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Inspiring International Women’s Day Videos from the Town Clerk and the Leader of Witney Town Council

The theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is #InspireInclusion.

Here are links to the #IWD2024 videos from our Town Clerk/CEO, Sharon Groth and Leader, Cllr Ruth Smith with their views on the importance of the roles of women in Local Government and how times have changed over the years.

Witney Town Council is proud to have strong and positive women among councillors and staff working across all it’s departments, including the works and maintenance team. Gender is not a barrier to ambition here. #IWD

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Celebrating our Citizens of the Year 2023

It was truly a night to remember on Friday at the 2024 Civic Reception. Mayor Owen Collins presented the 2023 Citizen awards and in Witney Town Council’s fiftieth year we took a fond look back at some old photographs in a slideshow on the big screen. ⭐

Happily, several former Mayors were able to join us and enjoyed spotting themselves and others among the historic photos. It was a sentimental and heart-warming time and we recalled with affection, the mayors who were unable join us.

Also joining us were current councillors and previous town clerk, Judy White, who started her career at the Witney Town Council from the its very first day in 1974.

The main hall of the Corn Exchange  was stunning with gold themed highlights to further complement the 50 years theme of the event.

These were provided free of charge by @brideandbeautifulevents. Thank you to them for their beautifully designed room.

The proceedings began with the cutting of a huge celebration cake featuring the Gold 50 version of Witney Town Council’s logo.

The mood was also suitably celebratory with current Mayor, Councillor Owen Collins producing some great one-liners and some pretty bad puns as he joked with guests.

The very talented Paul Ashton-Bridges provided music and more laughs with his engaging delivery and selection of guaranteed audience participation songs.

The well -deserved awards began with a special award to the Rev Toby Wright, who has been Witney’s Team Rector since 2009. He has supported Civic events and been generous with his time despite being extremely busy. Later this year he will be leaving the parish to serve as the Dean of Wells.  We will miss him and there isn’t an award big enough to convey our thanks to him!

Next up Witney Vikings were awarded Sports Team of the Year with acknowledgments paid to the hard work of all the incredible volunteers that support the club, and the young people that bring such enthusiasm to the game.

The third award went to the volunteers at Witney Food Revolution who run the Witney Larder, for which there is a small membership fee and the Fridge, which is free to everyone. This impressive organisation combats food waste and provides the community with access to cheap or free food, by taking and redistributing surplus food and other goods from supermarkets.  The initiative is not about need, but about reducing waste and the tons of food that is going to landfill every week.  The team took home the Community Organisation of the Year award.

Finally, the Citizen of the Year Award went to Squadron Leader Mike Caffrey, the dedicated and popular leader of 2120 Squadron, Witney Air Cadets. Support for this nomination had poured in from across the town, from cadets themselves, colleagues and other cadet leaders  and from Councillors and staff at the Town Hall.  The Citizen of the Year award is the most prestigious of the Citizen awards and Mike was a hugely popular winner, as was very obvious  as he accepted his award from the Mayor.

Congratulations to the well-deserving winners, and grateful thanks to all who gave their time to nominate them. A Citizen award is the perfect way to acknowledge the great work that happens in our town.

 

Our 2023 winners

Well done to Reverend Toby, Wright, the Witney Vikings Youth Football Club, Witney Food Revolution, and Mike Caffrey.

 

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Work begins on the All wheeled Sports Park at The Leys

Building work is under way to create an improved wheeled sports facility for wheeled sports enthusiasts in Witney.

The Leys Wheeled Sports Park project is a step closer now that the first new features are in place at the site in Witney.

The project, which is being funded by a £57,975 grant from FCC Communities Foundation, will provide exciting new challenges with its redesigned layout and new features including ramps curbs, boxes and rails for users, once it is open on 28th March this year.

Cllr, Dr Ruth Smith, Leader of Witney Town Council is excited that the project is starting to take shape.

She says:

“It’s gratifying to see our vision for this vital community facility moving closer to reality. We are extremely grateful for the funding FCC Communities Foundation has given us and we’re looking forward to opening to the public.”

