Faringdon Town Council are currently carefully considering how we can safely open the play areas we are responsible for – Tuckers Park Play Area and Oakwood Park.
We will only re-open the play areas when we have done our safety checks, risk assessments and put clear signage in place. We will announce on our website as soon as we have a date for reopening.
We continue to urge people not to use any play area equipment or enter play areas that are out of use or closed off.
To advise that with effect from Wednesday 1st July the Service number 61 will be running three days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday using the same timetable as currently operational for just two days a week (Tuesday and Friday).
The licence number is PH11461, the permit number is CB001046.
Since my May newsletter, some of the restrictions of lockdown have been lifted. As a result, life for MPs has been slowly returning to normal and we are back to being physically in parliament Monday – Thursday. We can also now return to visits across our constituencies on Fridays, which I am particularly pleased about.
I am keen for everyone to support our local businesses and want to visit as many as I can. I spent last Friday in Faringdon – partly eating my way round via Sheffords, the Rainbow and Stay Grounded – do please let me know if you have any suggestions of places it would be good for me to visit.
As ever, if I can help you with anything then do contact me via david.johnston.mp@parliament.uk
We were unable to hold our annual town meeting in May, but we have compiled an annual report so you can see what your town council, other organisations and grant recipients have achieved in the last 12 months.
Residents should take extra precautions this week with “heatwave” conditions set to hit Oxfordshire and much of England.
Temperatures are set to hit a sweltering 30 degrees celsius in some areas of the county over the next few days, and while many of us will be looking forward to fun in the sunshine, it’s vital to do so safely. There are several steps that we can all follow to stay sun safe:
• try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm, as this is when UV exposure is at its strongest. • wear UV sunglasses, seek shade, apply sunscreen with a minimum of SPF15, wear a hat or light scarf, and wear light, loose-fitting cotton clothes. • drink lots of cool drinks but try avoiding caffeine, fizzy drinks, or alcohol. • look out for others especially vulnerable groups such as the older people, very young children, and people with serious illnesses, who are particularly vulnerable during heatwave-like conditions • never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children or animals • try to keep your bedroom and living space cool by closing the curtains on windows that receive the sun, and opening your windows at cooler times of the day and overnight when you can. • turn off non-essential lights and electrical items as these generate heat. Oxfordshire county council consultant in public health, Dr Eunan O’Neill said:
“Everyone can enjoy the sun safely by keeping out of the heat at the hottest time of the day, avoiding sunburn and staying hydrated with plenty of cool drinks. The older people and those with long-term illnesses are particularly vulnerable to the effects of very hot weather, so it’s important to look out for them and keep indoor areas as cool as possible.”
Dr Kiren Collison, GP and clinical chair at Oxfordshire CCG said:
“The warm weather is enjoyable for most but for some people – especially older people and those with underlying health conditions –-the summer heat can bring real health risks. We would encourage everyone to keep an eye on those you know who may be at risk this summer and if you’re able, ask if your friends, family or neighbours need any support. Follow guidance on COVID-19 at all times and when using public cool spaces including shaded outdoor spaces please remember social distancing measures do still apply.”
Faringdon Town Council welcomes the start of the Saturday markets on the 4th of July.
The Saturday market will take place the first Saturday of the month.
The event starts at 10.00 AM and runs until 1.00 PM
The stalls will be displaying a range of produce from the local area and is situated in the centre of Faringdon Town , surrounded by a variety of independent cafes, pubs, and local shops and the historical Old Town Hall.
We always welcome applications from new local traders in support of these event.
For more information on the markets or to book a pitch, please contact the Town Clerk on sally@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk
Our markets help make Faringdon a great day out, so why not come and experience it?
Residents have been warned to be on their guard against criminals and scammers exploiting the coronavirus situation.
In Oxfordshire, County Council’s Trading Standards has received ongoing reports of scams targeting people via emails, text messages, and on the doorstep.
It is taking part in Scams Awareness Fortnight (15-28 June), spreading Scam Aware messaging by promoting the campaign organised by Citizens Advice: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/sa19
There are many genuine community efforts to help residents; to provide good quality advice and support. But unfortunately, not everyone is trustworthy, and some people will take advantage of this unprecedented situation.
Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for Community Safety, said:
“It is hard to believe that some people will look to take advantage of the situation our country is facing, but unfortunately this is a reality.
“Where possible, Trading Standards will pursue and tackle these despicable individuals, but preventing people becoming victims in the first place is key.
“Be a good friend; help protect your family, friends and neighbours from scams.”
Jody Kerman, Head of Oxfordshire County Council Trading Standards, said:
“Scams come in many different guises so, before taking any action or agreeing to an offer: Stop, ‘take five’, and discuss with a trusted friend or family member.”
Here are some of the scams Trading Standards is aware of…
Remember, criminals come in all shapes and sizes and can contact you at the door, by phone, post or online:
Be aware of people offering miracle cures or vaccines for coronavirus – there is currently no specific treatment for coronavirus (COVID-19).
People impersonating healthcare workers, claiming to be offering ‘home-testing’ for coronavirus – this is a scam and these kits are not currently available to buy.
Emails offering a refund on council tax, utility bills, or similar are usually bogus and they are just after personal and bank details.
There are lots of fake products available to buy online that say they can protect against or cure coronavirus. These will not help and are designed to take your money.
There are new mobile phone applications that claim to give updates on the virus, but instead they lock your phone and demand a ransom.
People offering to do shopping or collect medication, asking for money upfront and then disappearing.
People offering home cleaning services.
Remember: Banks or the police will never ask for account details over the phone.
Claiming to be collecting money for charities.
