The latest edition of the e:newsletter from London Luton Airport has been published:

Inform October 2018 NEW

As many of you will now be aware, there was a fire at the hay barn beyond Pitstone Green Farm at the weekend.

The fire service has now handed the site back to the National Trust.  The fire continues to smoulder and will remain hot for several days.  The barn has suffered substantial damage and there is a risk of a serious collapse.  The asbestos roofing on the barn has exploded as a result of the fire and there is debris covering a substantial area. Whilst the risk from the asbestos is low, it will require specialist clear up and removal.

National Trust have erected temporary fencing around the barn and padlocked the gate that leads from the Pitstone Green Farm into the Windmill fields.  There is no right of way between the farm and the fields. It is essential that people DO NOT try and go to look at the damage.

This incident is being treated as a crime.  If anyone has any information that may help  identify who is responsible for this act, we would be most grateful if they would call it in to the police on 101.  The crime reference number associated with this incident is 43180351690.

BVCL 100 CLUB
Now in its 5th Year!
Come and join our many prizewinners and help to support your local Library. Three guaranteed cash prizes every month!
Why not pick up a pack at the Library in Ivinghoe? Or email treasurer@bvcl.org.uk for further details and an online application form.

Beacon Villages Community Library
Run by the community, for the community
www.bvcl.org.uk
General enquiries: info@bvcl.org.uk 01296 387890
Committee enquiries: secretary@bvcl.org.uk

Opening times:
Tuesday 2pm – 5pm
Wednesday 10am – 12pm
Thursday 2pm – 5pm
Friday 2pm – 7pm
Saturday 10am – 1pm

Every year, Rennie Grove Hospice Care bring their Santa Float to Pitstone, bringing seasonal cheer to our residents and raising vital funds for the hospice.

This year, the scheduled dates are:

Mon 17 Dec – Pitstone 1 (starts Westfield & Corfe Road)

Tues 18 Dec  – Pitstone 2 (starts Cheddington Road / Marsworth Rd)

As always, these lovely events can only take place if enough local volunteers are willing to walk around the village with the float, carrying out the door-to-door collections.

If you are willing to be a helper (elves) please email Alison Parker at Rennie Grove on : Alison.parker@renniegrove.org

Thank you.

This year the Friends of Pitstone Church will be holding their third Christmas Memory Tree event.

As both previous ones have been dogged by bad weather, the event will take place on two Sundays, the 2nd and 9th December, 12 to 4pm.

The choir will be singing at 3pm on 2nd.

Come and visit the church to include someone you like to remember on our tree, enjoy the decorated church and sample our mulled wine and mince pies.

A warm welcome is promised to all.

Donations will be welcome towards the upkeep of our beautiful church.

This Christmas why not support your local Scouts and save yourself some time posting Christmas cards around the villages by using the Scout Christmas post instead?

You can buy the special Scout stamps from St Marys Christmas Market on 17 November and then from local retailers.  Stick them on your cards and post them in one of our many special post boxes dotted around the villages.

The Scouts will ensure that all cards posted by the ‘last post’ (5pm on Friday 14 December) will be delivered across the weekend of 15 and 16 December 2018.

Look out for the posters, check their facebook page (1st Ivinghoe & Pitstone Scout Group) and village web sites for more information.

BCC have just advised that Stocks Road will be closed from 8-12/11/18 for carriageway repairs.

Please use Northfield Road to access Aldbury during this period.

More information from NHS on the flu vaccine is available here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/

Help protect yourself and your family.  Vaccines are available in the village via your GP or via the Windmill Pharmacy in Ivinghoe.  If you don’t qualify for a free vaccine, they are available at a cost of £10 from the pharmacy, where no appointment is necessary – just pop in.

I am writing with great enthusiasm to inform you that the new Draft AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) Management Plan is open for public consultation and we would welcome both you and your residents thoughts on how you think the AONB should best be cared for and looked after.

The new Plan covers a range of issues from biodiversity and wildlife conservation to looking after the special character of the Chilterns villages, managing access and recreation and helping local businesses to thrive.  You might be concerned about climate change or the loss of hedgerow trees, perhaps it’s the impact of housing and infrastructure development or the loss of wildlife due to poor condition of chalk streams. If you have particular concerns about the area or ideas for how best to protect it and use it, we want you to have your say.

