I can only repeat the statement made by our WODC Cabinet Member for the Environment who stated that this is "disgusting and irresponsible behaviour of some dog owners".
 

Information on the WODC web site also states:

• Dog faeces carry many germs that can cause illness and in extreme cases could result in blindness.

It is both offensive to smell and to look at, and is extremely unpleasant to step in

To assist the Environmental Team in locating the "hot spots" in our village and potentially legal action against offenders, could I please request that our Community report where dog fouling has occurred by using the following link.

https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/environment/litter-street-cleaning-and_dog_fouling/

By the time you have received this Newsletter, the Parish Council will have put up a further 40 ‘CLEAN IT UP’ signs throughout the village.

To end on a positive note, I would like to thank the vast majority of responsible dog owners who are clearing up after their dogs (some of whom are clearing up other owner's dog mess! making the pavements, grassed areas, and field footpaths a more enjoyable and safer place to walk.

I would ask that all dog owners act responsibly and respect our Community and Village.

Thank you.

Les Goble

Now more of us are taking our daily exercise closer to home, we are noticing more of the environment around us. The good things being the nature, the wildlife, the flora and fauna. The bad things being the additional litter and, unfortunately as we report in each newslet-ter, dog fouling. We all need to take responsibility in order to keep our village neat and tidy by ensuring that we pick up any litter that we drop, and dog owners pick up after their own dogs. There are plenty of bins around the village; the normal rubbish bins can also be used for dog bags as well.
 

West Oxfordshire District Council is saying that they are getting lots of reports of over-flowing bins and ask that if you see one then to please take your rubbish and dog waste home with you and report it to them using the form that can be found by typing in the link below into your browser. You can also report any dog mess you see on the pavement and grass verges using the same form.

https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/environment/litter-street-cleaning-and-fouling/

Potholes, broken street lighting, faulty traffic lights and loose paving and weeds on the pavements are the responsibility of Oxfordshire County Coun-cil and can be reported directly and quickly via the Fix My Street website.

If you notice a public drain is blocked by leaves, please report it to Oxfordshire County Council.

West Oxfordshire District Council is responsible for cleaning roads, pave-ments and council-owned land. They are not responsible for street cleaning on private or unadopted roads, town or parish council land or road verges outside the 30mph zone.

Thames Water is urging its customers to help reduce the risk of sewer blockages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company is reminding people not to flush wet wipes or kitchen roll down their toilets if they're using them instead of toilet paper or simply want to get rid of used cleaning products from their homes. Instead, they should be thrown in the bin.

Many shoppers have been bulk buying toilet roll a result of the pandemic, meaning others are struggling to get hold of what they need.

Wipes, along with other "unflushables like nappies and sanitary products, don't break down in pipes like toilet paper and can combine with fats, oils and grease to create fatbergs: huge, solid masses which are difficult to clear and can cause raw sewage to build up and flood homes, businesses and the environment.

With the company, like all businesses, facing the potential for an increase in staff absence in the coming weeks, Thames Water has asked customers to help lighten the workload by being careful what they flush.

Matt Rimmer, Thames Water's head of waste networks, said: We're carefully plan-ning how we can continue to provide an essential public service and while we en-courage everyone to practice good hygiene to protect against COVID-19, wet wipes and kitchen roll can be hugely damaging to our sewers and our customers can really help us by not flushing them down the toilet. This will reduce the number of blockages and the risk of flooding to homes, businesses and the environment during what is likely to be a difficult time for many peo-ple.

Fatbergs grow slowly so it's hard to say if coronavirus has had an impact on our sewers at this stage but, as always, we'd urge everyone to only flush the 3Ps – pee, poo and paper – to help avoid problems in the future."

On average, Thames Water spends £18 million every year clearing 75,000 blockages from its sewers, unclogging five house blockages and removing 30 tonnes of materi-al from just one of its sewage treatment works every day.

A water company in Australia also recently urged its customers not to flush wet wipes after a 14-tonne fatberg was removed from a sewage works in Morpeth, New South Wales.

For more information on how to help protect the sewer network visit www.thameswater.co.uk/be-water-smart/Bin-it

If you have not got access to the internet, but would like to listen to the service via a telephone line, please contact Rev. Ian Howard or Rev. Drew Tweedy, who will let you know how you can do that. Alternatively, a national FREE 24 hour phoneline 'Daily Hope' offers music, prayers and reflections 0800 804 8044.

Information regarding services will be posted on the church noticeboard or can be found at www.bncommunity.htm/bnchurch.htm.

If you have any queries or need help and support then please do contact a member of the team:

Rector: Rev. Drew Tweedy 07393 182093 revdrew61@gmail.com

Team Vicar: Rev. Ian Howard 07867 784693 ian.barry.howard@gmail.com

Churchwarden: Dr Phil Holmes 01993 843856 p.holmes@brizenorton.org

We had our first snow fall at the end of January and here are a few photos captured by residents.

 

Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo. Unfortunately there was not room to include them all.

Click on the image to enlarge

<p>

I know how challenging 2020 was for all of us and that, in some ways, 2021 feels all too familiar. However, though we may be in lockdown now, there is light at the end of the tunnel. With three vaccines now approved for use in the UK, including our own lo-cal Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, we are now well on the way to vac-cinating our top four priority groups in record time. At the time of writing, over 10 million people have been vaccinated and this grows every day. This is a hugely significant achievement which is testament to the inspirational leadership that has been shown by local NHS organisations', GPs and health coordinators. This, along with longer days, lighter evenings and the beginning of a beautiful West Oxfordshire spring is sure to lift spirits in this challenging time.

I have seen the excellent work of everyone at our local vaccination hubs for myself. The professionalism and efficiency they are showing is proving everyone's dedication to this vital cause. I am also encouraged that so many people across West Oxon are taking up the vaccine when offered. It is this dedication and resolve which speaks to me in these challenging times and shows me that we will overcome this.

We are also once again seeing the huge outpouring of community spirit and good will that warmed us all in 2020. I would encourage everyone to check in on family, friends and neighbours, particularly those who may live alone, the vulnerable and those separated from their loved ones. Sometimes even just a phone call can do the world of good.

My team and I continue to work hard from home on your behalf and we remain accessible throughout lockdown. Please do not hesitate to get in touch at robert@robertcourts.co.uk if there is anything at all we can do.

Cllr Alex Postan—

P: 07885 135000 E: alexander@postan.plus.com

Conservative County Councillor for Burford and Carterton North East Division — Cllr Nicholas Field –Johnson

P: (01993) 878309

E: nick.fieldjohnson@oxfordshire.gov.uk

My first year living in Brize Norton has been a fantastic whirlwind, of not only setting up a new home on Brize Mead-ow but relishing being part of a wonderfully welcoming com-munity. It is incredible how much I've learned about commu-nity spirit in such a short amount of time, like how people re-ally want to help, not only during a National Pandemic but help in general and be there for one another.

Although we have lived in the local area since 2003, I have learned a lot about Brize Norton's history this past year, its previous residents such as the amazing Mary Ellis and the Men and Boys named on the War Memorial, who will never be forgotten. While I am in awe hearing about the Village and its history, I can't help but look to the future and where we are going as a community. Firstly, a 'connected' one, with the re-alisation of accessibility between Brize Village and Brize Meadow >bringing unity to the 'whole' of the newly expanded Brize Norton Village. Secondly, the exciting plans and future ideas for our community buildings, all designed with the community needs at the forefront.

Let us hope we can all celebrate together later this year at the Village Bash and that we are all talking about that, instead of the other overriding topic of conversation this past year!

Cllr Claire Stewart