Aylesbury town centre’s hugely popular Santa’s Parade is back this year, taking place on Sunday 27 November. Last year’s spectacular parade reached record numbers with over 250 people involved. The festive parade welcomes local dance groups, professional entertainers, bands, local businesses and organisations to escort Santa to Friars Square Shopping Centre once again.

The parade gathers from 10am and will make a start from 10.45am at Upper High Street. Travelling through Market Square and onto the Friars Square Shopping Centre, the town centre will be awash with festive cheer. The parade finishes by 11.30am, but the fun will not stop there! There will be fun activities throughout the town until 3pm, including go-karts, a small fun fair, a bouncy castle and free donkey rides.

The Town Centre Team are now calling for local businesses and non-profit groups to join the parade. Participants may bring along balloons or goodies to hand out and all attendees must  be dressed in Christmas fancy dress. Do remember though, there can only be one Santa at the parade – so please no Santa costumes. If you’re a non-profit organisation it’s free to join and if you would like to perform a dance show, hand out tasters, or have space for an activity stall you would be very welcome. To get involved please contact the Aylesbury Town Centre Manager at dfawcett@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk

For the first time this year, the Town Centre are also pleased to announce that following the parade, in the afternoon, will be Aylesbury’s Santa Dash. The Christmas family fun run will be taking place in Kingsbury in Aylesbury, where over 250 Santa’s are expected to run the streets to help raise money for Florence Nightingale Hospice. Registration opens at 11.30am with the race starting at 13.15pm – you’ll even be provided with a free Santa suit! For more information on the Santa Dash go to: www.deaduniversecomics.com/santadash

Aylesbury Town Centre Manager Diana Fawcett said: “We’re very excited to be combining our Santa Parade with the Santa Dash this year, forming one fabulous festive day out! We hope lots of our residents will join the fun run and encourage all local businesses and organisations to get in touch and take part in the parade.”

For more details about the Town Partnership Events over the Christmas period, please visit www.visitaylesbury.co.uk

Please find below further information relating to the temporary closure and diversions that will be in place relating to the section of footpath 2 behind Rushendon Furlong during construction works.

“Default Scenario 1: we will provide this route whenever possible, and only in unusual circumstances will we switch to temporary scenarios 2 or 3. This default scenario will provide a safe fenced off route for the public through the site.

Temporary Scenario 2: This will be required during the offsite path upgrades works which we must undertake before the site is occupied

Temporary Scenario 3: This would only be necessary in the unusual scenario where no safe route could be provided through the site. We will look to avoid this diversion route being required.”

rushendon-063-131-footpath-diversion

The closure notice includes the Byway Open to All Traffic alongside the brook which is being improved and upgraded as part of the development.  This will be shut as and when necessary for the works to be undertaken, the same as any other roadworks, at certain times during the permitted 6m period.

administrator-advert-oct-16-ji

THE BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

(PUBLIC FOOTPATH NO.2/1 AND BYWAY OPEN TO ALL TRAFFIC NO.2/2 PITSTONE (TEMPORARY FOOTPATH CLOSURE) ORDER, 2016

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has made an Order, which will temporarily prohibit any person from proceeding, except for access, in approximately 230m of Public Footpath No.2/1 Pitstone and approximately 130m of Byway No.2/2 Pitstone.

The closures are required to allow construction works to take place on site and to allow off site footpath upgrades and it is anticipated that the works will commence on 1 November 2016 and will take approximately 6 months to complete.

The Order will come into operation on 1 November 2016 when the appropriate signs are lawfully displayed and will continue for a period not exceeding six months or until the said works have been completed whichever is the earlier.

Penalties for not observing these restrictions will be as prescribed in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Road Traffic Act 1991.

Dated 26 October 2016.

Modernising Local Government

The District Councils’ report on modernising local government in Buckinghamshire was published on 11 October 2016. Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, South Bucks and Wycombe District Councils commissioned Deloitte to undertake an open and independent review to find the best option for the future of local government to serve the population of Buckinghamshire.

