Louie Memorial Lower Field  – Saturday March 25th 2pm
A semi-circle of six wild cherry trees is being planted in the Lower Field as a memorial to all the lives lost and permanently affected by the Covid pandemic. They will offer shelter for seats with a view out across north Oxford. The trees will be planted by the Hinksey Nature Trail volunteers in the morning.  They will be below the left hand side of the car park.

Rev. Clare Sykes will lead a short service of dedication at 2pm.  All are invited to join us to remember those we have lost and to reflect on how our lives were changed.

North Hinksey Parish Council thank the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment for their support.

The mosaics are now up! Thank you to everyone who came to the Big Reveal and art workshop on 18th March. A HUGE thank you to Clare Goodall, mosaic artist who created the works with the input of many local people including Botley School, North Hinksey Primary School, Botley Seniors Lunch Club, pop-up cafe, the community larder, the Howse family, Bob and Linda for the nature walk and all the local people who helped put the mosaic panels together in Clare’s workshops.

On Saturday 18th we also had a workshop with artist Nor Greenhalgh to draw inspiration for her mural that will go up later this Spring/Summer.

This is part 1 of our Public Art for West Way Square. Look out for news of Alex Wenhams’ huge stone carvings and Nor’s mural coming soon.

The Annual Parish Meeting is 7:30pm Thursday 16^th March at Seacourt Hall and you can also attend online via Zoom.

Agenda with Zoom details can be downloaded here.

AGENDA

1. Welcome and Introduction by the Chairman (5 minutes)
2. Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting on 17th March 2022 (5 minutes)
3. Questions submitted by the public (20 minutes)
4. Presentation on proposed Botley Skatepark by CANVAS (https://canvasspaces.co.uk/) and
   Q&A (10 minutes)
5. Community Police update and Q&A (10 minutes)
6. Update on proposed solar farm by Solar2 and Q&A (10 minutes)
7. The future of Botley Medical Centre – update and discussion (10 minutes)
8. Sustainable Botley – first results of home energy assessments (10 minutes)
9. The King’s Coronation Celebrations – call for volunteers (5 minutes)
10. Update on Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme proposal (5 minutes)
11. West Way Phase 2 development update (5 minutes)
12. Update on local traffic issues – 20mph zone and Botley road closure (5 minutes)
13. Public art update (5 minutes)
14. Pavilion project update (5 minutes)

Annual Parish Meetings are a chance for parishioners to discuss matters of local importance. Although arranged by the Parish Council and chaired by the Chairman of NHPC, it is not a Parish Council meeting and operates under a different set of procedures.  All are welcome to attend.

All welcome for Public Art Reveal and art workshop Saturday 18th March, West Way Square.

North Hinksey Parish Council has been working with local artists and Fusion Arts, together with the Vale Arts officer to enable the creation of artworks for West Way Square, using S106 money. The work has involved many different community groups and individuals in a truly collaborative creative process.

We are now excited to invite all members of the community to the official unveiling of the installed mosaic panels on Saturday 18th March. Details for the event are as follows:

Timeline:

• 10am: Art workshop with Nor Greenhalgh – Seacourt Hall
• 11am: Mosaic panels revealed, outside Library – The official reveal of the three mosaic panels by Clare Goodall mounted on the wall of the community building

This event on Saturday 18^th March is the first of a number events planned this Spring covering all three elements to the West Way art:

• Three mosaic panels by Clare Goodall (cgmosaics.co.uk) to be mounted on the wall of the community building
• Two large carved standing stones by Alex Wenham (www.alexwenham.co.uk) in the centre of the shopping area
• Two murals by Nor Greenhalgh (eleanorg.org) on walls next to Loomsbury and between The Missing Bean and Tesco

We plan to install and unveil the standing stones and Nor’s wall murals later in the Spring.

There is still time to get involved in the murals by attending Nor’s workshop on Saturday. All ages welcome. You can drop in any time between 10am-12pm to take part in the design of upcoming murals, with artist Nor. We’ll be experimenting with ancient and modern ways of measuring out space using unusual objects. If you like, bring along an object that has local or personal significance for you!

Mace have issued a newsletter update on the construction work for phase 2 of the West Way development. You can download the newsletter here.

There is a Community Liaison Group meeting with the developers and builders on 9th March where NHPC will be represented. We will use the opportunity to raise questions we’ve received from parishioners. We will provide a further update after that meeting.

You can now receive local news and updates from North Hinksey Parish Council via email.

Sign up here or scan the QR code on the posters or on the paper version of the newsletter that you will receive through your door.

(Please note we have some teething problems with this first issue, you only need to enter your name and email, please ignore the other questions on the sign-up form).

North Hinksey Parish Council is compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). To learn more about how we collect, keep and process your data in compliance with GDPR you can view our Privacy Policy.

Are you passionate about your community? Do you want to help make a long-lasting change? Do you have innovative ideas for the council? Do you have concerns about a specific issue and want to do something about it? If this is you, then your Parish Council needs you. We need people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect their community to put themselves forward for election. Make a change and become a councillor.

