JUNE
Have your say on A4260 lower speed limits
Oxfordshire County Council is asking residents to comment on plans for lower speed limits along the A4260 between Kidlington and Banbury and nearby roads, including the area around Hopcrofts Holt. The consultation is open until Friday, 4th July. You can see details and comment on the OCC website.
The council says:
We’re asking for your views on the proposal to introduce new lower speed limits on and along the A4260 corridor (including selected adjacent roads) between Kidlington at the south & Banbury to the north. Specifically, the proposals comprise of the following reduced speed limits:
- 30mph speed limits on the A4260 Oxford Road at Bodicote & Banbury.
- 40mph speed limits on the:
- A4260 Oxford/Banbury Road at Hopcrofts Holt,
- B4030 at Hopcrofts Holt,
- A420 Banbury Road at Shipton-on-Cherwell, and
- A4095 Bunkers Hill & Upper Campsfield Road at Shipton-on-Cherwell.
- 50mph speed limits on the:
- A4260 Banbury Road at Shipton-on-Cherwell,
- A4260 Banbury Road at Rousham,
- A4260 Oxford Road at Steeple Aston,
- A4260 Oxford Road at North Aston,
- A4260 Banbury Road at Deddington, and
- B4027 at Tackley.
- 60mph speed limit on the A4260 Oxford Road (Northbound carriageway only) at Middle Aston.
The proposals are being put forward – following investigations by Officers – as part of the Councils ‘Vision Zero’ strategy, which seeks to work on a safe system approach to reducing fatal and severe injuries to road casualties, the Council proposes to reduce vehicle speeds to safer levels for road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians, motorcyclists, and all motorists.
Details are available to view on the Councils consultation portal at the address below:
https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/kidlingtonbanbury_a4260_speeds2025
Any objections or other representations on the proposals should be submitted by Friday 4th July 2025.
The County Council will review the responses and if necessary (i.e. if objections are received) prepare a report to be presented to the Cabinet Member for Highway Management at a meeting scheduled for later in 2025. This will be public meeting at which members of the public may apply to speak.
MAY
Vicky takes over as Village Hall Chair
At the Annual General Meeting of the Steeple Aston Village Hall Trustees committee held on the 12th May, Vicky Clifton was voted on to become their new Chairperson.
There had been a lengthy search to find a replacement for Barbara Brewer, who has retired after many years as a very efficient and successful chairperson. As it turns out, the solution was very close to home. Vicky, who lives in Middle Aston, is already well known locally as Show Secretary for the Horticultural Society and Captain of the Handbell Ringers.
Vicky said, “I’m honoured to have been asked and elected as Chair of the Village Hall trustees. Barbara’s steadfast service has been wonderful and creates big shoes for me to fill.
“Luckily for all of us, Barbara is not only staying on the committee but moves into the newly created role of Operations Coordinator. This will cover a lot of the day-to-day tasks she currently does in conjunction with Angela Smith, so in many ways it will be business as usual.
“I’m here to support the other trustees in any way I can, and any villagers who have concerns or ideas please do get in contact with me.
“In the next few months, the committee will be deciding on a programme of events for the forthcoming year. If there is a specific event you would like to see in the programme or if you have any new ideas, please contact me or any committee member.”
Vicky Clifton
Tel: 07817025948 Email: vmcstedman@btinternet.com
The new committee is listed below, showing which group they represent:
Vicky Clifton Chairperson
Barbara Brewer Tuesday Badminton
Margaret Bulleyment Choral Society (Secretary)
John White (Treasurer)
Alison Moran Thursday Badminton
Deborah Morris WI
Tina Ferguson Village Rep
Torquil McLusky SRT Co-ordinator
Anne Haymes Village Rep
Chris Clarke PCC
Stuart Cummins Archive
Richard Preston Valentine Club
John Coley Garden Club
For more information about the Village Hall, go to their website
We’ll Meet Again – a joyous VE Day celebration in words and music – photos
Steeple Aston marked the 80th anniversary of VE DAY on the day itself, Thurday, 8th May, with a service in the church. Then on Saturday, 10th May locals gathered in the Village Hall for a sell-out celebration called We’ll Meet Again. Some serious words, lots of wonderful music and much laughter combined to make it a memorable village occasion.
