Buckinghamshire Council is reminding subscribers to its garden waste service that collections will soon be suspended for a 6-week period. This is an annual suspension that comes in during the winter when garden waste is at a minimal.
The last possible collection date for garden waste is Friday 13 December (normal collection days apply) and collections will resume from week commencing Monday 27 January.
Thomas Broom, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said:
“Even though the weather can still seem mild, the suspension dates are planned out well in advance to match the period when garden waste is typically at its lowest. During the suspension period, we train staff and redirect crews to allow for the increased amount of general waste and recycling over the Christmas holidays.
“Residents who need to dispose of garden waste during the suspension period can still do so at any of our 10 Household Recycling Centres free of charge. All sites are open 9am to 4pm.”
To find out which days your local Household Recycling Centre is open and further details of what can and cannot be taken to a centre, visit: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling
Thomas added: “Garden waste collected from homes across Buckinghamshire or taken to Household Recycling Centres is processed locally into high-quality compost. Residents can buy Community Compost at all of our Household Recycling Centres. All the proceeds from the sales of the Community Compost are set aside for good causes with an annual funding award expected in April 2025.”
Buckinghamshire Council has been actively engaging with unpaid carers and professionals across the county to ensure the support provided truly meets their needs. This valuable feedback has been instrumental in shaping the new ‘All-Age Carers Strategy’.
Now, they want to hear from you! Whether you are an unpaid carer, a professional, or a resident, your input is crucial. Have they identified the right priorities for carers? Do you feel the strategy addresses the most pressing issues? Complete the ‘All-Age Carers Strategy’ survey today and help shape the future of carer support in Buckinghamshire. With an estimated 55,000 carers across Buckinghamshire, your feedback can make a significant difference in the lives of carers and those they care for across the county.
Toy Hub’s mission is to ensure every local child has a gift to open at Christmas, by providing parents and caregivers with unwrapped, age appropriate gifts.
They are on the look out for a local partner that may be able to provide year-round storage space so that donated gifts can be stored, and presents purchased when they are less expensive throughout the year, rather than solely in the run up to Christmas when everything is more expensive.
If you think you might be able to help, please reach out to Toy Hub: https://www.toyhub.org/
We have been working with our partners to set up Pension Credit Surgeries to help those who may qualify to apply for Pension Credit. These free surgeries will be run from libraries and other locations across the county between now and 21 December, with advisors available to answer questions and guide people through the process of applying for Pension Credit. You can find out more about these surgeries, including a list of dates and locations on the council website.
Calling Bucks pensioners – can we help reduce your energy bills?
Buckinghamshire Council has extended the eligibility criteria of one of its key programmes to help lower heating bills, following the government’s decision to remove the Winter Fuel Payment from the majority of Buckinghamshire pensioners.
The council’s ‘Energy Doctor’ scheme involves a home visit from one of their Energy Doctors to assess ‘easy interventions’ to lower energy bills, funded by the council, such as fitting LED light bulbs and draught proofing.
Now the council has extended the scheme to include all residents of State Pension age whose homes have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rated D-G.
It’s part of a range of help the council wants local pensioners to access if losing their Winter Fuel Payment leaves them struggling to meet heating costs. The Winter Fuel Payment will only be made this year to pensioners receiving Pension Credit or another related benefit. It means some 95,000 pensioners in Buckinghamshire will no longer receive this payment so Buckinghamshire Council is working hard to remind those residents about what other support is available.
The council’s Energy Doctors have visited more than 800 Buckinghamshire homes in the last 18 months, and the energy saving measures they have put into those homes are saving each household on average an estimated £129 on annual energy bills.
The Energy Doctors use low-cost ‘retrofit’ measures to reduce energy costs, such as:
draught proofing
installing LED lightbulbs
installing secondary glazing
providing heated throws
installing aerated shower heads and shower timers
Thomas Broom is Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment. He said:
“As a council we have made clear our extremely strong objections to the government removing this critical support for pensioners and have written directly to the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to ask that this policy is reversed. We are also doing all we can to support our local pensioners as we move into the colder months and expanding our Energy Doctor scheme is one way we can help.
“Please find out from our team if you’re eligible for a visit as our Energy Doctor could make a real difference in helping to make heating the home more affordable. I also urge family and friends of local pensioners to make sure they’re aware of our Energy Doctor scheme which has already helped so many local households – please spread the word!”
Bucks History Festival returns to celebrate our history and heritage
Buckinghamshire History Festival returns next month for its ninth annual celebration of the county’s history and cultural heritage.
The festival, organised by Buckinghamshire Archives, sees the Archives team come together with partner organisations from across the county to present a huge range of events to see and do throughout November. Buckinghamshire’s past will be brought to life and the untold stories of its people and places will be uncovered.
Council welcomes new £2.4m funding boost to support struggling households
Buckinghamshire Council has welcomed the news that it will continue to receive Government funding until March 2025 to help support households and residents in Buckinghamshire who are struggling with cost of living pressures.
The funding has been allocated through the Government’s Household Support Fund and enables local authorities to use the money to directly support low-income households and those experiencing financial hardship with energy costs, food costs, and other household essentials.
The Household Support Fund is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions and has been used in Buckinghamshire to support residents via the Council’s Helping Hand service, which processes applications for financial help. The money has also been used to support local organisations including charities and other schemes to target priority groups who are struggling the most.
Start your journey to adoption this National Adoption Week
If you are interested in adoption, now could be the perfect time to start your adoption journey. National Adoption Week runs until Sunday 27 October. During the week, Buckinghamshire Council’s adoption team will be sharing stories and information on adoption and encouraging those who may be thinking about it to get in touch.
The theme of this year’s national awareness week is ‘The Journey’ and highlights that the journey to a family is not always traditional. Anita Cranmer, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education explained: “As we know, families today come in all shapes and sizes. They include single parents, blended and extended families. Adoptive families are part of this same modern mix.”
National figures show that the number of people coming forward to adopt is falling. The latest data shows there has been a 22 per cent increase in the number of children ready for adoption but not yet matched with an adoptive family in England in 2023-4, compared to the previous year. With fewer potential adopters coming forward, believed to largely be a result of the cost-of-living crisis, this means that nearly half (47 per cent) of all children face delays of over 18 months to move in with an adoptive family.
Skills Bootcamps – unleash your potential!
Buckinghamshire Council is offering a fantastic and free opportunity to all residents who are interested in learning a new skill – which could pave the way to a new job, a promotion or a career change.
Funded by the government’s Department for Education, the council’s Skills Bootcamps are flexible training courses for adults aged 19 or over, leading to either an interview or employment at the end. Designed with employers, specifically for in-demand jobs in Buckinghamshire, these Bootcamps involve 60 to 100 hours of free learning on a flexible basis, so participants can study around any existing work commitments they already have.
There is also a really diverse range of courses on offer, from creative industries in TV and film production, to construction, to leadership and management courses. There are 19 Bootcamps to choose from and anyone over the age of 19 is eligible so long as they meet eligibility requirements such as having the right to work in the UK and live in England.
The courses launched earlier this year and are fully up and running; participants can register an interest and enrol at any time that the course is running.
Welcoming Spaces in Bucks: Stay warm, stay connected, stay supported
As the winter months approach, Buckinghamshire Council is announcing its Welcoming Spaces offer – warm, free, safe, and supportive environments available to all residents. These spaces are designed to provide a safe space where individuals can stay warm, save on heating costs, and access a range of beneficial services.
Welcoming Spaces offer:
Warmth and comfort: Escape the cold and enjoy a cosy atmosphere.
Cost savings: Reduce your heating bills by spending time in a heated space.
Health and wellbeing: Look after your physical and mental health with a supportive environment.
Support and advice: Access valuable support and advice on a variety of topics.
Connectivity: Free Wi-Fi to stay connected with loved ones and access online resources.
You can also find out more, by visiting: buckinghamshire.gov.uk/welcoming-spaces or calling 0300 131 6000 (Monday to Thursday 9am to 5:30pm, Friday 9am to 5pm.) Councillor Derek Town
Our neighbourhood team at Thames Valley Police wanted to let you know that there seems to be a spate of attempted thefts from vans in the area at the moment.
Please make sure you protect your property, are vigilant and report anything suspicious to Thames Valley Police as soon as you witness it.
We know that many local families love to see Santa come around on his float, so please can you consider volunteering to help the hospice to ensure he can bring cheer to all the children again this year, thank you.
