The Hook Norton Village Newsletter
December 2002 Series 27 No 6

Parish Council and Cherwell news

 



Parish Council Meetings October and November


RUBBISH IN THE HEDGES Will the people who are dumping rubbish in the hedges please use the facilities provided i.e. The Village Skip and Waste Receptacles in future. The attractiveness of our village is not enhanced by random tipping of waste such as used coca cola bottles and milk cartons (Brymbo) and bedsteads and mattresses (the upper cemetery). ROAD CALMING Measures to calm the traffic flow in Hook Norton are now under discussion with Oxfordshire County Council.
YOUR PARISH COUNCILLORS
Cllr. Christopher Barry Planning Co-ordinator Tel: 730407
Cllr. Brian Clay Chairman Finance Committee Tel: 737622
Cllr. Becky Cooke   Tel: 730976
Cllr. Peter Fry Chairman Hall Committee Tel: 730509
Cllr. Pip Howe Chairman Environment and Open Spaces Committee Tel: 730119
Cllr. Les Humphries   Tel: 737464
Cllr. Ray Jelf   Tel: 737129
Cllr. Peter Millar   Tel: 737128
Cllr. Mike Terry   Tel: 737842
Cllr. Clive Timms Chairman of the Parish Council Tel: 730202
Cllr. Joe Williams Chairman Recreation Committee Tel: 737245
PARISH CLERK Mrs Tranter is leaving this post in January and applicants to replace her will be interviewed shortly.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
The Parish Council is now working on this new legislation to comply with it by the end of December 2002.

 

SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB PLANNING APPLICATION
The planning application for floodlighting of the new football pitch at the Sports and Social Club, with two spectator stands and two dugouts was considered by the North Area Planning Committee of Cherwell District Council on 14th November.
The application was opposed by the Parish Council, the Council for the Preservation of Rural England and by 18 individuals. 13 individuals supported it. The report by officers on the application referred to an extension of "built form" into the open countryside and recommended refusal because they felt that the development "would constitute an intrusive element in the surrounding landscape which would adversely affect the rural character and visual amenities of the area", and would thus be contrary to provisions of the Oxfordshire Structure Plan and the Cherwell Local Plan. The application was refused by a 10-1 vote.
Peter Fry


 


HOOK NORTON PARISH COUNCIL - AN APOLOGY
Subject: Maintenance of the Closed Churchyard at St. Peters Church
All residents will no doubt be aware that in the recent issue of the Newsletter the Parish Council included a question regarding meeting the cost of the maintenance of the above Churchyard.
Since publication it has been drawn to our attention by the Rector that we were acting in accordance with information given to the Council which has turned out to be incorrect. The facts are absolutely clear, that responsibility for the maintenance rests with the Parish Council and at its recent meeting the Council accepted this responsibility.
I wish to express my sincere regret to the many residents to whom the apparent indifference of the Parish Council towards maintaining the Churchyard has caused such distress.
Ray Jelf (Vice Chairman Hook Norton Parish Council)


 


HEATH ALLOTMENT TRUST
Last year the Trust made a small donation from their funds to a number of parishioners, as was existing practice. At that time they were unsure of the legality of the distribution and indeed advised the recipients that the payment was to be made for that year only.
The Charities' Commission is releasing its hold over small charities and is to allow Trustees to make their own decisions with regard to changing their "Governing Document". Without clear advice as to how to identify "poor and needy" in the parish, and in the light of advice received from other substantial charities with similar restrictions, the Trustees have decided that the funds should be used for the benefit of the parish community.
Funds will be made available to subsidise further the "Thursday bus" and also to provide funds to the school to support children with special needs.
Ray Jelf (Chairman of the Trust)


 


MESSAGE FROM COUNCILLOR RAY JELF
May I through the good offices of the Hook Norton Newsletter express my sincere thanks to those who assisted me during the recent By-election campaign for Deddington Division of the County Council. Thanks to their efforts and the support of electors right across the political divide I now have the privilege of representing Hooky at County Hall, in succession to my good friend the late Norman Matthews. Norman, as we all know will be a hard act to follow but be assured I will do all in my power to look after the interests of all of my constituents.
Ray Jelf


 


THE WARWICKSHIRE HUNT
The Warwickshire Hunt have written to say that they will send future Meet Cards for publication in the Newsletter so that the village will know when to expect them. The current Meet Card expires on 7th December and the remaining meets are in;
Lighthorne 2nd December
North Newington 4th December
Broadwell 5th December
Barton on the Heath 7th December
Ed.


