Author: Fleur S

Oxfordshire County Council is to mark the historical milestone of Victory in Europe Day on 8th May with a series of video tributes from key people across the county.  Despite the restrictions of the lockdown, this remains an important moment for the nation and the tributes will begin with a video message online from Oxfordshire’s Lord Lieutenant Tim Stevenson at 2.50pm. On 8th May 1945, Britain and its allies celebrated the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of Hitler’s aggression. This formally recognised the end of the Second World War in Europe and became known as Victory in Europe (VE) Day.  Plans to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day have been severely impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic with events either cancelled or postponed.  However, 8th May 2020 remains a Bank Holiday and many will participate in a planned national toast to the Heroes of World War Two at 3pm from the safety of our own homes.  Take part by raising a glass, cheering and clapping on your doorsteps and offer your tribute; The official toast is: “To those who gave so much, we thank you.”  Other parts of Oxfordshire are also celebrating. In Oxford, The Lord Mayor Councillor Craig Simmons will start the VE Day celebrations at 11am for the nation’s two-minute silence from his doorstep. At 3pm he will raise a toast to the nation.  Cllr Andrew McHugh as the military champion for Cherwell District Council has recorded a message to celebrate VE Day which will feature on our Facebook page. South Oxfordshire and Vale of the White Horse district councils are running a campaign to encourage staff, councillors and residents to get creative: making red, white and/or blue cakes, buns or muffins, dress their houses/pets/selves up to celebrate the end of the conflict – and to get residents to join in the government’s garden party, and submit to us their photos on social media, which will be shared in a big photo montage. Make your submissions to: [email protected]  Witney Town Council also has a series of virtual events including a concert by Voicebox Choir who were due to have performed live in Witney Market Square. Further information here: http://www.witney-tc.gov.uk/news/witney-plans-for-a-virtual-ve-day-75-commemoration/.  Schedule: VE Day 75 8th May 2020  11am – 2 minutes silence for a national moment of remembrance  11.15am – Join the Royal British Legion VE Day Livestream  2.50pm – Watch Oxfordshire’s Lord Lieutenant’s message on our Facebook page: https://tinyurl.com/y98mdzsu  6.00pm: Christchurch Cathedral Oxford: listen to a VE Day Evensong from this historic place of worship: https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/oxfords-cathedral/online-worship  9pm – Her Majesty The Queen will send a message to the nation on BBC One, at 9pm, the same time her father, King George VI, gave a radio address in 1945.   Followed by a national singalong of Dame Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again.Open your doors and join in with this national moment of celebration. 9-10th May: Oxfordshire County Council continues VE Day 75:  Keep following the 75th anniversary as our Facebook page features video messages from Oxfordshire’s council leaders as well as contributions from active duty personnel in the Royal Air Force and Army across Oxfordshire. The videos will be uploaded across both days and can be watched at: https://tinyurl.com/y98mdzsu  We will also be presenting a range of photos on our Oxfordshire County Council Twitter account that residents have submitted to us of locations across Oxfordshire that played a part in World War Two. Follow us @OxfordshireCC  Stay Safe, Stay at Home: Please do not to travel or hold any gatherings that go against the stay home rules. Everyone must stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. www.gov.uk/coronavirus  The best way for everyone to protect themselves and others from illness is to stay at home. If you are leaving your home for exercise once a day, please stay local and use open spaces near to your home.  Further resources:  Poster/bunting template Great British bunting template – BBC Learning resources Imperial War Museum – What you need to know about VE DayRoyal British Legion – VE Day Learning ResourcesBBC History – End of WW2VE Day 75 Resources http://news.oxfordshire.gov. uk/oxfordshire-to-mark-the- 75th-anniversary-of-victory-in-europe/

A new Community Support team has been established at SODC as part of the county-wide redeployment of staff to ensure support for the district’s most vulnerable residents, while also maintaining normal services as much as possible during the current emergency as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. This new team is collating information about the large number of newly established support groups to ensure that there are no gaps in coverage and we don’t duplicate effort. 

Each district councillor has an advance of £2000 from their annual grant allowance to support these groups if necessary. Anyone needing funding for expenses should email Andrea Powell or Sue Cooper.

