SANDFORD ON THAMES VILLAGE MAGAZINE ON LINE
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July 1989             Issue 21

      As Sandford-on-Thames is off the map as far as our local newspaper is concerned, I feel that I must put pen to paper, to remind our neighbours that on the above date, severe flooding of some 14 properties in Henley Road and Rock Farm Lane took place, to a depth of 6 to 8 Inches.

      Arriving home from Oxford that day, I opened my front door and stepped onto a carpet floating on 4 inches of water. I phoned the fire service who arrived half an hour later and spent 2 hours pumping away floodwater from cottages 9 - 15 and at Sandford House. I was reminded of 1956, although then it was to the greater depth of 12 inches.

      Being at the lower end of the village, one must accept it to a degree, but it does reveal a poor surface water system. However, who knows, the District Council may use some of the 12 million pounds (according to my rates information form) that it has for improvements, to improve this, no doubt out- dated, water system.

      We must extend our sympathy to the other end of the village, where caravan dwellers were virtually trapped by nearly 6 foot of water under the flyover road - the water was still there a week later.

      Hope this puts you in the picture about the events of 24th May...but 'sshhhh' don't tell the Oxford Mail.

THREE C's: COMMUNISM, CAPITALISM, CHRISTIANITY

      Our political freedoms have not brought the social justice they promised, and the accumulation of wealth in new hands has not made us more attentive to the needs of others. A system that makes virtues out of selfishness and greed is rotten at the core, and it is self-deception to pretend it will benefit everyone in the long run. Even the short-term advantages for some) may turn out to be shorter than we expected.

      The most obvious area where our politically stimulated greed is revealing its hidden costs is in the environment. We are actually making the world a less good place for our children to live in. Even if we are not concerned about the erosion of spiritual values, we can see the impoverishment of letting countless species be destroyed in our own life- times.

      Eventually, we will have to accept enforced restraint when there is no more room for unlimited growth and unlimited greed. But by then we shall already be victims of our own short-sightedness. The alternative is a change of heart a new respect for the environment, and recognition that gratification of our immediate desires is not the most im- portant thing in life. The symbol systems of the great religions provide us with the tools for coming to terms

      It is hard to be told that 'the sins of the fathers (and mothers) will be visited on the children' of those who hate God and pillage the world. But that hard note of judgement is followed by a promise of mercy unto thousands of them that love him and keep his commandments'. The top priority for those of us corrupted by a system that encourages greed and the spoiling of creation is to confront our share in this and change our priorities. Religious traditions and communities and practices sustain those who know that we need each other if we are to turn round this mindless rush to global disaster.

      without joining hands across the old frontiers and recovering and nurturing our roots in the nature of things we shall prob- ably just drift. For ourselves, that will merely spell failure. But our children and grandchildren will be robbed even of the chances that we ourselves were given. That makes us the guilty ones.

      Further information on what to do may be found in The Green Consumer Guide (Gollancz £3.95) - and the Bible.




LINK MEETING

There will be a meeting of the Link Committee on Friday July 14th at xx Henley Road, Sandford.
Anyone interested in attending will be welcome.

CHURCH NEWS

Priest-in-charge: Rev. Robert Morgan,
xxx Iffley Road. Tel. xxxxxx

SERVICES IN JULY:

Sunday 2nd July.....	8am	Holy Communion
	10am	Family Communion with Baptism
	6.30pm	Evensong
Sunday 9th July....	10am	Parish Communion
	6.30pm	Evensong:
		Church Army Mission to the Thames
		Preacher: Rev. Keith Elliott
Sunday 16th July...	10am	Parish Communion
	6.30pm	Evensong (Rev. P. Mayhew)
Sunday 23rd July...	10am	Parish Communion
	6.30pm	Evensong
Sunday 30th July...	10am	Sung Eucharist
		(Rev. D. Fehrenbach)
	6.30pm	Evensong (Rev. P. Mayhew)
Sunday 6th August...	....	Feast of the Transfiguration
		and Memory of Hiroshima       [Note]
		No 8am service
	10am	Family Communion
		Rev. J. Stanton (Patronage Board)
	6.30pm	Evensong

EXEMPTION DOG SHOW Sunday 16th July 2pm - 50p per class. Entries from 1pm. Judge - Mr. Derek Gould. 4 PEDIGREE CLASSES 6 NOVELTY CLASSES BEST IN SHOW BEST PUPPY
	ROSETTES IN ALL CLASSES
Also CAR BOOT SALE MINI 50-50 AUCTION, RAFFLE, STALLS ETC. ALL IN AID OF SANDFORD VILLAGE HALL For further enquiries phone Hazel Hutton xxxxxx (evenings)

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

    There are those among you who seek the talkative through tear of being alone.
    The silence of aloneness reveals to their eyes their naked selves and they would escape.
    And there are those who talk, and without knowledge or forethought reveal a truth which they themselves do not understand.
    And there are those who have the truth within them, but they tell it not in words.
    In the bosom of such as these the spirit dwells in rhythmic silence.