Message from the Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Santa Float:
Due to a few staff changes over 2024, it’s proving difficult to cover the Pitstone and Castlemead routes, this year.
We would like to find a local willing volunteer to ‘lead’ each route for Santa to be able to visit. So far, our Facebook posts on Everything Pitstone & Ivinghoe and Everything Pitstone have been unsuccessful.
We are also on the look-out for volunteer elves (bucket collectors).
Planned date for Pitstone is Tuesday 17th December and Castlemead on Wednesday 18th December.
Being a ‘lead’ elf is very easy, it involves collecting the box of resources from the office in Tring on the day of the collection (or we can arrange a suitable time) and handing out resources at the start location. Giving a very short safety briefing, which includes things like not knocking on houses which are dark, not allowing children to jump on the float etc, returning the resources, and cash, to the office in Tring, the following morning.
We want adults with care and support needs to access high quality day opportunities and overnight respite services so that they can live well and independently as part of their communities.
We provide services through a range of external organisations across the county, the majority of which are charities, and through a council-run service called ‘short breaks’.
The council-run ‘short breaks’ service includes seven council-run and owned Adult Social Care day centres. One of the centres (Seeleys House) also has an overnight respite unit. We know that these centres are highly valued by carers and families and the adults they support. There are also however challenges. Our council-run day centre buildings are underused, some are in poor condition, and the service is not providing value for money.
We are undertaking a 12-week consultation to seek views from carers and families, adults supported, community groups, providers and the public on how we can improve services and our preferred option for change. Find out more and have your say at buckinghamshire.gov.uk/better-lives-in-our-communities. The consultation closes at 11:59pm on Tuesday 7 January 2025.
Dear resident,this message is sent on behalf of Bucks council.
We are thrilled to announce the launch of an exciting new project in Aylesbury Vale! We’re looking for young people aged 16-21 to participate in a street art project aimed at revitalising the underpasses in Aylesbury Town Centre. This initiative is a part of our ongoing effort to improve public spaces while minimising the need for reactive maintenance.
Project Overview: This project offers a fantastic opportunity for young people to engage in a community-driven artistic endeavour. Participants will work alongside professionals to develop their street art skills, while also fostering a sense of pride and ownership in their local environment. The resulting artwork will not only beautify the underpasses but also leave a lasting positive impact on the town.
Key Details:Project Dates: October 21st – November 4th, 2024 Location: Aylesbury Vale Underpass Who Can Join: Young people aged 16-21 Lunch: Provided daily for all participants
This project has been made possible through funding from the Aylesbury Community Board, Youth Concern, Planning Growth Sustainability, and other key partners.Please share and if you know of any young people between the age of 16-21 years who may be interested -directing them to the attached registration form returning this to: Kazeem.Olayinka@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.Attachmentsapplication form.pdf
Message Sent By Jo Howland (Police, Neighbourhood Administrator, Aylesbury Vale)
Your local Neighbourhood Policing team, look forward to seeing you to discuss any issues you may have or chat about crime prevention measures at the next Have Your Say event.
The neighbourhood team will be holding event/s in your area on:
15th October 15:00 – Pitstone shop
16th October 16:00 – Cheddington shop
17th October 16:00 – Stoke Hammond shop
18th October 16:00 – Stewkely shop
They will be offering advice, discussing local issues and answering any questions you may have.
13 November 2024 — 12.00 – 13.15 FREE Sponsor: Local Government Association
Do you want to give something back to your community? To empower your place in uncertain times? To use the momentum from the recent general election to renew your local area?
This NALC Make A Change and LGA Be A Councillor event aims to promote the idea of standing for election as a local (parish, town and community) and principal authority (district, county, borough or unitary) councillor at the May 2025 local council elections. We need people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect the communities they serve to put themselves forward for election. Join us to hear from experts in the field who have become brilliant local councillors at various local government levels, from all quarters.
Whether you live in a parished or un-parished area, this unique free event will provide a valuable opportunity to learn about the work and role of local councillors in your community and answer your questions about standing for election as a local councillor in May 2025.
A diverse panel of experts will share their insights, experience, and advice. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussions with representatives from areas which held local council elections in May 2024 and elsewhere, to find out how you can change your place for good.
Speakers: Tamsin Hewett, advisor at the Local Government Association, Cllr Jackie Drake, Ulverston town and Westmorland and Furness district councillor, Neil Wedge, chief executive of the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils and Cllr Chidi Nweke, Loughton Residents Association representative on Epping Forest District Council.
We are delighted that the new bus service to Tring station came into effect on 2 September 2024. Our sincere thanks to everyone that took the time to complete the original Bus to Tring Station survey and to all the employees at Safran who completed the more recent workplace survey about potential bus usage, both of which have helped to provide evidence to Buckinghamshire Council and Red Eagle to support the introduction of the route.
Some of the Number 61 bus services will operate the Tring station route. There are currently a number of buses in both directions each day. The link to the online timetable and the pdf of the timetable are below.
The service currently being offered by Red Eagle is being used to assess demand. Once they have some data on actual uptake, they will then look to make any timetable changes they feel are necessary.
At the moment, Buckinghamshire Council and Red Eagle hope that the service will be a permanent change, but if there is insufficient demand or they receive complaints about the new routes / timetables then the times/services may be reviewed. It is possible that they may receive negative feedback from users of the previous route at the diverted times, that now find that their preferred bus is no longer available.
Buckinghamshire Council has also said that they are not promoting the current new service, as the timetable is yet to be refined. To ensure that demand can be accurately assessed, people need to know about it. The parish council will be putting information in the next edition of Pitstone Parish Post (to reach every home and business in Pitstone) as well as on the website, Facebook , X and our noticeboards. If you know people that use Tring station that may find the service useful, please do make sure they are aware of it (especially as the car park charges at the station have just increased).
How can you help ensure the service continues?
Please use the service as much as possible to ensure that Red Eagle has accurate data to assess the level of demand by.
If there are particular timed buses that you find of the most benefit, you’d like to provide some general positive feedback about the new route, or you have suggestions about specific timings to coincide with train times etc please take a moment to email both Passenger Transport at Buckinghamshire Council on passtrans@buckinghamshire.gov.uk and Red Eagle on email: enquiries@redeagle.org.uk so that they have evidence of how useful everyone finds the service.
Do pass the information to friends / neighbours / colleagues that may also find the service of interest.
There has been a reluctance from service providers/Bucks over the years to offer this service, as it has been perceived as unsustainable and of negative impact to those on the prior route. So our thanks also go to the current staff at Red Eagle and Buckinghamshire Council who have been willing to work with us this time around to implement the service.
Please use it to prove there is a demand for it, and provide feedback to Buckinghamshire Council and Red Eagle to show your support for the service.
Buckinghamshire Council announces financial support for carers in partnership with Carers Bucks
Buckinghamshire Council, in partnership with Carers Bucks, is delighted to announce a new financial support initiative for carers residing in Opportunity Bucks wards. This support comes in the form of a one-off £125 cash payment funded by a Government grant, aimed at alleviating the cost-of-living pressures faced by our community’s most dedicated individuals. A total of 2,737 carers in Bucks are eligible for this.
The one-off payment is funded by the Government’s Household Support Fund from the Department for Work and Pensions and targeted to carers within Opportunity Bucks wards. The Opportunity Bucks programme is the council’s flagship programme to improve opportunities and reduce hardship for people in 10 wards across Buckinghamshire, which are in Aylesbury, Chesham and High Wycombe.
Eligible carers will receive a secure link via a letter from Carers Bucks to provide their personal details, including bank information, to process the payment swiftly and securely on behalf of Buckinghamshire Council.
For any queries or further information, Carers Bucks is available to assist. They can be reached at 0300 777 2722 or via email – mail@carersbucks.org. Additionally, residents can seek cost of living support from the Helping Hand team by submitting an application at the Buckinghamshire Council website or by calling 01296 531151.
Council collaborates with Citizens Advice Bucks to help streamline financial support for residents
Buckinghamshire Council has commissioned Citizens Advice Bucks to support those struggling with debt. Providing debt, welfare benefits and money management advice at no cost, the organisation will be supporting residents with long-term solutions.
Recognising that financial challenges continue for many of its residents, Buckinghamshire Council is pleased to be working with Citizens Advice Bucks, a local, well-known charity, who last year alone supported residents to clear £800k of debt and gain additional incomes worth £2.5 million.