She added:

” It’s been great to find out the range of age groups, uses and abilities that the wheeled sports park caters for. I’ve spoken to young children on scooters right through to, let’s say, “veterans” of skating. Youth facilities in Witney are a high priority, and there’s no doubt this facility will also please teens.”

FCC Communities Foundation is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community projects through the Landfill Communities Fund.

Penny Horne, FCC Communities Foundation grant manager, says:

“It’s always nice to see something we have funded start to take shape. We’re delighted to be supporting such a worthwhile project and look forward to it benefitting all those wheeled sports enthusiasts within Witney and the surrounding areas.”

Details of the plans were warmly received by local skaters and other wheeled sports enthusiasts and the opening is now eagerly awaited.  Witney Town Council will be keeping them informed of progress on TiK Tok and its other social media platforms.

BMX Bike and Skateboard  at the site of the new all wheeled sports park

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Community Speedwatch

The first Community Speedwatch session in Witney was a terrific success! The volunteers did an excellent job monitoring the speed of 200 vehicles in just an hour earlier this week. Around 79% of motorists were travelling safely and responsibly but one driver was recorded travelling at 48mph in the 20mph zone outside a local primary school.

speedwatch volunteers

The volunteers were congratulated on their efforts by a local resident who came out to thank them in person. This support and appreciation is testament to the positive impact that Community Speedwatch can have on road safety in their communities and the role they play in promoting road safety and encouraging drivers to adhere to speed limits.

With such a fantastic response, further sessions are planned, and additional volunteers are welcome to join the team. If you’re interested in becoming a part of this initiative, you can contact the Witney Traffic Advisory Committee, who run the scheme, via the town council.

You can also find more information about Community Speedwatch on their website https://www.communityspeedwatch.org/FRONT-v2-Home.php

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Construction work is to begin at the Leys

CAUTION: Work is due to begin on the new Wheeled Sports Park at the Leys on Monday 22nd January and is due to complete at the end of March.
Access to the wheeled sports park construction site will be from The Leys off Station Ln as shown on the map.
All park users including motorists, pedestrians, dog walkers, cyclists, joggers, children and seniors should exercise extreme caution when entering the Leys during construction phase.
Map showing route to the leys for construction traffic. Traffic will use the access road and then pass through the Town Council depot and through the tennis courts
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Witney Town Council Precept 2024-25 Announced

Witney Town Council has agreed to increase its precept for the coming year, which will see residents pay an extra 85 pence a month for services. In real terms, the Town Council’s council tax portion has gone down since 2022 because inflation since the precept was last raised has been 20%.[1]

Councillors debated the budget proposals for the 2024/25 financial year, before agreeing to a 6.1% per cent increase to the precept at the Council meeting on Monday 8th January 2024. This means that from April the average Band D property will pay £177.00 a year for services, an extra £10.17 than last year.

The precept is the main source of income the Town Council gets and is just 7% of the total council tax bill paid by residents. The precept is used to deliver, maintain and enhance local services including community grants such as for youth work, early years, mental health drop-in; events such as Christmas lights, Remembrance and the Music Festival; parks and play areas, sports pitches, wheeled sports park, our public halls, the Corn Exchange, the lake and country park, cemeteries, street furniture and allotments.

Illustration

The precept ensures that although the Council needs to charge fees for some services these are kept as low and affordable as possible for everyone.

The Town Council has a duty to demonstrate sound financial management and responsible governance and will continue to reinvest in its services and meet the expectations and aspirations of its residents by maximising the benefits from the precept.

Cllr Ruth Smith, Leader of Witney Town Council said:

“I am immensely proud of our councillors and staff team for having the finances in such good shape, with ambitious plans for Witney’s facilities. Witney residents will see the impact of the precept – with investment in new sports and cafe at the Leys, at the West Witney Sports and Social Clubhouse, with enhancements at the Lake and Country Park, our youth services and the continued growth of the Corn Exchange as an arts centre and hub.

Cllr Smith was keen to stress that,

“Witney’s facilities serve an area far larger than Witney itself and we embrace the role Witney plays in West Oxfordshire. With inflation so high throughout 2023, when the precept was frozen, we do need to raise it this year to cover costs and continue to offer great services, that inspire, exercise and serve our community. “

[1] Based on the increase in the Retail Prices Index from November 2021 to November 2023, the last full two years which are available.

