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WATLINGTON HOSPITAL RECOVERY FUND
Editorial
Those of us who attended a packed meeting on July 10th, to hear a report on the plans and progress on Watlington Hospital Recovery Fund from Charles Farrell and his team, came away feeling that we were indeed fortunate to have such a high powered and expert team working on our behalf. The following report shows that already they have made good progress. I am sure you will also be interested to hear the views of our local surgery.
"So far so good with plans of Watlington Hospital Recovery Trust (WHRT) to save our hospital's services. Since the July issue:
The Oxfordshire Community Health Trust (OCHT) has granted us 'priority purchase status', subject to ratification by higher NHS authorities.
OCHT has also instructed the District Valuer, who is to start work on 9th August, to let them know the price he recommends that they should charge WHRT to purchase the site. They have told us this should take 2/3 weeks. When the sum is known, fundraising can begin.
OCHT has withdrawn its planning application for residential use of the site - but only temporarily. We will watch carefully for any re-submission, which we are confident will meet the same opposition and rejection, if it is for non-medical uses.
The government's new 'NHS Plan' announced on 27th July is very helpful to WHRT's aim, because for the first time it provides:
1. Free nursing care for elderly people in nursing homes - the NHS will now pay for this.
2. NHS funding for elderly people so that they can leave the big hospitals and recover from their illnesses near to where they live: so called 'intermediate care'.
3. Other benefits for the care of the elderly which would apply to WHRT's proposed scheme.
Meanwhile WHRT has, following strong support at the public meeting, been working with Brendoncare to firm up its proposals. In the 30 bed hospital/nursing home, WHRT is planning to raise sufficient funds to subsidise as many beds as it can, so that local people in need do not have to pay above what social services and the NHS can contribute. Plans also include beds for respite care to give families a break, and nursed day-hospital places.
WHRT very much hope the doctors will decide that their surgery should stay on the hospital site.
WHRT"
From: Drs Neale, Nicholson, McManus and Gregory
"We are delighted to hear of and wholeheartedly support the plan to try to raise money to ensure that the Watlington Hospital site remains a resource that is used to provide health services in the broadest sense. We have found the transfer of services to Wallingford difficult. In particular, we regret the loss of respite services and those for patients who are terminally ill. We anticipate that most of the new services provided will be for non-NHS patients. We hope that any provision on the site will be able to include as many in-patient services as possible for NHS patients.
With the closure of the Hospital, there is an urgent need for a new Medical Centre to serve Watlington. We wish to build a new Centre and we hope it will include facilities for Health Visitors, District Nurses, Physiotherapy and other health workers as well as ourselves. We are looking at a number of potential sites for this new Centre, including a new building on the Hospital site."
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CONCESSIONARY FARES TOKEN SCHEME
The Council currently operates a token-based concessionary fares scheme. It is expected that from April 2001, the Council will be required by law to provide a free bus pass to all residents of pensionable age and to people with disabilities. Bus pass holders will be entitled to a reduction of half on all fares on eligible bus services.
All residents have been consulted on the introduction of the bus pass to replace the existing concessionary token scheme. This consultation has demonstrated overwhelming support to retain a token-based scheme.
Having listened to the views of residents, the Council has decided that it will offer a token-based concession scheme as an alternative to the statutory half-fare bus pass.
The detail of the new concessionary fare scheme, in terms of eligibility, level of tokens to be provided etc., is currently being considered. Finalised details of the bus pass scheme and the token scheme will be published and publicised at the earliest possible time.
Contact: Emma Marino 01491 823018
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BEST KEPT GARDENS COMPETITION
The gardens were again judged in July but the results will not be made known until the Horticultural Show on the 10th September.
We were fortunate this year to obtain the services of two experienced judges - namely Lynne Parker and Andrew White. They spent a long day looking at the gardens in the parish and said that they enjoyed it very much and met some charming people.
Here are a few notes about their judging this year:-
"The gardens were not judged just on the day but on a year round basis.
We did not judge on "tidiness" like the previous judge but instead introduced a category based on whether the garden, house and environment were in sympathy with each other as we considered this to be an important aspect of garden-keeping. Also, as some gardeners might have been away on their summer holidays, they would have been unable to dead-head etc."
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LETTERS TO GRAPEVINE
From: Kathy Heap, Camelia Cottage, High Street, Lewknor
Despite having been surprised and irritated by the arrogant, hectoring tone adopted by some recent correspondents to Grapevine on the subject of the Oxford Tube, I had to-date resisted the temptation to put pen to paper. However I am so appalled by the comments and demands made by Mr Nelson-Piercy in last month's Grapevine, that I feel that it is time for an alternative view to be heard.
