| faringdon-online community web site home |
talking points |
| talking points march2008 |
| Everyone little counts- 31/3/08 I believe if many people do a little, it can make a big difference. So why not reduce the use of carrier bags, turn lights off, reduce heating by a few degrees, don't let taps run, don't fill kettles unnecessarily, shower not bath (though my power shower water use is significant!) My dad would have been so proud!! I would like the government to help though - legislate that manufacturers should use less and only biodegradeable packaging, and while I'm writing, ban chewing gum too!! Gene Webb |
|||
| RE my comments regarding Hush -29/3/08 -
31/3/08 I'm not involved in music production. Just an ordinary customer who is disappointed after all the emails and excitement that the festival is not going ahead and has been cancelled so late in the day. I felt further explaination was due after monies had been held for some time which added together would add up to quite a bit of interest! I have no axe to grind or hidden agenda. It wasn't personal I just wanted clarification. Sorry that I caused such offense! Name Supplied |
|||
| Julie Farmer's response regarding HUSH -
31/3/08 Hear Hear! Sue Englefield |
|||
| Thank you to HT and to Andy Patyra -
31/3/08 ..........for pointing out that there are indeed more important issues out there than just picking on plastic bags - and if it's the ONLY thing you do, then clearly that smacks of bandwagons, tokenism, & hypocrisy. (Similar in that respect to the stand-by electricity issue). I think the point that we would all agree with: as long as you're doing the big hits, then the smaller hits are also worth doing. We can then discuss details as to what, how, why, when. And this gives me the opportunity to highlight some of the other events happening during ECOWEEK in June (14th to 21st) .FARINGDON ECOWEEK - KICK THE CARBON - JUNE 14-21 Saturday 14th June marks the beginning of a whole week of low carbon ECOEVENTS taking place in Faringdon and the surrounding villages. The ECOWEEK kicks off on the opening Saturday with a SWAP SHOP and big ECOFAIR. During the week there are high profile ECOTALKS with celebrity speakers; an ECOTOUR around energy-from-waste facilities in Swindon; Eco-Open Days at Friar's Court and Venn Mill; and an ECOTRAIL that takes you around dozens of premises that have interesting eco-credentials to show you. For budding ornithologists, there's the Bird & Farm Walk around Kilmester Farm in Eaton Hastings; where there were more bird species identified by the RSPB than on any other farm in the UK. To round off the week on Saturday 21st, (the Summer Solstice), the ECOBIKES (a peloton of amateur cyclists - all abilities and ages welcome) will set off around the ECOFARMS (there are a staggering nine organic farms within just two miles of Faringdon.) and end up at Westmill Wind Farm Open Day, where more than 3000 people are expected to attend. The attempt to break the wind-turbine-hugging world record (the largest number of people who can hug a single wind turbine simultaneously) will happen at 2pm precisely- under the watchful eye of one of Mr McWhirter's successors. More details at www.ecoweek.info - where you can also find out all about ECOBUTTIES, ECOBAGS and ECOBINS! Alternatively, "What's On" www.faringdon.org/nvwhatson.htm will also give you more details. Sjoerd Vogt |
|||
| Youth Centre on Highworth Road -
31/3/08 Does anyone know what is happening? Name Supplied |
|||
| Free Parking (1 hour) in Faringdon - 31/3/08 This is copied from http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news_views/press_releases/article.asp?id=tcm:4-2881&rtn=D It's dated 26/3/08 Faringdon's BuyBack refund scheme launched Twenty-five of the town's independent traders in The Faringdon Retail Group have pooled resources to launch the new "Buy Back" parking ticket refund, whereby anyone who spends £5 or more at participating stores will have the first hour of their parking ticket refunded. It is hoped this will encourage more visitors to the town centre shops. The scheme has been introduced at Southampton Street Car Park, and organisers hope to extend the scheme to Gloucester Street in the coming months. Under BuyBack residents are required to purchase a parking ticket from the newly installed machine, display it in their car window, and when they take a receipt to a participating shop they will be refunded the first hour of parking charge on purchasing £5 worth of goods. The scheme is being paid for by the independent traders themselves who will foot the bill for all refunds claimed. BuyBack is supported by the Vale of White Horse District Council. Gene Webb |
|||
| Pat on the Back - 31/3/08 To the 'name supplied' (which isn't) who can not understand why the organisers of Hush deserve a pat on the back. It is very simple, they tried to bring a large event to Faringdon that would have benefited the town as a whole. The local retailers, local drinking establishments and hotels and guest houses would have all made a profit from this event. They have spent many hours preparing, planning, attending a vast number of meetings and getting quotes, understanding lengthy legal and H&S legislation. Putting on an entertainment event takes a lot of time and energy, which on the whole is done after a full working week. In short they had an idea, ran with it, are going to run with it and have been very honourable in their endeavours to let each participant know what is going on. At all stages of this event the organisers have stated that if there is an issue with the event a full refund will be given without question. Currently the organisers are offering a full refund or tickets to the event planned for next year. Its easy to sit back and criticise but before you do, ask yourself, what are you putting back into your community? Julie Farmer |
|||
| A good point - 31/3/08 Name Supplied makes a good point about domestic compost heaps - and that you shouldn't really be putting meat on them (or for that matter - other things that attract rats - such as cooked fatty food ). These items do rot down very quickly, but the associated problems do - on balance - put some of these things on the NO list. (The reason that poo is usually on the NO list is primarily because of the yuk factor, and the soil association in determining criteria for organic farming also admit as much ) . But if you CAN protect your heap from rats then cooked food & meat are fine. There's now also systems available that actively encourage this approach. See for example www.recycling-guide.org.uk/composting.html - where there's links to smartsoil & greencone systems. Yes - maybe we SHOULD all be getting smarter in our composting. Biodigestors (primarily anaerobic digestion for the collection of methane) are another example of closed systems where rats are therefore not a problem. Sjoerd Vogt |
|||
| Carrier Bags.. - 30/3/08 I for one agree with the previous comments on plastic bags and the infamous focus it has achieved. Out of interest I wonder how many of the people who profess to being green or concerned for the planet drink bottled water driven miles and miles from locations such as the lake district and Scotland, or even worse from the continent? Just a thought... Andy Patyra |
|||
| Corn Exchange Soundproofing - 30/03/08 I have no special interest in the Corn Exchange problem, but I do think that Dave Reynolds is right that the council should hold fire in going ahead with the work at present. Although, yes, planning permission for residential development in the town centre has been granted, and contracts for performances agreed, one thing that hasn't been mentioned in the arguments surrounding this issue is that sound levels now demanded by performers have increased dramatically over the years, to the extent that they are unacceptable to close residents, even if only a few complain. Faringdon will grow, and grow, so surely in the long term the solution of a purpose built venue, even on the outskirts of town, which could be used for theatre, film and other events, together with adequate car parking space would be preferable to patching up an unsuitable building in the historic town centre. The town centre in any case is not geographically anywhere near the centre of Faringdon. HT |
|||
