
Community News and Information
The Thames Valley Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Mediation Service.
This service is available to residents across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes, and is being delivered by Alternatives to Conflict (previously known as Mediation Bucks).
Mediation provides an independent support service and can offer a solution when there is no clear course of action open to a statutory agency, such as the police or local authority. It also represents an alternative to court proceedings and intervention by statutory agencies.
For further details, please visit the news page.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
This service is available to residents across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes, and is being delivered by Alternatives to Conflict (previously known as Mediation Bucks).
Mediation provides an independent support service and can offer a solution when there is no clear course of action open to a statutory agency, such as the police or local authority. It also represents an alternative to court proceedings and intervention by statutory agencies.
For further details, please visit the news page.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
The British Beekeeping Association have asked if we could all watch and share this video widely, to help protect our honeybee population as Asian Hornet numbers grow just across the Channel. You may see traps in the countryside, which are all part of creating a national grid of trackers.
It will take less than two minutes to view. Thank you.
Video Link
Message Sent By
Neil Gunnell
(NWN, MSA, Thames Valley, South Oxfordshire)
It will take less than two minutes to view. Thank you.
Video Link
Message Sent By
Neil Gunnell
(NWN, MSA, Thames Valley, South Oxfordshire)
BUS SERVICE TO THAME!
The 127 service to Thame started on 7th November 2023. Click the link for the timetable.
The 127 service to Thame started on 7th November 2023. Click the link for the timetable.
Mobile Post Office
The Mobile Post Office service has ceased due to lack of custom.
The Mobile Post Office service has ceased due to lack of custom.
AGE UK - Community Links Oxfordshire newsletter - Click here to read the Newsletter
Oxfordshire County Council News

Call for landlords
Our new campaign to encourage landlords and prospective landlords to come forward for more information about renting their property to Ukrainian nationals. Guests are looking for independence and, if they want to stay in the UK, for somewhere to live that is more in line with the family environment they left behind in Ukraine.
Morning after pill
In Oxfordshire, many are not aware they can access the morning after pill for free from some pharmacies. This campaign raises awareness and signposts people to free emergency oral contraception and contraception advice.
Our new campaign to encourage landlords and prospective landlords to come forward for more information about renting their property to Ukrainian nationals. Guests are looking for independence and, if they want to stay in the UK, for somewhere to live that is more in line with the family environment they left behind in Ukraine.
Morning after pill
In Oxfordshire, many are not aware they can access the morning after pill for free from some pharmacies. This campaign raises awareness and signposts people to free emergency oral contraception and contraception advice.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH LAUNCHES ITS BIGGEST RECRUITMENT DRIVE IN RECENT TIMES, INVITING NEIGHBOURS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO JOIN
Neighbourhood Watch has launched a new campaign – their biggest recruitment drive in recent times – to boost community participation and reduce both the fear and likelihood of crime. The BETTER PLACE TO LIVE campaign will run until the end of the year. It utilises a new logo, launched to sit as a modern partner alongside the immediately recognisable traditional logo.
A 'better place to live' is, of course, what we would all like to achieve – whether it be making new friendships, looking after our environment, supporting our neighbours, reducing isolation and loneliness, or working together to reduce fear of and opportunities for crime. Delivered in towns, cities, and villages across England and Wales, the campaign will have a particular drive during Neighbourhood Watch Week between the 3rd and 9th of June. It has also been launched on social media platforms and the Neighbourhood Watch website. The campaign encourages greater participation in the nation's largest voluntary crime prevention movement.
"The cost-of-living crisis and the pandemic have highlighted the importance of neighbourhood and community connections in tackling loneliness and isolation, as well as our vital work in crime prevention. We have a proven track record of bringing communities together and helping them to feel safer in a more uncertain world."
John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch
Members of the public have said that the main barriers to them joining their local Neighbourhood Watch scheme were threefold: they were unsure whether there was a group in their area, they didn't know who else was involved, or simply they hadn't been asked to join. The campaign aims to address these reservations, particularly amongst the charity's underrepresented groups, including 25 to 40-year-olds and those in high-crime areas.
To reach a younger audience, the charity has recruited a young people's project worker and a young trustee, as well as established a presence on Instagram. Its Lookout Magazine, co-developed with student writers, raised students' awareness of topics such as drink spiking, keeping safe on a night out, cybersecurity, and mental health. As a result of these actions, between 2020 and 2021, four times as many 18 to 24-year-olds visited the Neighbourhood Watch website compared to the previous year.