The organiser Margaret Bulleyment reports:
Celebration, Commemoration and Reflection. It had finally arrived! The postponed 2020 VE celebration had transformed into the 80th anniversary party and villagers clad in red, white and blue, streamed into a bunting-adorned hall, clutching flags of all sizes, ready to party.
After a moment of reflection with Siegfried Sassoon’s, Reconciliation, read by Tina Ferguson, the most popular song of WWII – Lilli Marlene – warmed up the audience. Lorraine Vera Watling lead the singing, with Paul Herrington, honorary resident of SA, accompanying on the piano. This was the first of nine iconic musical numbers.
Paul Rodgers set the scene, reading Noel Coward’s Lie in the Dark and Listen, describing planes flying out the troops, while those responsible for the war, slept snugly below.
Stuart Cummins read the first of SAVA’s local stories, which included an evacuee, a civilian and a housewife. This one was personal, as Reggie, the airman writing the letter, stationed at Upper Heyford, was a friend of Stuart’s great-uncle. Reggie was ‘billeted’ in a hayloft, over the stables at Jersey Manor Farm, Somerton. Sadly, just weeks later, Reggie was dead, and by the end of the war, two more of his friends and Stuart’s great-uncle, Denis, had also given their lives.
A brisk Run, Rabbit Run followed and then WI members dotted around the hall, performed Cathy Lawday’s wonderful Don’t Underestimate the WI! in which the ladies described their many wartime activities to Mr. Hitler. The climax where they brandished their various props – including hammers, saucepans and onions, would have scared anyone.
Next came a disgraceful episode in which an inebriated Private Brewer tried to persuade Sgt. Vaughan ‘Smeck’ to tuck him up in bed, just like his mother. In the end, both soldiers retired to their respective beds with a teddy and a dolly.
From the ridiculous to the sublime, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square – a lovely performance from Vera – took us to a magical world far beyond smoggy London – and sunny France, where it was written.
The audience now had to sing for its sausage rolls, in The Quartermaster Store. Please note there was no ‘cheese with shocking dirty knees’ offered in the interval.
The second half began with a soaring version of Eric Coates, Dambusters’ March, for which Paul Herrington received thunderous applause.
The White Cliffs of Dover changed the mood entirely. All the evening’s songs had been written just before, or during the war, so ‘Tomorrow when the world is free,’ was a hope, not a certainty.
The hall was getting livelier, as Nigel and Kay Francis skilfully demonstrated The Lambeth Walk, before others joined them on stage for a stompin’ performance. Oi!
Stuart returned, to give us some wartime recipes, far more stomach-churning than anything in The Quartermaster Store.
A bellringer is not just for Christmas, the audience was reminded, as the Handbell Ringers struck up a jaunty medley of wartime favourites, for more hum-a-long and sing-a-long.
The party climax, the Elgarian There’ll Always be an England, came with the instruction to raise roofs in Deddington, but by the end, flags a-waving, Banbury was suffering.
After plaudits to participants and helpers, there were special thanks to Lorraine and Paul (without whom the event could not have happened.) The final thanks went to Barbara Brewer, who was attending a Village Hall event for the last time, as Chair of the VH Committee.
The final song, We’ll Meet Again – says it all. It was joyous!
For lots more wonderful photos from Nigel Francis, please go to the Photogallery. Click on the first photo to enlarge and then navigate by using the arrows.
Poppies on display in the church for VE Day
Around 3,000 poppies made by villagers were on display in the church for the VE Day service on Thursday, 8th May.
Adults and children, including members of the WI and the Valentine Club, and the Brownies and many more, have been making poppies which will be displayed in a commemorative cascade from the church tower for Remembrance Day in November. Pupils at Dr Radcliffe’s School made their own poppies which were attached to the pillars in the church.
Members of the Poppy Committee have been busy attaching the poppies to a net which will form part of the cascade. Their progress so far will be on display in the church for the special service of remembrance and gratitude on Thursday, 8th May to mark 80 years since the end of the war in Europe,
Committee member Merrill Bayley reports: “The end of April count for the poppies has inched up to 2,840 and we are pleased to say ‘and we are still counting’.
“We have a temporary pause in sewing on poppies whilst the work done so far goes on display in the Church for VE Day. We have sewn poppies on the netting down to 28 feet and 20” wide. However, for the actual cascade we will be widening as we descend!
“This photo shows the work rolled up and ready to be taken to the Church for VE Day.”
