"On Christmas Day someone, maybe an old wrinkly who was probably disappointed at what Santa Claus brought him decided to have a go at you. "
Old wrinkly? hahahaha. I'm 18 actually, and I got super presents for Christmas.
There are plenty of nice kids in Faringdon, sure, but there's also far too many thugs who make the place very unpleasant.
I've been followed, namecalled in public, and attacked by teenagers I have nothing to do with and have never done wrong to.
Problems like this originate from authority, because though these teenagers are responsible for their own actions - at the end of the day, who teaches them and gives them the role model of how to behave?
Parents, and teachers.
Name Supplied
Ed: Hear hear
Hope you have a properous and happy New Year!
Thank you for providing this wonderful "organ".
Not many towns are privileged to have such a vibrant mechanism for airing their disparate views. And satire is not dead yet ...
Happy New Year, too, to all Faringdonians - keep the dialogue going in 2007.
I'm especially interested in what young people have to say about how we can make this town even better than it was in 2006 - the best year in the past 20!
Mark Harrison
Ed: Thanks Mark - we like doing it!
Jane's apology to her Carol Singers reflects the true spirit of Christmas but, as is very probable, they are the same two that visited me she need not feel too guilty.
In answer to a ring on my doorbell I found two young boys, one was wearing a red bobble cap which indicated they weren't Jehovah's Witnesses. They sang "We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year". No mention of Bethlehem, Wise Men, Mangers or Stars (Not even Peter's) and certainly no mention of a Silent Night.
I asked them how much their good wishes would cost me and they said " A fiver each" I gave them a pound because I admired their businesslike approach and said I would have to owe them the other nine.
So Jane don't feel too guilty !
But I know where you live and I may be round to sing to you next Christmas Eve and will expect a friendly reception and a mince Pie.
Happy New Year Everybody
HGM
One just really is amazed at all the posts on this little site concerning the younger people of our town and country. His Lordship and I employ quite a few, and they really are extremly nice, and quite clean.
On ocasions, yes of course, they are giddy things, but one remembers being the same, one was a flapper don't you know, One got up to all sorts of scrummy japes, if anything one is more jealous than angry.
Lets start the new year all being jolly good pals, if anything bad happens we still have Mr Raymond and his birch do we not?
Any way to more important matters, One is quite sure you are all intrigued as to what one received for Christmas. Well for his Lordship, I gave him some Viagra,I can see you looking shocked,sadly One no longer indulges in that sort of thing, no,it's just that I find it stops him rolling out of bed. For Ones self, One received a sheep dog brazier, its very good, it rounds them up and points them in the right direction.
Tristram, my son, got mighty sloshed on cooks egg nog,thought that he could drive the Bentley, showing off to his young lady, Lottie, then promptly crashed the automobile into one of our workers cottages. I really do despair,
One has always thought that God gave man a penis and a brain, but only enough blood to run only one at a time.
TTFN bless you all. Lady Constance DeCoverlette. (Mrs)
Hi kids,
On Christmas Day someone, maybe an old wrinkly who was probably disappointed at what Santa Claus brought him decided to have a go at you.
He said that there was a Yob Culture in Faringdon and he meant that you kids were a waste of space. !!
Was he right or wrong ?
He blamed the schools, the parents and the police and there he was definitely wrong because if there is a yob culture here in Faringdon it's not their fault . it's yours !!!
So are you happy to be grouped together and slagged off as yobs ? Why put up with it ?
Are you being bullied at home, in the street or at school or do you know someone who is ?
Have you or anyone you know been offered drugs
Do you know where your underage mates can get cigarettes or alcohol ?
Have you a 'friend' who boasts about driving without insurance or over the drink limit ?
I pass you in the town and I know that one or two of you will obviously come to a sticky end..Police record, lung cancer, drug addict Who knows ?
But most of you only go along with the yobs because you don't think there's much you can do about it and you don't want to be a 'Grass'.
Well there is something you can do.
Go to the top right hand corner of your screen and click on Comments.
Tell us what you know then tick the box that says you want your name witheld, as I'm going to because I don't want a brick through my window.
SOMEONE WILL TAKE NOTICE !!!
Name supplied
I have an apology to make.
Some young lads were carol singing outside my house in Coxwell St on Xmouse eve and I was outrageously rude to them.
It was absolutely unforgiveable. But nevertheless I ask them to forgive me. I was on the phone and had just had some bad news and they were knocking on the door. I could not deal with the situation.
If anyone knows who they are and they come back they will will be received courteously this time (they don't need to sing).
Jane Boulton
Um. I remember going to a casino in Faringdon in the sixties - in the Crown.
So a casino would not be a "new idea".
I think I still have some chips from that time. Not much use now.
Jane Boulton
I don't know why people create so much fuss about a casino or whatnot in Faringon. Places like these are not the problem, but the lack of control and the yob culture.
I live just outside Faringdon and went to school there, and a more unpleasant institution I think its hard to find, unless you go to the rough areas of Manchester or Birmingham.
The police do very little of any good, and children are brought up with no respect for each other or for authority. Bullying is rife in Faringdon, and the teachers are fully aware of it, but do absolutely nothing to stop it!
Not until the school improves, the authorities crack down and better systems are put in place to control the youth population, will the atmosphere in Faringdon improve
Name supplied
HGM - just to set the record straight, it is the imported traffic wardens who 'police' the parking situation in Faringdon, although you are right that it is a police matter.
Some folk in Faringdon struggle to come to terms with the fact that you can get a rather hefty ticket for overstaying your welcome in Budgens car park and park for free and gratis on the yellow lined roads of Faringdon!!
Hey ho!!!!!
Name supplied
Ed: the police are responsible for on street parking, VWHDC for the car parks
Peter Hawkins and another anonymous correspondent are puzzled by the purpose of these features in the road. I think I can perhaps help enlighten them.
The traffic bump or sleeping policeman was derived from a Second World War military development known as the tank-trap. Forward thinking strategists in 1939 perceived that lots of German folk were planning motorised tours of our country landing en masse by boat. They foresaw that there might be heavy congestion on the beaches, which might be alleviated by concrete and steel constructions decorated with festive-looking barbed wire that were installed on likely landing spots along the south coast. This proved an immense success; no congestion at all was experienced by Herr Hitler and his chums, who stayed away in droves.
In the eighties and nineties civil engineers refined this war time innovation to assist us domestic motorists get around along with other helpful measures like yellow lines, red routes, one-way streets, no right turns urban through-ways and no through ways. And in the 21st century this has been brilliantly developed with the wonders of speed cameras, congestion charging and the spread of helpful traffic calming measures out of the cities even to rural backwaters like Faringdon. Of course like all good ideas it has really been around for a long time under another guise. Country folk have long since become familiar with the measures farmers have used to assist their live-stock get about: cattle grids, barbed wire and electric fences have been common place in the countryside for generations.
I laugh now when I look back on the science fiction fantasies of travel in the 21st century current in my youth in the 1960's. Then we thought the future would bring crystal moving walkways across the rooftops, rocket ships to distant planets, high-speed tube ways to cross continents, family jet copters and personal jet backpacks. Now the future is here the sheer brilliance of those health, safety, environment, eco/pc, transport department/agency/executive executives is now apparent. The mini tank-traps in the street are there for the convenience and safety of motorists and pedestrians. They ease congestion, calm the traffic and assist everyone to get about with ease and comfort.
Of course they don't find favour with boy racers in their suspension lowered gti s or estate agents in their bouncy castle 4x4s. My top tip is get a Citroen with hydraulic suspension. At speeds over 30mph the bumps won't cause you to spill a drop from a brimming glass of wine and over 70 they're absolutely imperceptible. CXs or, if you can afford it, SMs are best. An automatic is completely controllable with merely an elbow and a big toe leaving the driver free to read or indulge other interests while getting about in speed and comfort.
