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Winter 2003             Issue 92

CHURCH NEWS
Ministry team: Robert Morgan (Lower Farm, 748848) priest-in-charge; licensed lay ministers: Brian Andrews (777011);  Liz Shatford (772598). Church Wardens: Mrs Marjorie Harris (24 Henley Road) and Ray Lee (93 Henley Road). Organist: Daniel Chambers. Choirmaster: Christian Bradley.

There is a baby involved - and that is usually Good News. So we concentrate on the family, and there is merit in that. But the 3½ weeks of Advent invite Christians to some more sober thoughts, and challenge us to get our lives in perspective, and teach us to number our days. The end of the calendar year is a time to review the past twelve months and set a course for the New Year.

2003 will be remembered as the year of the Iraq War and the folly and panic that the fear of terrorist attacks have begun to stir up. The world that the light of Christmas wants to illuminate is a dark place, even if we are able to close our eyes to the darkness and have some fun. May it be a joyful time - but in Advent we are invited first to open our eyes and see our lives in their true light - and act on what we discover. The Christmas carols, the midnight mass, the celebrations of Christmas morning, will then shine in their true light, the light that lightens up everyone, coming into the world

CHRISTMAS SERVICES Sunday 21st December 11.15 p.m. CHILDREN'S CAROLS 6.30 p.m. CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE   CHRISTMAS EVE   11.30 p.m.   MIDNIGHT MASS CHRISTMAS DAY 8.0 a.m.   Holy Communion (BCP) 10.0 a.m.   FAMILY COMMUNION Sunday December 28th 10.0 a.m. Parish Communion   (no 11.15 Service) 6.30 p.m. Evening prayer Sunday January 4th   (no 8.0 a.m.) 10.0 a.m. Parish Communion 6.30 p.m. Evening Prayer At Littlemore church:  Sunday 14th December 5.0 p.m.   Christingle service Tuesday 16th December 7.0 p.m.   Community carol service Tuesday 24th December 6.0 p.m.   Blessing of the crib

On October 18th seven of our ladies went for lunch in the Crusader Bar at the Four Pillars hotel. While we were there a wedding reception was being held and we were lucky enough to see the bride and groom passing through, which added interest to our own visit. We all enjoyed our lunch, and there was a lot of chatter and laughter.

We wish everyone a very merry Christmas
and a happy and prosperous New Year.

Aspects of Bereavement a series of 8 lectures in Oxford beginning January 15th 2004 at 7.30 p.m. For more details and an application form ring 01865 202242 or write to: Oxford Cruse, Wesley Memorial Hall, New Inn Hall Street, Oxford OX1 2DH

Henley Road, Sandford on Thames, Oxford OX4 4GX Telephone: (01865) 334444 . Fax: (01865) 334400 WEB http://www.four-pillars.co.uk Email: enquiries@four-pillars.co.uk Set in 30 acres of glorious parkland on the banks of the Thames. Open to non residents for drinks, light meals and riverside dining. Carvery lunch on Sundays. Conferences, Weddings (including Ceremony) and private parties. Telephone 01865 334444.

    This was the very encouraging result from the village open meeting held on September 22nd. In a full hall, over 60 people found out the details of the green belt issues (a big thank you to Liz for this) and also to hear an informative talk by Steve Daniels, explaining how a village appraisal would enable us to strongly promote our preferred future for the village.

Is our village all it could be?
    Those who came along were also able to look over several displays showing how the appraisal could be developed. In a mini-survey, there was an opportunity for people to add their own comments to a "village likes and dislikes" list and to a transport survey. This gave some interesting and varied results, but the vast majority of people liked the idea of a small and friendly, green village, outside the City of Oxford.
    The major dislike was the amount and speed of traffic through the village, but also mentioned were problems of poor transport, crime, vandalism and what might be called 'youthful excess'. Most commonly suggested was a need for some type of traffic calming and the return of a village shop. These comments are an excellent start point for the appraisal project, so thank you to all those who took part.

So people do indeed care...
    At the end of the meeting, fully half the audience volunteered to form a ' working group' to help in setting up and running the appraisal. Usefully, together they also form a representative cross-section of people in the village. At a subsequent meeting of the working group, the process of an appraisal was discussed in more detail and how best to run one in Sandford.

