|
|
Witney Photos
A selection of photos taken in and around Witney, Oxfordshire
The Witney Photos website is updated regularly, the most recent photos being displayed to the left of the page. Many of the photos are taken on a mobile device and uploaded within seconds of them being taken. Click on any of the photos on the left to view the full-sized image.
Witney News
A selection of news stories from the Witney area
Fly tipping rates drop in West Oxfordshire
Fly tipping incidents in West Oxfordshire have reduced in number by 85 (11.5%) during the year, according to the latest national statistics published by the Environment Agency.
Twelve months ago West Oxfordshire District Council set up an Environmental Enforcement Team to deal with issues such as fly tipping. In January 2008 the Teams work also led to the successful prosecution of Andrew Wilson for fly tipping. He was fined 800 by Witney Magistrates.
Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Environment on West Oxfordshire District Council, said: A reduction in fly tipping is excellent news, particularly as the public have identified it as one of their environmental crime priorities.
The Enforcement Team works closely with both the Police and the Environment Agency, sharing information and intelligence on offenders. Anyone intent on committing environmental crime in West Oxfordshire should be warned that they will be pursued and prosecuted.
In addition to reducing the number of incidents; the costs of clearing up fly tipping has been reduced in West Oxfordshire by 28.1%, from 42,421 in 2006/7 to 30,508 in 2007/8 (a reduction of 11,913). This is the highest percentage reduction in the county where the total cost of clearing up offences in 2007/8 was 294,928
The Council has also cautioned and prosecuted for 8 offences, the highest number in Oxfordshire.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Oxfordshire Branch welcomes the news that fly-tipping rates are dropping in West Oxfordshire and calls on the rest of the county to match this progress.
Dr Helena Whall, CPRE Campaign Manager said: Fly-tipping is a menace that blights attractive countryside. That is why CPRE has launched Stop the Drop, to make the countryside what it was almost everywhere until very recently, and what most of us still want it to be a place of cherished beauty and sometimes utter perfection.
Other areas of the County have also reduced reported incidents and countywide the reduction is 5.4%. There has been a total of 16 cautions and prosecutions in Oxfordshire compared to none the previous year.
Witney Neighbourhood Management Update
Witney
On Saturday 12 April, members of the public reported a local man for riding his trail bike up and down the footpaths on the Madley Park estate in Witney. After gathering evidence, the man was spoken to and admitted the offence. He was consequently issued with a warning that if he is caught again the vehicle will be seized. We urge any members of the public who witness this type of anti-social behaviour to call us promptly so we can deal with it.
Another issue that has come to light is the number of criminal damage incidents. There have been 59 in the Witney area this month and although we try our best to catch the people responsible, it is often because of a lack of evidence that we cant prosecute. If local people can help be our eyes and ears it would help immensely.
If you see someone damaging property this is more than likely to be criminal activity; please contact us and tell us what you have seen on 0845 8 505 505 or . If the crime is in progress, call 999. Here are some points to look for when trying to help us catch these individuals:
Name
Approximate age
Gender
Race
Height
Clothing
Hair colour and style
Any marks, scars, piercings, tattoos or other identifying features
What the individual is carrying
If a vehicle is involved try to get:
Make
Model
Colour
Full or part of the registration number
Last direction of travel
This information is extremely valuable to us and can help us crack down on those who believe it is acceptable to damage other peoples property.
PCSO Lucy James attended Ceewood Hall on Thursday 3 April to give a talk to children at the local primary school. The talk was well received and was given on the subject of People who Help Us. If you are part of a local school or group that have an interest in Thames Valley Police and would like to get us involved feel free to contact the team on 0845 8 505 505 or witney@whosmybobby.co.uk.
This month we have also been concentrating on speeding, which is one of the Neighbourhood Action Groups priorities. We have just taken delivery of our own Speed Indicator Device (SID), which we will be deploying around the neighbourhood see the Ducklington update for more.
We attended the annual general meetings of the parish councils at Hailey and Ducklington and are preparing for another round of public engagements to identify your three top issues for the next year.
On Saturday 10 May, PC Duncan Johnson and PCSO Hilary Rabson will be at Madley Park between 10am and midday supporting the local community litter pick. Please come along and help.
One final thing that I would like to remind our residents of is the operation that took place last year at Edington Square in Witney where we seized a large amount of alcohol from youths. Although we currently do not have any information to suggest a reoccurrence will happen, we are fully aware that the summer months are fast approaching and we want to prevent a repeat of this. Again I would like to encourage you all to call us with any information regarding underage drinking and anti-social behaviour. The more information we have the easier it is for us to act.
Ducklington
On Wednesday 23 April the team operated the SID in Witney Road, Ducklington and again on Monday 28 April. Following these operations there appears to be no need for enforcement in this area at the moment. If you believe that speeding is a problem in your neighbourhood then contact the team and we will look into it for you.
A man was stop checked in The Square on Tuesday 8 April and was found with items in his possession, which led to him being arrested and charged with the offence of Going Equipped.
A surgery will be held on Saturday 24 June outside The Bell pub between 3pm and 6.30pm by PCSOs Isabel Webb and Hilary Rabson.
Hailey
On Tuesday 8 April, a car was stolen from the village, which witnessed by police officers and the offender was caught, arrested and charged with theft.
On Monday 19 May, PCSOs Isabel Webb and Hilary Rabson will be holding a surgery at the village hall between 3pm and 6.30pm.
Leafield
On Tuesday 13 May, PCSOs Isabel Webb and Hilary Rabson will be holding a surgery at the Fox pub between 3pm and 6.30pm.
Minster Lovell
On Friday 9 June, PCSOs Isabel Webb and Hilary Rabson will be holding a surgery outside the shops on Brize Norton Road between 3pm and 6.30pm.
Children's art to brighten up Marriotts hoarding
The hoardings around the Marriotts Close construction site in Witney are about to be brightened up by colourful images of West Oxfordshire life painted by local children.
Paintings by pupils from six primary schools have been chosen in a competition open to all primary schools in the District. The primary schools are: Aston & Cote, Hanborough Manor and from Witney: The Batt, Blake, Tower Hill and Witney Community primary schools. The painting will be enlarged and displayed from around mid-May.
Older children will also get the chance to exhibit their artwork as the competition is in two stages. An invitation has been sent to secondary schools and youth groups throughout West Oxfordshire.
Cllr Jill Dunsmore, Cabinet Member for Communities said, There was a fantastic response and we had 122 entries from pupils aged from 6 to 11 years old. Selecting the best ones was very difficult and Id like to thank the children who took part as they all put in such a lot of work. I am very much looking forward seeing the artwork up on the boards.
Martin McGread, Project Manager for Simons Developments, added: It is terrific that we can support the local school community and raise awareness both in terms of the development and safe construction practices. All the entries were of a very high standard, and our most difficult task was picking the winners. We look forward to putting these on display for the people of Witney.
Deadline for secondary school entries is 22nd October. The theme Images of West Oxfordshire life will be the same as primary schools. More information is on the council website, www.westoxon.gov.uk/marriotts.
This competition is being run by West Oxfordshire District Council and Simons Developments. At the end of the competition Simons will present a cash prize to the school judged as submitting the best entry in the primary group category and the best in the secondary group category.
The Marriotts Close development is due for completion in autumn 2009. It will include shops and restaurants, a multi-screen cinema and multi-storey car park plus a recreational area and new homes.
|
|