| Ban the bag campaign - 30/03/08 Not everyone wants an outright ban on plastic carriers. I for one am tired of the fashionable eco-lobby trying to dictate my lifestyle. Like the previous dissenter, I prefer to choose to what I do and don't conform. I certainly rely on plastic carriers; I save them and have secondary uses for ALL of them. I resent the use of meaningless statistics [for instance on-line polls] to support such campaigns, and I do not believe the assertion that less than 5% of carriers are re-used. Rather than castigate consumers for their 'laziness', and 'addiction' to plastic bags perhaps the eco-lobby might examine their reasons for choosing such an easy and trivial target, when there are other vastly more devastating examples of the carbon footprint problem. Focussing on this only detracts from the more serious issues. If retailers succumb to this campaign I shall doubtless buy plastic bags, of the convenient size that we now have as carriers, but why should those of us who use them have to pay a vastly inflated and spurious 'tax'? No-one can argue against making less waste; but please do not patronise us with one sided arguments and misleading figures. Read more at: www.carrierbagtax.com/whatpeoplesay.htm I daresay I shall be vilified for my attitude, HT |
|||
| Speeke my mind - 30/3/08 Sarah Speeke, on every occasion I'd applaud and support the one who tried but failed over the one who sits back and does nothing but complain, snipe and condemn others' efforts. David Reynolds |
|||
| Hush - 30/3/08 The ticket prices were set at a very low price initially with the intention of giving local people the opportunity to experience a large festival at a bargain price. Those who took up the offer still have that opportunity. If they feel it is "unfair" that they might lose a little interest in return for cheap tickets then they can have their money back. It is their choice. I really can't see what is unfair about that. With regard to licenses and permissions we had received approval to proceed as we did in good faith. If "Name Supplied" is not someone who had paid for tickets then you cannot feel it is unfair to you personally. Please give the people who have paid for tickets the credit to make their own choice. I'm sure those who have said they don't want refunds do not feel it is unfair. If we had proceeded this year by hastily planning for a new venue then the likely outcome would have been an event poorly organized, with high health and safety risks, questionable licensing arrangements, obscure bands that few would have heard of, and insufficient members of the public to cover the costs. Would it then have been acceptable for the Town Council cover the losses with a grant? I don't think so. We are asking for no grant funding at all, and are not prepared to take high risks whether financial or safety related. If anyone has any other concerns then please email bookings@hushfest.co.uk or call 07843 055532, and we will address the matter immediately. Martin Phillips |
|||
| Be a Blood Donor - 30/3/08 Corn Exchange, Tuesday 8th April Tel: 0845 7711 711 |
|||
| Faringdons pretty boring! - 29/3/08 There is no night life to speak of for someone in their teens/twenties or if there is I don't know about it! The bus service is pretty poor the last bus back from Oxford during the week is 7:50 and on the weekend its 11:25 to be honest there isn't a lot that's possible in that time frame I've tried and taxis back are very expensive. There also isn't a late bus to and from Wantage which would be pretty cool as they've actually got people there. If anyone knows of anything fun to do let me know! Matthew |
|||
| Pat On The Back- 29/2/08 How easily our culture now inflates Esteem for failure rather than success Lets féte the also-rans, the second rate Now everyone must feel that they're the best Reward ineptitude, incompetence Pat on the back the ones who didn't win Pay out that bonus, keep up the pretence That everything is wonderful, and spin The truth so we feel good about ourselves. Nonentity's the new celebrity. We shun achievement, diligence that delves Too deep, exposes mediocrity So let us give our friends a great big hand For lamentable planning, projects panned Sarah Speeke |
|||
| I'm Furious - 29/3/08 I think the 'name supplied' contributors who've commented negatively on the Hush festival ought to tell us if they're professionally interested. That is to say, are they also involved in promoting music (with or without success) in Faringdon? Are they the same posters who've been circling like vultures in the last few days before the announcement? Personally, I think an offer to have all one's money back is sufficient, and satisfactory. To require that tickets be then also honoured, after said refund, at the original price for what will be, in effect, a new event next year, is not only making up one's own rules, but making up the sort of rule that would make it much harder for such an event to succeed. Which is, I suspect, no coincidence. If these posts were from genuinely concerned individuals, and not, for example, from two sock puppets, please take no heed of my post, and don't feel that I have anything against you in the slightest. I don't normally think that posting under the 'name supplied' banner is cowardly and despicable. My great friend of many years standing Martin Phillips has continually acted unselfishly and indeed, to the point of self-sacrifice, to help out other people in this town, particularly those involved in music and the arts. He has always been on the side of those of us who wish to keep the flame of live music going in Faringdon. I think this is the time when such people ought to come forward to help out or at the very least applaud, and I know of very many who have. Gloating and mockery of other people's misfortune, on the other hand, speak only of the lack of character of those who gloat. I'm sorry if I sound angry. It's because I'm bloody furious. Paul Cornell |
|||
| just one thing sjoerd vogt - 29/3/08 you cant put corn starch bags with dog poo in them as dog poo contains meat which does not do your composting any good. good article apart from that. regards Name Supplied |
|||
| Corn Exchange - sound proofing -
29/3/08 No sound consultant in his right mind would ever give such a guarantee against "the recommended scheme not working sufficiently". This is because this entire issue is dictated by the laws of Statutory Nuisance NOT the laws of decibels. There is no such thing as "soundproofing" a building, only "sound-limiting". This means that there is still likely to be sound eminating from the Corn Exchange even after the work has been done. If this sound still annoys the main complainers they can still claim it to be a Statutory Nuisance however unreasonable the rest of us consider that claim to be. Sure, it will be for the Environmental Health Officer to have the final say but experience shows that complainers' persistence in contacting the Officer seems to give them the advantage. I think the Town Council should be applauded for not recklessly spending taxpayers' money on a scheme that might not have the desired outcome and, moreover, on a building that does not belong to them. David Reynolds |
|||
| Hush - 29/3/08 I don't really understand why Hush has to keep money in order to honour the original ticket price. To keep people's hard earned cash for well over a year is totally unfair. Ticket prices should be honoured as well as a full refund for those who's money has been earning interest in someone elses account for several months already. Also, surely, all the necessary licenses and permissions were in place before tickets were sold? What happened? It would be good to have futher explaination from the organisers. Name Supplied |
|||
| BAN THE BAG - WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO
ACHIEVE IN FARINGDON? - 29/3/08 Generally, all the different "ban-the-bag" Campaigns can be quite confusing - and sometimes confused. The notes below might help to clarify what we're trying to achieve with our Ban the Bag Campaign in Faringdon. Banning single-use carrier bags - Just Tokenism? An easy argument to make - and an easy excuse for doing nothing. Yes- bags are just a small percentage of the total packaging used in the retail trade, and just a small percentage of our wastefulness in what goes to landfill. But they're high profile and represent unnecessary wastefulness (laziness?) - and they're a good place to start. If we can't even deal with our addiction to free bags - then how can we even begin to tackle all the bigger culprits? If we continue to take free bags then we certainly lose the moral high ground when tackling suppliers on excess packaging - for example. Charging for ALL bags? What about food bags - the kind that you get at the cheese or meat counter and the kind that keeps your fish fresh? And what about gift bags - the kind that adds the finishing touches to that special gift? No - there is no campaign to charge for bags used for hygiene or longevity (these reduce food spoilage, and therefore on balance reduce the overall carbon footprint). And there's also no campaign to charge for gift bags - often an important part of the gift either for protection or presentation. However - it IS frightening how much wrapping goes to landfill after Christmas - so cutting down is not such a bad idea! Plastic