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The Link Sandford-on-Thames VILLAGE FETE page 3 and 5 Summer 2016 CHURCH NEWS Issue 142 STOP PRESS New date for River Run page 4 FLOWER A SANDFORD FESTIVAL CEILIDH page 4 GRENOBLE ROAD DEVELOPMENT page 10 page 7 New WOMEN’S INSTITUTE page 11 Ministry team: Robert Morgan (Lower Farm, 748848) (priest-in-charge); Teresa Morgan (associate priest); Liz Shatford (772598) and Brian Andrews (lay ministers). Church Wardens: Anne Pitson. Sue Bradshaw. Director of Music Christian Bradley. www.sandfordchurch.org.uk Sunday services: 10.0 a.m. 6.30 p.m. Parish Communion Evening prayer Bible study: Fridays fortnightly at 5.0 p.m. and by arrangement. Prayer at Vale House St Andrew’s has been given an opportunity to be responsible each week for one of the 20 minute prayer slots at Vale House, and are forming a rota of those who would like to lead this, once every few weeks, at 6.0 pm on Mondays. Would anyone keen to be involved please ring the vicar at 748848, who is coordinating this list. Prayer for and with the sick is a high Christian priority and we welcome the strengthening of links between the parish and the care homes in our area. Thankfulness ‘We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life’ – this means being thankful for the gift of life itself and it’s the first step in being religious. And it is total – none of that ‘up to a point’ or with qualifications. And it gives us the courage to go on living when times are hard. Being thankful for our life includes all the life around us and it’s being positive about life. The central Christian worship is therefore called ‘Eucharist’ = Giving thanks, and a central Christian commitment is to protecting the good creation, our environment. Religions provide meanings and motivations to do what is necessary and right to combat the damage we are doing to the planet. Alice sermon: the excellent Alice sermon preached by Rev. Anne Kiggell at the Lewis Carroll Evensong on Whitsunday, can be read on the church website: www.sandfordchurch.org.uk -2- New date for the River Run: © David Abse Saturday 16th July, 4.40 registration for 5.0 start on the recreation ground. To give you an extra 22 days to prepare for the most important sporting event of the year. A Message from the Sandford YPG We are having a GRAND OPENING of the new playground in the Recreation Park and YOU are invited to celebrate with us! Please come along whether you’re a toddler or an adult, everyone is welcome to try out our incredible new equipment. There will be cake, games and other fundraising events!! The opening is on 4th June at 10.30 so please come along to support the Youth Playground Group! Thank you to everyone for making this happen. ST ANDREW’S FLOWER FESTIVAL on the theme of ‘Children’s Books’ Contact the fete committee at [email protected] or visit the following pages: www.facebook.com/SandfordVillageFete or www.sandfordfete.moonfruit.com will be open Saturday 25th June: 10.0 – 6.0 Sunday 26th June:: 11.30 – 6.0 Services on Sunday 26th: 10.0 Parish Communion 6.30 p.m. Festival Evensong with green sermon -3- -4- The Link’s food critic writes: I recently went with a friend for Sunday lunch at the Sandford café. The room was welcoming and colourful, and since it was a beautiful day we had the choice of eating outside or inside. My companion chose a big bowl of Moroccan chicken soup, which she reported to be excellent, and I had a pulled pork and apple sauce bap with salad, which was seriously delicious. On a previous visit we had homemade fish pie and lasagne, both much appreciated. We could have had beer, wine or a range of fruit juices to go with it, and there was a superb range of homemade cakes which we steadfastly resisted, as well as Sunday newspapers, which we didn’t. It really is a great place if you want to avoid cooking or just want somewhere to call in for a cup of tea after a Sunday walk. And when the new playground will open (soon) it will be a huge bonus for families with children of any age. It’s a great addition to the village and thoroughly recommended. OPEN EVERY SUNDAY 11.0 – 4.0 in Talking Shop, Sandford Village Hall Contact the fete committee at [email protected] or visit the following pages: www.facebook.com/SandfordVillageFete or www.sandfordfete.moonfruit.com DISCOVER THE BENEFITS of ALOE VERA with FOREVER LIVING PRODUCTS * Extensive range from Health Drinking Gel to gorgeous Skincare products * 60-day satisfaction or your money back guarantee Phone NOW for more details on 07977 155849 -6-5- A Sandford Ceilidh A Barn Dance in aid of Tandem Mental Health Befriending Charity 8-11 pm on Friday 1st July in Sandford Village Hall with music by Chameleons with Caller Pete North Adults £10 Students/people on benefits/children 6-17 £5 Children 5 and under free Bar and Raffle Reserve a ticket from [email protected] or buy at the door Tandem Restore, Manzil Way, Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 4XH www.tandembefriending.org.uk Registered charity no. 1078112 -7- TALKING SHOP DIARY Talking Shop’s Shop: At the moment the Shop is open on Mondays and Fridays from 9.30 to 4.30pm. We have the papers, milk, butter, cheese, yoghurts, cream, tins, household essentials, beer & wine, tins, cereals & more… On Fridays the café is open too. Great home made soups, delicious sandwiches, home baking, tea & coffee. Lunch until 2pm. Cakes all day! We want the shop to be what you need it to be, so if you see something missing on our shelves, let us know. Talking Shop in the week Mon: Shop open 9.30am – 4.30pm Knit & Stitch, drop-in from 10-midday & Garden Team session Tues: Table Tennis drop-in, from 5.30-7.30pm in the main village hall Wed: First Wednesday in the month, lunch club, 12.30 07984 366504 Third Wednesday, Food Surplus Cafe 12.30 - 2.30, just drop-in. Fri: Shop open 9.30am – 4.30pm Plus Lunch Café until 2pm, cakes & drinks until 4.30pm Sat: The Market, Breakfast Café & The Shop open from 9am to midday Sun: Clive’s cafe 11am-4pm * Plus we have a great bike mechanic team - new members very welcome. * June Workshops Turning Old Shirts into Beautiful Aprons We will be working with local artist Biddy Hudson to sew old shirts into beautiful aprons. 