Village Notice Board

The following details for police reporting were provided by PCSO Ian Wilkins for Kirtlington Parish Council to share on the village website and social media.

High Concern

Always call 999 if a crime is happening directly at the time of concern, especially if there may be a risk to the reporting person or others as it is happening. This can include persons in a vehicle smoking drugs and fearing they may drive under the influence.

Non Emergency

The non emergency number 101 can be used after an incident has occurred or the threat has gone. It can also be reported via the Thames Valley Police web site via the below link:

https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk

If it is a generic question or invite contact the local police team via the below email address:

KidlingtonNHPT@thamesvalley.police.uk

Please note, this is not a crime reporting email as it is not monitored 24 hours a day.

Desired details for an incident are:

• Vehicle description (colour of vehicle and type – car, van, motorcycle) and registration number.
• How many people / approx. age / and descriptions of clothing – hair styles – ethnicity and who has done what.
• Mobile phone footage / images / or if they have CCTV.

As stated this is only desired and we advise no one to put themselves at risk or a later target to get this information. Report the information at the earliest safe time via one of the methods above.

Dear Ms Broughton

Thank you for your email regarding Post Office services in Kirtlington. This has been passed to me for response.

As you know Kirtlington Post Office closed following the resignation of the postmaster and the withdrawal of premises for post office use. We appreciate that the community in Kirtlington are concerned about the branch closing and have requested an outreach service for the area.

It may be helpful to explain that the costs of running the Post Office branch network have increased in recent years, however the funding we receive from the Government to maintain the loss-making, typically rural part of the Post Office network, which includes outreach branches, has not changed in line with these costs. This inevitably means that difficult decisions have to be made in order to prioritise our limited resources to support those branches that will benefit the most customers, and to provide sustainable services for all Post Office customers across the UK.

As previously advised, we have carefully reviewed service provision in the local area to determine the accessibility of alternative services nearby, and as you know we are not looking to replace the branch in Kirtlington at this time. Unfortunately, this would also include the provision of an outreach service for the community. You can find our Principles of Community Engagement principles-of-community-engagement-june-2024.pdf (postofficeviews.co.uk) this will provide you with information in relation to the communications we undertake in respect of changes to the Post Office Network.

We apologise to our customers who may have to travel further to access services. I can assure you we continually review our branch network, and should the current situation change, we will update our customers in the local area.

Kind regards

Michael

Michael Norman
Policy & Briefing Manager
Corporate Affairs, Brand & Communications
externalaffairs@postoffice.co.uk


Post Office Limited is committed to protecting your privacy, information about how we do this can be found on our website at www.postoffice.co.uk/privacy

KPC contacted the Post Office on several occasions regarding the closure of the Kirtlington branch to ask why the Parish Council and village customers were not consulted and to enquire why the replacement travelling Post Office, which had been promised previously, has not been provided. Below is the response we received on 7^th August 2024.

Dear Ms Broughton

Kirtlington Post Office

Troy Lane, Kidlington, OX5 3HA

Thank you for your emails dated 7 June and 17 July 2024, on behalf of Kirtlington Parish Council, regarding the closure of the above Post Office which took place on Tuesday 18 June 2024.

We note with concern that you did not receive a response to your first email and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of this lapse in communication.

Your concerns regarding the closure of Kirtlington Post Office have been noted and I would like to take this opportunity to assure you that we are fully aware of how important the Post Office is for our customers in your local community. However, as you may know Kirtlington Post Office was operated on our behalf on an agency basis, rather like a franchise, and regrettably, as the Postmaster resigned and the premises were withdrawn, the branch closed in June 2024.

I would like to explain that Post Office is facing a particularly challenging period, as are other high street retailers. The impact of rising costs and inflation mean that Post Office must ensure its limited resources benefit the most customers across the country, and that the network remains sustainable. As such the Post Office has undertaken a comprehensive review of the network to ensure that it continues to meet evolving customer needs in this very challenging economic climate. This review examined the network at a very detailed, local level, analysing customer demand and accessibility of Post Office products and services. Consequently, it has informed our plans for the Network as we work to ensure that, our funding and resources are allocated to deliver maximum benefit for all customers.

