A scheme that helps keep homes warm and cuts bills by boosting efficiency has been approved by councillors for another year.
The Better Housing Better Health programme is also designed to reduce health problems associated with living in cold, damp properties and raise awareness of fuel poverty and energy efficiency as well as health and safety in the home.
Cllr Merilyn Davies, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “Everyone should live in a warm, safe home that is affordable to heat.
“This scheme has already been highly successful in helping hundreds of West Oxfordshire residents to improve their homes and save money. I am delighted it will continue to help many more over the coming year.”
The Better Housing Better Health service is run by the National Energy Foundation (NEF) and costs the Council £7,000 a year as part of its commitment to the Oxfordshire-wide Affordable Warmth Network that works to reduce and prevent the number of people in fuel poverty and improve health and wellbeing.
In the last year, the NEF has carried out:

• 107 ECO Flex grant applications and installations including 77 loft insulations and 36 cavity wall insulations to boost energy efficiency
• 101 in-depth warm and wellbeing assessments which usually lead to a series of recommendations and work being carried out.

Better Housing Better Health supports the Council’s key priorities of providing healthy towns and villages and tackling climate change.
The scheme was approved for 2021-22 at a meeting of the full council on 28 July.

The Witney Shopmobility service will be relaunched under new management with extended opening hours and plans to extend its offering.
Operation of the free service which provides disability scooters and wheelchairs for shoppers, has now been taken on by the Witney Inclusive Care and Education Centre (ICE) after being closed since March last year due to the pandemic.
ICE Centre managing director Jill Bull, who is also a West Oxfordshire District councillor, said: “It makes sense for us to run it as we already provide services for people with disabilities and are often asked about lending out equipment.
“It will also provide valuable work experience for our young volunteers and it is ideally situated as we are right next door in Witney.”
Witney Shopmobility was previously only open four days a week but that is being extended to five days with the possibility of it being extended to include Saturdays.
Cllr Bull added: “It will take us a little while to build the service back up again while people regain confidence to come out shopping again but it would be good to build up the additional hours.
“We are also thinking of adding additional disability equipment for people to use depending on demand.”
Witney Shopmobility is based in Langdale Gate and will officially re-open on Monday 26 July.
Cllr Michele Mead, Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “This has always been a fantastic service which residents are now starting to ask for again.
“The ICE Centre could not be better placed to take it on with plans already in place to expand opening times and I am sure it will be a real bonus for those who would otherwise struggle to get around the shops.”
For more information and to book a scooter or wheelchair, please call 01993 846240.

It’s almost time to dig out your trunks and swimming costumes with the re-opening of Woodstock Pool just two weeks away.
The pool has been closed since 2019 due to the impact of Covid-19 but is now in the process of being cleaned and restored to pristine condition thanks to a team led by Craig Robins, General Manager of the Windrush Leisure Centre in Witney, ready for the first swimmers to take the plunge on 22 July.
Cllr Jane Doughty, Cabinet Member for Customer Delivery, said: “This is fantastic news and I would like to thank the team from our leisure contractor GLL for doing such a fantastic job to get it ready in time for the school holidays.
“Swimming is such a fantastic way of getting fit and enjoying yourself at the same time. I am sure everyone of all ages will have a great time and I would encourage as many people as possible to book their place in advance.”
Prices will be frozen at 2019 levels to encourage more residents and visitors to use the pool as part of the Council’s wider ambitions to help improve health and wellbeing across communities.
Once re-opened, the pool will remain operating until 1 September. Opening hours will be 7am-7pm on weekdays and 9am-5pm at weekends.
Early bird and group discounts will be available along with special promotions such as ‘Kids for £1’ in some sessions.
John Busby, Partnership Manager for GLL in West Oxfordshire, said: ‘’We are looking forward to welcoming back our customers to Woodstock Outdoor Pool. The centre is a great location for all the family this summer holiday.’’
All bookings are being managed through the online ticketing platform which will enable tickets to be pre-sold to avoid congestion at the reception counter.  Customers who cannot book online will be able to make advance bookings, secured with a payment, at reception.
The facility will fully comply with Covid-19 national and local guidelines at the time of opening.

