Category: Village News

From the elections on 4 May 2023, voters in England will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections.

This will apply to:

• Local elections
• Police and Crime Commissioner elections
• UK parliamentary by-elections
• Recall petitions
and
• from October 2023 it will also apply to UK General elections.

Accepted forms of photo ID include:

• a passport;
• UK driving licence;
• a blue disabled person’s badge; or
• older person’s bus pass.

However these don’t have to be valid – as long as the photograph on it still looks like you.

The full list of accepted forms of photo ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website at https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id

If you don’t have any form of photo ID, then you can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a “Voter Authority Certificate” via the Government’s website at https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate.

If you know someone who doesn’t have access to the internet, the Clerk has some printed copies of the form which she will be happy to deliver – just call the Parish Council mobile – 07305 303889. The deadline for applying for the ‘VAC’ is 25 April.

There is also a special Electoral Commission helpline: 0800 328 0280

Postal votes are not affected by this requirement, but if you would like a postal vote you need to have registered by Tuesday 18 April. The Clerk also has copies of the form to apply for a postal vote.

Don’t lose your vote!

Cold temperatures will return this week and a Level 3 weather warning has been issued for Oxfordshire and much of England:

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/cold-weather-alert/?tab=coldWeatherAlert&season=normal#?tab=coldWeatherAlert

Please take care and do check on your neighbours if you can.

East West Rail is installing temporary three-way traffic lights on Station Road, Launton from Monday 6th March 2023 to Friday 10th March 2023 to carry out a programme of planting and landscaping works in the area.

The lights will operate between 9am and 4pm each day but will be removed when not in use.

East West Rail apologises for any inconvenience that these works may cause.

As usual, any questions or concerns should go to publicinformation@ewralliance.co.uk or
call the 24 hour helpline on 03457 11 41 41

There will be some additional HGV movements between the A1 Compound and the new Station Road bridge between Monday 20 February and Friday 28 April.

We have been assured that there will be a maximum of five movements per day and they will endeavour to avoid the peak times.

As you may have seen, EWR has provided one of their temporary Speed Indicator Devices just as you drive into the village from Bicester. We hope that this might help remind all drivers of the speed limit through the village.

As usual, any questions or concerns should go to publicinformation@ewralliance.co.uk or call the 24 hour helpline on 03457 11 41 41

We are aware that the road is deteriorating with every car that drives over the damaged area just by the temporary pedestrian crossing and have reported the issue to the OCC Highway Steward.

Unfortunately the road surface can’t be repaired until Thames Water fix the underlying issue of the water leak as any repair would fail almost instantly. However, Thames Water is aware of the issue so we hope that it will be repaired very soon.