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REVAMP FOR POPULAR SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB IS ON THE WAY

West Witney Sports Club Refurbishment

Witney Town Council is delighted to have been granted planning permission for the refurbishment to West Witney Sports and Social Club Clubhouse on Burford Road.

The Council worked closely with the West Witney Sports Club Committee to develop the plans for improved facilities at this valued community and sports hub, used by multiple sports teams and organisations.

Phil Horne, Chair of West Witney Sports & Social Club said,

Our Chairperson and Secretary of West Witney Sports & Social Club have been working positively with Witney Town Council over the last few months to put together a plan for the refurbishment of West Witney Sports & Social Club.

We are over the moon to hear that planning permission has now been granted. This will give our members and the community an improved facility to carry on catering for all our sports clubs and other organisations that are currently using the club for sports and a social setting.  

We would like to thank Witney Town Council for their support and positive working relationship.

 

Funded by the Town Council and existing developer contributions, the West Witney upgrade represents a significant investment in local grass-root sports, enhancing a much-improved space for current and future generations of players.

The project will deliver upgrades to toilets and changing room facilities, provide a new lift to the first floor as well as external works for rendering, cladding and new windows. Along with upgrades to other facilities across the Council’s estate in recent years, this work highlights its continuing commitment to invest in the town’s infrastructure and heritage.

Cllr Ruth Smith, Leader of Witney Town Council,

“It’s high time this heavily-used and well-loved clubhouse and changing base got the renovations it needs. It’s been a long road, but once the current club committee hit upon these designs, everything felt achievable and more positive than it had in years.

I really look forward to the finished building and all the versatile ways it will support local sport. “

 

The approved plans can be seen here https://publicaccess.westoxon.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=S1JJWNRK0GL00

Work will begin at the site in 2024.

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Wheeled Sports Park Final Plans Revealed

Press Release

8th December 2023

FUNDING APPROVED FOR NEW WHEELED SPORTS PARK IN WITNEY

 

 Wheeled sports enthusiasts in Witney are set to get a NEW wheeled sports park thanks to a £57,975 grant from FCC Communities Foundation.

The money will be used to redesign and add exciting new challenges to the skatepark at The Leys Recreation Ground.

Councillor Ruth Smith, Leader of Witney Town Council believes the facility will make a huge difference to the lives of people living in the area.

She says: “This project will provide a real boost to the people of Witney. It’s fantastic that FCC Communities Foundation has awarded us this money and we’re really looking forward to our wheeled sports park taking shape over the next four months.”

FCC Communities Foundation is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community projects through the Landfill Communities Fund.

Penny Horne, FCC Communities Foundation grant manager, says, “We’re delighted to be supporting the Witney, Leys Wheeled Sports Park project and pleased our funding will provide such a fantastic facility for the Town. FCC Communities Foundation is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that make a difference to local communities and we’re really looking forward to seeing this one take shape soon.”

Wendy Davies, Commercial Director at Bendcrete, contractor for the new park build says, “Bendcrete are delighted be returning to The Leys after constructing the original park 20 years ago.

The new design will offer a fresh and exciting wheeled sports park that will be suitable for all ages, abilities, and wheel types. The new facility will retain some of the much-loved original features, as well as creating some exciting and challenging new lines.”

 Phil Russell, Head of Design adds,” The park will also offer lower-level ramps for beginners and be a safe space for everyone. It is designed to be very inclusive and will help develop riders’ skills. The new design was very well received at a community consultation, and we were delighted to take their feedback into the final design.

 It is an exciting time for wheeled sports with both skateboarding and BMX in the Olympics. The new wheeled sports park will offer a fantastic opportunity to develop local skills and opportunities for the local community. We are looking forward to starting the construction early in 2024.”

Councillor Ruth Smith hopes the wheeled sports park will be ready to use by Easter.

She adds, “Bendcrete has listened to the community and come up with a design that unites the old and new, and really maximises the space. Witney’s young people are talking about the designs and seem aware and expectant. Let’s see what it enables them to do!