 


OUT OF THE BLUE
As we begin the festive season, may I bring to your attention the following:-
There are three public houses spaced across the centre of Hook Norton, all within easy reach of the people who live there. Why is it then that some people insist on driving their cars to these pubs? There will always be those who think they won't get caught, or that they can handle their drink and it won't affect them - but drink does affect them and they are wrong!
Convicted drink drivers face the following:-
  1. a criminal record
  2. disqualification for a minimum of 12 months
  3. hefty fine
  4. possible loss of job
  5. mobility - if you live in a village are you going to rely on public transport?
  6. disgrace - these days it is very anti-social to be caught drink driving, especially driving home from a pub in the same village!
  7. insurance - when you start driving again, some insurance companies will not insure you. if they do, the rates are extortionate
  8. you will have real trouble hiring a car for the next ten years

If you are convicted of: maximum penalty is:
Causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs 10 years imprisonment, banned for at least 2 years
Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink 6 months imprisonment, a fine of £5,000.00, banned for at least 12 months (or 3 years if convicted twice in 10 years)
In charge of a motor vehicle whilst above the legal limit or unfit through drink 3 months imprisonment, £2,500.00 fine and ban
Refusing to provide a specimen 6 months imprisonment, £5,000.00 fine, at least, 12 months ban

REMEMBER! Don't drink and drive! Have a happy and safe Christmas and New Year.
WPC Rosemary Dilsaver Area Beat Officer 01608 64871541


 


DOES MENTAL HEALTH MATTER TO YOU?
Would you like to help other people find a way through their problems?
Oxfordshire Mental Health Matters provides interesting Volunteering Opportunities in a friendly environment in Information, Advocacy and Administration Work . Full training is provided. For more information, tel. 01865 728981, call in at 19 Paradise Street (near the Westgate Shopping Centre) or e-mail info@oxford-mentalhealth.org .

 

HEALTH CHECK
The NHS Plan in 2000 stated that: "Patients are the most important people in the Health Service. It doesn't always appear that way. Too many patients feel talked at, rather than listened to. This is to change. NHS care has to be shaped around the convenience and concerns of patients". 'HEALTH CHECK', set up by the Community Health Council is a way of obtaining your views both good and bad about the healthcare you receive. We want you to tell us about your experiences in the NHS by filling in a 'Health Check' form. Your comments will be passed on to NHS staff across your area and the Community Health Council will provide a response to you individually on the resulting action that arises from your comments. You can report on any aspect of the NHS that you have used within the last six months. You can report on someone else's behalf as long as you have their permission. All that you tell us is confidential.
For more information contact the Community Health Council: 01865 723569 and ask for a 'Health Check' form and freepost envelope.

 


COULD YOU BE AN INDEPENDENT PARENTAL SUPPORTER?
The Oxfordshire Parent Partnership Service runs a very successful volunteer scheme called the Independent Parental Supporter Scheme.
Unfortunately, due to a combination of unforeseen circumstances, some of our volunteers are unable to participate at present. As parents and schools become increasingly aware of the helpful nature of the support that an Independent Parental Supporter can offer, we regularly receive requests for help. We try to ensure that none of our volunteers are overloaded or persuaded to commit themselves unrealistically, so we wondered, are you: -
* A good listener? * Friendly and approachable? * Aware of need for confidentiality?
* Interested in education? * Not afraid to ask questions? * Reliable?
* Looking for another interest?

Then you might be just the person we are looking for to be an Independent Parental Supporter. (IPS). IPS give help and support to parents in Oxfordshire who have children with Special Educational Needs, when they have difficult decisions to make about their child's education. 1 in 5 children will need some extra help at sometime during their school life. The system that supports children can be quite confusing for parents. That's where you come in. An Independent Parental Supporter can be there for a parent at a difficult time, perhaps by helping with the paperwork, attending a meeting with them or just by talking things through. We offer training and pay your expenses so you won't be out of pocket.
Winter Training sessions: Saturdays, March 1st , 8th, 15th and 21st
All sessions are from 10 -12.30.Oxford College of Further Education, Oxpens Road, Oxford.
INTERESTED? For more details, please ring: Parent Partnership on 01865 810516

 

“You may not see me as unique,
but I've never died before”
THE OXFORDSHIRE
BEFRIENDING NETWORK
Volunteers visiting people with life threatening
illness at home.
The Oxfordshire Befriending Network welcomes sensitive, trustworthy and friendly volunteer befrienders to join this lively, rapidly developing local organisation.
Excellent free training and support provided.
Please contact Catherine Gundry, Regional Manager, on 01865 316200