It is hoped that the BETTER PLACE TO LIVE campaign will see a similar surge in participation and membership. Find out more.
Neighbourhood Watch has launched a new campaign – their biggest recruitment drive in recent times – to boost community participation and reduce both the fear and likelihood of crime. The BETTER PLACE TO LIVE campaign will run until the end of the year. It utilises a new logo, launched to sit as a modern partner alongside the immediately recognisable traditional logo.
A 'better place to live' is, of course, what we would all like to achieve – whether it be making new friendships, looking after our environment, supporting our neighbours, reducing isolation and loneliness, or working together to reduce fear of and opportunities for crime. Delivered in towns, cities, and villages across England and Wales, the campaign will have a particular drive during Neighbourhood Watch Week between the 3rd and 9th of June. It has also been launched on social media platforms and the Neighbourhood Watch website. The campaign encourages greater participation in the nation's largest voluntary crime prevention movement.
"The cost-of-living crisis and the pandemic have highlighted the importance of neighbourhood and community connections in tackling loneliness and isolation, as well as our vital work in crime prevention. We have a proven track record of bringing communities together and helping them to feel safer in a more uncertain world."
John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch
Members of the public have said that the main barriers to them joining their local Neighbourhood Watch scheme were threefold: they were unsure whether there was a group in their area, they didn't know who else was involved, or simply they hadn't been asked to join. The campaign aims to address these reservations, particularly amongst the charity's underrepresented groups, including 25 to 40-year-olds and those in high-crime areas.
To reach a younger audience, the charity has recruited a young people's project worker and a young trustee, as well as established a presence on Instagram. Its Lookout Magazine, co-developed with student writers, raised students' awareness of topics such as drink spiking, keeping safe on a night out, cybersecurity, and mental health. As a result of these actions, between 2020 and 2021, four times as many 18 to 24-year-olds visited the Neighbourhood Watch website compared to the previous year.
It is hoped that the BETTER PLACE TO LIVE campaign will see a similar surge in participation and membership. Find out more.
Rethink waste with a trip to a local repair café!
As part of a big drive to rethink waste, residents are encouraged to check out the range of repair cafés, libraries of things, community larders, clothes swaps and other great reuse initiatives happening in their local area.
People can find their nearest repair café and a range of other reuse initiatives by searching on the CAG Oxfordshire website: www.cagoxfordshire.org.uk or visit the Repair Café Oxfordshire website https://repaircafeoxfordshire.org
As part of a big drive to rethink waste, residents are encouraged to check out the range of repair cafés, libraries of things, community larders, clothes swaps and other great reuse initiatives happening in their local area.
People can find their nearest repair café and a range of other reuse initiatives by searching on the CAG Oxfordshire website: www.cagoxfordshire.org.uk or visit the Repair Café Oxfordshire website https://repaircafeoxfordshire.org

Oxfordshire residents urged to help county ‘win at waste’
Visitors to Oxfordshire’s household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) are being asked to separate recyclable material from their general waste before disposing of it.
Oxfordshire County Council wants residents to sort their mixed rubbish out before their visit, in a bid to prevent items that can be recycled from ending up in the general waste and bulky skips.
Visitors are encouraged to separate their recycling so it can be put into the relevant containers which are on site, including plastics, card, textiles and shoes, metals and electrical items, before setting off.
Bledlow Ridge Household Recycling Centre re-opened 16th January 2023
It is a Buckinghamshire Council run facility, but historically around a third of users came from Oxfordshire. So we wanted to share the update below with you, shared by the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment.
Access fee for Oxfordshire users
There is a change to how the site runs for residents in Oxfordshire and it is important any visitors coming from Oxfordshire know what to expect before they visit. We have introduced an access & acceptance fee for all visitors from outside of Buckinghamshire. The Council has no legal obligation allow visitors from outside of Buckinghamshire to use the site. However, the Council recognises that for some Oxfordshire residents Bledlow Ridge HRC is a convenient site to use. We do not wish to stop visitors from Oxfordshire visiting, but we do need to ensure these visits don’t come at a cost for Buckinghamshire taxpayers. As such, we have introduced an access levy based on the cost of managing and disposing of the waste brought to site. Details can be found here, charges start from £22 and increase based on vehicle size and type of waste brought.
Proof of address
All visitors will be asked for proof of address at the entrance. If the visitor cannot show proof of a Buckinghamshire address then they will be advised of the access and acceptance levy. The visitor can then chose whether to pay the fee or leave the site and visit an alternative site.