Stephen Oliver
Would be a pleasure to visit the estate again after all this time but unfortunately we're beating the servants all day thursday. They've grown to rely on our puncuality and do so enjoy it.
Just off to shoot the goose for Christmas lunch, so much easier we find when tied to the fence.. Toodle pip,
Major Dandy Fothrington-Smythe (Retired, dribbling and bar)
Message for "Name supplied"(AKA, person without the manners to let everyone know who the killjoy is) take a leaf out of your own book....stop moaning, your life could be much worse!!
Trish Reynolds
A question for anyone. Does anyone know how often the Town Council web site is updated, the minutes seem to be out of date.
Name supplied
Ed: It's a question I've asked in the past. I gather they have to rely on the website developer to update - but even then historical minutes are not held - not very effective!! Website for those who want to look is http://www.faringdontowncouncil.org.uk/index.html
Hope you all, regular visitors and others, have a great Christmas and New Year.
A special thankyou to the many people who write to Talking Points frequently - it just wouldn't be any good if you didn't do this
For those who don't write to us, why not resolve to do so from the New Year. We'll publish almost anything- within reason- and more contributions will make it even more interesting
Hil and Gene
How lovely to hear from you again, you really must come up to the house for tiffin. Perhaps you and your good lady wife could come on Thursday when, weather permitting, we are peasant shooting,
his lordship will be so happy to see you again,
TTFN.
Lady Constance DeCoverlette(Mrs)
Harry you're absolutely correct that parking on the speed hump outside Blockbuster is "dangerous, inconsiderate and downright stupid".
It's also illegal as the the double yellow lines run right over them.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
David Reynolds
What a breath of fresh air to hear the thoughts of such a notable academic namely, Lady Constance DeCoverlette.
Takes me back to my days on the plantation in India as a boy. Mind you the locals there didn't mind to much about where the pony and trap was parked or how loud the brass band was on the bandstand.
Anyway my thought for this diatribe is TOLERANCE in the community, where's it gone? What are people doing that makes them 'livid' when a car is parked for a while outside a shop? When house owners and such have such a dislike to young people, constantly challenging somewhere for them to go or something for them to do.. I suppose they all sang songs round the family piano, or drank lashings of ginger wine thinking good thoughts when they were youngsters?
So there you have it, please consider tolerance and not whinging when dealing with your fellow Faringdonian's, and smile more it makes you feel good
Merry Christmas to all of you...
Major Dandy Fothrignton-Smythe
Hear Hear, Adam Williams!
Trish Reynolds
Please young man, DO NOT SHOUT,it scares the horses for one thing, and even though we have had to put up with a terrible noise all year, we are not deaf.
You are indeed very lucky to have a gritbin for a goal,( the council really do spoil our young don't they?). When I was your age we would have thought we had died and gone to heaven to have the luxury of a gritbin, indeed to have time on our hands to even think about playing football was unheard of. There again, we were doing a fourteen hour day down t'pits.The only skatepark we had was to hold onto the pit pony's tail and spark our boots( you were given boots after you had worked a year)on the rail, and that was only when it was a bank holiday!
stop moaning young man, your life could be so much worse.
Name supplied
Market Place at 10 am
Recent postings have made it clear that some people are not aware that living in Faringdon means adapting to our quaint backwater ways.
David Reynolds complains about someone parking on a speed hump outside Blockbusters. Really David …. It is dangerous, inconsiderate and downright stupid but I don’t think it is forbidden in the Highway Code.
Pedestrian Crossings…We have two, one in Gravel Walk and one in Coxwell Road. These admittedly are of little use if you want to cross anywhere in the town centre but the Speed Humps which line up nicely with the pavements making it easy to cross by pram, wheelchair or skateboard do NOT give pedestrians any legal protection if a driver chooses to ignore them. They are not meant to be Pedestrian Crossings ! ! !
Yellow Lines, double or single, are not intended to prevent anyone parking. They do however allow the police (not the Traffic Wardens from Abingdon) to prosecute drivers who dare to park on them if he/she can find a space.
I understand the chance of getting a ticket is about the same as getting a big win in the National Lottery.
Boy Racers.. Yes they are a nuisance and provided they don’t kill themselves or anyone else they may eventually become considerate drivers like the rest of us but many of them ( certainly not all) will have recently passed their driving test and unlike most of us will still remember the stopping distance at 50MPH and know the difference between a Pelican and a Toucan crossing.
Yes, we may be a quaint backwater where Youth Clubs. skateparks and loud music are not encouraged but I still think our town centre lights are great.
Merry Christmas
HGM
I think all these later middle/young aged over 40s who drive through the Market Place blasting their horns should give a little more thought to the example they set for our younger generation.
Name supplied
Raymond , One may not always agree with what one says, but of course defend to the death ones right to say it. Remember though dear boy, if any birching was to be done, say, by a pillar of the community of course, a councillor,for instance, some people from "Hug a Birch tree" would soon be on your case over the depletion of the Birch caused by those nasty 4by4 drivers who wish to reinstate law and order,
and as for National service, of course dear boy, it's the only way forward, double quick time as well.
Its so refreshing to read posts from such intelligent,forward thinking people, One thought one was the only one,bless you.
Lady Constance DeCoverlette (Mrs)
Let's face it, Faringdon has a hard core of noisy ('boy' racers), ignorant and ofttimes blatantly dangerous drivers who have little or no consideration for other drivers and for vulnerable pedestrians - I for one am sick of motorists who double park on London Street especially outside Threshers, Blockbusters and the chip shop, mount the pavement to use the Fast food takeaways on Marlborough Street, outstay their welcome in the parking bays in the Market Square;
I reserve my particular loathing for those able bodied folk who park in the designated disabled bay! The reason why 'they' do it, is because they can!
Apart from occasional forays into Faringdon, by the Abingdon wardens, this is bandit country!
Name Supplied
You try being young in this town.
What are we supposed to do move away and wait until we retire? We use a gritbin for a goal! What is going on! Stanford in the vale has probably got more of a elderly and veteran community that faringdon.
Any complaints from them about their skatepark?Plus WHERE IS YOUR NAME! You should support your opinions, im not going to rob your house, whatever you might think of the 'hoodies' in Faringdon.
Move to Fernam or Little Coxwell and enjoy the peace mate
Adam Williams
I think the lady who found "hair" sticking out of her exhaust will find it is the fibreglass lining of the silencer box breaking down rather than vandalism.
This recently happened to a colleague of mine.
Name Supplied
I saw an interesting one a few days ago.
A driver had parked right on the speed hump outside Blockbusters in London Street (ie the narrowest part of the road) while she went went in to choose a film.
I just happened to pass in my car as she returned and when I blasted the horn to avoid taking her door off I got the inevitable "what's your problem, mate" glare.
This was a later middle aged woman.
And they say the youth of today are rude. I don't believe it!
David Reynolds
Aged 48 and a bit (is that later middle age?)
Ed: No David, It's young!!
I think the person who initially wrote about the casino is perhaps a satirist given his last two posts.
The only things he did not suggest that Faringdon needed were a return to National Service and the birch for single mothers.
Ray
I agree with your correspondent who finds these humps confusing with their purpose unclear. In fact I find the whole purpose of the so called town centre "improvements" unclear.
My guess would be that the idea is to keep vehicles out of Faringdon centre altogether with the ridiculous narrow bit between the Nut Tree and the Bargain Centre being purpose designed to cause collisions and encourage cars to drive up on the pavement and mow down pedestrians. After all very few drivers take any notice of the priority arrows - propbably because few of them understand what they mean.
So why not completely pedestrianise the town centre, turn London Street, Marlborough Street, Gloucester Street into angled pay and display car parks and use the money to help finance a ring road for through traffic ?
Peter Hawkins
Young man,I assume that is what you are, I am as much entitled to my opinion as you are.
My generation fought a war so you could have one, and to write it in the Queens English, not German, or heaven forbid, Japanese.
