Upton Village

South Oxfordshire

Vacancy for Parish Councillor

UPTON PARISH COUNCIL

CASUAL VACANCY

A vacancy exists in the office of Parish Councillor for Upton Parish to last until elections take place in 2015.

The main focus of this appointment will be to review and redraft the Upton Parish Plan

The vacancy will be filled by election if any ten local government electors for the said electoral area submit a written request for an election to fill the vacancy to the Returning Officer, Vale of White Horse District Council, Abbey House, Abingdon OX14 3JE within fourteen days after public notice of the vacancy has been given. In computing these fourteen days mentioned above you disregard a Saturday or Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday or a day appointed for Public Thanksgiving or Mourning.

If no such request is made the vacancy will be filled by Co-option by the Parish Council.

Dated this 30th day of April 2014

Parish Clerk

 

Upton Police article April 2014

Hello everyone.

On Saturday the 5th of April Police staff and members of the local Community took part in the’ Chilton day of action’ event. This was organised by Carol Rudd and myself. Carol is the NHW and Community messaging administrator who is based at Abingdon Police station. Our mission was to highlight the Thames Valley text alert system and ask residents if they wished to sign up to the scheme. We also asked residents if they wished to become neighbourhood watch co-coordinators for Chilton. A Police exhibition trailer was also placed in the Recreation ground car park and we invited residents to take their push bikes there to be security coded absolutely free.

We received an extremely encouraging response from the Chilton community and many people have signed up to the Thames Valley text alert scheme, which is also a free service. The Text alert service allows you to receive messages of criminal activity or Police meetings in the area. Most people care about the community they live in. The police want residents to help combat crime by sharing information about criminal activity in the area, helping to identify problems and working together in trying to solve them.

Our little team of canvassers was made up of Police staff and members of the local community including Upton’s very own Austin Maytham. Everyone worked hard and despite the cold, some wind and rain, they all did a splendid job of getting a positive response from many homes that were visited upon.

I’m absolutely certain that this will have a positive effect on the community. A big thank you for signing to the Scheme and also importantly, if any of you have shown an interest in becoming a neighbourhood watch coordinator then that’s great too.

I’m sure this Scheme and how we organised its implementation could be used as a blue print and be effectively tried out in other communities including Upton.

I have received reports of a cyclist who uses the old railway embankments and does not seem to have any consideration for other cyclists or walkers along the pathway. I would very much like to have a chat with this male so if any of you know who is he or you have experienced similar issues with regard to his cycling behaviour please let me know.

My next Have your say meeting will be held on the 26th of April at 15.00 till 16.00 at the Village hall meeting room. Please come along if you have any issues that you think I can help you with.

.

Stay safe

Mike

Mike Clayden C9732 ( Milton Park)

Thames Valley Police,

Wantage Police Station,

Downsview Road,

Chilton Road – Options for Discussion

Work will shortly commence on the A34 interchange at Chilton, with the addition of northern slips allowing southbound traffic to leave, and northbound traffic to access the A34. This work is seen as strategically important for the success of the Harwell Science Park and in turn both the local and national economy.

Subsequently concerns have been raised by residents in Chilton Rd, regarding the potential increase in traffic that this development may bring to Chilton Rd.  These concerns are:

  1. Speed of traffic through the residential section of the road;
  2. Volume of traffic through the residential section of the road;
  3. Pedestrian and cyclist safety on what is part of the Sustrans National Cycle Network used by employees at the Harwell Science facilities among others;
  4. Safety concerns around the Chilton Rd/Hagbourne Hill junction.

Possible options on the table to address these concerns would include:

  1. Introduction of a chicane requiring traffic heading down into Upton to give way to traffic  heading up out of Upton;
  2. Implementation of a one-way system with traffic allowed uphill only beyond the village limits;
  3. Road closure beyond the village limits, allowing for pedestrian, horse and cyclist access only.

Each option is explored with its pro’s and con’s.

Option A

This would have the effect of reducing traffic speeds though the residential section of the village while maintaining direct access to Chilton for all road users. However concerns “2” to “4” would not be addressed. As such Option A would seem to address little of the concerns raised.

Option B

Allowing through traffic in the uphill direction would have the benefit of halving the traffic flow that Chilton Rd would otherwise experience. It would also reduce the average speed of the traffic, as it is the downhill traffic that tends to travel the fastest.

This option would also make road space for a dedicated cycle way to be implemented from the village limits to the Hagbourne Hill Junction.

As no traffic could make the right turn from Hagbourne Hill onto Chilton Rd there would be a corresponding reduction in accidents stemming from this manoeuvre. Finally only 50% of journeys that might otherwise use this route would be inconvenienced.

Option B would go a long way to reduce current levels of traffic, regardless of any developments at Chilton. It would also resolve most (not all) of the safety concerns, while presenting a compromise to other road users.

Option C

Total closure of Chilton Rd at the Hagbourne Hill Junction would solve all the traffic issues of concern. However it would come at the cost of inconveniencing those that regularly use this road, adding just under a mile to a daily commute.

Option C clearly addresses all of the perceived problems that the Chilton development may bring. There would also be major benefits to the properties on Chilton Rd, with a Cul-de-sac arrangement greatly improving the amenity of the surroundings, making it would feel more like part of the village. A narrowing of the entrance at Reading Rd could allow for the addition of a pedestrian crossing. This would help reduce speeds and improve safety on the A417 while allowing this part of the village to be better integrated into the wider village.