Once the VE celebrations are over they’ll be collecting more poppies for the November display. If you’d like to contribute, patterns, wool and needles are available in the Poppy Box in the Church.
If you need any help or information, please contact the members of the committee: Eileen (eileen@baglinjones.com) Hildy, Kay or Merrill (01869 347802, merrill.bayley@gmail.com).
Local election results send a confusing message
In the local elections on May 1st, villagers elected a new Oxfordshire County Councillor, and a new Cherwell District Councillor, both for the Deddington ward – and both for different parties.
In the county council election, voters followed the trend in Oxfordshire electing Gareth Epps as our new Liberal Democrat representative. He defeated the sitting Tory Arash Fatemian who had been on the council since 2009 and represented Deddington since 2013.
Councillor Epps says: “Thank you to all those who we chatted to on the doorstep. I’m delighted to have been elected as the county councillor for the Astons, Deddington, Heyford Park and the surrounding villages. I’m very happy to take up any issues or try and answer concerns residents may have.” His email address is gareth.epps@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Another notable loser was Eddie Reeves, leader of the Conservative opposition on the county council, who is also one of our Deddington district councillors. He keeps that job but failed to win back his Cropredy seat as the Tories lost more than half their county counsellors. The Liberal Democrats have now taken control of Oxfordshire County Council with a majority for the first time.
The vote for a new district councillor was a by-election caused by the resignation of Councillor Andrew McHugh. Here the Conservative candidate managed to buck the trend and was elected with a large majority. She is Zoe McLernon, a former Bicester Town Councillor and caseworker for Victoria Prentis, the previous local MP and now member of the House of Lords.
She says: ” I’m Zoe McLernon, the new Cherwell District Councillor for the Deddington Ward, alongside your existing councillors, David Rogers and Eddie Reeves. I live in Hook Norton with my fiancé and dog and know Steeple Aston very well.
I’ve worked in the transport sector (mainly rail) for several years and have lived in Oxfordshire all my life (minus university and a stint living in Europe). Please do get in touch with me if you have any concerns or questions. The best way of contacting me is by email. I don’t have my CDC email address set up yet so for now, please use zoe.mclernon94@gmail.com.”
The full results are as follows:
Oxfordshire County Council – Deddington Ward
Gareth Epps Liberal Democrats 1050 Elected
Arash Fatemian Conservatives 870
Paul Yoward Reform UK 637
Sian Tohill-Martin Labour Party 273
Aaron James Bliss Green Party 249
Electorate 7765 Turnout 39.8%
Cherwell District Council – Deddington Ward
Zoe McLernon Conservatives 1560 Elected
Nick Mylne Liberal Democrats 916
Helen Oldfield Labour Party 478
Aaron James Bliss Green Party 370
Electorate 7673 Turnout 44.34%
Environmental survey shows most concern for nature
Steeple Aston Environment and Sustainability Committee recently surveyed villagers about their priorities for future action. They found that they care most about ‘nature, habitats and environment’.
Steeple Aston Parish Council established its Environment and Sustainability Committee (ESC) in 2022. The committee works to secure a sustainable future for the village and its residents.
In its short life, the committee has succeeded in accelerating the introduction of a 20mph limit to the village, enabled residents to identify energy savings through the loan of a thermal camera, and made wide-ranging contributions to the (badly delayed) Mid-Cherwell Neighbourhood Plan. They are currently exploring the potential to install public EV chargers in the village.
But they say they need to do more, so surveyed villagers to help to decide their priorities for the future.
Carl Tomlinson, the Chair of the Committee, reports on the results:
We have had 34 replies to our survey. This is a summary of the key points:
Nine respondents (26%) were not aware we exist as a committee. The average awareness of our work was 5/10.
We asked the respondents to prioritise seven areas of activity for the committee.
Based on the top three priorities for each respondent, it is clear that respondents feel that ‘nature, habitats and environment’ are the most important priority, followed by climate change resilience and reducing energy consumption.
Water management and sustainable transport probably edge sustainable food consumption and production into last place over the survey as a whole.
We will be using this information to guide our future activities.
APRIL
Village Hall ‘in jeopardy’ without a Chairperson
A few weeks ago, Richard Preston made a heartfelt appeal for someone to step up and take over the role of chairperson of the Village Hall from Barbara Brewer who retires in May.
