Cotswold Link (West Ox) Jan Feb 2018

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January / February 2018

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inside

Your CotswoldLink

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20

Award for The Angel at Burford

Success for The Angel at Burford as they win “Best Pub in the Cotswolds” for 3 years running

Broadband

Ultrafast broadband arrives in West Oxfordshire

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18

Garden View

For beautiful flowering shrubs this Winter

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20

08 New businesses and services 16 Local people key to new homes scheme health: local news 10 Benefits of learning an instrument 17 Homeseeker Plus: 1 year on local news: garden view: 12 Award for The Angel at Burford 18 Winter flowering shrubs events local news: 12 Seasonal events across our area 20 Broadband arrives in West Oxfordshire good read local news: 14 2 books reviewed by us 20 New streets recall Witney historic figures education cotswold link 14 How did the months get named? 22 Advertising Details & Index business:

local news: FEATURED

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Welcome to the January - February issue

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year. We welcome 2018 with a number of updates from across the area, from an award for a local pub (p12), to the arrival of ultrafast Broadband (p20). We also have some great tips for a beautiful garden full of Winter flowering shrubs.

Don’t forget, if you have any news, events, updates or stories 01609 777401 01609 779097 of local interest, please send them to editorial@jkanorth.com and we’ll do our best to publish them for you. cotswoldlink.co.uk I hope you all enjoy this issue and I’ll see you again in March.

Best wishes,

Christine Campbell | Editor Cotswold Link Magazine is published in good faith and the editors cannot be held responsible in any way for inaccuracies in reports or advertising in reports or advertising that appear in this publication and the views of the contributors may not be the those of the editors. Adverts and advertisers Your Cotswold Link carry no implied recommendation from the magazine or the publishers. All rights reserved. All information is appearing in Cotswold Link Magazine correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of going to press. Cotswold Link Magazine cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

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New Year...New Bathroom?

Cotswold Link recently spoke to Country Bathrooms owners Ross & Deborah about their business and what makes it tick!

“For us it’s all about offering a personal service at a competitive price. People know that when they contact us they will speak to either Deborah or myself and that we are here to help”, says Ross.

Deborah continues, “We specialise in all things bathrooms and I think that people really appreciate honest advice and traditional values when they are undertaking such important work as a new bathroom.”

Country Bathrooms service all your bathroom needs, from minor repairs and tiling work only through to full

design, supply and re-fit.

All work is carried out with the customers needs in mind, from initial visit to the finishing touches, we always ensure that all of our work is carried out with the upmost professionalism and to the highest standards as we pride ourselves on keeping our customers happy and delivering their requirements.

Their team of staff is now growing so more lovely bathrooms can be completed!

For more information, give Ross & Deborah a call now on: 07776 145 878 / 01993 220412 or visit their NEW website: www.countrybathrooms.co.uk

Ross was born and raised in Witney and now lives in the Cotswolds. He is a fully City & Guilds qualified Plumbing and Heating engineer who specialises in bathroom installations, running his own bathroom fitting business since 2006.

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W E N businesses s & service our area in & around

“New To The Area” is a new business feature specifically designed to help new businesses and those that are offering new businesses and services to promote themselves cost effectively.

Businesses are invited to submit their adverts to this feature at the regular price and they will receive the

equivalent space in complimentary editorial*. This editorial provides excellent business exposure to 18,400 homes and businesses and allows further explanation of the new business or services available. * Editorial must be supplied completed.

Contact us today to get your business in the Link!

01609 777401 / 01609 779097 01904 709462 / cotswoldlink.co.uk

New Year, New You! Why not try and start the year as you mean to go on and come and see Sarah for an assessment and an MOT and sort out any niggling problems you may have.

Three Valleys Osteopathic Clinic can treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal and structural conditions.

Council revives quashed Charlbury application

Plans to build a care home, affordable and self-build housing in Charlbury have been relaunched.

West Oxfordshire District Council has re-advertised the application for the development near the town’s railway station after its original decision to approve it was quashed in July.

The original application did not go ahead as case law changed between the time it was approved and the point it was actually issued.

The new law stated that applications such as this in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty needed extra consideration as to the pros and cons of the development.

Local interest group, Friends of Evenlode Valley, chal-

lenged the original decision, arguing that the updated case law had not been properly applied by the time the decision was issued and the Council decided not to contest the claim.

Now WODC has re-advertised the application for 25 homes comprising self/ custom build, housing and affordable housing as well as a 12 bed supported living facility and has begun consulting with interested parties.

