Christmas FREE car parking SODC are providing FREE parking in our district council owned car parks in the run up to Christmas.  Take advantage of this offer up to Christmas Eve and enjoy shopping locally and buying the perfect gift in the impressive range of independent shops we have in our towns. You can park for free at the following locations and dates: Didcot – every Monday from 3 December Goring – every Saturday from 1 December Henley – every Tuesday from 4 December Thame – every Saturday from 1 December Wallingford – every Thursday from 6 December

St Andrew’s Christmas Tree Festival:  8 – 18 December 2018. 

Sponsored by AYR Landscaping, Larkmead Vets, Housemartin Exterior Maintenance & Fleur de Lys

It seems 12 months has zoomed past faster than Santa’s sleigh itself and here we are again asking you to dust off your tinsel and join us in celebrating Christmas in the best way possible – by sponsoring a 4’ Norwegian Spruce Christmas tree at our annual festival held in the church in Hagbourne.

We are into our eighth year of this marvellous, festive event that raises money for good causes whilst also encouraging some good natured competition to win the now coveted Christmas Tree Trophy – can anyone stop the supreme KnitWits’ winning streak?!

This year we are raising money for St Andrew’s Church and “Be Free YC” – a local charity that supports young carers giving them a chance to be children, relax and make friends away from the pressures of their daily caring roles.

For anyone reading this who is new to the Festival, we invite local businesses, clubs, families and community groups to sponsor a 4’ live Norwegian Spruce tree for just £25.  There are 30 available in all and we ask you to decorate your tree in either traditional fashion, to reflect your business interests or you could chose to decorate in accordance with this year’s  optional theme of ‘Bible Stories’. Suggestions include Noah’s Ark, the Creation, Jonah & the Whale, Joseph & his Dreamcoat, or, of course, the Nativity itself.

The festival is then open daily for visitors to come and and enjoy the entertainment, delicious home made refreshments and vote for their favourite tree.

It’s a wonderful opportunity for your business or group to publicise itself on a very local level whilst also supporting great causes.  A win, win!  Many businesses in the past have enjoyed new customers as a result of their involvement in the festival.

If you don’t want to miss out, please complete the attached sponsorship form and return it with a cheque for £25 made payable to Hagbourne PCC.  Some trees are already reserved so don’t delay!

Residents across southern Oxfordshire who are signed up for brown bin collections can put out twice as much garden waste during the extra garden waste weeks this month.

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils are giving those who are part of the paid-for service the opportunity to put out the equivalent of one extra bin’s worth of garden waste (around three large 80 litre bin bags) in the week commencing 22 October.

Residents should leave their extra garden waste out in bin liners or sacks beside their brown bins on their usual collection day during these weeks.  Trade waste bags will not be accepted., however you can re-use old compost bags.

The garden waste is taken to a recycling plant in Oxfordshire where it is used to make compost, which goes to local farmers, allotment holders and an annual compost giveaway.  However, there are increasing reports that the waste is being contaminated with non-compostable items such as plant pots, plastic bags and bottles.

Cllr Elaine Ware, cabinet member for housing and environment at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “This extra garden waste service offers a great opportunity for residents to clear their gardens and make them ready for winter. We want to take this opportunity to remind people that they should only put compostable garden waste in the brown bin.”

Cllr Caroline Newton, cabinet member for housing and environment at South Oxfordshire District Council, added: “I would encourage all our garden waste customers to make use of this extra-large collection – it’s the right time of year to give your garden a really good clear out. Please bear in mind that just because something is used in the garden, that doesn’t make it garden waste.”

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) See the councils’ websites for more information via www.morerecycling.co.uk.

NEW! Councils can now collect and recycle used cooking oil as part of the food waste service

Love chips? Roasts? Cooked breakfasts? Samosas and Sausages?

All are delicious, but they do leave greasy leftovers..….which South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils can now take care of thanks to their new cooking oil recycling service for residents.

Oil is collected every week as part of both districts’ food waste collections.

After cooking, any leftover oil should be allowed to cool before being poured into a plastic bottle no bigger than a 1 litre size. The bottle and its contents can then be placed into the resident’s kerbside food waste caddy along with other food waste and put out for the weekly collection.

Cllr Caroline Newton, South Oxfordshire District Council cabinet member for environmental services said: “We all know that cooking oil and fat shouldn’t be poured down sinks as it can cause blockages, but it can be difficult to dispose of. This is why I welcome the start of this new service for residents, collecting cooking oil from their homes every week.”

Cllr Elaine Ware, Vale of White Horse District Council cabinet member for environmental services added: “The oil is recycled along with the rest of the food waste which is transformed into electricity at the food waste recycling plant. The oil is highly calorific and so makes a lot of energy.”

One litre of cooking oil can generate enough electricity to make 240 cups of tea!