To say the least, he was very disappointed with the response from villagers. So, he is trying again!
He writes:
It is always easier to “leave it to someone else”, especially when you think it might incur some effort. We have all been in this situation and spare time is becoming so valuable these days that it is not always possible to “volunteer” for something. On saying that, following my plea for help a month ago via both SAL and the village website, the response to find a new chairperson for the Village Hall served up a ZERO response.
It might have been the way I wrote the article, or maybe you guessed someone else would jump at the opportunity. Whichever it might have been, it leaves the Village Hall in real jeopardy. Can it continue? Does the village actually want a Village Hall? These are just a couple of questions that could be asked.
The position of chairperson for the Village Hall is not that demanding. It will enable you to meet other community volunteers and be part of a team that enables this wonderful old building to continue in its present form and we are able to retain a Village Hall. I can promise you, the amount of work involved is entirely down to you and with a wonderful team working alongside, it does not have to be in any way demanding.
If you think you might be able to help, give me a call and I will try and answer any questions you might have. Absolutely no obligation!
Richard Preston – a Village Hall trustee and retired VH chairman.
Richard.preston5@btopenworld.com or telephone 01869 340512.
Vote for two councillors in local elections
Voters in Steeple and Middle Aston will have the chance to vote for two local councillors in the election to be held on Thursday, 1st May.
The election of our local representative on Oxfordshire County Council was scheduled to take place this year. Conservative Arash Fatemian has been on the council since 2009 and has represented the Deddington Ward since 2013. He is standing again and faces four opponents: Aaron Bliss (Green Party), Gareth Epps (Liberal Democrats), Sian Tohill-Martin (Labour Party) and Paul Yoward (Reform UK).
There is also a by-election for a Cherwell District Councillor following the resignation of Councillor Andrew McHugh. The candidates are: Aaron Bliss (Green Party), Zoe McLernon (Conservatives), Nick Mylne (Liberal Democrats) and Helen Oldfield (Labour Party).
Voting will take place in the Village Hall from 7.00am to 10.00pm. REMEMBER you must bring photographic identification to show to the polling station staff, or you will not be able to vote.
For more information go to the Cherwell District Council website.
Poppy Cascade April update – sewing has started
A group of villagers are creating a commemorative cascade of poppies to tumble down from the church tower to mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
The WI got started making poppies before Christmas and they have now been joined with enthusiasm by other village groups. The Poppy Committee’s Merrill Bayley reports: “The total number of poppies delivered has reached a magnificent 2,205 by the end of March! We have now started to sew the poppies onto the netting – as we sew we roll!”
“A huge thank you to all the Brownies for their collective efforts. We hope to see some more in due course! Here is a photo of the ‘pile’ of the Brownie Poppies reaching ever upwards!”Earlier the Poppy Committee reported:
The first big count up at the end of February has yielded a magnificent 1,105 poppies of various sizes shapes materials and all consistently red with the black centres. Absolutely magnificent!
We have had hundreds of poppies from the WI – (well they did start first) a steady flow from the Church – a colossal bag from the Valentine Club, a bag from the Brownies and miscellaneous bags simply donated anonymously in the box at the back of Church. A very big thank you!
Thanks to all of you who have donated so far. Lots more Please – keep them coming…….
Those not yet started – do please have a go we need your poppies too! Patterns available in the Poppy box in the Church or design your own.
We had an impromptu Poppy making session at The Grain Store on the Chatty Table – (first Monday of the month). Definitely chatty, but we had a crocheting learning session and of course some more knitting. We will go again on Monday, 7th April 10am – care to join us?
If you need any help advice or information about how to get started, please contact us and we can help.
Eileen – eileen@baglinjones.com Hildy, Kay or Merrill – 01869 347802, merrill.bayley@gmail.com
MARCH
Revised MCNP Plan open for consultation
From the Mid-Cherwell Neighbourhood Plan Forum:
We’re pleased to inform you that the Review of the Mid-Cherwell Neighbourhood Plan has now been published, and we would welcome your comments and feedback on it. The Consultation remains open until Friday, 23rd May 2025. Please click here to go to the consultation website.
The updated Plan includes several important new planning policies, including the allocation of housing sites in some of the villages, aimed at meeting the needs of local people. There are also policies protecting the Mid-Cherwell environment, its landscape and biodiversity, and we’ve added more Local Green Spaces and more Local Gaps for protection from possible future development.