The report has no pre-determined outcome and is looking at all possible options. It focuses on finding how best to strengthen local decision making, improve and protect the future of local services, save taxpayers’ money and keep our customers at the centre of everything we do.

Engagement with stakeholders is the next step and to take this forward the four district leaders have asked to meet with the Leader of Bucks County Council, Councillor Martin Tett, next week.

Councillor Neil Blake, Leader of Aylesbury Vale District Council said: “We welcome this report as a vital addition to the debate we need to have. Fundamental to good local government is delivering quality and consistent services to a diverse population, and it is the responsibility of all local councils and their elected members to do this as efficiently as possible.”

The report and summary documents can be found at http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/mlg

Electoral Canvassers out and about this autumn.

Electoral Registration staff will be visiting homes across the Vale during October and November. Any households who have not responded to the Annual Electoral Canvass by 13 October are likely to be called upon.

The Annual Electoral Canvass runs from August to November and is designed to ensure the electoral register is accurate and also to identify new electors who need to register. A completely revised electoral register is then published on 1 December.

Legislation requires that Local authorities send a Household Enquiry Form (HEF) to every household in their area and follow up with reminder forms and then a personal visit if required.

Residents can respond to the HEF online, by phone, text or by completing and returning the form (postage paid). A response is required even if nothing has changed.

For more information about the Annual Electoral Canvass, or supply of the fully revised register, contact Peter Brown, Electoral Services Manager (pbrown@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk)
VALP consultation has closed, so what’s next?

 Consultation on the draft local plan for Aylesbury Vale closed on 5 September after over eight weeks of manning exhibitions, holding special briefings and handling hundreds of web, email and telephone queries.

Over 1,600 people submitted their comments during the consultation period – more than double the previous VALP Issues and Options consultation last year, including 46% of parishes in Aylesbury Vale. Attention focused on the amount of new housing proposed and the suggested locations for new housing and infrastructure.

What happens next?

Informed by the analysis of the responses and finalisation of evidence, the local plan team will draft the final version of the local plan. Discussions with neighbouring authorities on their unmet need are continuing, with further coordinated work on infrastructure. The final plan will be considered by councillors at:

• VALP Scrutiny Committee, 19 December
• VALP Pre-Submission Cabinet meeting, 21 December, and
• Council on 16 January.

All meetings are open to the public and will be held at AVDC offices on Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, starting at 6.30pm.

Subject to approval by councillors at the Council meeting in January, a statutory six week public consultation period will take place. Anyone who has taken part in any consultation throughout the local plan’s development, (and left their contact details), will automatically be notified when this takes place.

The plan should then be submitted to the government’s planning inspector in March 2017.

We anticipate that a public examination will be held on the plan soon after that, with adoption of the plan taking place in mid-2017. However after submission, the timetable will be in the hands of the government’s planning inspector.

To find out more go to www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/valp

During the consultation period there’s been:

• 1,628 returned consultation responses, most of which contained multiple comments
• 56% of responses were from residents living in Aylesbury Vale
• 48% of parishes in Aylesbury Vale submitted responses
• 4 neighbouring parishes also responded.

 Brown bin collection dates

 A reminder for our brown bin garden waste customers that final collections for 2016 will be at the end of November.

Following your own two-weekly collection schedule, last collection days this year will be:

• Monday 21 November

Or

• Monday 28 November

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

New Homes Bonus

The New Homes Bonus Advisory Grants Panel met in early September to consider 8 applications from parish and town councils for funding. The Panel’s funding recommendations were considered by Cabinet on 11 October and a total of £684,295 will be allocated to help with the provision of community facilities associated with housing growth that have tangible benefits for the whole community. A list of projects awarded funding will be available on the AVDC website when the grant awards are confirmed.

