Month: July 2022
Residents urged to check their voter registration details
28th July 2022
Residents across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse are being urged to check the details on a letter they will receive from their district council from the end of July.
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils will be sending a ‘Canvass Communication Form’ to all homes which requires the occupants to check the details of everyone over the age of 16 living there. Local authorities need to do this each year to ensure the electoral register is up to date.
The letter people receive in July/August will depend on whether or not records indicate that there has been a change in the registered voters at their property – for instance, if a registered voter recently moved in then that address will receive a yellow letter, but if the occupants have remained the same since the last election, they will receive a green letter.
What you need to do:
If your household receives a yellow letter:
Once you have checked the details, please visit householdresponse.com/southandvale to either confirm that everything is correct, or to update the information for your property. You will need the two-part code on the letter to do this.
If your household receives a green letter:
- if the details are correct – you don’t need to do anything, you can simply keep the letter for your records or shred it and put it in your recycling bin.
- if the information is not correct – please visit householdresponse.com/southandvale to update the details for your property, you will need the two-part code on the letter to do this.
In either case, the letter will explain exactly what you need to do – it is very important that you read it carefully.
If you are required to either confirm or update your details, please do so as quickly as possible – this helps to ensure that the councils will not need to contact you again to confirm the information.
Mark Stone, Electoral Registration Officer for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils, said: “When you receive your letter, if you need to update your details, please do this as soon as possible. It’s very easy to do and only takes a couple of minutes, and it is also helps to ensure that people in your household will be registered to vote in next year’s local elections.”
For information about how our Elections team holds, uses and stores personal data please visit southoxon.gov.uk/electionsdata or whitehorsedc.gov.uk/electionsdata
Summer Fire Safety
The hot weather has brought an increase in individuals lighting fires on grass areas across South & Vale. We would like to remind the public that these fires can cause damage & harm to those nearby & offer the following safety advice:
- Help stop fires from starting by never lighting open fires in the countryside
- Only use BBQ’s in safe, designated areas when in the countryside & don’t leave them unattended. Make sure they are fully extinguished & cold before disposal
- Don’t light fires in close proximity to trees, bushes, livestock or property as the fire is more likely to spread should it get out of control
- Extinguish cigarettes properly & don’t throw the end on the ground or throw them out car windows
- Take rubbish, bottles & glasses with you when leaving the countryside as sunlight shining through glass can start fires
If you see a fire make sure you are out of immediate danger & report the fire immediately by calling 999.
Speed Data
27th July 2022
After three weeks at Appleton Common, the Parish Council is very pleased to report that we have had NO speeding on this part of the ( 60mph ) road, and the speeds are a lot lower than the Council thought there would be.
Inbound
Average speed: 22.36 mph
Top speed: 40.00 mph
Outbound
Average speed: 23.25 mph
Top speed: 47.00 mph
Met Office Red Warning Extreme Heat
15th July 2022
The Met Office have now issued a red extreme heat warning for Monday and Tuesday next week, covering parts of Oxfordshire. I have attached the warning to this email for you to see.
Level 4 – Emergency
There is a 100 % probability of Heat-Health Alert criteria being met between 0000 on Monday and 0000 on Wednesday in parts of England.
What to expect
- Population-wide adverse health effects experienced, not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to serious illness or danger to life. Government advice is that 999 services should be used in emergencies only; seek advice from 111 if you need non-emergency health advice.
- Substantial changes in working practices and daily routines will be required
- High risk of failure of heat-sensitive systems and equipment, potentially leading to localised loss of power and other essential services, such as water or mobile phone services
- Significantly more people visiting coastal areas, lakes and rivers, leading to an increased risk of water safety incidents
- Delays on roads and road closures, along with delays and cancellations to rail and air travel, with significant welfare issues for those who experience even moderate delays
You may find some useful information and links on the Oxfordshire County Council website. This can be found here: Hot weather across England – warnings and advice issued (oxfordshire.gov.uk)
There are also some useful links below for additional advice from the government.
Beat the heat: keep cool at home checklist – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Beat the heat: staying safe in hot weather – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
For more information from the Met Office, click here.
For information on caring for children in the heat, click here.
Temporary Emergency Road Closure – Kingston Bagpuize – A415 Abingdon Road
14th July 2022
Oxfordshire County Council has been informed of a temporary emergency road closure on the A415 Abingdon Road whilst the forensic investigator to carry out some reconstruction work to establish positioning of vehicles involved prior to impact works are carried out for public safety reasons.
A temporary Emergency Notice is being made to implement the temporary closure and will operate on 14 July 2022. This will operate between 19:00 and 21:00.
A single Temporary Emergency Notice can last for 21 consecutive days maximum.
Access will be maintained for emergency service vehicles and for those frontages within the closure area, subject to the progress of the works and liaison with the works supervisor.
For the alternative diversion map in to Southmoor, click here.
Level 3 Heat Health Alerts
12th July 2022
As you may have seen, there is an Amber extreme heat warning in place from 00:00 Sunday 17th July to 23:59 Tuesday 19th July 2022. There is also a 90% likelihood that a There is a 90 % probability of Heat-Health Alert criteria being met between 1500 on Wednesday and 1500 on Saturday in parts of England. I have attached the warnings to this email for your viewing, alongside some advice on staying safe which you may wish to share amongst your communities.
Level 3 – Heatwave Action
There is a 90 % probability of Heat-Health Alert criteria being met between 1500 on Wednesday and 1500 on Saturday in parts of England. The latest forecast details can be obtained at the following link: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/#?tab=map
There are also some useful links below for additional advice from the government.
Beat the heat: keep cool at home checklist – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Beat the heat: staying safe in hot weather – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
For more information from the Met Office, click here.
For information on caring for children in the heat, click here.
FREE Litter Bug Detectives activity trails
The Litter Bug’s back and we still need detectives on the trail…
Stay Safe This Summer – Water Safety
11th July 2022
With Summer holidays just around the corner & warmer weather settling in, the South & Vale is full of rivers, streams & canals that may look inviting to many but could prove dangerous to even the strongest of swimmers. Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service warns of the dangers of open water & promote the following safety advice:
•Avoid walking on routes near water if you have been drinking alcohol
•Lakes, reservoirs, rivers often hide hidden dangers below the surface that could make people ill, cause injury or kill. This could be anything from a strong current that appears calm, large rocks to machinery; from shopping trolleys to branches, and even fish hooks or broken fishing line
•Never swim, even where allowed, after drinking alcohol
•Don’t dive or jump straight into open water – this can cause potentially fatal cold water shock even on the warmest day with temperatures remaining cold in the water- even numbing limbs & claiming lives
If you fall in:
• Don’t panic – lean back in the water, extend your arms and legs out and float on your back avoiding water entering your airway until the effects of cold water shock pass
• Try & relax until initial panic & gasping subsides
If someone else falls in:
• Never enter the water to try to rescue someone – call 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service if inland and the coastguard if you are on the coast.
• Know your location to help emergency services find you-consider using location apps
• Throw a life ring or throw a line to them if one is near
Anyone witnessing someone in trouble in the water should call 999 or 112 and shout for help.