Archives: Local News

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-n416?id=348628

Herts PNA Public questionnaire – poster

Pitstone Parish Council would like to find out whether there is any need for “low cost housing” in our community to help local people who are struggling to stay in the parish due to the high cost of housing.  These may include people who need to be near close relatives to care for them, or need the care of someone living in the parish.

The council is also aware that young people may be finding it increasingly difficult to access homes of their own, and older people finding it hard to find suitable homes to ‘downsize’ into.

To gauge the extent of local need for “low cost housing”, and any particular types of need, we would like all interested Pitstone residents to complete a short survey and tell us their stories.  The results will then help the parish council to understand what needs exist and to investigate possible solutions.   The survey can be completed online at http://pitstone.co.uk/housing-survey-2017/, or you can complete the form which will shortly be delivered to each home inside your next edition of Pitstone Parish Post, and return to 9 Warwick Road, Pitstone, LU7 9FE or email to parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk by Sunday 5 March 2017.

ICE numbers stored in phones are no longer a useful solution, as most modern smart phones are locked with a passcode. This prevents medical staff from gaining access to your emergency contact. There is, however, another item you have on you at practically all times – your wallet. While credit and ID cards have your name, more information is often needed in an emergency. Having all the essential information accessible on one card could help medical responders provide the best help and care, and to contact your next of kin promptly. Information about medications and allergies facilitates making fast decisions about treatments. And, especially in the case of heavy blood loss, it is important for emergency staff to know your blood type.

Cards are available to download via the link:

https://geticecard.com/

The Woodland Trust are holding two public meetings to help determine the shape of Tring Park in the future.

For full details, please click on the poster below:

Tring Park consultation

Ivinghoe & Pitstone United Cricket Club are starting our practise nets at Aylesbury Grammar School on Monday nights from 8.15 to 9.15 for the next 12 weeks, first session is 16^th January. We welcome new players for a busy programme of Saturday, Sunday and mid-week games in 2017.  The sessions are aimed at senior players and the older colts that play in senior cricket. There is a small charge of £ 3.00 for the session. Anyone interested should contact David Frankum on 0776 147 8045.

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-n416?id=347138

Brown bin collection dates

The service starts again next year on:

• Monday 30 January
• Monday 6 February

Check our website nearer the time to find out when your collection date will be.

If you put your real Christmas tree in the brown bin, please make sure that it is not wedged in, but chopped into pieces that will easily fall out when the bin is turned upside down for emptying.

Lynda Tomlins, Customer Contact Manager, Recycling and Waste – 01296 585510

Exchange Street Car Park, Aylesbury – Waterside North

The construction work for Aylesbury Vale District Council’s exciting new development in the Exchange Street car park will commence next Monday, 9 January 2017, with AVDC’s chosen development partner for the scheme, Durkan Ltd.

The new development will provide Aylesbury town centre with its first purpose-built mixed restaurant and residential development, reflecting how modern town centres are changing to meet a demand for more town centre homes and leisure dining.

The development will take place at the top end of the Exchange Street car park, opposite the cinema. It will create four new restaurants with 47 one and two bedroom apartments above them and a stunning new public square funded by a grant from the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP).  Additional flexible commercial space will be built facing Long Lional.

The development means that the Exchange Street car park will lose around 120 parking spaces as of Tuesday 10 January. However, most of these have already been offset by the new car park adjacent to the site which was opened last year by Bucks County Council. All the existing disabled bays from the Exchange Street car park will be relocated within the development and a number of 30 minute short stay and market trader van bays will be relocated too

During the construction period, approximately 30 additional parking spaces will be temporarily lost to allow the construction traffic access around bottom and cinema side of the site, ensuring safety for car park users. On Monday work will begin, as revisions to the white lining of bays commences.