The commissioned service will enable a stronger working partnership between the two organisations with customers being directly referred through the council to Citizens Advice Bucks – improving the time it takes to receive help.
Council boosts support for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing
Buckinghamshire Council has awarded funding to a range of local groups and organisations running initiatives which promote positive emotional wellbeing for children and young people.
A total of £90,518 has been provided from the Young People’s Wellbeing Fund to eight different projects across Buckinghamshire:
Action 4 Youth: Mentoring for vulnerable young people aged 11-18 in Wycombe and South Bucks to reduce mental ill health and equip participants with the tools to manage their emotional wellbeing.
Buckinghamshire Mind: Mental health and wellbeing afterschool clubs for children aged 7 – 11, teaching the ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ and mindfulness strategies, using a variety of creative activities and picture books to communicate and embed learning and strategies.
Global Feedback Ltd (‘Feedback’): A project hosting school holiday events, workshops and weekend ‘cook-alongs’ using food as a hook for young people to understand the connections between food and mood.
Mindful Ballers CIC: The programme combines mental health education, social skills training, trauma specific therapies and mentoring alongside physical activity to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young men aged 14-16 who are at risk of or have been in contact with the Criminal Justice System.
One-Eighty: A preventative mental health project supporting vulnerable young people aged 11-13 transitioning from Primary to Secondary school.
Sport in Mind: Provides 2 x 1 hour sport and physical activity sessions for young people aged 10-14 experiencing poor mental health across 39 weeks.
Wycombe Swan Theatre (Trafalgar Entertainment Trust): A wellbeing and performing arts focused project for supporting LGBTQ+ young people aged 14-18.
Youth Concern: A weekly mental health support group and counselling service for gender nonconforming young people.
Applications were invited for projects which promote positive emotional wellbeing for children and young people through activities that fall outside of the school day. Applicants were encouraged to aim for activities which would help children and young people to feel more comfortable talking about mental health, understand ways in which they can look after their mental health and to have increased awareness of further support available if needed.
To be eligible for funding, projects were required to be working with children and young people up to the age of 18, or if entirely focused on care leavers or young people with disabilities, up to the age of 25. They were also required to be working with children and young people who are either from a community identified as at higher risk of poor mental health and/or living in an Opportunity Bucks ward.
The Young People’s Wellbeing Fund was first launched in 2023. It is administered by Heart of Bucks on behalf of Buckinghamshire Council. A funding panel considered all the applications. The panel was chaired by Heart of Bucks Trustee Pippa Kirkbride and included four panel members from Heart of Bucks, four panel members from Buckinghamshire Council and three young people.
Childcare support is expanding in Buckinghamshire
Eligible working parents in Buckinghamshire with children aged +9 months can apply for hours of funded childcare for use in a variety of settings, including nurseries, pre-schools and childminders.
If you are an eligible working parent, you can now apply for:
• 15 hours childcare if your child is aged 9 to 36 months
• 30 hours childcare for your three or four-year-old
You will need to apply by 31 August 2024 to use your hours from 1 September 2024. To do so, visit GOV.UK to get your code for a place in September and then share it with your childcare provider. To continue receiving the Government support, you will need to reconfirm your details every three months on your GOV.UK account.
This comes alongside other government childcare support, including Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit Childcare. You might be able to use more than one offer together to help with your childcare costs.
Buckinghamshire Council has launched the above consultation, which is open until 13 October 2024.
Please do take the time to submit your views, especially if you are keen to continue to push for a cycle path towards Tring station and foot path along the Upper Icknield Way towards College Lake/Bulbourne. Whilst the routes may predominantly fall within Hertfordshire (who ran a similar consultation earlier in the year), by providing your views to Buckinghamshire as well, it will help to ensure that both councils can work in unison if applying for any external funding.
You need to select the part of the survey relating to the Aylesbury area community boards. At the end of the pre-formatted questions you’ll find a free text space for additional potential routes where you can express your views on either of the above routes.
Buckinghamshire Council undertaking pothole patching in both locations. Each road will only be closed whilst the repairs are taking place. Westfield Road will not be closed at the same time as Stocks Road.
40th Anniversary AGM, with a FREE talk open to members and non- members
The Icknield Way Association will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary Annual General Meeting at 2 PM on Saturday 19th OCTOBER 2024 at MARKET HILL ROOMS, FISH HILL, ROYSTON SG8 9JL
The AGM will begin with a talk by our special guest speaker, Mary-Ann Ochota
on the topic “Why Old Paths Matter”.
This talk will be open free of charge to non-members of the Association and refreshments will be provided.
Space will be limited so it is essential that anyone wishing to attend contact’s the Association’s Publicity Officer, Doug Landman by email at doug.landman@ntlworld.com
Mary-Ann Ochota is a well-known and widely respected British broadcaster who specialises in anthropology, archaeology, and social history. A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, she has been on numerous radio and TV programmes over the years as well as writing books and articles on her specialist subjects.
Countywide grass cutting and weed spraying programme is underway
In recent weeks, council crews have been busy working across the county as the annual programme of grass cutting and weed spraying gets underway.
Grass and roadside vegetation has grown even faster than usual for this time of year, following the very wet winter and ongoing spells of heavy rain throughout spring, together with periods of sunshine. To deal with this exceptionally fast growth, the council has brought in additional grass cutting crews.
Three rounds of cuts are scheduled at rural road junctions this year, in order to maintain good visibility for road users, with the first now completed. Two cycles of urban verge cuts are also programmed to take place in areas where this service has not been devolved to parish and town councils. The first urban cutting cycle has begun. Additionally, crews will be attending locations across the county where reports have been made of roadside cuts being needed to maintain road safety. To date more than 150 of these reactive cuts have taken place with crews primed to go out when new issues are reported on Fix my Street.
In addition to grass cutting, work is also in progress to tackle the growth of weeds alongside footways. Two cycles of weed spraying will be carried out across the whole county on all public footways over the coming months, as well as ‘siding out’ at targeted locations. This is the process of clearing edges of footways where weeds and vegetation have grown through. Crews will use Glyphosate to spray weeds. The chemical is not harmful to people or animals and can be used safely close to water courses. The spray is applied in a fine mist, in very small doses and starts to work within an hour of application. It can only be applied during dry weather.
Summer fun for everyone!
The summer holidays are here and with six weeks free from lessons, homework and the usual school routines, many families will be busy planning fun things to do.
For those on lower incomes, juggling finances during the summer can be particularly hard, but Buckinghamshire Council is once again providing extra support for those who need it.
Children in Reception up to Year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals can take part in up to 16 free holiday club sessions over the six-week break. The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme will be running in over 60 locations, offering a wide range of activities including sports, cooking, pickleball, coding and martial arts sessions. Those eligible for the HAF sessions will have received a code via an email from Holiday Activities to book places. Each session includes a healthy meal for the children taking part. For more information on HAF visit the website.
Certain families are also being given a £50 food voucher per eligible child to help with the cost of providing extra food during the holiday period.
Nominate your community heroes with a Proud of Bucks Award
The Proud of Bucks Awards are back for a fourth year, shining a light on the incredible contributions of our county’s unsung heroes – the volunteers, groups, and organisations that have made a positive difference in our communities over the past 12 months.
Buckinghamshire Council’s 16 Community Boards will choose winners from their local area, for each of the three award categories:
Good Neighbour Award – adults 21+ who has made a difference in their local community, such as through neighbourhood schemes, supporting voluntary causes or befriending services.
Young Champion Award – for a young person under 21 who has made a significant contribution towards their local community, for example, through volunteering, supporting a charitable cause or championing their peers.
Outstanding Group Award – recognises and celebrates a voluntary group in the local area who has made a positive impact on their community such as delivering a service, championing a cohort of residents, or supporting and enhancing local spaces.
Council cracks down on drivers misusing disabled parking permits
Last month, Buckinghamshire Council’s Counter Fraud team led a Blue Badge operation supported by the Blue Badge team, Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).
The operation spanned car parks and on street parking bays in South Buckinghamshire, High Wycombe and Aylesbury to target the misuse and abuse of Blue Badges.
This operation was part of a wider tri-county exercise and was coordinated with neighbouring local authorities, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire. Across the three counties, 34 blue badges were seized; Hertfordshire 20 badges, Oxfordshire three badges and Buckinghamshire 11.