Oxfordshire help lines have been established as a first point of contact for anyone in need of help. There are TWO separate lines. Anyone identified as in the extremely vulnerable “shielded” category should call 01865 897820 or email [email protected]. Anyone else self-isolating and in need of support can check to find a volunteer group nearby at www.oxfordshireallin.org/local-support-groups or you can call 01235 422600 or email [email protected]. These support lines are open 8.30am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturday and Sundays.

The SODC coronavirus information page is updated daily and remains the best first port of call for information on local services: http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/news-events/coronavirus-covid-19-information.

Oxfordshire County Council recycling centres are closed. 

The SODC Food and Safety team is responsible for enforcing business closures and using their Twitter account https://twitter.com/eatsafeworksafe to spread the word so businesses aren’t tempted to open up against the government’s Stay at Home rules.

Crowmarsh Parish Council met online for the first time on Thursday 2^nd April 2020. The notes from the meeting can be found here:

Parish Council April 2020 meeting notes

Free Covid-19 Testing kits for those without symptoms

To help reduce Covid-19 risks to everyone at school, their families and contacts, the PC would like to highlight and encourage, parents and others in households of school children to use the free twice-weekly home testing kits for those withoutsymptoms. Home test kits can be delivered to your door, so you can test yourself and your family without leaving your home. 

We understand that 1 in 3 people do not have any symptoms but can still pass it on. 

With the Easter hols there is likely to be more mixing between people of different ages, particularly at places like the playground, so it would be good if households start to do this before they go back to school.

Lateral flow test kits can be obtained from pharmacies, or ordered online:

You can order 1 pack of home test kits containing 7 tests for home delivery. Your tests should arrive within 2 days.

Order rapid lateral flow home test kits

Local coronavirus advice

Latest advice and local information from SODC and OCC:

www.southoxon.gov.uk/covid19

www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/council/coronavirus-covid-19

Government coronavirus advice

Specific advice for a range of settings including travel advice, advice on educational settings, guidance for employers, employees, self-employed people, those in health and care sector is also available at the following link. This is updated as appropriate:  https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Crowmarsh Community Group

Help is available in the Crowmarsh community if you are isolating at home and need support, shopping, someone to talk to:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowmarshresponse/

Learnyay helps adults find free education courses and training. By connecting them with ESFA and local authority funded colleges, schools and training providers in their area. With many people furloughed and self-isolating, we feel it’s more important than ever to raise awareness about free education courses and training. Find out more here: https://www.learnyay.co.uk
Mary Williams, Learnyay

Crowmarsh parish councillors and residents will be joining with Wallingford’s 1155 charity on 14th March, ahead of the nationwide Great British Spring Clean, to clear our streets, roads, paths and hedgerows of litter to make the village look clean and tidy.  

Please join in this community activity if you can. Look out for final details on posters, but volunteers are asked to meet at the end of Thames Mead at 10 am. Equipment will be provided but please wear robust footwear and warm clothes. Accompanied children welcome.

Thursday, February 6th
Crowmarsh Gifford V. H.

Thursday, March 5th
Crowmarsh Gifford V. H.

Thursday, April 2nd
Crowmarsh Gifford V.H.

Thursday, May 7th
North Stoke V.H.

Thursday, June 4th
Crowmarsh Gifford V.H.

Thursday, July 2nd
North Stoke V.H.

Thursday, August 6th
Crowmarsh Gifford V.H.

Thursday, September 3rd
Crowmarsh Gifford V. H.

Thursday, October 1st
North Stoke V. H.

Thursday, November 5th
Crowmarsh Gifford V. H.

Thursday, December 10th
North Stoke V.H.

All meetings start at 7.30pm

Date of Annual Parish Council Meeting to be agreed

Please note meeting dates are correct at time of publishing, but may change due to unforeseen circumstances.

Three years ago the Parish Council carried out a residents’ survey focusing on housing and intrastructure facilities. We have achieved some of the things you asked for, including a new playground, outdoor gym and basketball half-court, three traffic speed indicators and defibrillators at key locations.
The major projects we still have on our strategic priorities list (the examples below are in no particular order) include some that depend on other authorities such as the County Council, some that will be funded or provided by housing developments, and some that the Parish Council will lead on.
Please tell us your top priorities in this list and add any other community facilities or improvements you want to see in the parish, by completing the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NSDQY2V

Thank you.