 

Wheeled Sports rendered image

-ends-

For further press information please contact Polly Inness 01993 777828  polly.inness@witney-tc.gov.uk

 Notes for the editor

About Witney Town Council – https://www.witney-tc.gov.uk/

Witney Town Council is the third tier of local government for Witney. Established in 1974, it serves a population of more than 28,000 residents. There are six electoral wards within the town boundary and 17 elected town councillors who form the democratically elected body.

Witney Town Council declared a climate emergency in June 2019 and is committed to ensuring that the town does everything possible to become net-zero carbon neutral and to ensure a cleaner, better future for its residents.

 

  • FCC Communities Foundation is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, conservation and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund. Since 1998, FCC Communities Foundation has granted over £200m to more than 7,000 projects which benefit people living within 10 miles of a FCC Environment landfill site. For more information please visit www.fcccommunitiesfoundation.org.uk

 

  • FCC Environment is the leading UK waste and resource management company and is part of a global group with a strong heritage in providing services for communities and business. Its vision is to be the environmental company of choice, delivering change for a sustainable future. It employs 2,400 people and operates more than 200 facilities across England, Scotland and Wales. FCC Environment donates the landfill tax credits that are generated by its operations to FCC Communities Foundation, in order to add value to the environmental and social infrastructure of the communities around landfill sites. www.fccenvironment.co.uk

 

  • The Landfill Communities Fund and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund – any waste that is discarded which cannot be reused, reprocessed or recycled may ultimately be disposed of in a landfill site. To encourage the re-use, recycle and recovery of more value from waste and use more environmentally friendly methods of waste disposal, Landfill Tax is charged on each tonne of waste sent to landfill. Landfill Operators (LOs) are able to redirect a small proportion of landfill tax liability to support a wide range of community and environmental projects in the vicinity of landfill sites through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund (SLCF). The LCF is regulated by ENTRUST on behalf of HM Revenue & Customs, and the projects are delivered by enrolled Environmental bodies (EBs). The SLCF is regulated by SEPA on behalf of Revenue Scotland and projects are delivered by Approved Bodies (ABs).
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Restoration of St Mary’s Churchyard Walls

You might have been aware of damage to the Churchyard wall at St Mary’s Church. Witney Town Council has been part of a lengthy process, working closely with the church to ensure that restoration work is carried out by a suitably qualified and approved contractor.
 
The Church is an important part of the history of the town and the Town Council is pleased that work will begin shortly. The protective fencing will be installed shortly and work can commence once the diocese has signed this off.
St Mary's Church
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New Headstone Honours Casualty of WWI

Imagine having just a scant 66 characters including spaces (less than half that of the original short messages posted on Twitter) to convey an outpouring of all that families need to say in a final goodbye to a loved one. Now imagine that at a rate of 3½d per character this would add up to more than half your weekly salary!

This explains why many of the UK Commonwealth War Grave headstones contain only the basic facts about the fallen whose final resting place they mark.

These and more interesting facts are easily discovered when exploring the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s website.

https://www.cwgc.org/who-we-are/our-story/equality-in-commemoration/

In 2017 Witney Town Council did just that while researching its war graves as part of the Heritage Open Day event that revealed the history of Tower Hill Cemetery.  Part of the exhibition included the very first book of burial records for Tower Hill which covers the war years of WWI.

There has been cause, recently to revisit that information and history with the installation of our latest CWGC headstone. The stone is that of Royal Engineer, Pioneer Frederick, George Reginald Moore who died aged just 22 years old and although his stone is the latest to placed in the cemetery, he is among the first of those recorded as interred there.

Along with his stone there is also now a green plaque that declares the existence of War Graves in the Cemetery.  There are twelve in total in Tower Hill Cemetery (seven WWI and five WWII). Some of our war dead are interred in family plots and do not have a CWGC headstone, some are in graves that are not marked with any sort of memorial.

A map showing the locations and a list of each of the fallen has been placed in the Tower Hill cemetery noticeboards for those wishing to discover them on a short walk.

A chart listing information about the War graves

Map showing locations of the War Graves

You can locate War Graves anywhere using this link

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/

There are two more WWI stones and a plaque at Holy Trinity Churchyard, while Lucy Harris is recorded as being laid to rest in the Churchyard at St Mary’s Cogges (though her grave is not marked).