Perhaps it is you, not I, who should move somewhere else, a large City perhaps where they cater for all types. Small market towns are by definition,small towns that have markets, nothing about skateparks,burger bars, loud music, with equally loud young people spitting on the pavements every second step they take like some ridiculous overpaid footballer, effing and blinding just because someone of my generation is slower at doing things.
Where does it say that everywhere in England has to be the same as everywhere else. Isn't it nice to have somewhere to live that is oldie worldly and quaint. Different isn't bad you know. Drop someone into any shopping centre in this country, and ask them w here they are, they couldn't tell you,why? because centres all look the same. Is that what is going to happen to all Market towns such as Faringdon?
Perhaps that is your idea of progress, it certainly is not mine.
Name supplied
Hi, I just wanted to let people know what happened to me today.
I was parked in budgens carpark today and when I returned to my car, there was hair sticking out of my exhaust! When removed it looked like part of a halloween witches wig.
I shall be popping into the police station to let the community officer know and hopefully they can keep a look out when there out and about.
But just wanted everyone to be aware.
Emma Nicholls
Following the meeting about the Corn Exchange I undertook to arrange a sound level test involving local residents as a temporary measure. It was also agreed to ask the Town Council to look at employing a noise consultant before embarking on further remedial works.
Unfortunately given the short notice and the Christmas period it is proving difficult to arrange a test this side of Christmas.
We need to get several parties together: hirers, representatives of the Town Council, Environmental Health, and most importantly as many residents as possible. I am sorry to sat that this has not been possible.
I hope to organise the test for early in the New Year, and hope that with a little more notice the test should be successful.
In the meantime I understand that the Town Council has already contacted a consultant and had an initial report. The Council will consider these recommendations at the earliest opportunity, and I will work with both the Town Council and the Vale to see what joint arrangements (if any) can be reached.
The enthusiasm for the Corn Exchange is clear, I am sorry that it has not been possible to arrange the test as planned as short notice, but I hope this will not lead to a loss of momentum. I will contact people again as soon as we have a possible date in early January.
Matthew Barber
VWHDC and FTC Councillor
hi...
a friend and i have been reading about the plans to develop the new youth club, and we'd really love to have a place like that to go, and so would our friends.
we were just wondering if its possible to get involved in helping, or just to find out more about the whole thing.
we have lots of ideas and we'd like to get involved with this project. who do we need to speak to? thanks :)
Name supplied:
Ed: Contact: allan.o'connor@oxfordshire.gov.uk
It is worrying to hear that the Youth Centre may not happen. While it is important to consider the effect on neighbours - but there are very few close by - it seems to me there couldn't be a better location.
Safety of the young people is important too, but there is a path on the other side of the road, the crossing point has a clear view in both directions, and presumably the age range for the club means that the young people are of an age to be out in the evening without adults- and so mature enough to cross the roads safely.
Faringdon needs a Youth venue- even before the Healthcheck in 2002 this was known
There have been various attempts at getting a location for a Youth Club in the town. It would be a crying shame if this were to fail as well.
Come on people of Faringdon, contact Allan or write to this site to let your voices be heard
Gene Webb
With all due respect Dont talk about the town as if you own it! it wasnt purpose built for you.
There is a community in Faringdon that consists of people who have lived here all their lives, and not just people like you who have moved here for a quiet retirement!
Maybe you should have thought about music and people with a life before you moved ito a central area. think about it for a second, you have lived here what, 5 years at the most, I have lived here 12 and most people i know have never moved away.
So please think that there are people in Faringdon who havnt in fact retired yet, and arnt going to for a very long time. These people are entitled to a good time just as much as you were before you retired.
So if you want a picturesque little village, go to it and retire!!
Adam Williams
I am sorry to disappoint readers but I do not want any false expectations for young people in Faringdon.
The Cromwell Centre is far from secured; OCC planning department which has dragged it heels on this case since Sept has informed me that 3 local residents have objected to the proposal to change the use of the building from a highways depot to a youth centre. The application will now go before the Planning Committee on the 15th Jan for a decision.
I understand that the planners are recommending to the committee that a pavement should be built along the road on the same side as the Cromwell Centre. If the committee follow this recommendation it is unlikely that it will happen and the application will be rejected.
This is really frustrating as last week we heard that local young people have secured a £10,000 grant to renovate the building. Wishful thinking aside, to my mind the Cromwell Centre represents the only suitable building in Faringdon for a youth venue. I intend to take a group of young people and adults to this Planning committee in Jan.
If YOU do care about a venue for young people then please come with us: contact me on allan.o'connor@oxfordshire.gov.uk for more details
or send your comments to talking points.
We live in a democracy and your voices count.
Allan O'Connor (youth worker)
Can somebody clarify please - are the raised 'bumps' in the road in the town centre for slowing/calming traffic or for pedestrians to cross on with priority over cars ?.
I thought they are there to calm traffic, maybe I'm wrong.
This afternoon my husband and I were driving towards the one outside Harpers. As we approached it a lady with two children glared at us in a rather 'Hyacinth Bucket' fasion and shook her head. We were the only car, nothing behind or in front and we had to go over it slowly because lots of cars were coming the other way and obviously we had to stop at the 'give way sign'. We didn't stop on the bump so this lady had to wait all of 3-5 seconds I guess.
Now, maybe she expected my husband to stop before the bump and then again the other side of it - and had there been a car in front which would have prevented him from going forward anyway, he would have stopped. He would also have stopped for her had there been a queue of cars behind but there were none. We aren't agressive drivers and will give way to cars and people when appropriate.
Now maybe she shook her head because she didn't like our car, maybe she thought my husband showed bad manners or maybe she had a bee in her ear - I don't know - but perhaps it's time for the road signs in Faringdon to be made more obvious.
Name supplied
We are looking for a jazz piano teacher for our son, who has been playing classical and jazz for three and a half years.
We'd prefer a man if possible, but would also be interested in ladies who "get" boys (eg, understand the importance of football and like the occasional joke).
Please email me on: grheliz@gmail.com
Name supplied
This Wednesday (20th).
Teams of up to 4 people, £5 per team, spot prizes, proceeds to Oakwood House.
Loads of questions covering all music genres, interspersed with David Reynolds' challenging guitar intros.
Starts at 8.00pm prompt, but grab your seats early!
Cheers
Martin
.... for the wonderful star guiding us home at night and, surely, putting Faringdon well and truly on the map...again.
I know many people look forward to the appearance of the Folly Tower light and some may have felt a little anxious as time passed with nothing to see.
Worth the wait Peter.
What a treasure you are.
Thankyou.
Sheila
Peace broke out at last when the White Star from the top of the Folly travelled?
through space and landed on top of the Town's Christmas Tree in the Market Place.?
Thereby uniting the two camps in peace, love and understanding.??
Merry Christmas
A. Well Wisher
How delighted we are to see the star back on top of the Folly this Christmas. It is a talking point for all those driving down the A420 and really puts Faringdon on the map.
We always say it is the light that guides us home (and hence very appropriate at Christmas)!
You can bicker all you like about the lights in Faringdon centre, but as long as the star is on the Folly, we're very happy!
Name supplied
I've got a Doctor Who short story for Christmas in the Christmas Eve edition of The Sunday Times. It's called 'Deep and Dreamless Sleep' and I'm rather proud of it. Do watch out for it.
On December 29th, BBC4, 10pm, I'm one of the people interviewed for BBC4's My Science Fiction Life documentary, time yet to be confirmed. I was filmed at my desk and walking pompously... no, let's say moodily... through the graveyard of All Saints Chruch, at times with a Dalek. It's based around the BBC's new website of the same name, which is well worth a visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mysciencefictionlife/
On December 28th, XTNCT, the hardback collection of my comic strip collaboration with the fabulous comic artist D'Israeli, is released by Oxford publishers Rebellion: http://mysql.rebellion.co.uk/~twothousand/books/coming_soon.php
Thanks to everyone who bought issues one and two of my Marvel comic Wisdom off my blog site: http://paulcornell.blogspot.com/
You should have your package of the first two issues arriving in January.
