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Didcot Diary Issue 18 September 2015

Loyd Rec Refurbishment Didcot Town Fayre

Welcome to this issue of the Didcot Diary.

Contents Council & News

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The last few months have been very busy.

Parks and Gardens

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The Lakes

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We have had lots of events taking place in the parks over the summer months, including; a fair, circus, korfball tournaments and various charity days.

Past Events - Didcot Town Fayre - Fun run and 5 mile race

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Information Centre

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Citizens Advice Bureau

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Grant Aid

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We also had the Didcot Town Fayre, which was attended by approx. 2,500 people.

If you would like to receive a paper copy of the Didcot Diary please contact Didcot Town council, either by e-mail, post or by telephone.

Follow us on twitter and facebook:

Future Events - Street Fair & Firework Display 11 - Gift Fair & Bake Off 12 Other Information

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What’s on at the Civic Hall

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Councillors Contact details

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Didcot Town Council

Remembrance Sunday Parade This year’s parade will take place on Sunday 8th November. The parade will start from Edinburgh Drive car park at approximately 2.30pm and will gather at the memorial in the Garden of Remembrance at 3pm for a service to be conducted by a local minister.

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Parks and Gardens Loyd Rec Play Area There is good news about the planned refurbishment of the play area at Loyd Rec. It has been confirmed that Didoct Town Council has been awarded a grant from WREN of £50,000 towards the cost of the work.

WREN is a not for profit business that awards grants for the community, biodiversity and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund. So for every ton of waste that goes to the local waste pit just outside Didcot there is a levy which goes towards this grant making fund.

We are awaiting the formal contract and once that is signed the project can start. We are aiming to get the new play area in the ground and in use by the end of October. Watch out for work progressing on site.

Many thanks to the local schools who helped us, along with members of the public who completed our consultation forms – we can’t get grants without your input. Thank you.

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Events Perry Hatwell’s Fair made its usual visit to Edmonds Park in August and everybody seemed to have fun despite the poor weather at the start of their stay.

Perry will be looking to having another small fair at Ladygrove Park in the spring as well as his stay at Edmonds. Look out for dates next year.

The local Korfball Club held their tournament on Saturday 22nd August and a family day on Saturday 5th September.

The teams are mixed men and women and can cater for all age groups.

If you are interested in giving Korfball a try contact the following: didcotkorfball@hotmail.co.uk Parks and Gardens This summer has been very dry and trees are especially feeling the lack of water. We lost one Hungarian Oak at Edmonds Park through drought and this had to be felled sadly. The hanging baskets are blooming and bringing some colour to our town but sunflowers in the beds are not very high this year as a result!

All our parks and open spaces are busy during the summer holidays and it is good to see local families out and enjoying themselves.

John Lawson’s Circus was at the park between Friday 24th and Sunday 26th July and had very good reviews from all who attended.

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Ladygrove Lakes We have had a busy summer down at the lakes with various competitions.

The Ladygrove Fishing Association Junior fishing match on Friday 31st July was well attended with 12 anglers all vying for the coveted trophies and shield.

There were lots of other great prizes on offer along with goody bags from Acorn Angling. The under 12 winner was Leon Walters with a massive haul of 46lb 10oz – he was also the overall winner for all age groups.

The Mayor presented him with the shield, trophy and prizes. The under 16 winner was Nathan Talbot with 18lb 6oz. The heaviest fish landed was a 2lb 15oz Roach/Bream hybrid by Jacob Knight who received a new rod as his prize.

Jim’s Charity match raised £75 towards Cancer Research on Sunday 2 nd August. The Challenge Cup winner with 22lb 4 oz was Paul Oakley and the Masters Cup was won by the club Chairman – Mark Talbot with 29lb 6oz.

The Police have had their Juniors Match on site which was a hotly fought competition. One young angler landed 2 massive Carp which was unbeatable!

Banbury Hub have been on site for coaching sessions which have been very successful.

During a relaxing fish down at the lakes a Terrapin was hooked! This was taken to the vets for a check up and rehomed by Lenny’s Lizards. Apparently it was a mature 10 year old specimen. There are others down in the lakes but they are not a native species – so please do not add them to the lakes if you are fed up with your pet – get it rehomed!

Water quality has been an issue earlier in the year when dissolved oxygen levels crashed. We had to have an aerator on site to maintain levels so that the fish didn’t die. This machine was courtesy of the Environment Agency who we work with closely on site. In conjunction with the fishing club the council had some fish netted and transferred to the large lake to reduce the oxygen demand in the small lake.

It is important not to feed the ducks and geese with bread thrown into the lake as when it rots it takes oxygen out of the eco system – so starving the fish of vital dissolved oxygen. It is better to feed the birdlife on the banks away from the water so that residue can’t degrade the eco system. Help keep the lake healthy by not feeding bread directly into the lake. All anglers are banned from using bread as bait and this club rule is taken very seriously because of the implications.

