9 April  2-5pm  Coleshill Open Afternoon - Operational Base Free (donations welcome), Mill £4 adult, £2 child, NT members Free.

14 Apr  2-3.30pm  Woodland Adventures at Badbury Hill.  £2 per child.  Please book.
15 Apr  11am-2.30pm Cadbury Egg Hunt at White Horse Hill.  £3 per child.
16 Apr  11am-2.30pm  Cadbury Egg Hunt at Badbury Hill.  £3 per child.
18 Apr  6-8pm  Second World War Walk.  £5 adult, £2.50 child.  Please book.
30 Apr  9.30am-3pm  White Horse Hill to Ashdown walk.  £5 adult, £2.50 child.  Please book.
7 May  11am-1pm  Thames Walk (starting at Buscot). £5 per person.  Please book.

All enquiries and bookings on 01793 762209.

The April speaker will be Bjorn Watson talking on Thursday 12th April 2017 in the Faringdon Corn Exchange at 2.30pm.

His subject is “T.E.Lawrence – the man behind the myth.”  Lawrence was perhaps the most charismatic hero to emerge from the carnage of the first World War.  Multi-talented, he was a soldier, guerrilla leader, a scholar, archaeologist, historian, and Arabist, fast boat and aircraft designer, but he is best known as immortalised by Peter O’Toole in the film “Lawrence of Arabia”.  What is fact and what is fiction?  Come and find out at Bjorn’s talk. 

Refreshments are available afterwards.  Visitors are welcome but are required to pay an entrance fee of £1.50.  Further details are available on the website - www.faringdondistrictu3a.wordpress.com.

Parishioners will be aware that historically the Precept in Great Coxwell has been lower than that of many comparable villages in the Vale that do not offer the same facilities (such as the play park and the Parish Room).  Parishioners will have recently been notified that the annual Precept for Great Coxwell has increased by 57 per cent for the coming year.  For a band D property this is an increase from last year of £16.83, making the total cost £46.28 per annum. 
  
Before making this change, the matter was carefully discussed by the Parish Councillors at the public Parish Council meetings held in the Parish Room on 12th September 2016 and 14th November 2016.  (The minutes of those meetings can be obtained here). In addition, two extra-ordinary Council meetings were held on 5th September 2016 and 5th December 2016.  (Again, the reports of those meetings will be posted on the parish website).

The decision was taken to raise the Precept because the Council has become aware that over the next few years there will be some very large maintenance and repair costs for the village play park and Parish Room.  Funds must be available to meet these costs.  In recent years monies raised by village fund-raising initiatives (Monthly Teas, Christmas Fair, Artweeks etc.) have been used for the running costs of the park and Parish Room.   Unfortunately, these funds alone will not to be large enough to meet these anticipated costs.   

The Council and Officers understand that this increase may have caused concern amongst Parishioners. We strive to provide good, well-maintained and safe facilities for the benefit of parishioners and always seek the best value-for-money when ordering goods and services.  We would like to reassure everyone that we will continue to do so. 

If you have any questions or suggestions, please come along to our bi-monthly public Parish Council meetings.  The next one is at 7.30pm on Monday 8th of May 2017 in the Parish Room.