The future of the New Homes Bonus Grants Programme is currently on hold until the Council knows the Government decision about its New Homes Bonus policy. The Grants Officer will keep parish and town councils informed about the process and timescales should funding be available for 2017/18.

Jan Roffe, Grants and Voluntary Sector Support Officer. Email: jroffe@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk

Community Chest final deadlines

 Aylesbury Vale Community Chest – make sure your community don’t miss out.

Since 2007, the Community Chest has awarded 740 grants totalling over £4.5m.

Last chances to apply – remaining closing dates for microgrant applications (up to £1,000) are 15 October, 15 November and 15 December 2016.

The final closing date for project grants (up to £25,000) is 2 December 2016.  If you’re planning to apply, do contact the grants officer soon, as the deadline for draft applications is 11 November, and we are expecting a high number of applicants for this concluding round.  For projects costing over £10,000, we will fund up to 50% of project costs to a maximum of £25,000.

If you know of a project in your community that is under development or in need of an injection of funds, whether it’s a charity, club, society, parish council or social enterprise, encourage them to request an application form before it’s too late.

For more details visit www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/communitychest

Free Trees for Community Groups – Apply Now

“Last winter, I Dig Trees enabled OVO Energy and TCV to inspire and educate thousands of people about the benefits that planting trees would bring to their communities and communal green spaces… and planted 158,000 trees!

We’re delighted to again be running I Dig Trees in 2016/2017 with OVO Energy, on behalf of its Greener Energy customers.

This time we’re aiming to plant even more trees – 250,000 in over 1,250 green spaces across the UK, which will be achieved with approximately 62,000 hours of community volunteering.

If you’re a member of community group that would like some free trees to plant, (which come with spiral guards and canes), please apply now, by using our very simple, online form:

Free Trees for Community Groups”

 Request to report sightings of the non-native Asian Hornet, Vespa Velutina

 Please see below, a request from Marc Botham at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology to keep a look out for the non-native Asian Hornet Vespa velutina and report sightings, preferably, with a photo if possible.

Earlier this week the first UK record of the non-native Asian Hornet, Vespa velutina, was confirmed in Tetbury, Gloucestershire. Since then a response team has been in the area carrying out further surveillance to locate and, if found destroy any Asian Hornet nests.

Please keep an eye out for this species and report any potential sightings by using the online form, preferably with the addition of an image, at:

http://www.brc.ac.uk/risc/alert.php?species=asian_hornet

It is worth pointing out that our native species, the European Hornet, Vespa crabro,  seems to be having a good year and is currently very active. It is also expanding its range and becoming a much more common sight across southern and central England and northwards. Asian Hornets are slightly smaller than the European Hornet and have considerably less yellow in their markings as well as having contrasting dark upper and bright yellow lower coloration on their legs compared to the reddish brown legs of V. crabro. For more detailed information and help on identification of the Asian Hornet please also see the following factsheets:

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/downloadDocument.cfm?id=698

Aylesbury Christmas Light Switch on

Thursday 17th November

Join in the fun in Aylesbury town centre to herald the start of Christmas. The ever popular Christmas lights switch on event is hosted by Mix 96 and the Aylesbury Town Centre Partnership. It will take place between 5.30pm and 7.30pm in Market Square, along with a funfair in Kingsbury until 8.30pm The lights will be switched on at 7pm and will be followed by a colourful fireworks display. There will also be a host of live acts performing throughout the event.

The cast from the panto, including Buckinghamshire’s own funny man and comic panto king Andy Collins, will be switching on the lights and will be joined by the winner of the Roald Dahl fancy dress competition.

Why not grab a bite to eat from the vast range of street food available, choosing from paella, hot cheese sandwiches, hot chestnuts, candy floss, kebabs or fresh donuts – or you can pick from one of the town’s many restaurants. There really is something for everyone!

If you fancy a spot of late night Christmas shopping, parking will be free from 4.30pm Thursday evenings in AVDC’s Aylesbury Town Centre car parks, from 17 November until 22 December.

