Upton Village

South Oxfordshire

Update on the Upton Street Party

UPTON ROYAL WEDDING STREET PARTY  on Friday 29th April at 2pm

Note – Change of date from that previously given.

All residents of Upton are cordially invited to join a Street Party on Friday 29th April at 2pm to celebrate the Royal Wedding. This will be held on Church Street between the High Street and Stream Road. (In the event of inclement weather we will be in the village hall). Please bring your own drinks, glasses & plates; also to share on a communal basis, sufficient finger food/buffet for your family. Squash will be provided for the children and an urn of hot water for anyone who wants to make themselves a cup of tea.

To enter into the festivities we would like to encourage everyone to enter into the spirit and come wearing a crown or tiara. There will be a fancy dress competition for the children – Princesses, bridesmaids, Kings, pageboys… – all welcome.

 

Sarah Sayers       Tel No 851450

Brownies Coffee Evening

Tuesday Brownies will be holding a Coffee Evening on the 5th April in the Village Hall from 6.15 to 7.15 pm. The children will be manning their stalls which will include cakes, biscuits, jewellry and toys.  There will also be a children’s book stall (new books) plus a raffle.  All proceeds going to charity.

Angela Newlands

2nd Upton & Blewbury Brownies

Annual Litter Pick 2011

Once again we had a very successful Parish Litter Pick on Saturday 19th March. On what was by far the best morning for weather we have ever chosen about 30 volunteers aged 8 to over 70 turned up to help with the annual tidy up.

It is pleasing to report that the number of sacks of rubbish collected was again down on previous years, it is noticeable the difference that the cut back on retailers handing out plastic bags is having. There was also an almost complete lack of the spirit bottles we used to find down by the Horse and Harrow but as last year this may be down to a clean up in that area a few weeks ago by the Motorcycle Club.

A big thank you to all the volunteers who once again did the parish proud, to John Lightfoot for motoring round to collect up all the sacks and to the staff of the District Council who provided us with the equipment to work with.

It is disappointing to report that following our efforts to tidy our village a group of deadheads should choose to hold a ‘feast’ on the Recreation Ground later that day and managed to spread bottles, cans, Tesco bags and snack wrappers over a wide area. On Sunday morning we half filled one of the large sacks with the litter these sad people left behind.

Mike Brown

Neighbourhood Policing Update March 2011

Here is the latest Wantage East neighbourhood update from Police Community Support Officer C9815 Tim Deane.

Rural Crime is still a priority concern for the Wantage East Neighbourhood Team. Hi-Visibility Patrols by Police and Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) are carried out at rural locations including outbuildings to prevent Burglary’s and the theft of plant machinery and diesel.

The Wantage East Neighbourhood Team continues to patrol on our area to tackle the issues of Hare Coursing and Poaching Offences.

Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) and Speeding are also priority concerns for the Wantage East Neighbourhood Team. Persons acting in an Anti Social manner and/or causing Harassment, Alarm and Distress will be dealt with.

Locations have been identified where motorists regularly exceed speed limits; causing concern amongst residents. The Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) carry out speed checks in the Wantage East villages with the Speed Indication Device (SID) and the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) machine. Owners of vehicles found to be exceeding the speed limit will be contacted.

Incidents

Theft of diesel from Lockinge. Two days later the offending vehicle was seen working on a property in Wantage by a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator who phoned the police.  PC Steve Lynch attended and arrested two males for theft of diesel and possession of cannabis they were both later cautioned for these offences. They were also arrested for fraud by false representation (rogue trader offences) and are currently on bail for this offence.

PC Steve Lynch carried out an ANPR operation on the A417 at Rowstock which resulted in

numerous stop checks and one vehicle being seized for having no insurance.

The Wantage East and Wantage Neighbourhood team executed two drugs warrants in Wantage.

Doorstep Selling – Cold Calling – Rogue Traders

Many doorstop sellers are honest and genuine. However, some aren’t – and they may use lines like these in order to get into your home:

  • ‘Congratulations! You’ve won a prize! If you could just sign here for it…’
  • ‘I noticed you’ve got a few loose tiles on your roof…’
  • ‘There have been a lot of burglaries in the area recently…’
  • ‘This cut-price special offer is only available if you sign today…’
  • ‘I’m doing a survey…’

Most legitimate market researches carry an identity card, which you can ask to see. If you’re in any doubt, call the Market Research Society on 0207 4904911. You can also check for an Approved Trader at www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk

Remember, doorstep sellers are trained to get people to buy. They can be extremely persuasive. Once you have let a doorstep seller into your home, they will be expecting a sale – and they won’t give up easily.

Forthcoming Have Your Say Meetings (HYS)

HYS. 05 April 2011 1745-1845 Upton Village Hall.

HYS. 07 April 2011 1830-1930 Chilton Village Hall.

HYS. 09 April 2011 1000-1200 Style Acre’s Café, Savages Garden Centre, Blewbury.

HYS. 17 April 2011 1100-1200 Harwell Village Hall.

HYS. 21 April 2011 1630-1730 Ardington Police Office.

HYS. 21 April 2011 1800-1900 East Hendred Snell’s Hall.

HYS. 23 April 2011 1200-1400 Outside Co-op in High Street, Steventon.

HYS. 30 April 2011 1200-1400 Style Acre’s Café, Savages Garden Centre, Blewbury.

Please come along, this is your opportunity to speak with your Neighbourhood Officers to discuss any local issues of concern you may have.