Fantastic? Many ban-the-bag campaigns demonise plastic carrier bags - thus by implication encouraging other bags (eg paper) as environmentally friendly alternatives. Some campaigns also differentiate between the traditional plastic and the corn starch plastic (eg COOP bags) - again implying that the latter is OK. This is a BIG subject - but in summary, all of these bags have a very similar ecological footprint over their lifetime (for example: paper bags take much more energy and chemicals to make initially). Plastic is actually a VERY sensible material to make LONGLIFE bags from - as long as you don't throw them away! It's NOT the material that we should be demonising. It's the single-use that is bad - it's people's habits that we have to change. In other words - there should be a charge for ALL single-use carrier bags, including those made from paper or corn starch or jute or bamboo or hemp - (they all take energy to make!) . Think of it as a "carbon tax". Swing Bin Bag Liners, Nappies & Dog Poo? Another common argument. People insist that they use their plastic bags as kitchen bin bag liners or for dog poo - and therefore if they DIDN'T get their stock of free carrier bags then they'd have to buy more bin bags to make up for this. So - banning free carrier bags wouldn't actually achieve any environmental benefits - they say. There IS a small element of truth in this - but various studies have shown that less than 5% of supermarket bags are actually re-used in this way. The rest are thrown away and NOT even used a 2nd time. So - this argument is primarily an excuse for doing nothing. In the Netherlands, where people are particularly fussy about cleanliness, they tend not to use bin liners and instead wash out the bin every now and then. And where bin liners or poo bags ARE needed then this is a good case for the biodegradable corn starch bags. If they contain just organic matter then these - bags plus contents - can be thrown on the compost heap rather than go to lan dfill. Go to www.ecoweek.info for more information - and to take the online survey. Sjoerd Vogt |
|||
| Pat on the back? - 28/3/08 What does Hush deserve a pat on the back for? They haven't done anything except take ticket-money for a non-existent event. Is it really likely to materialise next year? I have serious doubts about this but we shall see. Name supplied |
|||
| Hush Update - 28/3/08 Hi Folks You might be aware by now of the debacle regarding the original venue cancellation for the Hush Festival this year. In order for us to go through the lengthy process of venue selection and license application with sufficient time to plan and implement the numerous factors, after much consideration Tim and I have decided to postpone the Festival until next year. Ultimately the root problem was outside our control. Six months of planning have largely been lost with the venue cancellation. Our best chance of success and a safe and enjoyable event for all is to ensure that everything within our control is managed effectively, which takes many months of planning and negotiations, and at this late stage the only real option is to postpone. The website (www.hushfest.co.uk) will be updated imminently. We do apologise if this has caused you any inconvenience, and thank you for supporting us this far. On the positive side, we certainly have sufficient time to make sure Hush gets off the ground next year! The starting price for tickets will not be as low as it was this year, "early bird" prices are likely to be around £40 or £50, more in line with other large festivals. We are now offering full refunds as promised, or, as a gesture of our appreciation to all of you who have paid for tickets this year, we will honour your reservations for next year on a one-for-one basis regardless of starting price if you don't take the refund. Can you please therefore let me know which of the two options you wish to take: 1. A full refund of your ticket money. 2. No refund in return for the same number of tickets for next year, regardless of starting price. I would be grateful if you can email your choice to bookings@hushfest.co.uk. Thanks again for your support so far. Regards Martin Phillips |
|||
| Corn Exchange - 28/3/08 For what its worth, should the lease issue ever be sorted, then the money set aside for soundproofing should be put to use immediately. But with one very clear condition, that being, that the sound consultant who recommended the scheme has sufficient public liability insurance that will reimberse the Town Council the full cost of all the works, should the recommended scheme not work sufficiently to ensure that the venue can stay open as a public music venue. If the consultant is not willing offer this safety net, then you can guess what will happen. We can do without another pump house liability which already makes our council charge the highest in the Vale. Devils Advocate |
|||
| In reply to Sam Prince - 27/3/08 I have seen this notice and the Festival has been postponed to next year. This Festival is good news for Faringdon and I would like to take this opportunity to wish them luck continuing to organise this event. Faringdon has not, to my knowledge had circa 8,000 people at any single event. I know that FAF had circa 1,000 last year and it took a lot to organise that. With such larger numbers of people planning to attending an event in Faringdon and the legal and Health and Safety requirements that go into an event of this size the organisers deserve a pat on the back. Well done done Martin and Tim, it was must have been a tough decision to make. Good luck for 2009. Julie Farmer |
|||
| No ban on plastic bags - 28/3/08 No, I feel that Faringdon should not ban plastic bags. The decision to use any form of carrying device should be up to the individual and not dictated to by other members of the community. What will we have after plastic bags. Next will be CCTV all over town. If this is anything like Oxford, will then be used to fine people parking cars, crossing the road in the wrong places (not yet with this one, but its coming). Are we then going to start to ban plastic shoes?? Name supplied |
|||
| keep up the good work hamish and mark -
27/3/08 hamish i do believe this is true case of not in my back garden ref music and fun in town centre. eg the market place so common in rural towns and villages. Simon Cook |
|||
| Re: Hush Festival - 27/3/08 There is a notice being circulated by the organisers that the festival is not happening this year. Sam Prince |
|||
| Mr Gillman- re the Corn Exchange - 27/3/08 I appreciate the Corn Exchange is owned by the Vale and leased by the Town Council, although not currently with a lease as everyone has dragged their heels on this one. It is however in the heart of the town and therefore able to attract punters whereas a venue on the periphary of the town would not. I appreciate that there has been considerable infill in the town creating more residents but planning permission for this was approved/recommended by the Town Council over the years. I appreciate that it is only in the last few years that a regular event programme was established however this was done with Town Council approval as they accepted the bookings and took the money. The Town Council also failed to impose its own curfew on a number of occasion resulting in events overrunning. Money has been set aside for sound proofing measures so the local residents have already paid for this. Surely it would make sense to work with the local chamber to turn the Corn Exchange into the town's performance venue rather than leave the Corn Exchange to turn into a jumble sale venue as any capital that they can contribute could add further to the noise escape mitigation, also setting a calender of booking dates for performance types would ensure that the risk of complaint is reduced as the main complaint was that "every weekend" or " late on a sunday" Surely as the Mayor you want a vibrant Town Centre rather than everything pushed to the outskirts. The Town has been bullied by a couple of individuals on this issue who have ruined a lot of fun for a lot of people and in some cases people who were attracted to the town and spent money here, a fact that you use to re-assure everyone is a benefit of the sealed knot weekend. It is not a insurmountable problem to run a venue in the middle of a town lots of places do it and in old buildings as well. I can criticise the venues committee as I have had experience of dealing with them. The Town Council needs to stop hiding behind its always someone elses problem mindset. Hamish Millar |
|||
| Town Meeting - 27/3/08 Will Matthew Barber and the other Vale councillors be at the Town Meeting? Or, in fact anyone from the Vale? We need to be putting pressure on them to do something as the Vale appears to be ignoring the Town Council. Can we not invite the actual people from the VWHDC who make the decisions about the lease to the meeting so we can speak to them directly? Ray |