We want to know what you think about the new Plan: we have tried to make it as easy as possible for you to respond with our online questionnaire. If you prefer to use email or post to respond, a downloadable form is available on the website.
We have also printed a limited number of copies of the Plan document – your Parish Clerk has copies of these if you would like to see one. Copies will also be available at Deddington, Bicester and Banbury Libraries.
Thank you
MCNP Forum
Lots of new talent on show for Spring
Vicky Clifton, Show Secretary writes:
Sunday 23rd March saw the first show of the year for the Steeple Aston and Middle Aston Horticultural Society . With 80 exhibitors entering over 300 exhibits, the Village Hall was brimming with Spring blooms, blossom and talents. We had lots of new names taking part and quite a lot of change in the cup winners. Please do take a look at the results. I am always delighted when children transition from their age category in to the territory of the ‘adult’ divisions and win prizes – full credit to them for taking the plunge, certainly keeps us old timers on our toes. Sadly there were a few classes that had no entries at all, so next year, if you have a cactus or spring planters please do take part and enter them, it all adds to a beautiful display.
Whilst we as a committee enjoy a few days rest, we’re already formulating some exciting plans for our Summer Show on Bank Holiday Monday 25th August. The schedule for this event is already live here and printed paper copies will be available in the village shop from the end of July. If you’d like one sooner please get in touch. Email vmcstedman@btinternet.com
Once again thank you to all that took part and came along to the show during the afternoon.
Spring Show 2025 photos. Many thanks to Nigel Francis. Click on the first picture to enlarge and then scroll through using the arrows.
Time to report those pesky potholes
Graham Porcas, our local pothole expert, writes:
Now the weather is starting to improve we can get on with tidying up after winter and fixing potholes again.
In Steeple Aston we use the Fix My Street system and as your Parish Council was an early supporter of the scheme we are well established with the Highway Authority and are very fortunate to have excellent support from them to get defects fixed quickly. But how does it work?
The FMS system is very effective, either go online and enter details of any potholes yourself or contact Cathy, our parish clerk, with details which she will pass on to me.
I am what is referred to as an FMS SuperUser and can then carry out the necessary checks to make sure the pothole can be repaired using what is now the standard cut and fill repair process. Provided it complies with the criteria then I can directly action the repair by council contractors without requiring a highways department inspection making the process quick and simple.
Repairs will then be made within 28 days, usually much less, the record is same day!
When filling in the FMS report please try and keep the details concise and most importantly accurate, exaggerating the severity of the problem does not help, nor does making extravagant claims or wild accusations, short and simple is best and will ensure the quickest response.
The minimum criteria for a fault to be actioned on the FMS system is that it must be more than 40mm deep and at least 150mm across, if less then it will not count although we do have other facilities for filling less severe defects in special cases. If you believe that yours is one of these special cases then please let Cathy know rather than wasting an FMS report as if it does not comply it will be rejected immediately.
Let’s get reporting!
Contact Parish Clerk, Cathy Fleet on 07989 398 838 or email parishclerk.steepleaston@gmail.com
FEBRUARY
South Side parking stops bus again!
The village bus being held up by cars badly parked on South Side has been a long-running concern in the village. It got particularly bad a while ago when there was a lot of building work going on.
But the problem hasn’t gone away. One villager tells us of a recent incident and her worry that we will lose our bus service if it’s impossible for the bus to travel freely through the village. Others have expressed their concern about other vehicles including ambulances and fire engines getting through in an emergency.
But if cars park on the pavement to leave more space for the bus, then there’s a problem for pedestrians, especially those with buggies or wheelchairs. One villager suggested a one-way system round the village. Perhaps the Parish Council might need to consider drastic measures.
Marion Ganthony has written to tell us of the latest incident on Thursday, 20th January:
“I know – yet another letter about people parking on South Side without leaving enough space for buses and other large vehicles to drive down the road.
“I was on the bus from Oxford this lunchtime and had just signalled the driver to stop at the Red Lion bus stop, when we came to a halt in front of Staithe Cottage. The driver said he did not think he was able to get through, past a silver car parked with its nose out from the kerb. He sounded his horn to no avail, then managed to get out of the bus to knock on some doors. Fortunately, two residents came to see if they could guide the bus through the narrow space, and succeeded. The way past was bumpy as the bus had to mount the kerb and drive partly on the steep embankment. The grass will soon look a mess because of the heavy tyre tracks.