8th & 22nd June. Places limited. Please get in touch as soon as possible if you are interested. Email Abi on [email protected] or call 07989 503657 -8- Buying a lot more than a pint of milk . . . A weekday corner shop & cafe would be much more than just a shop: * access to vital services and support for vulnerable residents * somewhere for a friendly conversation * AND somewhere to pick up milk without the car when you run out. Community Shops are very successful business models & cafes make them even more so. Our Village Shop could be a thriving community-owned business, providing income to sustain the whole project & generating surpluses for wider community resources. Over the past 5 years Talking Shop raised vital funds that made the hall redevelopment & the new playground possible. With a shop we could do more of this. Start-up Funds are needed to open Talking Shop through the week. That’s why there is the community share offer. More like a donation or a longer term loan than a commercial share offer, it is kick-starter funding. A way for lots of people to put in a bit, adding up to a lot. WE CAN DO IT... Anyone can be an investor More like a long term loan or a donation The minimum investment is £100 We need £25k COMMUNITY FUNDING. We’ve got £22,300 pledged already That’s just 27 more investors at £100 & we hit our target! www.sandfordtalkingshop.org Sandford websites sandford-on-thames.webplus.net/ www.sandfordchurch.org.uk https://talkingshopsandford.wordpress.com/ www.sandfordtalkingshop.org www.sandfordfete.moonfruit.com www.facebook.com/SandfordVillageFete -9- Gowan Hunt Painter and decorator. Quality work assured. 15 Egerton Road, OX4 4JF 01865 777653 07729 157799 [email protected] Battle starts again for Grenoble Road See map on back page of the Link The Campaign to Protect Rural England writes: Savills have submitted a Scoping Opinion for a 3,500 house development in the Green Belt south of Oxford. Almost since the Oxford Green Belt was established, Oxford City Council has been trying to expand out over it, particularly on land it owns in the Grenoble Road area to the south of the City, which is under the jurisdiction of South Oxfordshire District Council. At one point, the site was even allocated for development in the South East Plan until a successful legal challenge from CPRE Oxfordshire forced its withdrawal. Now, the battle has started again. On behalf of Magdalen College and Thames Water (and no doubt Oxford City Council in due course), Savills has submitted a Scoping Opinion for a 3,500 house development in the area, badged as 'South Oxford Garden Neighbourhood'. Of course the recent Oxfordshire Green Belt Study found that all land within the Oxford Green Belt fulfilled at least one of the purposes of the Green Belt, and this area was rated high (very valuable) against the key function of protecting open countryside from urban sprawl and scored well on other criteria. CPRE Oxfordshire believes that a housing development at Grenoble Road would be an unjustifiable desecration of the permanence and openness of the Oxford Green Belt. A Scoping Opinion is the first formal step in the planning application process and sets out the issues the applicant proposes to consider in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). We believe that as it stands the proposed EIA would be fundamentally flawed. The Scoping Report fails to set out an appropriate methodology for assessing landscape and visual impacts and historic landscape character, and says it will not consider key issues such as waste disposal and geology. For those interested, the full scoping opinion request can be seen on the South Oxfordshire District Council website by searching for planning application P16/S1196/SCO, and the full SPRC response can be found on http://www.cpreoxon.org.uk/news See also page 26 for OXRAG -10- SANDFORD ON THAMES WI meets every second Thursday of each month at 7.30PM in the village hall ALL WELCOME BECOME A MEMBER. YOU CAN JOIN ON THE NIGHT (Annual subscription: £37.50) Please phone Jill (07900 907477) or Carole (07876 701151) for more information Dear Readers, I'm sure that you know that the Women's Institute has been running in parts of England and Wales for 101 years next month. Membership is well over 210000 of all ages from 18 years upwards. The timing of the meetings varies from Institute to Institute, according to the needs of the members. Each Institute is a charity in its own right, the Committee members being the Trustees, but answerable to our Oxfordshire Federation and the National Federations of Women's Institutes and, of course, to the Charities Commission. Some years ago Sandford-on-Thames did have a WI, and we are delighted to have this opportunity to re-start with new energy and enthusiasm. Our first meeting was really well attended, with lots of ideas and suggestions. We do not intend to follow the quote in the Daily Telegraph recently, ‘Bo y Scouts for oldies’. Rather, for our WI, once we have dealt with the official side, it can be what we, the members, want it to be. I hope that you will all play your part, with ideas, help, organizing activities, trips out, improving and learning new skills and of course fund raising. Also a place for fun, laughter and where the worries and strains of life can take a back seat for a while. Jill Love -11- SANDFORD FILM CLUB Over the past year, following initial soundings, a group of us have been exploring whether there is an interest in forming a film club in the village. An ad hoc steering group (Hamish Aird, Pam and Brian Andrews, Maggie Campbell, Liz Shatford, Prue Sykes, and myself) was formed to look at possibilities. We explored practical issues such as the venue, equipment, licensing etc. and obtained helpful advice from relevant national organisations, and local film groups. Our experience has shown that there is an interest, to the extent that we have now held twelve meetings on the evenings of the first Thursday of each month. One of the upstairs rooms in the village hall has a projector and screen, and we have been able to buy a reasonable sound system. The room comfortably accommodates up to twenty five people. The system so far has been that