Local elections are in May this year and OALC have an online training session on 13th January for anyone interested in finding out more about being a Parish Councillor.

So you want to be a parish councillor!‘ session is on 13^th February 10-11am. No need to book. This is a short online session aimed at anyone that might possibly be interested in becoming a parish councillor. It covers the basics – eligibility, skills, nuts & bolts, expectations, what PC’s can and can’t do, with plenty of time for questions to be answered. Link and passcode below.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87125012109?pwd=VzZkYzkwajlqTTJSWEdrcmVxTUs2QT09

 Meeting ID: 871 2501 2109      Passcode: 386520

You can also find out more on the National Association of Local Councils website and watch videos from parish councillors talking about why they are a councillor. If you are interested in standing for election as a Parish Councillor in Botley and North Hinksey you can also contact any of the current Councillors for an informal chat and to find out more about what is involved. You can find Councillor details on this page.

CONSULTATION – deadline 3rd February: proposed 20mph Speed Limit

Oxfordshire County Council wants to make our built environments safer and more attractive places to walk and cycle. To enable this, 20mph speed restrictions are being used to help promote alternative modes of transport for local travel. Further details on how the council is considering making 20mph the new 30mph for Oxfordshire communities can be found here.

The County Council is therefore asking for your views on the proposal to introduce a 20mph speed limit throughout Cumnor (including Farmoor) & North Hinksey (including Botley), replacing the majority of the existing 30mph speed limit on the residential roads within the ‘built-up’ areas in the process. Additionally, a new 30mph speed limit will be introduced on the B4044 Eynsham Road at Farmoor, replacing a section of the existing 40mph speed limit either side of the junction with the B4017 Cumnor Road, adjacent to the residential properties. Other existing 30mph, 40mph & 50mph speed limits will remain in place, with Officers having taken the current road environment & traffic usage into account.

The proposals are being put forward following road safety concerns raised by the parish, and form part of a countywide programme of works that seeks to deliver ‘a safer place with a safer pace’ for the residents of Oxfordshire. In light of this, please find the following consultation documents attached:

• Public Notice
• Statement of Reasons
• Consultation Plan – Cumnor & North Hinksey
• Consultation Plan – Farmoor
• Draft Traffic Regulation Order.

The proposed Traffic Regulation Order is scheduled to be advertised in the Oxford Times newspaper today; Thursday 05th January 2023, and details are also available to view on the Councils consultation portal at the address below:

https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cumnornorthhinksey_20mph2023

As stated on the notice, any objections or other representations on the proposal should be submitted by Friday 03rd February 2023.

Temporary Road Closure and “No Waiting” restriction at South Hinksey, Hinksey Hill

9 -10 January 2023 between 20:00 and 06:00.

In the interests of public safety, it will be necessary for Oxfordshire County Council to close the road and impose a ‘No Waiting’ restriction as detailed above to facilitate carriageway patching works. A temporary Notice is being made to implement the temporary closure and will operate from 09 January 2023 up to and including 10n January 2023. This will operate between 20:00 and 06:00.

Please note that Notices for urgent works can last up to 5 consecutive days only.

Access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and for those frontages within the closure area, subject to the progress of the works and liaison with the works supervisor. Further details:

• Drawing showing the extent of the closure and restriction and also the alternative route for traffic is attached. 

Further information regarding the works may be obtained by contacting Tim Belton – Milestone Infrastructure, Oxfordshire County Council on 0345 310 11 11.

Temporary Layby closure, North Hinksey Lane:

03 January 2023 up to and including 31 March 2023.

In the interests of public safety it will be necessary for Oxfordshire County Council to close a short section of North Hinksey Lane layby to to serve as a parking area for operatives and plant etc. for the Willow Walk Bridleway widening and Willow Walk 2 footbridge replacement repairs/works.

A Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) is being made to implement the temporary closure and will operate from 03 January 2023 up to and including 31 March 2023. This is a 24 hour layby closure.

Access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and for those frontages within the closure area, subject to the progress of the works and liaison with the works supervisor.  Further details:

• Drawing showing the extent of the closure and the alternative routes for traffic i
• Full notice

Further information regarding the works may be obtained by contacting Clement De Cruz – Milestone Infrastructure, Oxfordshire County Council on 0345 310 11 11.

The Parish office is closed from December 24th, reopening on January 3rd. The Parish Clerk is not available during this time. Phone messages and emails will be picked up from 3rd January.

You can report many issues including graffiti, fly tipping, street lighting and broken paving slabs direct to the County Council via fixmystreet.com. For details of the Vale District Council services over the holiday period check this page. There are also details on the Oxfordshire County Council website on the OCC holiday service.

For Christmas waste collections see our earlier post here.

If you have an urgent issue over the break that relates to Parish Council owned land, buildings or facilities you can contact any of the Parish Councillors listed on the Councillors page.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy, healthy New Year.