Thinking about adoption? There is no better time to take that first step
Anyone in Buckinghamshire and surrounding areas thinking about adoption is being encouraged to act today and take the first step on their adoption journey.
Today (Tuesday 23 July) marks the start of a new, You Can Adopt, national recruitment campaign run by Adoption England. Entitled, The Journey, the campaign aims to inspire more people to take the first step in growing their family through adoption. The campaign focuses on the journey to adoption and beyond being much like an adventure; filled with chaos, challenges, conversations and love.
National figures reveal an unprecedented decline in adoption rates. For the first time in recent years, there are now more children in need of adoption than those coming forward to adopt. With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, experts are warning that anxieties have been heightened for many people with regards to finding the perfect time and circumstances to start a family.
In Buckinghamshire, there are children of all ages waiting to be adopted and the council is urging anyone who may be thinking about adoption to come forward.
Buckinghamshire Council is hosting an Adoption Information Evening on Tuesday 6 August where people can find out more about the adoption process.
Another way to get quick answers to any questions you may have about adopting within Buckinghamshire is to look at the council’s Adoption Ready tool. The online programme also allows you to create a personalised next steps planwhich you can save and come back to at any time.
Anita Cranmer, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education said: “Every child deserves to live and grow up in a loving and caring home. We know there are many people who may be thinking about adoption but are waiting for the perfect time to start the process. Our message to them is, there is no perfect time, start your journey now, get in touch and we can support you along the way.”
A brand new quarter for Aylesbury – vision for new town centre site is announced
Buckinghamshire Council is unveiling more detail about the concept for Aylesbury’s exciting new ‘Pavilion Quarter’, a new site at the heart of the town centre for people, business and entertainment.
The council is progressing a £5 million regeneration scheme for Aylesbury, including the creation of this new vibrant business and entertainment quarter, which directly links the High Street with the thriving Exchange development. Regenerating this dormant site will open up new routes in the town centre and create opportunities for new jobs and a dedicated space for small businesses and start-ups.
It’s a key element of the ‘Regenerating Bucks’ strategy that was adopted by the council last year. This overarching strategy outlines how existing sites in Buckinghamshire’s three main town centres can be repurposed and revitalised to create exciting new areas in the town centres for residents and visitors, that also provide a boost for existing and new businesses.
The new ‘Pavilion Quarter’ for Aylesbury will be named after the old cinema that previously stood on the site and will reflect the site’s history as a music and entertainment venue. The old building – which has stood empty for some time and is in a poor structural condition – was acquired for demolition with the site earmarked for regeneration.
These artists impressions, and site plan and photo below showcase the kind of use the council is proposing for the Pavilion Quarter, which includes:
new space for independent businesses and start-ups to open and flourish
an outdoor area with potential for a dedicated space for music and other events
an opened-up link between the Exchange and the High Street improving flow between the two areas
We are pleased to bring to your attention our wide selection of bursary programmes for young people in Buckinghamshire, in partnership with the Young Futures Fund.
A variety of different bursaries and grants for young people are available by applying via this website – https://youngfuturesfund.org/funding/bursaries/ – please visit the site to find out more about the specific requirements for each bursary programme.
Currently we have funding available for young entrepreneurs, people working in the hospitality sector, and those in higher education/vocational training. We would be delighted to advise you on how to access this support, please get in touch to find out more via youngfutures@heartofbucks.org or by calling 01296 330134.
This month, a number of important consultations are launching, and Buckinghamshire Council would like to hear your views.
The council regularly seeks views from local people on a range of topics, from developing and updating policies, to making key changes to services.
It couldn’t be easier to have your say and all views and comments are considered when final decisions are made.
Three consultations which the council would like to hear views on are:
Development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy – consultation open until 18 August
Library Flex transformation programme – consultation open until 18 September
Review of the Housing Allocations Policy for Social Housing Tenancies – consultation open until 22 August
The council is seeking views to help in the development of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. Local Nature Recovery Strategies were introduced in the Environment Act 2021 and every area in England is producing one.
The strategy will be used to help protect and preserve local nature and wildlife habitats which are integral to the region but which, through a variety of reasons, including climate change and economic factors, may be under threat. The council would like to find out which aspects of nature are important to local people and find out their views on the draft priorities that have been drawn up as part of initial discussions with residents and partners.
The council would also like to ask residents for help with redesigning library services so they will continue to meet Buckinghamshire’s needs while responding to current and future challenges.
The Library Flex model proposes a new way of operating some Buckinghamshire libraries, reflecting changes in library usage over the years, by having staff available at times of greatest customer need and use of self-operated technology to provide library services at quieter times.
Library Flex will also provide an opportunity to increase opening hours, benefitting people who work, commuters and students. Currently many libraries open from 10am but could open earlier without staff and until later in the evening, and for longer during exam times so that people can go there to study.
Residents are being asked when they would most like staff to be available and when they would prefer to be able to visit the library.
The consultation also includes a review of opening hours at Burnham Library and a proposal to open High Wycombe Library on Monday instead of Sunday – both of which are separate from the Library Flex proposals.
The Housing Allocations policy sets out the procedures that must be followed when assessing the eligibility of applicants for social housing tenancies. The policy details how applicants, via the Bucks Home Choice scheme, can apply to the housing register, what the eligibility requirements are, how the assessment process works, and how it proposes housing is allocated in the future.
The council is in the process of reviewing the policy and would like to gain feedback on the proposed changes from current and prospective housing tenants, local residents, and partners.
Established to mark the year 2000, the Millennium Education Foundation provides financial awards to eligible students for further education courses, which they and their families might not otherwise be able to afford.
Who can apply for an award?
Any full time student under the age of 22, who has lived for at least 3 years in Aldbury, Long Marston, Marsworth, Pitstone, Puttenham, Tring, Wigginton or Wilstone.
What do the awards cover?
The awards are intended to help towards the cost of tuition fees, accommodation, books, clothing, other equipment, travel costs and any other justified expenses of eligible students. Awards usually cover a period of three years.
How do I apply for an award?
Applications are invited in the autumn preceding the first academic year of study. Forms, with details of the application deadline, are available from:
You will be asked for your academic record and details of your future plans. Your parents/guardians will be asked to supply financial information.
What will happen once I have applied?
If you appear to be eligible, you will be asked to attend an interview where you will have the opportunity to discuss your plans for the future and to ask any questions that you may have.
You will be notified of the outcome of your application and interview in good time before you finalise your choice of further education.
Please note: The deadline for applications is 15th November for university applications the following year.
Council reminds residents of new photo ID requirements for local and national elections
Buckinghamshire Council is reminding residents that to vote in upcoming elections in England they will need to show a valid photo ID at polling stations.
A photo ID will be required to vote at a polling station for the Police and Crime Commissioner election on Thursday 2 May.
For people registered to vote by post, no photo ID will be required. This is because postal voting requires other identification checks, such as signature and date of birth verification.
Street Trading Policy consultation
We want to hear your views on our draft Street Trading Policy for Buckinghamshire Council.
If you are holding a community event, you may be impacted by the proposals, so I would urge you to read the consultation and please tell us your views – either through the consultation pages or a direct email/letter.
Street trading is the sale or offering for sale of items in a street. A ‘street’ includes any road, footway, or other area to which the public have access without payment (including service stations).
It is not only the public highway – it can include publicly accessible areas that are privately owned, such as shopping centre car parks and open spaces.
The consultation has been extended and you now have until 11:59pm on Sunday 26 May 2024 to tell us your views.
We will use your responses to develop the final Buckinghamshire Street Trading Policy.
UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 12.30PM FRIDAY 10 MAY 2024: Council unveils unique benefits package in drive to recruit more foster carers
Buckinghamshire Council today (Friday 10 May) unveils a unique and exciting package of benefits and perks for foster carers in Bucks, as it launches a major new campaign to recruit more foster carers.
All councils offer some benefits to foster carers but in the face of ever-increasing costs for children’s social care, Buckinghamshire Council is taking a proactive approach in a bid to encourage more people to come forward and consider fostering.
From a 100% refund on Council Tax to free bus travel in the county, and from free leisure passes to access to a bigger bin, the package has been carefully and thoughtfully put together in partnership with current foster carers in order to help make their lives easier. It also reflects the invaluable role foster carers play in supporting children in care and the council’s appreciation for all that they do.