anyone interested in attending puts their name down on a list held by Prue, who is acting as secretary. The steering group meets every few weeks and selects four possible films for each month. We have decided to group them into genres, - for example, comedies, thrillers, foreign films from selected countries, classic award winners, etc. etc. in order to make the chosen four films comparable. This list is then made available at the next film night and circulated by email to those who have declared an interest. We also welcome suggestions from any of our regular attenders. There is not at present a formal membership and no charges are made. Wine is available and a suggested donation of £4 has been agreed to pay for this. There is also the cost of hiring the room, and bring a small income to the Village Hall. A small surplus has been achieved. So far all the films have been in private ownership, so that there are no hiring costs, or regulations to be fulfilled. Between ten and twenty people have been attending regularly. There is always a friendly buzz which often leads on to a brief discussion of the film at the end of the evening. The steering group feel that the experiment has been sufficiently successful to have taken the next step, which is to acquire a licence from Film Bank. This will enable us to widen the scope of what we can do. As well as the possibility of hiring films, Film Bank also provides advice and help with equipment. It should now be possible to be more ambitious, and hold larger film shows using the main part of the Village Hall. It will provide another opportunity for the Sandford village community to get together. One idea we are discussing is holding a village film show in conjunction with one of the Talking Shop events. The steering group would welcome expressions of interest from anyone who would like to join us, and help this venture develop in the best way. Peter Agulnik 15th May 2018 -12- Have you invested in the Sandford Hydro Project yet? 10 good reasons to invest in Low Carbon Hub’s 2016 community energy share offer 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. It makes 19 new renewables projects happen in Oxfordshire. You get a good return, projected at a bank-beating 5%. Investments start at £250. Renewables are the future*. It puts energy ownership in the hands of local people. It supports Low Carbon Hub's pioneering mission to power a new energy system in Oxfordshire with community-owned renewables. Low Carbon Hub reinvests 100% of their own surplus, via a community benefit fund, in that mission. The shares can qualify for inheritance tax exemption. If we don't choose it, we won't get it. It is a positive investment in a cleaner, greener energy system we can all feel good about. To find out more go to www.lowcarbonhub.org/invest SANDFORD’S FOOD SURPLUS CAFÉ Every third Wednesday 12.30 – 2.30 Recent Wildlife Highlights from Sandford.... The guided wildlife walk I led on 10 April for 13 locals enjoyed dry weather and lots of springtime wildlife. Due to the late spring the Snakes-head Fritillaries at Iffley Meadows were not at their peak but there were still 'thousands' to enjoy. The postponed annual count later in the month produced an impressive total of 45,500. Nearer to home I counted a peak of 38 fritillaries flowering on Heyford Meadow. The official county flower of Oxfordshire is thriving in the meadows bordering the Thames. April and May is always an exciting time for wildlife watching as there is something new to see and enjoy everyday. My local bird highlights included a singing Nightingale, nowadays a very scarce species, for a couple of days at the end of Heyford Hill Lane and a Short-eared Owl hunting over the Kennington Meadows. As spring continues and with the onset of summer I will enjoy monitoring the success of the volunteer group's habitat management work at Heyford Meadow. With luck a Barn Owl nestbox should be erected on the reserve and we will hope the local birds will adopt it as their new home. Colin Williams Volunteers Local communities depend on volunteers and Sandford has a good record here as both Talking Shop and the Church illustrate. More are always needed, most immediately to help with the fete for a part (e.g. 2 hours) of Saturday afternoon, 25th June, and St Andrew’s is looking for reinforcements to both its cleaning and its grass-cutting teams – e.g. a couple of hours once in three months. On the Fete please contact the Fete committee ([email protected]) and for church cleaning Anne Pitson (01235526263) or vicar, and on grass Bob (748848). Thanks! Servicing to all makes Just drop in for a delicious meal, using perfectly good food that would otherwise go to waste, on a 'pay as you feel' basis (i.e. you pay what you can afford and what you think it is worth). Volunteers are needed for shifts between 9.30am-3.30pm. Shifts can be as long or short as you like. If you would like to get involved please email Richard on [email protected] or pop into the Talking Shop Friday café to chat to him. -13- T.J. Hall and Son Ltd Motor Engineers MOT testing - petrol and diesel cars - light commercials Vehicle Collection and Delivery Service Traditional Values – Modern Methods Ask about our late night opening for MOT testing Full diagnostic facilities Minor and major mechanical repairs We also offer a roadside repair service – plus 24 hour breakdown recoveries Air conditioning Engine rebuilds Cam belt changes The Garage, 46 Henley Road, Tel 01865 777344 -14- Sandford-on-Thames, OX4 4YP Sandford Basic Life Support training In April Sandford Village Hall was the venue for some basic life support training for all ages! A group of junior doctors working in the region used part of the strike day to benefit the local community by providing basic life support training. An enthuisiastic group of the local community turned up to learn how to administer CPR to adults, children and babies and also learned how to treat someone who is choking and how to use the recovery position. The afternoon session was fun for all and the enthusiastic participants felt they had learned some important skills, and were keen for further sessions in their workplaces and other community groups. The