Cllr Jeff Haine, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, said: “We want to let as many people as possible know that the application is going to be re-considered and that they can comment again- whether that is merely to re-affirm their existing position or whether they wish to raise new issues.

as you are but most will involve a variety of techniques dependent on your diagnosis. I may use gentle muscle manipulation and tissue massage to help relieve tension in your muscles and to increase the mobility of joints. An osteopath can also use stretching techniques to help ease problems with your joints and muscles. ........................................................

For more information please contact us on: 07968 562 943 or visit: www.threevalleysosteopathyclinic.co.uk

Who can osteopathy work for?

Osteopathy can work for everyone!

My patients range from children to the very elderly. As osteopaths treat each person as a unique individual I can specifically tailor your treatment to your own levels of fitness, age and condition. Whatever your needs I can work with you to bring your body back into alignment and have techniques suitable for all.

What does an osteopathic treatment involve?

Each treatment is as individual

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Sarah Kitchiner

....................... .......................

Registered Osteopath ..........

BSc Hons Ost Med

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Forget Brain-Training, Learn an Instrument We are told we need to keep our brains active as we age, to help stave off cognitive decline and the risk of dementia. A whole industry has grown up around this, and we are urged to buy the latest brain-training apps and books. Yet research has thrown doubt on a lot of the hype surrounding these, with many now dismissed as useless gimmicks.

But there is robust scientific evidence which shows that learning to play a musical instrument is not just beneficial to children: adults benefit too and it may even be helpful to patients recovering from brain injuries.

Playing a musical instrument is a rich and complex experience that involves integrating information from the senses of vision, hearing, and touch, as well as fine movements. Musical training can induce long-lasting changes in the brain.

Professional musicians are highly skilled individuals who spend years training, so they provide a natural

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laboratory in which neuroscientists can study how such changes – called experience-dependent plasticity – occur across their lifespan.

Early brain scanning studies revealed significant differences in brain structure between musicians and non-musicians of the same age. For example, the corpus callosum, a massive bundle of nerve fibres connecting the two sides of the brain, is significantly larger in musicians, and the brain areas involved in movement, hearing, and visuo-spatial abilities also appear to be larger.

Longitudinal studies (which track people over time) have shown that young children who undertake 14 months musical training exhibit significant structural and functional brain changes compared to those who do not. Learning to play a musical instrument not only increases grey matter volume in various brain regions, but also strengthens the long-range connections between those regions.

Other research shows that musical training enhances verbal memory, spatial reasoning, and literacy skills: professional musicians usually outperform non-musicians in these areas.

More recently, it has become clear that musical training facilitates the rehabilitation of patients recovering from stroke and other forms of brain damage. It also seems to have a protective effect against the onset of dementia.

mental function, and improves other abilities that are seemingly unrelated, such as working memory and language.

Learning to play an instrument strengthens the brain in a way that nothing else does, so put down the Sudoku and pick up your ukulele. You know it makes sense.

One problem with commercial brain training products is that they only improve performance on the skills involved; musical training on the other hand has what psychologists refer to as transfer effects; in other words, learning to play a musical instrument seems to have a far broader effect on the brain and

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The Angel, Burford voted Best Pub in the Cotswolds 3 years running

Out & About Every 4th Thursday

19th January

With demonstrations, outings, workshops and more. Join us in the Lower Town Hall every 4th Thursday of the month Starting 21st September at 7pm More details: Ann 01608 683289 or Kaye 01993 831146 ........................................................

WRECKS TO RELICS - THE STORY OF MULBERRY HARBOUR. 2.30pm. An illustrated talk by Paul Barnett on the D Day flotilla of concrete ships that played a vital role in the success of the Normandy landings.

Great Rissington Club GL54 2LW £3.50 to include refreshments.

Contact 01451 820233. ........................................................

n Chipping Norton Flower Club

18th January

n Griff Rhys Jones: Where Was I?

The Cotswolds Awards

Terence & Gemma said

2017 have awarded

“We will have spent six

The Angel, Burford the

years at The Angel in

award of Best Pub in the

December this year, and it

Cotswolds 2017. This

is so wonderful to win this

makes it three years

award, and know that our

running for the Angel, a

customers still love what

Hook Norton Brewery pub

we do”

nestled in the heart of Burford.

Hook Norton Brewery Managing Director James

Run by Terence King and

Clarke said “We are ex-

Gemma Finch the Angel

tremely proud of Terence,

fought off stiff competi-

Gemma and the whole

tion to pick up their award.

team at The Angel and

The Cotswold Awards

what they have achieved.

receive nominations for

The Cotswolds is an ex-

businesses and people in

tremely competitive area

the Cotswolds who are all

to operate in and to win

just plain awesome and so

this award three years in a

fabulous at what they do,

row is a fantastic accolade,

that their customers felt

made even more so by

there should be an award

the fact that the award is

with their name on it!

generated through genuine

7.45pm - Chipping Norton Theatre Chippy favourite Griff Rhys Jones made his way into the country’s hearts as one half of Smith and Jones. Best known for his sketch comedy work he returns to Chipping Norton for another heartwarming and hilarious evening.

