Following comment in the previous Snippets this subject engendered lively debate at the June Parish Council meeting at which there was strong support for leaving the Play Area at its present site. The Parish Council remains committed to trying to provide lower cost housing for the indigenous villagers and it is likely that parishioners will be asked for their views in a survey later in the year.

This is becoming an increasing problem in the village and makes life particularly difficult for the elderly and those with pushchairs and is illegal! Please have consideration for your neighbours and don't park vehicles on pavements.

Those who cannot wait for their bi-monthly Snippets should be aware that the Parish Council minutes are now available in full on the website at www.hook-norton.org.uk – click on the Parish Council link, and, for those without access to a computer, copies can found in the library and on the noticeboard at the Memorial Hall.

The outside of the Hall is to be repainted during the summer and the committee is also giving consideration to improving the interior lighting by the use of dimmer switches. Two entertainments have been booked for the autumn/winter season, The Booster Cushion Company, a children's event, will take place on the afternoon of 18th October and Soul Commotion are appearing on 21st February. Please make a note in your diaries now!

Cherwell District Council is offering free safety checks at Kidlington on Tuesday 9th September and Banbury on Thursday 18th September. The checks are allocated on a first come/first served basis. To book an appointment telephone now on 01865 815400.

As some villagers will already be aware facilities have been improved at the allotments with the installation of a new water tank. The Parish Council has also been concerned for some time about the state of the cemetery wall in Tite Lane. Rather than continuing with repairs whenever part of the wall crumbles it has been decided to dismantle and rebuild the section of wall at risk.

People are leaving boxes/bags of bottles and jars at the site when the banks are full. This simply means that somebody has clear the mess away until the banks have been emptied. We do try to ensure that the banks are emptied quickly but if parishioners do happen to visit the site and find them full please retain your bottles for another day and do not simply leave them. In early July a stack of about 10-12 full black sacks of refuse was found at the bottle bank site at the school. CDC had to be called out to make a special collection. Please consider your neighbours, this site is not a general dumping ground. Such misuse amounts to fly-tipping, is illegal and could lead to prosecution.