eventual aim would be to hold further sessions in Sandford with a view to also raising money for a community defibrillator to be placed at the Village Hall. Thank you to all who turned up on this occasion and to all the junior doctors who helped to teach. If you would like any further information, or if you’re interested in getting involved with the project to raise money for a community defibrillator, please email Dr. Eleanor Ford on [email protected]. And many thanks to Eleanor for organising this excellent training . . . Talking Lunch 1st Wednesday of the month 12.30 in the Village Hall Two courses £5.00 for members (plus £5.00 membership fee which secures you a place for a year); £6.50 to nonmembers: a good meal for a great price in friendly company. All grown ups welcome. Booking necessary (so we know how many to feed: ring Elaine on 01865 395771 or [email protected] SANDFORD VILLAGE HALL NEW YEAR PROGRAMME Monday 10.0 – midday Toddlers Group in the Main Hall 5.30 – 6.30 p.m. Youth Tae Kwondo with James Kumar in the Main Hall Tuesday 5.30 – 7.30 p.m. Table Tennis open session in the Main Hall 8.15 – 9.0 Powerhoop with Jane Read in the Main Hall 7.0 – 8.0 and 8.0 – 9.0 p.m. Pilates with Hen In the Main Hall Booking essential Wednesday 10.0 – 11.0 Pilates with AJ in the Main Hall 12.30 – 2.0 Talking Lunch First Wednesday in the month in the Main Hall 5.30 – 6.30 p.m. Youth Tae Kwondo with James Kumar in the Main Hall Regular Hirer Email Details: Mobile Library at Oxford Park Homes from 11.05-11.20 on alternate Thursdays, fortnightly, next stop Thursday May 26th . Toddler group - Catherine Osadczuk: [email protected] Junior Tae Kwondo - James Kumar: [email protected] Pilates with Hen - Henriette Knouwdes: [email protected] Talking Shop Table Tennis - Matt Wicks: [email protected] and Colin Williams: [email protected] Pilates with AJ - AJ Barton: [email protected] Talking Shop Lunch Club – Elaine Kimber: [email protected] Pilates with Jane Callaway - Jane Callaway: [email protected] Oxford Guitar Society - Stephen Greenslade: [email protected] Powerhoop - Jane Read: [email protected] Sandford Film Club – Prue Sykes: [email protected] Sandford WI – Jill Love 07900 907477 or Carole Tasker 07876 701151 -15- -16- SANDFORD VILLAGE HALL NEW YEAR PROGRAMME Thursday Friday Saturday 7.0 for 7.30 st 1 Thursday of the month Sandford Film Club in Meeting Room 3 11.0 – midday Pilates with Jane Callaway in the Main Hall Booking essential 9.0 – midday Talking Shop Saturday Market and Café in the Main Hall 7.30 – 9.30 p.m. Sandford WI (Second Thursday of the month) Main Hall Sunday Save your empty plastic bottles of detergents and refill with SESI brand at the Talking Shop! Here is why . . . SESI started in 2006 as a buyers group supported by our children's local primary school's PTA. With encouragement from the community, we now run a small depot, a weekly home delivery service and a weekly stall at East Oxford Famers Market. And now SESI is at Sandford Talking Shop whenever the shop and café are open. SESI is a social enterprise which supplies local and good food affordable to all. Since 2013 we refill people's own bottles with our own brand of low priced, locally made detergents in people's empty bottles of washing up, laundry liquid, multi-surface cleaner, fabric softener, toilet cleaner and skin products such as handwash liquid. So far SESI and our supporters have saved 50,000 plastic bottles from industrial recycling and landfills Our vision : To help Oxford cut food waste and industrial recycling of packaging. To make real food affordable to the majorities. 11.0 – 4.0 Sandford Café and Tea Room In Talking Shop 7.0 – 10.0 p.m. Oxford Guitar Society 2nd Sunday of the month in the Main Hall Village Hall Bookings 07759 – 890696 or [email protected] Henley Road, Sandford on Thames, Oxford OX4 4GX Telephone: (01865) 334444 . Fax: (01865) 334400 WEB http://www.four-pillars.co.uk Email: [email protected] Set in 30 acres of glorious parkland on the banks of the Thames. Junior Tae Kwondo Monday 5.30 – 6.30, Wednesday 5.30 – 6.30 in the Village Hall. A mixed, friendly group learning integrity, courtesy, perseverance, self control and indomitable spirit in a martial arts context. Ages 7 – 17 (but 5 yrs or over in the village welcome). Contact James 01865 772883 or 07721 712734 -17- Open to non residents for drinks, light meals and riverside dining. Carvery lunch on Sundays. Conferences, Weddings (including Ceremony) and private parties. Telephone 01865 334444 -18- SANDFORD ON THAMES PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2015-2016 It has been another good year for Sandford on Thames parish with the joint working of several groups over the last few years bearing fruit and we see real progress in improving the village and parish community. The Parish Council has continued to address matters raised by the Village Plan and the work of the Village Hall Committee and the Talking Shop group has greatly extended the village facilities and events available for many people. A key factor for an aspiring parish! Last July the Annual Fete Committee again provided the basis for an excellent event enjoyed by many from and around the village. It is hugely rewarding to be able to experience the progress made by all concerned. We have maintained contact with residents and local businesses over the year, seeking to ensure good relationships continue to help in bringing everyone together to support the village and surrounding parish by addressing matters of concern. As well as supporting and liaising with the Village Hall and Talking Shop groups some specific parish council initiatives have been: 1. Roads and speeding; review and prepare a paper on possible traffic calming methods and consider parking restrictions in key locations 2. Bus services concerns; respond to concerns and meet with bus company officials 3. Liaising with South Oxfordshire District and Oxfordshire County councils on parish and other matters 4. Support the Youth Play Group; a special mention to all involved with the YPG and the support they received to improve the recreation play area. (It is being redeveloped as I write - an amazing achievement for the group and in particular the youngsters and parents involved). 