• The draft Plan can be viewed, and any comments submitted at: https://www.chilternsaonb.org/management-plan-review
• The deadline for feedback is 31 December

It is also worth noting that if you only have a few minutes to spare, you don’t have to read the entire document. We’d particularly like to hear peoples thoughts on the Vision and General Policies set out on pages 15-18 of the Plan. Any feedback people are able to provide would be welcomed.

Bucks County Council announcement:

AVDC, and the other district councils, announcement:

We are disappointed that the Secretary of State, James Brokenshire, has announced he is supporting a new single unitary district council that will cover the whole of Buckinghamshire, excluding Milton Keynes.

The Secretary of State has previously stated there was a need to ensure broad consensus and we do not believe this has been achieved with the new single unitary district proposal.

All four district councils, as well as many key stakeholders, firmly believe that the two unitary authority approach, based on the two different economic geographies in Buckinghamshire, is the best option for protecting, delivering and transforming the services needed both now and in the future.

We will now be considering our position, seeking further advice and reviewing the options available to us.

Bucks CC have today announced a consultation on the future of School Bus Services within the County. One of the 3 proposals on the table for discussion directly affects the Ivinghoe Division, including Ivinghoe, Ivinghoe Aston, Pitstone, Cheddington and Edlesborough.

All parents are strongly advised to complete the online survey at the following web address

https://democracy.buckscc.gov.uk/mgConsultationDisplay.aspx?ID=8420

There are some background documents available as follows

1. Page 5 of this document explains the ‘Ivinghoe Promise’ and the effect of its removal, https://democracy.buckscc.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=123660
2. Further background information is also available at
   https://democracy.buckscc.gov.uk/mgConsultationDisplay.aspx?ID=8420

There was a series of public meetings and drop in events about this, the nearest was being held at Cheddington School, High St., Cheddington – Thursday 8th November 2018 at 7pm.

Subsequent update (20/11/18):

In Pitstone, the national statutory guidelines continue to apply, ie the child would qualify for free school transport to the NEAREST secondary school (ie Tring) if that school was more than 3 miles away/unsafe walking route.  If parents elect to send their child to an alternative school, they do not qualify for free transport.  If the nearest school does not have capacity to offer the child a place, the child will qualify for free transport to the second nearest eligible school (ie Cottesloe).

BCC are also consulting on the possibility of utilising public transport for some routes, rather than dedicated school buses.  Many Pitstone children attending the Aylesbury schools already utilise public transport, as this tends to be cheaper than purchasing a ‘paid for’ place on the school buses.  A number of residents have raised queries regarding this element of the consultation and Anne Wight, County Councillor, has clarified:

https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/council-and-democracy/finance/budget/budget-consultation-201920/

The major services we provide in Buckinghamshire play a part in most people’s lives, whether that’s through education and learning, roads and transport, health and social care, household waste recycling or just using our country parks.

Our Strategic Plan sets out our clear aims that we want to achieve for our 536,000 residents; these are:

• safeguarding our vulnerable children and adults
• creating opportunities for everyone and building self-reliance
• ensuring Buckinghamshire is a thriving and attractive place to live and work into the future

However, in working to accomplish these we are facing some very big challenges. Our population is growing rapidly including, for example, more young children needing school places, more elderly people as people live longer, and the type of services that people need from us is changing and demand is also growing. The increase in people we need to support means overall higher costs for us. Buckinghamshire is also growing in terms of housing developments with thousands more homes set to be built across the county. This brings additional pressure on us to provide new roads, schools and other infrastructure to serve these new and growing communities.

We are amongst the increasing number of councils who now no longer receive any central government funding for day to day services, which means that despite having made savings in our budget of £102 million over the last five years which has helped us manage our increasing costs so far, we will need to make further cost savings in order to balance the books next year.

We have statutory responsibilities – things we that we must legally do, like safeguarding vulnerable children and adults. There is also a long list of other work that, although not set by Government, we still want to do to ensure all our communities are safe, prosperous and healthy. The funding for the running of our schools is not set or controlled by the Council; this goes directly to schools from government.

