This is the village website for Aston Le Walls where you can find information on activities and events in the village

Night Time Slip Road Closures on M40
Check here re HS2 closures of Junction 11, 21st June to 17th July. 

Circular Trail
Please note, the footpath AA8 is now closed for HS2 works beyond the concrete track.
The concrete track should be used for a return route to the Appletree Lane and hence back to the village.
AA7 / AE17 closed at the perimeter track on the airfield and onwards to Chipping Warden.

Help Needed:
Artist wanted to redo the Pocket Park information sign, painted board or composite panel will be provided.  Please leave a comment here if you are interested.

Food Bank News (30th May 2021)
The Food Banks at Banbury and Daventry are telling us that families are still really struggling as furlough ends and redundancies hit. If anyone can spare items please do drop them into the box in the carport at Comfrey Cottage on Main Street.  Thanks to everyone for recent items.  Banbury volunteers tell us their shortage item is Long Life juice but anything you can spare is appreciated.

Scarecrow Trail 3^rd & 4^th July
We are pleased to be restarting the event this year.   It would be great if all those who created scarecrows before could do so again and that many more of you will also join in and make it a bumper post Covid celebration!

For anyone who has not taken part before, just make a scarecrow on any theme that takes your fancy.  Let Steve or Sue know what the subject is, and there will be prizes for the best guesses of the themes.  Cream teas, ice creams sales and raffle prizes will also be available, restrictions permitting.

A flyer will soon be coming through your door with more information.

Village Hall
Good News!
The village hall has received a “Covid” restrictions grant from the West Northamptonshire Council of £7,573.21.  See Village Hall page for more details of this and other news.

Upcoming HS2 Main Works Virtual 1-1 Engagement Events
We are continuing with our main works virtual engagement events in your area, as Covid-19 restrictions are eased in line with Government guidance. We are offering people the chance to meet with our engagement team on a 1-1 basis.  Go to the HS2 page here to find out more.

Aston le Walls WI Is Back
Great News, following the virtual meeting last week it was decided that Aston le Walls WI will restart after a 3 year break.  We had 10 people on the Zoom meeting and all were very keen to restart and join as members.  It was agreed that WI would meet on the third Thursday of the month at 7 30 pm.  We will be holding Virtual Meetings for a while and will arrange speakers and other fun activities. 

We hope that more of you will be interested in joining us, so please contact me for more information.

Contact Fiona on 660455 for more information.

News from the Parish Council:
Success
The Parish Council made an application to the Road Safety Fund of HS2.
Any application had to be formally agreed by Northants County Council in the first instance and then HS2.
The application was originally made over 3 years ago and we have finally received approval for the following:-

A continuation of the pavement from the Plowden Close junction with the Welsh Road heading out of the village towards the A361.  It will go as far as the pinch point opposite the footpath in the field on the left.
Originally the request was to the A361, the path approved is a compromise.

2 VAS units (vehicle activated signs) one at each end of the village on the Welsh Road.

2 Chicanes, 1 between Plowden Close and the Garages. 1 between Butlers Close and Main Street. See note 1 on the Parish Council tab.

1 new bus shelter for the school children, positioned better with appropriate drop kerbs either side of the Welsh Road.

With these measures in place the Parish Council hopes the Welsh Road will be a safer place for everyone and the speed of vehicles passing through greatly reduced.
(For any queries please contact – chairman2019alw@btinternet.com)

Village Hall News
Plant swap will return!  See Coming Soon! page for more details, but sadly the February events planned will have to be put on hold.  Application for funds from HS2 to rebuild the Hall is still in progress, but strategic partners are needed.  Check out the Village Hall page to see if you can help.

Looking For Somewhere to Go?
In these peculiar times when people are walking more than usual many are interested in finding new local walks.
This website, Walking in Northamptonshire, has loads of walks available for free download and printing.
www.walkinginengland.co.uk/northants

Avian Flu Outbreaks
Follow this link for current government regulations regarding the housing of chickens and other poultry due to outbreaks of avian flu in different areas of the UK.  Please note that bird keepers can be prosecuted if they do not house their birds at this time.