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Didcot Town Fayre The 2015 Didcot Town Fayre took place on Saturday 11th July at Edmonds Park and was a great fun day for all the family.

The day was opened by the Mayor Des Healy, followed by an energetic Zumba class.

Various clubs took to the stage to showcase their talents, including The O’Gara School of Irish Dancing, All Saints School Choir, Step in Time Dance School, and Egyptian dancers.

Even Elsa and Anna from Frozen made an appearance.

There were also bouncy castles, fair rides, exotic animals, and donkeys to keep the little ones entertained.

The Army also attended and various charity groups and craft stalls.

A local band and singers played as well until the event closed at 9pm.

The weather was kind to us and we hope to do it all again next year.

If you would like to take part in the Fayre next year or have any suggestions or comments on the Fayre please contact the council on 01235 812637 or council@didcot.gov.uk.

Look out for the date in 2016!

Mayor’s Civic Service The Mayor of Didcot, Councillor Des Healy, will be holding his Civic Service on Sunday 18th October 2015 at 2.30pm.The venue will be the Church of English Martyrs in Manor Crescent, Didcot.

There will be a collection in aid of the Mayor’s charities, the Royal British Legion and South and Vale Carers.

Refreshments will be served afterwards.

Please contact the council on 01235 812637 or council@didcot.gov.uk

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Didcot 5 and Fun Run The 10th anniversary of the Didcot 5 and Fun Run took place on Sunday 5th July.

The Didcot 5 had 148 runners with the winning time of 25 minutes 20 sec by Jonathan Cornish of White Horse Harriers.

Conversely the last runner finished in 1 hour 9 mins 10 sec!

The Fun Run had 108 runners with the winner Alexander Pennington finishing the 2 mile race in 11 minutes 56 seconds.

The last runner took 55 minutes 15 seconds.

The event is sponsored by Earthline Ltd and Tesco provide the bottled water for all finishers.

The charities supported this year by the event are: Motor Neurone Disease Association, The Earth Trust – where Didcot Runners complete their hill training at Wittenham Clumps, and the local Scouts Group.

There was thankfully a cool start to the race with an overcast sky which made for ideal running conditions.

However, runners were grateful for the drinks station just before the 3 mile point.

Post-race physio massage was available for all those feeling the strain on site and the ice cream van did plenty of trade.

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Information Centre

In the Information Centre we have noticed that some questions tend to get asked more often than others. In this section we aim to provide answers to some recurring issues.

Didcot Town Council: what we do The people of Didcot elect our town councillors and they can help on a number of local issues. Not only can they help on the services provided by Didcot Town Council (see below) but they can help you to contact the right people if Oxfordshire County Council, South Oxfordshire District Council or other services provide that help.

Didcot Town Council • has an Information Centre that can provide advice about Didcot and help you get the assistance you need • provides allotments at Broadway, Cockcroft Road, Mereland Road, New Road and Wantage Road • has some bus shelters • provides play areas and play equipment at Edmonds Park and a number of other places around Didcot (more information on our website) • gives grants to help local organisations • has open spaces at Millennium Wood at Hagbourne Triangle, Broadway Gardens (again, more information on our website) • has paper copies of planning applications in Didcot for members of the public to see • manages Kynaston Road Cemetery You can find us within Didcot Civic Hall which is a purpose made events and meeting venue.

We work closely with Oxfordshire County Council that provides services such as: • education Council and Committee meetings in • transport • planning September and October.

• fire and public safety October • social care • libraries Planning and Development 21st • waste management Finance and General Purposes 26th • trading standards South Oxfordshire District Council covers a smaller area than Oxfordshire County Council and has responsibility for: • rubbish collection • recycling • council tax collections • housing • planning applications • open space maintenance

November Council

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Planning and Development

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Environment

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Finance and General Purposes

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All meetings commence at 7.30pm and are held in the Civic Hall. The Council operates a policy of public participation at meetings. For more information please contact us by calling 01235 812637 or email to council@didcot.gov.uk or write to Didcot Town Council, Civic Hall, Britwell Road, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 7HN or visit our website www.didcot.gov.uk.

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Citizens Advice puts pension options in your hands Question I’ve heard that the new pension reforms say I will have full access to my pension pot when I turn 55. How do I work out what I should do with my pension savings?

Answer The pension reforms that came in this April give people the freedom to access their defined contribution pension and do whatever they want with it. You can buy an annuity, or take your pension out in one go, or withdraw it bit by bit and leave some of it invested. Planning for your retirement can be complicated so it’s important to get guidance on your options.

