Residents given chance to sign up for FREE garden waste collections
 

West Oxfordshire householders now have the chance to sign up for new FREE garden waste collections.

West Oxfordshire District Council is giving all households the opportunity to receive free fortnightly collections of
garden waste from November 2010.

Residents who want this service need to sign up now by logging onto www.westoxon.gov.uk/garden or by calling 01993 861025. Anyone who does not sign up will not receive collections when the new service starts.

It is the first time that free garden waste collections will be available in West Oxfordshire. At present, this is a
paid-for service available only to around 5,000 households. Existing garden waste customers will automatically
receive the free service from November, unless they inform the Council that they do not want it. 

The Council is introducing the free collections as part of a new, improved recycling and waste service which will be
rolled out across the district from the end of November. 

All garden waste collected will be composted, helping to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. When land-filled,
garden waste rots and produces harmful greenhouse gases and pollution.

 Don’t miss out!

Budding Democracy

A class of Year 3 children welcomed a visit from Witney’s Town Mayor, when he dropped in to congratulate them on a project they had undertaken.

Class Teacher, Gez Cornish and Mayor, James Mills discuss the survey
 

Gingko class at St Christopher’s C of E school in Langford had visited Witney, undertaken a traffic survey, visited the shops and then conducted a survey of 41 people in their home villages to find out what people liked and disliked about David Cameron’s constituency town. 

A sample page from the study

Led by class teacher, Gez Cornish, they then produced detailed reports and graphs which Mr Cornish then sent to Sharon Groth, Town Clerk at Witney Town Council hoping for a letter of acknowledgement to show the children.

The Town Clerk recognised all the hard work involved and in discussion with Mayor, Councillor, James Mills, decided that a visit to the primary school was in order.

The Mayor arranged to visit in person and after meeting Gingko class and answering all their questions he attended the school assembly where he presented them with a Certificate of Merit in recognition of Great Citizenship through Inspired Work. The children were delighted with the award which bore the Mayor’s seal. 

The children quizzed the Mayor on such matters as how and when he had become Mayor and were very interested in his chain of office. Councillor Mills explained the significance of the items on the crest and when and where the chains were worn. He talked a little about his role and the responsibilities of the Town Council and how this relates to them; for example they can all relate to the fact that the Town Council provides most of the playgrounds, and is responsible for keeping the parks clean and safe.

The Mayor congratulated the children on their hard work and the significance of their findings. They had discovered that the most popular thing about Witney was the free parking and Councillor Mills confessed that Witney was very proud of this and that it was part of what made the town so appealing.

One burning question was how much money the Mayor earned. Although their teacher seemed a little taken aback at the directness of the question, the Mayor replied that he had an everyday job to make a living because you are not paid for being Mayor, but do have a small allowance to cover travelling to all the civic functions. He added, ‘It is very important that you all continue to ask those types of questions of people that are serving you and your communities’.

Finally, when asked if it is hard being the Mayor, Councillor Mills admitted that although there were lots of really good things about being Mayor, it was sometimes difficult to do the right thing for everyone because people want different things. He added that you just have to believe you are doing the very best for your community.

Before leaving the Mayor once again applauded the children for their hard work and thanked them for welcoming him to the school.

      The class examine the Badge from the Chain of Office

    Gingko Class proudly display their Certificate of Merit

The Buttercross - update 30th June 2010

Following the recent closure of the Buttercross to public access on the advice of the Council's buoding surveyor, S J Treloar & Associates Ltd; Witney Town Council wish to provide an update on the progress, to date, on this very important building.

Steel work is being fabricated by a local engineering company, including corner brackets and bracing, which will be clamped to existing timber sections to ensure the building is structurally sound. This immediate work will enable the Butterccross to reopened for public access.

Further structural work will be undertaken in the near future and the Council's building surveyor is working very closely on this project with the conservation officer at West Oxfordshire District Council to ensure that the building is repaired appropriately.

 The Buttercross

The Council’s building surveyor, S J Treloar & Associates Ltd. undertook a structural survey on the Buttercross on Friday 4 June 2010. The Town Council planned to undertake general repair work on the building this year; however the results of the survey required that the Buttercross was immediately securely fenced to prevent access by the public until remedial works can be carried out.

 The surveyor is working very closely on this project with the Conservation Officer at West Oxfordshire District Council to ensure that the building is repaired appropriately.  

The Buttercross stands in the very heart of Witney and is a Grade II* Listed market building.  The Buttercross is said to be the base of an ancient preaching cross of uncertain age. In 1606 the sum of £50 was given by Richard Ashcombe to build a cover over the cross and in 1683 a bequest by William Blake of Cogges enabled a clock to be placed on top of the building. The Buttercross was refurbished in the 19^th century and the clock mechanism was replaced in 1962. 

The property is owned by Witney Town Hall Charity, but Witney Town Council is the tenant.

 ENDS

Witney's Mayor 2010

Cllr JAMES MILLS has been elected as Mayor of Witney for a second year running, to serve until May 2011. Cllr HARRY EAGLESTONE has also been re-elected as Deputy Mayor of Witney.

Cllr Mills said:  “It is a great privilege to serve as Mayor of Witney for one year so to have this opportunity to serve a second year is a huge honour and I am deeply grateful to my fellow Councillors for their support and endorsement.  I am very pleased that Cllr Eaglestone has been re-elected as Deputy Mayor and to have him working with me again. 

Harry and I look forward to supporting many good causes, community events and representing Witney at official functions during the coming year.  If anyone wishes us to support their event please contact the Town Hall.”

The Mayor's Firewalk

On the evening of Thursday March 11^th Witney’s Town Mayor, Councillor James Mills and Witney’s Team Rector, Rev’d Toby Wright, will be performing a FIREWALK in the Market Square in Witney.

They will be raising money for the Mayor’s chosen charities; Helen and Douglas House and Base 33.

For more information on how to take part or sponsor others please contact Sue Partlett at the town Hall on 01993 777821 or email her sue.partlett@witney-tc.gov.uk 

Witney has a new Councillor

Councillor Clive Knowles, was co-opted on to the council at the end of last year. He will be representing the North Ward.