Council Minutes January 2012

helen — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:57:00 +0000

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 30th January are available here

30.01.12

Presentation to Wrighton’s Shop

helen — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:53:27 +0000

On Monday 30th January Jane Barker of Oxfordshire Rural Community Council presented Cathy Steer and Gordon Wrighton with a “Highly Commended” Certificate in the Oxfordshire “Village Shop of the Year” Competition for 2011. Nominations were made in November 2011and judging took place in Decemeber.

As Jane said “I have run a shop and I know that to have a sucessful shop you need a first class team which Cathy and Gordon have.” Cathy said “Yes, we have an excellent team and all of us would like to thank our customers for their support and appreciation”.

Winter Weather Precautions

helen — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:12:56 +0000

The Parish Council is well prepared for the eventuality of severe weather this winter. There is plenty of salt and spreaders have been purchased. Please note that the salt in the bins is for clearing the roads and not for private driveways or paths. (See below for alternatives)

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has confirmed that during extreme weather farmers can use red diesel in their tractors to help grit and clear snow from public roads.

Under normal rules any vehicle that is specifically constructed or adapted for dealing with frost, ice and snow – such as a snow plough – can work on public roads while using red diesel.

HMRC recognise the vital role played by farmers in helping to keep rural roads clear. So during this period of extreme weather HMRC will adopt a pragmatic approach to the rules. This means tractors on public roads clearing snow or gritting to provide access to schools, hospitals, a remote dwelling, or communities cut off by ice and snow are entitled to use red diesel.

More details can be obtained by calling the Excise and Customs Helpline on Tel 0845 010 9000.

The snow code – tips on clearing snow and ice from pavements or public spaces

Anyone can clear snow and ice from the pavement outside their home or public spaces to prevent slips and falls. Follow the snow code to clear snow and ice safely.

Don’t be put off clearing paths because you’re afraid someone will get injured. Remember, people walking on snow and ice have a responsibility to be careful themselves.

Follow the advice below to make sure you clear the pathway safely and effectively.

And don’t believe the myths – it’s unlikely you’ll be sued or held legally responsible for any injuries if you have cleared the path carefully.

Clear the snow and ice early in the day

It’s easier to move fresh, loose snow rather than hard snow that has packed together from people walking on it. So if possible, start removing the snow and ice in the morning. If you remove the top layer of snow in the morning, any sunshine during the day will help melt any ice beneath. You can then cover the path with salt before nightfall to stop it refreezing overnight.se salt or sand – not water

Don’t make the pathways more dangerous by causing them to refreeze. If you use water to melt the snow, it may refreeze and turn to black ice. Black ice increases the risk of injuries as it is invisible and very slippery.

You can melt snow or prevent black ice by spreading some salt on the area you have cleared. You can use ordinary table or dishwasher salt – a tablespoon for each square metre you clear should work. Don’t use the salt found in salting bins – this will be needed to keep the roads clear.

Be careful not to spread salt on plants or grass as it may damage them.

If you don’t have enough salt, you can also use sand or ash. These won’t stop the path icing over as effectively as salt, but will provide good grip underfoot.

Take care where you move the snow

When you’re shovelling snow, take care where you put it so it doesn’t block people’s paths or drains. Make sure you make a path down the middle of the area to be cleared first, so you have a clear surface to walk on. Then shovel the snow from the centre of the path to the sides.

Offer to clear your neighbours’ paths

If your neighbour will have difficulty getting in and out of their home, offer to clear snow and ice around their property as well. Check that any elderly or disabled neighbours are alright in the cold weather. If you’re worried about them, try contacting their relatives or friends, or if necessary the local council.

Agrivert Composting Facility, Ardley

helen — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 15:21:42 +0000

The Environment Agency has become involved following numerous complaints from residents in and around Ardley about the unpleasant smells emanating from the composting facility.

If you have any complaint about odour, please contact the Environment Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60. This is a freephone, 24 hour service.

When calling the hotline please provide as much of the following information as possible:

When did you first notice the problem?
When was it worst? Is it ocurring now?
What are the weather conditions like?
What did it smell like?
Is the problem constant or intermittant?
How intense is the odour on a scale of 1-6? (1 being no odour, 6 being extremely strong odour)

Fritwell Parish Council

Council Minutes January 2012

Presentation to Wrighton’s Shop

Winter Weather Precautions

Agrivert Composting Facility, Ardley