Local Notices and Updates

AGE UK Winter Hub

Age UK have brought together some useful information and resources in the form of an online Winter Hub - please share this resource with both older people and those supporting them this winter. https://www.ageuk.org.uk/oxfordshire/about-us/winter-hub/

 

Free electric blanket tests coming to Oxfordshire this autumn

Read on Oxfordshire County Council’s news webpage, or below:

Oxfordshire residents are being encouraged to take up the offer of a free electric blanket check, part of Oxfordshire County Council’s programme to ensure everyone is safe, as well as warm, this winter.  The electric blanket tests are normally very popular, with places limited. Therefore, they must be pre-booked by phoning 01865 895999 or emailing duty.officer@oxfordshire.gov.uk

The full list of dates and locations is provided below. The actual address and a specific time slot will be provided at time of booking:

September 2023                                                                                          October 2023

• Monday 18 September – Oxford City                                              Monday 2 October – Oxford City
• Tuesday 19 September – South Oxfordshire                                  Tuesday 3 October – South Oxfordshire
• Wednesday 20 September – Cherwell                                            Wednesday 4 October – Cherwell
• Thursday 21 September – West Oxfordshire                                  Thursday 5 October – West Oxfordshire
• Friday 22 September – Vale of White Horse                                   Friday 6 October – Vale of White Horse

Shelley Edwards, Senior Community Engagement Officer for Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team, explains:  "If the condition of a blanket is allowed to deteriorate there is the possibility it could become faulty, risking injury and fire.  “We want to ensure that electric blankets are still safe for use. So, come along and encourage any elderly neighbours to attend too. It is better to be safe than sorry.  “The tests are free, as are the refreshments but remember to pre-book!”

Testing electric blankets has taken place in Oxfordshire for over 20 years. The failure rate is still around 30 per cent, emphasising why it is so important to get electric blankets checked regularly.

 

NEW NEED FOR PHOTO ID AT THE POLLING STATION

From now on photo id will be required in order to cast your vote at the polling station, not simply your polling card.  For those who do not have acceptable id (passport, driving licence etc) there is a scheme to apply for a voting id.  Please see the poster below for more information.

 

SCHOOL AGED IMMUNISATION TEAM

Please see below a poster from the SAIS Team, they provide a service for all school age children, including the home schooled.

 

PARALYMPIC STORY

The latest event, where members of the community were invited to commit their memories to film, was very successful.  We will bring you news of any more events in the future - please see below: 

I know you will now be looking ahead to the holidays and planning days out with your families. With this in mind, I would like to invite you to join us at our The Family Fun Day on Friday 28th July at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Aylesbury.  The day is designed to celebrate the end of the Stories from Buckinghamshire project and the 75th anniversary of the very first Paralympic competition and there is lots of free entertainment going on during the afternoon including an exclusive look at our new App Trail.  Please do share the flyers with your contacts.  Everyone is welcome.

 

CHECKING YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR PENSION CREDITS 

Please find below some documents to help with finding out more about your eligibility for help in these difficult times.  You can find a pension calculator here - https://benefitscheck.ageuk.org.uk/Home/Start/ 

 

SCHOOL ADMISSIONS INFORMATION FOR RECEPTION APPLICATIONS

It is now time for parents and carers of children born between 1 September 2018 and 31 August 2019 to apply for a school place.

The primary application web page which has all the information you need plus a link to the online application form can be found here: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/primaryadmissions

The School Admissions Team can be contacted direct on 0345 241 2487 or at admissions.schools@oxfordshire.gov.uk if you require any further help.

The deadline for receipt of completed school applications for Reception is 15 January 2023.

Please see the poster below.

 

COULD YOU BE A FIX-MY-STREET SUPER USER?

OCC are looking for people who have the time to walk around their village regularly and report any problems with the highway (potholes, kerb damage etc) to the online Fix-My-Street service.  Please see the poster and information sheet below.

 

 

 

 

AGE UK SCAM PROTECTION SCHEME

For details of the scheme please see the document below.

 

Free Electric Blanket Testing

It's that time of year again.  A poster giving full details is attached below.

 

A Guide to Broadband Costs

Choose is an organisation looking at the cost of social broadband, given the serious effects of being unable to access online activities.  They have compiled a full guide to the social broadband tariffs available in the UK, which is kept regularly updated.  

 

Thames Water Priority Services

To support their customers TW provide a free priority services register, to find out more go to https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help-and-advice/customer-commitment/priority-services.  TW recommend that in the event of an emergency they try to deliver bottled water to the most vulnerable but that anyone at-risk and/or self-isolating who needs water supplying to them reaches out to friends, family members or neighbours to help.  Those with a pre-existing health condition or mobility issue, or with nobody to help them, should join the register at the link above.

 

Finmere Landfill Site

There are revised contact details for reporting of concerns over odour issues from the Landfill site.  Please contact: 

Incident Hotline - 0800 807060

or if there are health concerns:

Dr Anand Fernandes, Thames Valley Health Protection Unit, John Eccles House, Robert Robinson Avenue, Oxford Science Park, Oxford, OX4 4GP – Tel: 0845 279 9879.

To view updates on this issue from Victoria Prentis MP please visit https://www.victoriaprentis.com/campaigns/finmere-landfill-facility 

 

Comet Bus Service Replacement

ABILITY COMMUNITY BUS

This service will replace the Comet Community Bus Service, which has been suspended for some time due to covid.

• There will be two routes as per the Comet service so:
• Souldern, Fritwell, Fewcott, Ardley, Bucknell, Chesterton, Bicester
• ​Cottisford, Mixbury, Finmere (The Red Lion pub, so technically Little Tingewick), Newton Purcell, Hethe, Hardwick, Stoke Lyne, Bicester

• Both services will operate on a Friday to accommodate market day in Bicester (a Monday service can also be added if there is demand for it)
• Unlike Comet, which was a “turn up and go”, it’s an “on demand” service, so users book, which means it is more like a shared taxi service, which has a number of advantages over the Comet model.
• The service is operated by Ability, a not-for-profit community interest company.
• It is free of charge to holders of a concessionary bus pass.
• Unlike Comet, there is no cost to the parish council
• You can see their website here
• The service will start on a 4-week trial basis on July 16th 

 

 

Proposed Local Road Closures

News of any proposed local road closures will be posted here.

MERE ROAD CLOSURE

Mere Rd is to be closed very shortly until the 29th of September in order for Thames Water to fix a visible leak.

News of traffic lights on Sandpit Hill and Mere Rd - from the 25th of September for 20 working days there will be 2 and 3 way traffic lights on the eastern end of Mere Rd and 2 way traffic lights on Sandpit Hill while a new foul sewer pipeline is connected to the proposed garage site at the roundabout.