For more information on where to park when visiting Aylesbury town centre, please visit www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/parkaylesbury and for more information on the development please go to http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/waterside-north-development

Annual Electoral Canvass

The annual electoral canvass completed with the re-issue of electoral registers on 1 December. The overall response rate for the district was 94.5%. The revised number of electors for the Aylesbury Vale registration area is as follows;

Parliamentary electors – 134,947

Local Government Electors -138,135

Parishes are reminded that there are local government elections (Bucks County Council) on the 4 May next year. The registration deadline for electors wishing to vote is Thursday 13 April.

Peter Brown, Electoral Services Manager 01296 585650

Grant support for lunch clubs for older people 2017/18

In the New Year Aylesbury Vale District Council will once again be inviting applications from lunch clubs for older people to apply for grant support.

Only a limited amount of money is available and to be eligible for funding groups must operate in Aylesbury Vale and must:

• have agreed a constitution or set of rules – a copy of which should be included with the application
• be not-for-profit
• operate with no undue restriction on membership
• have a management committee of at least 3 people
• have a bank account that requires two signatories
• have an accurate record of income and expenditure (or income/expenditure projections if you are a new group) – a copy of which should be included with your application.

For further information and an application form, please email the Grants Officer, Jan Roffe at: jroffe@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk

The closing date for applications is Friday 17 March 2017. Applications will be assessed by the end of March and all applicants will be advised of the outcome soon afterwards.

The agencies who work together in Buckinghamshire to tackle crime and protect vulnerable people (e.g. councils, police, probation, voluntary services etc) are looking for your views on what we believe should have extra focus for the next three years (April 2017-March 2020).

Some of the work we already do includes:

• Providing support to victims of domestic violence and abuse
• Working with young people to educate them in how to stay safe and keep away from serious harm
• Reducing the number of young people who become involved in criminal activity
• Supporting those who feel isolated or targeted because of who they are or where they live

Please consider taking part in this short survey, and please forward to your networks.  It is ‘multiple choice’ with an optional space at the end for you to provide any comments or thoughts, in your own words.  It should take no more than 5 minutes.

Last year we were really pleased that over 1300 people responded from all over the county and represented those under 17 years old right up to those over 70 years old.  Please help us to hear from even more people than last year so we are even better informed.  To take part in the survey click on this link https://www.research.net/r/saferbucks

Catherine Marriott, on behalf of the Safer Bucks Partnership

Community Safety Manager  |  Communities, Health & Adult Social Care (CHASC)  |  Buckinghamshire County Council, HP20 1UA

Direct Dial: 01296 383979  |  E-mail: cmarriott@buckscc.gov.uk  |  Secure e-mail: secure-cmarriott@buckscc.gcsx.gov.uk

Winter/adverse weather driving advice from Transport for Bucks:

Parishes_BULLETINwinterdrivingadvice

The details of Buckinghamshire County Council’s proposed £324m budget will be put under the microscope later this month – and for the first time members of the public will be able to quiz council bosses.

A cross-party committee of councillors will question cabinet members on their departmental spending plans during three days of hearings from January 10 to 12 and will then produce a report listing any recommendations.

At a recent cabinet meeting council leader Martin Tett admitted that the committee took a ‘very thorough and intense’ approach which could prove to be a ‘gruelling experience’ – but that their input was an invaluable part of the budget-setting process.

For the first time, residents will be able to submit their questions on the budget which will be asked during the meetings, either by emailing democracy@buckscc.gov.uk or tweeting using #BucksBudget

The meetings will be held in public and also webcast online.

Committee chairman Bill Chapple said: “I have always been a great champion for transparency and openness and so I welcome questions from the public, which will receive an answer from a cabinet member.

“Our job as a committee is to make sure the budget is robust and facilitates the needs of the county and the people we serve, within the budget we have available.

“We will be diligent and asking the relevant questions to each cabinet member to make sure we are spending our money in the most prudent manner.”

Buckinghamshire County Council’s proposed net operating budget for 2017/18 is £324m, down from £325.6m for 2016/17.