Full details of the benefits package:
A retrospective Council Tax allowance to cover 100% of their Council Tax bill (eligible foster carers will have had a placement for 182 days within the year. This can be a continuous placement or a number of short-term placements).
Free parking in Buckinghamshire Council car parks and country parks.
Free bus travel for foster carers and the children they care for, within their chosen travel zone in Bucks.
Free membership to a chosen Buckinghamshire Council leisure centre and access to family swimming and soft play.
Free access to Buckinghamshire Country Parks events and activities.
Offer of an enlarged bin, free green waste collections and two free bulky waste collections per year in recognition of the additional demand within fostering families.
An electronic device to help manage admin tasks.
Free family annual pass to the Discover Bucks Museum and Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery.
Free family theatre tickets.
Buckinghamshire is one of only a handful in the country, and the first in the local area to offer a full refund on Council Tax for those eligible. Combined with the other benefits, the new package will be offered to existing eligible foster carers as well as new recruits.
Bucks taxi driver loses licence after being caught using mobile phone while driving
Buckinghamshire Council has successfully defended in court a decision to revoke a private hire taxi driver’s licence after he was caught using a mobile phone whilst driving.
Mr Azhar Iqbal of Littleworth Road, High Wycombe, was stopped on the A355 by Thames Valley Police officers, after he was seen handling and speaking into a mobile phone whilst driving in August 2022.
Mr Iqbal failed to notify Buckinghamshire Council at the time of the offence, contrary to the conditions of his private hire licence. He eventually notified the council’s Licensing Team in April 2023, and subsequently Mr Iqbal’s private hire licence was revoked by Buckinghamshire Council on 12 October 2023.
Mr Iqbal unsuccessfully attempted to have his original conviction overturned. On 19 December 2023, after hearing evidence from the attending police officers and watching recordings from officers’ body worn cameras, magistrates said they were satisfied that he was guilty of the offence. He was issued with 6 DVLA points and ordered to pay a fine and court costs totalling £774.
Further to Mr Iqbal’s revocation, Buckinghamshire Council received an appeal against the decision to revoke his licence which was heard at Wycombe Magistrates on Friday 26 April 2024.
The District Judge found the conviction for using a mobile phone was sufficient to justify revoking Mr Iqbal’s licence in accordance with the council’s policy and that there were no exceptional circumstances to justify an alternative decision.
Mr Iqbal was ordered to pay Buckinghamshire Council’s costs in the case of £5,500.
Council pledges extra £500k for gully cleansing and roadside drainage repairs
With the highest rainfall for more than 200 years throughout winter and spring, in recent months many areas within Buckinghamshire have experienced flooding and related problems. To bolster resilience to flooding and heavy rain, the council will use the new funding to carry out extra cleansing of high priority gullies that need it in addition to its regular planned gully maintenance, to ensure they are in prime condition to cope with periods of sudden heavy or prolonged rainfall. New ditches and ‘grips’ to remove water from the road will also be created in some problem areas, and damaged drainage systems will be repaired so that water can flow away more easily
New home energy efficiency grant scheme launches in Bucks
Grants of up to £30,000 are now available for energy efficiency improvements for homes. These measures can include work such as loft insulation and window replacements. Eligible households in Buckinghamshire who own properties with an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D or below (D to G) can take advantage of this opportunity.
This local scheme, named the Domestic Building Envelope Energy Efficiency (DBEEE) Grant, is fully funded from Buckinghamshire Council’s allocation from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
If a resident is approved for a DBEEE Grant and they are given the go ahead for home improvement works, then the council will pay the contractor after the work has been completed. To qualify for the grant, all works must be completed and grant claims submitted by 31 December 2024.
Residents should enquire about the grant through Better Housing Better Health. To qualify, residents need to provide necessary proofs, including a quotation for the desired improvement work on their homes.
More information on the DBEEE Grant can be found on the council’s website.
For residents who aren’t looking to have major work done on their homes, the council’s Energy Doctor scheme offers a range of free energy and water saving measures. These include hot water insulation jackets and reflective radiator panels. To find out if you are eligible for an Energy Doctor visit, go to the council’s Energy Doctor webpage.
We want to hear your views on our draft Street Trading Policy for Buckinghamshire Council.
If you are holding a community event, you may be impacted by the proposals, so I would urge you to read the consultation and please tell us your views – either through the consultation pages or a direct email/letter.
Street trading is the sale or offering for sale of items in a street. A ‘street’ includes any road, footway, or other area to which the public have access without payment (including service stations).
It is not only the public highway – it can include publicly accessible areas that are privately owned, such as shopping centre car parks and open spaces.
The consultation has been extended and you now have until 11:59pm on Sunday 26 May 2024 to tell us your views.
We will use your responses to develop the final Buckinghamshire Street Trading Policy.
Thames Valley Police Wing & Ivinghoe Neighbourhood Policing Team have had their Neighbourhood Email address updated. It is now; WingNHPT@thamesvalley.police.uk.
They hope this shortened email address is a little easier to remember.
Communities across Buckinghamshire are being invited to take advantage of a scheme which highlights the importance of outdoor play and encourages neighbours to spend time socialising together, promoting the benefits for health and wellbeing in all ages.
Play Streets invites residents from communities across the county to apply for permission, free of charge, to close their road for a few hours at a time so that they can come together outside their homes to socialise, reduce social isolation and play safely. The scheme is part of the national Playing Out initiative and has been running successfully in Buckinghamshire for several years. Roads are closed to traffic for the duration, but pedestrian access is allowed, and residents can enjoy spending time together outside their homes.
Bin-spiring volunteers collect bagfuls of litter during Great British Spring Clean
Communities around Buckinghamshire have been busy binning and bagging this spring, as Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean has completed its ninth annual run. Committed Buckinghamshire residents have come together as part of the country’s biggest mass action environmental campaign, collecting and safely disposing of litter from streets, parks and open spaces across the county.
Following this year’s theme ‘the environment is for everyone’, community groups and individuals in Buckinghamshire organised over 94 litter picking events around the county – a record breaking year for Buckinghamshire. The majority of the events took place in the South where more than 926 volunteers collected over 1,723 bags, and clocked over 1,852 volunteer hours.
Although The Great British Spring Clean is over for this year, the need for litter picking stays. The council empties over 4,000 litter bins every week, but over 2 million pieces of litter are dropped every single day in the UK, littering our towns and countryside.
Litter picking isn’t just a group activity and doesn’t have to take a lot of time. As an individual, you can take part in the Litter Lotto – it’s easy, simply download the Litter Lotto app on your phone and take a photo in the app, of yourself throwing some litter into a bin. This doesn’t only tidy up our streets, but also gives you an opportunity to win instant cash prizes and offers, as well as giving you the chance of winning a weekly £1,000 jackpot. Local Litter Lotto users also have a chance to win an extra £250 in an exclusive monthly prize draw, aimed just at people binning litter in Bucks!
Please park considerately on the school run
As schools return after the Easter holidays, parents and carers dropping children off by car are being given a timely reminder to #Beconsiderate about how and where they park or stop, to help keep everyone safe.
Buckinghamshire Council is relaunching its #Beconsiderate campaign which seeks to remind those who hop in the car to do the school run, to think about the safety of pedestrians and other road users when they stop to drop their children off.
Many children are taken to and from school by car every day. Sometimes in the rush to get there on time, it can be tempting to pull onto the kerb or part way onto a driveway, stop on zig zag lines or even pull into a bus stop. While it may seem like a harmless thing to do, vehicles blocking pavements and footpaths, even if just for a short time, often means pedestrians, which can include young children, those with limited mobility and older people, are forced to go into the road to get past, which can be extremely dangerous. Similarly, part blocking a private driveway or lowered kerb can prevent larger vehicles including emergency ambulances and fire engines from getting through and parking in or near a bus stop can lead to unnecessary traffic queues. It is also important not to block the visibility for school crossing patrollers when they are assisting families on their way to school safely.
Majority of Bucks families get first choice primary school place
Figures published today (Tuesday 16 April) show that more than 9 out of 10 families in Buckinghamshire received their first-choice preference for a primary school place this year.
For children starting primary school in Reception, 91.27% have received their first-choice allocation, (compared to 90.33% last year). Figures for the top choice of junior schools (Year 3) are very slightly changed at 95.12%, (compared to 96.70% last year) but still equate to the majority receiving their first choice.