5. Environment group; working to create an energy source from the River Thames by installing a screw turbine at the Sandford Weir. It has been able to secure the funding, plan and commence the installation. The demise of funded bus services again reduces the potential for an affordable, regular service through the parish. Dialogue we have had with the services and authorities has unfortunately had little impact. The regular Thames Valley Police reports again indicate the parish is a low crime area, which we must applaud, although some of the residents have unfortunately been the victims of burglaries, which is a concern. Improvement to roads or footpaths has been limited due to no funding, although it remains a key topic for the parish council. Nevertheless some -19- potholes have been filled and some footpath and road improvements made here and there for which we should thank the OCC Highways Department. We have had few planning applications over the year, only one of which was contentious. The biggest challenge remains the ongoing threat by Oxford City to build thousands of dwellings in the east of the parish on greenfield land, along Grenoble Road. A formal application to ‘scope’ the area for potential development was submitted by developers in April 2016. We will monitor this with our District and County representatives. The Village Hall has increased its scope and variety of use over the year through the good work of the committee and helpers. As the Talking Shop group continues to build the ‘community hub’ providing added opportunity. I now see a more active village. A particular thanks to Charlie Wilson who stepped down in January after two years as chairman of the VHMC – and a welcome to Alice Daglish who has taken on the new role of managing the facility. Abi Johnston and all her colleagues at Talking Shop continue to amaze me. A big thank you and well done to all, especially handling the increasing demands arising from the continued development! We have opened dialogue again with the owners of the run down Janaway play area in Heyford Hill Lane and hope to agree a transfer of ownership to the parish council - along with related verges – with support funding. In Fox Furlong we discussed with residents in April a request from a housing developer to site a waste water drainage system at the rear of their houses on recreational land. Subsequently we formally refused the request. I am glad that Liz Shatford, Parish Clerk has again been diligent and committed giving much guidance and advice to many people and groups. We said goodbye to Joyce Markham who stepped down from the Parish Council after several years, including time as vice- chairman. Many thanks, Joyce, for all your help, advice and commitment, particularly with the Western Channel flood relief scheme. We welcomed Peter Addyman, Iain Geddes and Sue Lawson to the PC in May 2015 and also both Colin Colbeck and Gina Ashburner, who recently joined. All are making contributions to the affairs of the parish – and Sue has also been elected as a councillor for South Oxfordshire District Council, proving an added benefit. Thank you to councillor Loraine Lindsey-Gale of Oxfordshire County Council for her continued, important contribution and support throughout the year. Best wishes to all for the coming year. Stephen Paine, Chairman, Sandford on Thames Parish Council -20- 10 Top Tips for wildlife Gardening: 31st Sponsored Ride and Stride Saturday 10th September 2016 10.00am - 6.00pm http://www.rideandstrideuk.org/ HOME COMPUTER HELP For PC & Laptop fixes and assistance call Jim on 07854 107337 [email protected] Free assessment No fix, no fee Kevin Allen The Oxford Cake Co CARPETS AND FLOORING A mother and daughter team based in Sandford. Supplies and installs quality carpets and floor covering: Whatever the celebration, we will make a cake for it! Highest quality ingredients and free delivery to anyone within 10 miles of our address. choose a new floor in the comfort of your home. 23 Church Road, Sandford 01865 771958 07774 205505 Excellent local references 07773 710364 Life Coaching is a helpful, challenging and sometimes surprising way to help achieve your goals and overcome issues which are holding you back. Call Sandford based life and business coach John Dennis to find out more, including how to book a free taster session. M: 07584 190028 email: [email protected] Toddlers Group Every Monday from 10-12. Open all year round, except Bank Holidays. 0-4 year olds. Mums, dads, grandparents, carers welcome, craft activity every week. £1 per family, first session free! For more information ring Cath on 776320 -21- Brighten your garden with flowers that provide pollen and nectar for bees, butterflies and other insects. Wild flowers are good, but so are many garden plants. Aim to offer food for insects from spring to autumn. Valuable choices include aubrietia, forget-me-not and flowering currant for spring, lavender and thyme for summer and sedum, Michaelmas daisy and hebe for autumn. Grow a variety of trees, shrubs and climbers, or a mixed hedge, to give food and shelter. Small trees good for blossom and berries include rowan, crab apple and hawthorn. Ivy provides shelter for nesting birds, autumn flowers for nectar and winter berries for birds and small mammals. Look after mature trees in and around your garden and they’ll look after the wildlife. Mature trees are more important for wildlife than any other single factor – if your garden’s too small for big trees, get some planted in the neighbourhood, and protect those that are already there. Add water – an upturned bin-lid is a start or, better still, dig a pond. Make sure ponds have at least one gently sloping side to allow creatures an easy way out, and add lots of plants to establish a good balance. Leave a pile of dead wood in a shady spot. Any wood will do though big, natural logs are best as a home for anything from beetles to hedgehogs. Build a compost heap, which will help all your garden plants and wildlife. Compost makes for healthy soil, which is good for everything living in it and growing on it. Compost heaps also shelter many small creatures, and even some larger ones, like