A FAREWELL FROM THE EDITOR

The committee are most concerned that The Link should remain a village newsletter, under the control of village residents, rather than become just a page in some other local paper.

Anyone Involved in committees, societies or voluntary associations of any kind, knows how difficult it is to find someone able and, more importantly, willing, to take on even the smallest task. Luckily for the future of The Link, Richard Jackson of Church Road is willing to take on this particular task. What is more, he is also able to take on the printing side of things, thereby reducing our costs and making us no longer dependent on advertising.

This is a great relief to the Link committee, especially Carl, who has had to spend a great deal of time and energy on finding advertisers each month.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Carl Reynolds for his successful efforts at getting The Link back on its feet and for keeping it going at a time of financial crisis. I would also like to thank everyone in the village who has given support to The Link, either in a general way, or by encouraging my own efforts. I am sure everyone will be equally supportive of Richard.

I shall continue as a committee member and shall remain, of course, an avid reader of The Link.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Have you something you would like to announce? A wedding? A new baby? An anniversary? Just telephone xxxxxx with the details or drop them in at xx Henley Road. (Please include your address or tel. number so that we can verify the announcement)

OXFORD PARK HOMES RESIDENT ASSOCIATION NEWS

The Committee had their first meeting on June 12th, and a Constitution was formed. We will endeavour to organise fund-raising and social events in the near future.

Further details will appear in future editions of The Link

In the meantime if you have any queries, please phone Sally Hale xxxxxx.

LOST CAT Last seen on Thursday, 22nd June, Amy, a female tortoiseshell cat with white paws. If you have seen her please contact xx Henley. Road or phone xxxxxx.

SUMMER PLAYSCHEME
31st July - 4th Aug. 7th - 11th Aug. 21-25 Aug , 28th Aug-1st Sep
Four weeks of organised childrens activities, included is a day trip to a local attraction.


SPORTS SPECIAL
24th to the 28th July
A week of sport of your choice, including cricket, badminton, squash, tennis, dance, pottery, art, orienteering, chess, football, rugby, hockey and trampolining.
Other childrens activities this Summer:
Cricket Wednesdays 6 to 7pm
Gymnastics - Wednesdays 4.30 - 5.30pm

SANDFORD ON THAMES PARISH COUNCIL

PRESENT: Mrs J Rolston (Chairman), Mrs J Shepherd (Vice-Chairman), Mrs C Ashburner, Mrs H Hutton, Mr M Leary, Mr M Norton (arrived at 8.30 pm), Mr A Robinson, Mr I Stevenson (County Councillor)

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman - Nominations for Chairman were as follows:

Mrs J Rolston       Proposed by Mrs Shepherd       Seconded by Mr Leary
Four votes in favour, one abstention (Mr Robinson).

Mr M Norton       Proposed by Mr Robinson, no seconder.

Mrs Rolston was duly elected Chairman.

Notations for Vice-Chairman:-

Mrs J Shepherd       Proposed by Mrs Hutton       Seconded by Mr Leary

Five votes in favour. Mrs Shepherd was duly elected Vice-Chairman.

Read and Approve Minutes - The Minutes of the previous Meeting were taken as read, having been previously circulated, and signed by the Chairman.
Proposed by Mrs Shepherd Seconded by Mrs Ashburner. All in favour.

Matters Arising - Mr Robinson raised a point regarding the accounts. He said that a note should be made that the subscription to the Link was made two months in advance but was included in the 1988/89 accounts.

Correspondence
Courages Sign post in recreation field. Noted.
SODC - Paper Banks. Noted.
OCC - Control of Pollution Act 1974. Noted.
OALC - Conduct of Council Business. Noted.
OCC - Oxfordshire County Handbook. Noted.
SODC - Litterblitz 89 Campaign. Noted.
SOUND - Provisional date for next meeting. News Letter circulated prior to meeting.
SODC - Provision of Refuse Skips 1989/90. Noted.
SODC - Central Oxfordshire Local Plan Sandford Village Hall Friday, 19th May. Noted.
0CC - Planning Application P88/N0513/0 - Road Layout at A423(T) Sandford Junction. Noted.
OCC - Village Maintenance. Noted.
OCC - Signposting Rights of Way. Noted.
Magdalen College - Hedge along Church Road & Stile (Henley Road). Noted.
SODC - Press Release. Noted.