West Oxfordshire District Council has submitted a bid for £16.7m to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund to build a new underpass under the A40 to link communities, accelerate the introduction of a new science and technology park and boost the economy of Carterton.
Cllr Michele Mead, Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We have worked really hard over recent weeks to submit this bid to the Government which could be a huge boost to the area.
“This funding would help bring forward some really exciting projects that will have long term benefits for communities across West Oxfordshire by providing a stronger local economy, more jobs and a better ability to travel across the district.
“It also plays a big role in our efforts to tackle the climate emergency through encouraging sustainable travel and the proposed underpass is a great example of this.”
The development of a new science and technology park would be brought forward by the faster construction of a new roundabout on the A40 which is currently scheduled for construction in several years. The roundabout complements the wider works in Oxfordshire County Council’s A40 Smart Corridor Project for which they have been awarded almost £100m from the Government’s Housing and Infrastructure Fund to improve journey times along the busy road. 
The proposed new underpass under the A40 would help link communities on either side of the dual carriageway near Eynsham and help improve routes for cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable travel. It would also provide a direct link for the new Salt Cross community.
A successful bid would also provide funding into a proposed economic regeneration project in Carterton that would look to bring new jobs and businesses into the area, tapping into the potential of the highly skilled workforce already living there.
Councillor Mead said: “We know that there are a lot of highly skilled people in Carterton and not many jobs to serve them so this regeneration project would look to address that balance.
“Carterton has huge potential, and if we are successful with the bid it will help us start a project that would look to invest in the area and kick-start new jobs and businesses coming to Carterton, supporting future generations.
“It is important that we submit bids like this to help bring vital funding into West Oxfordshire and we will continue to do so where we can to help improve our communities. Now we will have to wait and hope we are successful.”
All councils across the UK were offered the opportunity to bid for the Levelling Up Fund which was announced earlier this year. West Oxfordshire worked closely with other district councils and with Oxfordshire County Council to develop and deliver the bid, which was supported and endorsed by Witney MP, Robert Courts. 
Central Government is expected to announce the successful councils this Autumn.

Residents and businesses across the District are being asked for their views on the future of Witney High Street.
A year ago, in response to the pandemic, the High Street was closed to vehicles and pavements were widened to allow for better social distancing, aiding pedestrians and encouraging cyclists.
Now a survey has been launched to look at future options for the High Street and to gauge whether people want it to re-open completely, remain as it is now or put forward other ideas for the council to consider.
Cllr Suzi Coul, Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “We really want to hear from residents and businesses about what they want to see happen in the High Street with restrictions due to be completely lifted in a few weeks’ time.
“The pandemic has forced us to change the way we live in many cases across our lives, some negative and some positive. The changes to Witney High Street helped during Covid-19 restrictions and we now want resident views on what its future could look like, learning the lessons from the changes brought in during the pandemic.
“As restrictions ease we would like to explore all our options to see which would best benefit our local communities before just reverting back to how we were pre-pandemic.
“Our key priorities as a council include building a vibrant district economy, supporting healthy towns and villages and promoting positive wellbeing for everyone and our local town centres play a big role in all those areas, which is why it is important we look at our options.
“Whatever your views, please let us know by completing the survey. We look forward to hearing from as many of you as possible.”
You can complete the survey here

A new county-wide programme will support hundreds of residents most affected by Covid-19 to move more and protect their health and wellbeing.
Move Together is co-ordinated by Active Oxfordshire and district councils across the county and will provide personalised support for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable and who have been shielding as a result of the pandemic.
A wide range of support and activity choice will be available, including home activity packs, ‘phone calls, community activities, exercise sessions for specific conditions, digital apps and much more.
Cllr Merilyn Davies, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said: “We know how difficult it has been to exercise during lockdown for many residents, especially the clinically extremely vulnerable who may have been shielding.
“The Move Together programme has something for everyone, whatever their needs and will be a fantastic boost for physical and mental health as we continue to recover from the pandemic.”
The support provided will be personalised to each individual based on their specific needs and provided by physical activity specialists. 
Move Together will reach vulnerable residents across the county, helping them to increase their physical activity levels in a way that works for them.
Paul Brivio, Chief Executive of Active Oxfordshire, said: “We’re delighted to be able to launch Move Together across Oxfordshire with local authority and voluntary sector partners working together to ensure that physical activity can play a key role in our county’s recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.
“The benefits of moving more are significant and Move Together will not only improve residents’ physical and mental health, but will help to reduce isolation and loneliness too. Move Together is set to transform hundreds of lives through the power of physical activity.”
On Tuesday 6 July at 10am, a webinar will be held for Oxfordshire organisations and partners interested in referring into the scheme. It is open to any organisation working with people most affected by Covid-19 and will provide lots of information and advice about signing up for Move Together.
For more information and to get involved, see: https://www.getoxfordshireactive.org/move-together