Here's the lovely Trev Hairsine cover for issue three, shipping in February, when we welcome new regular artist Manuel Garcia: http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c10/Berniceboy/WISDOM3_COVB.jpg
Thanks everyone for having taken an interest in what I did during 2006, which, all in all, I think has been my best year as a writer.
I do love the fact that I've got so many supportive people in my home town. I so appreciate that.
Merry Christmas to you all!
Paul Cornell
I too would like to thank whoever is responsible for the light on the Folly.
I liked last year's and think this one is just as good.
I now have a totally unrelated question: What happens at Rat's Castle?
Name Supplied
Ed: It's a restaurant - occasionally open and by arrangement I think
New pages on this website.
Have a look at http://www.faringdon.org/nvremembrance.htm
If you would like your relative included on this page, simply click the link top right, and fill in the form
Gene Webb
Graham - I think your suggestion of a purpose built youth centre supported by the community is a lovely idea.
You may not be aware that the Cromwell Centre on Highworth Road is soon (subject to planning permission for change of use) to open up as a Youth Venue and I'm sure that when the facility has been secured then the possibilities for the youth of Faringdon are endless. FAP has been supporting Allan O'Connor in his efforts to make this happen and will continue to support in any way we can with this project.
My understanding is that the facility will make a fabulous youth venue and Allan should be commended for all the hard work he has put into this! I believe that there are other buildings at the site which are currently used by the County Council road department (perhaps someone can clarify this!) - perhaps one day if this is ever relocates there could be potential to expand into this area (I would like to emphasise though that is just me pondering the issue personally and not an 'official' standpoint!)
Your suggestion that the whole community should pull together on this issue is absolutely right. I'm sure one way the community could help is by finding youth volunteers - it is one thing to have a fantastic venue, but without volunteers prepared to work with young people and help run activities it will not be possible to make the most of the facility!
If anyone is interested in volunteering do get in touch with us at FAP - anna.marlow@fap.org.uk - and we will endeavour to put you in touch with the relevant people.
As for the long awaited skateboard park, FAP have been working with the SK8 group to push this issue into the spotlight and great progress has been made. Subject to the appropriate planning approvals, the District Council have agreed (following consultation with SK8, Faringdon Town Council, FAP, Bloor Homes and other relevant bodies) to provide a site for the skatepark next to the relocated cricket club in the extension to Folly Park (this is all part of the much debated section 106 planning gains for Faringdon that result fron the new housing development)
I hope all this goes to show that there are a lot of people in the background in Faringdon who are working very hard to get things sorted for the youth of Faringdon and that positive things are afoot!
Anna Marlow Administrative Co-ordinator
Faringdon Area Project
In my dotage my memory is dim so I wonder if someone could kindly remind me of a few facts regarding the large sign outside the United Reform Church... Namely..
*Who decided we are, apparently, a Fair Trade Town
*Were residents consulted before the decision was taken to brand the town in this way
*If we were how and when was this consultation and how many people responded
*Who paid for the sign and how much did it cost
*How many other towns across the UK are branded in the same way ?
I hope someone "in the know" is able to respond to these queries
Name Supplied
Ed: Have a look at http://www.faringdonfairtrade.org.uk/ and http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/-will help with some of your questions
Thank you so much to Peter White for our Folly "Star" this year.
Jill Dean
My name is Graham Cook I am in charge of one of the many youth organisations in & around Faringdon I was born in Faringdon and have lived here for 37 years in all that time the facilities for young people within the town has hardly changed, With the population of Faringdon ever increasing the community as a whole should be looking to the future and building a community youth activity centre that can eventually be self funding.
Instead of all the youth groups in Faringdon & surrounding area fighting for money, space & equipment they should along with FAP, the community as a whole and the town council, look at housing all youth groups in one purpose built activity centre this should not only be buildings to share but with outdoor activities to use like a climbing wall, assault course, confidence course (aerial walkways/aerial slides) all weather football pitch, small 3` deep lake to use to teach canoeing etc (with small camp site, Bar b q area for families ), and the all talked about skate park the possibilities are endless.
If we all pulled together as a community this could be a possibility Not only would our young people have somewhere to go/do but the schools could use the facilities for team building etc, the football club could have an all weather pitch to use, and other youth groups/ schools out side Faringdon could use the facilities as well Building something that would benefit the community and young people for years to come is a worthwhile project (a big one) but worthwhile and one that should be seriously looked at
I think the money could easily be raised for this project if the community pulled together as a team
Lets build something the whole community can use and be proud of
Lets give our children something to do in there spare time instead of moaning that there hanging around the town centre
What do you think?
Graham Cook
I can't sort out the rights and wrongs of the Steve Leniec/Peter White problem but Peter isn't taking it out on the people of Faringdon.
So not for the first time and I hope not for the last time Peter thank you for the Folly Light
HGM
Faringdon Tourist Information have prepared a Christmas quiz sheet- with prizes on offer.
Deadline 3/1/07
Download a copy here
Gene Webb
If you didn't go you missed a real treat - a wonderful concert at the Roman Catholic church yesterday. It was so good too, to sing carols with a group of good singers- great volume and sound - and all the high notes were reached!
Faringdon has musical talent other than rock bands!
Gene Webb
What is happening to Faringdon? we have finally managed to stop all this music pollution at the Corn exchange, now, we seem to be getting a Casino- it beggers belief,
I moved here in my retirement for peace and quiet, I was assured that Faringdon was the sleepiest town in west Oxfordshire. It should now be twinned with Blackpool!!
What with all this nonsense going on, I for one will not tolerate gambling dens, if we allow this to happen where will it all end?, no, I am putting my house on the market and moving on to somewhere far more quieter,
I have found a nice little bungalow at the end of the Heathrow airport runway
Name supplied
How wonderful to read in the last issue of the Faringdon Folly that almost half a century on from the CND marches of the 1960's pensioners from this area are still happy to waste police time and our taxes by chaining themselves to the railings or whatever at Faslane and getting carted off to the cells.
I imagine that if the cost of policing all these protests over the years were to be added up, the total would probably be sufficient to pay for a nuclear missile at the very least.
In the light of the Prime Minister's announcement that our nuclear deterrent will be replaced and in view of the murky Alexander Litvinenko affair, my suggestion is that it might be worthwhile for the protestors to shift their focus.
Surely this should now be on rogue elements in the former Soviet Union and on states like Iran and North Korea who are developing WMD and, from all appearances, would seem to have far fewer inhibitions than the West about using them if it suits them.
Name supplied
Do you feel unfit, out of shape, lonely or just a bit low?
Well, why don't you come along to a taster walk and meeting about the Health Walk schemes at 10.30am on Thursday 25th January 2007 at the Jubilee Room, The Pump House, Faringdon.
Walking is almost the perfect exercise because it requires no equipment or expense and quickly brings benefits to your health. Health Walk schemes are designed to encourage people to walk at a pace which makes their heart beat slightly faster than normal and makes them breathe deeply, thereby giving both their heart and lungs a workout.
All sorts of different people come on the walks and we actively seek to encourage people who could benefit their health by becoming more active, whether that be in relation to weight management, recovery from an operation e.g. hip replacement, or mild to moderate depression. Many older people in the county have benefited from schemes in their local area because it can provide a much needed social network especially after a bereavement or as a result of moving house. It would also be great for families to get healthy together and enjoy an inter-generational activity.
The Faringdon & Shrivenham Health Walk scheme will offer First Steps walks which are designed for people who haven't been doing very much exercise recently. The walks will be led by trained making them the perfect safe activity to join. People who attend regular will hopefully notice an improvement in how quickly they are able to do the route and thus see measurable benefits.
The taster walk and meeting (10.30am-12.30pm) is being jointly organised by Oxfordshire PCT, Oxfordshire County Council, Age Concern and other partner organisations. Please come on the taster walk and see what it is all about and how we can make the Faringdon & Shrivenham Health Walk scheme a reality.