“Can I please be another voice asking people to take care and park thoughtfully, especially at the narrowest parts of the road. When we first moved to Steeple Aston, our criteria for a good village to live in were: a school, a bus service, and a shop. I am sure many other people have a very similar list. I don’t want the bus service to be the first service we lose because buses can’t make their way through the village.”
Council responds to criticism around Emergency Plan
Steeple Aston Parish Council has responded to criticism from villagers about their lack of response when there was a power cut in the village of over 24 hours.
Former council chair John Coley wrote to Steeple Aston Life magazine asking whether the village’s Emergency Plan was activated, as intended, to help elderly and vulnerable villagers to keep warm and safe in the event of a prolonged power cut. In particular John and two other villagers who responded to his letter were concerned that SSE provided hot food from a van in the Village Hall car park but villagers, some without phone or internet access, were not informed about it.
The Emergency Plan is out of date as you can see on the homepage of this website. Now the council says it will be updated and are asking for villagers to volunteer to help out if it needs to be activated in future.
Here is the statement from the Parish Council:
At the January meeting of Steeple Aston Parish Council one agenda item was a conversation around the current emergency plan. We wanted the chance to discuss this as a group before responding to recent letters printed in Steeple Aston Life.
In the past year our village and surrounding area has suffered from multiple power outages and even a water shortage. These have ranged from short periods across a handful of houses, to longer stretches such as the recent power cut caused by Storm Darragh. This affected approximately 15 per cent of the population in and around Steeple Aston. That population included more than Steeple Aston residents impacting both Middle Aston and local businesses. In total 75 households and businesses were without power for approximaately 29 hours.
Having reviewed our Emergency Plan against those supplied by the Joint Oxfordshire Resilience Team, the processes outlined within it are in line with common practice. The plan does however need updating in terms of contacts and roles and responsibilities which the Parish Council are now working through. One such improvement is a notification system whereby, in this case, SSE should have contacted the PC, which did not happen, and in turn the PC would activate its network of local residents to check on neighbours.
As a village we are powered (pun intended) by our community, the Parish Council are one small part of this giving of their time to help maintain and improve our spaces and community. Whilst we navigate updating the Emergency Plan, we will be keen to hear from those within our community who are willing to take their small role should an Emergency Plan need to be actioned.
Your Parish Council
Appeal for Village Hall Chair to replace Barbara
Richard Preston writes:
Have you ever visited the Village Hall?
Have you ever wondered how it is managed?
Do we actually need a Village Hall?
Why do villages usually have a community building and what purpose do they serve?
These are a few questions that might be asked occasionally, but in reality, who cares?
Being someone who has lived in Steeple Aston all of my life, I am a little biased as I went to school in what is now the Village Hall for 10 years of my life. I served as chairman of the management committee for many years but handed over the reins to Barbara Brewer many years ago now. For me, it is a place where I attend various functions within the village from a quiz to a wake, a Valentine Club meeting to a celebration. I wonder what it might be like if the Village Hall simply did not exist. Is this leading somewhere you may ask?
The straight answer is YES! At the Village Hall management meeting in May, we will lose our chairperson, Barbara, after many years of service. Thank goodness, she is staying on the committee along with another 10 committee members, sometimes described as trustees but more accurately should be called village volunteers. They attend up to 11 monthly meetings a year, lasting about one hour and from there, the Village Hall functions efficiently for the use of the village.
With few exceptions, the existing ‘committee’ are of an age and not really wanting to take on the position of chairperson. Saying that, an incoming chairperson would not have that many duties other than to chair a monthly meeting, prepare, alongside the secretary, an agenda, report to the village through SAL or the website, what the Village Hall is doing and keep the village up to date with proceedings and take a lead in the management of our Village Hall. We have a very competent secretary and treasurer so no worries there and the hall is in a very sound financial position.
The structure is actually owned by Dr Radcliffe’s School Foundation and the exterior upkeep is the responsibility of the parish council, so all the management committee have to do is make sure the hall is used to its best ability and covers the regular ongoing costs associated with the hall.
So here is the challenge! Do you think you could be the next Village Hall chairperson and bring your own ideas to the management committee? What a great way to meet people in the village and make your mark on what must be the best village community around.