You can view the draft budget here: https://democracy.buckscc.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?Id=5597

Rothschild House Patient Group

Patient Participation Group

Welcomes You
To an open evening meeting
Wednesday 18 January 2017
7.30pm-9:30pm
The Baptist Church, High Street, Tring
(Free parking opposite in the library car park)

Find out how to get the most out of Rothschild House Surgery’s Online Services. Click and Easy – saves you time, order your repeat prescriptions and increase your choice of appointments.

Doctors presenting:

• Dr Jon Hykin: How to be a smart patient
• Dr Sarah Gallagher: How can teenagers get the best out of the surgery?
• Dr Alexandra Wainwright: From the cradle to the grave

Question & Answer session

Join the conversation, all welcome!

For further information email: rhsppg@gmail.com
https://www.rothschildhousesurgery.co.uk/practice/join-our-patient-group/

Please click the link below for more information.  Everyone welcome.

bbowt-college-lake-launch-flyer-and-poster

There are times when we all need a little bit of help. Maybe you’re recovering from an illness, feeling lonely and isolated or unable to get out and about, Prevention Matters could give you that bit of help to make your life easier and more fulfilling.

Prevention Matters, delivered by Buckinghamshire County Council through a partnership of organisations, including the NHS, District Councils and a variety of voluntary and community sector organisations, is a free and friendly advice service linking eligible adults (over 18) in Buckinghamshire to social activities, volunteers and community services.

We can support you in regaining your confidence, independence and getting out and about by finding social activities, volunteers and community services for you in your local area.

Here’s how we helped Georgina with the worries of being on her own:

After the death of her last remaining family member Georgina was concerned about her declining health and money worries. A Prevention Matters community practice worker visited her at home to see how we could help.

The community practice worker was able to help arrange a home visit to asses her property for disability allowance, get taxi tokens so she could get to appointments, catalogues on home shopping and meal delivery so she didn’t have to rely on friends.

Georgina now feels better informed about the services that are available to her and through Prevention Matters is now £200 a month better off, safer at home and less worried about her finances.

How do I find out about this service?

• Call our friendly staff on 0300 666 0159 (local number)
• Email at admin@preventionmatters.org.uk
• Or use the online form at buckscc.gov.uk/preventionmatters
• Alternatively you can ask your GP or health professional for more information

What would happen next?

One of our Community Practice Workers will contact you to arrange a time to come and talk to you about what services may be available locally for you. The Community Practice Worker can contact the activities and services you might be interested in attending or receiving in your home and can support you until you feel confident and happy to be independent.

It’s ok to ask for help.

To find out more about Prevention Matters please visit

www.careadvicebuckinghamshire.org/preventionmatters

Just a reminder that the following Active Bucks sessions are still running in Pitstone/Ivinghoe.  All welcome:

An enormous thank you to all of you who have helped out with the Santa Float this year, and to everyone who gave a donation.

This year the Rennie Grove nurses will travel more than 13,500 miles and carry out around 600 home visits over the 12 days of Christmas to give patients and their families the precious memory of one last Christmas together.  Those memories are priceless but there is a real cost we must cover to make this happen and you’ve helped us to cover that cost.

Each and every one of you has helped to raise a fantastic £4,907.83 this year (this covers all the towns and not just Pitstone) which is a record amount for the float. It is getting bigger and better each year thanks to all the wonderful support you give.

Thank you so much.