We are now working to set our budget for the next financial year, 2019/20 and beyond. In doing this we will need to make some difficult decisions about the level of spending across the board – making changes in how we provide some services, in places reducing what was done previously, and in other areas working smarter and becoming more commercially-minded to maintain the level of service.

The next few weeks is your opportunity to help shape what we spend and where we spend it across all of the services we provide for you. Please give us your views; your input is important and will help decide spending on the services you receive next year.

The survey is open until 14 November and you can complete the short online survey here which will take less than 10 minutes. If you need it, you can get support to complete the online survey at one of our main libraries – these are Amersham, Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, Buckingham, Chesham, Hazlemere, High Wycombe, Marlow and Princes Risborough.

We are ready and waiting to hear your views.

Thank you.

Councillor Martin Tett

Leader of Buckinghamshire County Council

The Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity Tree of Light commemorations are open to anyone in our community who wishes to spend some time quietly remembering friends and family members who have died. The ceremonies are open to all, regardless of religion or spirituality, and it doesn’t matter whether your loved ones were cared for by Florence Nightingale Hospice or died at home or in hospital.

“The Tree of Light events are designed to give people a space where a part of the season is set aside to commemorate loved ones,” says Ann Kenny, the new Bereavement Support Team Lead at the Hospice. “Christmas can often be a time of conflicting emotions, or it can be so busy that those who are grieving can’t find a time to process feelings of sadness which may come to the fore at this time of year.”

There are a number of different ways to commemorate loved ones through the Hospice’s Tree of Light events. Sponsor a light in memory of them and write a dedication which will appear in the Books of Honour which can be viewed at the Hospice in December and early January, and at the two Tree of Light events. Or come along to one or both Tree of Light services which will take place at the Head Office of Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity at Walton Lodge, Walton Street, Aylesbury, at 5pm on Sunday 2nd December and at St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Buckingham at 4pm on Saturday 8th December.

To sponsor a light in memory of someone, please call our Fundraising Team on 01296 429 975 to request a Tree of Light Form or find out more at www.fnhospice.org.uk/tree-of-light

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) is seeking volunteers to join its Independent Custody Visiting Scheme in Aylesbury.

An Independent Custody Visitor (ICV) is a role performed by volunteers from the local community checking on the welfare and treatment of those being held in police custody.  ICV’s make unannounced visits to police stations to observe the conditions in which people are being held and, importantly, talk with willing detainees.

Volunteers typically make one custody visit a month ensuring that detainees have been offered food and drink, they are warm enough, cells are in a reasonable condition, that religious and cultural needs have been considered, have been informed of their rights and know the reason why they are in custody.  Any problems are brought to the attention of custody staff and the OPCC.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Anthony Stansfeld said ‘ICVs play a vital role in ensuring there is confidence in the way that detainees are being held and treated in police stations across the Thames Valley.  We currently have a number of vacancies in Aylesbury and I would encourage anyone who is looking for a rewarding role within their local community to apply.’

Applicants will be invited for interview and successful candidates will complete an induction programme before beginning the role.

ICVs must be 18 or over and should be independent of the police. Serving police officers or members of police or OPCC staff are not eligible to apply.

Anyone interested in applying can download an application form at www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/independent-custody-visitors/

Closing date for applications is 31^st October 2018

Please find below a link to the above consultation on admission changes: http://waddesdonschool.com/admissions/statutory-consultation-on-proposed-changes-to-admission-arrangements/

Anglian Water will be installing a pumping station at the T-junction of Cheddington Road and Wellington Place, and installing pipework up Cheddington Road to join the mains sewer by Chequers Close.   These works will bring much needed first-time sewerage provision to the properties at Cooks Wharf and Cheddington Road.

Phase I & 2 – Cheddington Road road closure (between T-junction and Chequers Close), 24 hour, from 7/11/18 to 21/12/18 and then again from 2/1/19 to 10/1/19 (with works removed over Christmas).

Phase 3 – Wellington Place road closure from 11/1/19 to 25/2/19, 24 hour closure.