slug-loving slow worms. Provide food and water for birds all year round. Offering a mix of food including peanuts, sunflower hearts, seeds, kitchen scraps and fat balls, as well as natural food such as berries and seed-heads, will attract a wide range of birds. Relax! Don’t be too tidy and leave some areas undisturbed. Piles of leaves and twiggy debris tucked in a hedge bottom or out-of-the-way corner will provide shelter for frogs, mice and hedgehogs, and the seeds in dead flower heads can be valuable food. Allow a patch of grass to grow longer. This will encourage wild flowers provide shelter for small mammals and food for some butterfly caterpillars. Garden sustainably to help protect wildlife and the environment worldwide. Use chemicals only as a last resort, avoid peat, choose wood from sustainable sources, recycle all you can and save water. Colin Williams -22- Rest in peace Anita Gladwell, born 23rd February 1920, died 22nd April 2016, aged 96 Anita and James came to Church Road around 1984 in retirement following their varied careers – Anita as a fashion editor and (during the war) in MI5 and counter-espionage. They had married in 1962, years after Anita’s first husband Chris, an RAF pilot who left Denmark to help us, had been killed in a nightflying accident in 1943 (they never met again after their honeymoon). James’ work as Chairman of the Village Hall was appreciated in his Link obituary in the Spring 2003 issue, and both were active in the church and village. Anita was instrumental in setting up the monthly parish lunch called Meeting Point in the late 80sk which ran for several years. She kept in touch with friends in Sandford after moving to Exeter to be near her daughter after James’ death, and was delighted by all the new initiatives in the Village Hall, including all the lunches. She was a quiet and deeply spiritual woman, a perceptive and core member of St Andrew’s where she is still missed. We join Jemima and all the family in celebrating a remarkable life and offer our sympathies in their bereavement. Bright and sparky (and a little forgetful to the end) her last months were enriched by a wonderful carer, Ginny, who joined her in prayer each day. She postponed old age as long as possible, doing her last cartwheel on the beach on her 80th birthday and climbing her beloved Cader Idris (North Wales was special) at 89,. Her elderly and subdued dog Spindle, who had been over-active in her last Sandford years was at the funeral reception. At the funeral the John Donne prayer was included: ‘Bring us, O Lord God, at our last awakening into the house and gate of heaven to enter into that gate and dwell in that house, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; no noise nor silence, but one equal music; no fears nor hopes, but one equal possession; no ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity; in the habitations of thy glory and dominion, world without end.’ And (rather adventurously but appropriately) the Rutter setting of ‘For the beauty of the earth’. Saturday 27th to Monday 29th August at the Global Retreat Centre, Nuneham Courtenay Peace in the Park is a unique mix of music, talks, fun and meditation pavilions – all with an enchanting atmosphere of peace and relaxation in the beautiful setting of Nuneham house and garden. More information on their website: It is a free event, but you need to book your place via www.peaceintheparkfestival.org/booking/ W.Cooper Affordable Landscapes and Tree Care Restore Shop at Littlemore Mental Health Centre open 9.30 – 3.0 Mon to Fri. Trees, Hedges, Landscapes, Fencing, Turfing, Slab Work, Gravel, Wood Bark etc. Free Estimates and Advice given 01865 747194 07748 867025 Newspapers, milk, cheese, groceries, toiletries etc. Café, delicious home-made food. Run by Restore, the mental health charity in the Cowley Road. --23- -24- Welcome to Isaac and Deborah to Pheasant Walk to Nikki Whitlow to Pheasant Walk to Filip, Gosia, Tomi and Felix Swietlik to Church Road Welcome to the world to Theo James Antony Robbins, a first child to Laura Earp and Christian Robbins, and second grandson for Maurice and Rose Earp, nephew to Kerry, Richard and Chloe and a cousin to Jayden and Kenzie to Emily, born on July 5th to Duncan and Liz – a first grandchild for Diane and Colin of Rock Farm Lane. Congratulations to James and Eleanor of Church Road on their marriage on 14th May and to Professor Clare Robertson of Church Road on following up her prizewinning book on Carracci and work on Caravaggio with Rome 1600, which will surely be the art history book of the year. Baptisms Matthew James Bruce on 21st February Matthew Javier Reveco on 13th March Ava Junie Steele-Lewis on 20th March Lily Nicole Elliott on 15th May Isaac Wilde on 12th June Eco-Church All over the country churches are adjusting their priorities to insist that care for the planet and our environment is a central concern for all who believe in a good Creation wanted by the Love that is the basis of our lives. This is a concern religious people share with other humanists, even if their motivation is partly different and their expression of this priority is focussed in worship. Prayer, dance and song express believers’ joy in creation and motivate responsible living – avoiding waste, minimizing carbon footprint, giving to organizations that make life better for those less fortunate than ourselves. In tune with this priority the Church Council of St Andrew’s has been discussing our support for the low-carbon hydro-electric scheme in Sandford and also a new low-carbon (alternative energy) heating system for the church. Since the church building is a village asset supported by many who are not worshippers the PCC is keen to involve other villagers in this debate. -25- Oxford Road Action Group OXRAG is concerned about the level of traffic congestion in Littlemore: we are naturally dismayed by the proposal to build 3500 houses in Sandford. Land this end of Grenoble Road has been a key expansion target for Oxford City for many years, and it appears that they are now gearing up to try again. This on top of over 400 houses already agreed for land near the Littlemore Hospital. If you feel strongly about the level of