Logs for Labour is an exchange scheme. Woodland owners who would like local residents to help manage their woodland (to the owner’s specification, and ensuring that the work promotes biodiversity) can offer ‘logs’. Local residents who are happy to work outside with hand tools in return for logs can offer ‘labour’.
More information here; http://www.oxonwoodfuel.org.uk/logs-for-labour/
Smiths of Bletchington have advised us that they will be starting their 2015 sand extraction campaign from the Western Quarry in the week beginning 6th July.
As on previous occasions this will involve the transport of sand in tipper lorries from the Western Quarry across the Duns Tew Road and in to the Eastern Quarry. The crossing of the Duns Tew Road will again be managed by traffic lights of the sort that have proved to be successful on the last two occasions and which give priority to road users.
As ever they hope that there won’t be any problems for the residents of the village but any housekeeping concerns about the operation should be made direct to the Quarry Manager in charge John Stocker on 07860 894764 or to the Operations Manager John Bell 07718 660239.
Please also report any problems to the Parish Council.
However, may we please remind everyone that the closing date for entries to the village scarecrow competition, which is an event for everyone to have some fun and get involved in, including children, is this coming Friday – 12th June.
We would love to see as many people in the village as possible participating and a thriving family of scarecrows becoming a village feature.
Just fill out the entry form and hand it in completed to the staff in the White Horse Inn, together with your £2.00 entry fee.
If you require further information or advice please contact Philip Giorgi.
Telephone 01869 3478389 or email pwgiorgi@aol.com.
Duns Tew Parish Council has managed through successful British Heart Foundation (BHF) and SSE (Southern Electric) grants to install a public access automated external defibrillator (AED). It is housed in a cabinet in the decommissioned BT phone box on Main Street opposite Daisy Hill Farm.
The AED is accessible 24/7 in the event of a cardiac arrest. The Parish Council still needs to obtain signage for the phone box to cover the BT logos and clearly identify that an AED is contained within the phone box, but this is in hand. In due course they will also arrange CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) training in the village hall.
Our AED is fully automated (turn it on and it tells you what to do) so can be used by anybody, you do not require training in its use or any medical knowledge. Please look out for details in the village newsletter and on the website for the CPR training sessions.
If you have cause to use the AED – please, after the event could you inform either Councillor Semple or the Parish Clerk, so that new pads and batteries can be installed ready for future use.
If you see anyone tampering with the cabinet or vandalising it, please can you call the police on 999 immediately.
Happy new year to you all!
Most of you know me but for those who don’t I am a police officer from the Bicester rural neighbourhood team which covers 38 villages , I have been on the team a number of years and a police officer for 28 years and am well known to a lot of you through various reasons most of all from attending your meetings at some point in time.
I am writing to request that if you have any village events you would like to us to attend then please can you let me have the dates so I can put them in our diary and hopefully will be able to send an officer along. Likewise if you would like our attendance at a parish council meeting then please let me know.
I can be contacted by Email at caroline.brown@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk or on my mobile which is 07813 695732
I look forward to hearing from you
Regards,
Caroline Brown
WPC 437, Bicester Rural Neighbourhood team
A group of village parents and Duns Tew Parish Council are looking at the possibility of improving Duns Tew Playground.
We are at the very beginning of what looks to be a long process of consultation, planning and securing funding but we are really excited about the many possibilities! Initial thoughts are that the play area needs to suit all ages (from toddlers to pensioners) and we are looking at planting/equipment which might appeal to all user groups. The existing equipment & tennis court will remain so we are looking to develop the far end in particular.
If you would like to be involved directly in this process please contact Jon Scotchbrook to get details of the next sub group meeting. If not, we still need your suggestions. You can input in 2 main ways:
Respond to questionnaire in this newsletter and return to either 10 Dashwood Rise or 11 Daisy Hill Farm or complete the survey online by going to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6SF5WWP
Come along to the next parish council meeting where an ideas board will be on display for comment.
We are really excited about this possibility of improving the amenities for our community and look forward to hearing your views
Bethan Leach
We have seen two of our churches suffer thefts from the location. On 21st October, 2014, St.Peter & St.Paul’s Church, Deddington, suffered the theft of a hoover and barford Church, Barford St.Michael, suffered a theft of two priest chairs. If yu have any information in relation to these thefts or any suspicious activity you would like to report in this location, then please contact us via 101 or our email address banburyruralnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk.
We have unfortunately seen further heating oil thefts in the Bicester Rural area. We would ask that you all remain vigilant and check your oil levels on a regular basis and where possible keep your gates locked and secure. We are working with the oil companies in the area to do all we can to prevent further offences taking place.
We have had information from several villages that have reported seeing a long wheel base white van acting suspiciously. If you see any vehicles matching this description acting suspiciously in your village, please contact us on 101 or via email to bicesterruralnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk with as much details as possible.
Over the last couple of months we have seen an increase of reports of livestock being attacked by dogs. Please can I ask that if you have a dog and are walking them in fields, stick to the public pathways and keep your dogs under control when out in a rural area.
Please be aware of a bogus parcel delivery scam.
How it works – A card is put through the door informing you an attempt to deliver a parcel has been made. It instructs you to ring an 0900 number which lands you with a hefty phone bill!
Please alert neighbours and warn others of this scam.
If you have and concerns or require any advice please telephone Trading Standards on 0845 051 0845
While I was at work yesterday, my neighbour was in his front garden and spotted someone in my back garden. He challenged him, and was told he was a ‘jobbing roofer’ looking for work, but he had no details to pass on (no business card or anything similar) and no reason to be in my garden. My neighbour saw him a few minutes later in an unmarked white transit van heading off down Main Street.
From a resident in Main Street
May have been completely innocent, but doesn’t sound it!
Please be aware – just in case.
Now that the autumn season with the damp and darkness is very much upon us the tennis net will be taken down until the spring. We are delighted that so many people have made use of it and we look forward to a long 2015 summer when it will be used by all.