Access fee for Oxfordshire users
There is a change to how the site runs for residents in Oxfordshire and it is important any visitors coming from Oxfordshire know what to expect before they visit. We have introduced an access & acceptance fee for all visitors from outside of Buckinghamshire. The Council has no legal obligation allow visitors from outside of Buckinghamshire to use the site. However, the Council recognises that for some Oxfordshire residents Bledlow Ridge HRC is a convenient site to use. We do not wish to stop visitors from Oxfordshire visiting, but we do need to ensure these visits don’t come at a cost for Buckinghamshire taxpayers. As such, we have introduced an access levy based on the cost of managing and disposing of the waste brought to site. Details can be found here, charges start from £22 and increase based on vehicle size and type of waste brought.
Proof of address
All visitors will be asked for proof of address at the entrance. If the visitor cannot show proof of a Buckinghamshire address then they will be advised of the access and acceptance levy. The visitor can then chose whether to pay the fee or leave the site and visit an alternative site.
SODC Waste Collection notes
GARDEN WASTE Brown Bin - What CAN be put into the brown bin:
Fortnightly collections of garden waste (brown bins) started again on 1 November. A number of residents have experienced problems with the collection of waste bins. Please remember to report any uncollected bins before 5pm the following day: not only will Biffa then (hopefully!) come back and collect, but data on missed bin collections are a critical element of the monitoring of the contract. You can report by phone on 03000 610610 or online using this link.
All information regarding collections, Bank Holiday changes, effects of the weather on planned collections etc and when your bins will be emptied, can be found on the SODC website - please CLICK HERE for details.
Changes coming next year to garden waste service in South and Vale
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have set out plans to change the way their garden waste service is paid for in 2025.
The councils’ have agreed the introduction of a permit scheme from April 2025 which will include subscribers receiving a sticker for their bins to identify them as fully paid-up garden waste customers.
This kind of scheme is offered successfully by many other local authorities, including in neighbouring West Oxfordshire.
When customers sign up and pay for the scheme in 2025, they will be sent a garden waste permit sticker to put on their bin/or bins, which will help the waste collection crews identify which bins should be emptied. The permits will act in a similar way to a parking permit as a proof of subscription payment. All subscribers will receive a new sticker annually each time they renew.
This will help to ensure that only households that have paid for the service have their brown garden waste bins emptied.
The changes are part of the councils’ ongoing work to improve the efficiency and value of public services.
The garden waste subscriptions currently run via annual direct debit payments from the date people signed up for the scheme. Next year, the councils will stop taking direct debit payments for the service. Customers will instead make a single annual payment by debit or credit card - so that everyone’s payment year will run from 1 April to 31 March each year.
The council will directly contact all customers, via letters and email, in plenty of time to remind them to renew.
Benefits to customers include an all-new online system so they can manage their account and change their details much more easily. This will also mean the councils can contact people quickly if there are any disruptions to the service, such as during adverse weather.
Current subscribers will receive notification of the changes with this year’s invoices. This will provide more information on the new system in 2025 as well as details of changes to their direct debit payment this year and the annual fee increase to cover the cost of running the service.
GARDEN WASTE Brown Bin - What CAN be put into the brown bin:
- Leaves
- Grass
- Weeds
- Flowers and plants
- Hedge clippings
- Branches (not more than 10cm thick)
- Prunings and twigs
- Windfall fruit
- Hay / Straw / Sawdust (soiled animal bedding from non-meat eating animals only eg rabbits)
- Vegetable waste from the garden only eg potato tops (not kitchen waste)
Fortnightly collections of garden waste (brown bins) started again on 1 November. A number of residents have experienced problems with the collection of waste bins. Please remember to report any uncollected bins before 5pm the following day: not only will Biffa then (hopefully!) come back and collect, but data on missed bin collections are a critical element of the monitoring of the contract. You can report by phone on 03000 610610 or online using this link.
All information regarding collections, Bank Holiday changes, effects of the weather on planned collections etc and when your bins will be emptied, can be found on the SODC website - please CLICK HERE for details.
Changes coming next year to garden waste service in South and Vale
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have set out plans to change the way their garden waste service is paid for in 2025.
The councils’ have agreed the introduction of a permit scheme from April 2025 which will include subscribers receiving a sticker for their bins to identify them as fully paid-up garden waste customers.
This kind of scheme is offered successfully by many other local authorities, including in neighbouring West Oxfordshire.