The good news is that the Government has introduced Pension Wise, a new free service offering guidance online, over the phone with The Pensions Advisory Service, or face to face with Citizens Advice. Appointments are pre-booked 45-minute sessions tailored to your individual circumstances. Guidance is impartial, meaning that it will not recommend products or services, but the person you talk to will describe your options and help you consider their impact.

To get the most out of Pension Wise guidance, preparation is important. First, work out the value of your pension pots. Look at your most recent statement or contact your provider.

Check and see if there are any restrictions attached. Next, get a state pension forecast, and gather the details of any benefits you receive.

The next step is to work out your likely expenditure. Include the cost of essentials like housing or utilities, and leisure activities. This should give you a rough budget.

Bring this information to your Pension Wise appointment. Citizens Advice staff will help you think through your circumstances and present the options available to you.

If you need more advice, visit www.adviceguide.org.uk or phone 03444 111444.

Otherwise, drop in to the Citizens Advice Bureau office, which is located at Dales, 9-15 High Street, Didcot, OX11 8EQ. Opening hours are: Drop In: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

10.00am – 1.00pm - 1.30pm – 4.00pm 10.00am – 1.00pm – pm closed 10.00am – 1.00pm – pm closed 10.00am – 1.00pm - 1.30pm – 4.00pm 10.00am – 4.00pm – open all day

Phone: 10am – 7.00pm 10am – 7.00pm 10am – 7.00pm 10am – 7.00pm 10am – 4.00pm

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Grant Aid National Memorial Arboretum Visit On Wednesday 19th August 2015 a group of 27 Didcot people (including the Mayor, Des Healy), went on a trip to the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas Staffordshire. The visit was made available with a grant from Didcot Town Council and a contribution from those who went.

This was part of the Remembrance for World War 1, to let the people see apart from local memorials that are in towns and villages that there is also now a national one. There are also other memorials on the site apart from the ones that remember the Armed Forces, these are dedicated to the public services and other non- military organisations, it shows that the people must be remembered in all walks of life.

The day was enjoyed by all who went and the rain held off until midafternoon. Some of the memorials were thought provoking and it made one think of what happened in our past and the sacrifice that people from all walks of life have made.

To find out more about the National Memorial Arboretum go to: www.thenma.org.uk

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Didcot Firework Display The annual firework display organised by the Didcot Rotary Club will take place at Loyd Recreation Ground in Brasenose Road on Saturday 7th November 2015.

Gates open at 5.30pm. There will be a funfair as well as the Bonfire and fireworks and hot food and drink will be on sale.

Advance tickets are cheaper and are available from the Didcot Town Council Information Centre inside the Civic Hall, Newbury Building Society on the Broadway, Heart to Heart/Thorntons in the Orchard Centre.

Advance tickets cost £4.00 for adults, £10 for a family ticket - 2 adults and up to 3 children (5-15 years) and £2.50 for OAPs or children. Entry is free for children aged under 5 years.

Didcot Street Fair - Thursday 26th November 2015

Theme Tudors 4pm – 9pm Parade 7pm This year is the 22nd year of the Didcot Street Fair. There will be fair rides, local clubs, groups charities and churches taking part.

There will be a stage at the Orchard Centre.

Road closed from Newlands Avenue to High Street and into Orchard Road.

We have stalls available, for more information e-mail: info@didcotchristmasstreetfair.com

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Didcot Gift Fair Civic Hall 14th & 15th November 2015 10.20am – 4pm Lots of handmade gifts, food and drink traders.

Refreshments will be provided by the Didcot Scouts Stalls available via jeanette.howse@btinternet.com

Didcot Christmas Bake Off 14th & 15th November 2015, Civic Hall, Britwell Road, Didcot.

10.30-4pm This is the 2nd year of the Didcot Christmas Bake Off. Sunday Science Club meets the Bake Off demonstration, sponsored by The Royal Society of Chemistry and organised by Christine Wallace who was a contestant on The Great British Bake Off in 2012.

There are seven categories to enter.

Star prize - a day at Miele Cookery School.

Booking forms via facebook ‘Didcot Christmas Bake Off’ or e-mail jeanette.howse@btinternet.com or chris.wallace1@btconnect.com

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Oxfordshire Advocacy: Free Advocacy Services Rosie Young, pictured, a retired nurse living with cancer……..

“Having an advocate at my appointments just made all the difference in the world, because I didn’t have to be the Rosie-the-nurse, Rosie-the-patient, Rosie-the-everything. I could just focus on me and what people were saying to me, knowing that my advocate was writing stuff down and if I got it wrong, then she’d talk me through it but also would help me challenge… If it hadn’t been for the advocate being there and stepping in I think I might have ended up having completely the wrong type of treatment for me.”

A new service run by Oxfordshire Advocacy in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, providing one to one support for anyone aged 50+ affected by cancer, whether they are a Patient or a Carer.

