News

Police warning: Landrover Defenders targeted by car thieves

Owners of Landrover Defenders are being asked to take extra security measures when leaving their vehicles, following four thefts over the past few months in West Oxfordshire.

Landrover Defenders have been stolen from Hailey near Witney, Madley Park in Witney, Bruern and Dean near Chipping Norton.

Drivers are asked to ensure their vehicle is locked, keys are kept out of sight of doors and windows when you are at home, and if possible, to park your vehicle in a garage.

Valou Pakenham-Walsh · Tue 29 Jun 2010, 10:41 · Link

News & Things resubmits application for residential use

The owners of Charlbury's long-established newsagent, News & Things, have again applied to West Oxfordshire District Council for permission to close the shop and convert the building to residential use.

In the application, their agents write:

"Since the Co-op commenced trading, News & Things has seen a significant drop in sales and footfall, despite active advertising campaigns for the shop/cafe. Much of the decline is clearly directly attnbutable to the opening of the new Co-op convenience store, which is now the hub of the community, given Its wide range of goods and the availability of free car parking. This made it the 'one-stop' shop in the town, significantly reducing the footfall to the existing retailers in the centre of Charlbury, including News & Things, to such an extent that several businesses have closed."

A previous application was turned down three years ago because "it had not been demonstrated that other retail uses of the greater benefit to the rural community were not viable".

In turn, "the applicants were advised that [...] they had to demonstrate that the shop unit was not viable by effectively marketing the shop over a penod of at least a year, and that the marketing exercise had generated little realistic prospect of it being sold as a going concern or for other retail purposes and trading styles". The business has been on the market since.

The current application argues that there will be no loss to Charlbury from closing the business, and indeed that removing competition will help other businesses prosper. "The Co-op sells all the items stocked by News & Things apart from the provision of the cafe and stocking stationery. Stationery can be purchased at the Post Office, cards and wrapping paper are supplied by the Post Office and Cotswold Frames. Alternative cafes are situated next door in The Good Food Shop and the new coffee lounge at the newly refurbished Bell Hotel. Newspaper delivenes are also provided by Fiveways Londis Store."

The full application can be seen at www.westoxon.gov.uk by searching for application 10/0778/P/FP in the Planning Applications section. Comments against or in support of the application should be sent to jon.westerman@westoxon.gov.uk .

Richard Fairhurst · Mon 28 Jun 2010, 13:53 · Link

£420.30 raised for Oxford Air Ambulance

Thank you to everyone who helped us raise a great total for Oxford Air Ambulance at last Saturday's Coffee Morning at the Corner House. Hope you enjoy all your cakes, biscuits and crafts.

See you next time.
Pippa Nash, Charlbury Baptist Church.

Mon 28 Jun 2010, 13:48 · Link

Bike stolen from Crawborough

My newly serviced Pioneer bike (white and mauve hybrid mountain) was stolen from my driveway in Crawborough this week and has been reported to Police.

Christine Elliott · Sat 26 Jun 2010, 09:35 · Link

Big thankyou

Many thanks to everyone who bought a raffle ticket for the giant England Bear in aid of 'Special Effect' Charity
No.1121004 www.specialeffect.org.uk
We sold 81 tickets @ £1.00 each and with some additional donations raised a total of £82.43 all of which goes to this great charity.
The winning ticket was bought by a Mrs Wilson from Charlbury and was over the moon by her win.
Many thanks again to everyone who supported this raffle.

Sun 20 Jun 2010, 13:15 · Link

Sustainble Charlbury at the Riverside Festival this weekend

Sustainable Charlbury will have a stand at the Riverside Festival this weekend - at the Mill Field, Mill Lane, off Dyers Hill, B4437, in Charlbury - to promote the idea of thinking about energy use and food.

We'll be there from 12 to 7pm Saturday and 11 to 6pm Sunday - and both days from 2-4pm we'll be doing so by selling BICYCLE POWERED SMOOTHIES!

We hope to see you there at this free event!

Fri 18 Jun 2010, 22:32 · Link

Meet the manager at Charlbury Station

William Crossley writes: "At very short notice, First Great Western and Network Rail are holding meet the manager events this week to talk about redoubling and other issues people want to raise.

"The one at Charlbury station is tomorrow, ie Tuesday, June 15, from 5pm to 8pm.

"They will be at Kingham on Wednesday morning from 6am to 9am and also at Ascott-under-Wychwood ahead of the 7.44am departure."

Richard Fairhurst · Mon 14 Jun 2010, 15:40 · Link

Get your bike serviced for the summer

Is your bicycle sitting in the shed slowly rusting away, with worn-out brakes and a squeaky chain? At the Farmers Market this Saturday, you can get it serviced for a bargain price.

Sustainable Charlbury and the Charlbury Cycling Group have arranged for professional bike mechanics to offer a discount service. For £15 - half the usual price of a service - they will fix the most common problems on bikes and let you know if any extra work is necessary.

The Farmers Market starts at 9am on Saturday and runs all morning, so come along and follow the signs.

Members of Sustainable Charlbury and the Charlbury Cycling Group will also be on hand to answer your questions about cycling, safe and picturesque local routes, cycle holidays and more.

Richard Fairhurst · Tue 8 Jun 2010, 07:46 · Link

Giant England Bear Raffle in aid of local "Special Effect" Charity

Support England in the World Cup in style with this Giant England Bear and help support a fantastic local Charity at the same time.
Tickets £1.00 each
Draw to take place on Sat 19th June @4pm
England bear donated by Cotswold Frames all proceeds from this raffle go to
Special Effect • The old Bakery • Sheep St • Charlbury • www.specialeffect.org.uk
Tickets only available from
Cotswold Frames • Market St • Charlbury • 01608 811805

Mon 7 Jun 2010, 09:45 · Link

Charlbury Circular Walk this Saturday 5th June

We are doing the Charlbury Circular walk through the Wychwood on Saturday. The group meets at 11.40 at the railway station car park. The walk is about nine miles going through Walcot, Chilson, Wychwood Forest, Finstock and back to Charlbury.

The walk is featured on Countryside 2010 see here
www.countryside2010.org.uk/events/poetry-and-pictures-walk

Thu 3 Jun 2010, 09:58 · Link

Jazz Lunch tickets on sale - hurry or they will all go!

To celebrate the 12th Street Fair Open Gardens, we are holding a JAZZ LUNCH—so come along early for a cool, relaxed, Jazz Lunch with Alan Fraser & Friends in The Memorial Hall at 12.30 pm on Sunday 6th June.

Numbers are limited for the lunch to 60 and tickets will be sold outside the Corner House on Saturday 5th June during the morning - only £10 - bargain! You can also contact Vic Allison directly at vic.allison@btinternet.com for tickets.

Susie Finch · Wed 2 Jun 2010, 23:42 · Link

Food waste collection coming this autumn

Charlbury's waste collections are finally catching up with the rest of the world with a new system starting this autumn.

There will be four collections:

• a new free weekly food waste collection - for cooked and uncooked foods
• a fortnightly free garden waste collection
• weekly recycling ‘black box’ collections for eight different types of materials including paper, cardboard, tins, cans, plastics, aerosols, batteries, aluminium foil, textiles and shoes.
• fortnightly household waste collections alternating with the garden waste collection

The changes will take effect with the appointment of a new contractor, May Gurney, by West Oxfordshire District Council. WODC believes it will double the current recycling rate. Information will be sent to households this summer.

(Picture by MamaPyjama at Flickr.com, CC-BY licence.)

Richard Fairhurst · Tue 1 Jun 2010, 19:32 · Link