Please be patient during this period of works.  There will be no access (apart from for home owners) and diversions will be in place throughout so you will need to utilise alternative routes.

Both the school bus service and the public bus services have been informed by Bucks County Council – please contact them direct if you have any queries regarding timetable changes.

Love In The Countryside is back on and the hunt for rural singles who are looking for love but find it difficult to meet potential partners.

If this sounds like you, or someone you know, email the producers on loveinthecountryside@boundlessproductions.tv

Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC) is once again taking part in Recycle Now’s national Recycle Week campaign. The WRAP initiative will run for one week from Monday 24 September, tasking residents to go above and beyond to protect the environment, whilst also promoting the new do/does tagline: ‘Recycling. Aylesbury Vale does. Because it matters.’

With a greater motivation than ever before to reduce unnecessary plastics, the fifteenth annual Recycle Week is encouraging people all over the UK to further build on this momentum.

Aylesbury Vale is a district of recyclers, with a current recycling rate of 52%, that’s 2% higher than in 2016/17. However, there are some simple things that can make the Vale’s recycling even better. Remembering that items can be recycled from all over the household, and not just from the kitchen, is a great way to boost recycling in the home. Shampoo and body wash containers, perfume bottles, cleaning product bottles and toilet rolls are often forgotten about when it comes to recycling.

What and how we recycle really matters. Recycling an item rather than throwing it in the general rubbish bin means that it will be dealt with in the most environmentally-friendly way, keeping materials in use and out of the environment.

Councillor Sir Beville Stanier, Cabinet Member for Waste and Licensing, said: “I would like to say well done and thank you to the residents of Aylesbury Vale for their commitment to recycling. More and more of us are recycling, helping to build a cleaner and greener district.”

Craig Stephens, campaign manager for Recycle Now, said: “This year we’ve all taken more notice of our impact on the environment, and realised that recycling is part of reducing that impact. So come on Aylesbury Vale, keep up the great work and make the district’s recycling better than ever before!”

A 10-week consultation to capture the public’s views on proposed ways to deliver early help services to support vulnerable families and children in Buckinghamshire launches on Thursday, October 4.

Early help services should provide families experiencing difficulties with the right help at the right time in a proactive way, before their problems escalate and become harder to resolve. With targeted support, families are able to deal with the emerging difficulties they face, such as domestic abuse, poor mental health, neglect and substance misuse. A connected approach to early help, with the Council working closely with its partner organisations, means families are far more likely to avoid future social care intervention. Evidence indicates that an estimated 31% of 0-19 year olds in Buckinghamshire may benefit from early help support, and the current service is not reaching all of them. It is vital for the Council to focus its resources on helping them.

Early help is everybody’s business and local organisations such as schools, the health authority, voluntary organisations and district councils already contribute to it significantly. This consultation relates only to the proposed changes to the County Council’s early help services, not health services.

In 2017/18 only a small number (15%) of the families using the Council’s early help services had an identified need for support. An even smaller number (5%) of families, with children aged 0-5, who used children’s centres had an identified need for support in 2017/18.

With the County Council having to reduce costs across services because of public sector funding reductions, it wants your views to help decide how to reach and support children and families in need as effectively as possible.

The consultation proposes three options for the service, which have been informed by data on current service use and pre-consultation work done by talking to existing service users. There has also been learning from successful authorities up and down the country who have previously adopted similar plans to our favoured option. These authorities now have targeted, proactive and connected services which have seen dramatic improvements in their early help service delivery.

Warren Whyte, Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “The research and evidence tells us we are not reaching enough of the children and families most in need with our existing Early Help service. This has to change. We know Children’s Centres are popular, yet a small percentage of people currently using them (5% in 2017/18) actually have an identified need for their support.

“To reach the people most in need and provide the best possible early help service, we must make services more connected, proactive and targeted. This way, the money spent on the service can go further to help the children and families who would most benefit. A new early help service can be about far more than physical buildings – it can ensure we give the right professional support to children and families at the right time. We need to help people before their problems escalate and become harder to resolve. With no central government funding, the Council has less money than ever before and must make every penny count toward helping those children and families most in need.