congestion on our roads, please join us: your contact details will remain confidential to one or two core members. Sorcha Lanham [email protected] Music in Littlemore: a new singing group, Senzenina at St Mary & St Nicholas Church: 5pm every other Wednesday. Free: all are welcome. Come and sing popular songs, African songs, Sufi and other spiritual songs that represent the diversity of music in our area. Contact [email protected] Littlemore Community Fun Day Saturday 18th June: 11am-3pm at Giles Road centre Free Bouncy Castle; music by DJ Gary; children’s magician+entertainer Charlie Muddles; singers and dance groups; and lots of other really good stuff! -26- SANDFORD PARISH COUNCIL Extracts from meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday April 04 at 7.00pm in the Village Hall County Councillor’s report: Lorraine outlined the County’s proposal for a Unitary Council versus the establishment of four district quasi-unitary councils. Reports were being prepared. There was a difficulty with street lighting servicing and new arrangements were being sought. OCC had bought a ’Dragon’ which is a mobile pothole repairer which will enable potholes to be repaired more speedily. Recycling centres would open for longer hours, a new mapping tool to help HGV’s navigate to reduce impact on local communities and the Central Library has opened in temporary quarters in the Castle Precinct until it can return to Westgate . District Councillor’s report: Sue had made some progress with the Janaway playground. She has spoken to Steve Reade (Estates adoption manager for Persimmon) and Richard Howard (Miracle Design and Play Ltd) Steve Reade was going to put the Parish Council request for the proposed re-placement play equipment and transfer of the playground plus the other small parcels of land together with a commuted sum of £50,000 to cover costs and maintenance for the next 15-20 yrs. Matters for consideration 1. Annual Governance and Quarterly budget review: The annual overall review of Parish Council practice and procedures and risk assessment was undertaken. All items had been assessed and reviewed as appended, agreed and signed. The Quarterly Budget Review was undertaken, the bank reconciliation was presented and agreed to balance receipts and payments, (appended). Eugenia had once again kindly agreed to act pro bono as internal auditor. In accordance with new Government regulations section 1 of the Annual Return was completed and signed at the meeting. 2 Neighbourhood Planning – Charlotte Colver, Senior Planning Policy Officer for Neighbourhood Planning SODC attended the meeting and outlined the background to processing and funding a Neighbourhood Plan. There would be various grants available depending on the focus of the Plan; for instance whether compiling a ‘wish list’ for dedicated affordable houses or possibly identifying spaces which the village wished to adopt as ‘green’ areas. A dedicated Planning Officer would be allocated to the Neighbourhood Planning Group and also from Community First (ex ORCC) The Parish Council resolved to discuss the pros and cons and decide whether to progress further. The nearby villages of the Baldons are about a year into their Plan and Charlotte said it -27- about a year into their Plan and Charlotte said it would be possible to discuss possibly joining up with Garsington. Sandford is unusual in being a small village in the Green Belt adjacent to Oxford City and with huge pressure to build large housing estates in the Grenoble Rd area. 3. Fox Furlong rec. request for drainage easement by Vanderbilt Homes. Residents in the Pheasant Walk and Fox Furlong area were consulted for their opinion as to whether the proposal made by Vanderbilt Homes for a drainage easement over the Fox Furlong amenity area should be agreed. Seven residents attended the meeting and apologies had been received from several more plus emails and telephone calls to the Clerk. All respondents were unanimous in stating that they did not wish any works to take place. Some respondents had said that there was already an ongoing drainage problem and they were worried that an increase from the proposed development site would add to the problem. Sue agreed to question the SODC Planning Department to see whether information could be gained regarding possible impacts on Sandford from the proposed scheme. The Parish Council decided unanimously to decline Vanderbilt’s proposal. Parish Councillor Peter Addyman declared an interest and took no part in the debate. Matters raised: There was still no progress in agreeing the final account with the contractor for the hall. The ramped entrances had not been constructed or other rectification works carried out. The contractor had been asked for a meeting to settle the final account but had as yet not given a date. The Village Hall Committee had held their AGM, Charlie had stood down as Chair and Bob, the Vicar had been elected as interim chair. Other committee members are Jackie Damant, (Toddler Group representative) Steve Marsh (Treasurer) Catherine Wilde (Secretary) Hamish Aird (Regular users Manager) Prue Sykes (Church representative) Jane Parkinson (Talking Shop representative) Sue Lawson, Peter Addyman (Parish Council representatives) Malcolm Bourne, Nanda Rodriguez. Colin Colbeck gave an update on the Park Homes site. The manager has gone and the ownership has changed. Work is ongoing on proper spacing for the homes; it has taken 10yrs so far but hopefully would progress at a better rate now. Iain made a suggestion that perhaps the hotel might provide a mini bus for its customers to go into Oxford which could be used by villagers as well. Steve would investigate. -28- Extracts from Annual Meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday March 09 at 7.00pm in the Village Hall Election of Chairperson: Election of Vice Chairperson: S Paine was re-elected unanimously. G Ashburner was elected unanimously Matters arising: Gayle Wootton has now replaced Charlotte Colver as Senior Planning Policy Officer for Neighbourhood Planning SODC. A meeting will be arranged with her. Sue had spoken to various officials in Oxford City Council and the Environment Agency regarding the Vanderbilt