So what's going to happen...
    The working group discussed a basic timetable and target dates were agreed that will lead to a result next summer. Further debate identified surprisingly extensive lists of groups to consult and to be lobbied, if the results are to be worthwhile.
    Clearly there is going to be lots of work to do! To drive the project forward, a 'steering group' was also formed and Steve Daniels was asked to take on project co-ordination and Mick Hills the project's administration. After detailed analysis of results and the lobbying of Councils and Service Providers etc. the resulting draft plan is expected to be ready for public

And what's happening now?    In December we expect to finalise the arrangements for consulting the village in January and February, to include a special survey focussing upon the young people of our village. To encourage a very high level of response, we hope to secure some attractive free draw prizes.
    In parallel to this, we hope to seek comments in the Science Park, Pubs, Hotel and from river users who often regularly visit, but do not live in, our village. The third element of the process is sharing ideas with neighbouring villages to achieve even more pressure from even more numbers.
    The costs of the appraisal are relatively modest, but the intention is to minimise the impact on Parish Council activities through grant applications that have been submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council, the Countryside Agency and to Siemens Plc's Community Fund.

More information...    A report on our further progress will appear in The Link's spring issue and updates will also be posted on the SandfordOnThames.co.uk web site.
    If you missed the September open meeting and would like to know more, Mick Hills would be pleased to hear from you. Just drop a note in to 18 Rock Farm Lane or e-mail 'appraisal @ sandfordonthames. co. uk'

Dumped cars Please telephone SODC Public Amenities on 01491 823416 or email to public.amenities@southoxon.gov.uk to report an abandoned vehicle on a public highway. If you have a car that you no longer need or want, the Council can collect it from your home and take it off your hands for just £27. Telephone or email as above.

Mrs Gwen Earp b. 13th September 1924, died 11th September 2003
Gwen cam from a large Sandford family, as her maiden name Beecham indicates (see war memorial in church for her brother Maurice, also buried here.) She was born at 3 Mill Cottages (now River View), her father working at the mill, but the family had to move out of the tied cottage when he contracted TB. Gwen served in the ATS during the war and worked at the Nuffield Hospital, then later at the JR maternity wing. Although she emigrated to Cowley and Headington after marrying Eric, Sandford is where her roots (and some of her offshoots - younger Maurice and family) belong, so it was good she came back for burial, in sight of Henley Road. She was a very special person, greatly loved by her large (five children) family, and we join in offering our sympathies to Eric, the five 'children', Gillian, Helen, Maurice, Lynda, and Susan and eleven devoted grandchildren (including Sandfordette Kerry, and Richard) and seven great grandchildren.


Michael Franklin
b. 6th May 1937, died 19th October 2003
Michael and Sue moved into Main Avenue in 1999. A Cowley man, Michael had lately been working with the ambulance service as a voluntary driver, after a variety of jobs. They married in Sandford church on 27th August 2001, a memorable occasion. As he left his new home for the church, looking smart as usual, Bob Oliver (remembered with affection) said, 'You're looking good, Michael'. 'Should have seen me 20 years ago', he replied. Twenty-six months later a packed crematorium heard son-in-law Matt quote a close friend from Canada recalling 'his cheeky smile, irresistible personality and sense of humour that was priceless'. Michael's dry humour was well known. As he said to this friend 'You're so lucky to have me as a friend, Al. All I have is you'. Frank Sinatra was heard at the end (Come fly with me) and at the entry Moonlight in Vermont, where Sue and Michael had just spent an unforgettable holiday. Deepest sympathies to Sue, well supported by Lisa and Jo, and to Simon and Sarah and all the rest of the family. Lots of us will miss Michael, and the atmosphere at his funeral and after it reflected in the best possible way what this precious man meant to so many people.

in the Village Hall every Thursday 7.0 for 8.0 in aid of Village Hall funds

VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS Private functions: £10 per hour Bookings phone: 07759-890696 [Village Hall - Info]

Notes from meetings October - December 2003

Chairman: Nigel Northcott (773569); Clerk: Liz Shatford (772598)
Councillors: M Norton, M Inston, H Hutton, M Hills, P Tuson, I Reveco

District Councillor's report J Stimson reported on a meeting at SODC at which H Hutton and some of the residents committee had made a very successful presentation. It was hoped to set up a task group. There was now an element of harassment occurring by the owner mainly aimed at the more vulnerable residents. The parish council supported residents and protested at the treatment they were receiving.
County Councillor's report Apart from fighting for a lessening of the gravel extraction requirements especially relating to the Berinsfield area, R Tudor Hughes report formed part of the Green Belt discussion. The parish council were concerned about the disruption to village life caused by the recent home match at the Kassam Stadium which hadn't even been a full capacity crowd. The measures taken to date were ineffective. If the 1,000 houses south of Grenoble Rd became a reality how would the huge increases in traffic be accommodated? R Tudor Hughes said he would see if the provision of the 700 agreed parking spaces at the stadium could be hastened. Control Plus was not doing an adequate job of enforcement.
R Tudor Hughes suggested that P Egawhary arrange a meeting with him and parish council representatives to walk the site and view the problem areas.

