News

Reverse Advent Calendar

Reverse Advent Calendar is a way of bringing Christmas hope to homeless people in Oxford. Every day of Advent place an item into the box. This year the Churches Together in Charlbury are coordinating reverse advent calendars in aid of the Porch, Steppin’ Stone Centre, Oxford. Wrapped boxes are available in St Mary’s Church or you can use your own. Please bring your filled box to St Mary’s between Christmas Eve and the middle of January.

Here is a list of useful items to include and this is available in the churches. 

Many thanks for joining in with this initiative. 

Jo Paton · Tue 19 Nov, 09:21 · Link

The Playing Close

Many people will be unaware that the roadway at the top of the Playing Close is a private  road and not part of the highways network.

It is owned by the Thomas Gifford Trust, Recent emergency gas works on Pooles Lane have resulted in it becoming a diversionary route to the Spendlove site and Coop shop.

While this is only temporary, the trustees of the TGT are aware of the difficulties being caused by some members of the public who are regularly parking on this roadway because there is no space on the Spendlove site.

The TGT trustees confirm that this is a private road and ask that people respect the rights of the residents who live along it.

Phil Morgan · Mon 18 Nov, 13:12 · Link

Latest planning applications to West Oxfordshire District Council

The following planning applications have recently been lodged. Click on the address to see full details at the WODC website.

• 6 Wychwood Close Charlbury
  First floor side extension
  WODC reference: 19/02923/HHD - Fri 18 Oct 2019 - Under consideration
• 6 Ditchley Road Charlbury
  Erection of single storey rear extension.
  WODC reference: 19/02891/HHD - Wed 16 Oct 2019 - Under consideration
• The Gables 10 Enstone Road Charlbury
  Demolition of the existing garage and studio flat and the construction of a new sustainable 2 bedroom cottage
  WODC reference: 19/02855/FUL - Thu 14 Nov 2019 - Under consideration

Mon 18 Nov, 06:15 · Link

Charlbury Angling Club

The club would like to thank Elaine, formerly Post Office and Larcums , for acting as our ticket agent for many years. We are very grateful that Tim at Cotswold Frames has kindly agreed to continue our ticket sales. For information about the club please call Jane Parsons on 01608 810822.

Jane Parsons · Sun 17 Nov, 12:54 · Link

Rail service disrupted

Due to flooding between Moreton-in-Marsh and Worcester, Charlbury’s train service is significantly disrupted.

A shuttle service is running every two hours between Oxford and Charlbury/Moreton. There are no trains on to Worcester. GWR is advising people not to travel if at all possible.

Service update: https://www.gwr.com/travel-updates/live-network-updates

Live departure board: http://www.livedepartureboards.co.uk/fgw/summary.aspx?T=CBY

Richard Fairhurst · Fri 15 Nov, 13:24 · Link

General Election candidates for the Witney constituency

Three candidates are standing in the Witney constituency, which includes Charlbury, in the forthcoming General Election:

• Charlotte Hoagland (Liberal Democrat)
• Robert Courts (Conservative)
• Rosa Bolger (Labour)

The election is on December 12th and Charlbury’s polling station will be the Memorial Hall as usual.

Richard Fairhurst · Fri 15 Nov, 10:25 · Link

Little Monkeys cake sale.

The children from Little Monkeys will be out and about tomorrow (Friday) selling cakes to local businesses to raise money for children in need and team Anna. If you see us please do stop and have a chat and buy a cake! Thank you x

Karen Cox · Thu 14 Nov, 19:45 · Link

20mph limit approved

Oxfordshire County Council has approved the proposed 20mph scheme for central Charlbury.

The new 20mph speed limit will cover all the minor roads between Park Street (starting south of the Pre-School), Hixet Wood, Dancers Hill, Enstone Road, and Market Street; plus the area around the Enstone Road crossroads, exit from Hundley Way, and Ditchley Road. The 30mph limit will be extended further along Banbury Hill to encourage drivers to slow well in time for the 20mph limit, while improving crossing safety for pedestrians following the walking route.

The public consultation saw 74 responses to the scheme, of which 70 were in favour and four against. One of the objections was from Thames Valley Police, who were opposed to a 20mph limit being applied to the area around Hundley Way, and to it being applied to the area around the Pre-School.

The OCC officers reported that “a number of responses requested that the proposed 20mph limit be extended to other roads, in particular on the Slade… while not ruling out the extension of the limit to other roads, these would require additional supporting measures on account of the current speeds on these roads, for which at present there is no funding”. Considering further options for traffic calming and reduction on roads such as the Slade and Spelsbury Road is likely to be a task for groups such as the Town Council’s traffic committee in the upcoming months and years.

Richard Fairhurst · Thu 14 Nov, 12:49 · Link

CRAG announces a new recipe book and its annual donations

CRAG (Charlbury Refugee Action Group) has just celebrated its upcoming café in St Mary's by publishing a second recipe book.

The lunch recipes that the CRAG cooks create are so popular that they scale them down for use at home, and the first collection, The Full Mezze, has sold nearly 100 copies.

The second collection, Fantastic Five, is released on Saturday at the café in St Mary's, when you can taste the wonderful creations as well as buy the recipes. The two booklets will be on sale at £3 each, or £5 the pair. ('Think Christmas prezzies!' says their designer, Floss.)

You'll be sampling five fabulously warming one-pot plant-based dishes from around the world: South Indian Curry, Brazilian Feijoada, Russian Stroganoff, Mexican Chilli, and North African Couscous.

The café is open from 11 for coffee, cake and tea – and from 12 for lunch and teas as well. (More information on the events page at https://www.charlbury.info/events/6706)

At its recent AGM, CRAG announced total donations to refugee causes of £11,806 in the year ending August 31. £6837 of this came from the Sunday tea concerts. The group plans to increase its future income by encouraging donors to sign up for Gift Aid, for which it is now eligible.

Jon Carpenter · Wed 13 Nov, 11:31 · Link

Charlbury's Christmas Fair, Sunday 24th November

We have some fabulous stallholders coming to the Christmas Fair next Sunday (24th November). Lots of items have been handmade by artisans using all sorts of materials, from wood and glass to resin and fabric - so do come along to support this event, put on by Street Fair, all in aid of the Corner House and Memorial Hall. 

Santa will be coming from 11am until 1pm with a sack full of gifts for the little ones, and there will be refreshments including hotdogs, sausage rolls, cakes, mulled wine, tea and coffee, etc. We will also be holding a raffle which will include prizes donated by the stallholders, so definitely don't miss that either!

We look forward to welcoming you to our annual Christmas Fair.

Nikki Frankum · Tue 12 Nov, 20:18 · Link