Parish Council Elections – 2nd May 2019

Nominations for election to Dorchester-on-Thames Parish Council 2019 -2023 open 26th March 2019

A comprehensive nomination pack is available on the Electoral Commission’s website from the link below, which also contains helpful guidance:

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/candidate-or-agent/local-elections-in-england

See also http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/services-and-advice/local-democracy/elections-0

If you want to join the team of Councillors for Dorchester-on-Thames then NOW is your time to make a difference.

Nomination papers to be hand delivered to SODC offices between 10am on 26th March and 4pm on 3rd April 2019 – 135 Eastern Avenue, Milton Park, Milton OX14 4SB (closed weekends).

Request for information: Dorchester in Oxford

Upon a family trip today to The Ashmolean, we found the village mentioned in a few places as we travelled around.  This made me think, maybe there are other connections that may be of interest to everyone.

Therefore I have created a new page on ‘Visiting Oxford’ and would look things to go on this page, whether that is a related blue plaque, museum exhibits, or other connections between us and the big city.

Please let me know of anything that comes to mind, and we may add it to the site for others to see.

The contact form can be found at https://www.dorchester-on-thames.co.uk/contacts/

Parish Council Minutes : February 2019

The February Parish Council Minutes are now online, and can be accessed from https://www.dorchester-on-thames.co.uk/parish-council/council-minutes/

Some topics covered:

  • Village School has become a registered charity
  • Planning applications
    • Tenpenny Single storey extension
    • Demolition of bungalow on Abingdon Road to be replaced with 2-storey family home
    • Village green application for Dyke Hills has been delayed
  • Objection will be be sent to SODC about local plan due to apparent lack of integrated thinking about public transport on buses and facilities for cyclists, which had led to the Plan’s transport provisions being unsustainable.
  • Although there is as yet no confirmed organiser it was agreed that the date for this year’s Dorchester Fireworks Display should be provisionally set as Saturday 2nd November

Footsteps: Corys Footsteps

It has been a while since we shared any Footsteps stories with you so I hope that you will enjoy hearing about a young welsh lad Cory, who is making great progress at Footsteps:

Cory’s Footsteps

Cory, age 8 has been coming to Footsteps for a year year, and has had four sessions. We chatted to his mum Emma about their experiences

Tell us about what brought you to Footsteps:

“When he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a little boy, his prognosis was bleak. We were warned that he would never walk, sit or talk. Throughout my journey of finding the best support for Cory, I have tried a lot of different therapies and you get know what works quite quickly – with Footsteps we knew straight away. We drive from Wales, and have to pay for accommodation in the area, but you do what you have got to do”

What improvements, if any, have you noticed since coming to Footsteps?

“Cory’s stability is much better and transferring between positions. The other day he tried to take his first steps! London Orthotics, where he goes for fittings for his splints – they noticed the difference right away and were impressed with the improvement in a year! 2 years ago we went for a power wheelchair as I had given up any chance of him walking – now I have hope! He wasn’t supposed to even sit up by himself and now he’s walking along with a rollator!”

What do you do in between Footsteps Sessions?

“I also see the improvements at home after a session. Him being able to transfer his own weight from wheelchair and sitting has saved my back. I used to have constant back pain – that’s gone now. We are a very proactive family – Cory loves the TV but we try and keep him busy in other ways. My husband does therapy with him at home with parallel bars and a rollator whenever he can and we want him to join in whatever we do. We are really outdoorsy and even took him to the summit of Pen Y Fan”

Does Cory enjoy the sessions here?

Cory is non-verbal but I know him – he enjoys the sessions! He is happiest on his feet – so even though he can’t talk I know he is happy and heading towards fulfilling his dream.

Sum up Footsteps for us in a sentence:

“Wish I’d found it earlier!”

For more Footsteps stories, head over to our website https://www.footstepscentre.com/footsteps-foundation/and facebook page https://www.facebook.com/footstepsfoundation/