City events coming up

City Events

  • Classical singing performance on Bonn Square, Wednesday 12 November at 10am – 3pm.  www.kylalingley.com. Classical singling performance in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
  • Child Life Charity Promotion in Covered Market, Monday 10 November to Saturday 15 November each day from 9am-5pm. Raising awareness and donations for Child Life. www.childlife.org/
  • Oasis Alcohol Awareness Day on Bonn Square, Monday 17 November at 9.30am – 4.30 pm. Advice and information about alcohol use.
  • Christmas Light Festival Friday 21 – Sunday 23 November. (Information stall on Gloucester Green) There will be free community events in multiple venues across Oxford.  www.oxfordschristmas.com
  • World Vision Fundraising Stall on Bonn Square, Monday 24 – Friday 28 November each day from 8am – 5pm. The world’s largest international children’s charity. www.realfundraising.org
  • TRAX Scruffy Bike Sale on Bonn Square, Saturday 29 November from 9am to 5pm. Used bikes fixed up by underprivileged youth will be sold at bargain prices. www.traxorg.com/
  • Shelter Boxes, homeless relief kits, will be displayed on Bonn Square, Saturday 29 November from 9am to 5pm. The Shelter Boxes will be displayed and volunteers will be requesting money. www.shelterbox.org
  • Guide Dogs charity promotion on Bonn Square from Tuesday 2 December to Saturday 6 December, 9am to 5pm.
  • Rose Hill Christmas Party at Rose Hill, The Oval, Thursday 6 December. Switch on of lights on Christmas trees. Music and singing around the tree dependant on weather conditions. www.greensquare.com
  • Oxford Arts Market on Broad Street, Saturday and Sunday, 6 – 7 December each day from 9am-5pm. This Street Market features local artists, designers and craft makers supporting small scale creative industries from Oxfordshire. www.boffyartsandevents.com
  • Oxford Christmas Market on Broad Street, Thursday 11 December to Sunday 21 December from 10am to 7pm. Oxford’s Christmas market will have nearly 50 vendors selling Christmas gifts, seasonal treats, and entertainment, giving the city centre an atmosphere of Christmas.www.oxfordchristmasmarket.co.uk

New Van Trailer e-permit scheme at County Recycling Centres

 

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A van and trailer permit scheme was introduced at Oxfordshire’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) in November 2010 to reduce the amount of trade waste that was being deposited illegally at Oxfordshire’s HWRCs. It was estimated that the illegal deposit of trade waste was costing Oxfordshire County Council over £250,000 every year in disposal costs.

Currently customers who want to visit the HWRCs with either a ‘commercial-type’ vehicle or a trailer between 1.8m (6 ft) and 3m (10 ft) long  apply for a paper permit. When the permitting scheme was reviewed in 2012 a recommendation to move towards a ‘paperless’ system was agreed. This system, known as the Van Trailer e-permit scheme, has become operational on 4th November 2014.

Key changes

  • Paper permits will no longer be issued or required.
  • Customers are able to check how many visits they have left online, by asking site staff or by contacting Waste Management Group.
  • Permits will be automatically renewed after 12 months and are reset with 12 visits – customers will no longer need to contact Waste Management Group to renew their permits.
  • Permits automatically expire if they have not been used for 24 months – customers will receive a notification prior to the expiry of the permit.

If you have any questions about the scheme, please contact County Cllr Roz Smith

Buildings in Headington and Oxford to get free public WiFi

Many free to access buildings in Oxford will be transformed into free WiFi hotspots by April 2015. As part of the Coalition Government’s plans to see over 1,000 public buildings in cities across the UK offering free WiFi, residents and visitors in Oxford will be able to connect at locations such as, community centres, museums, libraries and Park and Ride sites across the city. Here are some of the places you’ll be able to use it:

  • Asian Cultural Centre
  • Barton Neighbourhood Centre
  • Headington Community Centre
  • Risinghurst Community Centre
  • Headington Library
  • Thornhill Park and Ride
  • Town Hall
  • Oxford History Centre
  • Modern Art Oxford (subject to contract)
  • Visitor Information Centre
  • Ashmolean Museum
  • Pitt Rivers Museum
  • Museum of Natural History
  • Museum of the History of Science

Please note that proposed locations are subject to change and relevant planning permissions being obtained.

Keeping your home secure – top tips

burglar

Don’t let a burglar in
This autumn, Thames Valley Police is working with Surrey, Kent and Sussex police forces, reminding everyone to protect themselves from becoming a victim of burglary:
The majority of burglars are opportunistic; they will look for properties where they think they can enter unobserved and ‘work’ undisturbed. 
Three simple actions should help deter these types of criminals – Light it, Lock it, List it.

Light it:
* Install low-wattage timed security lighting that stays on throughout the night. 

* Make sure your house looks occupied even when it isn’t. Use an automatic timer switch to turn interior lights on and off.

Lock it:
* Never leave keys in the door, they can assist a burglar when breaking into your house and when leaving.

* Keep your front and back doors shut and locked – even when you are at home.

* Fit window locks and ensure French windows and patio doors are secure.
* Never leave car keys or other valuables in view of a letterbox or window, tools can be used to reach through and pick them up.
* Secure your garage and shed too – equipment kept in a garage or shed can be just as tempting for a burglar.
* If you can, install a burglar alarm and set it every time you leave your home.

List it:
* Register your property on the Immobilise website

It’s free of charge and can increase your chances of being reunited with your property. 

* Install an app on your phone/tablet so that it can be traced