All the Commonwealth War Graves are kept cleaned and maintained by the commission, and each year poppy markers are placed on each of them.

A walk through the cemeteries is a great opportunity to take a more in depth look at some local history. The CWGC website is a must for more insights into the origins of the headstones and the difficult choices that had to be made while allowing as much freedom as possible for people of all cultures to honour their loved ones.

List of information from the War Graves Chart

1 Beale Walter Leonard Harold:  Age 24:  T/133335: 19-Jul-40 Driver: Royal Army Service Corps:
Husband of Kathleen May Beale, of Witney:
Section 6 Grave 6160

2 Salt Albert Walter: Age 21: 1316986: 05-Sep-43
Sergeant: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve:
Son of Ivy M. Salt, and stepson of Mr. F. Clanfield, of Witney:
AGE SHALL NOT WEARY HIM NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN
Section 6 Grave 6161

3 Miles SJ:  Age 27: 200630: 25-Oct-18
Cadet: Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry 1st/4th Bn.:
Son of Charles William Miles, of 47, The Lodge, Wood Green, Witney:
Section U Grave 4369

4 Townsend A: Age 51: 33885: 28-Dec-16
Private: Royal Defence Corps 24th Protection Coy.:
Husband of Florence Townsend, of 57, The Crofts, Witney:
REST IN PEACE
Section L Grave 2538

5 Moore Frederick George Reginald:  Age 22: 24327: 22-Oct-17 Pioneer: Royal Engineers 26th Field Coy.:
Son of Frederick Moore of Little Ducklington, Witney, Oxon:
Section L Grave 2450

6 Churchill H:  SS/23077: 21-Oct-18
Private: Army Service Corps Secondary Unit, Regiment transf. to (299174) Labour Corps:
Section P Grave 3264

7 Yeoman Bryan Frank Lawson: Age 21  11-May-18
Royal Air Force Secondary Unit, 1st/4th Bn.: London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers):
Section P Grave 3269

8 Cox James:  Age 36: 54658: 20-Jan-19
Private: Welsh Regiment 13th Bn.:
Son of Henry and Fanny Cox, of 14, Station Rd., Witney; husband of Matilda Cox, of 21, Highworth Place, Witney:
PEACE PERFECT PEACE
Section P Grave 3371

9 Doolittle Charles Massie:  Age 23: 08-Oct-18
Second Lieutenant: Royal Air Force 33rd Training Depot Station: Son of Charles L. and Jessie Doolittle, of Elora, Ontario, Canada.: Enlisted in 7th Canadian Mounted Rifles at London, Ontario:
Section P Grave 3485

10 Free Walter Thomas:  Age 22: 1923801: 26-Jul-41
Sapper: Royal Engineers:
Son of Charles Thomas Free and Gertrude Amelia Free, of Stratford, Essex:
SWEET IS THE MEMORY THAT WILL NOT FADE OF HIM WE LOVED BUT COULD NOT SAVE
Section J Grave 2957

11 Simpson Harold: Age 26:  EX.2938(T): 06-Jun-44
Lance Corporal: Royal Marines No. 48 R.M. Commando:
Son of John and Nora Simpson, of Witney.
SO HE GAVE HIS BELOVED LIFE. “TO THE WORLD A MARINE, TO US THE WORLD”
Section N Grave 3295

12 Florey Randall Clifton:  Age 25: 5387950: 10-Dec-44
Lance Corporal: Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry 1st Bn:
Son of Herbert Ernest and Elsie May Florey; husband of Nellie Florey, of Witney.: Buried in family plot -not CWWG headstone. His brothers Graham Starkey and Reginald Alan Florey also fell:
Section M Grave 3280

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More Living Roof Bus Shelters for Witney

More Living Roof Bus Shelters for Witney

Four new bus shelters have been installed in Witney as part of a joint project by Oxfordshire County Council and Witney Town Council following a review of bus stops in Witney. Both councils worked with bus shelter contractor, Externiture, to look at how improvements could be made.

The majority of the funding for the project has come from Oxfordshire County Council, as the work also includes kerb changes and additional hardstanding to make bus stops more accessible for residents.