If you would like to speak to any member of the Wantage East Neighbourhood team or for more information about your local Neighbourhood team, contact 0845 8 505 505 or visit www.thamesvalley.police.uk

For help and advice on Crime Prevention contact Crime Prevention Advisor, Alison Smith

0845 8 505 505

Churn Benefice Activities for April

The CHURN Branch of the MU

The next Pram Service will be on Wednesday 6th April at 12.15pm in the Vale Room, Blewbury Village Hall. ALL AGES ARE WELCOME.

A sandwich lunch is provided by the Mothers Union after the service. This is a short Eucharist service ideal for pre-school children to bring parents, grandparents, carers to.

Churn Youth Group

Sunday 17th April at 7pm in the Benefice Centre

All young people of secondary school age are welcome to come along. We meet on the third Sunday of the month from 7pm to 8.30pm at the Benefice Centre or other venue depending on what activity we decide to do.

“Christ in Quiet”

Monthly contemplative prayer services; reflecting on bible passages, listening to Christian music and gently moving into silent prayer, these last about 30 minutes. Held across the benefice on the last Saturday morning of each month at 9am.

Next service – 30th April, St. Mary’s Upton

Blewbury Produce Stall News

Last years produce stall was such a success that we will be doing it all again this year! For those who missed it, this is a way of selling your excess plants, seedlings & produce and buying them too! This way we reduce food miles, have fresher fruit, vegetables, eggs and cakes etc, save petrol, help our village economy and promote a nice villagey atmosphere by making new friends!

Our stall will run every Saturday morning from 7th May until late September. At the moment we are asking you; our growers, do not throw away your excess seedlings (why do seed packets contain so many seeds?) and pot them up ready to sell, you will get back 90% of the selling price. My propagator is full at the moment, but it now means I don’t have to grow everything as I can buy different seedlings and plants at the stall, and my compost bin is emptier!

I will also be selling the majority of my rhubarb, I eat some and put some in the freezer, but if someone else can use it, then great! We would also love to have some extra pairs of hands on the stall throughout the summer; we have a rota which means we all only do a few mornings throughout the summer. Please ring Sara on 851441.

Thank you, Sara, Karen, Brenda, Dave, Kathy, Ange & Eric

Post Office News.

Postal rates are going up on 4th April; but to beat the price rise you can buy 1st and 2nd class stamps, (standard and large letter) which will then re-value themselves!

ID is now needed for all bureau do change transactions, we can not issue euros etc without your ID!

We have also been made aware of an email scam using the Post Office logo, and a so called Post Office Gift Reward Dept, you are promised £150 for taking part in a short survey, but to get the money, you have to provide your bank details. There is no “gift dept”, and the Post Office does not give away money!

Please also be aware that all special delivery and recorded items of post need to be in by 4.30 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, or 10am on Wednesday & Saturday to catch the last collection.

Thanks from Ann & Karen

Blewbury Post Office

Become a Parish Councillor

The Parish Council are looking for residents of the parish who are willing to put their names forward for election to the Council to stand for a period of 4 years with effect from 17th May. If anyone would like to be nominated please contact Clare on 850486 to request a nomination form which must be completed and submitted to the District Council offices by mid-day on 4th April.  Upton is able to elect 6 councillors, if more than that number of parishioners are prepared to stand then an election will take place on 5th May.

If anyone would like more information on what the job entails then please either contact Clare or give Mike Brown a call on 850135.

Car Sharing in Oxfordshire

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Concerned about rising fuel prices? Looking for a way to lessen their impact on you? Well, we have the answer: Oxfordshire Car Share.

The scheme provides a free service for you to find others to share your journeys with, cutting your travel costs in half or by even more.

The scheme is available to anyone living, working or travelling in or through Oxfordshire. Registration is completely free, and there are no obligations involved in using the service. You can choose whom you wish to share with from the matches generated for you; how often you wish to share; whether you wish to be the driver or the passenger, or to alternate. It really is entirely up to you, and you don’t even need to own a car to use the site – just register as a passenger. Register today at www.oxfordshirecarshare.com.

Meeting Everyone’s Needs Survey for the District Council

MEETING EVERYONE’S NEEDS SURVEY (Vale of White Horse District Council)

Local councils have a duty to provide services for everyone in the community and to promote good relations between different groups of people.

New legislation means this is a good time for us to check what else, if anything, we need to do to make sure services are delivered fairly.

You may be aware that funding to local government is being reduced significantly over the next four years. Whilst we may not be able to introduce expensive new services, you may have suggestions about how we can do things differently to meet everyone’s needs.

I would be grateful if you could take a few minutes to give your views by completing our online survey  www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/haveyoursay by Friday 8 April. 

Information about the outcomes of the consultation will be made available at www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/haveyoursay

Alternatively, if you provide your contact details when you take part we will keep you informed of how we have responded to what people have told us.

If you have any questions about taking part or would like to request a paper copy or alternative format of the questionnaire please contact the Consultation Officer on 01235 547614 or email haveyoursay@southandvale.gov.uk

Thank you for taking the time to give your views.

Kind regards

Cheryl Reeves

Shared Equalities Officer

Corporate Strategy

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils

Direct Phone: 01491 823047 (South)

Direct phone: 01235 540324 (Vale)

Text phone users add 18001 before you dial

For address details visit us at:

www.southoxon.gov.uk

www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk