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

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.

The first meeting is on
Thursday 15 April at 7 30 pm (Zoom) 

Contact Fiona on 660455, Fiona@theiliffes.uk, or 07973 433079 for more information and the invite to our first meeting.

Food Bank
The residents of Aston le Walls have had another message of thanks from the coordinators at Banbury Food Bank who said how the demand has increased.  This week their shortages are instant coffee, rice pudding, dried mashed potato, jam and tinned custard.  If you are able to donate any of these items we know it is much appreciated.  Thank you.

The Food Bank continues to be collected each week from Comfrey Cottage on Main Street.  Your contributions continue to be extremely important. 

Things are Happening!
Our Village Hall will be re-opening on the 17th May in accordance with the easing of lockdown.  Pilates will be starting again, as will Film Club.  The first Coffee Morning of the year, will be on May 28th.  Please see the Village Hall page and Coming Soon! for more details of these village events.  The two Churches are also opening, more information on this on their pages.  (Latest report from St Leonard’s and Latest report from Church of the Sacred Heart and Our Lady)

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The application was originally made over 3 years ago and we have finally received approval for the following:-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)

Wanted: New Councillors
Aston le Walls needs new councillors for the Parish Council.  Click here for all the details.

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!