All Tickets £18.50 BOX OFFICE: 01608 642350 Mon to Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 10am - 2pm chippingnortontheatre.com ........................................................

18th – 21st January n Panto: Aladdin

The Bacon Theatre, Cheltenham Promenade Productions Traditional Family panto for 2018 is ALADDIN, a story full of Eastern promise, a ‘rags to riches’ tale– packed with adventure with some original twists and turns along the way. Aladdin will have all the ingredients that make it a not-to-be missed Panto - a large cast of singers and dancers, lavish costumes, colourful scenery and lots of audience participation. Oh yes it will! Book early for the best seats Evenings 7.00pm.

Matinees Saturday & Sunday 2.30pm Tickets £10 - £15 from Showcase 01242 224144 Concessions on block bookings ........................................................

n Rissingtons Local History Society

20th January

n Hare & Tortoise

2.30pm - Chipping Norton Theatre A delightful adaptation of Aesop’s fable about opposites, time and friendship. Who is the fastest; who is the best? Who will finally win the race? Younger, fitter, faster Hare - tearing around, unable to wait - or slow and steady Tortoise - taking the time to look at the stars?

All Tickets £8.50 BOX OFFICE: 01608 642350 Mon to Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 10am - 2pm chippingnortontheatre.com ........................................................

25th January

n An Evening with Gervase Phinn

7.45pm - Chipping Norton Theatre With his keen ear for the absurd and sharp eye for the ludicrous, Gervase shares his hilarious and sometimes poignant tales of life as a schools inspector in the Yorkshire Dales. Comedian, author, poet, broadcaster, lecturer, educational guru, after-dinner speaker and ‘born raconteur’ All Tickets £18 BOX OFFICE: 01608 642350 Mon to Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 10am - 2pm chippingnortontheatre.com ........................................................

customer nominations. “ Voted for by the public, The Cotswolds Awards is the only completely impartial and public awards in the Cotswolds.

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Having an event?

Email us your event details to: events@jkanorth.com and we’ll publish it for you. Magazine distribution dates are on p22.

25th January

n An Afternoon with Michael Portillo

Venue: Cheltenham Town Hall Prices: £16.00 Michael Portillo was until 2008, in and out of the House of Commons, serving in Cabinet and as Shadow Chancellor. Since then he has made radio and television documentaries on a wide range of subjects, including eight series of “Great British Railway Journeys”, for BBC2. This event is by invitation of the Gloucestershire Federation of Women’s Institutes and any profits will go to the Denman College Appeal. cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk ........................................................

26th January

n The Blues Brothers: Paul Jones & Dave Kelly

St. Edward’s Church, Stow-onthe-Wold, GL54 1AB 7:30pm, Ticket Price £25.00 Paul was the original front-man with the group Manfred Mann, and co-composer of the signature tune for Ready, Steady, Go! He was at the forefront of the 60s pop revolution, with million-selling records alongside the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Animals. In 1979 he founded The Blues Band, which helped kick start another boom in Blues music. Free Parking in The Square, Stow after 6PM. Doors open for drinks 6:30PM Tickets from Borzoi Bookshop 01451 830268. www.WeGotTickets.com.

More details: www.musicatstow.co.uk ........................................................

27th January

n Volunteer Open Day 10:00 - 15:00 Cogges Manor Farm

Free entry. Is volunteering at Cogges right for you? Why not come along and meet our volunteers and staff to find out. Volunteers make a huge difference to all aspects of life at Cogges.

Do you have a skill or craft you could use or share? There are many ways in which you can join in and help keep Cogges alive and vibrant, learn new skills and make new friends. Drop in any time 10am-3pm when there will be a great team to welcome you and tell you how volunteering at Cogges works. www.cogges.org.uk Cogges Manor Farm Church Lane Witney OX28 3LA Tel: 01993 772602 ........................................................

19th February

n Hailey Gardening Club Talk

Hailey Gardening Club are holding a talk by Timothy Walker called ON TOP BUT NEVER IN CONTROL – TALES FROM A SMALL GARDEN This is the story of the making of a 1/5 acre garden. It is a story of successes and failures. It charts not only the development of the garden during the past 13 years but also the gardeners and gardens that have influenced the style of planting. This talk shows what you can do on your own in a short period of time.

7.30pm Hailey Village Hall OX29 9UA Members free, Non-members £3 Tel 01993 899125 ........................................................

Please note: the editors cannot be held responsible for any changes to events listed. Please contact event organisers directly. All events correct at time of going to press.

