March 2007
This is the third newsletter from the Old Marston Parish Council and it is intended to produce this quarterly to give you information about your Parish Council
In this Issue
Recently Discussed Issues
Burial Ground
Boults Lane Recreation Ground
Website for Old Marston Parish Council
Planning Applications
Parish Council Minutes Secretary
Meeting of Parish Councils
Oxford Road Traffic Calming
Old Marston Mill Lane Allotments
A Profile of two Parish Council members
Recently Discussed Items
- Grants to OXSRAD £300 and St Nicholas Bellringers £138 were approved.
- The National Auditors report on Old Marston Parish Council found that the accounts were in order.
- A Sub committee of Parish Councillors has been formed to consider improvements to both play areas (Boults Lane and Mortimer Hall). Input is welcomed from local families especially children on what they would like to see in the play areas. If you would like your views to be heard please contact one of the councillors. Grants will be applied for.
- RoSPA (Royal Society for the Protection of Accidents) inspects the play equipment each year.
- Discussions continue regarding the sports pavilion in Boults Lane, Consideration is being given to moving the pavilion onto the recreation ground, which would leave additionally room for car parking and would be safer for children. The play area would be relocated.
- The bridleway, which runs along Back Way, is very overgrown, it is planned to carry out work to make this passable.
- Overhanging trees and vegetation in Oxford Road and Park Way has been reported to the County Highways Department.
- The post box, which was situated in Oxford Road will be replaced but will be moved to the corner of the new building near the entrance to White Hart.
- New “kissing gates” are to be placed on the footpath off Marsh Lane when the drainage work on the fields is carried out.
- The precept for the 2007/08 year was raised by 2.5% to assist in meeting the Parish Council expenditure for the coming year.
The Parish Council Burial Ground
As result of the article in the last issue a volunteer has come forward to assist with the up keep of the Burial Ground – thank you. If anyone else would like to help please contact Peter Cox on 241951.
Boults Lane Recreation Ground
In the last issue it was stated that the Parish Council were waiting for the result of a grant application to the Football Foundation to enable the drainage of the field to be upgraded. We have now received the good news that this application has been successful.
Marston Saints Football Club have gained funds to convert the ex-cycle speedway field off Marsh Lane into a recreational field.
Discussions have already taken place with contractors to carry out work to both fields. It is anticipated that work will take place in early March and last for about a month.
Please be aware during the period of works, there will be a number of items of equipment and machinery in both fields. For your own safety, please observe the Contractors Health & Safety notices.
Please accept our apologies in advance for any inconvenience caused.
Web –site for Old Marston Parish Council
Duncan Hatfield is in the process of designing a web site for Old Marston Parish Council. It is anticipated that the website will be available from the end of March. For those able to access the Internet you will be able to view minutes of meetings, planning issues within the Parish, information on the Burial Ground, allotments, recreation ground.
There will be more information in our next issue.
The website address will be www.oldmarston-pc.gov.uk
Planning Applications
All planning applications with in Old Marston Parish Council boundaries are discussed at Parish Council meetings. Where it is felt applicable comments are made to the Oxford City Council Planning Department.
The Parish Council policy has been to strongly object to the conversion of family homes to flats as this changes the character of the area and has an impact on the local school, increase of cars and parking in the area.
All planning applications for Oxford City area can be viewed by members of the public in the following ways
- On the Oxford City Council web site www.oxford.gov.uk in the search box type “Planning Application Search”. Available on the website are all planning applications, plans and comments sent to the Planning Department.
- Visit the City Council offices at Ramsey House, St Ebbes Oxford
- By arrangement with the Parish Clerk telephone 01865 241888.
(Plans for Old Marston Parish Council area only).
Parish Council Minutes Secretary
The Parish Council would like to thank Kate Stratford for volunteering to attend the monthly meetings, taking the minutes and preparing them for Councillors. Thank you Kate
Meeting of Parish Councils
The City Council are hosting a meeting to which all Parish Councils have been invited to send representatives. This will give an opportunity to discuss common issues that the Parish Council have. Further information on the meeting will appear in the next issue.