|||
| Should Faringdon Ban the Bag? - 27/3/08 The vast majority of carrier bags (plastic OR paper!) given out free by shops are then used only once, which is very wasteful and polluting (paper is just as bad as plastic - but for different reasons!). Ireland recently introduced a PLASTAX - an environmental levy on every plastic bag handed out. This means that Shoppers are charged approximately 10 pence for every new plastic bag that they need. The PLASTAX, which has been warmly welcomed by shops and shoppers alike, has been extraordinarily effective, and has cut down the waste and pollution by more than 95% . Most Northern European countries also do not allow free plastic carrier bags to be given out by shops. Do you think that the UK should follow Ireland's lead? Do you think that Faringdon should lead the way in this? We welcome your opinions! See http://www.ecoweek.info/Waste/ECOBAGS/ecobags.html for information and link to online survey Sjoerd Vogt |
|||
| RE Country Park extension -
26/3/08 Message to the VWHDC from a confused faringdonion - a swampy old filled in quarry full of rabit holes costing £13,000 PA to maintain! is not a gift (or a country park) - keep it! Name Supplied |
|||
| Bus Lane - 26/3/08 The bus lane needs a huge axle breaking sleeping policeman, that'll sort it. Name Supplied |
|||
| Corn Exchange threatened - 26/3/08 OK, so I'm sticking my head above the parapet again! I read so much ill-informed stuff on this site. I seem to be the co-ordinator of the new, improved Town Council Newsletter. I'm about to blot my copy book. I'm going to to post some copy I'm not allowed to put in the newsletter. Please remember that all the Town Councillors are residents of the Town and have the same interests at heart as every other resident. We are all volunteers, but are constrained by law with things like "Standing Orders" and "Confidentiality" and "Legality". So my post is a personal opinion and does not constitute the opinion of the Town Council. "For those unaware of events so far, the Corn Exchange is owned by the Vale of the White Horse District Council (VWHDC) who lease it back to Faringdon Town Council to administer. At the moment there is no lease and the Town Council do not feel they can spend the town's (your) money on soundproofing without a lease in place. The Town Council have been actively pursuing a resolution to this for some time, with the VWHDC dragging their feet. The current position is that the VWHDC are proposing to withdraw their office from the building. This would make it uneconomic for the Town Council office to stay there, so it will probably relocate to the Pump House. The VWHDC's refusal to sign a new lease with reasonable terms, together with their withdrawal from the town not only shows that they are still trying to pretend that Faringdon doesn't exist, but makes one wonder if they have another agenda. They are currently short of money and the Corn Exchange is a very valuable piece of real estate! We need the whole town to join us in ensuring that this building continues to be available for the benefit of the residents of Faringdon. Please attend the Annual Town Meeting on 28th April, 2008 at 7.30pm" Jane Boulton |
|||
| Purpose built Performance venue -
26/3/08 Hamish In your message about the future performance of music in Faringdon, you described Faringdon as "vibrant". Therein lies the problem! Twenty years ago there were very few people living close to either the Crown or the Corn Exchange. Both buildings are now surrounded by residential properties in which some people, not all, object to noise nuisance impinging on their homes. The Town Council owns neither venue, so why keep criticising Venues Committee councillors? If you want to enjoy live music in Faringdon then I suggest you support Nick Elwell's vision, with the Chamber of Commerce, of building a purpose-built facility well away from residential housing, landscaped so that (unlike the Crown and Corn Exchange) future housing cannot slowly encroach and restrict its operation. John Gillman |
|||
| Faringdon Arts Festival -
26/3/08 Dear Faringdon The Faringdon Arts Festival will be taking place on the 11th, 12 and 13 of July. We plan to have our normal music event on Friday night where most of the roads in the Market Place will be closed. On Saturday we will a number of exciting acts during the day and for the first year we aim to have a dancing in the streets in the evening,(please get your dancing shoes at the ready). On Sunday we will have events for children in the morning and music in the afternoon. If anyone would like to help organise the Festival this year or take part please contact David Reynolds on david@reynolds46.fsnet.co.uk or Julie Farmer on julie@mypabusiness.com > We look forward to hearing and seeing you during the weekend. Julie Farmer |
|||
| Hush Festival - 26/3/08 Has the HUSH event been cancelled then? There isn't anything on the HUSH website. Sue Englefield |
|||
| Annual Town Meeting - 26/3/08 This annual meeting is on Monday 28th April at 1930 in the Corn Exchange This is an opportunity to express your views to the town council, possibly in the presence of our VWHDC and County councillors. There are many issues: The future of the Corn Exchange The closure of the VWHDC cash office Dangerous Bus Lane in the town centre 106 progress Pump House plans - and I'm sure there are more topics It is much more effective if lots of people go to the meeting - please do Gene Webb |
|||
| FUTURE OF COUNTRY PARK EXTENSION THREATENED -
26/3/08 At a recent informal meeting between representatives of Faringdon Town Council and an officer of the Vale of White Horse District Council, the officer indicated that the VWHDC might not maintain the new extension to the Country Park and that if the Town Council, Rugby Club or Cricket Club refused to meet the cost then "VWHDC might refuse the "gift" of this land". The extension is planned to more than double the size of the Country Park and is the subject of a "section 106" agreement between the Vale and Bloor Homes resulting from the development of 400 hundred houses in Faringdon. Faringdon Town Council has stated that it could maintain the land with commuted money from the VWHDC but would be unable to pay the quoted £13,000 per year maintenance charge as this would have a major impact on the Town Council's budget. The Country Park in Faringdon is a Vale wide facility in the same way as Tilsley Park or Abbey Meadows in Abingdon. The Town Council takes the view that its maintenance should be financed in the same way - through Vale wide taxation rather than double taxation of the people of Faringdon. As VWHDC will raise additional money through the building of the new homes, the Town Council can see no reason as to why the VWHDC cannot fund the maintenance of the park extension. For more information please contact: The Town Clerk Faringdon Town Council The Corn Exchange FARINGDON OXON SN7 7JA Tel. 01367 240281 Email: june@faringdontowncouncil.org.uk |
|||
| M.A.D.D. @ The Corn exchange -
26/3/08 From the beginning of April M.A.D.D. will be operating the franchise of the bar at the Faringdon corn exchange. As we are a group who promote the arts we shall be looking into ways of breathing some life into our town venue. Please check www.maddfaringdon.co.uk for information and details on the M.a.d.D. mayfest, 3rd - 5th may and news on other events. I am pleased to read about John Otway comming to town and I for one shall be there. Well done to the organizers for a stimulating idea. Sam Prince |
|||
| Music in Faringdon - 26/3/08 Having been present at Town Council meetings where live music has been discussed it seems that some councillors have a complete distaste for live music and this seemed to be shared by the venues committee members. The Town Council cannot continue to hide behind the Vale Council, it has the option for the lease and has had proposals to install noise proofing measures but has so far not taken action seemingly too scared of a couple of serial complainers who are actually ruining the vibrant atmosphere of the town, I understand that they are now complaining about events at the crown now, I assume that the arts festival in the market square will be the next to go. The sealed knot, which will I'm sure be a great display of pageantry etc will create more "noise" than any corn exchange event. Hamish Millar |
|||