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A NEW YEAR

A Good Read

HOW DID THE MONTHS GET THEIR NAMES?

The Earth Hums in B Flat n Mari Strachan

Gwenni Morgan is twelve, and every night she flies in her sleep – over the town and the countryside around, looking down on familiar and not so familiar scenes. She thinks she remembers flying while awake as a small child, but somehow she has lost the ability to do so, no matter how hard she tries. And she daren’t try too hard, because Mam doesn’t like any reminders that Gwenni might not be the same as everyone else.

Set in rural Wales in the 1950s, Strachan’s debut novel follows Gwenni as the disappearance of a local man begins a chain of events, which reveal some of the secrets that lie under the surface of everyday life.

The novel works in a number of ways. On the one hand, it is at times a darkly comic portrayal of small town Wales. On the other, it is a story about families, their secrets and the after effects of war. What holds these strands together is Gwenni herself as narrator, who sees more than she understands, and whose innocence is captured perfectly in Strachan’s often understated prose style.

The supporting characters are equally well drawn – from highly strung Mam, to kind, patient Tada, from the mysterious Aunty Lol, to Alwenna, Gwenni’s best friend, old beyond her years and ‘with no shame!’ Although the solution to the main mystery of the story is clear to the reader from the outset, Strachan holds back just enough to keep us guessing at the other strands which she brings together for the conclusion – I guarantee she will keep you reading until the end.

Clown

The names of the months in the calendar go back to the first Roman king, King Romulus. In 732BC Romulus’s calendar had only 10 named months, the first month being that of what we refer to as March: Martius - after the Roman God of war Mars.

Aprilis - from the Latin aperire, meaning ‘to open’ (flowers open in spring).

Maius - after Maia, mother of Mercury.

Junius - after Juno, Queen of the Gods.

These first 4 months are from where our months of March, April, May and June originate. Then for some unexplained reason Romulus changed to numbering the months: Quintilis - from the Latin quintus, meaning ‘fifth’.

Sextilis- from the Latin sextus, meaning ‘sixth’.

September - from the Latin septum, meaning ‘seven’.

October - from the Latin octo, meaning ‘eight.’

November - from the Latin novem, meaning ‘nine’.

December - from the Latin decem, meaning ‘ten’.

These are the origins of the months September, October, November and December. Romulus decided that the days of the dark months of the winter should be nameless. This must have caused some confusion because around 700BC King Numa introduced 2 additional months: Januarius - after the two-faced God Janus Februarius- from Februa, a Roman feast Consequently January and February where conceived.

The Romans lived with this system for the centuries leading up to Julius Caesar. They then decided to honour Julius by naming a month after him. They changed the 5th month of their calendar from Quintilis to what we now call July.

n Quentin Blake Can you tell a story without words? Well, Quentin Blake can, and in Clown he does.

The book consists entirely of illustrations, in Blake’s well loved and instantly recognisable style. Our hero, Clown, finds himself thrown into the dustbin, along with a number of other toys. He escapes, dusts himself off, and sets out to find someone who can help him to rescue his friends. Along the way he finds himself in a fancy dress competition, entertaining a rather fierce looking dog, and possibly finding himself a home – all without words.

The beauty of the story is that while Blake’s illustrations carry the narrative forward, the reader can choose their own way of telling it. No two versions are ever the same, as each child brings to the book their own language and rhythms. Clown himself is wonderfully expressive, and the pictures are enough to have you laughing out loud in several places.

An absolutely marvellous book, which every child should read – and which every adult will enjoy too.

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World Braille Day January 4th

Louis Braille was born in France on January 4th, 1809. When he was three he lost the sight in one eye due to an accident. Unfortunately the damaged eye became infected and this spread to the other eye, leaving him without sight. Louis worked hard to master his disability and despite being unable to see he excelled in his education and received a scholarship to France’s Royal Institute for Blind Youth.

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During his studies he was inspired by the military cryptography of Charles Barbier of the French Army.

As a result of this Louis developed a system of tactile code that allowed the blind to read and write as efficiently as their sighted counterparts. Braille presented the results of his hard work to his peers when he was just fifteen years old in 1824. Five years later he published his first book about the system he had created, called “Method of Writing Words, Music, and Plain Songs by Means of Dots, for Use by the Blind and Arranged for Them”.

Ceasar was followed by Augustus who had the 6th month named after him, consequently the month of Sextilis was renamed August. This in itself created a problem for the Romans, the month of Sextilis had 30 days compared with July which had 31 days (as the following table shows).

Augustus demanded that he was just as great a person as Caesar and his month should also have 31 days. This meant that there would be 3 consecutive months of 31 days in July, August and September which to the superstitious Romans was unlucky. Their way around this was to take one day off February and add it on to August, then take one day off September put it on to October and similarly do the same with November and December. This numbering system has remained with us ever since with the exception of leap years.

