The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.
Mon 16 Feb, 06:15 · Link
There is currently an opportunity to give your views to service-providers on what helps people living in rural areas keep healthy and well and what makes this difficult. Charlbury is one of 14 rural communities selected by the Oxfordshire County Council to help them learn more about the needs of rural communities and to plan services which support the good health and wellbeing of local residents.
Two local charities – Community First Oxfordshire and Healthwatch Oxfordshire – will be running an online and paper survey until 1 April 2026 and will also be holding a representative focus group of local residents in each community including one in Charlbury.
There is an information sheet giving further details on ATIC’s page in the Community section (Charities and World) of this website here: https://www.charlbury.info/community/98
The survey can be filled in online by using this link: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/rurallivingpublic/ or by scanning the QR code at the end of the ATIC information sheet and shown in flyers available in key outlets in the town, including Cornerstone in the Corner House..
If you do not have access to the internet or do not have a smartphone, you can obtain a paper copy of the questionnaire by contacting Healthwatch on 01865 520520. Healthwatch is also offering to enable people to fill in the survey on the phone (number as above). Copies can also be provided in large print or alternative formats or languages. Healthwatch’s email address is hello@healthwatchoxfordshire.co.uk.
If you do not live in Charlbury itself but have a connection to or live close to the town, you can still complete the survey and give your postcode to show where you live. The views of people living in rural communities which are smaller than Charlbury will also be valuable.
Please pass on this information to anyone you know who is not online and is not likely to see this here.
Meryl Smith · Sat 14 Feb, 15:08 · Link
For the uninitiated, the Charlbury Deli & Café was set up as a limited company in 1991 (then ka The Good Food Shop) by a group of people, as I’ve always understood it, who simply wanted the town to have such a facility. It has always been run more as a community enterprise than in the expectation of private profit, with paid managers and staff but volunteer directors.
Faced with financial difficulties in 2016/17, a new group of directors came forward, including me, and funds were raised through a second share issue. The business then moved, enthusiastically and energetically, into the Old Bank House on Market Street.
As you may be aware, with the end of our lease in sight, we moved into the Corner House in November last year. The shareholders voted before Christmas to aim to convert the company into a Community Benefit Society (CBS), a far more sensible structure for a community based enterprise. It would also be far more in keeping with the new location. With the use of the garden and newly refurbished reading room it has enormous potential, with any profits going to support both the Corner House itself and other local charitable causes.
But sadly the company is currently faced with similar difficulties as in 2016/17 – one major difference being that despite several attempts to find new directors, this time no-one has come forward. Instead, we have an advisory team but only one director – me. I really need to stand down for personal reasons and have given notice to the shareholders that I intend to do so come what may on 31 March (postponed once already from 31/12).
The company’s poor financial position also means we are not currently able to go for conversion, even assuming one (or ideally more) new directors were willing to take over. But there is nothing to prevent other people setting up an entirely new CBS, with members rather than shareholders – and then acquiring the business and/or its assets. We plan to hold an open public meeting to discuss that as soon as we can agree a date (probably with Plunkett UK, a locally based but national charity which supports people in rural areas to set up and run a wide range of businesses in community ownership). So watch out for the date in Events!
In the meantime, we’ll not only be very glad of your custom but if anyone might be willing to stand as a director, even if only as a ‘caretaker’ pending further developments, do please get in touch. The company cannot continue to trade without at least one director so would otherwise have to go into liquidation, with all the difficulties and loss of employment that would entail. Which after 35 years, I think would be a great shame. Charlbury, the choice is yours.
R O Evans
12/02/2026
PS For anyone interested, there is a useful introduction here: https://cwmpas.coop/what-is-a-community-benefit-society
From a press release from West Oxfordshire District Council:
“Following feedback from its recent public consultation, West Oxfordshire District Council has revised its approach to parking stay times in Burford, Charlbury and Woodstock district council car parks. After carefully considering the views of residents, businesses and visitors, the Council has amended its original proposals, including adjustments to plans for long-stay parking in Woodstock and Charlbury.
“As a result, the maximum long-stay period in the three car parks will change, mostly to ten hours. This aims to support local workers while still discouraging all-day commuter parking. The mix of long- and short-stay spaces is also being adjusted to improve turnover for shoppers and visitors, while maintaining longer-stay options.”
Separately, WODC has confirmed it intends to close the paid-for public toilets it currently operates next to the free car park.
Richard Fairhurst · Tue 10 Feb, 11:09 · Link
The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.
Mon 9 Feb, 06:15 · Link
Would you like to practice your spoken French in Charlbury, in the company of a French native speaker and fellow francophiles? After a long and successful career as a professional freelance technical translator, I am now running weekly French conversation groups:
Level 1 on Mondays at 11am: you're just beginning to learn (or relearn) the language, and know simple words and phrases, but do not yet feel confident to communicate with French speakers
Level 2 on Mondays at 3pm: you can understand a French speaker (if they speak slowly!) and you can have a basic conversation with them
Cost: £10 per person per session, £45 for five sessions.
For more info or registration, please contact me by email at valeriezitoun@aol.com or through this website.
Valou Pakenham-Walsh · Thu 5 Feb, 14:43 · Link
This statutory consultation seeks views on the proposals that the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has received following the Secretary of State’s invitation to councils in Oxfordshire to submit proposals for unitary local government for Oxfordshire.
You can respond to the consultation here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-government-reorganisation-in-oxfordshire/proposals-for-local-government-reorganisation-in-oxfordshire
Liz Leffman · Thu 5 Feb, 14:30 · Link
The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.
Mon 2 Feb, 06:15 · Link
One hundred years ago today Charlie Hurst was born in Charlbury. Today it was a pleasure to present birthday wishes to Charlie from His Majesty The King.
Marjorie Glasgow · Sun 1 Feb, 17:14 · Link
As part of a countywide project to tackle health inequalities, we want to hear from Charlbury residents about what helps you to stay healthy and well? What makes it difficult? What ideas do you have for supporting health and wellbeing in your area? The information gathered will be used by Oxfordshire County Council and others to help plan services and understand more about the needs of rural communities. Fill in the survey and have your voice heard: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/rurallivingpublic/
Clare Dodwell · Thu 29 Jan, 11:56 · Link