The shelters have sedum living roofs which will help toward both Council’s climate objectives.

Contrasting, green coloured seats are designed to assist visually impaired passengers. The changes demonstrate a commitment to enhancing active travel options and travel routes for all.

Cllr Smith, Leader of Witney Town Council said:

“The council is delighted to be working with Oxfordshire County Council to bring new and updated shelters for waiting for buses. The county has adopted the style that has worked well on Burwell, with the living roof (the first in Oxfordshire!). We continue to encourage and support travel by bus.”

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said:

“Many people rely on the bus to get them where they need to be, and we want to improve public transport wherever we can. So, it’s great news that these shelters with their innovative living roofs will soon be in place, making life more pleasant for passengers while they wait.”

The new shelters are located at Newland, High Street and Thorney Leys (x2). Temporary bus stops will be located nearby, for the duration of the works.

A bus shelter and roadworks barriers
The newly installed bus shelter in High Street
Green seats in a black bus shelter
The contrasting green seats are designed to assist visually impaired travellers
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Witney Town Council Christmas Card Competition 2023

Every year we ask Witney’s children to get creative and design an official Christmas Card for the Mayor and this year is no different.
The Council is calling on all the children of primary school age living in Witney to help out. Your mission is to create a fabulous Christmas themed design.
 
The competition is open to all primary aged children creating designs at home, in school, with their Brownie pack or any other Witney organisation.
 
Design the illustration for the official Witney Town Council Christmas card.
 
The winning design will be used as the Mayor’s official card. The Town Council will also use it and we will provide the winner with their own copies to send out too.
 
CLOSING DATE is 5pm on Tuesday 31st October to allow us time to select the winner and get the cards printed.
 
We have provided a template for you to use 
Please return your entries by email or post to:
info@witney-tc.gov.uk or by post to Witney Town Council, Town Hall, Witney OX28 6AG.
We look forward to seeing them!
A reminder that we must receive all entries by Closing Date: 5pm on Tuesday 31st October.
There will be prizes for 1st 2nd and 3rd.
Don’t forget to pop your name, age, school and contact details on the picture when you return it.
The overall winning design will be made into the official card used by the Mayor and Town Council.
Here is last year’s winning entry, by 6 year old Jasper from St Mary’s Infant School for some inspiration.
Child's drawing of a church
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Nature NOW – Play and Explore in Witney

This fabulous offer is open to organisations and child minders, parents & carers  in Witney,  and those that run sessions for parents and pre-school children here in the town.

 

Come and join our Nature NOW Forest School Leaders for a session of child-led exploration in a green space near you.
Each session will be led by two qualified and experienced Forest School Leaders who will bring simple resources and offer support for you to go off on an adventure with your pre-schoolers.

This is also an opportunity to meet and share ideas with other
childminders, parents and carers, and for the little ones to meet and have fun together in the outdoors. Together we will build nature connections and confidence to explore new natural spaces.

How to book – book early as spaces are limited!

1. Email us to book a place and find out more information contactnaturenow@gmail.com

There is no cost for the sessions.
2. We will email to confirm your place and send you a booking link with further details on directions, public transport, parking, accessibility, etc.

Session times and dates – from 9:30 – 12:30 drop in anytime!

● Thursday: 28th September – Mill Meadow
● Thursday: 5th October – Ducklington Lake
● Thursday: 12th October – Mill Meadow
● Thursday: 19th October – Ducklington Lake
● Thursday: 2nd November – Mill Meadow
● Thursday: 9th November – Ducklington Lake

Rain will not stop play, wild wind and lightning will! – if wind or lightning is forecast, we will reschedule to another date.

You will be responsible for your children’s safety at all times.

These sessions are generously funded by Witney Town
Council, by way of a grant.

The Nature NOW project was originally set up by Where The
Fruit Is and Oxfordshire County Council, in response to the
pandemic and the lockdowns that stole so many
opportunities for children (and adults!) to play together.