Santa’s Parade & Santa Dash – Sunday 27th November 10.45am – 3pm

The Aylesbury Town Centre Partnership is delighted to host the return of Santa`s Parade – a real family favourite! This year Santa will be accompanied by his elves, 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 town at 10.45am, starting from the Upper High Street and making their way around Market Square.

After the parade, there is a range of entertainment including go-karts, a small fun fair, donkey rides and a bouncy castle. Why not start your Christmas shopping on the day too, with the town hosting an array of national and independent shops?

From 1pm the impressive family Santa Dash run will leave Kingsbury and run through town in aid of charity. If you want to join in this worthwhile fun run, 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.

Sunday 4 December Christmas Craft and Gift Fair 1am -3pm

Come and discover a wealth of unusual gifts for your loved ones this Christmas. Take a leisurely stroll around the Christmas Craft and Gift Fair based in the beautiful Market Square.

Discover personal, handcrafted and unique Christmas gifts whilst enjoying  festive music from a live jazz band and local carol singers.

These events have been bought to you by the Aylesbury Town Centre Partnership – a team of local businesses, Councils and organisations working hard to improve Aylesbury.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Aylesbury town centre!

hall-agm-agenda-2016

Everyone is welcome, so do come along and support your local hall.

If you have a little spare time, we would love you to join our committee.   Please come along and have a chat with us.

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-n416?id=342105

Appeal for information after a garage burglary – Pitstone

Thames Valley Police is appealing for information after a garage was broken into in Pitstone.

Sometime between 1pm on Friday 30 September and 5pm on Sunday 2 October offender(s) forced the up and over door of a garage on Campbell Lane. They then stole a number of power tools from inside.

PC George Turner from Aylesbury is investigating this crime. He would like to hear from anyone that might have noticed anything suspicious in the area during these times / dates.

If you have any information please call PC Turner on the 24 hour Police Enquiry Centre number 101.

If you don’t want to speak to the police or give your details you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or report it online. No personal details will be taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not have to go to court.

youngentrepeneura4

In the week running up to International Older People’s Day on 1 October, a programme of local activities is helping to celebrate the contributions that older people make in the Aylesbury Vale district and offering the chance to try something new. Amongst the many different activities on offer in the ‘Holiday at Home’ programme is horticulture therapy, an increasingly popular way of using gardening to improve health and wellbeing, get more active and increase people’s confidence whatever their age. Wendover-based charity Lindengate is offering people the chance to try out one of its Memory Pathway sessions.
One of the regular attendees is David (not his real name), who is 69 and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2011. Although in generally good health, he does get tired easily and some days is very confused. At the sessions he works alongside a small group of other men, having a go at everything from watering to putting up bee houses and harvesting beans, while enjoying a chat over some refreshments. Although he was initially apprehensive, David is comfortable in the outdoor surroundings and enjoys his visits.
The Holiday at Home programme includes something for everyone, whatever their interests. Other activities include historic walks, gentle exercise, brewery and museum visits, computer skills training, crafts and volunteering opportunities. All the activities have been organised and provided by local people and organisations that offer year-round activities, so those who have enjoyed the taster sessions can continue with those activities.
Cllr Angela Macpherson, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Communities and Civic Amenities, said: “We applaud the contribution that so many older people make in the local community. Older People’s Day is a chance for us all to recognise and appreciate this. There are so many different activities in the programme, created and provided by local people and organisations, that I’d urge all older people to try out something new.”

For a free copy of the Holiday at Home activities programme, visit http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/upcoming-events-older-people Hard copies can also be picked up from any of the organisers of events in the programme, at your local library or AVDC offices on Gatehouse Road in Aylesbury.
For more information about the Memory Pathway sessions and Lindengate’s work visit http://www.lindengate.org.uk

Is fostering something you have ever considered? Maybe you would like to but feel that you just don’t know enough about what it involves and so haven’t pursued it any further.

