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Prices are £3.50/day or £14.50/week for under-19s, and £6.50/day or £25/week for adults.
What's happening in sydenham?
thame & wheatley ramblers
If you are interested in working at the Oxfordshire County Council elections, here are some of the roles available for the election taking place in our district:
Polling station staff – locations across the area, Thursday 1 May (from 6am until finish – likely to be around 10.30pm) – from £220
Verification staff – Abingdon, Thursday 1 May, from 9.30pm to around 2am – from £23 per hour
Count staff – Abingdon, Friday 2 May, from 9.30am until finish – from £15.50 per hour
To register interest, email electionstaff@southandvale.gov.uk as soon as possible. The Elections team will send all the information and ask for confirmation of availability for the various roles. For more information, visit www.southoxon.gov.uk/electionjobs
On Thursday 1 May 2025, Oxfordshire County Council’s election will take place with polling running from 7am-10pm.
The election will be held on the new boundaries, which were brought into force by The Oxfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2025.
After the 1 May 2025 Elections, the number of county councillors will increase from 63 to 69 elected members, representing the residents of Oxfordshire.
Further details of the electoral changes can be found at the Electoral review 2023-2025 webpage.
county council elections
Thame & Wheatley Ramblers have a programme of walks, details can be found at walking (ramblers-oxon.org.uk). At present there is no restriction on the number permitted on walks and for most walks there is no need to book. However, please check the website regularly as walks are subject to change.
youth support service
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are introducing a permit scheme from April 2025 that will involve customers receiving a sticker permit for their bins to identify them as fully paid-up garden waste customers.
As this is a change to how the garden waste service is managed, there are actions subscribers will need to take to continue receiving garden waste collections. The new permit payment system opens towards the end of February.
When the new system goes live, all existing customers will be invited to subscribe to the service. Existing customers will be notified directly, with full information on the council websites and each house getting a bin hanger flagging the changes. Customers will then need to make an annual payment for a permit – this replaces the existing direct debit scheme. Everyone’s payment year will run from 1 April to 31 March each year.
When customers sign-up they will be sent a garden waste permit sticker to put on the top of the lid of their brown bin. Each bin needs its own permit and all customers will receive a new sticker annually each time they renew.
The permits will help the waste collection crews identify which bins should be emptied. This will ensure that only households that have paid for the service have their garden waste bins emptied and the changes are part of the councils’ ongoing work to improve the efficiency and value of public services.
Benefits to customers include a new online system so they can manage their account and change their details much more easily. This will also mean the councils can contact people quickly if there are any major disruptions to the service, such as during adverse weather. When customers pay for a permit, there will be a link to sign up for an account and the account sign up is also available on the councils’ websites.
FAQ information is available on the SODC garden waste page.
The Oxfordshire Targeted Youth Support Service is here to support young people through life’s challenges and help them reach their potential.
Working with a young person, they help them build life skills, develop healthy relationships and make decisions that are right for them.
They work in partnership with children and young people from 11 to 18, in a way that suits them, through one to one sessions, in small groups and with their community.
Could they help someone you know? Find out more
Rainy day adventures
Having a new year clear out this January? Wondering what to do with your old mattress, paint, or any other household item?
Use the OCC waste wizard!
Thanks to residents, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse are two of the best recycling areas in England.
This is something we should all be proud of – but there is much more we can do to cut down on the amount of things we throw away, pollute less, reduce costs and tackle the climate emergency.
To help us all do more, SODC have developed a plan for how to Rethink Waste, and make the most of what we already have.
Don’t let the rain spoil your day! Our area has plenty of things to do to brighten up any cold or wet day. Explore fascinating museums, take on an exciting escape room challenge, go for a swim or feed the animals indoors at a local farm. If you prefer to find a cosy pub and enjoy a hearty meal, there are plenty on offer.
Whatever the weather, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Check out the Rainy Days page on the Visit Southern Oxfordshire website for inspiration.
Love reading but unable to visit the library? Did you know that if you’re finding it difficult to get to a library, our home library service may be able to help? Find out more at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/libraries