Rather than bother Barbara or any existing committee member, just give me a call or email or simply knock on my door and I will try and answer any questions you might have.
The village needs YOU. Please give some thought to my plea as the village is relying on YOU!
Many thanks for taking the time to read this and I look forward to having a “no obligation” chat with you very soon.
Richard Preston – Richard.preston5@btopenworld.com or tel. 01869 340512 or knock on my door at Primrose Garden, North Side.
JANUARY
Community Land Trust members meet for the first time
The new Community Land Trust for Steeple and Middle Aston held its first members’ meeting on Wednesday, 29th January. The Trust was set up following a public meeting last April. Villagers have been invited to join the trust for a token payment of £1.
Julia Whybrew reports:
The Steeple Aston and Middle Aston Community Land Trust has a lot going for it, except for the length of its name. For simplicity this report on its first members’ meeting will refer to it as our CLT. All the members and others who had at some point expressed an interest in the scheme were invited and there were 36 of us there. Martin Lipson, the chairman of our CLT Board, explained that the meeting had been called for two reasons. First it would provide an opportunity for the committee to explain to members what they had done already and secondly for members to discuss and tell the committee where they would like to see the CLT going.
Martin explained that the CLT members had been extremely generous with their initial donations, and that the organisation had now become a legal entity. The intention now was to see if it might be feasible to develop both affordable homes for local people and some wider objectives which could benefit villagers now and in the future. The CLT is hoping that its structure may enable a different sort of tenure to normal so that affordable homes for locals can be created now and stay available in the future. These homes could be for sale, rent, co-ownership, co-operative housing or self-build. Many CLTs in other areas got going earlier than us and so far CLTs have built 2,000 affordable homes with a further 7,100 in the pipeline.
We know there is a shortage of housing around here, especially of one and two bedroom properties because there was a recent survey of local housing needs. Two local sites have been identified by the Neighbourhood Plan for development and it is hoped that there might be further sites suitable as Rural Exception Sites. The point of the latter is that they are highly unlikely to get planning approval for market housing but might get approval as a Rural Exception Site as long as the development is mainly affordable housing. The CLT committee is approaching local land owners of the potential development sites around the villages to discuss if, and how, the CLT may be able to take forward these ideas. These discussions are at a preliminary stage and members will be told if and when anything develops from this.
Questions were invited and one person said he understood that the property should be affordable and for locals in perpetuity, but he was unsure how this could be achieved in practice. He asked if he could give or bequeath his CLT home to a family member who did not live in the village. Someone asked where the CLT would find the finance for developing affordable housing. Others suggested single storey dwellings for the elderly and starter homes for the young which one person pointed need not be at each other’s expense. Some wanted to be certain any affordable homes could be confined to those with genuine local connections.
At this point the participants divided into groups and were asked to identify both housing and non-housing issues where our CLT might contribute. There were lots of ideas and the ones that came up the most in relation to housing were:
- If houses had few bedrooms the idea of communal spare bedrooms made sense
- Houses should be built to encourage social cohesion by designs such as homes facing into a courtyard
- Large extensions should be prohibited to prevent small houses becoming large houses
- Working locally might be sufficient to be considered for an affordable home.
There were lots and lots of other suggestions not related to housing such as:
- The desirability of a footpath between Fenway and Northside near the stables
- A smaller bus so it might be able to negotiate Fenway and Water Lane
- Sustainable shared power generation
- Community facilities such as a room for medical appointments.
The full list of questions and suggestions can be found on the CLT website . If you would like to become a member and influence the future of the villages the details of joining are on the membership page of the same website.
Council agrees to fund Blandford Fly initial spray
Steeple Aston Parish Council has agreed to fund a pilot project to spray the larvae of the dreaded Blandford Fly. At their meeting on Monday, 20th January councillors agreed to spend £5,000 on spraying at a single site this year in the hope of encouraging other councils to contribute towards a much bigger project along the Cherwell Valley in future.
Researchers from Bournemouth University will visit the River Cherwell in March to assess optimal time and location to treat the water in the following weeks. The location is likely to be well upstream of Heyford Bridge where it will be of most benefit to the village.
But be warned! Though this pilot is expected to reduce the number of flies this year, it will not eradicate the risk of bites anywhere nearly as effectively as the full project.
