SANDFORD-ON-THAMES COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

ISSUE 7

MAY 1988

ASSOCIATION REPORT

The last Community Association meeting went very well, the main subject of discussion being The Summer Fair.
The final format for the fair will be as follows. The village recreation ground will be divided into two halves. One half will contain fairground rides and the other half charity stalls. Amongst the stalls will be various small one-man entertainments. the type which are commonly seen busking in Oxford and other places. A large car boot sale and car park will be situated on the ground behind Henley Road.
Mr. David Nicholls of xx Henley Road, is presently working on the programme and posters for the Fair. We need a logo; Got any ideas? If you have, please let David know.

Very soon now, we will be advertising the event for charity stall holders, small fairground ride operators, buskers and an icecream concession. If you know anyone who would be inter- ested, ask them to contact me on Oxford xxxxxx.
A point to note; entertainers of the busker type will, if sel- ected after application, not be charged a pitch fee. Many of the college students do this sort of work in the summer. If you know any, please let them know.

Some problems do not go away, and maintaining the fabric of a beautiful medieval building is one of them. But the ancient building is a visible sign of this village's history, and so of its Identity as a local community that has persisted through the centuries. It Is much more than a mere dormitory for late twentieth-century Oxford. As the parish prepares for another round of fund-raising for necessary repairs to the fabric, It will turn to all those who value the building and what it stands for. Regular worshippers pay the normal church tax for maintaining the national Institution and covering parish expenses. But the building is part of our national heritage. It belongs to the whole village. Everyone who cares about Sandford's history and its future has a share in it.

GENTLEMEN
D O N 'T     F O R G E T!

The Gent's Hairdresser will be at
THE VILLAGE HALL
on the first Wednesday of each month
between 9am and 12 noon.

Just telephone xxxxxx with the details or drop them in at xx Henley Road. (Please include your telephone number or address so that we can verify the announcement).

Apart from the rubbish that has been created, there are various other hazards, viz, an assortment of large metal and other objects obstructing the road (necessitating, in some cases, removal by motorists); 'travellers' vehicles approaching the wrong way up the one-way systems; and insanitary human waste disposal.

Each time a group is evicted, the County Council has to employ special cleansing officers to clear the site. It seems nonsense that the ratepayers' money should repeatedly be spent this way.

It would appear to be obvious that a permanent fencing-off or banking up of the area should be carried out to prevent such misuse again.

The Parish Council has worked very hard to achieve this and many individuals have contacted the County Council with similar suggestions.

If it is seen that the village as a whole supports this idea, maybe we shall be successful in our aim.

Within the next few days, someone will call on you to enlist your support by signing a petition. Therefore, we ask you, if you agree, to sign the petition and if you have experience of other hazards caused by the itinerants, to add your comments.

P.S. There is already a permanent site in the village for itinerants and it is felt that Sandford, more than adequately, bears the responsibility for accomodating such families.

OTHER ITEMS

The next Parish Council meeting is on MAY 9th at 7 pm.
It's in the Village Hall and open to everyone, so if you want to know what is going on in Sandford why not go along?

With regardes to the offences of Failing to Display and No Vehicle Exise Licence, the Police and for that matter Traffic Wardens are merely a reporting body, that is the officer noting the offence completes a form which is then forwarded to the Vehicle Licencing Centre at Swansea, it matters not that the driver has or has not been spoken to, however the policy with Police is to locate the offender an verbaly tell him or her that they will be reported, After the form has been sent to D.V.L.C. it is out of Police hands, Police do not prosecute the offenders that is for the D.V.L.C. to do. We are however often called as witnesses to court to give the evidence for the reporting of the offence

How Swansea decide as to who to subsequently prosecute I cannot comment on as I simply don't know. I have however, often complete several forms over a period of time on the same offender and I can without doubt say that a large proportion of offenders are prosecuted and the fines are high plus back duty owed is also added on.

Like most things legal, the wheels turn slowly. But believe me, THEY TURN!

If you need help or advice on any matter which may concern the Police you can contact me by ringing Oxford xxxxxx ext xxxx and leave me a message. Remember in an Emergency, Dial 999.

Carl Reynolds Community Beat Officer

CROSSWORD

VILLAGE HALL

INGREDIENTS: 4 chicken joints, loz butter, 1tblsp oil, 4 slices cooked ham, 4oz sliced mushrooms, 4oz frozen peas, 1 clove garlic (crushed) 3 level tblsp flour, 3/4 pint dry white wine, 1/4 pint stock or water, salt and pepper.

METHOD: Fry the chicken joints in the butter and oil for about 5 mins. until golden brown. Put them in a casserole and cover each with a slice of ham. Fry the mushrooms in the oil and butter for about 5 mins. Remove from the pan and add to the casserole, with the peas and crushed garlic. Stir the flour into the remai- ning fat in the pan and cook for 2-3 mins. Stir in the wine and stock or water gradually. Bring to the boil and stir until it thickens; season with salt and pepper and pour over the chicken joints. Cover and cook in the oven at 180C (350F gas mark 4) for 3/4 - 1 hour, until the chicken joints are tender. Serve with rice and a green vegetable.

DON'T MISS

THE

SUMMER FAIR

SUNDAY 10th JULY 1988