Well now could be your chance to change that. We are running two new Fostering Information sessions in Aylesbury this month where anyone can go along to find out more about the process and ask any questions. Members of our fostering team will be on hand with information and you can also take the chance to speak with real-life foster carers to find out about their experiences.

The sessions take place on:

• Thursday 22 September, Multicultural Centre, Friarscroft Way, Aylesbury, HP20 2TE, 7pm to 9pm
• Thursday 29 September, Aylesbury Opportunities Centre, Thame Road South, Aylesbury, HP21 8TS, 7pm to 9pm

The sessions are open to anyone with an interest in finding out more about fostering a child or young person in Buckinghamshire but the session on 22 September will have a special focus on those from black and ethnic minority communities who may want to find out more.

Councillor Lin Hazell, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services explained the need for more foster carers in Buckinghamshire, she said: “There are currently more than 400 children and young people in our county in need of a foster home. We have many fantastic foster carers working with us already but we need more to come forward to ensure that these children and young people are able to stay close to their friends and families and the area they know which is so important to them.

“Fostering can be such a rewarding experience but also a daunting one at the start. These information sessions are a perfect way to dip your toe into the water to see if it is something you might want to do. You don’t have to commit to anything, it is simply a way to find out more and have your questions answered so don’t delay, register your interest today and find out if fostering is for you.”

If you would like to attend one of the information sessions please register on our website. Go to: www.buckscc.gov.uk/fostering and click on the Fostering Information Sessions link.

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-n416?id=340434

News Letter 15^th August 2016

Issues that were raised at the last Full Council meeting regarding the draft VALP local plan and the matter of accommodating un-met needs from the southern Bucks districts in the housing market area under the duty to cooperate. Due to the concerns raised by district councillors about the size of this unmet housing need, as well as concerns raised by Vale residents at VALP public exhibitions, AVDC  engaged G L Hearn, planning consultants, to review the available land for development within Wycombe District, with reference to the draft Wycombe Local Plan, currently the only other draft plan available.

The Wycombe expectation that AVDC would take 5000 homes as part of an ‘un-met needs arrangement’ as resulted in the G L Hearn review reporting the following – (extract from the full report) “Fundamentally this review demonstrates that a more thorough and rigorous assessment of land availability should be progressed by Wycombe District Council, against a context of unmet housing need”. The headline figures from this initial assessment indicates that there is an estimated additional development potential in your district of at least 2,800 dwellings, over and above that which has been identified in the draft Wycombe District local plan. There may also be the potential to raise the average density assumption to 35 dwellings per hectare to further increase capacity. We have also recently been copied into a submission made to the draft Wycombe district local plan by a developer, who has also identified that in their view there is more capacity that can be delivered in Wycombe district than the draft plan indicates.”

Clearly as suspected there is further work for Wycombe DC to do before it should ask for AVDC to add to its own requirement.

Meeting a housing requirement of 33,300 involves growing each of our strategic settlements by 50%, our larger villages by 22% and our medium villages by 19% as well as delivering a new settlement of 4,500 dwellings within the District and increasing densities. The housing proposals so far to meet this requirement is almost entirely proposed on greenfield land. This amount of growth is challenging in a number of ways, including providing infrastructure to meet this new demand and being able to accommodate a level of growth that local communities can see is justified and accept.

AVDC encourages residents of all ages to have their say on the future of the Vale

With three weeks to go until the end of the consultation process on the draft Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan, AVDC is continuing its drive to get people involved with an animated video on its social media channels.

The plan provides the framework for how the Vale will grow and develop in the coming years and allows for around 33,000 new homes between now and 2033. Residents, businesses and community groups are all being asked to give their views on future housing developments, employment opportunities and leisure and community facilities.