| Mad gig in the Folly Tower - 26/3/08 John Otway has done mad gigs before - The Balloon Gig in Vauxhall Gardens, The Boat Trip on The Thames and the Break For The Border (Radius) Gig. This time it will take place at Faringdon Folly On Saturday 5th April, the plan is to be at the Folly for 10:30ish. Then climb the 154 steps to the top and hopefully John (and maybe Richard) will then do a set, once they've got their breath back. All tickets have been sold, but John is happy for people to be outside and on the ground floor to listen and experience the fun. See www.johnotway.com/ You can hear John Otway, Wild Willie Barrett, Theremin and Guitar Jam on http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=l2dVl2g5lCo Another first for our Folly!! Gene Webb |
|||
| BUS LANE - Someone Has To Die........ -
25/3/08 Re the posting on this issue on 20th March I think your correspondent is absolutely right - it will probably take someone being killed before anything is done about the problem of cars abusing the bus lane. In their 2008/09 Council Tax leaflet, Vale of White Horse DC say they are shutting the Faringdon Cash Office, clearly to save money. Well for the benefit of everyone in Faringdon, why cannot some of the money saved pay for decent no entry signs on the bus lane or, even better, an electronic barrier which can only be opened by a remote control device installed in buses or carried by the drivers ? Some buses in Oxford, I believe, have have something along these lines to change traffic lights in their favour so surely with modern technology, something to open and shut a traffic barrier would be possible too. Name Supplied |
|||
| Hush?? - 24/3/08 Having read the comments today ( Tuesday ) re: the Hush Festival and the problems involved, could some-one, for example Mr.Phillips, kindly tell the ticket-buyers (so far) and anybody else who may have wished to attend the event what the heck is going on? Hilary P-B, MADD |
|||
| Sealed Knot Battle - 24/3/08 Mark Thanks for your comments. The main problem I believe with Faringdon House Estate objecting to the Hush Festival being held on their land was scale, not noise. Church Path Farm is a working farm and was judged unsuitable in size to withstand a proposed 10,000 people, many of whom would camp overnight. The Sealed Knot last time at Step Farm camped only 1200, with 1400 at the battle and about 250 public. The SK presence this July hopefully will be similar with probably up to a thousand public at any one time. So there is a complete difference in scale between the SK and proposed Hush Festival events. You say that the "Council" is patronising towards music. Which Council? It is the District Council who own the Corn Exchange and also provide environmental health officers to police excessive noise. It is the District Council who insist on the use (and setting) of noise limiters in the Corn Exchange. Town Council employees merely administer the Corn Exchange to the environmental rules laid down by officers in Abingdon. So who is being patronising? John Gillman |
|||
| Sealed Knot Battle,21/3/08 - 23/3/08 John, I have no problem whatsoever with the Sealed Knot (SK) playing war games in Faringdon. I live opposite the site where the last "muster" was held 10 years ago and agree that it was a positive experience although there was a lot of noise, about which it didn't even occur to me to complain. Live and let live and a bit of fun and culture is a good thing for our town. What does annoy me intensely, however, is the patronising attitude taken by the council and others. Why would they be any better or worse than the SK? Their credentials, you must agree, are less belligerent. Or is it because music is somehow tinged by a younger and less feudal (forelock-tugging) attitude? Mark Harrison |
|||
| mark and john ref the sealed knot - 22/3/08 i agree with you totally what is the diffrents. john when you refer to a more suitable site. does that mean outside the town centre. so its is ok to have a music fair outside of the hub of are town,because it suits some. but it is not ok to have shops out of the town centre because it does not suit some. myself personally i am very intrested in the history of town and the sealed knot meeting. but surely the music fair is far more popular to average person in the town. and will also bring just as much business if not more than the sealed knot,to the town. both the sealed knot and hush should be inbraced by all . so hopefully the hush festival will get the go ahead in the town centre . which is the so called heart of are town ,when it suits some. Name supplied |
|||
| Sealed Knot Battle - 21/3/08 Mark, The Sealed Knot event at Church Path Farm 19-20 July is much, much smaller than that envisaged for the Hush Festival. The same group of SK re-enactors held a muster 10 years ago at Step Farm off Lechlade Road and caused no damage or nuisance, while giving the restaurants, shops and pubs in Faringdon a welcome surge in income. Yes, Faringdon has a violent history. The two worst damaged towns in England after the civil war were judged in Parliament to have been Faringdon and Torrington in Devon. The town was also heavily fought over in 1144 when King Stephen attacked Queen Matilda's fort on Folly Hill, capturing it after a 3 day battle. There were cavalry skirmishes later during the Wars of the Roses down at Radcot Bridge, with Faringdon opting for the Red Rose side - look in the Crown Hotel's downstairs bar for the red rosed crown in the window, glass which by definition predates the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, when the Crown merged red with white. And yes, there was a John Gillman at Bosworth in 1485 - he was in charge of the bullion wagons in Henry Tudor's baggage train and after the battle became number 2 in HM's Treasury. Faringdon is also unique in having fought off attacks by both Generals Fairfax and Cromwell. It was most unusual for either General to have to march away from a siege, but they were forced to by the stubborn defence put against them in Faringdon. The muster roles for Rawdon's Regiment defending Faringdon in 1646 still exist, held in a library in St Albans. The roles show that 48% of Rawdon's combat strength in Faringdon were men, 10% women in support and 42% "Posemen". A Poseman was a woman dressed as a soldier and normally used in the musket block as a sniper. The Posemen in Rawdon's were armed with long 28 bore muskets which were accurate to about 120 yards, compared with the men's 10 bore muskets which fired a heavier ball, but only accurately to about 40 yards. Rawdon appreciated in 1644 that for siege defence he needed long range snipers to defend the ramparts, recruiting a large number of female Posemen. So Faringdon was defended actually by a force made up of 52% women - the deadly majority who saw off Cromwell with heavy casualties. Incidentally, the musket ball on display in All Saints Church is of 28 bore calibre, so would have been fired by a female Poseman. Faringdon is lucky to have retained its civil war battlefield almost unchanged since 1646. The only change has been the demolition of the old Faringdon House. But the battle and siege site remains intact, with the bases of the earth rampart walls still easily seen in All Saint's churchyard, together with Cromwell's Battery site still being visible on Folly Hill. The Sealed Knot event should prove of interest to people in Faringdon and also bring welcome trade into the town. Hopefully the music festival planners will soon find a suitable site so it too can proceed. John Gillman |
|||
| Shame - 20/3/08 I was sorry to see Jim's poem forced off the front page so quickly by other more serious postings. But mention of a loo suggests tiled walls and a warm seat. For a more accurate picture check Tippler Toilet on Google. Nevertheless I thought the poem was, like the Curate's Egg, quite good in parts...almost as good as mine HGM (Noted for modesty) |
|||
| More Bus Lane - 20/3/08 On Tuesday at about 9.30pm I was able to pull in front of a car racing up the bus lane...I hope much to the annoyance of the driver. Later I thought whoops, the driver is probably not insured so my minor protest could have cost me a major repair bill Name supplied |
|||
| Bus Lane outside Dillons - 20/3/08 Went down to get the papers this morning and waited by the Chemist until safe to cross and then crossed over the Bus Lane to dillons and was almost hit by a Red Rover 600 P reg speed ing up the lane. good job it was dry otherwise it could of been a different tale. I would have thought that with County Councillors aware of the problem, Police as well AND the Highways department that something could have been done by now. Better signage, No Entry painted on the road and a period of monitoring. The very same Police can mount speed traps on Park Road, do very little about the parking in London Street and Coxwell Street/Road; yet have very little regard for the bus lane. Perhaps someone needs to die first and then something will get done. Come on councillors, Highways and Police do something. Colin |
|||