Tips to avoid being scammed:
Be cautious and listen to your instincts. Do not be afraid to hang up, bin it, delete it, or shut the door.
Take your time; do not be rushed into making a decision that you will probably regret.
If someone claims to represent a charity, ask them for ID. Be suspicious of requests for money up front. If someone is trying to tempt you into accepting a service, they are unlikely to be genuine.
Check with family and friends before accepting offers of help if unsure.
If online, be aware of fake news and use trusted sources such as .gov.uk or NHS.uk websites. Type-out email addresses. Don’t click on links in emails.
Only purchase goods from legitimate retailers and take a moment to think before parting with money or personal information.
Protect your financial information, especially from people you do not know. Never give your bank card or PIN to a stranger.
Know who you are dealing with. If you need help, talk to someone you know or use contact numbers provided below (scroll down).
Most charities with an annual income of £5,000 or more must be registered.
Make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information – it’s ok to decide not to give on the spot. Be wary of unsolicited emails from charities you have never heard of and be careful when responding to emails or clicking on links within them.
Exercise the same caution as with any other internet transaction, for example, to donate online. Visit the charity’s own website and always type the website address into the browser yourself.
Contact or find out more online about the charity that you’re seeking to donate to or work with, to find out more about their spending. Ask a trusted friend, neighbour or relative if you are unable to research this or need a second opinion.
Ignore requests to donate through a money transfer company.
Jody Kerman, Head of Oxfordshire County Council Trading Standards, said:
“The vast majority of people and organisations have the very best of intentions, to support residents at this difficult time. However, a small number are looking to take advantage of our good nature and charitableness.
“Remember, it is OK to ‘take five’, give yourself time to think about it and to decide not to give on the spot. Have the confidence to put the phone down, delete the text or email, or shut the door.”
Contact information:
If you think you have been scammed, report it to Action Fraud: 0300 123 2040.
If you need advice, call Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline: 0808 223 1133.
If you are in immediate danger, contact the police on 999.
Contact your bank if you think you have been financially scammed.
Age UK runs a telephone support service (for older people and carers): 01865 411288.
To learn more about different types of scams and how to protect yourself and others, visit www.FriendsAgainstScams.org.uk and complete the free online training.
To stop the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to screen a lot of people – maybe in the tens or hundreds of millions. Most COVID-19 carriers don’t develop symptoms severe enough to prompt medical help, and this undiagnosed population acts as active spreaders, contributing to much faster, covert spread.
Current wet lab-based tests can’t meet this need. They are expensive, scarce, and slow. And they pose a risk as they require an in-person visit, exposing more members of the public and healthcare personnel; a risk that would be much amplified by large-scale testing.
There’s an urgent need for a cheap, scalable, and remote test. And you can help! By taking this survey, you’ll contribute to building the world’s biggest database of coughs from COVID-19 patients and controls; that can be used for building algorithms for detecting it – through a simple voice recording.
Using cough analysis to assess respiratory disease
The respiratory system is key for humans to produce voice – when air from the lungs passes through and is shaped by the airways, the mouth and nasal cavities. When the respiratory system is affected by a disease it can change the sound of you breathing, coughing, and the vocal quality. Specific cough characteristics have already been shown in respiratory diseases such as asthma, pneumonia, whooping cough – using advanced analysis.
COVID-19 also affects the respiratory system – and in ways that are different from these other diseases. Voice might thus be a cheap, scalable and remote method for assessing infection accurately. And with unlimited capacity for testing.
To analyse the fine patterns of voice and coughs we train advanced algorithms. To make them better, we need a lot of data. This makes the information cough and voice provide more accurate and useful.
Male residents are most likely to be injured in a fire.
That is why Father’s Day advice from Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service is for dads – alongside other residents – to stay safe; reminding everyone about the dangers of fires.
Data from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service shows that most people injured in fires are males, aged 30 to 59.
Nearly 50% are hurt trying to fight a fire or returning to burning property in an attempt to retrieve possessions.
Andy Ford, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, explains:
“People don’t realise how quickly fire spreads. Or that just a couple of breaths of smoke can be debilitating, meaning they cannot get themselves out of the house and away from the fire.
“Our message is Get Out, Stay Out and Call the fire service out!
“Close doors behind you to reduce the spread of fire and smoke, if you can and it is safe to do so.
“Our firefighters have the latest kit and breathing apparatus to enable them to go into a property and deal with a fire. The quicker everyone staying there is out and calls 999, the quicker we can get there to tackle the blaze.
“We know that dads are heroes for a huge number of reasons; but dying or suffering serious injury by trying to fight a fire isn’t going to make you a hero to anyone.
During the Covid-19 pandemic we have all had to accept some restrictions and guidelines that went against some of the normal freedoms we usually experience in this country.
Everyone has largely responded with great community spirit, behaving more considerately towards others with acts of kindness and respect.
So as once-empty roads fill up again with more cars, lorries, motorcyclists, plus many more people now enjoying cycling and walking, the roads and pavements may all be busier. So, it’s even more essential that we all slow down and watch out for each other as traffic begins to increase.
Now, as some restrictions are eased, it is important to remember that laws around driving and driver behaviour are there to protect us all.
Please: • wear your seatbelt • don’t drink and drive or take drugs and drive • stop your car somewhere safe if you need to use your mobile phone when driving • drive within the speed limits and adjust that speed according to conditions.
We, at Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire & Rescue Service and our colleagues in Thames Valley Police, ask you to look out for each other by being a responsible and considerate road user.
Thank you
Please note: we are unable to reply to this Thames Valley Alert message and any reports of crime should be made by calling 101 or reporting online. Always dial 999 in an emergency.