Matters to Report

Purchase of rotary mower. The Clerk reported that a mower had been purchased from Meadhams at a cost of £240.35 inclusive of VAT. Other quotations had been received from Ballard & Son Ltd. - £368.46 inc. VAT and County Mowers £269.00 Inc. VAT (verbal quotation).

Wharf Site Moorings. 3 moorings taken up, Mr Wellstood (Cut), Miss R Green and Mrs R Tuckwell. The Clerk was asked to contact Mrs Tuckwell and ask for rent to be paid in order that the Council could reserve the mooring.

Parking on Grass Verges. The Clerk reported that she had received reports

Wharf - Use by Thames Water. The Clerk reported that Thames Water has requested access over the Wharf and had been told that the Council were unable to allow this now that the area was grassed and used for recreational purposes. Mrs Agulnik had told the Clerk that there was no agreement with Thames Water and that the Council were not obliged to allow them access.

Planning Application. Application No. P88/W0936/0 withdrawn. Noted.

Matters for Consideration

General

Adoption of Standing Orders. The following standing orders were adopted by the Council.

Membership of OALC. The Council approved the expenditure of £88.00 for membership of OALC.
Proposed by Mrs Shepherd Seconded by Mrs Ashburner 6 votes in favour.

Approval of Balance Sheet for 1988/89 Accounts. The Council approved the accounts for 1988/89.
Proposed by Mrs Shepherd Seconded by Mrs Hutton 5 votes in favour. One abstention (Mr Robinson).

Recreation Field - Inspection of Playground Equipment. The Council approved the acceptance of the quotation for the inspection of playground equipment from Municipal Insurance £30/year (two per year).
Proposed by Mrs Shepherd Seconded by Mrs Ashburner 6 votes in favour.

Provision of playsafe base under equipment & replacement of equipment. This item deferred until all Councillors have read the information to hand.
Proposed by Mrs Shepherd Seconded by Mrs Hutton 6 votes in favour.

Village Maintenance. Approval of budget figure of £100.00 for materials, i.e. creosote, brushes, weedkiller, etc.
Proposed by Mr Leary Seconded by Mrs Ashburner 6 votes in favour.
Approval for purchase of 4-string strimmer head £25.00 plus VAT.
Proposed by Mr Leary Seconded by Mrs Shepherd 6 votes in favour.

Provision of litter bins on recreation field, telephone box and wharf. Purchase of 2 No. litter bins.
Proposed by Mr Leary Seconded by Mrs Hutton 6 votes in favour. One abstention (Mr Robinson).

Renovation of seats in recreation field. Budget figure £100.00.
Proposed by Mr Leary Seconded by Mrs Ashburner 7 votes in favour.

Wharf - Redundant Gate. Removal of redundant gate, replace with fencing to match existing leaving a gap for pedestrian access only (wide enough for wheelchair access). NO CHARGE John Williams (Contractor) to keep gate in lieu of payment.
Proposed by Mr Leary Seconded by Mr Norton 7 votes in favour.

Planning

P89/W0298 97 Church Road, Sandford-on-Thames. 2-storey extension. Approved, no comments.
Proposed by Mrs Rolston Seconded by Mrs Ashburner 7 votes in favour.

P89/W0310/CC Blackbird Leys Farm Construction of first school and nursery, access road and car park. Change of Use. Approved, no comments.
Proposed by Mr Leary Seconded by Mrs Shepherd 7 votes in favour.

Income & Expenditure

Income	£		Expenditure	£
Precept	4000.00		Meadhams (mower)	240.35
Miss Green (Mooring)	48.00		Meadhams (repair)	19.66
			SEB Maint.	31.51
			Clerk's salary/office	175.00
			Travelling Expenses	5.55
			Petrol for mower	17.91

Proposed by Mrs Shepherd Seconded by Mrs Hutton 6 votes in favour.
One against Meadhams account for mower only (Mr Robinson).

Travelling Expenses. Mr Robinson again queried the payment to the Clerk under "Travelling Expenses". Mr Robinson was reminded that a sum of 15p/mile is paid to the Clerk for the use of her car for Parish Council business to cover the cost of petrol, wear & tear, etc.

Any Other Business

Community Policeman's Report. Nothing to report.

LINK - Items for Discussion. Nothing to report.

Security Marker. Mr Robinson suggested that all the grass cutting equipment, etc. be marked with a security marker. The Clerk was asked to contact PC Reynolds regarding this matter.

Village Hall Committee. Mr Robinson reported that Mr Williams had tendered his resignation. Mrs Ashburner said that the Committee had refused to accept it and that Mr Williams had agreed to continue as Treasurer.

Date of Next Meeting confirmed for Monday, 5th June, 1989 at 7 pm in the Village Hall.

Meeting closed at 9.15 pm.