| Faringdon Artistic Skaters - 20/3/08 Four skaters have just returned from Brusells after taking part in a training Camp that was put in place after the Competition was cancelled at last minute. Cancelling competition was a great disappointment as financially £2000 had been paid out but no refund on Eurostar is available. The training was excellent and all skaters benefited from training other skaters from different countries. Skaters Future International Events Italy 8/14 June Skaters selected Georgina Howe Hollie Fidler Ben Timbrell and Nathaniel William. Croatia 20/21 June Skaters selected Ben Timbrell Nathaniel Williams. Unfortunatley the Croatia competition clashes with FCC French trip so girls are unable to go. Sponsorship for these trips. We estimate travel expenses for both trips to be in the region of £500 for each child. If you would like to donate please contact Dee England 07872955355. These skaters have worked mighty hard to gain International Status it would be a great disapointment if finances stop them going. We would like to thank Chamber of Commerce,Faringdon Town Mayor and his wife, The Nut Tree for sponsoring gifts and Donations to make the Brusells trip successful. Dee England |
|||
| A musical note for the Folly tower - 20/3/08 As part of the m.A.d.D. Mayfest madrigals will sung from the Folly TOWER by the Folly singers on Monday 5th May, commencing at 9am. The mayors Kombat golf, which, if people have recovered from last year, will prove to be fun. Just bring a bat/club but no golf clubs. It is also planned to run a small open stage. Join in on our celebrations. Have breakfast on the hill, enjoy the wonderful views. www.maddfaringdon.co.uk Sam Prince. |
|||
| Church Path Farm: - 19/3/08 Can anyone tell me why the Sealed Knot is able to take its guns, explosives and loud noises on to Church Path Farm and the Hush Festival is not being allowed to bring music - or is that what Faringdon's about? Celebrating our violent past is OK but celebrating music is somehow distasteful? Mark Harrison |
|||
| Folly Tower and Woodland - 19/3/08 Have you seen www.faringdonfolly.org.uk yet? It's a dedicated website for the Folly Tower and Woodland. The content is still being generated. Maybe you can contribute to Facts and Myths, or the Wildlife and Woodland page, or maybe you have an unusual photograph that you would allow to be published. Please do have a look- the site is still in it's early stages of development, so any ideas or comments are welcome. Gene Webb |
|||
| The Life and Times of Grizzly Harry - 19/3/08
Let me tell you a story of Harry, A man with some charm and good grace, He has a stick with a 'orses 'ed' andle, You read him a lot on this place, He originates from up north, or so I've been told, A poetically, barren cold place, We sometimes have long running battles, But of course, never quite face to face, Now, young Harry could do rhyming couplets, Read Albert and 't Lion on't loo, Being Harry he said,"I could do better than that, "Wheres paper?, I could write quite a few, Now, his fame became bigger than Yorkshire, And to not spread his talents further, a crime, "Bring bath in from coal shed Mother, before catching me train, I've just time", He started his journey down to us, With a balm cake given by Mum, "Look after thee sen" yelled his siblings, Knowing more room in bed would be fun, He took out his Marriot Edgar, And read about poor young Sam Small, About Mr and Mrs Ramsbottom, And the waves that were fidd'lin and small, On his way down, RAF needed attention, They didn't know quite what to do, "Will you help us Harry, we'll give you some money," So for a while he joined the boy's in blue, He eventually left, and he settled, In a town, below Folly Hill, In a recumbent posture, he tells us, Of all the things that make him ill, Now, you either love old Harry, or hate him, My choice changes, from time to time, But this site would really be boring, With out now and then, Harry's odd rhyme. Jim Horton |
|||
| Folly Tower opening - 17/3/08 Friends of the Folly Tower are hoping to open the tower more often during the summer - eg the Art Fest weekend, and the Sealed Knot weekend+++. To do this this we need a few more volunteers. Anyone willing to have a 2-3 hour stint in the Belvedere room, taking money, selling bits and pieces and generally having a nice time chatting to visitors? If yes do contact Eddie Williams edchriswilliams@aol.com |
|||
| Easter Greetings Everyone (particularly JH) -
16/3/08 For the past few weeks the Postings on this Website have been as informative as ever but there has been little in the way of comic relief. So as Easter Egg Time approaches I thought a little poem about one of the most famous eggs of all might not be out of place. I hope it might even provoke some equally light hearted responses..? So here's a simple poem, Jim. .No hard words at all. It tells what happens to an egg when it falls off a wall. So. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, which wasn't very bright For eggs have a low survival rate if dropped from any height. And Humpty Dumpty did fall off, the rhyme required he should. He splattered on the ground below, we always knew he would. The Sovereign's soldiers came along to see what they could do All were Sandhurst Graduates but, they didn't have a clue. Some horses came along as well ..I really can't think why. Hooves can't pick up scrambled egg, they didn't even try. Some other people saw him there just lying in the street He started smelling slightly and congealing in the heat. The King's own Chefs took care of him..they were a caring set And Humpty Dumpty ended as. a Royal Om-el-ette HGM |
|||
| Battle of Faringdon meeting
- 16/3/08 In just over 4 months time a large contingent from the Sealed Knot will descend on Faringdon for a re-enactment weekend. The event will be similar to that held 11 years ago at Step Farm. The organising group in the Sealed Knot are members of Rawdon’s Regiment, who also organised the last big muster. Sir Marmaduke Rawdon died defending Faringdon in 1646 and his memorial grave stone can be seen in All Saints Church at the end of the choir stalls, on the left as you approach the altar. I am the local SK organiser here in Faringdon and need to clarify the administrative details of the event. A lot of the manual effort needed to lay out the battlefield and campsite will be performed by volunteers from Rawdons. However, I need to be able to procure the items / field stores needed for this muster before the SK members appear, also clarify exactly who is to provide local services such as publicity, sanitation, roadsigns, road/entrance preparation, fencing, water, fire pickets etc. The planning activity so far has concentrated on submitting a licence application for the site and hosting a visit by the Security Advisory Group of the Licensing Authority. Detailed site maps have been prepared showing overall layout, sanitation, fire points, ambulance routes, camping and parking areas. I am very grateful to the support given for this muster by the Saunders Family, who are lending the SK most of Church Path Farm for the event, and also Faringdon House Estate and Sofka Zinovieff. Could anyone willing to help please come to a meeting on Wednesday 19th March at 7 p.m. in the June Rennie Room in the Pump House, Market Place, Faringdon. I will explain at the meeting the planning conducted to date and then identify tasks which need to be undertaken both by local volunteers and subsequently by Rawdon’s Regiment members when they arrive in July. I will be holding a meeting with the SK over Easter to get confirmation of their manpower and potential for help. I am confident that we in Faringdon can make this SK muster as successful as the last one at Step Farm. The muster not only serves to remind people of Faringdon’s history, but also has the potential to bring many people into town SPENDING MONEY! I only hope that this time the pubs do not run out of beer on Saturday night…. If you are able to help, then please comer to this (or a subsequent) briefing. Thanks John Gillman 01367 240094 |
|||
| Lights Out 29/3 - 12/3/08 I've just signed up for earth hour as part of lights out wiltshire (not sure if oxfordshires doing anything similar) and have pledged to turn off all my lights for one hour at 8pm on 29th March. On their interactive map I noticed there was only one other faringdonian on there! Im sure we can do better than that. http://www.wiltshiresgwrfm.co.uk/Article.asp?id=608561&spid=24102 |
|||
| 15 Minute Club - March 2nd 2008 -
15/3/08 A bit late but here are the pictures I took during the 15 Minute Club on March 02, 2008. http://www.flickr.com/photos/raoul42/sets/72157604121055378 Raoul van Eijndhoven |
|||
