LITTLE MILTON  NEWSLETTER

www.littlemilton.org.uk

September  2006

PARISH COUNCIL

The Council meeting held on Tuesday 22^nd August was attended four Parish Councillors and the Clerk. There were xx members of the public in attendance.

Planning

P06/W0769 – Single Storey rear extension and raise roof to the existing garage at 33 Chiltern View

The Chairman informed the meeting that the original plans had been amended and appeared to address the concerns of adjoining neighbours. The Council agreed that the application should be approved by the Planning Authority.

The Planning Application for the Lamb will be considered by the Council at the Council meeting on September 13^th.

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 13th September 2006 at 8.00 p.m. in The Pine Lodge Little Milton unless there is a need to convene any planning or other meetings.

R. Fergusson Parish Clerk

Please note that the complete minutes of the Council are now included on the Council website www.littlemilton.org.uk  after they have been approved by the Council.

Freedom of Information Act – Parish Council Publication Scheme

Residents can see the records of the policies and practices of the Parish Council

including minutes, financial information and responses to planning

consultations, on request from the Parish Clerk (Raymond Fergusson –279150). Current Council member are:

Mr Stuart McGill Chairman       Mr Simon Oddie Vice Chairman

Mrs Mabel Wood                      Mrs Alison Shelton                                   Mr Barry Coward Mr Tim Robinson

SODC: WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT

For a charge of £35 residents can arrange for their unwanted vehicle to be collected from within the District and a charge of £7.50 per bulky item e.g. fridge furniture etc. To arrange this service residents can call the Public Amenities Team on 01491 823416 or print a copy of the form from the Council’s website www.southoxon.gov.uk .

SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL –GARDEN WASTE COLLECTION

Your bin will be collected on the same day as your normal refuse and recycling. Please ensure however that your bin is placed in a safe place that does not obstruct the pavement or highway. The dates for September are as follows:-

Tuesday 12th and 26th September

If you are interested in this service please contact SODC Public Amenities on 01491 823416 or email: public.amenities@southoxon.gov.uk or visit www.southoxon.gov.uk

South Oxfordshire District Council’s new garden waste scheme is proving very popular, with over 4,000 residents signing up for the scheme. In the first week alone nearly 40 tonnes of garden waste was collected for composting- double the amount expected. (SODC Town and Parish Newsletter, July 2006)

COMMUNITY WASTE VEHICLES – DOMESTIC WASTE ONLY

The Oxfordshire County Council Waste Recycling Centres at Redbridge and Oakley Wood are open Monday to Saturday

8.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. and Sunday 9.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

IS YOUR ELECTRIC BLANKET SAFE?

Most of us tuck our electric blanket away in a cupboard at this time of year, and don’t think about it until the frosty nights return.  But can you be sure it is still safe to use?

Over one third of electric blankets tested are found to be unsafe and condemned. To prevent these unsafe blankets causing fires or injury Oxfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service and Fire & Rescue Service, together with the five District Councils, are again offering free electric blanket testing.

The tests are taking place during September and October at venues throughout the County supported by sponsorship from RWE npower the owners of Didcot Power Station.

If your blanket is more than three years old, or if you have any doubts about its safety, why not get it checked out?  Testing will be done by appointment which must be booked in advance. 

As always, this is a very popular initiative, and places are already going fast.  However, we still have some availability at venues in Thame and Oxford

To find out your nearest available venue, and to book a test, call 01865 815600.

DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS

NEW HOMES IN SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE

South Oxfordshire District Council needs to provide more homes mainly for the growing number of households formed by existing residents, but also to accommodate new residents.  We are starting work on a plan to identify where the homes should be built and are looking for sites to build approximately 700 further houses outside Didcot by 2016.  We also aim to identify broad locations for housing to 2026.  Following the Oxfordshire Structure Plan guidance we are consulting on future sites in and on the edge of Henley, Thame and Wallingford and the larger villages in the district.  To help us identify land we have invited people to submit sites they would like to make available.  So far we have received 100 sites for development and 30 comments about where development should or should not be sited.  You can see details of these and the process for submitting sites on our website from 6 October.  Visit www.southoxon.gov.uk, select planning, and then Site Allocations Development Plan Document.

We will be holding a more formal consultation exercise in October and November when we will seek your views on options for the location of new homes and on other issues.  This is your opportunity to influence these decisions and let us know your views on the issues and options.  We will include information on our website from 6 October and we will be holding a series of exhibitions which will run from 3.00pm – 8.00 pm at the following venues:

Berinsfield Church Hall                                      Monday 9 October

Chalgrove John Hampden Hall                           Monday 23 October

Henley Town Hall                                             Thursday 19 October

Thame Town Hall                                             Tuesday 10 October

Wallingford Town Hall                                       Friday 20 October

Wheatley Merry Bells                                        Thursday 12 October

Woodcote Village Hall                                       Wednesday 25 October

We would like to hear your views by Friday 17 November.