Matters for consideration
* Green Belt - N Northcott said he felt that we were powerless in the face of the threat from other bodies, witness the Kassam Stadium which had been forced through and imposed on us and which was still causing huge problems in regard to traffic. We were also being bombarded with other applications by the Donnington Hospital Trust for two large sites within the village envelope and now for a new roundabout which was obviously placed to enable access to one of these sites. He suspected that various authorities and agencies were in cahoots and he asked is it worth protesting? J Stimson said he couldn't comment about anyone being in cahoots but he also is concerned about the impact of the Kassam Stadium and in hindsight thinks maybe SODC could have done more.
The officers at SODC had scrutinised the Draft Deposit Structure Plan and thought that in the context of the document as a whole the relevant paragraph H1 was an aberration and last minute addition. SODC was in total

67 Henley Road, Sandford on Thames, Oxford OX4 4YW Tel & Fax 01865 774504   *mobile 07717744294   *classiccurtains@aol.com * Quality handmade treatments: curtains   blinds   pelmets and valances   sways and tails * Full measuring and hanging service * Free 1 hour consultation * Free estimates Good choice of fabric also available

* Village appraisal - following the initial meeting, a very successful public meeting had been held attended by about 70 residents representing all the different areas of the village. From that had come 36 volunteers and at a subsequent meeting 24 people had come to form a working group from whom about 9 would form a steering group. N. Northcott congratulated M. Hills on the very successful progress so far, and hoped the momentum could be kept up. The parish council unanimously offered all possible support.

* Church Rd recreation ground - a complaint had been received about groups of young people congregating noisily on the recreation ground and partying until the small hours. The beat officer had recommended dialing 999 if an infringement of the law was thought to be occurring.

Planning - New roundabout on A4074. PC unanimously agreed to oppose this proposal.


Minutes of the meeting held on Monday November 03 2003
Matters arising: Park Homes problems - a meeting had been called by the parish council to try and resolve persistent and unresolved problems.

Matters for consideration
* Traffic calming - It was agreed that the OCC would be contacted to request action on Science Park moneys and Kassam moneys to create mini roundabout and pinch point narrowing at Church Rd junction.


Minutes of the meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday December 1st 2003 at 7.0 p.m. in the Village Hall

Matters arising At the AGM of the Park Homes Residents Association on many questions had been put to the officers from the floor but no satisfactory answers received. J Stimson said Councillors had been shocked by the non enforcement of regulations and a task group of Members had been agreed by the scrutiny committee to make recommendations. He suggested the site owner should be asked to prepare a phased plan to show how improvements would be made over the next 10 yrs. The Clerk to write to the SODC Chief Exec. to

District Councillor's report J Stimson reported that he had attended the recent Fringe Area Forum where one of the agenda items was the proposed threat to the Green Belt. Oxon County officers had received over 3,000 responses from the public which was unprecedented. He still thought it was a good idea for Sandford to take the lead and invite other interested local parish councils to form a combined parishes group to campaign. Clerk would sound out contacts on other parishes.

Matters for consideration
* Green belt - by invitation, John Howells of Warborough parish council spoke to the meeting on behalf of the 9 Parishes Against Gravel Extraction group which had been set up to fight the proposal to extract gravel from an enormous area of south Oxfordshire. They had put together a substantial objection, mainly on these grounds:-
o The area of extraction would be visible from a very large area.
o The gravel extracted would not be needed in Oxfordshire
o The percentage of total gravel extraction was too great for south Oxfordshire
o The major impact of extra heavy haulage traffic on local roads.
It was the last item which would particularly affect Sandford. So far SERA was ignoring Oxfordshire's objections, the timetable for consultation had been extended and it was hoped to petition in the new year.
The parish council agreed to consider taking part in the petition when it was ready and would consider a donation towards costs later.
* Traffic calming - The county council proposal to paint traffic calming measures on the roads had been dismissed as being inappropriate and too short lived. Mr Kassam had been approached about a contribution from the stadium but he said the benefit to Sandford of traffic calming would be greater than disturbance caused by matches. This would be pursued through Oxford City Council planning department. The Clerk would write to County Council regarding the highways signs on the A4074 and ask for them to be removed or covered over if they were not legally constituted. It would be preferable for stadium traffic to be directed up to the Heyford Hill roundabout and then back rather than through the village. * Rock Farm project - Clerk would investigate taking up the lease on this land from Magdalen College via Savills