Parish Councillors and project leads Mat Watson and Greg Elphick explain the plan:
The Blandford Fly (Simulium posticatum) is a small species of black fly found in Europe and has commonly been prevalent in the Stour valley in Dorset. Or at least it used to be. It is now endemic along our stretch of the River Cherwell from Clifton (Deddington) as far south as Kidlington. It’s most common during May and June, flying low to the ground and normally biting ankles and legs. The painful bites can lead to swelling, blistering, joint pain and occasionally a high temperature, as many villagers have found to their cost. In severe cases the bite can cause ulceration and secondary infections. It is a public health nuisance.
Its larvae thrive and develop to maturity on the particularly accommodating, undulating, long river weed, ranunculus, that looks so beautiful as you walk across Heyford Bridge. The fly’s name derives from a major outbreak of people being bitten around the town of Blandford Forum in Dorset, in the 1960s and 70s. The town straddles the River Stour.
Researchers at Bournemouth University (BUG is the name of their commercial environmental programme team) developed a solution which for over 30 years has reduced the population of Blandford Fly by up to 98 per cent in affected areas along the River Stour. They spray the larvae in their breeding grounds amongst the weeds in the water course before they become flies and start to bite humans. Control is effected by targeting the filter feeding larval stage with a specific larvicide Vectobac AS, which is an aqueous solution of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) – a group of bacteria used as biological control agents for larval stages of certain dipterans. Bti produces toxins which are effective in killing various species of mosquitoes, fungus gnats, and blackflies, while having almost no effect on other organisms. This is a link to their 2024 report on last year’s treatment.
The total cost of the first year’s treatment is £23,000 with subsequent years costing around £18,000. These costs have been derived from an initial scoping project last year with multiple visits and testing by BUG scientists during June 2024 in various locations along the river course. Thanks are due to local OCC councillor Arash Fatemian for sourcing the funds for these investigations. Full approval has already been gained from the Health and Safety Executive as a result of the longstanding evidence from the River Stour and contact over the autumn with the Oxfordshire offices of the Environment Agency and Thames Water has secured their go ahead approval as well.
It had been hoped that Oxfordshire County Council would provide all or part of the £23,000 require for the first year of treatment and get the project underway in the spring of 2025. But as this money has not been forthcoming, the council decided to approach local parishes to see if they would share the cost between them. Unfortunately, at this stage in parish budget cycles, gaining sufficient commitment has proved impossible. Dorset County Council funds the spraying programme on the River Stour.
It is hoped that a publicity drive involving a widely shared video podcast produced by Mat Watson (of Car Wow fame) demonstrating the treatment process and impact of the spraying will create the level of interest and support needed to secure the required initial funding and ongoing spending in subsequent years. To that end, on 20th January Steeple Aston PC voted to release £5,000 from reserves to fund a pilot project on a single site close to the village. If you have views on the proposal please let Cathy Fleet, Parish Clerk, know of these, email parishclerk.steepleaston@gmail.com. We have already received a handful of comments, some positive and some understandably seeking further reassurances over potential impact on the wider ecology. These are being responded to by sharing the detailed academic follow up study papers from which the project draws its high level of confidence.
Steeple Aston to remember with a poppy cascade
From the Poppy Committee:
“This year we shall be remembering 80 years since the end of the Second World War. A small group of us thought it would be a good idea to get together to create a commemorative cascade of poppies tumbling from the church tower.
“So how many poppies have you made? It’s great to report that many people are enthusiastically supporting the project and are promising to make poppies – people from the church, the WI, the Valentine club, members of SACs and the Brownies are some of the groups we know about. That’s terrific but we are going to need a great many poppies!
“Please keep going or get started if you haven’t yet produced a poppy!
“There will be the First Great Poppy Count at the end of February to check how we are getting on. Please make sure you have delivered as many poppies as possible into the box in church by then. We’ll let you know how much progress there has been!”
The members of the Poppy Committee are Kay Francis, Hildy Frenken, Merrill Bayley and Eileen Baglin-Jones.
The WI got started making poppies before Christmas. The photo above shows samples of the various styles of poppies made so far by members. They were on show at their January meeting – woolly ones, fluffy ones and even some felt ones.
Why not have a go at making your own poppies? There are no rules except that the poppies must be red with a black centre. If you need them, there are patterns in the box in the church plus some wool and knitting needles. And if you need more wool, ask Merrill Bayley from the WI on 01869 347802 or email merrill.bayley@gmail.com.