Latest important announcements within the Parish.
Remembrance Sunday – 10th November
This Remembrance Day a number of villagers met to pay respects to all those who gave their lives in wars since the First World War. Those amongst us included the nephew of Maurice Prew, who along with William Shaw and William Berry lived here in the village. And to whom the war memorial is erected.
In his sermon Bishop Jonathan talked about the art installation at Stowe Gardens this year, Standing with Giants, where 1475 silhouettes stand in the Grecian Valley, each representing a life lost on the first day of the Battle of Normandy, 80 years ago. In our churchyard here, the 3 men of Claydon, who died in World War 1, are poignantly represented by the silhouette created by and generously given to the village by Clive Mutch.
Claydon – Proposed 20mph Speed Limit Consultation
The Parish Council is delighted to announce that the results from the proposed 20mph Speed Limit Consultation are now collated and can be accessed below. It is so good to see that a significant number of villagers engaged in the consultation. This is such an important issue for us all and it is so important that we had a chance for all views to be heard. Huge thanks to those that responded. For the recommendations of the survey for the proposed 20mph speed limit consultation in Claydon, please click on the following link: Claydon – Proposed 20mph Speed Limit Consultation.
Improvements to Churchyard Paths
St James the Great is delighted to announce that work on the church paths is starting at the beginning of November. Support from the Parish Council together with donations from villagers is enabling us to replace the existing paths with tarmac. This will make access to the Church and the Church Rooms, with buggies and wheelchairs or other walking aid much easier and safer. Huge thanks to everyone for their support.
A celebration for these improvements, which includes the restoring of the Church Clock chiming and the laying of the new church yard pathways will be held at the Family Carol Service on 8th December, 4pm. This promises to be a really joyful occasion so please join us.
Update as of 8th November: the work is complete and looks fabulous! Huge success. Congratulations to Rev. Sarah and the Church Wardens for seeing the project through and enhancing access to the Church and the Church rooms for all the village.
Grant Funding Success! Village Planting Project
Claydon with Clattercote Parish Council is delighted to announce that the Village Planting Project has been successfully awarded a grant of £595.38 from the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE), which will enable the purchase of trees for the Playing Field this autumn!
The Village Planting Project, which was initiated by the Village Survey, 2023, highlighted planting for the future as a key aspiration for the village. The Parish Council, in partnership with the Village Community Group has now planned for 8 new trees to go into the Playing Field, Apple Tree Road. This, along with the bulb and wildflower planting on the Village Green, are significant steps in our biodiversity agenda for the village, providing a sanctuary for pollinators and other insects which are facing the loss of their habitats.
Ben Heaven Taylor, CEO at TOE, said “It was great to be able to fund new trees for Claydon’s playing field. At a time when people want to reconnect with nature, they will be humming with bees and butterflies each summer while enhancing the beauty of the playing field for many years to come.”
Claydon with Clattercote Parish Council is hugely grateful to TOE for enabling this very exciting step forward.
Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE) Ltd is a charity and a non-profit making company. TOE is helping local people restore nature, tackle the climate emergency and connect with Oxfordshire’s wild side. We’re Oxfordshire’s independent environmental funder. Our Local Environment Fund raises money and allocates grants for local projects that benefit wildlife, people and the planet.
TOE provides strategic support and funding for local communities who want to promote and improve the biodiversity of Oxfordshire’s wildlife habitats and increase access to the local countryside and green spaces. TOE is grateful for the continued support of Grundon Waste Management Ltd whose support via the Landfill Communities Fund makes an important contribution to the sustainability of Oxfordshire’s environment. TOE works with a range of other funders including individual supporters, the Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre, local authorities and local businesses. If you have a local project that needs funding or if you would like to know how to provide support for TOE, please contact [email protected].
Claydon With Clattercote Parish Council
October 2024
Claydon Village Planting Project – October 16th Update.
The Village Survey 2023 was conducted to give all parishioners the opportunity to have their say in things that matter to them around our community and to be able to influence how we develop our environment in the years ahead. Information was gathered in the village and one of the main themes to emerge was the desire for the planting of trees, bulbs and wildflower areas across the village. Two projects are underway and here follows an update on our plans going forward:
- Tree planting in the Playing Field
As you will have seen above on the press release, the Parish Council is delighted to announce that the Village Planting Project has been successfully awarded a grant of £595.38 from the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE), which will enable the purchase of trees for the Playing Field this autumn!
