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Change of ownership at The Pharmacy, Market street, Charlbury

After 18 years of owning the Pharmacy in Charlbury I have today completed the sale of the business to The Co-operative pharmacy group. They will continue exactly as I have left off, with the same staff, existing stock and friendly, efficient service....and to dismiss any rumours, they are continuing to trade from the same site in Market Street.
I have very much enjoyed working at the Pharmacy...thanks to everyone who has supported us, to all our customers, and to all my hard working and dedicated staff who have worked with me over the years.
I'm confident the new owners will provide a great service to Charlbury, and I wish them every success.
Dean Vincent

Mon 29 Jan 2007, 12:04 · Link


Quick links

You can now link directly to a community or directory page on the website just using its name, with _ (underscore) symbols instead of spaces.

For example: www.charlbury.info/Street_Fair or www.charlbury.info/Evenlode_Books .

In addition, links typed anywhere on the site (forum posting, community page, etc.) should now - hopefully - be clickable.

Richard Fairhurst · Thu 25 Jan 2007, 11:35 · Link


Gareth Epps to fight election in Reading

Following Charlbury resident Liz Leffman's selection as Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for the party's target seat of Meon Valley, another well-known local LibDem has been selected as a candidate. Gareth Epps, who fought the Witney seat before Liz and has served as both a Charlbury town councillor and a West Oxfordshire district councillor, has been chosen as candidate for Reading East. The seat is currently held by the Conservatives (tinyurl.com/2g2knh(Wikipedia details)).

Richard Fairhurst · Mon 22 Jan 2007, 11:26 · Link


Speed bumps bumped off

The four sets of speed bumps on Nine Acres Lane have been removed. Signs say that work will be carrying on for another four weeks, presumably to install traffic calming of a different type, and warn of temporary traffic lights.

Richard Fairhurst · Thu 18 Jan 2007, 20:43 · Link


Edit your own business listings

Charlbury businesses can now edit their own listings on the website's Directory section.

If you have a listing in the Directory, just register as a user, then e-mail us (use the link at the bottom) to confirm you want to be able to edit it. You will then be able to update the listing as often as you like, perhaps with special offers or revised contact details.

If you don't have a listing yet, just use the 'Submit new listing' link on the front page to post one.

Richard Fairhurst · Sat 13 Jan 2007, 14:39 · Link


Cotswold Line to be redoubled?

A Government minister has confirmed that some, or all, of the Cotswold Line is to be returned to double-track. Much of the railway line from Oxford, through Charlbury, to Worcester was reduced to single-track in the 1970s in a cost-cutting exercise - an act that severely affects punctuality today.

According to local papers, railway minister Tom Harris has written to a Worcestershire MP confirming that at least part of the line will be redoubled. From the Worcester News:

"Mr Harris's letter says: 'Since we last corresponded on the question of investment to address the constraints presented by the single line sections of the Cotswold line, Network Rail has announced that it is proposing to carry out redoubling. At this stage Network Rail has not yet taken a final view on whether the redoubling should encompass all or only part of the single track sections of this line.'"

Network Rail (which owns the track) has told the Cotswold & Malverns Transport Partnership that it is considering full redoubling, or redoubling of individual sections. A study is due to report in August: redoubling work could then take place in 2008-09.

Coverage:

For a rather more mordant take on First Great Western's current travails, see here.

Richard Fairhurst · Fri 12 Jan 2007, 12:55 · Link


Church vandalism

From the Oxford Mail (full story):

A memorial church window for a vicar of Charlbury has been smashed by vandals.

About 15 panes of the window dedicated to the late Canon Martin Chadwick were damaged by stones thrown at St Mary The Virgin over the Christmas period - leaving the church with a £500 repair bill.

Canon Chadwick's widow Glena was shocked by the attack on the tribute to her husband, who spent almost two decades serving the town.

She said: "I'm very, very sad about it. It's a lovely, handmade, clear glass window, with an inscription about Martin at the bottom. People felt very positive about it. He was immensely popular, it's just very sad. Vandalism is getting worse."

Vicar the Rev Judy French said: "It particularly saddens me that one of the windows was in memory of my predecessor.

"He was so much loved by the people of Charlbury. The vandals just threw stones indiscriminately. It leaves a very sad feeling."

Canon Chadwick was vicar at St Mary The Virgin for 17 years. The window was installed in 2004 and paid for by the congregation and a donation from the Chadwick family.

Windows at the church were also broken last August.

Church warden Mike Summers said: "I feel it's sad that some people feel that need to do that, that they can't direct their energies in a more constructive way.

"There are all sorts of people who don't get the attention they deserve, perhaps they have been let down by society. It's sad and upsetting but it's not the end of the world. We're quite relaxed about it. It's only glass.

"The last time it happened, in the summer holidays, the culprits promised to pay for the damage. The trouble is the lead-lined window is getting rather old and if it keeps being damaged it will need to be replaced, which will cost £3,000."

The damage will take some time to repair as a specialist glazier is needed. The work will be paid for from church funds.

Pc Colin James said: "Twelve windows were smashed on one occasion and several more on two further occasions. Over Christmas damage was also caused to houses, property and vehicles in and around Charlbury.

"We're investigating and would urge anyone with information to contact us."

Anyone with information should call Pc James on 08458 505505.

Richard Fairhurst · Fri 12 Jan 2007, 11:16 · Link


New Charlbury low-energy lightbulb library

If you want to try out low-energy lightbulbs in the comfort of your own home why not borrow our lightbulb library for a couple of evenings. There are all shapes and wattages with full details on costs and where they can be obtained.

By installing low-energy bulbs you can cut the energy you use for lighting by 75% so also reducing your carbon emissions by 75%. They also last much longer than conventional bulbs (e.g. 8 times as long) so the number of broken bulbs which have to be disposed of is much reduced.

List of low-energy lightbulbs
http://www.cwag.org.uk/uploads/File/List%20of%20Low%20Energy%20Lightbulbs.pdf

Please contact Louise Spicer to borrow the lightbulb library by phoning 01608-810745.

From the Charlbury Area Waste Action Group
http://www.cwag.org.uk

Colin Critch · Fri 5 Jan 2007, 21:42 · Link


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