Tower Hill Cemetery will be open and accessible to vehicles across  Father’s day weekend from  Friday 17th June to Monday 20th June inclusive.

The timing couldn’t be worse as a heatwave is announced!
We have been made aware of a problem with the Splash Pads at the Leys. One of the sensors is not working and the water flow from the working area is erratic as a result.

The sensor will be repaired as soon as possible.

If you are looking for other places to cool off, please look for safe options and remember that for safety reasons swimming is not permitted at the lake.

Advice from the ROSPA water safety code.

Town and Parish Council Election Results 

Results of the District Council Elections

Witney Town Council is currently seeking a Venue & Events Assistant to support in the running  of the Corn Exchange and Café/Bar 1863 in the town centre and Burwell Hall, on Thorney Leys. For further details please see the job advertisement below.

Venue & Events Assistant – Advert

Closing date is noon, Friday 20th May 2022.

For the full application pack and to apply please complete the form found here https://www.witney-tc.gov.uk/council/vacancies/

Witney Town Council is currently seeking a Park Ranger to help deliver ambitious aspirations set out in its recently adopted Open Spaces Strategy.

For further details please see the job advertisement below.

Park Ranger May 2022

Closing date is noon, Wednesday 18th May 2022.

For the full application pack and to apply please complete the form found here https://www.witney-tc.gov.uk/council/vacancies/

The Splashpad at the Leys will be open daily at the times below. On Wednesday the splash will not open until 10am so that routine maintenance can be carried out.

Persons nominated for the West Oxfordshire District Council South & East Wards

Statement of Persons Nominated (WODC South Ward)

Statement of Persons Nominated (WODC East Ward)

Persons nominated for Witney Town Council West Ward

Statement of Persons Nominated (WTC West Ward)

A Town Council vacancy for the west ward of Witney has been published. Please see the notice below for further details.

The average taxpayer in Witney will be asked to pay a precept rise of around 65 pence a month for Witney Town Council’s share of the Council Tax from 1st April 2022. The decision to increase the precept payment was agreed at an extraordinary meeting of the Full Council on Wednesday 5th January 2022.

The precept has increased by 4.9% which will enable the Town Council to maintain its council’s general fund and fulfil its statutory obligations. This is a rise of £7.97 per Band ‘D’ property for the year.

The Town Council offers a range of services to residents, which include Allotments, Cemeteries, Civic and Community Events, Grants to Voluntary Organisations, Sports Pitches, Public Halls, ten Recreation Grounds, Planning Matters (consultee on planning applications for the planning authority), The Town Hall and Street Scene.

Many of these do not generate any income and need constant re-investment to enable them to remain an asset for the community.

Whilst it has set its precept, the Town Council’s Committees will be determining and prioritising its project list over the next two months of meetings. Projects under consideration will include exploring ways in which the Town Council might wish to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee; reviewing how it delivers the grounds maintenance of its open spaces, sports pitches, and floral displays; and further measures to ensure the Council stays on target to reach carbon neutrality by 2028. Alongside these it will also look to make general improvements and enhancements to existing assets.

The forecast cost of running the Town Council’s services for 2022-23, remains uncertain due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic, so this years’ budget represents a prudent estimate of income and outgoings.

Witney Town Council works closely with West Oxfordshire District Council and Oxfordshire County Council to ensure that all the services provided improve the quality of life for people of Witney.
The Town Council looks forward to maximising the benefits from the small increase in continuing to improve and upgrade the delivery of its services and meeting the expectations the aspirations of its residents.

Mayor, Cllr Joy Aitman commented,

” This budget focuses on local improvement and the wish to enhance life and to care for our residents whilst also covering costs and safeguarding standards in the town.
Our approach has been considered and has focussed on recovering Witney in uncertain times however we have taken care to limit the rise to inflation as we recognise the tough challenges all our household budgets are facing.”

Witney Town Council first launched its Youth Grant funding in August 2020
It continues to be an exciting opportunity for community and voluntary sector organisations, including existing organisations and those in the process of setting up, and is a lifeline for many. Once again applications exceeded the £30,000 of funding available and there were more applications than before. Although all the applications were worthy those awarded were carefully selected for the variety of services they are able to provide. The funding was shared across the successful applicants with none receiving the full amount requested.

Here is how this year’s funding has been allocated:

Got2B Community Interest Company was awarded £18,693 towards a second  detached/in house youth session, following the success and evident need demonstrated last year.

Home Start Oxford received £9,318 to improve their befriending services in Witney –   supporting babies and preschool children and their parents, through a range of groups.

Oxfordshire Music and Arts have been awarded £7,668 for a six month program of tutorial sessions and band camp experiences aiming to culminate in a Youth Festival. The sessions are available to youths who are under privileged, excluded or vulnerable.

Synolos has been granted £4,068 for quality resources to kit out their Step 2 Safe Space which will provide stimulating and rewarding activities for young Autistic people.

Witney Town Council first launched its Youth Grant funding in August 2020
It continues to be an exciting opportunity for community and voluntary sector organisations, including existing organisations and those in the process of setting up, and is a lifeline for many.

Applicants need to meet criteria as set out in the application process and will also be required to report back on the success of the project for which funds have been granted.

This is last year’s form that explains criteria to be met. New criteria and application forms will be posted in August 2022.

Youth Services Grant Criteria – 2021-22

NEW PEDESTRIAN ACCESS FOR TOWER HILL CEMETERY

An additional pedestrian entrance will be created at Tower Hill Cemetery following an audit on disability access by experts last year. To make the cemetery as accessible as possible, the new entrance will be located in the wall that runs along the northern end of the cemetery.

The gate will allow entry from the lane that runs from Smiths estate to Tower Hill, giving another point of entry on foot for those wishing to visit the graves of their loved ones.

Any work in the cemetery is undertaken in a sensitive manner. This is the least intrusive area possible and takes into account concerns raised by residents and grave owners during a consultation period earlier this year.

Cllr Mel Jones commented,

“We want everyone to be able to access our cemeteries as easily as possible.  After listening to the views of local residents, our new access gate hopes to meet the needs of those who have been struggling to visit their loved ones.”