March 1990             Issue 29

But lets not forget the main reason for celebrating the 25th March, Mothers... I for one do not tell my Mother enough how much I love and appreciate her so perhaps this will go some way towards it.

CHURCH NEWS Priest-in-charge: Rev. Robert Morgan, Lower Farm, Henley Road, Sandford-on-Thames. Tel: 748848

On The Boundary

In an aggressively secular society, ruled more by money than by God, the church has become more peripheral - on the boundary of the community's life. So a vicarage right on the parish boundary has a kind appropriateness. One of the good things about the place is that walking to church over Tinshed Hill it is possible to see almost every home in the village - and with a bit of imagination every one.

The church building itself is about as central as it could be, and as the village has expanded in all directions roughly equally (counting Heyford Hill Lane as morally Sandford even if the Vicar of Littlemore might not agree) it has remained at the centre of the now much larger village.

It was built about 900 years ago to be "a house of prayer for all people" in this place, and its doors are still open (on Sundays at least) to all who will worship God in solidarity with their neighbours. Many bring their babies to be baptised there - the current register goes back only 102 years - but the older ones are in the County record office - and some are confirmed, man-led and buried there. The churchyard is an important part of the life and history of this parish.

But although it is geographically central there is a sense in which this house of prayer is "on the boundary" too. It marks the boundary between earth and heaven, not just because people are buried there, but because week by week people meet there to lift up their hearts and to bring their lives before God, and to be thankful, and to be forgiven and renewed and sent out to share their joy with others. Most of us fall short of our job descriptions when these are pitched in terms of the ideal, but a vicar's job is to stand on that boundary between earth and heaven, to pray for the people who live in the parish, to teach the faith to those who are willing to learn, and to share what bits of insight we may have gleaned through our own failures and other experience.

I have had reason to be grateful for this appointment. People have been friendly and supportive. There is a lot that needs to happen before St. Andrew's is a fully functioning parish again, and that will depend more on other people than on a vicar nearing retirement - especially on those bringing up children and looking for a moral framework for their lives in a culture where values have been eroded. But I hope that the vicarage will become what the church already is - a house of prayer for at least some of the people, and a watchtower on the boundary between heaven and earth.

"God bless Sandford: guard her adults: guide her children: and give them all knowledge and love of the way. the truth, and the life, where true joys are to be found"
-Sincerely.

Robert Morgan

ACORN...

People who use Acorn do so for many different reasons, and get different things out of it. Many who come regularly have somehow become isolated, and find that even if they don't want to join in the groups and activities just being with other people can help them to get confidence back, and sitting in the coffee bar is better than sitting alone at home. Some come for a particular group, or for a weekly talk with a worker about a difficult situation or patch in their lives. Some come because they enjoy the informal (sometimes fairly chaotic) atmosphere, and find that they can contribute to it by joining other people in mutual support and friendship, and helping, as all members who want to do, in the day-to-day running of the coffee bar and the centre. Some are severely depressed or anxious, and find it good to meet and talk to others who have had similar experiences. Some come once, with a problem that they need to share with someone else to get it off their mind; others have been regular full-time members for years.

Please keep Acorn in mind if you find that you need support yourself at any time (it happens to all of us) or if you know of anyone who might find Acorn useful. Or, if you have time to spare, you might be interested in coming to help us. If you want to know more, you can call in at the centre or ring during open hours (Mon-Thurs, 10-3).

CONCERT IN SANDFORD CHURCH Oxford Chamber Choir will give a concert at 7.30pm on Thursday 8th March. There will be no admission charge and a collection will be taken towards Friends of Sandford Church and their efforts in keeping the building in a good state of repair. All welcome; please bring your friends to this local occasion.

CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

100g/4oz plain flour, sifted
1 1/2tsp. baking powder
25g/1oz caster sugar
50g/2oz chocolate chips
25g/1oz chopped hazelnuts
1 egg, size 3
25g/1oz butter, melted
6 tbsp milk
butter or whipped cream to serve

1. In a bowl mix together the flour and baking powder. Stir in the sugar, chocolate chips and nuts.

2. Beat the egg with the melted butter and milk. Pour onto the flour mixture and mix just long enough to roughly bring the ingredients together - the mixture should still be slightly lumpy.

3. Fill 9 greased deep bun tins with two-thirds of the mixture. Bake at 200C/400F Mark 6 for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving just warm.

Et voila...

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
MARCH

PRIZE CROSSWORD WIN £5.00

Answers to xx Church Road
by the 10th March please.

SANDFORD ON THAMES PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on Monday, 15th January 1990 at 7pm in the Village Hall.

PRESENT Mrs J Rolston (Chairman)
Mrs J Shepherd (Vice-Chairman)
Mrs G Ashburner
Mrs H Hutton
Mr M Leary
Mr M Norton
Mr A Robinso
n Mr I Stevenson (County Councillor)

Read and Approve Minutes
The Minutes of the previous Meeting were taken as read, having been previously circulated and signed by the Chairman. 7 votes in favour.
Proposed by Mrs Ashburner, Seconded by Mrs Hutton.

Matters, Arising

Correspondence
SODC - List of buildings of special architectural or historic interest. To be circulated.
OCC - Programmed Highway Works. Noted.
SODC - Modifications to Scheme of Delegation. To be circulated.
SODC - South Oxfordshire Official Guide. Clerk to make amendments.
OALC - Affiliation Fees 1990/91. Noted.
OALC - Review of the Oxfordshire Structural Plan. Noted.
OCC - Grounds Maintenance. Noted.
SODC - Chairman's Meeting. Mrs Shepherd and Mrs Leary to attendmeeting.