Month

Days allocated before Augustus

Days allocated after Augustus

January

31

31

February

29

28

March

31

31

April

30

30

May

31

31

June

30

30

July

31

31

August

30

31

September

31

30

October

30

31

November

31

30

December

30

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Grant funding kick starts a new era for football club

John Harris

The Braille system works by representing the alphabet letters (and numbers) in a series of 6 dots paired up in 3 rows. The idea was simple, yet genius and allowed books to be produced on a large scale in a format that thousands of blind people could read by running their fingertips over the dots.

It is thanks to Louis Braille that blind students have the opportunity to be educated and work alongside their sighted peers, as well as read for pleasure just as easily as any seeing person can.

By Sarah Davey

A football club is looking to a bright future in a new home after landing a £50,000 cash injection from West Oxfordshire District Council.

Charlbury Town Football and Sports Club was left without a clubhouse after it was demolished to make way for the new Community Centre in the town.

That sparked a drive to raise £180,000 for new facilities – a target which has almost been met thanks to the fundraising campaign helped by the Community Facilities Grant from the Council.

Club Secretary Amanda Cooper said: “Our old clubhouse was really just a converted classroom from Spendlove Secondary School. We had been there 20 years and it wasn’t fit for

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purpose. The new centre will not only provide a home for the football club but also a whole range of other sports and activities – we are already receiving inquiries for bookings next year.”

As well as football, the aim is to offer facilities for Aunt Sally, darts and pool teams while providing a centre of activity for young and old who just want to be involved in sport.

Committee member and Charlbury Town Councillor Phil Morgan added: “The clubhouse will be a safe place to go for young people and families. We used to have 200 members and soon we will be able to expand on that – anyone can join.”

The clubhouse will be added onto the existing pavilion facing the football pitches. Features will include high quality catering facilities and a large social area which will be able to host events.

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Local people the key to new affordable homes scheme

The

Cotswold Sky

Explore the Orion Nebulae - A Steller Nursery where stars are being born During the months of January and February if you look south from around 19.30 hours you will see the constellation of Orion.

Diary

31st January – We have a Blue Moon.

The second Full Moon to appear in a single month is referred to as a Blue Moon and derives from American farming almanacs. Also on this day is a total Lunar Eclipse but alas it is viewable from the USA not the UK.

Planets

Mercury –At the start

The Constellation of Orion

Note the 3 stars in alignment which represent Orion’s belt. Directly below you will notice a “fuzzy” area. This is the Orion Nebulae known as M42; it is one of the most popular areas of observation for astronomers. In this part of the sky new stars and planetary systems are presently being born, but remember the process takes millions of years.

The beauty of Orion is that it is plainly visible on clear nights with the naked eye, binoculars or better still with a telescope from which spectacular detailed views can be observed particularly with a camera attached.

Amazingly we are observing the Nebulae as it was 1,500 years ago because that is how long it has taken the light to reach Earth. Equally astonishing is that travelling at the speed of light it would take 25 years to cross it, and yet this is only one small part of the sky which holds such fascination for not only astronomers but those who have inquisitive minds wishing to broaden their knowledge.

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of January Mercury can be observed before dawn, very low in the south east. It will not then be observable until the latter part of February to the lower right of Venus at dusk.

Venus – Too close to the Sun to be observable during January, but by mid-February it will be observable as it appears very brightly at dusk on the western horizon.

Mars – In early January Mars stays very close to Jupiter in the very early morning. For the remaining weeks to the end of February Mars continues to be observed close to the south/south east part of the sky.

Jupiter – During January Jupiter rises in the south east at around 03.00 hours and continues to rise earlier each week so by the end of February it can be observed from 01.00 hours.

Saturn – Starts to rise in the south east at 07.00 hours from mid-January so will be difficult to observe as it competes with a rising Sun. By mid-February Saturn can be observed to the lower left of Mars from 05.00 hours each morning for the remainder of the month.

Meteor Showers

Quadrantids – Visible between 1st and

10th January peaking 3rd /4th January.

John Harris

Residents and council officials gathered at the launch of a new affordable rural housing development in West Oxfordshire.

The special event saw West Oxfordshire MP Robert Courts officially open the ten-home scheme in Bury Close, Kingham which will give priority to local residents who are otherwise priced out of the market.

Mr Courts said: “This fantastic scheme brings much-needed housing to local people. Everyone involved should be proud of what they have achieved here.”

Dragos and Doris Goga are among the first residents to move in with children Darius, seven, Albert, four and two-year-old Lina and are delighted with their new three-bedroom home. Mrs Goga, who has worked as a carer in Kingham for seven years, said: “I love the house and the area. We used to live in Chipping Norton but there is far more room for the children to go out and play here.