Any questions please contact Anne Ambler, 01235 200812, or Brian Conroy, 01993 704007.
I'm not sure that making that particular stretch of Highworth Road a 'no parking' zone would have any effect whatsoever!!! In fact in Faringdon double yellow lines are a clear invitation to anyone passing to park where they can, and great if you manage to mount the pavement too!!!
London street has become a parking nightmare ('Nightmare on London Street');
I have it on good authority from a friend, that so horrified were the police by the scale of the parking problem that they are bringing in a team next weekend to issue tickets and blitz the area of illegally parked cars. Some might say that this isn't really in the spirit of Christmas however, such is the shortfall in the police christmas fund that the police authority have been forced to consider increasing revenue (triple fold I understand) in the run up to contabulary Christmas party - so be warned; drivers particularly those who park illegally on London and Gloucester street and in other areas of Faringdon, do so at their peril!!!!!
Apparently you'll be able to identify the parking attendants (even tho' they come from Abingdon) by the greenery above their hat peaks and the Santa Claus light up pens which have been issued in celebration of this years offensive!!!!!
Name Supplied
I would like to say a big thank you to all the positive comments about Festive Faringdon as I am chair of the group who organised it.
Our aim at the moment is to replace and add to the christmas lights in Faringdon as many would have seen in the Folly paper last month we donated £1500 to the council for new lights.
As to some of the lights not working they will be replaced next year from this years fund raising.
Also please note the council did match our funds for new lights this year.
Denise Palmer
Does anyone out there agree with me that the discussions between Steve Leniec and Peter White have been done to death yet?
Guys, why not pick up the phone and talk to each other, and cut out this assignation by web blog...
We're onto much more interesting arguments now, especially in light of the new Casino, bring it on...
Pat Pending
Peter I for one appreciate your comments and support you regarding these lights.
And I hope you are doing a Folly top light this year.
Jill Dean
One has heard a rumour from one's maid servant that the Corn Exchange has been earmarked to be west oxfordshire's premier casino night club, as you know only a few gambling licence's are being given out, so to have one for Faringdon is devine, think about it for a moment, fourteen local popular groups doing to death fourteen versions of "All right now"( one has heard it on Cook's transistor radio, very repetitive one finds,
One so much prefers Delius, in B Fenby, ta, ta ta, ta,) is really old hat,
no,the powers that be(mostly my family of course, I am so proud of Tristram) has decreed that the future for Faringdon is baccarat, black jack, stud poker, craps, roulette, slot machine's and of course dancing girls,Which my dear Husband, His Lordship, will no doubt enjoy ( think of the employment opportunities for local people,
I do my best of course, but one cannot employ everyone, now we are down to four homes, we too have had to make cut backs, all the fault of this Labour government of course! I have so many chimneys, you just cannot find a small boy for love nor money these days), and you know a far better class of person will be promenading around the town, once we have rid the town of these musical types, we can all get back to a more gentile way of life, where one dresses for dinner, and where everyone knows their place, where the lower classes never question their betters, and, on a personal note, as far as I am concerned,seeing as I own most of the area, One will have Willerby park the Bentley where one bally well likes.
I would like to take this opportunity via this darling little site to wish you all a very merry Christmas, and a gambling new year.
Lady Constance DeCoverlette. (ps, keep off my land!!)
Ref: Steve Leniec's letter 7/12/06
Well I suppose we are all allowed to get our facts wrong once in a while, especially when its about someone else's money!
As for the Rotary Club's hard earned cash being spent on obsolete equipment for the Christmas tree lighting system totalling £1,772.21. It seems that you have been misinformed, maybe by your comptetant contractors. The lighting system supplied was a low voltage 24V AC, SELV (safety extra low voltage) system, fully compliant with the current Code of Pratice fo the Installation, Operation and removal of Seasonal Decorations. We still have two of these systems in excellent working order, one of which can be seen in Highworth Town Centre producing an excellently lit Christmas tree.
I know its asking a bit much, but if you just took the time to read the invoice you keep quoting the sum of £1,730.00 from, then you would see that there are costs on this invoice which do not relate to our installation cost for the Christmas lights installation in 2001. The actual cost was £1,185.21 + VAT, amounting to the figure I gave of £1,393.00. Maybe we undercharged for our work and the Council would like to make it up to us and give us some more monies from the big new pot they now seem to have? As for new strings of lights being added since we installed the lights last, I would be very interested to know where these have been put?? The decoration rope light around the old Town Hall has not been removed for years, and anchor testing is not as expensive as it used to be if the contractor has their own in house testing equipment.
As for the staff at the Town Council spending their time switching our Christmas lights on and off for us all to enjoy, whilst I do appreciate their dedication, I feel sure they could put their time to better use. I guess that the contractor that we have just paid £5,000.00 to do this job for us is probably in the Bahamas on holiday enjoying our cash! They certainly have our Town Council well trained. After all, they had 11 months from last year to sort these problems out and there is just no excuse for this!!
I still maintain that Faringdon is paying too much money to put up the lights in the Town Centre. I estimate that since we last put up the Town's lights in 2001 the Town Council has overspent by £15,000.00 on the cost of installing our lights.
I hope people are pleased that I am monitoring our Christmas lights and bring to their attention the things that are going on, possibly without their knowledge.
Peter White.
Until reading talking points for the first time ever today, I was unaware that there might be proposals for speed humps along Highworth Road. So excuse my ignorance for this and ditto if the question of parking in Highworth Road between Coxwell Street and Westland Road has also be raised before.
If not, I would just like to say that I am sure I am not alone in considering that residents who leave vehicles parked on Highworth Road when they have perfectly good drives to park them on are not only selfish but also unnecessarily put at risk the safety of other motorists and pedestrians.
Rather than talk about road humps, I wonder if the Council has yet considered resolving this safety problem either by making this stretch of road a no parking zone or, alternatively, getting rid of the footway on one side of the road - so making it wide enough for two vehicles to pass even if cars are parked on one side.
I would be interested to read other views on this
Name supplied
Ed: Glad you've found us - the site has been around for about 5 years - with visitor numbers over 1200 per week. We're so pleased!! There is a group called Traffic Advisory (Councils, Police) - maybe worth contacting them - the Town Council will know who the chair is
Fantastic news.
Well done to all concerned.
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
(aka: name supplied)
What pushchairs? Why are you apologising?
Sleepy
I cannot disagree more vehemently.
Grumpy
I agree with everything you say. Let me buy you a drink sometime!
Happy
What a shame - drove back through town tonight and again 3 (must have lost one somewhere!) world weary teenagers prepared to oohh and aaahh at the lights - started with the lovely blue lights on tree and then it changed to errr where had half the lights gone? - it appeared that almost half of the other lights were not working.
What about tomorrow night? - if they are going off at this rate there will be a solitary bulb on top of the tree left - if we are lucky !! - do we need to put some more money in the meter?!
Teresa Lardner - teenager taxi service provider
Did anyone else have the pleasure of the door sales person last night? When politely advised that the householder did not want to purchase goods on his doorstep, particularly when it was dark and when children's book bag was in progress, the seller became sarcastic and abusive.
Now, I do applaud initiative and enterprise, but I find this practice of cold calling (especially when its dark) quite threatening, and an invasion of privacy. Call me old fashioned, but if someone politely says that they are not interested, then they should be left alone. Perhaps if the community police officer reads this site they can offer some guidance on what the correct or most appropriate approach should be.
Full marks for the Faringdon lights, even with the hiccups, now explained, they are lovely.
Full marks for the Park Road area for the festive spirit, however, also take a look up Highworth Road, there are a couple of competitors there.
Oh, and I apologise for my push chair on Saturday, and my kids getting in peoples way. I thought Christmas was a time for all, and perhaps more particularly children.
Happy Christmas everyone.
Devil's Advocate.