As Christmas draws near, Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC) are encouraging residents to think about their plans in order to stay safe whilst celebrating this year.
Working alongside Thames Vale Police and Aylesbury Pubwatch, AVDC have been promoting the Christmas Party Menu this year, which breaks down all the aspects of a night of Christmas festivities to ensure you have a happy and safe Christmas.
For starters, they suggest you plan your evening before you go out, think about transport by using licensed taxis, make sure you have the fare home and stay with friends. Ensure you mobile phone is fully charged and always eat before you drink.
For mains, they focus on your wellbeing – asking you not to leave drinks unattended or accept them from strangers, look out for each other, never mix drink and drugs and to stay hydrated with water.
For desserts, always use a black cab or private hire cab with yellow plate and door signs to get home safely, ensuring you’re in the right vehicle for the right booking and that the driver is wearing his badge.
The campaign is to get everyone thinking ahead, to ensure they’re not caught out or put into any compromising situations over what should only be a fun and festive time. Pubs and clubs throughout the town are promoting the poster in and out of their premises and using their social media.
Peter Seal, AVDC Licencing Manager, said: “We’ve worked along side Thames Valley Police and Pubwatch to ensure that Aylesbury Vale residents have a happy and safe time this Christmas and wish all residents a very merry time indeed.”

Church Road fundraising and Christmas lights are featured on the Mix 96 website today:

http://www.mix96.co.uk/news/local/2178380/christmas-lights-display-raise-money-for-local-girl/

The link contains details of how to donate, or you can post your donations in the box at Clare House, Church Road.

If you have not yet been along to view the lights this year, do try and visit.

Rural businesses across the Chilterns can now apply for grants of up to £50,000 to help create growth and jobs. 

The grants are administered by Ngage Solutions, on behalf of the Chilterns LEADER Local Action Group.

The Chilterns LEADER programme is designed to promote business growth, particularly the growth of micro and small businesses. It is focused on rural areas supporting;  small rural companies, farm diversification projects, forestry projects, tourism projects, rural services and cultural and heritage projects. The programme is expected to help with the creation of approximately 75 jobs and to provide financial support for 130 rural businesses.

Mike Furness, LEADER Programme Manager, said:

‘The Chilterns has a significant rural economy and the Chilterns LEADER Programme will support activity that helps businesses grow, drawing on the unique characteristics of the area, while promoting the sustainable management of natural resources like woodlands. We are looking forward to working together with local businesses to support their growth and we want to encourage them get in touch to find out how we can help them.’

David Briggs, Chair of the Chilterns LEADER LAG, said:

“We are delighted to have been awarded this new round of funding, especially as we know there is a real need within our local community. Due to the success of the last wave of LEADER funding we have already had expressions of interest from local businesses including farms looking to expand processing capabilities, diversify into farm shops and tea rooms, cycle hubs, tourism projects and forestry activity.’

In the 2008-2013 LEADER programme, projects delivered by Ngage were some of the most successful in the UK. 124 projects were awarded funding which in turn sustained 206 jobs, created 117 new jobs and helped launch 39 new businesses.

For more information about whether your business may be eligible for a LEADER grant and for more information on the North & West Northamptonshire, Chilterns and Clay Vale LEADER programmes, visit www.leader-programme.org.uk or call the team on 01494 568969.

leader-flyer

Ridgeway Winter newsletter

Enjoy a good read of The Ridgeway National Trail newsletter which features:

• Ten year old boy becomes a Hero – walking the entire Ridgeway for charity
• Ridgeway Wildlife corridor – the Trail plays a role in helping wildlife movement
• Events listing – art fairs, guided winter walks, fundraising challenges and more
• Help maintain The Ridgeway – see the task diary and read about an app to help with reporting problems
• Explore The Ridgeway on horseback – take part in TREC events and volunteer to monitor circular rides
• Literary walk – follow in the footsteps of great writers inspired by the Ridgeway  landscape
• Whiteleaf Cross is scoured to a gleaming white and the Grosvenor memorial near East Ilsley is restored

rw-newsletter-winter-2016finalv1-1

The collection on Thursday 22 December remains in place.

The collection scheduled for Thursday 29 December, blue lidded recycling bin plus food bin, has moved to Friday 30 December.

The following week services resume their usual Thursday slot ie 5 January 2017 for the green lidded bin plus food bin.