We are really impressed with the quality of the work and by the professionalism of everyone involved,” added Mr Goga.

Sovereign Housing Association arranged for the homes to be built on land previously owned

by West Oxfordshire District Council. Formerly a domestic garden area, the land was transferred to Sovereign as part of a land assembly deal in December 2016, subject to section 106 agreement.

Development was completed in October 2017 with residents

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moving in soon after. The properties, all of which will be let at an affordable rent, comprise two one-bedroom apartments, four two-bed houses and four threebed houses.

Heather Bowman, Chief Operating Officer at Sovereign, said: “There is a real need for this kind of affordable housing to help families stay connected to their local area. Only by working closely together with those living and working in our communities can we really make a difference and Bury Close is a fantastic example of what can be achieved to help our rural communities thrive.”

The section 106 agreement attached to the planning permission meant that applicants with a local connection, such as working or living in Kingham, or with family members there, were given priority for the new homes.

Peter Burrows, Director at EG Carter & Co Ltd, said: “This scheme is an excellent example of where collaboration and teamwork have enabled everyone to produce a truly excellent affordable housing project which embodies modern technology whilst embracing the local character and tradition.”

The official opening took place in November.

Picture shows: L-R: Cllr Colin Dingwall, Doris Goga, Dragos Goga, Robert Courts, Heather Bowman and Peter Burrows with Lina and Darius Goga (front)

Successful start for housing system Hundreds of people in West Oxfordshire have been able to find a new home thanks to an online allocation system.

Homeseeker Plus is celebrating its first anniversary of operation in the District and in that time 402 applicants have been accommodated in suitable Housing Association properties. And initial fears that not everyone would be able to use the system have proved unfounded with 15,463 bids being made online for properties out of a total of 15,588 – more than 98 per cent.

Homeseeker Plus lists vacant houses across the District for rent online.

Prospective and existing tenants are banded according to their individual needs and can then ‘bid’ for properties suited to their circumstances.

The scheme replaced the Housing Waiting List. Properties are advertised weekly and when the advertising period ends

Overnight Oats Have you made healthier eating a part of your New Year plan? If so you should definitely try this healthy, hearty breakfast. A friend introduced me to overnight oats and I have to say I’m hooked.

First, it’s the easiest breakfast ever.

There’s nothing to cook; you make it the night before in under 5 minutes, and when you wake up, it’s there waiting. All you have to do is eat it!

The basic recipe is very adaptable; you can do so many different things with it.

I tend to eat mine cold but if you like things hot, heat them up in the microwave Oats help to reduce cholesterol and are a whole, unprocessed source of carbohydrates, which release energy slowly so are a great start to the day.

the Council will offer each property to the most appropriate bidder.

The aim is to match tenants with the best properties for their needs allowing them more choice over where they want to live.

Anyone unable to use the system is offered appropriate support.

Elizabeth Church recently used the system to move to a new home in Chipping Norton after being faced with the threat of homelessness.

She said: “The Council helped me through every stage offering advice and support throughout the process and the officers involved genuinely cared about my situation. They were with me every step of the way until I was finally housed.”

Significantly, with 2,025 people reg-

istered, the system has been used effectively to help meet people’s needs, for example with residents moving to smaller properties when family members move out, freeing up homes for larger families.

Cllr Colin Dingwall, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Homeseeker Plus has given more people choice over where they want to live and is fairer and more transparent.

“We are pleased that it has been so successful and we hope more people will benefit from it in the future.”

Basic Overnight Oats Ingredients • 1/2 cup dry oats (the actual cup size doesn’t really matter. It’s about proportions…just use a bigger cup if you have a bigger appetite) • 1 cup of unsweetened milk (I like almond milk but cows’ milk, soya milk, plain yoghurt or a mix of yoghurt and milk is all good) • Fruit of choice (fresh, frozen or even tinned) • 1 tbsp chia seeds or flax seeds (optional but good for healthy omega 3 fats) • Nuts (optional)

Method 1. Combine everything into an airtight bowl or jar (I leave nuts out as I like them crunchy) 2. Leave in the fridge overnight 3. Eat in the morning! You can heat them if you like.

Variations: Fruit: apples, banana, nectarines, blueberries, strawberries, figs, redcurrants (most fruits taste great).

Flavourings: flaked or desiccated coconut, ground almonds.

Sweeteners: If you have a sweet tooth you can add maple syrup, honey or jam. My kids experimented with chocolate milk too – lovely with bananas.

Healthy fats: flax, nuts, nut butters Toppings to add in the morning: granola, nuts, raisins, sour cherries, additional fruit, chocolate chunks

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GARDEN VIEW

Winter

Flowering Shrubs This month – Sniff! Sniff!

