Headington Swap Shop needs an organiser

Many thanks to Kate Hart who has run the popular Headington Swap Shop for many
years. Sessions are held on the 3rd Saturday morning of every month at
Headington Community Centre in Gladstone Road. Kate is stepping down soon, and
so far no-one has come forward to take over.

Here are the jobs that need doing – there are already other volunteers happy to
carry on helping out but someone is needed to take on these responsibilities:
– count the cafe takings each month
– calculate and pay volunteer expenses annually
– collect the PAT kit from Orinoco the week before the swap and return it
afterwards
– compile and enter the stats on the CAG database each month
– put the banner up the week before the swap
– publicise the swaps on the Oxford Mail events page
– be the point of contact for queries and CAG news & updates, volunteer
coordinator, open up and lock the centre on swap days

You can find more information on the HSS at
http://www.lowcarbonheadington.org​.uk​/headington​-swap​-shop​.html

If you are interested, or you know someone else who would like to volunteer,
please let me know or get in touch with Tanya via the website link above.

It would be a real shame if this community resource has to close.

Underground electricity fault in Old Headington area

There has been a series of power cuts over the recent past from the substation next to the garage in London Road through a fairly large area comprising St Andrew’s Rd, St Andrew’s Lane, Laurel Farm Close, Osler Road, Old High Street (and we would assume) Larkins Lane.

The Customer Relations adviser at SSE says there is an intermittent underground fault which could be caused by a number of factors including subsidence, or a knock to the plastic casing of a cable or joint which has induced seepage of water.

When the fault occurs, a safety fuse blows in the substation and has to be replaced. SSE has put in some software to monitor this in the substation – it’s called a Kelvatek “bidoyng” and for those of you dying to know what that is, please click here (thanks to Alexandra for the link)

Apparently it detects a blown fuse, replaces it and also does a search of nearby lines to try and track exactly where the fault is happening. They have also carried out back feeding to try and identify the source. They have ruled out overloading though.

If we get any more details we will post them here. There is currently no guarantee that another power cut won’t happen again but it should be rectified much more quickly – SSE Community Officers have been out door knocking to give advice to their customers.

 

Energy pipe works: updated timetable

Here is the current revised timetable for works, this may alter if there are unforeseen circumstances. Works in Latimer Road are slower than expected as Southern Gas wants to strengthen infrastructure and the parts have been ordered but not yet received on site. This means that some locations need to be kept fenced off.

Unfortunately the delays in Latimer Road will mean that the London Road works will not now start until 3rd April, but this may work out better in the long run as the latter will be done over the Easter period when there are fewer traffic movements associated with those who study in the area.

 

Energy pipe update

Here are the official notes from last week’s liaison meeting between Trust, Vital Energi, councillors and resident representatives.

Project manager ENERGY LINK UPDATE:

Lime Walk:

  • Going well and now around 6m from the Old Road junction.
  • Traffic ignoring the All Saints Road No Entry/One Way signs still a problem.
  • Could VE/Trust discuss the TMP for the work on Old Road/junction of Lime Walk as resident rep has serious concerns about everyone’s safety. VE/Councillors have a meeting on Tuesday 28 February with Highways and confirmed that this will be discussed.
  • Historic damage (by ‘moled’ gas work) to the main drain has been fixed by VE.
  • VE has also cleared silted drains where possible.
  • Thames Water will be in Lime Walk later this year to fix a leaking hydrant at the All Saints Road junction. This an historic problem and is nothing to do with VE.

 

Old Road:

  • A2H roadwork at Gipsy Lane has finished and, as their temporary lights have been lifted, VE will start Trial Holes on Old Road from Monday 27 February. The Trial Holes are being done to locate underground services and, therefore, establish the best route for the Energy Link.
  • There will be three-way lights (East/West on Old Road and Northbound out of Churchill Drive) for the trial hole work.
  • The work to cross Old Road will start on 8 March. At which point Churchill Drive will be closed and there will be two way (East/Westbound) lights on Old Road.
  • Traffic lights will be manned during peak hours (6am – 9am and 3pm – 6pm)
  • Work is 7 days a week and 7.30am – 7pm Monday – Friday; 8am – 4pm on Saturday and 9am – 2pm on Sunday. (TBC).
  • Work will start in the centre of the road and work back to Lime Walk with traffic passing on the hospital (westbound) lane. When this is complete, the work switches to the other carriageway and traffic is on the Lime Walk side of the road (eastbound carriageway) and from there, down Churchill Drive.
  • The welfare unit will be located by the Energy Centre off Churchill Drive.