Bin dates can always be checked on the Aylesbury Vale District Council website: http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/find-your-bin-day

The Aylesbury Vale Community Safety Partnership (CSP) is a statutory group (including the police and local councils) working to reduce crime and disorder in the district.

The partnership does not replace the work of the police or the day-to-day business of the other partners, but is widely considered the most effective approach to finding joint solutions to local issues.

Every year we consult with residents and local community organisations as the partnership prepares its next annual action plan. The plan will include initiatives and projects to address local priorities.

In this consultation we want to know how safe you feel in the area you live or work, and how well informed you are about particular types of crime. All responses will be used as a basis to help shape the annual action plan for 2017-2018.

Please answer as many questions as possible. It should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete.

All responses will be treated in the strictest confidence and only be used in the review of the community safety partnership action plan. Aylesbury Vale District Council is registered under the Data Protection Act, 1998 and will at all times comply with the terms of the act when processing personal data.

Just clink on the following link: https://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/cspsurvey2016

D Cotter

Miss D Cotter

Community Safety Officer

Community Fulfilment

Aylesbury Vale District Council

The Gateway

Gatehouse Road

Aylesbury

Bucks  HP19 8FF

Tel:   01296 585061

Email dcotter@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk

Website www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk

Sunday 18 December 6pm – Nine Lessons and Carols

Saturday 24 December 3pm – Nativity Service

Saturday 24 December 11.30pm – Midnight Communion

Sunday 25 December 10am – Family Communion

May the good news of Christmas bring you joy and peace.

facebook.com/stmary.holycross.allsaints

Please follow the link for the latest Thames Valley Police update for our area:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/yournh-tvp-pol-area-n416

gritting

Drivers using motorway services stations, particularly those along the M4 in Berkshire, are being warned that thieves could be using technology to prevent people locking their vehicles and then steal from them.
Thames Valley Police officers are warning people to make a manual check that doors are locked before leaving their vehicles.
This advice follows a spate of 14 thefts from vehicles at motorway services in Berkshire. In many of the cases there was no obvious sign of a break in and no damage was caused to the vehicles as items were stolen from them.
Officers are also appealing for anyone who visited the services during the dates outlined below and have any dashcam footage to please get in touch as they may have vital information for the investigations.
At Chieveley Moto Services on M4 at junction 13 between 24 November and 1 December two vans, two lorries and a Mercedes car were entered and items including tools, a suitcase and laptop were taken.
At Reading Moto Services M4 junctions 11-12 between 26 November and 28 November two Range Rovers, a Jaguar, a Mercedes and a Fiat 500 were all accessed by unknown means, ie no obvious sign of a break-in, and various pieces of luggage were stolen from the vehicles.
At Membury Welcome Break M4 at junctions 14 -15 between 24 November and 26 November two Land Rovers, a Mercedes and a Renault were accessed by unknown means. Luggage, wallets and cash were stolen.
Investigating officer, Sgt Alan Hawkett of Newbury Police Station said: “I strongly recommend that any members of the public visiting motorway services stations anywhere in the country keep all valuable items in their possession when away from their vehicle. Offenders may be using technology to prevent your vehicle from locking therefore we would advise a manual check of the doors before leaving your vehicle.
“I am appealing to the public who use in car dash cameras who may have been at any of the above service stations on the above dates and times to contact me. You may have captured an offence or offender on camera. I am extremely keen to review the footage.”
Anyone with any information or dashcam footage relevant to these incidents is asked to call 101 using ref 409 27/11/2016 or email alan.hawkett@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

A VERY BIG THANK YOU to everybody who has renewed/taken out their subscription to the Library’s 100 Club!

There is just a week to go to the next round of monthly Prize Draws, and there is still time to join the 100 Club, which is a fun way of helping to raise funds for your Library. Draw tickets cost only £1 each (£12 for twelve months), and half of all subscriptions are returned as prize money – three guaranteed prizes every month!