Unfortunately, local demand in the area of Kirtlington Post Office currently is not at a level that can sustain a full service branch and we will therefore not be replacing this branch, at this time. There is an alternative Post Office at Weston on the Green that has capacity to serve additional customers.

May I also take the opportunity to explain that Kirtlington was not a Consultation but a Notification to communicate the unplanned closure of the branch. Consultations seek local feedback, including from Parish Councils, on access to, into and inside a change in premises, however a Notification does not seek such feedback.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused to customers.  Post Office will, as a matter of course, continue to review customer demand in the Kidlington area should it change and require additional Post Office provision in the future.

We appreciate your interest and thank you for taking the time to contact us.

Yours sincerely

Carol Holas

Consultation Team Support

National Consultation Team

postoffice.co.uk

How to contact us:

postofficeviews.co.uk

comments@postoffice.co.uk

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Registered Office: 100 Wood Street, London, EC2V 7ER

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Kirtlington Village Hall Management Committee is in the final planning stages of an exciting project to do a complete refurbishment of the kitchen at the Village Hall. We feel sure that this improvement will be much appreciated by the many residents of Kirtlington who make use of the hall.

We have been very fortunate to secure a grant from Cherwell District Council towards the cost of the new kitchen; this grant is dependent upon our raising matching funds. We have had some very generous pledges, and will also use some of our existing reserves. We are now asking members of the local community if they would like to support us in raising the remaining sum needed, which is £9,000.

If you would like to make a contribution, small or large, it would be very much appreciated. As a registered charity, Kirtlington Village Hall Management Committee is entitled to claim Gift Aid on donations; and so if you agree to Gift Aid, your donation will be increased by 25% by the government.

Show your support by going to this link:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/kirtlington-village-hall-new-kitchen

Thank you so much for your help.

Message from The Post Office;

We are writing to inform you that, regrettably, following the resignation of the postmaster and the withdrawal of the premises for Post Office use the above branch will be closing on Tuesday 18 June 2024 at 12:30.

Click here to download the full letter.

Click here for FAQ

Many people in our village live here because of the fantastic countryside walks on the footpaths and bridleways we have here for us all to enjoy; through the village itself, across the Park, down to the river or the quarry, along the public footpaths and the canal towpath, across to Northbrook.  Many villagers enjoy these walks with their dogs and the vast majority of these dog owners take bags with them and conscientiously pick up what their dogs inevitably deposit when they are out walking.  It is extremely disappointing then to find that there are dog owners in the village who let their pets down.

It is an offence to allow a dog in your charge to foul a public area (£50 fixed penalty notice).  Yet it seems some people still think the rules do not apply to them. The unpleasant residue of dog excrement is all too evident around the village and dog fouling is regular occurrence, astonishingly enough, even within yards of the dog bins!  The few irresponsible dog owners seem set on giving dogs and all dog owners a bad name, spoiling things for everyone else.  It isn’t asking much.  Just bag it and bin it.

The dog excrement left by the small percentage of irresponsible dog owners is not just disgusting and unpleasant, it remains a health hazard.  Infections of Toxocara Canis from coming into contact with dog faeces can still blind a child, and these infections are not great for adults either.  It is for this reason that villagers are not permitted to exercise dogs on the sports field.  Dogs are prohibited from this area so that children and young people, and older people, can play sports and exercise here safely and so that everyone can enjoy picnics here on the grass in the summer without fear of infection.  Dog owners please remember that dogs are only permitted on the designated walk way between the two sports field gates.  Here again we acknowledge that, most dog owners behave responsibly and obey the rule, but a few seem intent on spoiling things for everyone.

It has been suggested to the Parish Council that additional dog bins for ‘hot spots’ in the village could help to prompt everyone to do the right thing by their dogs.  We therefore propose to purchase and install additional dog bins to be placed by the two main entrances to the Park from the village.  Once and for all, let us all try to make sure man’s best friend is everyone’s best friend in the village.