Matters for Consideration

General

Public Consultation on the Proposed Alterations to the Structure Plan.

The Clerk was instructed to write to Oxfordshire County Council with the Parish Council's comments as follows:

The Parish Council is most concerned with regard to the protection of the environment and the preservation of the green belt and is fully in agreement with the Council's proposals in this respect.

Restraints on Development (paragraphs 59-71, 87-92,106).

Location of Development (paragraphs 72-81, 157-160 and 164-167),

Conservation (paragraphs 38-39, 87-96).

Recreation (paragraph 139).

Of particular interest to Sandford. Parish is the new Science Park and in this respect the Parish Council supports the objectives detailed in paragraph 102, E4. Proposed by Mrs Shepherd, Seconded by Mrs Ashburner. 7 votes in favour.

Precept
The Parish Council discussed the proposed budget for 1990/91 and a figure of £6216.00 was agreed as the amount required for the precept for 1990/91. Proposed by Mr Robinson, Seconded by Mrs Shepherd. 7 votes in favour.

Village Maintenance
Fencing in recreation field. Tenders sought. (1989/90 Budget). Deferred until February meeting.

Proposed Amendment to the County of Oxford (Various Roads. Marston. Littlemore. Sandford on Thames) (Weight Restriction) order 1969

The Clerk read out a letter from Oxfordshire County Council in reply to the PC's letter of the 16th November 1989. The Clerk was asked to write again to Oxfordshire County Council reiterating the contents of the PC's earlier letter.

Provision of Refuse Skips 1990/91
It was decided that the requirement would be the same as last year.

Fouling by dogs - Warning Notice
The Clerk was asked to request 11 No. notices to be attached to streetlight columns in the parish.

Planning

Applications

P89/W0742 Science Park Erection of 4-storey building for B1 use and development purposes together with associated landscape works and formation and construction of access roads, roundabouts C and D, temporary parking area.
Withdraw objections to innovation centre.
Proposed by Mrs Ashburner, Seconded by Mrs Shepherd. 7 votes in favour.

P89/W0643 Science Park. Provision of principal means of access via Blackbird Leys peripheral road (west) and A423(T) interchange improvements together with landscape works.

P89/W0667/RM Blackbird Leys (Amendment) Sites B2/4 & B2/6 Blackbird Leys, Sandford. Residential development of 36 dwellings.
No objection.
Proposed by Mrs Ashburner, Seconded by Mrs Hutton. 7 votes in favour.

P89/W0916/A Kings Arms Flat wall plaque.
Objection: The Council considered that the application should be rejected on the grounds that the exterior of the Kings Arms already had a number of notices, etc. and that the additional plaque would add to the defacing of the building.
Proposed by Mr Leary. 4 votes in favour of objection, 2 against, 1 abstention.

Permission Granted

P89/W0706 Sandford Lock Relief lock keeper's messroom and toilet.

P89/W0519/RM Blackbird Leys Construction of peripheral road, B2, B2/1, B2/2 roads including storm and foul water sewers.

P89/W0465 Oxford Science Phase One. Site formation and access Park for construction including ground modelling, temporary engineering works, stockpiling of materials, reinstatement works and advance planting.

P89/W0530 Sewage Works Construction of 2 No. 14m diameter, 14m high (approx) new primary sludge digestion tanks for existing sewage works.

Income & Expenditure

Income	£		Expenditure	£
Courages (Rent)	100.00		SEB (repair)	4.14

Proposed by Mrs Shepherd, Seconded by Mr Norton. 7 votes in favour.

Any Other Business

County Council
Mr Stevenson reported that the meeting to set the amount of the community charge would take place on the 13th February 1990.

Oxfordshire Rural Community Council
Missed Opportunities in Rural Transport. To be circulated.

Community Policemans Report
Nothing to report

LINK - Items for discussion.
Nothing to report.

Date of next Meeting - confirmed for Monday, 12th February 1990 at 7pm in the Village Hall.

Meeting closed at 9.55pm.

LITTERBLITZ '90 CAMPAIGN

Once again, the time has come round to draw to your attention the District Council's Litterblitz '90 Campaign on the 31st March & 1st April, and to ask for your support in making another foray on the litter deposited throughout the District. Anyone wishing to help should contact the Clerk to the Parish Council, Mrs Carole Leary, at xx River View, tel. no. xxxxxx, or just turn up on the day. Plastic bags will be provided by the District Council and the collection points will be as follows:

WHARF SITE (Church Road)
VILLAGE HALL CAR PARK
LAY-BY BEFORE JUNCTION OF KILN LANE WITH HENLEY ROAD
KILN PARK

CHEMISTS' ROTA SERVICE

MARCH
Closest to Sandford area only
The following Chemist will be open for dispensing from 5.30pm-6.30pm
Mondays to Fridays and 12 noon - 1pm Sundays and Public Holidays.

Week commencing

March 4th	M J Proctor, 252 Cowley Road, Oxford
March 11th	M J Proctor, 158 Oxford Road, Cowley
March 18th	P L Jenner, 236/8 Cowley Road, Oxford
March 25th	Kingswood Chemists 103/5 Pound Way, Cowley Centre
April 1st	Emerald Pharmacy 34 Cowley Road Littlemore