one of our free taking part events. Come and meet the festival director and hear more at our free sessions:

  • Cornerstone Arts, Didcot; Wed 4th Oct 2017, 18:00-19:00
  • The Jam Factory, Oxford; Monday 9th Oct 2017, 19:00-20:30
  • The Mill, Banbury; Tuesday 10th October 2017, 19:00-20:30
  • West Ox Arts Gallery, Bampton; Thursday 19th October, 19:30-21:00

Please do let us know if you are planning to come – at artweeks@artweeks.org – in case there is any last minute change to the arrangements.

Friends of Deddington Library – update

The Friends of Deddington Library are delighted to announce that our 2018 Parish Calendar is now on sale! A launch event was held on Friday 22nd September at the library for the photographic competition winners and sponsors, at which the calendar was revealed for the very first time! The top three winning entrants of the photographic competition were presented with a large canvas print of their winning entry and the remaining finalists and Sponsors were presented with a complimentary calendar. It was a lovely evening, much enjoyed by all.

We’ve had a fantastic response to the photo competition and received some excellent entries; it was extremely difficult to choose the final 12 images for the calendar but we hope you’ll agree the 12 winning entries are stunning. We are grateful to all the entrants and hope you’ll continue shooting images of our wonderful parish and countryside for entry in next year’s competition.

We are also extremely grateful for such a positive response from the sponsors we approached; the parish businesses have really been behind this initiative; we sincerely hope they are as pleased with the results as we are!

We then ran a very busy market stall at the Farmers Market on Saturday 23rd September at which we promoted and sold the calendar. The take up was exceptionally good, and we hope that many within and beyond the parish will support it as you did last year. The 2018 Parish Calendars continue to be on sale at the library and will be available at the October and November Farmers’ Markets too. Reserve yours by e-mailing books@deddingtonlibrary.org, phoning the library on 01869 338 391 or just calling in and picking one up!

Bryn Williams
abw@brynwilliams.com

Park development vote

The Duns Tew Park Committee and Parish Council have three different proposals for the development of the field in Duns Tew Park:

Option 1: Wooden equipment situated around a bike/scooter path, maintaining a pitch area

Park development vote

Option 2: Wooden equipment situated across the field area with planting
Park development vote

Option 3: Pitch area with the addition of benches and a wooden shelter
Park development vote

These proposals have been have been drawn up based on the results of a village survey and comments in the village appraisal. The top five requests were a pitch area (23 votes), a climbing area (21 votes), a zip wire (21 votes), benches/seating (21 votes) and scoot/bike area (19 votes). We now need you to decide which option to go ahead with.

Please look at the pictures and choose the one you like the best. Please consider your needs, those of your family and the wider community. Your vote is important. Voting closes on Thursday 31st August 2017.

How to vote:

  1. Online at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/9FM2LQ9 using a unique and anonymous reference code which you will find in the August village newsletter
  2. If you do not have internet access please can you put a note with your choice of design and unique reference code in an envelope and deliver it to the Parish Clerk, Hilary Skaar at The New House, Duns Tew, OX25 6JR (diagonally opposite the pub).

Many thanks for your help.

The Duns Tew Park Committee

The future of Cherwell District Council

Do you have a view regarding the proposed unitary council for Oxfordshire?

Please read this letter to Forum re Unitary proposal from the Chairman of the Mid Cherwell Neighbourhood Plan Forum.

If we lose Cherwell District Council, then all the work done so far to establish a Neighbourhood Plan will have been wasted.

Please take a few minutes to read his letter and, if you agree with him, sign the petition by clicking here.

Parish Council vacancies March 2017

There is currently one vacancy on the Parish Council.

If you would be interested in joining the Parish Council please write to the Parish Clerk expressing your interest. For more information or to discuss the vacancy please contact the Parish Clerk.

To qualify as a Parish Councillor you must be over 18 and one of the following;

  • A local government elector in the parish
  • An owner or tenant in the parish for the last 12 months
  • Have worked in the parish for the last 12 months
  • Have lived within 3 miles of the parish boundary for the last 12 months

Closing date for applications – Monday 10 July, 2017, 10:00

Mrs. Hilary Skaar
Parish Clerk The New House, Duns Tew. Bicester, OX25 6JR
01869 340269
dunstewparishcouncil@aol.com