Nature NOW (Nurturing Our Wellbeing) helps children and
adults, whether parents or carers, grow with and in nature.
Supported by Witney Town Council

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French Twin Town Honours Our Late Queen

It is with a special sense of pride that we hear that our dear friends in Witney’s French Twin-Town, Le Touquet will pay a remarkable homage to our late Queen when it renames its airport Elizabeth II Le Touquet-Paris-Plage International Airport.

Councillor Owen Collins Mayor of Witney commented,

We are deeply touched and grateful by this gesture from the town of Le Touquet, acknowledging her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The people of France took the Queen to their hearts during her lifetime, and as well as providing a lasting memorial to her relationship to the country, this renaming will also further strengthen the bond between Le Touquet and Witney, which has stood for over forty years and which we hope will share in the Queen’s longevity.

Officials sought permission from King Charles III less than a week after the Queen’s death in September last year and permission was granted earlier this week.

It is hoped that the strong links and close friendship that already bind Witney and Le Touquet will be felt throughout the UK.

Witney has been twinned with Le Touquet Paris Plage (‘Paris by the Sea’) since 1980 and over this time we have shared a great number of civic and cultural events, friendly challenges and games and fostered some warm friendships. We even have a little area of Witney in the Woolgate Centre named Le Touquet Square.

The official document explains (in French) the historic links between Le Touquet and the UK and contains more details about the agreement.

Le Touquet Crest

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Summer Holiday Activities

Looking for things to occupy your young people over the summer holidays? We have a handy list of activities, some paid and some free. There is something for everyone from toddlers with their mums to young adults.

Information for this poster was supplied by the following

organisations and was correct at the time of publication.

Apcam

Oxfordshire County Council

Thames Valley Police

West Oxfordshire District Council

Witney Community Church

Witney Town Council

Open this Holiday Youth Provision pdf which has clickable links to take you through to more information.

 

 

 

 

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One Week Left to Win Corn Exchange Cinema Tickets

Join in with our lovely mini beast themed summer competition for a chance to win one of three Corn Exchange big screen cinema passes and to see your artwork displayed in the Gallery Room.
We are inviting you to submit an A4 sized picture – drawing or painting of the most interesting insect you can find in your garden or the park.
You don’t need any special equipment to go on a bug hunt, but the items below can be very useful if you want a closer look at some of the amazing creepy crawlies that live in the garden.
Clear containers to hold them safely while you look at them. You can get specialist bug boxes but you don’t really need one to enter our competition.
A spoon or small paintbrush helps you gently collect them so they don’t get hurt when you pick them up.
A magnifying glass is great to help you see all the details.
You can look them all up on line to find out more about each of them that you find. Then choose your favourite to draw.
Some are very wriggly so taking a photo might help you to draw it
and it means you can let the little creature go and paint it later.
Always put them back close to where you found them so they can find their way back to their home.
The Woodland Trust has a lovely fact sheet that can help identify some that you may come across.
Don’t forget to put your name, age and contact details on the back of your picture and send it in by post to:
Insect Safari, Witney Town Council, Town Hall, Market Square, Witney OX28 6AG
or by email to info@witney-tc.gov.uk
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Letters to Heaven Post Boxes

A grieving 9-year-old girl’s touching wish to send a letter to her grandparents who had passed away has led to the installation of post boxes to heaven in 36 crematoriums nationwide.

Witney Town Council decided that Matilda Handy’s idea is such a lovely one, that they wanted to make this service available to Witney residents too, so the Council is delighted to be installing the cream-coloured post boxes in both Tower Hill and Windrush cemeteries.

Councillor Rachel Crouch, Chair of Halls, Cemeteries and Allotments commented,

“What a beautiful idea and such a kind way to support grieving families.”

Feedback has shown that the act of writing a letter, or posting a card or picture to a lost loved one has brought therapeutic comfort to many people using the boxes and it is hoped that ours too, will offer comfort to those grieving on a daily basis and help ease the more acute feelings of loss felt on anniversaries and special days.

A Post Box to Heaven in Windrush cemetery
The Post Box to Heaven in Windrush cemetery

Melanie Jones, Chair of Witney Friends of the Cemeteries group thinks this is wonderful news,

I am delighted that one of the Post Boxes to Heaven is now in place at Windrush cemetery. This offers those who are missing their loved ones the opportunity to post cards and letters to heaven. Witney Town Council is always keen to support those who are grieving in any way possible, and we thank them.