| Swap Shop success - 14/3/08 Very many thanks to all who were able to help on Saturday, especially Liz for the name/email generation, Lisa for keeping everything running smoothly, Billie for her organisational skills and keeping me on the straight and narrow, Alison on the scales, and Gerald and Sjoerd for the banner and assorted town crying. And thanks, too, to everybody who brought and took. In case you haven't already heard, we managed to divert a whopping 400kg from landfill! And, thanks to Diane's, Susanna's and Ali's prowess with the refreshments, Pre-School managed to raise another £25 or so. The winner of the compost bin was Terry Jones, who guessed 800lb, and who came all the way from Oxford for the occasion! One of the most common questions was 'When's the next one going to be?'. This one was part of a co-ordinated effort accross the county, with 16 taking place on Saturday alone, but there's nothing to stop us from making it a regular event: indeed, with 6000 residents in Faringdon alone, meaning about 2000 households at least, we've not even scratched the surface. If we could get everybody thinking about putting stuff aside for the next Swap Shop instead of sending to landfill, then we'll have made real progress. With this in mind, we're planning to repeat the Swap Shop as part of Ecoweek, from 14 - 21 June. It'll take place on the first day, and will be running in conjunction with the Eco fair, probably at the Catholic Church Hall. We'll be sending off an email to all who didn't win the compost bin to let them know the date. In order to plan for it, and to do some brainstorming about future, non-Swap Shop events, we'll be having a meeting at 18 Fernham Road on Thursday, 20th March, 8.30pm: hope to see as many of you there as possible. Andy 01367 241289 www.cagoxfordshire.org.uk/ |
|||
| Help needed to organise Battle of Faringdon
re-enactment 19-20 JULY - 14/3/08 Help is needed in organising the English Civil War "Battle of Faringdon" re-enactment 19-20 July. It is ten years since the last, highly successful re-enactment and the Sealed Knot Society plan to invade Faringdon over the weekend of 19-20 July. The SK will be based on land below Church Path Farm and will have a living history site beside Church Street. Help is needed in preparing the site for the SK's arrival, also in areas such as publicity, parking, road signs, security, tentage, press coverage etc. Anyone who feels able to contribute to this event is invited to come to an initial coordination briefing / meeting in the June Rennie Room, Pump House in the Market Place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday 19th March. Thanks John Gillman |
|||
| Big Faringdon Gig Saturday 5th July - 12/3/08 We are looking for one more band for this unique one day music festival at Faringdon junior school. Unfortunately local band Gorgeous Moron have had to pull out of their slot at the BFG so we are looking for another band. Initially this opportunity will be offered to a loacl band before we look further a field. The band must only play original material - no covers for a 45 minute slot. If you are interested please contact Sean 07712 530405 see www.bigfaringdongig.com |
|||
| Total Body Workout for over 50s - 10/3/08 Leisure Centre, Mondays, 11am for 45 minutes, £2.50, with coffee afterwards Not too strenuous for the more mature! |
|||
| NOTICE: Faringdon Folly Tower -
10/3/08 During the storm of Sunday night a big tree branch has broken off from one of the trees around the folly tower and has landed on the path through the center of the woods around the tower. As the weather is going to be similar for the next few days I would like to ask people, who walk around the folly tower and surrounding woods, to be EXTRA CAREFUL as more branches might come down. We of The Friends of the Folly are currently waiting the arrival of funding for maintenance on the woods surrounding the folly tower. And the maintenance work will commence as soon as possible. Regards, Raoul van Eijndhoven - Friends of the Folly. |
|||
| Re: Ruining it for the many, Dave Porter, 2 March '08 ...
- 8/3/08 I am afraid we get what we deserve. With the occasional exception, no-one takes an interest in community affairs. There IS an aspect of chicken-and-egg in that the town council is unpaid, unelected and impotent and consequently no-one goes to its public meetings, but what about the Vale Council? Councillor Gillman is on the right track when he says we should be taking things directly to the VWHDC. Its members are elected, but why oh why do we elect Vale councillors who do NOTHING for Faringdon. If we have an issue, we need to find out when the VALE meetings are and attend them en masse. We can observe our elected Tories in action and maybe make them realise we mean business. There's the challenge ... Mark Harrison |
|||
| FARINGDON FOLLY TOWER - Open during the Spring and
Summer- 6/3/08 Hailed as "BRITAIN's FINEST 20th CENTURY FOLLY TOWER" and "ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FOLLIES IN BRITAIN" OPEN 11.00am till 5.00pm starting Easter Monday 24th March Followed by Sunday 6th April, Sunday 4th May and Monday 26th May Then first Sunday of the Month till 5th October. For more information go to www.faringdonfolly.org.uk To arrange additional visits please contact Eddie Williams on 01367 241142 or email edchriswilliams@aol.com |
|||
| SPECIAL FARINGDON HEALTH WALK - 6/3/08 To Celebrate our First Anniversary In the grounds of Faringdon House (By kind permission of Sofka Zinovieff) WEDNESDAY 9th April at 10.30 am, outside The Bell Hotel The 1 or 2 mile circular walks are for everyone, whatever their ability - and they're FREE! We expect that there will be a range of abilities and one of our trained leaders will walk at the pace of the slowest walker. We hope you will join us afterwards for tea/coffee and a chat. Please turn up about 10 minutes before your first walk to complete a brief questionnaire. Please remember to wear sensible shoes and comfortable clothes. For more information call Eddie: 01367 241142 or Joan: 01367 242970 or email edchriswilliams@aol.com Otherwise, JUST TURN UP! |
|||
| Guitarist and Bass player wanted -
6/3/08 For a new original material band fronted by "the man with the STEREO hands". Already recruited a brilliant drummer, now just need a second guitarist who can play a bit of lead aswell as rythym guitar and a bass player with a bit of aggression who prefers to play with a pick. Own equipment essential, gigging experience useful. Ideally male or female aged between 30 and 40 living in Faringdon/Swindon/Oxford/Oxfordshire. Take a listen to the mp3 samples of original material on the stereohands website at www.stereohands.co.uk and see if it's your kind of thing, although the new material will be a little heavier sounding. If interested contact us at info@stereohands.co.uk |
|||
| Town Council's Corporate objectives -
5/3/08 has anybody read the town councils corporate objectives. one key point is to is promote sustainable development and its economy to meet the needs of present residents and visitors without jeopardising the needs of future generations. the last thing we need is a pointless business park. Name supplied |
|||
| Big Faringdon Gig Sat. 5th July -
5/3/08 Faringdon Junior School We now have a full line up for this unique music festival, 15 bands all playing original songs (no covers what so ever). Thankyou for those bands showing an interest in playing but the day is now full (unless someone backs out). Tickets will probably be available in May with all profits being split in support of Helen and Douglas House Hospice Oxford and Faringdon Arts Festival. We now have our stage managers but would still like to hear from volunteers to help on the two bars and manning the doors. Any local organisation looking to raise funds providing refreshments (tea coffe snacks etc) and please get in touch. For contact details and more information please see www.bigfaringdongig.com Thank you Sean |
|||
| Which council?? - 5/3/08 Simon, your letter keeps throwing mud in the direction of the "council", but you never reveal which council you are talking about. In Town Council I have always said that the Folly Farm development will merely be served by the kebab wagon at its entrance. But the planning authority is not here in Faringdon, rather in far away Abingdon. You know - that town east of us that you cannot get to by bus. The planners there come under the control of the District Council, an assembly dominated by the Liberal Democrats, whose main party voting base is around Abingdon and Wantage. Their councillors probably think it is marvellous that people from Faringdon often go to shop in Tescos at Abingdon. If Faringdon had a successful shopping complex then their voters in Wantage and Abingdon would lose much of Faringdon's trade. The planners seem to think therefore that serving 450 houses merely with a kebab wagon as a retail outlet is acceptable as viewed from Abingdon, as it would induce even more people to shop in their town. So if you want to influence the planners, please throw the mud around on their home patch, not here in Faringdon. John Gillman |