application for a drainage easement across the Fox Furlong recreation area. The developers were now exploring the possibility of crossing the Donnington Hospital Trust land for the easement. There was also some talk of a footpath being created across the site. Steve had spoken to Jonathan Oldroyd about the possibility of a hotel/village ‘shuttle-bus’ to Oxford but Jonathan had said the hotel had no need of one because guests tended to use taxis. District Councillor’s report: Sue had contacted Steve Read, who is Persimmon’s agent, regarding the Janaway playground and asked him to expedite the requested safety measures i.e. securing the site with safety fencing, and getting an agreement for the proposed handover plus commuted charge. SODC would be looking at three key areas regarding the retrospective application for a car wash at the Catherine Wheel. These would be Environmental Impact – this could relate to such things as noise, OCC Highways – relating to traffic, Change of use – impact on the Public House. County Councillor’s report: Lorraine regretted that the year had been full of bad news thanks to massive Government cuts in funding; OCC had now been making substantial cuts in expenditure for six years and there would be more to come. There are no ‘quick win’ savings to be made now. Subsidised transport (buses) had been cut, also Children’s Centres, and some libraries services. Household waste re-cycling centres would remain open due to public demand, the County are working on their proposal for a Unitary Council and work continues on the Oxfordshire Together– Community Led Services scheme. This involves devolving some key services to Town and Parish Councils. Matters for consideration 1. Toddler Group request for funding: Jackie Damant, Chair of the Toddler Group, presented the Group’s request for assistance in meeting their -29- 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. annual costs, mainly the fee for hire of the village hall on Monday meetings throughout the year. The parish council had always supported groups such as the Toddlers Group, which was a long standing and thriving resource for the village. It was agreed to pay £600 towards the hire fee. Clerk would arrange the payment directly with the hall treasurer. To agree Part 2 Audit return 2015/2016: Completed sections 2 and 4 of the Annual Return were presented to the meeting, approved and signed. Eugenia was once again thanked for her generous and valuable work as pro bono internal auditor for the Parish Council, especially as the work had proved more complicated during the last two years due to the village hall development, which was not yet completed and the new playground in the recreation ground. To agree compulsory Government Pension Scheme provider for May 2017 onwards: It was agreed that the Clerk should investigate using the Government’s Saving Scheme NEST as a pension provider for the future. The present Clerk would not be enrolling in the scheme. To confirm Clerk’s hours of work and salary entitlement. It was agreed unanimously to apply the latest NALC/SLCC pay scale for the job i.e. L.C.1 scale point 25 at 8.5hrs per week from April 01 2016. To receive preliminary costings report on road lining: Steve had received figures for different configurations of lines to control parking in key points in the village. It was noted that a large element of the expense was caused by the legal arrangements. A discussion was deferred until the next meeting due to time constraints and also there was no money allocated in this year’s budget. There was a discussion on the best placing for bus stop road lining at the Catherine Wheel because at times the driveway to no.42 was being obstructed due to car parking shortening the area available for the bus and Steve agreed to meet David Bellchamber on site to test the optimum position for the lining. Parish Council Insurance: The three year agreement with Came and Company had now ended and it was agreed that the insurance for the year would continue to be arranged through Came and Co. They had obtained three quotations and they recommended Ecclesiastical which was the lowest price and which offered the proper cover. It was agreed that payment could be by BACS. Clerk would request a firm proposal figure which would include the new play equipment. -30- Planning: P16/S1163/FUL: Catherine Wheel, Alteration of use to shared use with a hand car wash business: There had been many negative representations made to parish councillors from residents in different parts of the village regarding this development and the council decided unanimously that the retrospective application be refused on the grounds that it is an unsuitable development in an already stressed residential area of the village. Highways problems have increased, pub customers are having to park on the roadside which is already heavily used, there is a bottle neck caused at times by potential customers seeking to enter the site. The machines are noisy when in use and waste water from the car washing sometimes flows across the pavement and down the road entering the surface water drainage system. There is increased noise in the area during hours of operation and the development plus signage does nothing to enhance the attractiveness of the Catherine Wheel but has decreased it both visually and by removing car parking on site until 7.00pm. P16/S1353/HH: Burra Close, Demolish single storey extension & replace with new: The council agreed that there was no comment to be made. Proposal for development of Grenoble Road Green Belt (see page ??) Matters raised: Gina reminded those present that the Talking Shop had reached a five year anniversary since inception and there would be a celebration in the hall at the Saturday Market. Colin reported that there had be incidences of unauthorised car parking and dumping at Park Homes. Part of the proposed area of development -31- The Link magazine is published by the Link Committee and edited by Prue Sykes, Lower Farm, Sandford-on-Thames (748848). Anything for inclusion should be sent to Lower Farm or e-mailed to [email protected]. Printed by PNP, Church Lane, Bisbrooke, Uppingham, Rutland, LE15 9EL [email protected] -32-