“Our preferred option (Option B) would retain the use of some existing children’s centre sites, expanding their offer of support as Family Centres, and strengthen all aspects of the Early Help service to deliver more targeted support to people in need. This would let us work with health providers, schools and others to ensure families get the right service at the right time.

“But we need to know what the public think – particularly those using early help services or who may benefit from them. The views we hear will matter in helping us decide on or even reshape our proposals.”

The consultation runs until midnight on Thursday, December 13 2018. Access to the online survey and supporting information, including more detail on the proposed options, will be available at www.buckscc.gov.uk/earlyhelp.  No changes will be made to early help services until September 2019.

Several public meetings are being planned during the consultation period to support people in understanding the options in filling out the survey. More information will be given about these soon

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On the 8th of October 2018 BCC/TfB plan to start work on the traffic signals at Brownlow Canal Bridge; this work is necessary to replace life expired equipment to refurbish the traffic signals and a road closure will be needed to provide safe working space.

The B488 will be closed between Station Road, Cheddington and High Street, Ivinghoe from 9.30am to 3pm Monday to Friday starting Monday 8th October to Tuesday 23rd October.

Access will be permitted to residents, businesses and visitors but only as far as the bridge, motor vehicles will not be allowed over the bridge.

The road will be open overnight and at weekends with temporary traffic lights.

The signed diversion route will use the A4146, B440 and B489 for both directions.

The closure end date may be subject to change if works are delayed, for example by bad weather.

During these works there may be some delays and we are sorry for any inconvenience caused, if you should have any problems during these works please contact us online at www.fixmystreet.buckscc.gov.uk or in an emergency call 01296 382416.

We want to help local residents like you to live long, happy and healthy lives. That’s why
we’re working with Active Bucks and other partners to encourage older residents across
Buckinghamshire to try a new physical activity or sport session.

Keeping active as we age is really important for our physical and mental health. It can help us keep up with the grandkids, provide a way to regularly see friends, ensure our minds stay sharp by learning new skills and ward off many preventable diseases.

Current guidelines recommend that people aged 65 and over should aim to be moderately active for 150 minutes each week, that means an activity which raises your heart rate and makes you breathe faster and feel warmer.  Government recommendations also include two sessions of activity each week which
strengthens the major muscles, like digging the garden, Pilates or carrying heavy shopping bags.

There are hundreds of activities taking place across the county to help you achieve these guidelines, and through Active Bucks, your first session is free. Try your hand at activities like nordic walking, gym, swimming, dance, martial arts, badminton, tennis, and yoga.

Ian 67, a retired graphic designer from Steeple Claydon tried Nordic Walking last year and has been hooked ever since.  “From the first session in the cold wind and pouring rain, I loved it! I knew it was doing me good. I feel fitter than I have done for years, I have less aches and pains and I have lost significant weight without any change to my diet. I am racing up hills and inclines where before I would be puffing and panting. It feels exhilarating to get the heart rate up.”  According to Ian, it’s the social which makes it enjoyable with feeling fitter and healthier an added bonus. However with only two other men in the group, Ian is keen to get more men involved.   “It was the social thing more than anything; we have grown together as a group of people.  We didn’t know each other before and now we all look forward to the session.  My wife Val will tell you that I get really annoyed if I have to miss a session of this. So the big message as far as I’m concerned is lets get more men doing it.”

Like Ian, you can feel the social and physical benefits of being more active. Sign up for an activity session today. www.activebucks.co.uk

Do you remember last year’s yarnbombing? That was the Ivinghoe and Pitstone WI celebrating their 100 year birthday.

We now want to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the end of the Great War, in a similar way but this time we’d like to invite community members to get involved as well.

We invite you to make poppies which we will use to decorate areas of both villages; they can be knitted, crochet, sewn, cut out of fabric, card whatever your inspiration creates, although they do need to stand up to the November weather!

Please click on link:

Within the last couple of weeks the Canals and Rivers Trust have undertaken a survey of Brownlow Bridge, Ivinghoe. Ivinghoe Parish Council have had the following response from the Canals and Rivers Trust with respect to the survey.