Last night residents of Gloucester Street and Faringdon musicians agreed to work together to try to find a level for music in the Corn Exchange that is acceptable for everyone.
I would like to thank the residents and the musicians for taking this positive approach and Matt Barber for organising the meeting and for agreeing to coordinate the next steps
Mark Harrison
I am sorry to disappoint Mr White but I have no intention of resigning from the council just yet and I am happy to answer the points he has raised in his posting.
All of the figures that were included in my original posting are correct and can be verified by the town clerk, minutes of council and our AUDITED accounts.
The one point which may have been confused was the figure for the christmas tree lights, £775 was the cost of the lights which were on the tree until this year. It is true that a set of lights were purchased by the Rotary club some years ago for £1,772.21, these are still held in storage by the Town Council, however as any competent electrician would explain they are obsolete. We cannot use them as they were 240 volt and any low level tree lights must be low voltage for health and safety reasons.
The Council certainly did not renege on a £700 VAT refund. We can only reclaim VAT over a 12 month period and bills submitted 18 months after the event cannot be refunded.
It is interesting to learn that Mr White feels the cost of installing the lights should only be £2000. Since Mr White last did the job and charged us £1,730, extra light strings have been added, there are lights around the Old Town Hall and the testing of the anchors is included in the price. Perhaps the £1,730 that Mr White charged the town back in 2001 was too much and he would like to offer us a refund?
I accept that two of the older daisey strings have faults, they are 5 years old and due for replacemrent next year. As the fault is in the light string it is probably not an economic repair and cannot be fixed insitu. The lights in Gloucester st and Marlbourgh st were off from 6.00pm on the Sunday because the Town Clerk switched them off. The Timer for that section of lights was not operational and staff were switching manually, it would have been unreasonable to expect someone to turn out at 11.00pm on a Sunday night to switch the lights off. The timer is now operating and all of the lights should switch off at 11.00pm. One of the uplighters under the tree outside the Pump House has been deliberately disconnected by person or persons unknown! It is good to know that Mr White is monitoring the lights so closely on our behalf, but can I explain how we are monitoring ourselves to save him the trouble.
There is a daily rota of inspection for faults. Individual bulbs are noted for replacement during our contractors weekly visits, any larger faults are reported to the clerk who will organise an emergency visit. Mr White then goes on to call our contractor incompetent, well Swindon Town Centre, Old Town, Oxford City, Clevedon and Droitwich to name but a few are happy to employ his services and so are we.
The reaction to the Festive Faringdon event and the lights this year has been overwhelmingly positive. So many people have worked to creat a season of good will, so come on Mr White join in the festive spirit and celebrate the best lights ever in the Town.
PEACE AND GOOD WILL TO ALL ELECTRICIANS AT THIS SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR.
Steve Leniec
Such interesting Talking Points lately. Don't you just love living in the Faringdon democracy!
Two things:
1) Full marks go to the organisers for the jolly day we all had at Festive Faringdon and full marks for the lights on the tree in the Market Place, its truly lovely. BUT a big fat zero scored on the short performance of other lights including those in Marlborough Street that stopped working soon after. Not good enough.
2) And what I want to know is...where is the Folly Light? I have been looking forward in anticipation each night this week as I wend my weary way home down the A420 as yet to no avail. Peter White, step forward! The people of Faringdon need to know! Put us out of our misery!
Oh and I should say a Big Well Done to those residents on Park Road who provide the wonderful array of Christmas Lights.
Tis' the season to be jolly!
Name supplied
It’s Christmas but as there’s no chance of us meeting.
I want to post a little poem as a News Filled Christmas Greeting.
I’ll tell you what I’ve done this year but sadly I admit
I have been known to bend the truth..(In fact... I lie a bit)
Season’s Greetings to all you Name Supplieds
My business goes from strength to strength, the profits give me joy,
We gave a Christmas Party for the hoards we now employ.
Our daughter, whom you’ll never meet, has got her PhD.
I don't know where she gets her brains but it's probably from me.
Our youngest son now runs a firm which rules the Internet
And you would be astounded at the VIPs he's met.
We've finished the extension, though it cost a hundred grand.
But we had to move the outdoor pool and buy some extra land.
Our indoor pool is fabulous and the Sauna is still there.
But some guests are impossible for they don't know what to wear.
We did have trouble with our cook; she said her rooms were bleak.
But we’ve hired Llewelyn-Bowen to sort them out next week.
We spent a month in Rio before we went to Spain.
But Spain is full of tourists so we won't go there again.
We kept our place in Florida but bought one up in Maine.
It has a private landing strip and a hangar for our plane.
We’ve got a Royal Christmas card with love from Charles and Cam.
Oh ****, I haven't sent them one. Oh what a fool I am.
And now we're off to Aspen with the usual jolly set.
Most of them are famous but I'm sure you've never met.
So do pop in to see us if you're ever down our way.
But it might be best to Text us first
as we may be out that day.
Harry G Mitchell ( AKA quite a lot of others)
Happy Christmas to Hil,Gene and all Websiters and here’s to a lively exchange of views in 2007
Oops. A touch of irony, not intended to offend volunteers like you Anna, or anyone else for that matter!
(The mulled wine was deliciously warming. Thankyou.)
Sheila
Might I take this opportunity to re-publish this little ditty by the late lamented Folly Cat? On the subject of anonymity - it says it all.
In Defence of Anonymity
Miaou! - I am the Folly Cat,
and appositely named at that ,
by HGM (or AKA);
anonymous, I slip away.
'Name supplied' but not revealed
I wear my false face like a shield,
fending off the angry slights
that anonymity ignites.
For in this town, I've varied roles
in furtherance of many goals.
I might be neighbour, child or spouse
in bungalow, or flat, or house.
Professional, or artisan;
hermaphrodite, or woman, man.
But, truth to tell, tho' rage be vent
I merely relish argument.
No disguised agenda, me
who pens my case in secrecy.
So, just recall when next you write
with scorn, and irony and spite -
'He who writes and runs away
may live to write another day'
Name Supplied
I agree Sheila - Festive Faringdon is a great day out for families and it was fantastic to see so many in the Market Square last weekend. As always with these community events Faringdon felt really alive that afternoon and it just shows how positive the town can be.
The comments about pushchairs and spending a penny at local establishments sounds ever so slightly be-grudging. Anyone who has actually spent several hours in the town centre on a cold day with young kids will know that it is no easy task! The very fact that they make the effort to attend such an event rather than remain in the warmth and comfort of their own homes with the TV on, means that they have already more than 'paid their dues' (I'm sure if you looked at the takings from the fairground rides and other attractions you would also find plenty of evidence of that!) If people find the presence of pushchairs and kids irritating then perhaps Santa turning on Christmas Lights is not the event for them!!
My young children came down to the town whilst I stood with Julie on a freezing corner serving mulled wine on behalf of FAP - we were there for 6 hours and yes, my children did make use of facilities! I certainly feel like I paid my dues - perhaps I should have got them slaving too to earn their keep!
On the subject of anonymity I think we should be very careful not to dissuade people from writing to Talking Points - I'm sure many people who visit this site and add their comments hold positions within the town which makes it difficult to reveal their identity (Town Councillors, Business people etc) I post on here anonymously at times because I do not want my personal views as a resident confused with the position I hold in FAP. Anonymity is not a bad thing - not having an opinion is a bad thing. Let's applaud people's right to comment and feel passionate about their town and its goings on!
Finally - the tree looks fantastic, I would like to say a huge thank you to all the retailers and businesses who have actually put lights on their trees, the town looks lovely! Merry Christmas!
Anna Marlow
Is this the editor just stirring things up; is it one person wearing many hats; many persons wearing one hat???
Don't be shy. Stand by your convictions and at least give us a clue. First name perhaps?
Congratulations to all concerned with 'Festive Faringdon' (the pushchair capital of the world?). A great day out for families, who I noticed were not averse to 'spending a penny' at local establishments. Given the recent 'Coffee Shop Debate' I hope dues were paid.
