Electric Blanket Testing – 2021

For over 20 years the Fire Service has been testing Oxfordshire residents’ electric blankets and this service will be available again this year.

The same as last year, the Fire Service will come to you, will take it away to be tested and then return it to you.

Testing will be between 20 and 24 September and 4 and 8 October.

If you are interested in having your electric blanket tested please see the leaflet, call 01865 895999 Option 1 or email: communityengagement@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Electric Blanket Flyer 2021 final Aug21

August Parish Council Meeting

Launton Parish Council Meeting

The August Parish Council meeting will be on Thursday 5 August in the Parish Hall at 7.30pm.

The Agenda and meeting papers together with the draft Minutes from May’s meeting and the notes from the June and July informal meetings are available on the website in the Agenda and Minutes section.

Due to the current infection rates and to protect everyone as much as possible, there will be special arrangements for everyone attending:
•   all attendees to take a lateral flow test prior to the meeting if at all possible;
•   all attendees should enter through the main doors and use the hand sanitiser;
•   windows will be kept open;
•   the tables for Councillors will be well spaced with no sharing;
•   a table near the main doors will be available to collect meeting papers on entry;
•   the public chairs will be spaced out nearest the main door;
•   all attendees are requested to wear masks into the building and only take them off once seated or speaking.

Informal public participation will be held from 7.15pm but this will be outside the Hall on the grass. All planning applications are now only provided by CDC electronically but, it is hoped it will be possible to display the documents via a data projector at the meeting.

If you would like meeting papers, please let the Clerk know so that she can ensure there are enough copies (no sharing between households at the moment!).

Please let your neighbours know that they can receive this agenda notice by email by signing up on the website in the bottom left menu at https://www.launton-pc.gov.uk/

We’ll look forward to ‘seeing’ you on Thursday.

New Bus Service for the Village

As villagers will know, the Stagecoach bus service to Bicester and beyond was updated early in January following a steady reduction in the numbers who used both the Launton and Langford branches of the route. The old S5 route wasn’t subsidised by Oxfordshire County Council, and it wasn’t economically viable for Stagecoach to continue it.

Councillor Ian Corkin helped to work with County Officers to find some developer funding to create the new 27 / 28 service and we have been fortunate to benefit from this service for the last six months.

As was explained at the time, this was going to be for a limited time only and it has recently been reviewed. The current passenger numbers to and from Launton average approximately 19 per day; of course, the Government’s working from home recommendations and general advice not to travel have clearly had a material impact on usage and while it is hoped that this will significantly improve in the future it is likely that the 27 / 28 service will stop at the end of August.

However, the good news is that the County Council was recently made aware of a commercial decision by the Red Rose Travel bus company to start a new service – 17 – between Aylesbury and Bicester. As it was clear that the 27 / 28 service was not going to be viable, the County Council took the opportunity ask Red Rose if they would be prepared to divert the service through the village – which they have agreed.

The Parish Council was notified of this possibility in June and provided feedback to the County Council on the proposal and alternatives. This new proposal has a number of benefits including new links to Waddesdon School and Aylesbury together with prolonged availability of funding. Unfortunately, there are also some disadvantages, the most prominent being the loss of the through ticketing arrangement with the S5. At the time, these discussions were confidential, but the County Council has now confirmed that the services have been registered.

The new service 17 will commence on 31 August 2021, in time for the new school term. Holders of Stagecoach travel passes valid beyond this date should contact the company for reimbursement and any feedback on the new route would be gratefully received. The Clerk will be happy to forward comments on or you can contact the team directly at public.transport@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

The timetable is available as a PDF

Parish Transport Representative needed!

Do you use the bus service from Launton?

The village has had a Parish Transport Representative for a number of years, but they are unable to continue the role.

The County Council runs Parish Transport Representative meetings a couple of times a year which involve as many of the Oxfordshire villages as possible.

So, if you use the bus and would like to help shape the future of the provision – please get in touch with clerk@launton-pc.gov.uk.

A4421 Road Closure – Newton Purcell to Finmere

As advertised in Launton Lines the A4421 will be closed from Newton Purcell to the Finmere roundabout over two weekends in July.

Firstly:

Between 8pm on Friday 9 and 6am on Monday 12 July

for the demolition of Finmere bridge

and secondly

Between 8pm on Friday 23 and 6am on Monday 26 July

for the installation of a new temporary bridge for the HS2 haul road

Friday 6th August 8.00pm to 6.00am Monday 9th August is a contingency if either of the earlier weekend closures are unable to take place.

More information is available on the HS2 sheet

New Vaccination Centre

As you may have seen, there have been a high number of vehicle movements up to the Sports and Social Club in the last week or so.

The Sports and Social Club has been hired by Jardines Pharmacy which has taken on an NHS contract to provide a vaccination clinic. This clinic is in addition to the Vaccination Centre at Bicester Heritage run by the three Bicester surgeries.

There have been some teething problems with traffic coming into and out of the site between the Parish Hall and the School, but we hope that these have now been mitigated by the organisers.

The main concern raised was the conflict between the high number of vehicles and the school pickup and drop off, particularly at the end of the school day.

We have been assured by the organisers that additional marshals will be available to help with the traffic management when the clinics are in progress.

The next two clinics (on Tuesdays) have already been arranged and bookings taken, but all new clinics will ensure that appointments are not scheduled for the hour around the end of the school day in order that the children can leave school safely.

Parents of the school children have been asked not to park in the lane beyond the Parish Hall car park (which is owned and managed by the Sports and Social Club) and to walk to school if at all possible.

Consultation on allotment access

The County Council has just launched a consultation on the allotment access created by EWR off the Bicester Road.

This is the official Public Notice together with the County’s Statement of Reasons

The detailed plan is available together with the wider picture plan.

The Consultation is available on the County Council website at https://consultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk/BicesterRdNRT/consultationHome

and will close on 18 June.

Bicester Road Closure – Saturday 8 May

The East West Rail team have had to put in an urgent over night road closure of the Bicester Road for Saturday – 8 May.

They will be working from 7pm Saturday evening until 5am Sunday morning.

Bicester Road, Launton will be closed whilst they carry out the resurfacing of the new allotment access. East West Rail apologises for any inconvenience this causes and for the late notice of the work. Regrettably, they were unable to carry out the works earlier due to a machine breaking down.

There will be noisy activity early in the night for around an hour where they are planning the joints, after which there will be lorries and the paving machine at the site.

If there are any queries or concerns, please email publicinformation@ewralliance.co.uk or call the 24 hr helpline on 03457 11 41 41

May Meeting

Due to the loss of the ability for Parish Councils to meet virtually after 6 May, the Parish Council will be holding the May meeting, to formally constitute the new Council, on Thursday 20 May at 7.30pm on the grass OUTSIDE the Parish Hall.

It will only be a short meeting with essential business including the election of the Chairman and the co-option of one Councillor . If you are interested in putting yourself forward for co-option, see our ‘Becoming a Councillor‘ page, complete the form and send it me.

We will not hold the usual open discussion from 7pm that evening.

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

10 June 1921 – 09 April 2021

The Parish Council was deeply saddened to learn of the death of The Duke of Edinburgh and would like to express its deepest condolences to all members of the Royal Family.

An online Book of Condolence will be available at www.royal.uk.