Merton Village Welcome Pack Rev 1.3 Date Uploaded: 6 December 2016 Page 1 of 7 WELCOME TO MERTON VILLAGE The Merton Fete 2000 We are pleased that you have chosen to live in Merton! We would like to welcome you to the village and enclose some local information that, hopefully, will prove useful to you. We are a small, but friendly village, and have various activities going on. KEEPING IN TOUCH Village News and Events are published on the website: www.mertonparishcouncil.co.uk or on the village Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MertonVillage/
Transcript
Merton Village Welcome Pack Rev 1.3 Date Uploaded: 6 December 2016
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WELCOME TO
MERTON VILLAGE
The Merton Fete 2000 We are pleased that you have chosen to live in Merton! We would like to welcome you to the village and enclose some local information that, hopefully, will prove useful to you. We are a small, but friendly village, and have various activities going on.
KEEPING IN TOUCH Village News and Events are published on the website: www.mertonparishcouncil.co.uk or on the village Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MertonVillage/
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ST SWITHUN’S CHURCH Our church dates back to the time of the Knights Templar and is very old indeed. Merton village itself is mentioned in the Doomsday book and a copy of the book is housed in the church.
Services are as follows 1st Sunday in the month 9.00 am Holy Communion 2nd Sunday in the month 6.00 pm Evening Prayer 3rd Sunday in the month 9.00 am Holy Communion 4th Sunday in the month 10.30 am Family Service
There are also various special events around Easter and Christmas, details of which can be found in the local Parish Magazine
Church Wardens Robert Kerr Laurence Comiskey
01865 331870 01865 331429
The Vicar, the Rev’d Stephen Hayes looks after the Valley Benefice which, as well as Merton, includes the Parishes of Piddington, Blackthorn, Arncott, Nole, Ambrosden, Islip, Woodeaton, Murcott, Fencott and Charlton-on-Otmoor. His contact details are 01869 247813, [email protected] Details of other denominations can be found in Parish News.
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MERTON WOODLAND Situated ½ mile out of the village on the road towards Ambrosden is a woodland that was planted to commemorate the Millenium and is owned by the village. It is accessible via a footpath and there are 17 acres of trees which were planted in 2002. The trees are now maturing nicely and provide great surroundings for walk in summer or winter, rain or shine. We now have a village Woodland Management Plan which can be found on the website – volunteers are always welcome!
PLAYING FIELDS The 7 acre playing fields belong to the Parish Council and include a fenced playground.
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The VILLAGE HALL Has recently been refurbished and is used for various village events. It is located adjacent to the playing fields and is available for hire for parties or other functions. Details are available from Kay Crowden on 01865 331423 Events and activities are advertised in ‘Parish Matters’, the local Parish magazine.
ALLOTMENTS We have allotments located on the playing fields. The rent is £10 per annum and the hire term starts on 1st May. Tenants should be residents of the Parish of Merton. However, tenants from outside the parish are considered subject to availability. For more information, please contact the Clerk to the Parish Council, Tracey Charlesworth on 01865 331481 or email her at [email protected]
PARISH MATTERS This is the local Parish magazine. Every household receives a copy every month. The publication not only serves Merton, but also has news from Ambrosden, Arncott and Piddington. This is handy because you can find out what is going on nearby, especially during the fête season. The collator for Merton news is Wendy Meads – 01865 331766 or [email protected]
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LIBRARY BUS Visits the village once a fortnight and stops in Main Street, just after the West End Lane turning on the right on Thursdays. They have a good selection of books and will get books in for you on request. The main library is in Bicester. Dates for the current month are listed in Parish Matters.
DOCTORS The two nearest surgeries are: Islip Medical Practice 01865 371666; http://islipsurgery.org.uk Alchester Medical Group (branches in Bicester, Langford Village and Ambrosden), 01869 248585; [email protected]; www.alchestermedicalgroup.co.uk
SHOPS The nearest shops are in Ambrosden. The Post Office is located in a small, but remarkably well stocked village shop, and there is a Spar shop.
POST BOX Located opposite the pub – last collection Mon-Friday 4.30pm, Saturday 9 am.
BUSES There is a bus service into Oxford. A timetable can be found in the bus shelter or by visiting http://traveline.info
PAPERS Daily papers – Peter Franklin 01865 331378 Local Paper – Oxford Mail, Bicester Advertiser – Kay Crowden -331423
RUBBISH COLLECTIONS Green bins (general) - alternate Wednesdays; Blue (recycling: paper, card, cans and plastic) and Brown (any compostable waste) on the other Wednesdays.
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MERTON BEER FESTIVALS We have been holding beer festivals in the village hall since 2002. These raise money to improve village facilities. The winter festival is well worth going to, because besides traditional ales and ciders there are also continental lagers to be enjoyed, not to mention the convivial company. On the Friday evening before the day of the festival the village hall opens for villagers only to sample some of the beers and ciders.
VILLAGE DRINKS NIGHTS There is often a village drinks night in the village hall on the last Saturday of the month. Bring your own food and drink – a great way to meet other villagers. Details of these can be found on the village website or Facebook Group.
TAXI AA Cars Bicester
01869 248248
ABC Bicester 01869 242526
POLICE The non-emergency number is 101. The local PCSO is Andy Clarke.
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH The village participates in the NHW scheme. For information, or to join, please contact Terry Byrd on 01865 331573.
PARISH COUNCIL Meets on the 3rd Monday of the month at the village hall at 7.30pm See notice board (on the bus shelter) for agenda or on the village website Chairman – Rachel Foord 01865 331720
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The Clerk to the Parish Council – Tracey Charlesworth 01865 331481, or [email protected] For a list of current councillors and their contact numbers see the Parish magazine or website.
Council - Cherwell District Council Tel: 01295 252535
Local Councillor - Tim Hallchurch Tel: 01865 358034 Mob: 07802 202557 email: [email protected]