Interested? Then why not pick up a welcome pack from the Library or print off
the attached Application Form? Alternatively, contact me for further details and
an online form. The more tickets sold, the greater the monthly prize pot! If you
have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask (01296 668123 or 07947
582595).

I look forward to welcoming you to the 100 Club.

A second drink before you drive doubles your chances of being in a fatal collision.

Festive drink drive campaign aimed at young males who account of 62% of all drink drivers killed on the roads.

Make sure your loved ones stay safe:

http://www.roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/5448.html

Free sessions and great prizes with Active Vale this winter
Until the end of December, Aylesbury Vale District Council is offering a fantastic prize draw along with free Active Vale fitness sessions to encourage Vale ladies to have fun keeping fit this winter.
Prizes include a Fitbit Charge 2, Asics Nimbus 18 Trainers (worth £145) and £50 Shopping Vouchers. Residents who sign up for a free Active Vale session at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/active-vale will be entered into the prize draw after completing the class.
There are all kinds of Active Vale activities taking place across the Vale this winter, including Zumba, taster gym sessions, ladies swimming lessons, lunchtime HIIT classes (high intensity interval training) and beginner running with childcare. Residents can go to www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/active-vale to find out what’s taking place near them.
Rachel Robinson, AVDC’s Active Vale Co-ordinator says: “We’ve pulled out all the stops to inspire Vale ladies to have fun getting fit with our free sessions and fantastic prizes. December can be hectic, and taking some ‘me time’ to join an Active Vale session is a great way to de-stress and reenergise. Find the perfect session for you at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/active-vale.”
Active Vale is operated by AVDC with funding from Sport England, and support from local sports partners. Active Vale is specifically trying to help ladies aged 14-40 to exercise more, as this group often particularly struggle to achieve their recommended 90 minutes of exercise a week, but most Active Vale sessions are open to adults of all ages.

Biscuiteers: Waddesdon Manor in Gingerbread

Click the above link for more information and photographs.

http://www.reed.co.uk/jobs/production-assistant-clothing-decoration-and-distribution-/31068578?utm_medium=social&utm_source=fbook_vcshr&utm_campaign=jobseeker_social_fbook_vcshr

Dear Friends,

As many of you will know, I’ve been reporting the news for Ivinghoe and Pitstone in the Bucks Herald and Leighton Buzzard Observer for over 20 years and have added Slapton to the villages I cover in more recent years. It’s been a lot of fun, and I’d recommend being a local newspaper correspondent to any aspiring writer.

But all good things come to an end, and I must hang up my reporter’s hat at the end of December. Because the papers won’t be printing the usual village pages for much of December (due to the Christmas rush), my last columns will appear in 4 and 5 December issues of the papers.

If anyone is interested in taking over the role for one or more of the three villages you should approach Neil Pickford at Johnston Newspapers direct at neil.pickford@jpress.co.uk. If you’d like an idea of what’s involved, by all means contact me at davesivers@hotmail.co.uk.

In the meantime, after the end of November, local individuals or organisations who have news or are in need of some publicity should contact Neil direct.

Best regards,

Dave Sivers.

Please find attached a useful guide to what should, and what should not, be put down your drains and toilets, and what happens when you do.

This particular leaflet is from Thames Water but the same principles apply to Anglian Water.

tw-bin-it-leaflet-2014

Aylesbury Town Centre`s next festive event, the Christmas Craft and Gift Fair, will be taking place on Sunday 4th December. The event runs from 11am to 3pm, where visitors can browse stalls full of unique and unusual festive treats, from Christmas decorations to traditional Italian delicacies – whilst getting in the festive mood with live jazz music and street entertainment. Street food will also be available and includes German bratwursts, roasted chestnuts and Mexican delights.
Aylesbury Town Centre Partnership are delighted to also welcome Young Enterprise and Buckingham University Technical College to the Christmas Craft and Gift Fair this year. Budding local entrepreneurs from Aylesbury School, who have already set up companies with the support of Young Enterprise, will be selling items they have created; whilst Buckingham University Technical College will be promoting and selling some of their work at the fair.
Diana Fawcett, Town Centre Manager said: “We are very proud to be supporting local schools as a part of this event. It’s a great opportunity for these young people to learn from the more experienced stall holders, whilst helping to develop the potential traders of tomorrow.”
Sunday parking in Aylesbury Town Centre is £1.50 for the day