The Village Planting Project, was initiated by the Village Survey, 2023, and highlighted planting for the future as a key aspiration for the village. The Parish Council, in partnership with the Village Community Group has now planned for 8 new trees to go into the Playing Field, Apple Tree Road. This, along with the bulb and wildflower planting on the Village Green, are significant steps in our biodiversity agenda for the village, providing a sanctuary for pollinators and other insects which are facing the loss of their habitats.
Since this announcement we have placed an order for the trees which include the Purple Beech, which is our choice for the village’s tree to mark the coronation of King Charles III. As soon as the trees arrive, we will gather together to plant them. The selection was made under the supervision of Robert Adams (who lives in the village) is as follows:
- Fagus Sylvatica Atropurpurea – Purple Beech
- Betula Pendula – Silver Birch
- Tilia Cordata – Small leaved lime
- Prunus Padus – Bird Cherry
- Ilex aquifolium – Holly
- 2 Carpinus Betulus – Common horn beam
- Salix Alba ‘Charmosina’ – Scarlet Willow.
Huge thanks are extended to Robert and to Victoria, the Village Community Group co-ordinator, for all their support in this project, we couldn’t have done it without either of you!
Please get in touch if you would like to join the small group involved in caring for the trees during the early years whilst they become established. We have set up a Planting Group WhatsApp group so that we can coordinate our efforts now and in the summers ahead so we can water the trees through dry spells.
Update on the trees, 9th November 2024: Nicholsons of Bicester are delivering the trees on Wednesday 13th November. We will get them planted a soon as it can be arranged after this date.
2. Wildflower and Bulb planting.
At the July Parish Council meeting it was agreed that the place to pilot the project would be the Village Green, adjacent to the bus shelter. It was thought that this small area was unlikely to get walked over, posed the least risk to pedestrians (in terms of hazards), and would be seen by many driving and walking through the village.
The project was costed out and the Parish Council set aside budget to enable to the project to go ahead. Bulbs and wildflower seeds were then selected in consultation with the Village Community Group and a small group of us planted the bulbs on Saturday 12th October. We don’t know how successful the project will be, but we’ve given it our best shot! So, we have now planted 500 bulbs consisting of English bluebells, single snowdrops, wood anemone and winter aconite bulbs. Fingers crossed that they do well.
With regard to the wildflowers we have both annuals and perennials. Some will be planted later this month and the rest in the spring.
The wildflowers will take some time to get established. Perennial wildflowers return year after year but do not bloom in the same year as they are planted. Each year they die back and then regrow in the spring from the same roots. So, the perennial mixture we are planting will see the real benefit in the second and third years rather than the first year of establishment. The selection includes Woodland Edge Seed Mix (from Pictorial Meadows) which are perennials and Pixie Seed Mix (again from Pictorial Meadows) which are annuals.
How do I get involved?
Please do contact us either on the Parish Council email ( [email protected]) or via the Community Group email ([email protected]) if you would like to get involved and help with the planting and management of the trees, wildflowers and bulbs.
Claydon Proposed 20mph limit Consultation – Consultation now closed.
Oxfordshire County Council is considering a request put forward by the Claydon with Clattercote Parish Council last year to have a reduced speed limit of 20mph through the village.
How much this may help with reducing traffic speed is not clear and not everyone may think this is the best approach to improving road safety in the village.
It is crucial that everyone has the chance to express their views so that the decision wanted by villagers is heeded.
Please read the detailed information provided on this consultation and take the time to complete the survey as your views and opinions matter.
Your response should be completed and returned by:
5pm on Friday 11th October 2024
Link to Consultation: https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/claydon_20mph2024
Network Rail meeting 14/05/2024
In May this year, the Parish Council arranged for Network Rail to attend the meeting to discuss management and safety of the lines in our area. This included Wormleighton, Claydon and Clattercote crossings, with particular focus on Claydon following tragic fatality of March last year. Four members of staff from Network Rail attended the meeting: Mark Jones (Level crossing Manager, Banbury maintenance depot), Alex France, Anthony Bonell and Natalie Stretton.
The crossing at Wormleighton currently has a system whereby pedestrians use a lineside telephone at the crossing that links directly to a signaller who is able to direct those on foot as to when it is safe to cross.
There are currently no plans to change the crossing at Clattercote farm. It is considered that visibility for pedestrians is clear as the line is straight in both directions.
Key outcomes from the discussion regarding the Claydon crossing include:
- Network Rail expressed sincere condolences following the fatality, particularly as a close friend of the deceased was present at the meeting.
- Parishioners reported that the train drivers are not consistent in sounding the approach of the train as they approach the crossing, sometimes no warning is given. Mark Jones requests parishioners inform him on these occasions, by email on [email protected] or by telephone through the National helpline (on 0345 711 4141) as he can check via a record on the train and follow this up. We should be as accurate as we can be on the time the train passes, and which direction it is travelling in.