No I don’t have a cold but this month I will be sniffing a lot. Mainly because of my winter-flowering shrubs.

yellow ‘Pallida’ and the deep red ‘Ruby Glow’ are equally lovely.

Every garden should have a couple of plants which bravely open their petals while winter is doing its worst.

My dad had a wonderful winter-flowering honeysuckle in his garden: Lonicera fragrantissima, which I adored.

Viburnum farreri or Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ or ‘Deben’ are upright shrubs which bear pretty clusters of pinkbuds on their bare branches, that open into honey-scented white flowers. They are incredibly tough, withstanding all but the harshest of frost. It’s lovely to cut a few sprigs to stand in a jam jar indoors.

My favourite winter flowering shrub is the witch hazel plant Hamamelis mollis.

It’s a delightful shuttlecock-shaped bush that explodes with citrus-scented spidery flowers right about now. I have the orange ‘Jelena’ in my garden but the pale

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A few years ago I discovered Lonicera x purpussi and fell in love. It has creamy white flowers and a really strong scent.

Even if you have a tiny garden you’ll have room for a Christmas Box Sarcococca confusa. It produces white whiskery flowers from among its dark shiny evergreen foliage. I have two in pots on either side of my path and I’ve had people stop in their tracks and return back towards the house sniffing, in search of the source of the amazing sweet, heady scent.

And don’t forget that there are scented snowdrops and tiny Iris reticulata which are deliciously perfumed too.

Time to get sniffing. Happy gardening.

By Rachael Leverton

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The Big Garden Birdwatch The Big Garden Birdwatch is world’s largest garden wildlife survey, and 2018 will mark its 39th year.

It is run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and will take place on 27th , 28th and 29th January 2018. All we have to do is spend just one hour watching and recording the birds in our garden or a local green space. Then we send our results to the RSPB. Close to half-a- million people joined in last year counting more than eight million birds and providing valuable information about the wildlife using our gardens in winter. We’re all familiar with the sight of bluetits on a bird feeder or a cheery robin hunting for grubs but it might come as a shock to know that some of our most-loved species are in desperate need of our help because their numbers have dropped dramatically.

Species such as starlings and greenfinches have seen their numbers decline by 79 and 59 per cent respectively since the first Birdwatch in 1979.

40 years worth of data allows the RSPB to monitor trends and helps us understand how birds are faring, and what potential issues they might be facing. With results from so many gardens, they are able to create a snapshot of the visiting birds at this time of year across the UK. So even if you see nothing at all during your Big Garden Birdwatch hour, that’s important information too!

The RSPB also asks participants to log some of the other wildlife they have seen throughout the year. In 2018 people are being asked to

look out for badgers, foxes, grey squirrels, red squirrels, muntjac deer, roe deer, frogs and toads.

To take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2018, participants should watch the birds in the garden or local park for one hour at some point over the three allocated days.

Only the birds that land in the garden or local park should be counted, don’t count those just flying over.

There is also a parallel event; Big Schools’ Birdwatch takes place which takes place during the period 2nd January23rd February 2018. Further information about this can be found at www.rspb.org.uk/ schoolswatch Both the Big Garden Birdwatch and the Big Schools’ Birdwatch are part of the RSPB Giving Nature a Home campaign. This is aimed at tackling the habitat-crisis facing the UK’s wildlife. The charity is asking people to provide a place for wildlife in their gardens or outdoor spaces: this could involve putting up a nest box for birds, creating a pond for frogs, or building a home for hedgehogs.

There is a free Big Garden Birdwatch pack, which includes a bird identification chart, plus advice to help you attract wildlife to your garden. Text BIRD to 70030 or visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch. Registration opens on 13th December 2017.

By Tom Hancock

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Ultrafast broadband heading for West Oxfordshire More than 4,600 homes and businesses in West Oxfordshire will be connected to ultrafast full fibre broadband by the end of 2019 thanks to a major new contract worth more than £8m.

The contract will see West Oxfordshire District Council and the Government’s broadband agency BDUK invest £3.1m between them with rural broadband specialist Gigaclear adding a further £5m.

The fibre-to-the-premises technology will offer ultrafast broadband to those who have previously struggled to obtain even basic connectivity. It will enable speeds of up to 1,000Mbps (1Gps).

Cllr Colin Dingwall, Cabinet Member for Broadband said: “Ultrafast broadband is essential for individuals and businesses in the area so we’re pleased that, through the contract with Gigaclear, we can see this investment through. Oxfordshire is known as the UK’s leading centre for innovation and we want to make sure we have the infrastructure to support this.”

Joe Frost, Business Development Director at Gigaclear, added: “Full fibre is the only future proofed solution to digital connectivity and we firmly believe the industry

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should prioritise the deployment of fibre broadband to homes and businesses throughout the country.