Oxford Road Traffic Calming
The Parish Council for many years have requested a traffic calming scheme for Oxford Road. Now that this has been completed it is hoped that it will slow traffic down.
Please let the Parish Council know your views on this scheme.
Old Marston Mill Lane Allotments Association
The Mill Lane allotments site has been Parish property since 1952, when it was bought from Balliol College on a mortgage from the County Council. The Parish allotments had previously been situated on rented land which was to be no longer available and a Parish meeting decided to buy the Mill Lane site to provide allotments for the parishioners.
Initially the site was fully occupied with a waiting list, but towards the end of the century many plots became unused. Thinking the Parish would want the land developed, the Parish Council initiated a planning application, which was finally refused late in 1997, perhaps fortunately, because a Parish meeting earlier that year resolved emphatically that the allotment site should not be developed.
The site is now managed by the Old Marston Mill Lane Allotments Association (OMMLAA), which has a generous long-term agreement with the Parish Council. Membership of OMMLAA is increasing and should continue to do so.
The land is highly fertile, although a bit wet in winter. Anyone wishing to join is guaranteed a plot given its first cultivation by OMMLAA, and a welcome from existing members. Any effort put in is amply rewarded and there is nothing more enjoyable than home grown vegetables, harvest fresh.
Potential new members should contact the Site Manager, Bill Agent on 250465.
Useful Contacts
Enclosed with this issue is a Useful Contacts list which includes Councilors contact details. It is suggested you keep this for future reference.
To enable you to find out more about your Parish Council in each edition there will be profiles on two Parish Councillors
Angie (Anjana) Tiwari
I was born in Panjab Northern India, I came to the UK in 1967 after I got married to Ken Tiwari. I have two children a son and daughter. They both were born and educated in Oxford. I moved to Salford Road, Old Marston in June 1972.
My husband, Ken Tiwari was an Oxford City Councillor for 9 years, currently he is a Parish Councillor for Risinghurst and Sandhills. He had won 3 consecutive elections to Oxford City Council.
I am a teacher at Cheney School, Headington. I have been teaching for 22 years in Oxford City schools. I have also taught at Milham Ford School. I was extremely sad to see the school closed down. This was the only girls school in Oxford.
I have now been a Parish Councillor for 19 years. Being a local Councillor I would like to see this area safe and well maintained. Recently I agreed to be one of the Old Marston Parish Councils representatives to the North East Area Planning Committee.
I also do voluntary work at the J.R Hospital. I must say it is rewarding and enjoyable to work with a lovely team.
I have also worked for the Thames Valley Police for about 10 years as an interpreter and translator.
I was a member of the Women’s Sub Committee of Oxford City Council to represent all women’s issues of all backgrounds.
I enjoy being a Parish Councillor and would like to do several tasks and improvements in the area. I would like also to see some kind of amusements, leisure and entertainment place where the young generation can enjoy their spare time. Just to show local parishioners money is well spent
Michael Cadd
I was born in Bristol; in 1939 and moved to Oxford in 1954 when I started a five year apprenticeship with British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC) garage in Oxford. I achieved my City and Guilds Certificate in Motor Mechanics and remained with the firm for eighteen months. I then moved to Morris Motors where I stayed for three years. I then started in the garage trade and remained for 30 years.
In 1984 I bought The Three Horseshoes Public house in Old Marston with my wife Jean and we still live in the village.
I joined the Parish Council in 2006
Comments on this newsletter are welcomed, plus any contributions for the next newsletter, the deadline date will be 14th May. Future editions will be in June and September. Please contact the editor Gill Cox on 245154 e-mail gill.e.cox@talk21.com
If you have any items regarding the Parish that you would like brought to the attention of the Parish Council please contact The Clerk or one of the above Councillors
Minutes of Parish Council meetings are displayed in the notice boards at Mortimer Hall and the Jack Russell Public House. Parish Council meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month (except August) at Mortimer Hall, Oxford Road, Old Marston.