Woodstock Pool is due to reopen on 22 July for six weeks over the school holidays so that families can enjoy the brilliant facility over the summer.
Cllr Jane Doughty, Cabinet Member for Customer Delivery at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “I am really pleased to say that Woodstock Pool will be reopening for the summer holidays. 
“While we haven’t been able to open as normal due to the pandemic, by opening over the holidays families will be able to enjoy the pool at the best time of year. These are temporary measures as lockdown eases and we will be looking at ways we can make improvements in future.
“It is important the pool is available to everyone and so we are keeping the prices low and will be putting on offers for children.
“It is a fantastic facility and I would encourage everyone to use it as often as they can along with the other brilliant local leisure facilities run by GLL such as Carterton Leisure Centre and the Windrush Leisure Centre in Witney.”
The pool has been closed since 2019 due to the impact of Covid-19 but work is now under way to ensure it reopens in time for the start of the school summer holidays, allowing local families to use the brilliant facility.
Prices will also be frozen at 2019 levels to encourage more residents and visitors to come along and take the plunge as part of the Council’s wider ambitions to help improve health and well-being across communities.
Once reopened, the Pool will remain operating until 1 September. Opening hours will be 7am-7pm on weekdays and 9am-5pm at weekends.
Early bird and group discounts will be available along with special promotions such as ‘Kids for £1’ in some sessions.
All bookings will be managed through the online ticketing platform which will enable tickets to be pre-sold to avoid congestion at the reception counter.  Customers who cannot book online will be able to make advance bookings, secured with a payment, at reception.
The facility will fully comply with Covid-19 national and local guidelines at the time of opening.

Organisations across the District which have been helping people affected by Covid-19 are being awarded thousands of pounds worth of funding.
West Oxfordshire District Council has received £467,000 from Oxfordshire County Council as part of the Government’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) which is designed to support public health during the pandemic and is now using some funds to help innovative local organisations.
One organisation which received £20,000 of funding is The Help Hub based in Bladon.
Set up March 2020 by Ruth Chaloner, it provides help for those struggling to cope with access to 800 volunteers, all of whom are trained counsellors or therapists.
Now it is looking to refocus its efforts on young people in West Oxfordshire with the funding going towards the recruitment of a project manager.
Ruth said: “There is a real sense of urgency with mental health issues coming out of the pandemic. Young people are falling through the gap with support.
“We use volunteers to speak to people which can help prevent mental health issues from escalating.”
Another organisation which also received £20,000 is Assisting Parents With Children Affected by Mental Health (APCAM), based in Alvescot.
Led by volunteers, it offers support for families within group sessions, online and one to one as well as offering mental health first aid training.
COMF is designed to provide funding to local authorities in England to help reduce the spread of coronavirus, help people to stay well and support those most affected by the pandemic.
Cllr Merilyn Davies, Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities, said: “Lockdown and the implications of Covid-19 have had a massive impact on the health of our communities.
“Organisations such as these are playing a huge role in supporting our residents with physical and mental health issues caused by the pandemic and this funding will be crucial for their invaluable work as we continue to recover.”
Other recipients of funding are Citizens Advice West Oxfordshire, Reducing the Risk (domestic abuse) and Volunteer Link Up.