‘We have asked for a permanent 18 tonne limit to be introduced to prevent damage to the bridge, on the strength of the assessment we have undertaken’.  

Bucks CC have said they welcome the Parish Council to work with them regarding this matter. 

Thames Valley Police have received recent reports of a scam, where residents are told that there is a problem with their drains.

Victims are being contacted by people claiming to be either from Thames water or Dyno Rod, saying that their drains are blocking and require specialist equipment to clean them, costing around £500 to hire.

At one property in Wendover the money was handed over and we are aware of several other attempts in Aylesbury.

If you receive an unsolicited phone call, or someone comes to your property, don’t always believe what they are saying.

Scammer will try and get your confidence and may use technical information, to make it sound like they know what they are talking about.

Consider using a call-blocking service, which will stop calls that aren’t in your address book coming through, unless you authorise them.

You can find more advice and information by visiting the Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards or Action Fraud website.

You can also download a copy of the Little Book of Big Scams  (attached below).

Please look out for vulnerable friends, neighbours or family and make sure they know how to deal with unsolicited telephone calls.

If you have been a victim of this or another type of fraud you can contact Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040

Press release information from AVDC:

Highways England has today announced that Corridor B is its preferred route for the proposed Cambridge – Milton Keynes – Oxford Expressway, following a programme of stakeholder engagement. This is the first of a number of key decisions that will be taken in respect of this locally and nationally important project. Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC) says today’s announcement is important in helping us to start to understand more about the government’s plan for the area and to continue to work with partners to understand the potential implications with its members, local communities and partners.

The expressway is just one of the components of the government’s strategy for the Cambridge – Milton Keynes – Oxford growth corridor and is of great relevance to our residents and businesses as approximately 70% of the new road will pass through Aylesbury Vale.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Angela Macpherson, said:

“Today’s announcement provides clarity on the government’s preferred corridor. Whilst this is a scheme of national importance, it is essential that Highways England engages with us and our communities in the critical next stage of this project that will be focused on determining the detailed route within the identified corridor.

“We now need to take time to properly assess and understand the corridor decision and discuss the implications with our local communities, members and partners, in particular, Buckinghamshire County Council. This cannot be another HS2, and we will press the government to understand the benefits this infrastructure can bring to the Vale.

“The government has identified that the expressway can help to unlock growth across the corridor and we want to work with government to help shape good growth and create successful and sustainable places with our local communities.”

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At times our 101 number has to taken a back seat to our ability to answer 999 calls. If you wish to report a non-urgent issue to the police then you can always consider using our online reporting tool – https://mymsg.eu/53hj

St Mary’s Church in Ivinghoe run the local food bank and are in need of donations, particularly tinned meat, cereal, tinned fruit, biscuits and cup-a-soup.

If you are able to help, the church is open during the daytime each day and donations can be left in the box just inside the door on the table.

Windmill Pre-school are excited to announce we are current entrants in the local Tesco ‘Bags of Help’ scheme until 31st October 2018

We are up against 2 other local causes in a bid to win funds to enable us to purchase a range of equipment and train staff in the practices of Forest School, so the children can learn and explore all-year round in a woodland environment

All we ask is that every time you shop at Tesco in either Tring, Berkhamsted or Northchurch, before 31st October 2018 you take a blue token and please please please pop it in our section to help us win!

Windmill Pre-school is a registered charity run by, and for, the local community. The only way for Windmill Pre-School to grow and for us to develop our facilities is through fundraising! We would like to raise enough money so the children at Windmill Pre-School can experience and develop through Forest School.

Forest schools offer an excellent opportunity for outdoor play and exploration all-year round in a woodland environment, with child-led activities that aim at guiding the children’s development. Activities enable children to choose which direction to take and they are able to develop their own problem-solving skills as well as their ability to work within teams. It is an excellent tool for children’s social development as they learn how to share their ideas, listen to others and build their confidence.

Thank you everyone in advance, we are extremely grateful for every bit of support!

Please note that a bridge inspection is currently planned for the railway bridge crossing Cheddington Road on 23 September 2018 and therefore that section of Cheddington Road will be closed between 7.30am and 2pm.