The lights are lovely, and I'm really pleased that they, and the Christmas tree, survived the weekend gales.
Isn't Faringdon just the BEST town? (Or it would be if it had a good venue, that could regularly accommodate live music until midnight, up to 200 reasonably behaved adults and a decent well stocked bar).
Here's to New Year's Resolutions that will continue to make Faringdon a lively, welcoming place in 2007. Let us embrace new residents and businesses. Encourage our local entrepreneurs. Provide facilities to engage our young people. Support and applaud the efforts of volunteers.
Don't lurk under a cloak of anonymity. Stop complaining on a website.
GET INVOLVED.
Sheila
Ed: I can assure you - all name supplied are real and different people!
I would just like to say how pretty the christmas lights look this year - even 4 very world weary teenagers were oohing and ahhing as we drove home past them last night - love the blue lights on the tree.
Teresa Lardner
Those who are keen on proliferating vertical deflections throughout Faringdon may wish to consider the following:
1. There are two types of vertical deflection; the kerb-to-kerb hump and the "cushion" (such as those now on Lechlade Road). According to international research, humps are more effective in reducing speed. Cushions are deployed where the intent is to slow cars down WITHOUT SLOWING MOTORCYCLES AND LARGE VEHICLES.
2. The Vale of the White Horse Council's own statistics show that in 66% of the cases where they have figures in Oxforshire, the AVERAGE speed of the SLOWEST 85% of traffic remained greater than the 30mph speed limit. In other words, they have excluded the top 15% of speedsters that would have increased the average, probably quite dramatically
3. A study of traffic calming throughout Europe by Leeds University states: "(vertical deflections)may create problems with noise levels. These are exacerbated if there is a high proportion of HGV's, particularly if lorries are empty or only part loaded". (i.e. as in Lechlade Road).
4. When questioned as to why speed cameras - the obvious solution - were not deployed in Lechlade Road, Oxfordshire's Principal Traffic Technician stated that he "realise(s) this seems nonsensical in that someone must be hurt before something can be done. However it is intended to counteract the widespread media accusation that cameras are purely a means of making money".
5. Councils will not deploy speed cameras as a result with the excuse that it is a national issue - all the more reason, therefore, to bypass local government an d contact your MP
Name Supplied
I would like to apolgise for the delay in responding to Steve Leniec's comments on 4/12/06 about a Christmas fairy tale. Unfortunately I don't believe in fairy tales, and we have been very busy installing working Christmas lights for our valued customers.
Firstly, if Steve Leniec has any role in the Council which involves him looking after the interests of our monies, I suggest he resigns NOW! the information I wrote in my letter to the website was absolutely correct and should anyone like to see copies of our invoices and quotations referring to the figures quoted they are only too welcome to a copy. Just contact my office on 01367 240266 with your details and we will forward copies to you.
As to the facts raised by Steve Leniec, I am very happy to respond as follows:
I am glad he mentioned the V.A.T. Unfortunately, he forgot to mention that the council reneged on a prior arrangement with us to pay the sum of £700.00 V.A.T. owed to us from the work carried out on the new wiring. Despite this, after we were finally invited to a Christmas lights meeting and got the information we required, we completed the work in London Street within two weeks.
As far as the sum of £4,480.00 being the cost of the lights last year, I have my suspicion that this is excluding V.A.T., putting the cost up to £5,264.00? All of the prices I quoted included V.A.T. and I still maintain our Christmas lights can be installed with all the necesssary electrical and anchor testing for the sum of £2,000.00. Steve Leniec mentioned modifications to the power supplies. The Town lights were never designed to operate from one power supply, any competant electrician would be able to see that! However, it was designed to operate from one time switch located in the Community Centre using a mains signalling system to control the other supply. As for electrical testing, this was always part of our job prior to energising the system.
The figure of £775 being the actual cost of the new Rotary lights is pure fantasy. Our first estimate to the Rotary Club was £2,249.30. Mr Avenell of the Rotary Club supplied the lamps through his car business and, by excluding other costs, we managed to reduce the cost to £1,772.21. This sum was then paid to us by cheque from the Faringdon Town Council, which we banked on 1st March, 2001. Copies of the estimate and invoice are also available to anyone who would like to contact my office as above.
Finally, we get to Steve Leniec's brave comment "woe betide us if there is one bulb out this year". Just 27 hours from the big switch on, Sunday evening 6 strings of lights were not working up Marlborough St. and Gloucester St., and by 11.00p.m. the Town centre lights were not working, leaving just London St working, and, believe it or not, they were still on at 8.00a.m. the next morning! As well as this, many other things are not working, a flashing beacon outside Davis DIY, on the next string down part of the decoration dosen't work, the light string by All Saints church is only half working and the string of lights outside Budgens has been a mess for the last three years. "A three year fixed contract to install the Town Centre lights" is all well and good, but maybe it should be amended to install WORKING lights in and around the Town Centre, anyway a contract isn't worth the paper its written on if they can't deliver - then don't employ them!
It has to be said that the Town Council is giving away thousands of our pounds to incompetant contractors who cannot make our Christmas lights work correctly. As I mentioned before, the lighting system in Faringdon was state of the art and had worked reliably for 6 years without any of these problems occurring. I suppose there is one other possiblity, it may not be the contractors who are incompetant??
OFFER OF HELP
In the interests of everyone, I would like it to be known that if the Town Council would like to approach us, we would be only too willing to help sort out our Town's Christmas lights.
Peter White.
I feel I must respond to the recent posting titled "Facts about the Corn Exchange Situation", 2/12/06 because while seeking to appear authoritative, it is actually quite misleading.
The noise problem which has recently come to a head is not caused just by a few inconsiderate groups wanting to play "excessively loud". The way the sound limiter is currently set, it trips at such a low level as to make pretty well ANY amplified live music impracticable. I am not a musician myself but I have been at a sound check and watched as bands and engineers have tried and failed to set up using the sound limiter. Even audience applause has been known to trip the limiter and cut the power.
Local bands have been playing fund raisers and social events at the Corn Exchange for years without complaint until recently. Unless the present problems can be resolved that will all have to stop and that would be a very sad loss.
If anything has changed in recent times it is certainly not the Corn Exchange and I do not think it is the bands.
Misinformation will not help us to find the solution.
Name supplied
I have always defended the use of Names Supplied on this website being basically a shy, modest person myself but I feel that when harsh criticism is aimed at someone who has been brave enough to give their name the critic should, at very least, provide a pseudonym.
Unfortunately comments are often based on insufficient knowledge and it is a valuable function of this site to clarify some of these issues but there is a vast difference between a Name Supplied motivated by understandable modesty and a Name Supplied who doesn't appear to have the courage of his or her convictions. Harry G Mitchell
Saturday 9th December 10.00 - 12.00
The Corn Exchange.
Amnesty Greetings Card Campaign, lots of new stalls, many not seen in Faringdon before.
Cakes galore. Mince pies and punch.
Come and get your portrait done!
I think you may have just hit the nail on the head.I also think there is a hidden agenda.
So all the wild rantings and sarcastic comments from Trish will be to no avail
Name supplied
As someone who goes through the Market Place each weekday travelling to work, I must say that the lights in the Town are the best I have seen in 24 years living here.
The tree has better lights than the tree at Bourton-on-the-Water as well!
Well done to all concerned
Colin Eddy
If you read further than the first paragraph of my comments, you will see that i am in no way insulting the people of Faringdon, on the contrary, i am complimenting them!
This site is a place to air one's opinions, and I am not afraid to do so.
I am irate only because it is so infuriating and frustrating that a minority of residents seem hell bent on ruining and don't appreciate the efforts of the many fantastic, hard working, residents who put a lot into making the town a better place for the "good" people of Faringdon!
Trish Reynolds
Well done to the organisers of this year's Festive Faringdon.