“Residents and businesses, especially those in rural areas, have been excluded for too long and I’m pleased Gigaclear is able to play a key role in solving this problem for all those living, working and visiting West Oxfordshire.”

Matt Hancock, Minister for Digital, said: “I am delighted that our investment will take full fibre broadband to another 4,600 homes and businesses in West Oxfordshire. We are transforming the nation’s digital landscape and by 2020 everyone in the UK will have access to a fast, reliable and affordable internet connection.”

West Oxfordshire marks Gigaclear’s 19th successful tender with BDUK, which has previously seen it deliver broadband networks to tens of thousands of homes and businesses across Berkshire, Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Northamptonshire.

Residents can find out more about the project and see if they can get ultrafast broadband by visiting www.gigaclear.com/connectingwestoxfordshire

New streets recall historic Witney figures

A new housing development in Witney will feature streets named after individuals who have had a major influence on the town.

The West Witney scheme, the first phase of which is now under way, will see about 1,000 homes built in an attractive tree-lined setting. Now, following consultation with Witney Town Council and the help of Witney historian Stanley Jenkins, the names of the streets can be revealed with all, barring Centenary Way which marks 100 years since the end of World War One, commemorating figures interweaved with Witney’s history.

The 73-hectare West Witney development will include a new primary school, space for a secondary school, a neighbourhood centre with shops, a free car park and potential for other amenities. A minimum of 30 per cent of the housing will be affordable and provision is made for an 80-unit extra care home, comprising of 40 affordable units.

There will be significant highway improvements as a result of West Witney while developer-funded contributions will go towards West Witney recreation ground (£250k) and the Corn Exchange (£100k), as well as town centre and car parking improvements (£250k) and public art (£100k).

The full list of street names: Townsend Road – A W Townsend of Manor Farm, Curbridge, was Deacon of Cote Baptists Church in 1910 and Townsend is a prominent name for Curbridge Winfield Drive – The Winfield family lived in Manor Farm which forms part of the site of the

development. William Winfield purchased the Farm in 1939 Rayson Lane - Thomas Rayson was the architect responsible for both Central Witney and Newland War memorials and site engineer with Witney Aerodrome Gordon Marshall Close – Philip Gordon Marshall was responsible for identifying Witney Aerodrome as a suitable location for the De Havilland Aeroplane Company during World War Two which led to the employment of many Witney residents Gregory Place- Francis Gregory and Henry Gregory were both masters at Henry Box School in the 18th and 19th centuries Robinson Lane – Basil Robinson was a long serving master of Henry Box School in the 1950s Mary Box Crescent – Mary Box was co-founder of Henry Box School with her husband Henry Mott Close – Edward John Mott served with 1st Battalion, The Border Regiment and was awarded the Victoria Cross for capturing a German machine gun placement at Le Transloy, France in January 1917. He lived at New Yatt Road, Witney and died in 1967 Horne Lane – Albert Horne from Witney died serving with the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars during the First World War in November 1914 aged 17 Clare Place – Lieutenant Colonel Fred Clare MBE DCM was born in Witney in 1889. He rose through the ranks, serving for 40 years with the same regiment and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal during the First World War Centenary Way – to mark 100 years of the end of World War One.

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Burns Night Robert Burns was a Scottish bard, born in 1759 who wrote many poems and lyrics during his life.

His most famous work is probably Auld Lang Syne, sang at New Year and which translates as ‘times long past’. Burns is one of Scotland’s most important cultural icons as many of his works addressed the political and civil issues of the time.

Robert Burns’ friends and acquaintances held the first Burns supper on July 21, the anniversary of his death, in the late 1700s. This

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date was later changed to January 25th, which marks his birthday. Burns suppers gradually became a tradition and are now held by people and organizations with Scottish origins worldwide.

At Burns Night events, many men and women wear kilts or other clothes made from their family tartan. At the centre of the supper is the haggis, which brought to the table to the tune of bagpipes. For the uninitiated haggis is a savoury pudding containing ‘sheep’s pluck’ (the heart, liver, and lungs of the animal) which are minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, stock and salt, then encased in the animal’s stomach -

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though artificial casings are more commonly used now. It can be baked or boiled and although it sounds quite revolting is surprisingly delicious, at least to this author! It’s served with a whisky sauce and some neeps and tatties - a mixture of swede and potato which works beautifully with the rough, oaty haggis. Cranachan is the traditional desert of cream, raspberries and oatmeal. It should all be washed down with a good whisky.

Have a great Burns night. Gun cuireadh do chupa thairis le slainte agus sonas. (Translation: May your cup overflow with health and happiness)

By Tracey Anderson

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