The rest of Cheddington Road and Cooks Wharf will be open to traffic as usual so there are no access issues for residents.

The 167 service from Ivinghoe to Leighton Buzzard which runs on a Tuesday only will now be operated by Star Travel instead of Red Line.   This link takes you to the Bucks County Council bus change information page: https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/buses-and-trains/changes-to-bus-services/

There are no changes to the bus timetable (stopping at 9.04 by Albion Road on the way back, arriving back at Albion Road at 12.28).  The full timetable can be found here: https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/media/4511762/167.pdf

The latest edition of the magazine is available here:

FLT-COM-004-18 Inform August 2018

Previous editions are available here:

https://www.london-luton.co.uk/corporate/community/noise/inform-newsletter

The message behind the campaign is that if it’s your rubbish, it’s your responsibility to dispose of it properly and legally. Otherwise dumpers face the possibility of a £400 fixed penalty notice or, if court action is taken, typically fines of several thousands of pounds or even a custodial sentence.

The S.C.R.A.P campaign also features useful advice for both householders and businesses to thoroughly check anyone who they use to dispose of waste on their behalf. Failure to do so means people are not complying with Duty of Care requirements and they may get a nasty surprise if their waste is found fly tipped.

The campaign title stands for Suspect, Check, Refuse, Ask and Paperwork  – a helpful five-point checklist to help people stay on the right side of the law.

More information available here:

https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/news/lets-scrap-fly-tipping-for-good-says-bucks-waste-partnership/

and here:

http://www.recycle4bucks.co.uk/fly-tipping/

Council to consult on ‘realistic’ options to make household recycling centres affordable.

An eight week consultation starts August 28 to hear the public’s views on a series of proposed cost-saving and future growth measures to make the County’s household recycling centres (local tips) affordable for the future.

The ten centres are well used and extremely popular, however, the County Council is having to reduce costs across all its services as funding reductions in the public sector continue to bite.

National figures show that in comparison with other areas, Buckinghamshire has a much higher number of sites serving its population. In addition, centres currently take certain waste like rubble, soil, plasterboard and car tyres for free where other Councils make a variety of disposal charges.

Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment, Bill Chapple OBE said the review was a ‘reluctant but necessary step’.

He said: “We have an extremely tough budget to meet from April 2019 onwards and this means facing up to some difficult decisions. There definitely needs to be changes, but my overall aim is to retain a service that still works for the majority of people going forward.

“Looking at all the data available, the responses to our user surveys and what other councils do, and bearing in mind the views of residents at four focus groups we held in July, there are some preferred options that we are setting out in the consultation. Realistically, without these, we’re not going to get anywhere near our financial savings target.

“For example, there is a proposal to permanently close at least one site, with the preferred option being Bledlow. We are also including other proposals for closing two sites, Bledlow and Burnham, and to bring in selected weekday closures on days when the sites at Burnham, Chesham and Aylesbury (Rabans Lane) are less used.

“We’re also proposing to introduce charging at all sites for specific waste that we don’t legally have to accept for free. I completely understand that people don’t like being faced with extra charges, however, I have taken into account the fact that less than a third of waste falls into this category, so the charges won’t affect everyone and it also brings us into line with what other councils do.

“Of course, there are other areas where we have genuine choice and that’s where an open and honest consultation is so important. For example, we’re looking for views on which two weekdays people would prefer Burnham (if this site remains open), Chesham and Aylesbury (Rabans Lane) to be closed, and also what Buckinghamshire residents think about people from outside the county using our recycling centres, which is of course an extra cost to local county taxpayers.”

The Council also plans to extend the operation of reuse shops (currently at Aston Clinton and High Wycombe and run by South Bucks Hospice) so more can be recycled and sold with the money going to charity.

Bill added: “I hope people will see the reasons for the changes I have to bring in and I look forward to hearing views on the areas where there is genuine and open choice.”

The consultation runs until midnight on Monday, October 22. Access to the online survey and supporting information is available at www.buckscc.gov.uk/hrc-review  A series of drop-in events is also planned in local libraries so people can find out more details about the proposals.

