CENTRAL OXFORDSHIRE Inside £6m carer’s allowances this week: ‘are going unclaimed’ p12 Thursday, December 5 - Wednesday, December 11, 2013
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Oxfordshire needs to be prepared for cold weather
• Ian Hudspeth and Mandy Rigault at the launch of the county council’s ‘Ready for Winter’ campaign (Picture courtesy of Oxfordshire County Council) PEOPLE are being urged to help each other out in the coming months, ensuring everybody is ‘Ready for Winter’. Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) has launched the cam-
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paign encouraging residents to rally round and make sure themselves, family, friends and neighbours are well-equipped to combat any freezing weather. County council leader Ian Hudspeth said: “Every year the focus tends to be around gritting the roads and, of course, we do a massive amount of this in Oxfordshire every year. Last
COUNTY LEADER’S WINTER CAUTION By James Booker
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year, our gritters drove the equivalent of three times around the world. “For a period of 10 years or so, we didn’t really have challenging winters, but in the last few years we have had some severe
weather on occasion. I think it’s taken people by surprise. “But there’s a great many services and ways in which everyone can pull together that don’t get the attention they deserve. “That is why I am asking everyone to think ahead about how they can get ready for winter and fi nd out how they can help themselves and others over the
next few months. “We would like people to think more about their neighbours and whether there is anything they could do to support those who are perhaps a little older or less able. All it takes is a couple of minutes to make sure someone is OK. “We are also keen to dispel some myths. For some reason
a few years ago a rumour started nationally that you weren’t allowed to clear snow or ice from your own paths, the pavement in front of your house or business or for your neighbours. “That’s nonsense and the sort of thing that makes life more difficult. “This year, if snow and ice • Continued on page 3