- A villager suggested signage regarding reporting the point above be put in place. The right balance needs to be found between enough signage for safety and information (e.g. in relation to contact details for reporting) at the crossing, and not diluting the essential safety instructions with too much else. Natasha and Mark agreed to think that through further.
- A feasibility study is underway regarding introducing a new safety method using red and green lights at the crossing, to inform pedestrians when it is safe to cross. Depending on the outcome of the study this system may then be installed within the next 1-3 years, or if problems encountered 4-5 years.
- Concerns were raised regarding the safety of the gates as children can easily push them open. It was explained there is no catch system on the gates so that a rapid exit can be made for pedestrians escaping the tracks. Several suggestions were made of alternatives, and Natasha undertook to give this further thought.
- Regarding the Armco on the Fenny Compton Road – this has recently been repaired. When problems occur due to traffic damaging the barrier, parishioners are encouraged to report this to the National Helpline
- Request was made that bins be placed close to the line. Network Rail stated they are unable to do this as they don’t own the surrounding land. Villagers continue to remove rubbish themselves and dispose of it in the village bins. Otherwise For litter problems at the crossings, again report via the National Helpline.
- During the spring and summer months the footpath over the railway line on the Fenny Compton Road can become overgrown and impassable. Footpath maintenance at this site is the responsibility of Network Rail, so villagers are encouraged to ring the National Helpline when maintenance is requied.
Kings Coronation Commemoration Tree
It has been on the village agenda to plant a tree to mark the Kings Coronation. The chosen tree was to be the Scarlet Oak, however in consultation with villagers concern had been raised regarding the size of the tree any impact this may have on the view across surrounding countryside when grown to its full size. Rather than risk making a mistake, the decision was made at the Parish Council meeting in November 2023, to postpone planting until plans for the wider development of the Playing Field (in light of the Village Survey (2023)) were clearer and options fully explored. Estimates were to be sought for tree planting Autumn 2024.
At the May Parish Council meeting it was reported that an issue of concern has arisen regarding the purchase of the Scarlet Oak. There is a processional moth outbreak currently infecting oaks in the south of England. This poses a potential hazard to anyone who touches one of the caterpillars, curious children or pets being amongst those most likely. Currently we understand the outbreak is in and around London. The meeting agreed to review the situation at the September meeting, based on advice from the Forestry Commission.
The next most popular choice amongst parishioners was the Fagus Sylvatica Purpurea. Estimates for the cost of both trees are being sourced from a selection of local nurseries
Meanwhile, in line with the Councils Biodiversity Policy and Action Plan (see Policy section on this website), and as part of an agreed outcome from last years Parish Survey, plans for planting of bulbs and wild flowers in the village are progressing well. We will keep this information updated as things progress.
New Service – Your local bus service
Starting from Tuesday 07th May 2024 ABILITY will be running a bus service from your parish weekly on a Tuesday and Thursday into Banbury. As we are an demand service people will need to register first before they can use the service. The bus is open to all, we accept concessionary bus passes and non-pass holders will be charged a fare.
We are a not for profit community bus company that was started back in 2018 with the aim to help fill the transport void where bus routes were being cut or cancelled altogether. Our service has been described as a social club on wheels as we aware that people who struggle with transport may feel isolated or lonely. We can connect them to where they need to get to and help with these issues. We are thrilled to be able to support the need for transport and provide this lifeline service for the residents in your community.
Full details can be found at the following website: www.abilitycic.org.uk/
Recent Criminal Activity
Sadly there has been another reported incident of a parishioner having logs stolen from their premises. These were located in a log store at the top of their drive.
It seems that the perpetrators may of reversed up the drive in van and casually helped themselves while the parishioner was out. This way from the road side it would look like a delivery and not necessarily a theft.
In the first instance, please report ALL criminal activity to the Police and make sure you obtain a reference number from them. This way it encourages them to do something about the matters over time due to raising incident numbers.
Even if you think that the Police are needed in more important criminal activities, if criminals believe that stealing is relatively easy here, then they might be encouraged to escalate from logs to other things.
There are many CCTV solutions that are available on the market, ranging from the expensive to the relatively cheap options.
It should be noted that while a CCTV monitoring system can be a deterrent, it does not necessarily stop someone.
Sometimes installing a simple hidden wildlife motion detector camera may help in gathering information about the criminals, which may be used in their prosecution if they are subsequently caught.
Examples below:
If You Suspect it, Report it.