Council unveils ambitious Housing Strategy for 2024-2029
Buckinghamshire Council has unveiled a comprehensive Housing Strategy for 2024-2029. The strategy sets out the council’s vision, priorities and actions to meet the current and future housing needs and challenges in the county.
The Housing Strategy has been developed with the input and support of a wide range of partners, including housing associations, developers, community groups and other public sector organisations.
To achieve the strategy, the council has created three key priorities:
A strong housing offer: The vision is to provide affordable, accessible, sustainable, and suitable housing choices for all life stages. Recognising that a safe and secure home is fundamental to quality of life, public health, and economic prosperity.
Better homes: The council is dedicated to improving the quality and sustainability of existing homes. Through targeted investments, it aims to enhance living conditions and create vibrant communities.
New homes: The strategy emphasises the importance of affordable, accessible, and appropriate new housing. By collaborating with housing associations, developers, and community groups, Buckinghamshire Council will ensure that residents find homes that meet their needs and aspirations.
Each priority includes:
What the council will do to achieve it
The challenges Buckinghamshire faces
Actions the council is taking now
Proposed actions up to 2029
Fly-tipper receives suspended prison sentence for dumping asbestos roofing waste in Bucks
An 81-year-old man from London has narrowly escaped prison after admitting to dumping asbestos roofing materials in Denham, Buckinghamshire.
Jagdish Kumar Sharma admitted fly-tipping the waste at Broken Gate Lane in Denham on 17 September 2023. He entered a guilty plea when his case was heard at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on 17 April 2024.
On 17 September 2023, residents at Broken Gate Lane, Denham discovered black sacks dumped in undergrowth on their unadopted road. They reported the dumping which was investigated by an enforcement officer from Buckinghamshire Council. The investigating officer counted 16 black sacks of corrugated roofing sheet material which he suspected to have asbestos content. The officer took samples away for analysis. It was confirmed that white asbestos fibres were present, so a specialist contractor had to be found to clear the material away safely. As the road has not been adopted it meant that the clean-up costs fell to the residents as the landowners, rather than to the council. The residents have a CCTV system which they used to identify the vehicle suspected of having brought the waste.
Buckinghamshire Council officers investigated and interviewed Sharma at a police station near his home. Sharma explained that he had found the waste dumped illegally outside a property he owned in London. He said he was so incensed by finding the waste dumped on his property that he loaded it into his own vehicle and removed it. He was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation as to why he dumped it where he did, but he did admit dumping the waste himself at Broken Gate Lane.
The District Judge sitting at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court took account that this offence involved the deliberate dumping of hazardous waste material, as well as the offender’s age and personal circumstances. He sentenced Sharma to 3 months imprisonment (suspending the sentence for 12 months). Sharma was ordered to pay clean-up compensation in full to the local residents in the sum of £582. He was also ordered to pay full investigation and prosecution costs of £917.66 and a victim surcharge of £154, totalling £1,653.66.
This year during the afternoon of May Fair, there will be a TTRO (Temporary Traffic Regulation Order) in place, closing Stocks Rd from the Pitstone / B488 end. This means that traffic will only travel along Stocks Rd in one direction – from the village centre to the car parks, and then past Stocks Golf Club and out of the village towards Pitstone.
Visitors will be encouraged via social media to access May Fair / enter Aldbury, from Station Rd or Toms Hill Rd only, so that we can keep traffic moving towards the car parks. Please let friends and family know, and that they may need to allow extra time than usual to get to, or through, the village.
The one way system and any congestion will only happen during the afternoon of May Fair, and fortunately it’s only one day a year, so hopefully any inconvenience will be bearable.
Church Road / Tring Road Ivinghoe, Between the Kings Head and the junction with the B489 Dunstable Road.
Road Closure for patching works by Bucks Highways.
Thurs / Fri / Mon 11th / 12th / 15th April, 09:30 – 15:50 on all days. Road should be open on the weekend.
Diversion route via Pitstone
61 bus service will be on divert during the closure and will miss out Ivinghoe and Marsworth Road, Pitstone. During the closure the nearest bus stop being serviced will be at Pitstone Memorial Hall.
The times of the closure are not expected to have any effect on school bus routes.
Events and PR, known for their widely credited SME Business Awards, National Business Women’s Awards and National Building and Construction Awards have announced the return of the beloved Buckinghamshire Food and Drink Awards for 2024. They have been revamped with a variety of new categories to celebrate the success of hospitality businesses after the challenges the last couple of years have posed.
“Now more than ever, we need to support our restaurants, pubs, farm shops, butchers and many more. We aim to celebrate their resilience, showcase their skill and affirm their status within the county.” commented Awards Director, Damian Cummins.
This year’s categories include newcomers such as
Best Street Eats and Bevs
Café or Tearoom of the Year
Brewery of the Year
Restaurant of the Year
Best Artisan Bakery
Top Local Pub
Best Newcomer
And many more.
These awards call upon the public to nominate their favourite hospitality businesses to bring light to the exciting and diverse range in Buckinghamshire. The nominations are now open so people are encouraged to think of eateries that amaze, bakers that astound, pubs that hold special memories and so much more.
You can nominate one company per category, just visit go www.bfda.co.uk
Buckinghamshire Food and Drink Awards Social Media can be found here:
The HouseMouse crew is returning to Pitstone on 18 May 2024 with the Big Top for the dance music party of the year.
It is being run by volunteers from the community, for the community. They would very much welcome some extra volunteer assistance at the event.
If you would like to help out, for the whole event or just for a few hours, please contact Christabel Boersma on christabelboersma@hotmail.com or the main HouseMouse email address which is party@housemousemusic.club
Money down the drain for company prosecuted for fly-tipping in Bucks
A drainage company has paid a hefty price for making the error of paying a rogue trader to dispose of their commercial waste after it was found fly-tipped in Buckinghamshire.
Drainiac Ltd, pleaded guilty to the offence of failing in their duty of care when transferring waste to a waste remover when the case was heard at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on Wednesday 21 February 2024.
The court heard that on Wednesday 21 June 2023, mixed building waste was found dumped at Gravelly Way, Penn, in Buckinghamshire. Buckinghamshire Council’s waste enforcement team carries out regular searches of the area, due to it being heavily blighted with fly-tipping.
On this occasion, an enforcement officer found evidence amongst the waste linking it to an address in Eastern Dene, High Wycombe. The details were later traced back to a company called Drainiac Ltd who explained they were approached by a man with a van asking for scrap metal. Drainiac Ltd had no scrap metal but explained they had some waste. The man with the van accepted £50 cash and removed the waste from the property.
Magistrates at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court fined Drainiac Ltd £4,000 and ordered them to pay a contribution of £1,049.89 towards the council’s clean up and investigation costs – making a total to pay of £5,049.89.
Roofing company pays high price in court
A roofing and building company who failed to carry out proper checks on a ‘man with a van’ who offered to dispose of trade waste for them has paid a high price for its error after being prosecuted in court.
Highlife Roofing and Builders Ltd pleaded guilty to the offence of failing in its duty of care when transferring waste to a waste remover when appearing at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on Wednesday 21 February 2024.
The court heard that on Tuesday 18 July 2023, mixed building waste, including black sacks and wooden material, was found dumped at Holtspur Lane, Wooburn Green in Buckinghamshire. An officer from Buckinghamshire Council’s waste enforcement team investigated and found evidence amongst the dumped waste, giving an address in The Green, Wooburn Green, High Wycombe.
The details were later traced back to a company called Highlife Roofing and Builders Ltd, who explained they were approached by a man with a van who offered to remove waste from a property. The man took the waste which was later found dumped just down the road from where it had been collected. Highlife Roofing and Builders Ltd workers admitted they saw the waste dumped the next day but explained they didn’t pick it back up as it was ‘no longer their problem’.
Magistrates at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court fined Highlife Roofing and Builders Ltd £6,000 and ordered the company to pay a contribution of £1,289.71 towards the council’s clean up and investigation costs – making a total to pay of £7289.71.
New library collections will provide invaluable resource for families with children
A new range of books covering topics around parenting, childhood and childcare are now available for loan at two libraries in Buckinghamshire.
Parenting and Childcare Topics (PACT) is a unique collection of 170 different books designed to help parents and carers of children and young people to navigate a variety of topics from pregnancy, to dealing with complex emotions and situations, right up to approaching university. The books cover everything from general parenting tips to specific situations such as being separated parents or caring for a child with special educational needs and disabilities.