This December, Buckinghamshire County Council will again invite residents to see if they can make savings on their energy bills through the Government’s Collective Switching Scheme

It is a national scheme, which will join our residents, families and friends with other people from around the country in a large pool and then invite energy suppliers to bid in an auction to provide energy to this pool of people at a preferential lower rate. Once the supplier has been confirmed they will write to everyone with a personalised quote. There is no obligation to switch.

In the last round of Auction:

• 41% of people who registered in Buckinghamshire were able to make a saving
• The average savings in the county have been around £280 per year.

We have a website www.buckscc.gov.uk/switchedon where people can find out more and also register their interest.

The deadline for registration is 13^rd February 2017 and the auction for suppliers will take place on 14^th February. Please note that residents will need their existing energy bill(s) to complete your registration.

Non drop Christmas Trees are available from the old Silver Birch Cafe on the Upper Icknield Way in Pitstone.

Aylesbury Vale District Council’s Vale Lottery turns one on Monday 28 November and will be celebrating by giving away a guaranteed £1000 in its First Birthday Bonanza prize draw! And, of course, there’ll also be the chance of that £25,000 jackpot too. The additional draw will take place during the Vale Lottery First Birthday Bash, where AVDC will be inviting the local good causes to join them to celebrate. The £1000 additional prize draw will be available to anyone who has signed up to the online lottery by 8pm on Saturday 26 November.
Vale Lottery, the first online community lottery to be launched by a council in this country, currently supports 128 good causes, which all benefit the Aylesbury Vale community. These include local disability groups, animal charities, sports clubs, theatre groups and schools. Under the scheme, 60p in every pound goes directly to a good cause and the remaining costs go towards the running costs and prize fund – AVDC do not take a penny. You can chose to either support a favourite local cause or alternatively support the general good cause fund, which is administered by AVDC and provides vital support to a wide range local organisations.
To date, Vale Lottery has celebrated with numerous winners, including one lucky local who won £2000, after getting a five number match! Due to the lottery’s success the jackpot was increased back in June to a whopping £25,000, which has helped towards the causes being on track to receive a total of more than £66,000 by the end of its first year.
Cllr. Janet Blake, Cabinet Member for Transformation said: “It’s with great pleasure that we announce the £1000 prize draw to celebrate the Vale Lottery’s first birthday. We hope that even more of the community will get involved with the scheme, to help support the many worthwhile good causes across the Vale. This has been a fantastic project so far and it’s really encouraging to see other councils are already following our lead. Good luck everyone!”
For more information or for local causes who are wishing to apply, visit www.valelottery.co.uk

Joe Marling, the poppy man outside Masons, would like to thank residents for their generosity.  This year, he filled 16 collection tins with donations which amounted to £2,568.  This brings Joe’s total to over £10,000 since he started.

Our congratulations to Joe.

restoring-the-record-photo

On 1st January 2026 – not 10 years away – it will no longer be possible to use documentary evidence to claim ‘lost ways’. Any path, track, alleyway, bridleway, cut-through, etc. not registered on the definitive map could be in danger of being lost forever. Even old and still well-used, but officially unrecorded, paths and tracks may at risk. The ancient maxim on which many past claimants have relied: ‘once a highways always a highway’ will be history.
What does that actually mean to those of us who walk, cycle or horse ride along our local public footpaths and bridleways? Simply…if it isn’t registered, an owner could put a gate or fence across it and prohibit all entry to the public – quite legally – and think how that could hinder our access to the countryside. Here are just a few questions worth considering.
Just in your parish:
 Are there old lanes not currently used, but could potentially be useful in the future;
 Do you remember a route you walked as a child that is not currently accessible;
 Why does that footpath or bridleway suddenly end at the parish or county boundary or why does that bridleway suddenly end and become a footpath;
 Are all public footpaths and bridleways accurately mapped by the Ordnance Survey;
 Do routes you use join the metalled highway or is there a strip of gravel not marked as a footpath or bridleway on the map;
 Is that track or hollow way you use through your local wood actually a definitive path?
After 2026 historic map and documentary evidence will be inadmissible to claim ‘lost’ or existing routes not on the definitive map (though it will be possible to claim paths on the basis of 20 years, unopposed, use).