The schedule of ‘drop-in’ events is as follows:

Bucks County Show (BCC stand) – Thursday, August 30 – 8am-6pm
High Wycombe library – Friday, September 7 – 10am-1pm
Princes Risborough library – Tuesday, September 11 – 10am-1pm
Aylesbury Library (currently in the study centre) Thursday, September 20 – 10am-1pm
Buckingham library – Wednesday, September 26 – 10am-1pm
Burnham library – Thursday, October 4 – 10am-1pm
Chesham library – Monday, October 8 – 2-5pm
Beaconsfield library – 11th Oct – 10am-1pm

The letter from AVDC confirms that the Pitstone bin collection day will be moving from Thursday to Wednesday.  The brown garden waste collection service will also move to a Wednesday, on the same week as the blue lidded recycling.

The first new collection date will be Wednesday 5 September for blue-lidded recycling bin, food bin and brown garden waste bin (if you are subscribed to the garden waste collection service).

The second collection date will be Wednesday 12 September for green-lidded waste bin and food bin.

The frequency of collections doesn’t change.   Please ensure all bins are put out by 6.30am.

Every resident will have a letter from AVDC, plus collection calendar and information about recycling.   Alternatively, you can check collection service on the AVDC website via https://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/recycle

Please can you let your councillors and community aware of the online event we are holding on 10/09/18 at 19:00 hours.

It is essentially an online forum to discuss any policing issues with their neighbourhood team, in the same manner as a community forum would take place. We are trialling this as a way to get a higher engagement and help towards setting the areas policing priorities.

People can login to the chat, from 7pm on 10/9/18, via the following link:-

http://thamesvp.coverpage.coveritlive.com/

Regards

PC 5688 Matt Craker

Neighbourhood Supervisor

Great Brickhill, Wing and Ivinghoe District

This week, Aylesbury Vale customers will receive a letter, sent directly to every household, from Aylesbury Vale District Council. The letter explains the upcoming new bin collection schedules (coming into force in September) and changes to the recycling and waste service, and contains a new bin collection calendar. We have provided customers with all the information to their new recycling and waste service, alongside some pre-empted FAQs, to help ensure this transformation goes as smoothly as possible. However, we do expect a few teething problems as the crews and our customers become accustomed to the changes.

Residents across Thames Valley are invited to participate in the next Police and Crime Panel meeting by submitting questions for Police and Crime Commissioner Anthony Stansfeld. Anyone who lives or works in the Thames Valley area can submit a question prior to the meeting, which takes place from 11am on Friday 7 September at The Gateway, the head office of Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC). During the meeting, the Panel will be looking at the role of the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, in particular, the unit’s work on tackling ‘county lines’ (gangs and organised crime networks using children or vulnerable adults to carry and sell drugs) in the Thames Valley area. However, questions from members of the public can be about anything relating to the work of the Police and Crime Panel. The Panel examines and reviews how PCC Anthony Stansfeld carries out his responsibilities of ensuring that Thames Valley Police runs effectively and that Chief Constable Francis Habgood is held to account. The Panel also supports the PCC in his work. Councillor Mark Winn, AVDC Cabinet Member for Communities, said:
“I encourage residents to take advantage of this opportunity to ask questions about policing in Aylesbury Vale. The Panel will try and answer your question during the meeting or will provide a written response after the meeting. So if you have any concerns about local policing, please take this chance to raise them with the Panel.”
To participate in the Panel, please email your question to contact@thamesvalleypcp.org.uk by Monday 3 September.

AVDC have issued the Annual Household Canvass forms to all households in the Vale.  You can respond online, by telephone, text or via a provided reply paid envelope.  You must respond, even if you have no changes to make.

Your prompt response is requested, otherwise the costs involved in conducting the annual canvass increase.  If you don’t respond to the first letter, you will be sent a reminder, if you don’t respond to the reminder they will send an Electoral Canvasser to collect the information in person, and if you still don’t provide the required information you can be fined up to £1000.

Click here for more information on the AVDC website: https://aylesburyvale.moderngov.co.uk/mgGeneric.aspx?MD=mgannualectoralcanvass