Many of the books are written directly for adults, but a number are also written for the children and young people, including books around bullying and puberty.
A variety of books on the topics of parenting and childcare are already available across all libraries in Buckinghamshire but the enhanced PACT series has been introduced in two of the biggest libraries as an additional resource, with the support of local business, Limitless Tutoring, who have sponsored the collections.
Creating an age friendly Buckinghamshire for all
Buckinghamshire Council has outlined its commitment to helping older people in Buckinghamshire live healthy, active and independent lives as set out in its Healthy Ageing Strategy which has been formally approved by the council this week.
The document sets out the vision for how Buckinghamshire aspires to be a place for all residents to enjoy growing older in an age friendly community. The strategy also includes an action plan of how the vision will be achieved.
Angela Macpherson, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing explained: “Healthy ageing means living a healthy and fulfilling life, being able to participate in activities and contribute to your community. It also encompasses having financial security and living in a suitable home in a safe and thriving community. With the right policies, environments and support, people can age well and live independent and meaningful lives.”
To become an age friendly community, the strategy focuses on eight interconnecting areas outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO):
Outdoor spaces and buildings
Transport
Housing
Participation in society
Volunteering and employment
Communication and information
Community support for health and wellbeing
Respect and social inclusion
In the first year, the focus for Buckinghamshire will be on two priorities – outdoor spaces and buildings, and participating in society.
To oversee the implementation of the strategy a multi-agency Age Friendly Bucks Partnership has been set up with external partners including the NHS and voluntary sector organisations. The views and ideas of residents and community groups have shaped the aims of the strategy and will continue to inform the implementation.
To further support the success of the strategy Buckinghamshire Council has joined the UK Network of Age Friendly Communities which is run by the Centre for Ageing Better and affiliated to the WHO’s Global Network for Age Friendly Cities and Communities. Being a member of this network provides access a range of additional resources including good practice guidance and advice. In addition, the council has partnered locally with Age UK Buckinghamshire to ensure a local focus in maintained.
Learn how to be a Better Biker
Buckinghamshire Council is encouraging bikers of all ages and experience to enhance their riding skills with the help of a specialist course.
The Be a Better Biker (BaBB) workshops are run as part of the council’s Travel Safe Bucks road safety initiative, in partnership with Thames Vale Advanced Motorcyclists, Bucks Advanced Riders & Drivers, Milton Keynes Advanced Motorists, Oxford Advanced Motorcyclists and local fire and rescue services. The aim is to reduce the number of bikers killed or injured on the roads and equip motorcyclists with additional skills to keep safe.
Costing just £20 per person, the workshops cover a range of advanced techniques including:
Manoeuvring
Overtaking
Cornering techniques
An on-road assessment with a qualified observer
A review of the on-road session.
Courses are taking place across the Thames Valley region and locally at:
Saturday 6 April – Winslow Fire Station
Saturday 20 April – Chesham Fire Station
Saturday 18 May – Princes Risborough Fire Station
Now in their 15th year of running, the courses have helped hundreds of bikers in Buckinghamshire to improve their skills on the road.
Anyone wishing to take part must hold a full and valid motorbike licence and have access to their own vehicle to use during the course.
Residents in Buckinghamshire are being reminded to double check their refuse and recycling bin collection dates over the Easter Bank Holiday.
To ensure residents don’t miss their collection due to Bank Holiday changes, the council is reminding everyone to check the revised dates for their area. Collections due to take place on Good Friday, 29 March, will move to Saturday 30 March, and with no collections on Easter Monday, 1 April, all collections that week will take place one day later than usual. Please check the revised timetable online and present any bins or containers by 6:30am on the revised collection day.
Easter holidays are a great time to bond with your family and enjoy delicious food. To ensure you keep your Easter food waste and costs to a minimum, you can check out our handy online toolkit which includes a portion planner tool and recipes for Easter leftovers. Any food waste can be put in your food recycling bin and left out for collection on bin day. Most food waste can go in the food recycling bin but you can check on the council website to see what can and cannot be recycled.
Councillor Thomas Broom, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said: “Easter is the time to enjoy great food and the company of our loved ones while celebrating the beauty of spring. Easter eggs, like Christmas presents, can generate quite a lot of extra packaging to recycle. You can find advice on our website for what can be recycled, where it needs to go and even some handy tips for using leftovers creatively.”
In addition to the bin collection changes, the opening hours at all Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) across the county move to summer opening hours of 9am to 6pm from Monday 1 April. Please check your local site to find out which days they are open, as this varies according to each site.
For more information on all of Buckinghamshire’s HRCs please visit the website.
Set up in 2020 in response to the pandemic, the Buckinghamshire Volunteer Matching Service has recently placed its 2000th volunteer in the county, supporting over 140 local charities.
Anyone who is 16 or over can sign-up to the service which finds volunteer roles to suit their preferences such as location, type of role, interests, and availability.
It currently has 800 volunteer roles to fill across the county – from frontline emergency response positions, befriending and mentoring opportunities, to outdoor roles. To find out more about these volunteer roles and how to register, go to the Volunteer Matching Service; once you have completed the 5 minute form, the team will look for a role for you.
You can read the stories of some of the volunteers placed by the service, including the 2000th volunteer Evie, on the Community Impact Bucks website.
In September 2023 we publicly launched our ‘Protecting Our Roots’ project and held our first public engagement event, to share our future vision for the Estate and bring to life the urgent need for change. As part of the project we have been reviewing all recreational activity across Ashridge Estate and the varying impacts these have on the special landscape in our care. We know that horse riding is a popular activity at Ashridge and we want to continue welcoming horse riders, however we also need to make some changes to protect the estate and prevent further harm.
The information sharing session is on Wednesday 3 April 2024 with slots at either 5.30pm-6.30pm or 7.00pm-8.00pm. We are also holding another session the week before but this has already sold out.
The session will consist of a short presentation about the changes being made to the permit scheme and some adjustments to our network of permissive bridleways, and include materials to read and a chance to ask questions
Secretary of State decision, land adjacent to HMP Grendon and HMP Springhill In response to being notified of a decision to uphold an appeal against Buckinghamshire Council’s refusal of planning permission for a new Category C prison at land adjacent to HMP Grendon and HMP Springhill at Grendon Underwood, Councillor Peter Strachan, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration said: “This decision is desperately disappointing and is another kick in the teeth for local people already blighted by HS2 and East West Rail construction works in this area. While we understand the need for more prison places nationally, we remain adamant that this is the wrong location for this facility. This is a rural location, which takes in an historic landscape and it will not be easy for families to access the facility to visit inmates.The council’s Strategic Sites Committee unanimously refused planning permission for the prison back in March 2022 and we stand by the reasons for that decision; the committee felt that the combined effects on the local area in terms of sustainability, heritage and the environment would have an overriding negative impact. There was also a feeling that not enough consideration has been given to alternative sites which could be more suitable for such a facility.It is therefore disappointing to receive news that the appeal against our decision has been upheld. We are in the process of digesting the decision letter in full before determining any next steps”
Fly-tipper’s Christmas Day ‘gift’ to Bucks residents lands him in court A man who brazenly dumped waste in the middle of a road in Beaconsfield on Christmas Day 2022 has been prosecuted in court following an investigation by Buckinghamshire Council’s fly-tipping enforcement team and the assistance of local residents who were outraged by the incident. Jordan Louis Acton, aged 32, of Ernest Road, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, admitted to fly-tipping a load of waste at the roadside at Windsor End, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, on Christmas Day 25 December 2022. He entered a guilty plea when his case was heard at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on 25 January 2024. The case had been delayed in coming to court due to a change of address which saw Acton fail to attend an earlier hearing and his subsequent arrest in Surrey. On 25 December 2022, a commercial truck load of waste was dumped at the roadside near houses and offices on Windsor End in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. Vigilant local residents examined the dumped waste and found traceable details which were later investigated by an enforcement officer from Buckinghamshire Council’s fly-tipping enforcement team. Local residents and businesses checked their domestic and commercial CCTV systems and helped confirm the description of the offending vehicle. The description was referred to Thames Valley Police who subsequently identified the vehicle. The details found in the dumped waste were traced to waste which the producer confirmed was removed by Acton and he was identified as the registered keeper of the vehicle seen carrying and depositing the waste. Acton was interviewed by enforcement officers from the council but gave ‘no comment’ responses to questions. High Wycombe magistrates fined Acton £693 and awarded full clean-up and investigation costs to Buckinghamshire Council who brought the prosecution, to a total of £1,838.70. A victim surcharge of £277 was also imposed meaning that Acton has to pay a total of £2,808.70. Communities should prepare for groundwater flooding
Communities across the Berkshire Downs and Chiltern Hills should be prepared for groundwater flooding. Residents can check their risk on the government website. If you are in an area that is not covered by the Environment Agency’s groundwater flood alerts but have previously experienced groundwater flooding, you should prepare for groundwater flooding over the coming weeks.
