Ruth Smith, Witney

How to join Witney Larder facebook.com/23046410362715… witneyfoodrevolution.com/larder

Saying this until it becomes a reality: Food banks shouldn’t need to exist. Food banks shouldn’t need to exist. Food banks shouldn’t need to exist. Food banks shouldn’t need to exist. Food banks shouldn’t need to exist.

It’s the end of an era! My favourite ever local politician resigned this week - the indomitable @mikehakata is off to pastures new. I’ve been inundated with messages from people all over the country expressing their shock/disappointment with the news. Luckily I managed … /1

Our partner @edge_housing has teamed up with @JeriCoffTraders to create a coffee blend with a cause! ☕️ 10% of every sale of 'A Hope. A Home. A Future' goes towards Edge Housing’s amazing work. Get yours today 👉 jerichocoffeetraders.com/collections/ch… #BusinessForGood #community #Oxfordshire

The Christmas tree is going in at the Buttercross, on a cold and frosty morning. Lights switch-on is Fri 28 Nov.

I am at the #TransDayofRemembrance vigil at the Corn Exchange, about to start at 6:30. Remembering lives tragically and avoidably lost. Holding everyone close and trying to keep people whole, seen and upheld. ,🏳️‍⚧️

But I cannot get behind any redefinition of seeking asylum in the UK. We need swift and good processes, decent residential welcome centres and onwards housing (build it!) and a system built on dignity not trauma. *Immigration must be discussed and solved separately from asylum.*

Sometimes the good news just doesn't get past the dispiriting headlines. 🎭 Opportunities in the arts. 🍿👨‍🎤🎸Good thing!

Ken Clarke humiliates Danny Kruger's new party, Reform UK on #BBCQT "I live in a county with a Reform UK council" "Some of the people elected resigned because they didn't realise it sat during the day and they didn't want to take time off work" "Most of them had no idea what the country council did" "They fought on the promise of reducing waste and council tax" "And they just put up the council tax by the max" "They were protesting against the failure of legitimate politics, standing in as amateurs" "Where Reform UK has taken over you have a lot of complete beginners who are still doing a study on what county councils actually do"

@kat_hy1 @cammaynard I really hope it helps!

@LabourRuth @cammaynard We were very thankful to the Town Council for the silt removal under the bridge

💩 RAW SEWAGE ALERT! 💩 After less than a day of heavy rain, our local rivers and streams are already being contaminated with raw sewage as Thames Water infrastructure struggles to cope.

@kat_hy1 @cammaynard For my part, flood defense is a huge frustration - the Town Council removed silt from under the bridge at Bridge St. I wonder if it is making a difference on this day of rain? Local parishes and WTC are trying to get Highways and the EA to work together on the West End Link Rd.

@cammaynard @LabourRuth What are you doing about it?

@kat_hy1 @cammaynard Have you seen this Kathy? theguardian.com/business/2025/…

SANDBAG UPDATE! There are some sandbags already prepared at the Hexagon Centre on New Yatt Road in Witney, and lots of empty bags and sand that can be used to fill them. There are NO shovels so bring your own!

Even though capacity at the Witney pump has been increased from 240 to 400 litres per second, sewage is still being discharged here. This is a serious environmental and public health concern.

It's exciting to be hearing from Catherine Atkinson, MP for Derby North. At #ForGood2025 A barrister who was keen to be part of changing the law.

I am in Derby today, under my own steam, for the Joint Public Issues Team conference, For Goodness Sake #ForGood25 about social justice and action. I am keen to learn more about the Constituency Action Network jpit.uk/can

Can you believe this employer mindset? It's not even the Real @LivingWageUK so they're paying their graduates poverty pay. It doesn't take much imagination to solve this: pay your graduates properly!

The Temporary Congestion Charge is GO. An OLS deep dive now on the blog covering; 🚦  What changed after the consultation ? 👥 How to help your community, colleagues & employees adapt 📊 How it will be monitored ⚖️ A provocation on fairness.. And more. shorturl.at/x5akx

🕒 In just 2 days, you'll be able to enjoy free Park&Ride bus travel across Oxford.* Simply park at any of the five Park & Ride sites for £2.50 and ride into the city for free - return travel included for 2 adults and up to 3 children. No need to book, no extra costs - just park, hop on, and go! 👉 oxfordbus.co.uk/free-park-and-… #CountdownToFree #OxfordTravel #ParkAndRide #FamilyFriendlyTravel *Offer lasts for 3 months. T&Cs apply.

The Paris Agreement was to keep global warming below 1.50 °C.

Good reply! What has happened to people, that they begrudge anything good being given to anyone else? Let's think of good things to make every sphere of our community better. And not be bitter about the parts that don't directly help us - they all make society stronger and safer.