The basic message is starkly simple – the risk is that we take our access to the countryside for granted; we use routes for recreation and as a means of linking places together; but if we don’t check what we already have, or what has been used in the past, we could lose it. If we don’t research what we use now and have done in the past, we may never get another chance to register it in future.
Do you have any old maps, letters, books or photos which show that paths once existed? They could be very important – verbal memories also often provide worthwhile clues!
Fortunately, the Buckinghamshire Local Access Forum, Open Spaces Society, the Ramblers and British Horse Society, among others, and our parish council are taking an initiative to do what they can for the benefit of local parishes and our neighbours to secure unrecorded paths for future generations to enjoy. Will you help us, please?
We may need people to check maps, walk paths, do research and get new links approved – this is both a countywide and countrywide initiative.
If you are interested and are prepared to help, contact Ross Osborn (rossosborn41@gmail.com) who can either put you in contact you’re your local volunteer, or will send you all the information you need to know to start out on this potentially fascinating detective hunt.

https://bbf.uk.com/events/buckinghamshire-business-awards?utm_source=Buckinghamshire%20Business%20First&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=7752901_bba%20launch%20-%2017-11-16&dm_i=1TDC,4M66D,H659GZ,H662Z,1

The Aylesbury Town Centre Partnership is delighted to announce the return of Santa`s Parade, taking place on Sunday 27 November. A real family favourite, where this year Santa will be accompanied by his elves, three beautiful camels with very Wise Men, larger than life penguins, winter foxes, Snow Princesses, a Happy Snowman, real donkeys, a samba band and a colourful array of music and dance groups.
The parade of characters and local groups will sing and dance their way through the town at 10.45am, starting from the Upper High Street by Hale Leys Shopping Centre and making their way around Market Square. After the parade there is a range of entertainment, including go-karts, a small fun fair and donkey rides for the kids.
From 1pm, the Santa Dash family fun run will leave Kingsbury and make its way through town in aid of Florence Nightingale Hospice. If you want to join in with this worthwhile event, email duevents@outlook.com. Alternatively, booking forms are available from Dead Universe Comics, Bourbon Street, Aylesbury or the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity, Walton Street, Aylesbury.
Friars Square Manager, Andy Margieson, said: “Friars Square is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Christmas lights and Santa’s Grotto. Santa will be welcomed to his festive residence outside the Pavilion, after the parade on Sunday 27 November, and will meet the town’s children in the run up to Christmas with his little helpers.”
Aylesbury Town Centre Manager, Diana Fawcett, said: “There are a wide range of Christmas activities in Aylesbury town across November and December, both for families and for shoppers, and the Aylesbury Town Centre Partnership is delighted to be hosting this enormously popular festive event.”

Shoppers will be able to park for free after 4.30pm on Thursdays in AVDC town centre car parks in Aylesbury between 17 November and 22 December. For more details about Aylesbury events over the festive period, please visit www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk

150176 – B488 Upper Icknield Way j/w Northfield Road, Pitstone (21/11/16 & 23/11/16)

Night time surfacing work using temporary traffic signals between 19:00 & 06:00hrs – 21/11/16

Night time reinstatement of road markings using Stop & Go traffic management between 19:00 & 06:00hrs – 23/11/16