Community groups looking to take part in this year’s Great British Spring Clean (28 May-13 June) are invited to contact West Oxfordshire District Council if they need help getting rid of their collected bags of litter.
The campaign is a key milestone in Keep Britain Tidy’s calendar, highlighting the problem of litter in the environment, and brings thousands of people together from across the nation each year to do something positive about clearing it up.
Councillor Norman MacRae, Cabinet Member for the Environment at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We anticipate a high level of interest from residents in this event as outdoor spaces have proved invaluable in maintaining our mental and physical well-being over the past year, providing many with a place of refuge outside the home.  Litter picking also brings its own health benefits, encouraging more of us to get active and making people feel more connected to their community.”
According to Keep Britain Tidy, four fifths of participants in last year’s clean up event reported an increased sense of pride for their local area while 79% agreed volunteering helped improve their mood.
For 2021, the charity is calling on an army of volunteer ‘litter heroes’ to help them achieve a collective target of a million miles of litter picking (#MillionMilesMission).  Members of the public can register, by pledging how many minutes or hours they will commit to undertake by visiting www.keepbritaintidy.org.  All minutes and hours promised will then be converted into miles and counted towards the GBSC target.
Councillor MacRae continued: “We are delighted to be able to offer any group which is organising a litter pick an easy option for disposing of the rubbish once collected over the course of the Great British Spring Clean. Residents just need to contact us and we will arrange collection of the litter that has been collected.”
The collection service will apply to non-hazardous, general litter that can be easily contained within a black rubbish sack.  Residents should report in incidents of fly tipping separately to the Council rather than attempt to move these themselves so that any potential evidence remains undisturbed. This can be done on the Council’s new website - https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/environment/fly-tipping/
Groups are encouraged to present the waste they collect at a suitable collection point where it can be stowed securely until it can be collected.  Community spaces, such as local village halls and churches, with good vehicle access are ideal so long as permission of the relevant landowner has been sought first.
A collection can be arranged by calling West Oxfordshire District Council’s customer services team on 01993 861000 or by emailing customer.services@westoxon.gov.uk
Residents wishing to litter pick independent of a group are asked to put the waste they collect in their normal domestic refuse bin.
Last year West Oxfordshire District Council street teams litter picked 147kms of highway verges collecting discarded roadside rubbish.
Guidance on how to litter pick safely can be found at: www.keepbritaintidy.org

Residents in the Witney area and users of the nearby A40 are set to benefit from £180 million of major road and infrastructure improvements.
The county council is now asking for the views of residents and roads users in two new online exhibitions on the plans opening at 12 noon on 10 May until 30 May.
The delivery of infrastructure is key to supporting sustainable development in Witney, Eynsham and related new developments in West Oxfordshire. Since Oxfordshire County Council secured funding from the £102 million Housing Infrastructure Fund 2 (HIF 2) in 2019, it has been working on designs, surveys, stakeholder engagement and land acquisition.
The council is investing in six major schemes, which will deliver:

• a new park and ride
• an extension of the dual carriageway around Witney
• new bus lanes and junction improvements. 

The first exhibition covers the details of the access to Witney road improvement scheme at Shores Green. The second covers the A40 HIF2 smart corridor plans, which include the A40 dual carriageway extension, integrated bus lanes and work at Dukes Cut.
Recognising advice from government on COVID-19 safety, it is not possible to hold a public drop-in exhibition on the plans. Instead, the council is holding online engagement sessions to present the proposals and provide an opportunity for residents to ask questions and offer comments.
Members of the project team will be online to answer questions about the scheme using a series of online live chat events. These will take place on:

• 17 May about the A40 smart corridor
• 18 May about access to Witney
• Saturday 22 May covering both schemes.

Questions must be submitted in advance and visitors are urged to visit the council’s webpage to check the timings of these live events. Any questions that can’t be answered immediately will be responded to as part of an updated Frequently Asked Questions, so please check back to the webpage for these updates.
People who cannot visit the webpage will still be able to share their thoughts and questions during this time. A printed summary of the exhibition material is available for those with limited access to the web.
The exhibitions will be open from 12 noon on Monday 10 May to 23:59 30 May.
​For any queries email a40corridor@oxfordshire.gov.uk or call 01865 792422.
URL : http://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/a40-engagement-launch/