Groundwater flooding is currently occurring in areas across the Berkshire Downs and is starting to appear in Buckinghamshire. Groundwater levels are high in the Wycombe area and are being monitored. Buckinghamshire Council have produced groundwater flood maps of the likely locations for groundwater flooding, where it is most likely to emerge and what locations it will impact. These are available for Chesham, Marlow, Hambleden, Wycombe and West Wycombe.
If it is an emergency and flooding is causing a risk to life, you must call 999.
Groundwater can infiltrate the sewage system. If you have problems flushing your toilet or sewage is emerging, contact Thames Water on 0800 316 9800.
Groundwater flooding occurs when water gathers beneath the ground’s surface, causing the water table to rise and eventually reach the surface. Groundwater flooding has some key characteristics that differ from other sources of flooding:
Flooding will usually occur days or even weeks after heavy rainfall.
Flooding may persist for a long time, often lasting for weeks.
Water may emerge on hillsides.
Water may rise up through the floors, rather than entering through doors.
Due to these characteristics, and the fact that groundwater flooding is a less common source of flooding, people are often caught unprepared.
Furthermore, while local agencies are prepared to support you, no measures are available to lower the water table during a groundwater flood. Therefore, residents and businesses must be prepared that groundwater levels will remain high and should undertake measures to protect their property until the water table naturally falls. The most important thing to do to prepare for groundwater flooding is to have a personal flood plan. Flood Mary’s website has many resources for creating a plan, including a template to fill in. If residents and businesses already have flood plans, this is the time to review them and action what they can. We advise planning for the worst-case scenario of groundwater flooding lasting for weeks.
This can be incredibly difficult, as homes, roads, and community spaces can all be affected for long periods of time. If you are struggling and would like someone to talk to, the National Flood Forum is a charity to help, support and represent people at risk of flooding. You can call them on 01299 403 055.
“Groundwater flooding can have devastating impacts on those affected. One of the best ways to reduce that impact is to be prepared. Ensure you have your flood plan ready and speak to your community to ensure everyone knows of the risk. Groundwater has long been the forgotten form of flooding, and communities at risk do not get the same level of advice and support as they do with other forms of flooding. We are working to change that with Project Groundwater, and we will continue to share our learning to benefit all who experience groundwater flooding.”
Project Groundwater supports communities to be more resilient to groundwater flooding. The project aims to increase engagement with communities in order to help build understanding and awareness of groundwater flooding. We are working to:
improve monitoring of when and where groundwater emerges
develop a better groundwater flood warning service that will support residents to take action
investigate what nature-based solutions could be used to reduce groundwater flood risk.
This project is funded by Defra as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes which is managed by the Environment Agency. The programmes will drive innovation in flood and coastal resilience and adaptation to a changing climate.
Buckinghamshire Council announces Aylesbury town centre improvements
Work is due to start on a number of upgrades and improvements in Aylesbury town
centre, to enhance the existing space with attractive lighting and other new features.
Buckinghamshire Council is committed to the positive regeneration of our county and in particular our market towns, as outlined in the Buckinghamshire Regeneration Framework, which has recently been adopted. This includes specific town centre plans to create great, sustainable places to live and visit, where our businesses and communities can thrive and prosper.
As part of a package of investment, these initial measures will bring forward immediate improvements to the heart of Aylesbury, kickstarting the wider regeneration of the town.
Library theatre show promotes the benefits of gardening for mental health
A theatre show promoting the benefits of gardening for mental health is being hosted in nine libraries across the county between Monday 19 February and Saturday 2 March.
The Head Gardener show features the story of brothers Jake and Warren Oldershaw and brings audiences a performance that digs deep into the reasons why we could all do with a bit more horticulture in our lives.
During the show the pair tell personal tales of why gardening is so important for mental health; design, draught and bring to life a unique and beautiful garden; share fascinating stories of different projects, plants and species; and even throw a few songs into the mix.
The show has been given the thumbs up by celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh who described the performance as: ‘Living proof that gardening is good for you’.
The theatre tour is being jointly funded by Buckinghamshire Council’s Healthy Libraries programme and the national Rekindle programme. Rekindle is led by Creative Arts England and funded by Arts Council England and is designed to empower libraries to strengthen ties with local arts and make it more accessible to local communities. The Healthy Libraries programme brings public health initiatives direct to residents, providing a range of events, activities and information to help people live healthy and happier lives.
A new vision A for parking across Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire Council has unveiled its vision and ambition for parking across the county as part of a new Parking Strategy which sets out how the service will develop in coming years.
From embracing new technology to providing customers with greater choice and flexibility and from streamlining parking charges to promoting greater safety and reducing congestion, the document, which was agreed by Cabinet yesterday (Thursday 22 February), starts to align the different on and off-street parking arrangements from the previous legacy councils into one strategy which covers the whole county.
Key aims within the strategy include:
A commitment to maintaining the upkeep of quality parking provision across the county.
Working to ensure the council’s parking operations are fully self-funded as is required legally.
Exploring ways to give people flexibility in parking options across the county.
Intelligent use of parking enforcement to ensure effective enforcement locally and county-wide.
A gradual transition to online/digital payments for all parking, reflecting trends in payment preferences which have accelerated in recent years, whilst maintaining cash payments for as long as economically possible in existing locations.
Ensuring residents and customers are kept fully informed of changes.
The strategy has been informed by a previous review of current parking arrangements and starts to address inconsistencies across the county and identify where changes are needed to provide a better service for residents.
One of the first actions the council is taking is signing up to the National Parking Platform (NPP), a Department for Transport pilot scheme which aims to provide greater flexibility in paying for parking while providing value for money. The scheme will be piloted in council car parks in Wycombe and will allow customers to choose which supplier they purchase their parking time through.
Council pledges an extra £5 million investment in fixing roads
Buckinghamshire Council has pledged an extra £5 million of funding this coming year to boost investment in repairs to roads across the county, adding to the £105 million already committed to the road network over the next four years.
The money will be used to fund much needed repairs across the county caused by long periods of very wet weather this winter, and councillors agreed to ‘deploy the funding as quickly as possible’.
In total Buckinghamshire Council has committed £110m to highway repairs and improvements over the next four years. The overall investment will go towards maintaining and improving the road network across the county, including a range of works and schemes, from the so-called ‘Plane and Patch’ programme, where whole sections of roads are resurfaced, to one-off large scale projects like Station Road Cheddington and cleansing our 85,000 gullies
As we move into warmer weather in the spring months the temporary repairs reduce in number so longer-lasting improvement works and bigger resurfacing projects can be undertaken.
This is the second year in a row that Buckinghamshire Councillors have committed an additional £5 million of funding for the county’s roads, recognising the impact of two wet winters and what residents have asked for their money to be spent on.
Communities around Buckinghamshire are being invited to pop on their gloves and hi-vis vests, grab a refuse sack and litter picker and get involved with clearing up their local area as part of Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean.
Now in its ninth year, the national, annual initiative is the country’s biggest mass action environmental campaign. It encourages residents, community groups, businesses and councils to collect and safely dispose of litter from local streets, parks and open spaces. This year, the initiative runs between Friday 15 and Sunday 31 March and the theme is ‘the environment is for everyone’ so we should all do what we can to keep it looking good. Keep Britain Tidy is also celebrating its 70th anniversary this year and is asking people to set themselves a special #PlatinumPledge, challenging themselves or their community to pick up 70 items of litter, spend 70 minutes litter picking or even fill 70 bags of litter.
Last year in Buckinghamshire, hundreds of people got involved in local community litter picks during the two-week period. More than 80 community clean up events took place across the county. A total of 1,200 bags of waste were collected in the south area with similar figures in the north of the county.
Groups wanting to arrange a local litter pick this year can request free items including litter pickers, bag hoops, gloves and hi-vis vests to help carry out their event in safety. Free litter sacks are also provided.
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