The Information Centre (formally the One Stop Shop) provides information across a range of local authority services and acts as a signpost for access to these services.
The Information Centre is still open, despite the closure of the Civic Hall for refurbishment and extension, and will remain open at its normal times for the duration of the work, except for a few days which we will try and publicise in advance.
The Information Centre is located in the Council Offices on Britwell Road, by the Civic Hall adjacent to Didcot Health Centre. To see a location map of the Information Centre click here.
Opening times are 9.00am to 4.45pm Monday to Thursday, and 9.00am to 3.45pm on Fridays.
The main benefit to the local community is the provision of a local point of contact, access to services and the ability to enable and co-ordinate local enquiries more efficiently.
To see which local authority does what, go to the Local Government Explained page.
What we sell at the Information Centre
Below is a list of things we sell at the Information Centre and a price where we have it. This is in addition to the vast array of free information and forms that the Information Centre has.
- Compostable Food Waste Bin Bags (1 pack has 50 bags) - £3.60 per pack
- Dog Waste Bags (1 pack has 50 bags) - 70p
- Didcot Tea Towels - £3.50
- Didcot Life Print - £18/£30
- Didcot Montage Greetings Card - £2
- Didcot Montage Post Card - £1
- Didcot Montage Prints - £65/£95
- Tickets for shows and performances (not Cornerstone) - prices vary
Food Compost Bags
The Information Centre now stocks and sells the compostable food waste bags that go in your food recycling caddy. They are fully biodegradable and have a handy tie. They are priced at £3.60 for 50 bags.
Dog Bags
Didcot Town Council is now charging 70p per packet of 50 for Dog Bags. These Dog Bags are still provided at a subsidised rate by the Town Council. They are available to buy at the Town Council Information Centre.
Recycling
The recycling scheme is run by South Oxfordshire District Council. For information on recycling you should contact their help line on 03000 610610 or email recycling@southoxon.gov.uk or visit their web page by clicking here.
We do not sell clear recycling bags but we do stock the compostable food caddy sacks. They are priced £3.60 for 50.
South Oxfordshire District Council's garden waste scheme is a good way to conveniently get rid of your garden waste.
So far, over 3,000 residents have paid for the service, which means they can have garden waste collected from their property in a wheeled bin every fortnight, on the same day as the normal refuse and recycling collections. The service costs just £32 per year or £30 if you pay by direct debit. More information can be found by going to www.southoxon.gov.uk/gardenwaste.
Residents can use their wheeled bins for all types of garden waste such as weeds, hedge clippings, dead flowers and grass cuttings. All garden waste collected will be composted locally and used to improve local farmland.
Please note the following services have stopped:
Green Recycling Boxes
Replaced by new scheme in June 2009-
Eco-sacks
South Oxfordshire no longer collects eco-sacks for composting. -
Green Community Waste Service
South Oxfordshire will no longer collect green waste at the community sites - Clear recycling bags
Other ways to dispose of garden waste:
Home Composting
For advise on home composting please go to www.recyclenow.com/compost. The subsidised compost bin initiative is no longer open.
County Council Waste Recycling Centres
Garden waste can also be taken to one of the County Council’s Waste Recycling Centres where it will be composted. The nearest centre is Drayton, Steventon Road OX14 4LA.
For more information on this scheme visit www.oxfordshire.gov.uk
Bus Passes/Tokens
We have application forms for bus passes and tokens at The Information Centre. The scheme is administered by South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) so all the forms have to be returned to them, the address is on the form. They in turn will send out the passes and tokens when the application is processed.
The new bus pass scheme allows those that have it to travel on busses all round the country, though not on national express and other similar services such as the coaches to London from Oxford. It can be used on most Park & Ride services. Bus passes will only usually be accepted after 9am or in some districts 9.30am.
You can apply for a bus pass from the age of 60, though not necessarily on your birthday. To apply for tokens which can be used on buses, trains and taxis, you must be 70 years of age or be registered disabled. Some carers are also eligible for tokens if the person they care from has them. You are not permitted to have bus pass and tokens.
For more information contact the Concessionary Fares Department at SODC on 0845 6122422, email assistedtravelsodc@capita.co.uk or Sue at the Information Centre.
Planning Applications
As a statutory consultee the Town Council's Information Centre holds hard copies of upcoming planning applications in Didcot. They are available to view during the opening hours of the Information Centre. If you wish to view an application you should contact the Information Centre to ensure that we have the application you are interested in, in the office.
Alternatively all local planning applications can be viewed online by visiting the South Oxfordshire District Council planning pages.
We do not hold past or old planning applications.
Ask the Information Centre!
You may have seen our regular slot in the Didcot Dynamo where we answer many of your questions regarding local services. If you have a question then please get in contact and your question may appear in the Dynamo. Our contact details are below.
Contact details:
Sue Atkins - Information Centre Supervisor
Didcot Town Council
Britwell Road
Didcot
OX11 7HN
Telephone: (01235) 812637
Fax: (01235) 512837
Email: satkins@didcot.gov.uk