 

Latimer Road:

  • Currently, three days delayed because of unknown services and a large concrete culvert. In addition, the gas supply lines to three houses is shallower than others in the road and so the gas pipes are touching the Energy Link. Southern Gas Network will take 28 days to come and do ‘Multiple Alterations’ (a loop on each house’s supply pipe). VE will therefore continue with the current work programme but leave these three areas enclosed in by 3.5m fencing so that they can be tarmacked after the gas board has done the remedial work.
  • The current work section is slightly longer than originally planned because, following discussion with residents, VE has extended the current trench in order to reduce the disruption to residents who live at the end of Latimer Road near the All Saints junction.
  • The reinstatement on Latimer Road and does not follow a dead-straight route as VE has also been fixing poor tarmac and blocked drains (this has been done in close conjunction with the City and County Highways teams).
  • VE was able to work outside 21-25 without causing any further disturbance to the badly degraded pavement, so this will not now be replaced.

 

Sandfield Road:

  • Three days late because of “moled” unmarked services, but might be able to make some of this time up in the next section (Beech Road – Woodlands Road).
  • Roz mentioned that a resident had been unhappy about the start date being delayed and signage, but generally positive comments about the work.
  • Project manager confirmed that the signage for the Manor Hospital/Beech Road has been put out on Headley Way and Woodlands Road. The Manor Hospital had confirmed that the new wording was a significant improvement.

 

London Road:

  • VE will be a week late onto London Road because they cannot start this section UNTIL the work on All Saints Road is complete (otherwise Latimer Road would sealed at both ends).
  • There will be manned two-way lights on London Road with no entry/exit to London Road from Latimer Road OR Sandfield Road. This is to avoid a four-way set of traffic lights.
  • The Bus Lane will be suspended between Pickwicks Guest House and the Red Mullions and all traffic (including buses) will be corralled into one lane for this stretch.
  • Work is currently planned: 3-28 April, 7 days a week and 7.30am – 7pm Monday – Friday; 8am – 4pm on Saturday and 9am-2pm on Sunday. (TBC). Work will carry on through the Easter weekend.
  • The welfare unit will be located in Sandfield Road in the 4-hour parking bays.

 

OTHER:

It was agreed that there was no need for further residents’ meeting as the work on residential roads is largely complete. Jo will email updates and any substantial changes.

Jo Lennon thanked Councillors and residents for their support at these meetings and in general over the last 14 months and closed the meeting.

Who should empty your bins? Join the debate

There is ongoing debate about whether local councils should be reorganised. Austerity cuts affecting the County Council means that it’s having to cut or reduce services that are important to people, and it thinks reorganisation of the whole structure is necessary to use money more effectively.

There are two schools of thought on whether complete reorganisation is necessary.

Here is the link to the One Oxfordshire proposal supported by the leaders of the Conservative, Lib Dem and Labour groups on the County Council: it seeks to abolish the county council and the five district councils and replace them with one new unitary authority.

http://www.oneoxfordshire.org

The City Council believes that the necessary incremental savings can be made if all existing authorities can come together and work as one combined authority, however it is likely that this can only be allowed by central government if the proposal includes a directly elected Mayor.

Here is the Oxford City Council web page article explaining the rationale for its petition against the One Oxfordshire proposal.

https://www.oxford.gov.uk/news/article/384/oxford_city_council_launches_petition_against_unitary_county_council

Disclaimer: any inaccuracy of information displayed on the above linked web pages are entirely the responsibility of the local authority concerned.

Currently the county and district councils (the city council is a district council) are split over whether reorganisation should go ahead, and what form it should take.

We urge all our residents to take part in the public consultation on the One Oxfordshire proposal, whether you are in favour of it or not – your comments will count. We are interested to hear your views on this: we think there are strengths and weaknesses to both proposals. Unitaries may be the future, but their number, size and even the principle are not yet decided and deserve wide discussion.

We think it is very important that all authorities continue to debate the issues with one another, rather than take polarised positions.

Burial fees for stillborns, babies and children

Ruth will propose a motion to Council on 6 February which asks if interment fees for stillborn babies and children can be waived.