We will publicise the consultation widely however if you would like to be kept informed individually please register to be on our consultation database.  Please contact us: by email: planning.policy@southoxon.gov.uk by post: Planning Policy Team, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8NJ

by telephone: 01491 823725

A329 NEWS

Following my last update that detailed the Headington Roundabout road works, increased traffic flows- specifically large buses and coaches – were seen on the A329 through Little Milton.  After appealing to route planners, buses and coaches in the main have returned to their original route via the A40.  We appreciate that they have businesses to run, however they understand our concerns as well and will attempt to compromise where possible.

OCC were due to carry out a traffic speed and volume survey through our Village this summer, however this has not happened as it was felt that due to the A40 road works, figures would be distorted.  We will approach OCC again once the road works are complete. It was also mentioned that the temporary diversion signs on the M40 at Junction 7 were unclear, and these have now been removed.

The Group has decided that the next focus will be in two areas

• Achieving a weight limit through Little Milton – this has the support of David Turner and the “5 Villages Group”
• Investigation into a School Safety Plan - continuing to focus on our Safe Route to School concept.

I will report back as matters progress.

Mark Platts A329 Group

GRASS CUTTING ROTA FOR SEPTEMBER

W/E 2nd September                  -           Stuart McGill

W/E 9th September                   -           Tim Robinson

W/E 16th September                 -           David Hawkins

W/E 23rd September                 -           Raymond Fergusson

W/E 30th September                 -           Phil Jones

CHURCH CLEANING ROTA FOR SEPTEMBER

W/E 2nd September                  -          Mrs E. Summers/ Mrs A Jones

W/E 9th September                   -          Mrs. G. Taylor/Mrs H Ridley

W/E 16th September                 -          Mrs A. Hawkins/Mrs. S. Jones

W/E 23rd September                 -          Mrs. M. Davies/Mrs S A Dennis

W/E 30th September                 -          Mrs L. Lovegrove/ Mrs C Coward

Sally Ann Dennis 278029

CHURCH FLOWER ROTA FOR SEPTEMBER   

W/E 3rd September                   -          Sally Ann Dennis

W/E 10th September                 -          Sylvia Taylor    

W/E 17th September                 -                                             

W/E 24th September                 -          Harvest – all helpers please

W/E 1st October                       -         

We are looking for new volunteers to help with flowers in the church.     

If you can spare a short time on a Friday or Saturday and would like to help, please contact me. No skills needed just enthusiasm!

Teresa Quested

BELL RINGING PRACTICE DURING SEPTEMBER

Just to let Villagers know that the Bell Ringers will be ringing in St. James’ Church, Little Milton on 

Tuesday 5th September                                     7.30 pm. to 9.00 pm

Sunday 9th September                                                10.30 am to 11.00 am

Tuesday 12th September                                    7.30 pm to 9.00 pm

Tuesday 19th September                                    7.30 pm. to 9.00 pm.

Sunday 24^th September                                   10.30 am to 11.00 am

Tuesday 26th September                                    7.30 pm. to 9.00 pm.

Raymond Fergusson (279150)

“ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL”.

So runs the opening line of a very familiar hymn. “All things wise and wonderful” it continues, and then adds, “The Lord God made them all”. Our children sing this hymn in our schools, but I often wonder what they make of those words, when they grow older and make the discovery that in this world there are a great many things that are neither bright nor beautiful and much which is foolish and contemptible. We have all faced that discovery, and we have all had the difficulty of going on to say with the measure of certainty and openness which we had in our former days-“The Lord God made them all”.

“He gave us eyes to see them” is another line from the same hymn, and so God did, but he also gave us the freedom to use our eyes in ways which were better, and ways which were less good. We can positively search out beauty even when it’s hidden away, and similarly we can dwell negatively on the more ugly and unpleasant.

I once knew a person called Ann. She suffered a terrible road accident causing terrible burns to her face and body, and many of her bones were broken. In her journey to recovery, she had eight operations to rebuild her face alone. But what was even more remarkable was the way she had been rebuilding her life. She said at one point, “I’ve gained a great deal from what has happened. I’m a more confident and positive person. It’s made me realize we should not be quick to judge others.” Ann may be disfigured on the outside, but inside she is beautiful. She managed by her prodigious spirit to turn a tragic event into a victory. She went on to be a nursery nurse.

Whether we are disfigured in our inward or outer selves, people like Ann are an inspiration. They remind us that it’s not physical beauty but inward loveliness which counts, not our external wealth but our riches of spirit which matter.

