We have received an increase in reports of sheds and garages being broken into recently. Please review your security and read the follow advice to reduce the chances of being a victim of this type of crime.

Opportunist thieves identify sheds and garages as easy pickings because they are usually fairly unprotected and lack basic security measures. The buildings often contain property that can be sold on or implements that can be used to force entry into the owner’s home. Many people fall short on basic security of their sheds and garages.

• Keep your shed/garage in good condition.
  
• Fit a closed shackle padlock to the door.
• Fittings should be bolted through the door and any screws concealed.
• It is easy to unscrew the ironmongery, steal contents and in some cases replace the screws to make it look as if the shed has not been tampered with.
• By using tamper proof screws or coach bolts, together with a good quality pad bar or hasp and staple and close shackled padlock, the shed owner will make it harder for the would-be thief.
• Bond any window glass in with mastic to prevent easy removal. Fit grilles or mesh to windows to slow down the thief.
• Ensure all equipment and tools are locked away when not in use.
• Install a shed/garage alarm.
• Post-code or mark all property such as lawnmowers, bikes, and tools using ultraviolet pens, forensic marking such as Selecta DNA, Smartwater or engravers.
• Install security lighting as a deterrent, and plants such as thorny shrubs to act as a barrier at potential access points.
• If building a shed, put it where it is most visible to you and neighbours.
• Ensure ladders are locked to a secure fixture in the shed or garage so they can’t be used to reach top floor windows.
• Chain large items such as bicycles together, making it much more difficult for a thief to carry away.
• Fit a wire cage inside a shed where more expensive items can be locked away.
• No thief wants to hang about longer than they have to so delay the time it will take them to get their hands on your tools

If you would like any further advice or information please call us via the 24 hour non-emergency telephone number 101 or visit www.thamesvalley.police.uk

For litter picking meet at 9.30 on Wednesday 21st June.
Meeting at the top of Puddleduck Lane
Please join us!

Any help you can give would be most appreciated.

Especially running a games stall, helping organise races and car parking.

Also donating to stalls such as:
PRODUCE to go to Oak House.
BOTTLES to Mandy Burns, Church Lees.
CAKES to Oak House.
TOMBOLA PRIZES to Jenners House
PLANTS to Chapel House.

For additional info and offers help contact Mike/Pauline Durham or Laurence Tipping.

Webster Walk in Great Coxwell Saturday 24th June 2017

Fee and Dora are the donkeys who live on Puddleduck lane, they are owned by Angela and Peter Scales. In memory of one of their donkeys called Webster, Angela and Peter have been raising money supporting donkey assisted therapy and donkey welfare since 2007.

This year, for the 10th anniversary they are raising money and supporting all the past projects. Fundraising in the village is being done by Jo Coleman and there are also a number of walks and events planned.

You are all invited to a walk around Colleymore farm / Great Coxwell on Saturday 24th June.

For details of this walk, the projects that will benefit and other planned events, please click here, for a poster and map of the route.

​

We are aware of concerns regarding vegetation making walking to Faringdon more difficult. The Parish Council have arranged for these and other verges within the village to be cut 3 times per annum. The first cut was in late April.

We have arranged for the next cut to be completed by the end of this month and a further cut is scheduled towards the end of September.

We are in the early stages of learning to manage the cutting and are liaising with our contractor to see if we can coordinate the cutting in the village with his other work with a view to keeping our main footways in better order at the least possible cost.

The Parish Council are also pursuing the possibility of upgrading the footpath (231/10) behind the “Riding Stables” to a 2m wide metalled surface.

​

Saturday 8th July at The Old Rectory, Coleshill by kind permission of Lady Martin

​

This is the first announcement of a Gala concert to be held at All Saints Church, Coleshill on Saturday August 19th, at 7.00 for 7.30 pm by the renowned group “Musical Banquet” headed by Adrian Boorman.

It promises to be an exciting evening, celebrating 10 years of the group’s existence, and you are strongly advised to purchase tickets early to avoid disappointment, as seats are limited to 100.

The cost per ticket is £12 with concessions for students and under 18’s at £10 each.
 
For tickets please send a cheque, made payable to – “PCC Coleshill”, by post to Jemima, Puddleduck Lane, Great Coxwell, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 7NA, and include your full postal address. I will then send you the ticket/s.

If you live in Great Coxwell and prefer to pay cash. please feel free to do so, and I can give you your ticket/s in return.  
 
Tickets can also be obtained from mid-June onwards from the Mustard Seed shop in Faringdon and the Lighthouse Bookshop in Highworth. If you do decide to buy from these outlets, please be good enough to let me know. Also please tell your neighbours and friends about this concert and the contact details.

​The press release is here.

Open House every Wednesday morning 10.30 – 11.30

Drop in to the Reading Room for coffee and conversation, news and views

Everyone welcome, walkers, talkers and listeners.
​

Card Defenders from Thames Valley NHW Association

These card defenders protect your contactless cards from misuse - read the full alert here, they are selling them for £1 each, 5 for £4, 10 for £7 plus postage.