Liberal Democrat member motion

Council is sympathetic to the suffering of families in Oxford who experience the loss of stillborn babies and children and wishes to support grieving parents as much as it can.

Council notes that the number of interments of stillborns, babies and children in Oxford during the financial year 2015/2016 was as follows:

  • Botley Cemetery – 7
  • Headington Cemetery –
  • 2 Wolvercote Cemetery – 6
  • Total – 15

Council further notes that the average number of such interments between 1998 and 2016 has been 18 per year, with a peak of 23 in financial year 2007/2008.

Income for fees and charges for 2015/16 interments of stillborns, babies and children in Oxford totalled £5,100.

Council notes the debate on baby loss in the House of Commons on 13 October 2016 and the excellent support given by Sands Stillborn and Neonatal death charity, and understands that some local authorities do not make a charge in these circumstances.

Council therefore requests the Chief Executive to investigate whether a mechanism for waiving fees charged by the Council for the burial of children or stillborns of Oxford residents might be introduced.

Reference

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2016-10-13/debates/721CDF48-A721-4408-AA94- BE694FA1E7FC/BabyLoss

Ruth comments, “One of the things we do as local councillors is to push for changes that will make a positive impact on the lives of people across the whole City. One of the ways to do this is to propose motions for debate in the Council Chamber. Here is the text of the speech to accompany it.”

The loss of a loved one is always very sad, but the loss of a much longed-for baby or infant must be almost unbearable. It is hard for us to comprehend how difficult it must be for grieving families to cope with this tragic circumstance at what should be a very happy time.

A baby that dies shortly after birth must by law be formally buried or cremated, although a funeral is not legally required.

It seems that a number of funeral directors in the Oxford area offer a simple funeral service free of charge in such cases, and some also make no charge for caskets.

Several local authorities have already introduced a waiver of fees in such circumstances, and others are considering this.

  • South Oxfordshire District Council makes no charge for burial or exclusive rights of burial for persons under 18 years at time of burial.
  • Southampton City Council makes no charge for interment to 4’6” for one baby or child in its cemeteries
  • The Forest of Dean District Council makes no charge for interments in earthen graves, including digging of the graves, for stillborns and children 12 years and under.
  • Wotton Town Council in Gloucestershire has removed fees for interments of under 5s, and halved its fees for children aged 5-12
  • Yate Council has waived interment fees for under 5s
  • Woking Borough Council is considering a motion on this issue later this week.

The figures supplied to me by an officer show that the income for 15 interments in Oxford City Council cemeteries during the financial year 2015/16 was £5,100.

I believe that Oxford City Council and all in this chamber would wish to do all it can to support grieving families at such an exhausting and upsetting time, and some families would find it hard to manage this additional financial burden.

This motion requests that the Chief Executive investigates whether it would be possible to introduce such a waiver at Oxford City Council cemeteries. The loss of this relatively small source of income would be offset by the compassion shown to grieving families by this Council on behalf of our wider community.

Update from Winvic on Beech House development

Here is the January newsletter from the Beech House site in Latimer Road.

Progress on site:

Concrete works to the basement is almost complete, unfortunately we have suffered a few delays in January due to the drop in temperature again. We have erected a protected walkway over the footpath, this will be in place for the duration of our main deliveries into site. The steel frame has been started today and should now progress quite quickly.

Work to be progressed over the next 4 weeks:

We shall be completing the concrete works to the basement and starting the foundations to the maisonette’s mid February. The steel frame will progress along with forming the floor slabs. We are also starting to erect the scaffold around the steel frame.

Energy pipe – Christmas update

Work on the first phase of the energy pipe works is coming to an end. Trenches in Lime Walk, All Saints Road and Latimer Road are being backfilled and resurfaced, ready for a final clean on Friday. At today’s meeting with the County Council, Vital Energi and the Trust, we discussed the lining in the affected roads. It was agreed that double yellow lines would be painted before the start of the Christmas weekend – if this cannot be scheduled by the City Council, this will be done by Vital Energi as we don’t want any safety issues to come up from parking on corners and other hazardous spots. White lines for parking slots need to be checked to make sure locations tally exactly with traffic orders, so will be re-painted back in the New Year.

The second stage of works to the south side of London Road will resume on 3 January. Work on the north side of London Road is scheduled to start on January 16th. For the schedule of works, please go to the Trust’s website via this link.