News & News Archive

Emergency Or Not? Know when to call 999

Submitted by ingenium

on Tue, 06/03/2018 - 12:13pm

Waste collections - Monday 5th March, following snow

Submitted by ingenium

on Mon, 05/03/2018 - 1:57pm

The Vale have advised that if our bins haven't been emptied by the end of Tuesday (6/3), they should be brought back in and they will be emptied next time they're due.

If you do have to wait until the next collection and if your bins are then full, extra waste may be left in bags beside the bin.

What Do You Think about Plastic Waste? Your Views Wanted!

Submitted by ingenium

on Thu, 01/03/2018 - 12:36pm

Please take the Sustainable Wantage short survey about plastic in Wantage.

It will only take you a couple of minutes.

Wantage Plastics Survey (click)

We'd like to hear from lots of local people, so please do share the survey with friends and on social media.

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Sometimes, there's no stopping...

Submitted by ingenium

on Thu, 01/03/2018 - 10:53am

For your own safety and that of others, please take extra care when driving in the current conditions.

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Vale DC submits Local Plan 2031 Part 2 for independent examination

Submitted by ingenium

on Wed, 28/02/2018 - 7:58pm

Vale of White Horse District Council has submitted the Local Plan 2031 Part 2: Detailed Policies and Additional Sites, and associated documents, to the Secretary of State for independent examination.

The Vale of White Horse Local Plan, and its supporting studies, set out the council’s vision for the district until 2031. Together they identify where housing, retail, and employment land should be located, as well as the infrastructure required to support this growth, such as new roads, schools, health services and sewerage. The policies in the plan are used to help make decisions on planning applications.

Local Plan 2031 Part 1, which deals with sites and policies to address the Vale’s own housing need, was adopted in December 2016 and is used to help guide development in the district.

Local Plan 2031 Part 2 will complement Part 1 by detailing policies and locations for housing to meet the Vale’s proportion of Oxford’s unmet housing need. Part 2 also includes policies for Didcot Garden Town, policies to assist development management, and additional site allocations for housing that were not included in Part 1.

The council is mindful that the government is working on guidelines entitled ‘Planning for the right homes in the right places’, which considers how housing need is calculated. However, the council is required to work on the existing housing needs figures until any new government guidelines are finalised and published, and must also consider economic growth, affordable housing and the need for new infrastructure.

Following the submission, the Secretary of State will appoint a Planning Inspector to carry out an independent examination of the Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031 Part 2 to determine whether it is ‘sound’ and ‘legally compliant’.

The Inspector will set a timetable for a series of public examination hearings, expected to be held later this year. The public can attend the examination to witness the proceedings, however only those invited by the Inspector will be able to participate in the hearings. Dates and a venue for the examination will be confirmed after an Inspector has been appointed.

After the examination has finished the Inspector will issue a report containing recommendations to either accept the plan as it is, accept the plan with modifications, or reject it.

For more information about the Vale of White Horse Local Plan see whitehorsedc.gov.uk/ localplanpart2 (click)

Cllr Roger Cox, Cabinet Member for Planning at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “We are very pleased to have reached this important milestone for Part 2 of the Local Plan. This document will play an important role in how the district develops and meets the housing challenge over the next 13 years, particularly in how our district can help to address Oxford’s unmet housing need.”

“A significant amount of work has gone in to producing Part 2 and we have consulted widely during its production. I am confident that the Planning Inspector will give it the go ahead to be adopted in the Vale of White Horse and that our communities will soon start to benefit from the new policies.”

From an article on the Vale's website - see the original <here>.

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Mindfulness Course starting in April at Childrey Village Hall

Submitted by ingenium

on Wed, 28/02/2018 - 7:56pm

news

Could you cut your energy bills by a third?

Submitted by ingenium

on Wed, 28/02/2018 - 6:10pm

Visit the BBC's iWonder page about how to cut your energy bills, including advice on switching energy provider, improving the energy efficiency of your home, changing your energy habits, energy saving myths and power hungry devices.

www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z9rvvcw

MoneySavingExpert.com has a 'Cheap Energy Club' which checks that you're on the cheapest deal, constantly monitors your tariff and emails you when it’s time to switch again:-

clubs.moneysavingexpert.com/cheapenergyclub/register

Visit one of the Ofgem-accredited energy price comparison sites:-

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Driving in snow and ice - tips to be safer

Submitted by ingenium

on Wed, 28/02/2018 - 1:05pm

Most of us have very little experience of driving in extreme conditions, such as snow, so we need to take some time to consider how it affects our driving. That's why, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is advising drivers to take extra care this weather.

Andy Ford, Road Safety Manager, Oxfordshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Plan ahead, take into account potential longer travel times and be prepared and drive to the conditions as stopping distances are much longer on snow and ice. Ensure your car has enough oil, water, check your windscreen wipers and washer bottle, clear all your windows so you can see and make sure that your battery is in good condition. And it's also very important to check your tyres are in good condition and have more than the minimum tread depth".

A single journey may take us into very different weather, road and traffic conditions, so we need to be prepared for each one. This means that we need to adapt the way we drive. And go out prepared for the possibility you may get stuck in the snow. Do you have a shovel in the boot? Have you got a blanket or extra coat with you in the vehicle? Got a drink with you, preferably a hot one? Don’t forget to make sure your phone is charged up before you leave, in case you get stranded and need to contact loved ones or the emergency services.

Before you go out ask yourself, do you absolutely have to make the journey and is driving the only option?

If you have to travel, keep the following items in your car in case you get stuck.

ice scraper
de-icer
blanket
jump leads
shovel
decent footwear
first aid kit
hazard warning triangle
torch
high visibility jacket

These are our top tips to stay safe if you face "snowmaggedon"

Check the weather before setting off. Remember road surfaces are a couple of degrees colder than air temperature and untreated roads could still be icy even if your car isn’t
Completely clear all your windows and mirrors of ice and make sure all of your windows are demisted and not just a small area
Leave plenty of space between you and the car in front. It can take twice as long to stop on wet roads and ten times longer to stop in icy ones.
Check your tyres (click) – ACT - Air pressure, Condition and Tread depth at least once a month. In rain, ice and heavy snow the more grip you have the better.
Ensure your lights are clean and working
Ensure your front and rear wipers are in good condition and the washer bottle is full with water and screen wash
Check that your battery is fully charged
If the weather is really bad you may want to keep an extra blanket, water, shovel and wellington boots in your car
Don’t forget your kit: ice scraper, de-icer, hazard warning triangle, torch, high visibility jacket and blanket

Have a safe journey

Here's more advice on Winter safety (click), safe journeys (click) and how to keep safe and warm (click).

From an article on the OCC webpage. See the original <here>.

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Our roads are in a terrible state - use FixMyStreet to have potholes fixed asap

Submitted by ingenium

on Tue, 27/02/2018 - 3:16pm

Our roads are in a shocking state.

Oxfordshire county council has just received an extra £1m in funding from the Department for Transport to deal with damage done to the roads by bad winter weather.

Please!

Use the FixMyStreet website or install the free app on your smartphone to report and have potholes fixed asap.