It seems to me that what we have recently been witnessing is a well-orchestrated campaign by a vocal minority to try and imply that there is a large body of support among Lewknor residents for the retention of the Oxford Tube service as is. The campaign has been carried out through correspondence to Grapevine and by a show of numbers at the recent Open Parish Council meeting, ostensibly in support of what they call a valued service for Lewknor parishioners. But let's get this into perspective. These folks are quite clearly users of the Oxford Tube - they have only their own interests at heart, and would be inconvenienced if the bus stop were to be moved from the B4009. Their claim to be campaigning on behalf of Lewknor residents is disingenuous.
It is my belief that the majoriy of Lewknor residents do not care much one way or the other about the Oxford Tube and will only use it occasionally, if ever. (A quick run-through of around twenty-five households of our acquaintance failed to identify a single, regular user). What people are concerned about however, is the gradual despoliation of their environment by the selfish, inconsiderate parking of those who leave their cars on the B4009: the lay-bys are permanently full, the one-time grass verges are now churned into deep muddy ruts and there are already accumulations of litter and glass bottles. A 'small rubbled parking area' might ease that problem but how long that would stay as such, given local government and even European regulations, is a subject I won't visit - you could probably fill several Grapevine issues on that topic alone.
And despite your correspondents' protestations, the safety issue IS a concern. Yes, we can all cross a road, but as RoSPA statistics will show, many do not reach the other side. Motorway exits and pedestrians clearly do not mix, particularly in the dark, and it would be reckless and irresponsible for any authority to encourage that situation. It may be that your correspondents would be happy to lie on the B4009 pondering on Kismet while they wait for an ambulance but we should also consider the poor driver who might run them down; it could be me, or you.
The Parish Council is to be applauded, not derided, on its efforts to pursue an alternative to the current mess. Speaking personally, we were delighted when the Stokenchurch proposal was mooted, and I, for one, resent the implication of Mr Piercy and others that the Parish Council somehow has its 'own agenda'. One thing we have come to appreciate in our 13 years in Lewknor is the tireless efforts of our Parish Council in working for the benefit of the majority of its parishioners, not the loud, blustering few.
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ATTENTION ALL PARENTS
Have you got teenage children? Do they meet their friends in Lewknor in the evening to talk and socialise around the churchyard?
There is something very worrying going on of which you ought to be aware. Around the Church has been found evidence that leads us to believe that kids are sniffing lighter fuel.
This is a very dangerous practice. Apart from being a crime, once someone so "high" on substances such as lighter fuel, they are no longer responsible for their actions.
In addition to this is something even worse: sniffing lighter fuel can cause permanent brain damage.
Please watch out for any unusual behaviour or smell on your children. Above all please TALK TO THEM, EXPLAIN ABOUT THE DANGERS - what might seem like harmless fun to them could be lethal and/or get them into serious trouble.
If you are worried, contact your doctor's surgery - they will have advice line numbers to phone.PLEASE BE ALERT - COULD THIS BE YOUR CHILD?
Anon
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COOKERY CORNER - PECAN PIE
Pastry: 2 cups plain flour (approx 8 Tbsp)
1 Tbsp icing sugar
6 oz butter
1 teasp lemon juice
1-2 Tbsp water (probably only 1)
Filling: 6 oz pecan nuts
3 oz butter
1/3 cup golden syrup (3 Tbsp)
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
¼ cup plain flour (2 Tbsp)
¼ cup self-raising flour (2 Tbsp)
Step 1: Sift flour and icing sugar into basin, rub in butter, mix to firm dough with lemon juice and enough water to just bind together. Knead lightly till smooth, refrigerate 30 mins. Roll dough to line base and side of 9 inch flan tin, press pastry around side of tin (do not stretch pastry). Trim edges, refrigerate 15 mins. Place piece of greaseproof paper over the base of pastry, sprinkle with dry rice or dried beans or peas, bake in mod oven 15 mins. Remove paper and rice. Sprinkle nuts evenly over pastry base.
Step 2: Melt butter, stir in golden syrup, brown sugar, beaten eggs then sifted flour and stir until smooth. Pour over pecan nuts. Place flan tin on flat tray and bake in mod oven, 30 mins or until firm.
Serve warm or cold with whipped cream or ice cream.
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