The Hook Norton Village Newsletter
June 2002 Series 27 No 3

Parish Council and Cherwell news


Parish Council Meetings April and May

NEW PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN Clive Timms has taken over as the new Parish Council Chairman, with Ray Jelf as Vice-Chairman. Good Luck Clive!
PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS There will be no meeting of the Parish Council in June. The next meeting will be on Thursday 11th July, All meetings are open to the public.
POST OFFICE DEVELOPMENT At its meeting on 9th May, the Council gave unanimous support to this development. Low cost housing is what the village needs.
YOUTH CLUB BUILDING Unfortunately the conclusion of the lease from Oxfordshire County Council is still lagging but is being pursued.

CEMETERY STORM DAMAGE The two fallen trees have been cleared at a cost of £1800. Further expenditure will be necessary to repair a number of headstones.
BENCH IN MEMORY OF BARRIE COULDREY In his Will, the late Parish Councillor Barrie Couldrey left money to provide a bench. This will be placed outside the school.
PLANNING PROCEDURES Cherwell DC has introduced new procedures under which a greater proportion of planning applications will be decided by officers rather than by members. The Parish Council is concerned at this, and will be keeping an eye on how the system works.
PARISH COUNCIL VACANCY It is likely that a vacancy for a Parish Councillor will arise either before or soon after publication of this Newsletter. Anyone interested in taking an active part in local affairs is asked to watch the notice boards or contact the Clerk, Mrs Linda Tranter, on 737399 for details


VILLAGE SKIP SERVICE
Cherwell District Council has written to the Parish Council to advise that;
"A recent change to our policy means that we are now collecting refrigerators and freezers at no cost to residents, under the bulky household waste collection scheme. We are clearly anxious to avoid these appliances being placed in any of the weekend village skips. Finally, I would like to mention that a number of village skips will be monitored each weekend, with a view to checking the contents for toxic or special waste and general misuse. Any persistent misuse will be brought to the attention of the parish council and ultimately may lead to the service being withdrawn."


'OUR PLACE' EXHIBITION AT OXFORDSHIRE RECORD OFFICE
Until 12th June, the Oxfordshire Record Office in St Luke's Church, Cowley will be hosting an exhibition of various maps, banners, tapestries, books, videos, church kneelers and CD-roms made by people living in rural communities in Oxfordshire. The life and landscape of our unique county is celebrated in this special exhibition and entry is free of charge to all. For details call either 01865 883488 or 01865 398200.


MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE SCHEME
Thanks to the Lions Clubs of Oxfordshire this scheme is available here in Hook Norton. Designed for all who live alone or those who are frail and those with very young children, the object is to have basic personal and medical information in a common location where it can be easily found in an emergency. WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Explanatory leaflets and the Bottles are available at the Surgery. Even if this service is not for you, do talk to relatives, friends or neighbours who would benefit from 'taking the bottle.'
John Wheatley


ORINOCO – THE OXFORDSHIRE MOBILE SCRAPSTORE
The Orinoco Scrapstore recycles exciting and unusual waste materials to be used by groups and individuals for creative activities. Free training in 'Making Things with Waste Materials' is available to voluntary and community groups. For further details please contact Jane at The Scrapstore, Unit 33a, Curtis Industrial Estate, North Hinksey Lane, Oxford, Tel. 01865 200747.


SEESAW – SUPPORT FOR BEREAVED CHILDREN IN OXFORDSHIRE
The death of someone we love is probably the most distressing event that we will ever experience. When children lose someone they love it is painful and traumatic and often they have nowhere to turn for help. The people best placed to support them, their family, are themselves grieving and their friends cannot fully understand their pain.
Every year in Oxfordshire alone, 1500 children suffer the distress and disruption that death brings. SeeSaw is a new charity set up to support Oxfordshire's bereaved children through their grief. It offers rapid and flexible support to children and families as well as a programme of education, training and resources for professionals such as teachers and doctors. However, SeeSaw is totally dependent upon donations. Can you help by fundraising this summer? Here are a few ideas:
SeeSaw's Four Nations Rowing Challenge.
SeeSaw Sausage Sizzle: hold a BBQ and ask guests to make a donation to SeeSaw. Sponsored Slim: ask friends and family to sponsor you to slim down into your swimming costume in time for those summer holidays.
Sponsored Walk: set yourself a distance target, break in your new walking shoes so you don't get blisters and ask family and friends to sponsor you.
For more information on the above events or if you can help in any other way please call SeeSaw on 01865 744768. If you would like to make a donation please make cheques payable to SeeSaw and send them to: Bush House, 2 Merewood Avenue, Headington, Oxford, OX3 8EF.


OXFORDSHIRE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENT OF JUSTICES OF THE PEACE
Are you a good listener? Can you see both sides of an argument? Do you like a good discussion? Do you like to see fair play?
Then you could dispense justice in your community!
Why not be a magistrate?
Magistrates try to reflect the community they live in. That means we need a mix of people from all walks of life and ethnic groups, with different backgrounds and skills.
The role is a fascinating one. It opens up many new avenues of interest and gives an insight into how we live and behave in the 21st century. Most of all you will be using your skills as a service to your community - 'justice to the people by the people'.
Few of us have any legal background, but training is provided and is continuous. All you need is good character, common sense and the personal skills listed above.
A typical day in court might include motoring offences, theft, supply of drugs, affray, assault, drink-driving and burglary. Sentences for these offences vary from conditional discharge or a fine to six months in prison. Try arranging them in order of seriousness!
Interested? Contact your local Magistrates Court or Advisory Committee for an information pack and details on how to apply:
Oxford: Kate Skeates – 01865 448011 kate.skeates@tv.mcs.gov.uk
Banbury: Ruth Phillips – 01295 452016 ruth.phillips@tv.mcs.gov.uk
or The Advisory Committee for Justices of the Peace in Oxfordshire:
Malcolm Leeding, Committee Secretary – 01865 815327 – gail.morris@oxfordshire.gov.uk
DO IT TODAY!