|||
| Business Park Helpful??????? - 5/3/08 The only thing a business park at the edge of the town (that includes a large supermarket) would bring to Faringdon would be the closure of the town centre. People are fickle creatures and if they can do all shopping under one roof whether it be Mr Tesco's or Mr Sainbury then that is what would happen. People like myself who are an independant work very hard to bring different goods in to our shops. Denise Palmer |
|||
| Please god - not another Tesco or
Sainsbury's. - 4/3/08 If you want one that badly then just drive the 10 minutes to Swindon or 15 minutes to Wantage. There's nothing wrong with Budgens. Foodwise you can buy anything you need in Faringdon, and anything else you can order online of just take a short drive to get. The last thing we need is a pointless retail park that's going to empty the town still further Ray |
|||
| Publicans of Faringdon! - 4/3/08 Does anyone have records of Licensees from about 1912 to 1930. My grandmother Ellen Taylor moved from Horley Surrey to Faringdon after becoming a widow in 1911. She worked in a pub there until the publican, maybe a Mr Spiers, walked out in about 1926 to get a haircut and didn't come back!! She then became the liciensee. She returned to Horley in 1942. Can anyone confirm this family story or do you know anything about Mr Spiers Liz Peacey |
|||
| business park helpful???? -3/3/08 it does not have to be a large retail park it could be part business units like the hundred park. and part retail like at watchfield the co op has two shops that have be trading with no problems of cross over on there customer catchment area. why could bugdens not ,my view is that if we are going to expand faringdon chimmey pots . then the due to size of the town centre ,bugdens just dont have enough square feet . this is why we end up with artics in peak times trying to deliver in wantage there has been a mix of independent and national companys for some time. the problem is there is never going to be room in the town centre for national companys. but if landowner are going to be allowed to sell land for homes . then the council are going to have wake up to demand for better shops in the town. and stop wearing rose tinted glasses, i am amazed they let mr carter sell carters . old customers of carter did not want it to change ,i did not want it to change . when time time does a dig in 2000 years time. of faringdon they will go err tony they had no shops in faringdon. they must of shop at witney or wantage. what some of national companys would bring is jobs more suitable for the average workerlike myself. like so many of us are most of the jobs being made are skilled or highly skilled . and somebody like eg tescos brings varied hours of work suitable for eg a working mum that wants to work from 0930 to 1400 hrs. that your average faringdon company cant offer for business reasons. so in turn puts more into work which puts more into are local econonics not swindons etc. like pubs etc i am not saying this is the way forward but we should look at it . instead of having a certain landowner one tracked business vision of faringdon. why are the council so against retail?? simon cook |
|||
| Door to door begging - 3/3/08 I had the same experience from the same lady with Dog as Colin was describing. She also asked be for a fiver as her husband was at work and she had no money and promised to pay it back. As Colin I declined. This was last Saturday. Whilst walking the Dog on Sunday, I saw her again knocking on doors. Raoul van Eijndhoven |
|||
| Courses at Community College - 3/3/08 Many more courses scheduled in March and April. Includes computing, history, tai chi, photography, plumbing and many more. See attached for details Also First aid course 15th March To enrol or for more information: (01367) 243 599 - Janet Deane Email: jd0051@faringdon-cc.oxon.sch.uk |
|||
| Retail Park helpful?- 1/3/08 have to question how a large retail park on the edge of town would help the economic and social development of Faringdon. Evidence suggests that where a large supermarket is sited near a town it inevitably leads to difficulties for, and the possible demise of, local independent traders. Wantage has been mentioned as a town that has "moved with the times". Have you taken a look at Mill Street lately? What used to be full of independent shops is now a boarded-up wilderness...and all since Mr. Sainsbury expanded his empire! David Reynolds |
|||
| Ruining it for the many! - 02/03/08 Do you remember at school the teacher saying "it's always the behaviour of the few who ruin it for the many"? Well, we all understood what the teacher was saying, didn’t we? I've just come back from the 15minute club where a young band tried to express themselves and the organisers (who had no choice because they are on their last warning) were turning down their amps all because "of the behaviour of a few (resident(s)) who are ruining it for the many"... How the tables have turned! Of course the band were compromised, aggrieved and the moment lost. 12 days a year! That's all we ask for. I don't think that is unreasonable. Do you? This is the last venue in Faringdon. When the marketplace gets vandalised, why do you think that is? It’s because young people don't have anywhere to express themselves!. Dave Porter |
|||
| Scats - 01/03/08 I miss Scats. I used to go there for the animal feed, countrywear, garden requirements, and other useful goods. It is a great pity it closed. The nearest comparable store is in Newbury. name supplied |
|||
| Simon - 01/03/08 I write in support of all your comments, It's about time someone talked some sense. I know you quite well, I was a regular customer in scats a place that brought a lot of trade to the town. A few shops and traders seem to have the shopping sewn up in Faringdon and I do go to larger supermarkets, buy my clothes in Swindon or Oxford, but am a very active community member. We don't all sit on committee's some of us just beaver away, trying to make a difference, without a fuss. Pay our tax, and just help when and where we can. name supplied |
|||
| door to door begging. - 01/03/08 At home this morning and there was a knock at the door and on answering I was asked for a loan. A woman from around the corner allegedly had no money to buy shopping and was left alone with a large dog and husband gone to work. I was asked to lend her a fiver with no idea of when it would be repaid. I declined but has begging now gone from the street to door to door. hope not. Colin |
|||
| Pay at pump -01/03/08 In effect the 'maximum amount - £59' IS taken out of your account as it took me over my overdraft limit and therefore my bank wouldn't let me get any more money out until the transaction had gone through 3 days later. When you live on a budget, companies 'reserving' money from your account can cause problems. name supplied |
|||
| Contributing. - 01/03/08 Plenty of people live in a town or area, with or without local employment, who pay their taxes, are law abiding citizens, use local shops and facilities, and want a quiet life. Why on earth should they be stigmatised for not 'contributing' further? My experience of people who contribute - worthy though they may be - is that they usually do so for a sense of personal satisfaction, and if as a result other people benefit well so much the better. I vote for our local councillors to run the place, so that they may take on the responsibility that they enjoy, and have the power, however illusory, and self satisfaction that they seek, and I am grateful to them for taking on this task. If I'm not satisfied with what they do I can always vote for someone else or have a go myself. Society is already overrun with busybodies, chivvying us 'to do our bit' for the community etc., which often means volunteering to carry out some thankless task, under the supervision of, and ultimately for the aggrandisement of the busybodies themselves. By all means let the contributors 'contribute' as much as they like, but please leave the rest of us alone. name supplied |
|||
| re: Pay at Pump - 01/03/08 I've used this several times, and do not have a problem with it. The £59 shown on the display ISN'T taken out of your account, nor is it the maximum you can spend on your card. It's simply the maximum amount the pump will allow you to spend on petrol. Nothing is taken out of your account until the transaction is closed, though it won't show on your bank statement until the next working day. I've checked my statements so I know this to be the case. Incidentally, the same is true for any card transaction, eg, at Budgens the transaction isn't closed and the money debited until you withdraw your card from the reader. Rod Davis |
| top |