When customers sign up and pay for the scheme in 2025, they will be sent a garden waste permit sticker to put on their bin/or bins, which will help the waste collection crews identify which bins should be emptied. The permits will act in a similar way to a parking permit as a proof of subscription payment. All subscribers will receive a new sticker annually each time they renew.
This will help to ensure that only households that have paid for the service have their brown garden waste bins emptied.
The changes are part of the councils’ ongoing work to improve the efficiency and value of public services.
The garden waste subscriptions currently run via annual direct debit payments from the date people signed up for the scheme. Next year, the councils will stop taking direct debit payments for the service. Customers will instead make a single annual payment by debit or credit card - so that everyone’s payment year will run from 1 April to 31 March each year.
The council will directly contact all customers, via letters and email, in plenty of time to remind them to renew.
Benefits to customers include an all-new online system so they can manage their account and change their details much more easily. This will also mean the councils can contact people quickly if there are any disruptions to the service, such as during adverse weather.
Current subscribers will receive notification of the changes with this year’s invoices. This will provide more information on the new system in 2025 as well as details of changes to their direct debit payment this year and the annual fee increase to cover the cost of running the service.
South Oxfordshire Charitable Lottery
SO Charitable Lottery raises £139,000 for good causes in South Oxfordshire
Over £100,000 raised by the SO Charitable Lottery has been used to support 81 Voluntary and Community sector organisations across South Oxfordshire.
The South Oxfordshire District Council scheme is a weekly lottery that benefits communities and organisations in the district by raising money for good causes.
Since its launch in 2018, the SO Charitable Lottery has distributed just over £100,000 to good causes in the district. In addition, £39,000 has also been raised so far in the SO Charitable Community Fund, £31,000 of which has been shared between all organisations selling 20 tickets or more a week, with more to be distributed in the coming months.
Friends of Ewelme School is one of many charities who have benefited from the money raised, including a share of the Central Community Fund providing a vital boost of unrestricted income to the organisation.
Stephanie Pereira, part of the Parent Teacher Association at Friends of Ewelme School said:
“We would encourage other organisations to take part in the SO Charitable Lottery. It is a great way to raise funds, and keep the community involved in essential fundraising for the school.
“The money raised goes towards resources such as stationery, colouring pencils, scissors, glue sticks, and more excitingly the new Forest School that we have been able to set-up thanks to money fundraised from the SO Charitable Lottery. This has provided the children with the opportunity to work outdoors, with all the benefits that being in nature provides, while also developing their environmental awareness.”
Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing at South Oxfordshire District Council said: “I’d like to thank the people who take part and support good causes in the South and encourage more good causes to join the scheme and residents to take part. The financial support local charities and voluntary groups receive allows them to continue their valuable work in our district supporting the most vulnerable people.”
Residents who take part in the lottery, can either support a charity or group of their choice or donate to the central community fund, these funds are distributed to local organisations and community initiatives which have a beneficial impact on the local community.
SO Charitable Lottery raises £139,000 for good causes in South Oxfordshire
Over £100,000 raised by the SO Charitable Lottery has been used to support 81 Voluntary and Community sector organisations across South Oxfordshire.
The South Oxfordshire District Council scheme is a weekly lottery that benefits communities and organisations in the district by raising money for good causes.
Since its launch in 2018, the SO Charitable Lottery has distributed just over £100,000 to good causes in the district. In addition, £39,000 has also been raised so far in the SO Charitable Community Fund, £31,000 of which has been shared between all organisations selling 20 tickets or more a week, with more to be distributed in the coming months.
Friends of Ewelme School is one of many charities who have benefited from the money raised, including a share of the Central Community Fund providing a vital boost of unrestricted income to the organisation.
Stephanie Pereira, part of the Parent Teacher Association at Friends of Ewelme School said:
“We would encourage other organisations to take part in the SO Charitable Lottery. It is a great way to raise funds, and keep the community involved in essential fundraising for the school.
“The money raised goes towards resources such as stationery, colouring pencils, scissors, glue sticks, and more excitingly the new Forest School that we have been able to set-up thanks to money fundraised from the SO Charitable Lottery. This has provided the children with the opportunity to work outdoors, with all the benefits that being in nature provides, while also developing their environmental awareness.”
Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing at South Oxfordshire District Council said: “I’d like to thank the people who take part and support good causes in the South and encourage more good causes to join the scheme and residents to take part. The financial support local charities and voluntary groups receive allows them to continue their valuable work in our district supporting the most vulnerable people.”