All Change for Councils in Northamptonshire
For information about changes to local government in Northants, please click here

Think NHS 111 First
NHS England and NHS Improvement has launched the next phase of the latest ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign which focuses on the NHS 111 service as a new way to access A&E.

If you have an urgent but not life-threatening medical need, make sure you contact NHS 111 first rather than going straight to A&E. If you do need urgent care, then NHS 111 can now book you in to be seen quickly and safely in A&E. 

As well as this, NHS 111 is also able to direct to or book an appointment at Urgent Treatment Centres, access to Out of Hours GP Services, pharmacies, emergency dental services and walk-in clinics.Contacting 111 first will also help the NHS to keep you safe by maintaining social distancing and ensure that you receive the right care in the right place, in a more timely and safe way.

If you or your loved one have a life-threatening illness or injury then you should always use 999 and if you do arrive at A&E without contacting NHS 111 you will still receive medical care, with emergency treatments prioritised. Just think 111 first. When you think you need A&E, contact NHS 111 by phone or online at https://111.nhs.uk/

Further information about NHS 111 First is available at www.northamptonshireccg.nhs.uk

Thank You From Susan F.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone for their cards and good wishes.  I am missing life in the Village.  Thank you also for your thoughts and prayers.  I am still at Emma’s slowly gaining strength and mobility.  My return home depends on the lockdown.”
Message from Susan F 26th Nov 2020

Northants County Council
For an update on Covid 19 from the NCC please click here.

If You Need Help
The countrywide Community Resilience hub was set up at the start of April to help those needing support or assistance during periods of isolation or for those who are vulnerable.  As we enter a second national lockdown period, the Local Resilience Forum wants to reassure residents that support is available for anyone who needs it, click here for more information.

A Message from Our Postie:
Hello everyone, I’m Ray your postman and would like to say a big thank you to you all for welcoming me as your new postman after I took over from David.  Last year in June I collapsed in the Main Street and was lying there for about 3 quarters of an hour until I was found by Vicki down Blacksmiths Lane.  I started back last December, no reason could be found by the doctors but I’m ok now and am looking forward to serving this lovely village until I retire.  All my best wishes to you all and if I can help in any way please give me a shout, regards Ray the posty.

South Northants backs Green Homes Grant Scheme
Click on the link to find out if you qualify for a grant:
South Northants Green Homes Grants

Daisy Bank Pocket Park
The story of the origin of Aston le Walls own Pocket Park; with photographs, minutes of meetings and much more.  Click here to view the Pocket Park history.  If you have memories or photographs of your own you would like to add, please let me know in the comments or email.  Please spread the word it’s here, to anyone you know who would be interested, thanks. 

Wells in the Village
Martin M is trying to record the whereabouts of all the wells that were/are in the village.  If anyone has any information he’d be very grateful to hear it.  A note through 8BC or a comment here will get to him.  He’s aware of the well in the school field; one beside the presbytery garage, one in the now filled in presbytery cellar, one in the garden of 3BC, and one in 22PC.  Any others?  Old Tom Smith said that the last well to run dry in a drought was down on the railway, where precisely, Martin doesn’t know.  Are there any others?  

Summer Fete
As you are all aware, we have had to cancel the Annual Summer Fete in aid of St Leonard’s.  This is our main fund raiser for the year and even though the Church is currently closed we still have ongoing expenses amounting to over £16,000 a year.  We are also missing out on collections at our services so if you would like to donate to the church please let the Treasurer Susan in Plowden Close, have a cheque made payable to St Leonard’s PCC.  Thank you.  Leave a comment if you need more details. 

Scarecrow Trail
Unfortunately the decision has been made to cancel the Scarecrow Trail this year; hopefully it will be even better in 2021!

We had a brilliant successful Scarecrow Weekend in 2019.  The weather was (mostly) ok, we had 47 amazing Scarecrows and people came from far and wide for the marvellous Scarecrow Trail in Aston le Walls!  Many, many thank to everyone who made a Scarecrow, followed the Trail, baked cakes or helped in any way with making the weekend so successful.  £671.50 was raised towards the upkeep of the Village Hall, which is a great resource for the village.  The lists of prize winners, raffle winners and the answers are on the Village noticeboard by the Hall and you can find pictures of the Scarecrows and all the answers here!