Great to see the town centre come alive with people and the lights are pretty too.
I've posted a selection of my photos from the day on my website.
Al Cane.
To see them go directly to the image gallery at http://www.clikpic.com/visualcane/gallery_48190.html
Hello I'm sure I'm being a tad paranoid here but here's a thought.
The Vale Council appear pretty determined to make the hosting of live gigs at the Corn Exchange, extremely difficult, if not impossible - what with the new lower level noise limiter settings.
Now, the Corn Exchange is a beautiful building and is in a prime location, and so I'm just wondering if all of this might not be some kind of prelude to closing it completely and selling it to a developer, who would no doubt fill it with some lovely looking apartments.
Does anyone think this is even remotely likely or just the workings of a suspicious mind?
Ray
Anyone who wants humps outside his or her house should come and sit in Lechlade Road at 5AM when lorries go over them at 50 mph. And then statistically measure the average speed before they claim that they "work"! Even council supplied statistics from Great Milton BEFORE the Lechlade Road humps were installed showed that they were ineffectual in preventing people breaking the speed limit.
Where on earth your correspondent got the idea that "residents on Lechlade Rd were consulted and were given the power of veto" I haven't the faintest idea. The VWHDC paid lip service to dialogue and then did what it wanted to anyway ...
So, if you're serious, come and speak to some real Lechlade Road residents before pontificating without factual basis. You know where we live!
Name Supplied
Someone has said that the residents in Lechlade Road were given a power of veto over these humps. That is not true. We were given an "opportunity to air our views" at a meeting in one of the resident's homes and were not heard. The decision seemed to have already been made by the VWHDC to put in these ridiculous cushions.
The majority of residents were opposed to these humps.
The "cushions" do NOT slow down most of the traffic and some lorries drive over them at speeds of up to 50mph! They are noisy and make our homes vibrate from 5am every week day morning.
Traffic calming is vital for this section of Lechlade Road because of the dangers for school children crossing the road. However, statistically these cushions have been shown to slow traffic down to an AVERAGE speed of something like 38mph in a 30mph zone.
We were told we couldn't have a camera (which would certainly have slowed down the traffic) as Lechlade Road has a "poor injury accident history". In other words, if a couple of school children had been killed, we would have had a camera!
Highworth Road residents - oppose cushions outside your homes.
They are a lot of money for a lot of nothing except misery for you.
Name Supplied
Irate comments of this nature will solve nothing, it will only make the complainants resolve stronger.
I am sure that the people of Faringdon did not realize that they have been living in the dark ages all these years, thanks for that information. Thanks again for dragging us kicking and screaming into the 21st century, we could not wait for you to come along.
I think your comments are an insult to the general good people of Faringdon.
Name Supplied
400 NEW FAMILY HOMES IN THIS VIBRANT MARKET TOWN
Great music scene within the heart of this town in our lovely old Corn Exchange.
We have a lovely town Centre with disabled access for all.
Free car park for the local well stocked super market.
Great Youth Centre and Skate Park so the kids will never be bored.
who could resist ?
Name supplied
Could I please send heartfelt thanks to the gentleman who helped me first thing on Saturday morning in the Market Place.
He was very calm and reassuring whilst I was extremely shaken.
I just wanted everyone to know that there are still good samaritans out there - thank you.
Teresa Lardner
Please note that this car park belongs to VWHDC NOT to Budgens.
Complaints about the car park should be directed to the Council. Budgens offer a discount on your shopping of up to 60p provided you press the green button and get a receipt to give to the checkout operator in Budgens prior to payment for your purchases, which effectively makes your parking FREE.
People comment to me that Witney car parking is free. As I understand it, the free parking in Witney is subsidised by local shops - we do the same thing in Faringdon, but in a different way.
On the subject of residents' parking, something I note that feelings can run quite high about, we ought to bear in mind that in many cities in the UK residents have to pay for the privilege of parking outside their own house - at least in Faringdon we don't have that to contend with.
As for Budgens and the efforts of 'rumour control' to spread disinformation, please see the Manager's "About Budgens - from the horse's mouth" entry on this page on 16/11/06. He's said all that needs to be said.
Rod Davis
With reference to the correspondent on the subject of the speed humps in Lechlade Road.
The argument about increased carbon emissions is fallacious, as drivers are under no obligation whatsoever to increase speed between the humps.
The humps work - they lower the average speed along the road - and similar humps ought to be installed in Highworth Road and Coxwell Road.
Rod Davis
I would like to respond to the posting about the speed humps on Lechlade Rd.
If you drive at or less than the speed limit of 30 mph then you do not need to brake to slow down to go over the humps. They are designed to be driven over at 30 mph without the need for braking - thereby avoiding the need to accelerate afterwards!!
Also residents on Lechlade Rd were consulted and were given the power of veto - if the majority of residents did not want them they agreed not put them in.
I think that speaks for itself and I also think Lechlade Rd is now a much safer place, certainly pulling out of Canada Lane is much less dangerous.
Name supplied
.............and people in town centre houses shouldn't hurl complaints about perfectly acceptable music! A message to the person in Gloucester Street who wants to send this town crashing back into the dark ages....as you can see, there are many of your neighbours who are not in the least bit bothered by music events at the corn exchange, indeed they are all for them. They, like you, chose to live next to a public venue, but did so prepared to live with the consequences. This is because they, unlike you, love their town and want to see it develop and thrive!
A lot of people put hard work into Faringdon, they are working hard, giving up a lot of spare time to bring it kicking and screaming into the 21st century. They are doing their best to make this a place that buzzes, a place that people want to come to, and in the case of the 15 minute club, a place where kids have the chance to develop their talents.
What, Mr complainant, do you do for the Town? (apart from try to destroy it)
This town has come too far forward to throw it all away now and it cannot be allowed to go to the dogs because one person wants to live in a silent sterile bubble! Maybe you should go and live on an oil rig in the middle of the north sea where no one can hear you whinge!!
Trish Reynolds
It would appear to me that after reading some of the recent e-mails regarding the Corn Exchange that the facts are not known or being distorted. All groups and discos must go through the noise limiter; this is part of the hire agreement.
There have been no complaints with the Country and Western nights, the Tuesday Dance nights and Disco nights, and indeed the 15-minute club on a Sunday night have responded well to the limits that their organisers agreed to. The complaints arise when groups who want to play exceptionally loud music, bypass the noise limiter. This is against the rules and is clearly not acceptable. By doing this, they risk the Town Council's entertainment licence being revoked, and then everyone loses out.
The Corn exchange is an old building and is an integral part of this historic town. Unfortunately the building has no soundproofing and therefore is not equipped to contain exceptionally loud heavy rock music. It has been agreed to install secondary glazing, but remember, the Town Council only leases the building from the VWH and as yet the lease has still not been renewed. That is why the Town Council are not releasing the allocated money on a building that they do not own.
I also know that none of the complainants I have spoken to, asked at any time, for any entertainment in the Corn Exchange to be stopped, this is well documented in the minutes of the Venue Committee meetings. They have simply asked for the noise to be controlled, as some times it can be quite overwhelming. The Environmental Agency Officer suggested that when any resident has to close all windows and doors, then turn the television up to drown out the noise, he would deem that as intrusive.
Over the years the law has become more stringent over what is now termed Noise Pollution. The measuring of sound and noise is a complicated science and the movement of one or two decibels either way can make a substantial difference. The noise limiter as I understand it, is presently set at 96 decibels and The Environmental Agency have stated that this has to be reduced. If this was to happen then all music would have to stop, so that is not the answer.
I think that with constructive dialogue a balance can be achieved. I am confident and sure that a sensible compromise from all sides is the solution.
Name supplied
Just an idle thought...how about a dusk 'til dawn New Year's Eve fundraiser at the Corn Exchange.
Profits towards double glazing the complainants' houses - thereby allowing us to enjoy our live music without being constantly disturbed by their wingeing...
Sheila (pensioner and live music fan)