Parish Council Meeting

Upton Parish Council will be taking a vote as to which option we should press Oxfordshire County Council to adopt at a meeting in County Hall on the 21st February. This vote will be taken at the next Parish Council meeting scheduled for 8:00pm on the 11th February at the village hall. If you would like to express your views on the matter please do so either at the meeting or via email to parish.council@uptonvillage.co.uk.

Village News from your Police Community Support Officer

December 2013 brought tragic events to the village of Upton with the case of the missing teenager Jayden Parkinson.

As events unfolded focus was quickly moved to Upton and it became necessary for the Police and its search teams to move into the village and set up an operations point near the church. This story has no happy ending, as we know that tragically Jayden’s body was eventually discovered at a location in Didcot. During the time the Police were in Upton there were many officers present along with Police vehicles. I myself along with other PCSO’s from Milton Park and other stations were placed on reassurance patrols in the village.

I have to say I was struck by the patience, understanding and compassion that was shown by villagers that we met on our patrols. During this sad time, the residents of Upton behaved impeccably and offered their help to the police on many occasions.

Thames Valley Police would like to thank all members of the public who offered to help or gave their support in the search for Jayden Parkinson.

This month we have seen some terrible weather and two days before Christmas I found myself on the A417 in Upton dealing with a fallen tree. This had blocked a lane by the cider shed lay-by. And it wasn’t till 3 hrs later we finally had the tree removed courtesy of a very much in demand Highways division. Well done lads!

While there, I was also assisted with traffic management by a new member of our team, PCSO Steve Thompson, who has recently completed his training at Sulhamstead. I’m sure you will all join me in welcoming Steve to the area.

If you should come across a fallen tree blocking a road, please do not try and move it yourself as you could be putting yourself in danger. Please call the Police on 101 and give the call handler the best description of the situation and location you possibly can.

Jessie West has kindly given me permission to use the Upton Village hall meeting room for the next few months. This will begin with my ‘Have your say’ meeting on the 15th of February from 3.p.m till 4.p.m. If you have any issues you wish to discuss with me then please come along.

My e mail address michael.clayden@ thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year.

Mike Clayden Police Community Support Officer C9732

Music in Upton

Another Jam Session in the G&D

Many thanks to Rob Traynor (guitar, vocals and percussion) and John Lightfoot (spoons) for entertaining everyone who turned up to last month’s acoustic jam session. We’re going to hold another one in The George & Dragon on Thursday 29th August (8:30pm) onwards. Bring your instruments, voices and ideas for musical items. All standards and levels of experience are very welcome.

Picnic Concert in the Recreation Ground

Don’t forget to put the village picnic concert and BBQ date (7 September, 6pm onwards) in your diary. Entertainment will be led by the Will Talbot Jazz Trio and village musicians. If you would like to take part please contact Sarah Tenant-Flowers (singscape@aol.com/ 850488)

Sarah

Alan Whicker tribute on ITV

Graham de Wilde

Graham de Wilde

Upton’s resident composer Graham de Wilde is one of the contributors to ITV’s tribute to Alan Whicker, Journey’s End, to be aired on ITV on Sunday 28th July at 10.15pm.

Graham composed the track “Newsweek”, the title theme from “Whicker’s World”, and had a top-twenty hit in 1981 with “Wikka Rap”, a comedy spoof.

In tribute to the veteran broadcaster who died recently the documentary looks back at the ground-breaking, 50 year career of Alan Whicker. This is the story of a TV pioneer who brought the world into our living rooms – whether he was in Venice or Palm Beach, Hong Kong or the Australian Outback, on the QE2 or Orient Express, or simply interviewing some of the planet’s most fascinating characters – from plastic surgeons to the rich and famous.

Alan Whicker

The Tea Birds W.I. are based in Upton

The Tea Birds meet the last Tuesday of the month in Upton Village Hall at 8pm. We run outside of the 9-5 working week and will be doing all sorts of
activities from the very traditional to the modern.
A full calendar of our activities and all of the details can be found on our website www.tea-birdswi.co.uk we also can be found on Facebook and twitter so our members can be easily kept up to sped.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheTeaBirdsWI
Follow us on twitter: @TeaBirdsWI
For any questions and queries we can be emailed at tea-birdswi@hotmail.co.uk.
As well as the monthly meeting we also have some spin off groups. We have a knitting and crochet group that meets in the Fleur De Lys in East Hagbourne and a walking group. Dates/details will be confirmed via facebok and
twitter as these are not currently scheduled at set times.
Jo Christie
(President – Tea Birds WI)

Pump Track nearly open

The pump track is now complete but not open.

Shoretrax worked hard under difficult conditions to finish job within the week, but now nature needs to take its course. The crushed and baked limestone surface needs to cure and the mounds settle. As such the area will remain fenced for at least another week.

Please be patient kids. It will be worth the wait!

Bob Lott

Marshals required for Uptonogood

It’s almost “Uptonogood?” time again (15th June) and preparations are well under way. As always we’re in search of that most precious of commodities; Marshals!

By way of an additional incentive, this year we’ve decided to offer every marshal £20 for a charity/school/youth group etc. of their choice. If you haven’t marshalled before and would like to get involved please contact Bob Lott (851222) or Mike Tibbetts (851474). If you have marshalled before I’ll be in contact soon!

Bob Lott

Bike Humps

After a long wait, work on the bike humps is to begin on Monday the 8th April. The work will be carried out by ShoreTrax and is scheduled to take a week. During this time the immediate area will be fenced off and out of public use. The rest of the play area will remain open.

The existing humps will be remodelled, and resurfaced to create an all weather “pump track”. It is hoped this will prove every bit as popular with the kids as the temporary wooded structure present at last year’s “Uptonogood?”.

Bob Lott