The Hook Norton Village Newsletter
August 2004 Series 29 No 4

Parish Council and Cherwell news





PARISH COUNCIL INFORMATION BOARD
                 
NORTH OXFORDSHIRE WHAT'S ON GUIDE: JANUARY – MARCH 2005

The Tourism Unit at Cherwell District Council is currently compiling its quarterly What's On Guide for January – March 2005. If you have any events planned during that period which you wish to publicise please contact the clerk, Ken Porter, (01295 758352) or Claire Onslow, the Tourism Officer, (01295 221725) before noon on Monday 18th October. Generally, the Guides are produced 2/3 months in advance and any events planned for later next year should be notified to Claire Onslow in good time.

  AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Immediately prior to the Parish Council Meeting on 12th August, James Alcock, the new Rural Housing Enabler for Oxfordshire, will be giving a presentation on Affordable Housing. You will recall that a Housing Needs Survey was carried out at the end of 2003 but we have been awaiting the appointment of Mr Alcock to be able to move forward. All parishioners having an interest in the provision of affordable housing in the village are urged to attend. The presentation will commence at 7pm and last for half an hour to be followed by the normal Parish Council meeting.

  VACANCY FOR PARISH COUNCILLOR

Sadly, Sara Withey has had to resign from the Parish Council creating a vacancy for another councillor. We thank Sara for her hard work over the past fourteen months and wish her every success in the future. Anybody wishing to become actively involved in local affairs and wanting to join the Parish Council is asked to contact the clerk, Ken Porter, on 01295 758352 or at kenneth_i.porter@virgin.net.

   
  COMMON LAND

The Parish Council has received a provisional map showing areas of registered common land and open country within the Parish from the Countryside Agency. This map is available for parishioners to inspect and anybody wishing to do so should contact the Parish Clerk, Ken Porter, on 01295 758352.

PIANO

The Parish Council has decided to dispose of the piano in the Memorial Hall. It is offered free to anyone who would care to collect it. It can be viewed by arrangement with the caretaker, Doug Marshall (737666) or Peter Fry (730509). The “buyer” must provide the manpower to move it (it needs to be lifted down from the stage) and the removal is entirely at their risk.

PARISH CLERK

The Parish Clerk, Ken Porter, will be on holiday from 4th – 28th September. Anybody wishing to discuss PC matters during that time should initially contact the Chairman, Joe Williams, on 737245.

 
  GRASS CUTTING
his is an issue which engenders a great deal of comment but grass cutting currently costs the Parish Council in excess of £8000 per annum and as such we are currently looking at ways of reducing expenditure in this area.
       


OUT OF THE BLUE
Saturday 3rd July saw another successful Music at the Crossroads event, and the weather was kind to us if not a trifle chilly. No problems were encountered and the feedback from many who attended was positive.
Saturday 17th July saw the annual Beer Festival at The Pear Tree. I am told that numbers were up on last year and as far as I could tell, everyone appeared to enjoy themselves. From a Police point of view, and certainly as I write this article, the event went well and without incident. It is always a pleasure to be able to say this after an event attended by large numbers of people, and especially where alcohol is involved. Over the years we have tried to police these events in a low key way; we don't wish to stop people from enjoying themselves, far from it, but at the same time we are there should anything happen. It must also be said that the people who attend these events play an important part and for that, I thank you.
Unfortunately, the evening of the 17th did not end without incident. A car in Bells Lane was broken into and set on fire. Either an attempt to steal it went wrong, or more disturbingly, someone deliberately set fire to it. The vehicle was parked on the drive of the family home and although the Fire Service was on scene within minutes to extinguish the fire, the vehicle was completely destroyed. This is a very serious incident indeed and not one that is commonplace in Hook Norton or indeed any other village around here. The family who owned the car were deeply upset that something like this could occur in Hook Norton.
You may have seen my notice on the board in the Village Shop asking for witnesses to come forward with information, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Was someone looking for a lift home and thought they could steal a car? Someone, somewhere knows!
If you have information, please contact me - help me to help you!
Telephone: 01608 648715 e-mail: rosemary.dilsaver@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
Thank you for reading and may the Force be with you.
Rosemary Dilsaver PC 818 Area Beat Officer


What is Oxfordshire Children's Information Service?
It is a local service that provides information for parents and carers about childcare and leisure activities, for children aged 0-16 in Oxfordshire. The service is totally FREE of charge and includes information on all registered childcare such as Childminders, Nurseries, Pre-School Playgroups and Holiday Play Schemes. We also supply information on Toddler Groups, Family Centres, Special Needs, Youth Groups and Libraries.
We also have an Outreach Officer who holds drop in sessions around the county at various events and establishments such as fetes or toddler groups. This enables parents to chat informally about their childcare needs and get information directly. If anyone would like to book a drop in session, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!


DEMENTIA INFORMATION FOR CARERS
It is estimated that there are over 8,000 people over the age of 65 with dementia living in Oxfordshire. The majority of these people are being cared for by their spouse, family, friends or relatives. Many carers struggle on alone without the help and support that could make their lives easier and their caring role more tolerable. DISC, The Dementia Information Service for Carers is a new project due to commence on 21st of June 2004 which will provide an information service to carers of older people with dementia. The service has been developed by The Guideposts Trust and the Institute of Public Care and is supported by the Community Fund. The Oxfordshire project is a prototype which will eventually be broadened to cover the majority of the south east of England.
DISC will provide a professional, personal, friendly and easily accessible information service to carers. It offers basic information about dementia, legal rights, what care services are available and how to get help. It signposts carers to agencies that can support them particularly during times of difficulty such as before and after the person they care for has moved into a care home. If people wish to have help in contacting health or care organisations then DISC can provide this. Advice and information is available by telephone, e-mail, letter or through the DISC website.
DISC will also offer help to carers via two indirect means. It will provide an information service to care homes that wish to improve their contact and support to
relatives of people with dementia. It will also offer a consultancy service to health and social care organisations to help those organisations find out what carers think of the services they receive.
Contact DISC by phoning 0845 120 4048, writing to DISC, Oxford Dementia Centre, Institute of Public Care, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, 0X3 7XR, or sending an e-mail to info@disc.orq.uk We also have a website at www.disc.org.uk



AGE CONCERN, OXFORDSHIRE

are setting up a Banbury office to provide a one stop shop for older people
looking for advice, information, insurance, volunteering opportunities etc.

Ideally, it will be staffed by volunteers.
All you need is a friendly manner - training is provided for everything else!

If you feel you may be able to help contact Mary Evans Young on 01295 277801.