Results of the June draw:
1st prize – Donated to Village Hall
2nd prize – Sandra Clacy
3rd prize – Ivor Hopkyns
Tempted? Read more about the Village Hall Lottery
The minutes of the recent meeting of Sibford Gower Parish Council along with the notes of the recent APM can be found below.
Farm planning on installing solar panels to power site – Yahoo Sport UK (26 May 2023, 11:21 pm) Both Glebe Farm and its Barn are grade 2 listed, and the installation is within the Sibford Gower Conservation area. The solar panels with be …
Sibford Ferris Parish Council are currently working on their response to the new planning application on Land South of Faraday House, Woodway Road (23/01316/F) for the erection of 5 two storey age restricted dwellings (55 years) for older people with access, landscaping and associated infrastructure. As was the case for the previous application the Parish Council will be submitting a detailed objection to this new application but we feel it is very important for this application to be decided by the Cherwell District Council Planning Committee rather than by a single appointed council officer. We have been advised that the only way this will be called in to be heard by the planning committee is if there are a number of objection responses evidencing the feel of the community submitted on the planning portal within the next 10 days or so. If you are planning on submitting any response, for or against this application, we would encourage you to do so within the next days to give Cherwell District Council a fair representation of what the feelings are of the community in relation to this application to allow them to make an appropriate decision re who will make the decision on the outcome.
Blue Cedar Homes have submitted a new planning application for the site off Woodway Road. Their proposal for 6 bungalows was rejected on appeal in March. The new proposal is for 5 two-storey age-restricted dwellings.
The Sibford Action Group will be objecting to this planning application, as they did for the previous one. You may contact them at sibfordactiongroup
Here is the Chairman’s report that was presented at the Sibford Ferris Annual Parish Meeting last night (17 May) by Katherine Roussel.
What have we done for you lately? Well, contrary to popular belief, quite a lot!
As Councillors, we are locally elected volunteers who care about our villages and work to identify the issues that are important to our community as a whole. We employ Kirsty Buttle as Clerk and Responsible Finance Officer and her wonderful work is essential and much appreciated.
We play a key role in representing the community views in planning and policy. We have been working hard to have our voice heard and to ensure that Cherwell district council and local developers are fully aware of the community concerns regarding infrastructure challenges and the social and environmental impact that over development may cause in our small community.
One of our roles is to comment on planning applications and we have also contributed to Cherwell’s Local Plan Review, which will set Planning policy to 2040. Although at present we are still waiting for this document to be released for consultation, the first draft indicates that the Sibfords will be reclassified to small villages, which in turn will offer greater protection from over development. In addition to this we have managed to get Tree Protection Orders on the two beautiful, 500 year old Oaks on Woodway road and the recent rejection of the Woodway Road site at Appeal was a welcome result.
As Deanfield Homes commence the construction of 25 new houses in Sibford Ferris this year, we will continue to voice our concerns that local people are given priority when it comes to Social Housing or the purchase of affordable homes on the site in order for them to be able to continue to live in the village.
I would like to say a special thank you to our Clerk, Kirsty, for securing funding for our recent Village Coronation Street Party for both the Gower and Ferris Parish Councils and to the Town Estates Charity and the National Lottery for contributing towards the costs. A very special thank you to the committee who made it happen (3 of whom are also Ferris Councillors). Professor John Wass, Andrew Meyler (treasurer), Tessa Sparks, Diana Thompson, Diana Hughes, Ginny Bennett, Keith Hicks, Tim Huckvale, James Garstin, Clemmie Broom and Anne Spackman. What a wonderful and memorable event it was with a fantastic turn out of villagers on a gloriously sunny day!
You may have seen the new Notice board in Sibford Ferris and the Cotswold Close play area now has new fencing and we are working towards updating the play equipment step by step.
Other areas that our Council has played a role in are, setting up the Defibrillator training sessions, working to inspire the local Green environmental group which is now up and running, organising litter picks and reporting fly tipping. We maintain the village assets and contribute towards the maintenance of the Sibford Gower Burial Ground. We also maintain the benches, dog bins, grit bins etc. We have planted trees at the Pitch Hill field and continue to seek clearer road markings and signage at the Elm where accidents have happened. We also continue to hold internal audits and to regularly monitor and manage the budget and precepts. We promote options for grants and funding for people facing the cost of living crisis and we communicate with our County and District Councillors.
Our meetings are held every second month in Sibford School in the Ferris and our agenda and minutes can be found on the Sibford’s Website and Notice Board.
Everyone is welcome to attend and to have your say!
Katherine Roussel (Chair)
Barbara Foster writes: Every year, Christian Aid Week is a time for people across Britain and Ireland to step out in love for our global neighbours. This year we stand with Esther and Jen and their families in Malawi who are facing crushing poverty worsened by the soaring costs of food and essentials. The global cost of living crisis that has been affecting most of us has hit Malawians particularly hard. In addition to this, Cyclone Freddy, the longest-lasting tropical cyclone on record (lasting 34 days), has hit Malawi and Mozambique.
Your gifts this Christian Aid Week could help people around the world secure a safer, happier future for their children and grandchildren.
We are united by hope. And together, we hope every family will have the joy of living a dignified life, free from poverty.
Every gift. Every action. Every prayer. Every one of us can make dreams come true.
Please make a donation now.
A special event on Wednesday 2nd of August at 6:30pm in the field next to Holmby House in Sibford Ferris.
Once upon a time…
Five friends, lost on a road trip, decide to pass the time by entertaining each other with that most ancient of traditions – storytelling. From love to loss, with laughter and with tears, All Aboard Opera! presents a quartet of short operas by Mozart, Holst, Lehmann, and Sullivan, in a beautiful outdoor setting. Bring a picnic!
Tickets £22.38 or £16.96 (“Concessions”): book online
Do you have photos of the Coronation weekend to share? Comments to make about the day? Please email them to photos
If your photos include close-ups of people, please make sure you have their permission to publish.
Visit our Coronation page to view the photos collected so far – there are lots!
The Governors of Sibford Gower Primary School would welcome interest from any potential new Governors committed to raising educational outcomes of all children at our small, popular village school.
Potential new governors should have a willingness to:
If you would like to find out more about becoming a Governor and how to apply for one of our vacancies, please contact Lauren Hayes, senior governance professional to the Warriner Multi Academy Trust:
The Horti writes: If you haven’t been to Wisley recently, we have a wonderful opportunity for you to do so. We will be leaving Sibford Village Hall on Wednesday 14 June at 9.45am by coach and won’t be back until about 6pm. The cost to Sibford Horti members is £12.50; non-members £17.50. This covers the coach and entry to Wisley itself (entry price for which is normally £16.50 for non-RHS members so you can see what a bargain this is!)
If you would like to reserve a place on the 53 seater coach, please contact Diana Thompson by email: diana_thompson
Please note that priority booking will be given to Sibford Horti members exclusively until 13 May, after which time Diana will be opening up the remaining coach seats to Great Rollright and Tadmarton Horti Societies, both of which have expressed an interest in joining us. Payment will be due by 7 June.
Tim Huckvale writes: Nicely timed to mark the Coronation, at least two swifts returned to Sibford Ferris today (Saturday 6 May). My cameras caught one roosting from 7.27pm and a second from 8.35pm.
To navigate to the location, use the Google Maps link or, if you have the what3words app on your phone, the /// three words reference.