Residents who take part in the lottery, can either support a charity or group of their choice or donate to the central community fund, these funds are distributed to local organisations and community initiatives which have a beneficial impact on the local community.
- Tickets cost £1 a week and give you a 1 in 50 chance of winning a prize each week!
- For each £1 ticket sold 60p will go to good causes in South Oxfordshire
Oxford City Zero Emission Zone
Britain’s first Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) pilot launched in Oxford in February 2022. There will be review of the timeline for the wider ZEZ to cover most of Oxford city centre later in 2022. The ZEZ pilot means that polluting vehicles will be charged if driven in key city centre streets between the hours of 7am - 7pm, seven days a week.
Under the ZEZ pilot, those who drive polluting vehicles into the zone will be charged, with the level of the charge dependent on how polluting the vehicle is. Under the scheme, zero emission vehicles will not be charged to drive in the zone.
The daily charges are:
Zero-emission vehicles (0g/km CO2): £0
Ultra-low emission vehicles (less than 75g/km CO2): £2/day from February 2022, rising to £4/day from August 2025.
Clean Air Zone compliant or Low emission vehicles: £4/day from February 2022, rising to £8/day from August 2025.
Motorcycles and mopeds: £2 per day from February 2022, rising to £4 per day from August 2025
Vehicles not meeting the above standards: £10 per day from February 2022, rising to £20 from August 2025.
Signs have been installed around the perimeter of the zone and on routes leading to it to notify drivers of the ZEZ pilot. Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras is being used to enforce the zone. A range of exemptions and discounts are available, including for businesses and residents in the zone, and some other vehicle users.
Businesses, residents, and visitors are encouraged to visit the Zero Emission Zone website to understand how the scheme affects them and to find out more about the daily charges.
Britain’s first Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) pilot launched in Oxford in February 2022. There will be review of the timeline for the wider ZEZ to cover most of Oxford city centre later in 2022. The ZEZ pilot means that polluting vehicles will be charged if driven in key city centre streets between the hours of 7am - 7pm, seven days a week.
Under the ZEZ pilot, those who drive polluting vehicles into the zone will be charged, with the level of the charge dependent on how polluting the vehicle is. Under the scheme, zero emission vehicles will not be charged to drive in the zone.
The daily charges are:
Zero-emission vehicles (0g/km CO2): £0
Ultra-low emission vehicles (less than 75g/km CO2): £2/day from February 2022, rising to £4/day from August 2025.
Clean Air Zone compliant or Low emission vehicles: £4/day from February 2022, rising to £8/day from August 2025.
Motorcycles and mopeds: £2 per day from February 2022, rising to £4 per day from August 2025
Vehicles not meeting the above standards: £10 per day from February 2022, rising to £20 from August 2025.
Signs have been installed around the perimeter of the zone and on routes leading to it to notify drivers of the ZEZ pilot. Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras is being used to enforce the zone. A range of exemptions and discounts are available, including for businesses and residents in the zone, and some other vehicle users.
Businesses, residents, and visitors are encouraged to visit the Zero Emission Zone website to understand how the scheme affects them and to find out more about the daily charges.
Walking in Oxfordshire
Walking in Oxfordshire https://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/oxfordshire has hundreds of walks to download and print, free, it also has books of walks, details of all the walking groups in the county and much more. Whether you want to walk on your own or with a group all the information is there in one place.
John Harris (the custodian of the website) said ‘There is so much walking information on the web but it is difficult to find. Walking in Oxfordshire (part of the Walking in England website) has brought it together in one place so whether you are walking from home, or away on holiday, you will be able to find a walk suitable for you’.
With walks from half a mile to twelve miles plus long, and a note of suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs, everyone can find a walk to enjoy.
So home or away, check out the websites and get walking!
John Harris
www.walkinginengland.co.uk
john@walkinginengland.co.uk
Walking in Oxfordshire https://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/oxfordshire has hundreds of walks to download and print, free, it also has books of walks, details of all the walking groups in the county and much more. Whether you want to walk on your own or with a group all the information is there in one place.
John Harris (the custodian of the website) said ‘There is so much walking information on the web but it is difficult to find. Walking in Oxfordshire (part of the Walking in England website) has brought it together in one place so whether you are walking from home, or away on holiday, you will be able to find a walk suitable for you’.
With walks from half a mile to twelve miles plus long, and a note of suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs, everyone can find a walk to enjoy.
So home or away, check out the websites and get walking!
John Harris
www.walkinginengland.co.uk
john@walkinginengland.co.uk