Give us a call on 01865 230203 Email us at copa@oadg.org.uk If you know of anyone affected by cancer and aged 50 or more If you feel that they might benefit from having a Macmillan trained volunteer to support them at appointments or with getting the practical help they need If you are interested in volunteering yourself

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Gardeners required Do you have green fingers?

Do you have a little time to spare?

If the answer to these questions is “Yes!” then the Earth Trust would love to hear from you!

Around the Earth Trust Centre in Little Wittenham there are some gardens in need of attention. The area includes fruit bushes, five beds of shrubs and ground cover plants, low box hedges, two herb beds, and three climbing plants. There are also some less formal areas used by school groups: an orchard, wild play area, wildlife pond and living willow structures, plus native hedgerows.

“Whilst it’s great to leave some areas of your garden to grow wild, to benefit local wildlife, some plants require a bit more care, so we’re looking for green fingered volunteers to help us maintain and develop these gardens and other areas. We’ll provide support, tools, gloves and other safety equipment when necessary, as well as the all important tea, coffee and biscuits.

Ideas for new plantings and other improvements would be welcomed so there is a real opportunity for someone to put their own stamp on it,” said Jez Elkin, Volunteer Engagement Officer at the Earth Trust.

Much of the work is dependent on the time of year but the Trust could easily accommodate a couple of volunteer gardeners one or two days a week. If you are interested please contact Jez on 01865 409413 or volunteering@earthtrust.org.uk. For more information about the Earth Trust see www.earthtrust.org.uk

What’s on at the Civic Hall Murder Mystery - 007 Club 5th December 2015 7.00pm-11.00pm Retro Toy Fair 26th September 2015 10:00am-3.00pm NHS Blood Donors - Drop-in Sessions 9th October 2015 1pm-7.30pm

Silver Slipper Club 17th October 2015 8.00pm -11.50pm

Zedex 2015 - Hosted by ODMRC 18th October 2015 10:30am-4.00pm Piglets Retro and Vintage Fair 24th October 2015 10:00am-4.00pm

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Didcot Town Council All Saints Ward Margaret Turner Alan Thompson Anthony Dearlove

01235 812958 01235 202652 01235 818665

2 Morrells Close 3 Cronshaw Close 43 Crossville Crescent 2 Partridge Close 45 Bond Street

OX11 7DJ OX11 7JT OX11 7HE

maggieann.turner@gmail.com alan.thompson670@ntlworld.com anthony.dearlove@aol.co.uk

Ron Milton-Eldridge John Louth

07540 262124 07776 232404

OX11 6AB TW20 0PL

ron.milton-eldridge@didcotconservatives.com john.louth@didcotconservatives.com

Ladygrove Ward Steve Connel Tony Harbour

07540 432461 07771 594368

OX11 7XE OX11 6BJ

steve.connel@southoxon.gov.uk harbourtony@hotmail.com

01235 511363 07776 307570 07752 101048 07733 104875 07949 412596

3 Cam Close 4 Lisa Head Avenue 180 Abingdon Road 8 Finham Brook 15 Nunney Brook 43 Blackthorn Road 9 Whitebeam Court

Neville F Harris Simon Clarke Bill Service Anthony Nash Charlie Robertson

OX11 9BP OX11 7YE OX11 7FW OX11 6AY OX11 6BY

nevhar@aol.com sclarke.ladygrove@gmail.com bill.service@hotmail.co.uk Anthony.Nash@southoxon.gov.uk charles.robertson@southoxonconservatives.c om

Millbrook Ward James Hart

07539 207048

32 East Lockinge

OX12 8QG

deliciousofwantage@hotmail.com

Northbourne Ward Margaret Davies Bernard Cooper Jackie Billington Michael Turner

01235 816496 01235 811806 07876 508783 01235 812958

15 Evenlode Drive 1 Loyd Road 80 Mereland Road 2 Morrells Close

OX11 7XG OX11 8JX OX11 8AY OX11 7DJ

mldaviesbb@btinternet.com bcooper@ntlworld.com Billingtonj@rpsgroup.com michaeljturner.turner@gmail.com

Orchard Ward Johanna Nash

07800 855 415

43 Blackthorn Road

OX11 6AY

johanna.l.nash@gmail.com

Park Ward Des Healy

01235 212102

OX11 0AL

Ben Shaw

07934 389 171

19 Collingwood Avenue 14 High Street

Tim Bedford

07930 958 748

22A Church Street

OX11 8DQ

OX11 8EQ tdrhost@btinternet.com

Didcot Town Council can also be contacted by using the details below Telephone 01235 812637 Email council@didcot.gov.uk, Write to Didcot Town Council, Civic Hall, Britwell Road, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 7HN website www.didcot.gov.uk.

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