One person who has been a continual source of inspiration to many of us is Mother Theresa. She worked among the poor, the destitute and terribly diseased of Calcutta. She once remarked that she saw all these people as “Jesus in his most distressing disguise”.

That is a compelling reply, and it gives us a powerful insight into how to carry on when very little around us seems either bright or beautiful. How things look is not the whole story of what they are. It matters how they are looked at.

It’s so often the way, that in battling with the scars and thorns and darkness of the world which we encounter, the spiritual beauty of human beings is most revealed.

Lord God, the maker of all things, may our faith in your goodness be the guiding light by which we see the world. Amen.

Victor Story

FROM THE RECTORY.

HARVEST FESTIVAL.

Our Harvest Festival will be held on Sunday 24^th September at 11.00 a.m. Place that date in your diary now. There will be a Harvest Lunch following the Service in the Pine Lodge, but at the moment the arrangements have yet to be finalized, but please do come along, and bring all of your friends and family to this special event in our Church’s calendar. To help with the catering could you please let Stuart McGill, Sally Ann Dennis or Anne Hawkins know if you are going to join us.

Most of us who live in the parish do not earn our living directly from the land, but yet as we have gone about we could not have been unaware, that we are set among fields, and the picture on the cover of August’s Newsletter reminds us of our agricultural history and heritage.

 When the weather was unbearably hot, I for one could not but admire those who were working the land, harvesting the wheat, so that we might live. One way or another we depend on those who farm to bring us our daily bread. Harvest Festival is a time to remember and to give thanks.

I like to play a game with the letters making up the word HARVEST, and I find words like HAVE, STARVE, EAT, SHARE, HEAT. Each word in itself is a cause to think and points to our need to give thanks. The Harvest Festival Service gathers all of these things together. Even more so then, do we look forward to seeing you all on the 24^th September at 11.00 a.m.

PARISH SHARE 2007

Recently I received notification of how much we as a parish will be asked to pay by way of Parish Share in 2007. The figure is £10,291. This is the sum we shall be asked to find before ever we spend anything on repairs, insurance, upkeep and other housekeeping expenses. A very large proportion-well over 80%- of the Parish Share goes on paying, housing and training of the clergy.    

It is worth repeating that in former times, ministry was always provided for us. Nowadays, more and more it is being paid for by the congregation. That point is not always acknowledged.

A LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS.

On Saturday 16^th September at 7.30 p.m. in St. Mary’s, Great Milton there will be a very special evening, entitled THE FIRST AND LAST NIGHT OF THE GREAT MILTON PROMS. We have a very accomplished organist from Bicester, Simon Cole, coming for the evening, along with a choir and soloists. Of course there will be included, community singing of such things as Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem, When Irish Eyes are smiling, Rule Britannia, and much much more. We want this to be a real fun evening for everyone. So do go along, and I can assure you, you won’t be disappointed. Tickets will be available from Great Milton Post Office shortly, but I’m sure you can pay on the night when you come. The proceeds will go towards the rebuilding of the western boundary wall of Great Milton Churchyard.

Victor 01844 279498

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS

A very large group of us all met together at Nuneham Courtney for our Annual Summer outing and picnic together with a match box scavenger hunt won by George. Apart from losing Gareth temporarily we all enjoyed ourselves and celebrated the end of our 11^th year of Sunday School in fine style…roll on our 12^th year.

We’re back after the August break and our first teaching date will be on 17^th September at 11.00 in Church. (Earlier on September 10^th the Jones family will assist Victor at the monthly family service – do come along and join in!)

NB All Sunday School sessions now begin at 11.00 and end at 12.30 whether in Church or in one of our family homes.

S. A. Dennis 278029

XMAS FAYRE

Yes it’s that time of the year again!

We would like to craft evenings to make items to sell at the fayre. Can you sew, knit, glue, paint, cut out etc? Or do you have some good ideas to share? It would be great to hold 3 or 4 evenings over the next three months.

Do please contact me if you are interested – enthusiasm is the only qualification needed!

Teresa Quested 228922

BENEFICE SERVICES FOR SEPTEMBER

GREAT MILTON METHODIST CHURCH Minister:  Revd. Derick Chambers Tel: 212019

SUNDAY SERVICES IN SEPTEMBER

OTHER CIRCUIT EVENTS

Monday 18th September, 7.30pm at Bledlow.  Final meeting of the ‘Presence’ study group. 

Thursday 28th September, 7.45pm at Cuddington.  Circuit Meeting.

For further information please ring me.

  Evelyn Holme 278938

THE PINE LODGE

JAZZ EDDIE !

The Pine Lodge is a natural venue for a variety of possible events, and we were therefo