We are looking forward to seeing a post box in Tower Hill cemetery too, in due course.

The post boxes are not exclusively for use by those with people buried in the town’s cemeteries.  They are available to anyone who is grieving that might take comfort in this connection with their loved ones.

You don’t need a stamp as the boxes will be administered and emptied, when full, by Town Council staff and the contents will be treated sensitively, confidentially and with respect.

We do ask that you don’t post anything other than paper and please do not put anything precious that you will want to keep in the boxes as we cannot return things once they have been posted.

 

 

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DESIGN A CHRISTMAS LIGHT COMPETITION!

Last Year's winning light in place on the Town Hall

Wow, it’s been beautifully sunny, and so it might seem hard to imagine Christmas, BUT … can you help us with a design for a new Christmas Light for Witney Town Council’s Christmas lights display?

The competition is open to any child currently at primary school in Witney, and we also welcome entries from children enrolled in Witney community groups, such as Brownies, Beavers and others, as well as entries from primary age children resident in Witney.

The winning design will be turned into a super-size 1.5m x 1.5m light, which will be installed on the Town Hall this year as an integral part of the town’s Christmas display. The Town Council also displays some, still serviceable winning lights, from previous years.

Some tips for creating a good design:

  • Fill the space with your Christmas themed design so that it touches the edge of the frame.
  • Keep it simple so that it can easily be re-created in lights.
  • Choosing to design something we don’t currently have will improve your chance of having your design selected. We have a bauble, Christmas pud, star, robin, penguin, candy cane and reindeer.

Entries can be submitted by email, post or delivered to the Town Council office. Download the Witney Town Council Christmas Light Competition 2023 template  or you can simply draw a square on a sheet of A4 paper. Please submit your entries to: info@witney-tc.gov.uk

or Witney Town Council, Town Hall, Market Square, Witney, OX28 6AG.

THE CLOSING DATE IS FRIDAY 21ST JULY

Child with winning light design

Pictured is Dominic, last year’s winner of this competition, and some of our previous winning designs.

 

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Windrush Generation 75 Reading Corner

Windrush Day, 22 June 2023, marks the 75th anniversary of the arrival at Tilbury docks, of the HMT Empire Windrush Ship bringing the first few hundred British Caribbean citizens, who were invited to come and help rebuild a nation that was suffering labour shortages following the impact of WWII.

The day celebrates the contributions of nearly half a million people who made that same journey between 1948 and 1970. It recognises the positive impact and historic contribution of the Windrush generation and their descendants to our culture and country.

Image of the ship HMT Empire Windrush
HMS EMPIRE WINDRUSH (FL 9448) Underway Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205120767

The river Windrush, after which the ship was named, runs through our town. To acknowledge this link and to offer an opportunity to learn more about this fascinating period of history and the experiences, good and bad, of those brave people, Witney Town Council has installed a small Windrush reading corner in 1863 café bar.

There is a selection of books for all ages for café users to read and a risograph print based on original illustration by Kim Thompson depicts the arrival of the Windrush generation in 1948. 100% of the profits from these prints go to BME Cancer Communities here in the UK.

Cllr Ruth Smith, Leader of Witney Town Council commented,

We all use the word Windrush in daily life, with so many things named after our beautiful river. Our ears prick up at news items about the Windrush Generation and their descendants. We are grateful for all they have brought to UK society and we stand in solidarity with those still affected by injustice. These resources are a chance for Witney residents to learn more and to appreciate the history and legacy more deeply.

Cllr Owen Collins, Mayor of Witney, added,

“I don’t think we all make the connection between our own River Windrush and the Windrush Generation, but that remarkable generation, and the ship that carried that, took its name from the river, like so many other businesses and locations throughout our town. It’s right that we commemorate and celebrate this connection, and on this 75th anniversary, I’m delighted that we’re able to properly mark this link, and the immense contribution that the Windrush Generation have made to our country for three quarters of a century.”

Cllr Owen Collins, Mayor of Witney in the Windrush 75 reading corner
Mayor of Witney, Cllr. Owen Collins with the Windrush 75 reading material

 

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