The video directs people to the AVDC website where they can submit their comments and make suggestions on what should be included.  It can be found at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/localplanvideo

The VALP consultation runs until Monday 5 September.  More information can be found at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk

See below for further details, Or visit:

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/simplywalk

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-n416?id=339037

http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/events?f[0]=field_event_aimed_at%3A46&f[1]=field_event_price%3A48

Pitstone and Ivinghoe Junior Football Club recruiting <14s:

U14s flyer

Cooks Wharf Canal Bridge – Letter Drops – 19-07-16

Changes to Redline Buses Service 164 from 29^th August 2016

The changes are designed to match the timetable with the amount of travel actually being made so that the bus company can develop the better-used sections of route and secure its long term future.

• New route will be Marsworth, Cheddington, Long Marston, Wilstone, Tring, Aston Clinton, Aylesbury.

• The biggest change is that the section of route between Cheddington & Leighton Buzzard is withdrawn.

An average of 5.2 passengers per day are using this part of the route which makes the additional operating cost unaffordable for Redline.

The Red Kite Tuesday (market day) 167 bus will still run to Leighton Buzzard as will the Monday – Friday Service 162.

• A new school timed journey is introduced which will give a direct service into the Aylesbury Schools Coach Park. This means that the 07:24 & 08:45 peak time arrivals in Aylesbury are combined into a new 08:17 arrival.

Surveys show only 2-3 passengers wouldn’t be able to catch the 61 journey that runs at a similar time through Ivinghoe & Pitstone.

• Redline will not be diverting via Brook End in Weston Turville (currently 3 – 4 journeys per day).

Very few passengers board here, Service 50 runs every 30 minutes through the western end of Weston Turville and frequent buses serve London Rd (for Weston Rd) in Aston Clinton.

• The 167 Tuesday market day bus to Leighton Buzzard will still be running

• Slapton will continue to be served by the Red Kite 162

• Arriva service 61 still operates through Ivinghoe & Pitstone

164_Sep16 timetable

Please find below the link to the above electronic newsletter:

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

The web team have received the email below.  If you have found the bag or the knitting, please contact the parish clerk on parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk and we’ll try to reunite it with its owner.  Thank you.

Really random – but ever hopeful! We parked our car at the car park for Pitstone Windmill near Ivinghoe, and while we were away some darling smashed the window and took a home made red linen bag containing a half finished brightly colouredknitted blanket, a half finished knitted sock and a barely started scarf, plus all the knitting needles etc.
I am almost certain that the contents of the bag were not what they were after – unless it was a rabid National Trust member who loved knitting – so would think that the bag and contents would be thrown away somewhere nearby.
We had a look around but nothing found – if anyone local finds it – please let me know! We live  in Kent so can’t keep looking ourselves.

Appeal for witnesses after a burglary – Pitstone

Thames Valley Police is appealing for information following a burglary in Pitstone.

Last night (Sunday 26^th to Monday 27^th June) offenders got into a house on Cheyne Close by the front door. Once inside they stole a purse and contents, along with vehicle keys.

They then stole a blue BMW from outside the property, which is still currently outstanding.

Det Con Bruce Wilson from Aylesbury Local CID is investigating this crime. He said:

“A neighbour was woken up by their dog barking and the sound of a car engine around 2am, so this may have been the time of the burglary.

“I would urge anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area around this time to contact me.

“I would also like to remind residents to double lock doors and windows. If you have uPVC doors make sure you pull up the handle and turn the key, to engage the 5 point locking system.”

Further crime prevention advice and information can be found on the Thames Valley Police website.

If you have any information please contact Det Con Wilson on the 24 hour Police Enquiry Centre number 101.

If you don’t want to speak to the police or give your details you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or report it online. No personal details will be taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not have to go to court.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley would like your views on policing and crime.

This Summer, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is seeking views from the residents of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire on policing and crime.  This feedback will help inform the Police and Crime Plan which sets the priorities for Thames Valley Police for the next 5 years.

What concerns you about policing in your area?  What would you like Thames Valley Police to prioritise with regards to crime?  Have you been a victim of crime and would like to feedback your experience? 

To give your views, you can complete a short online survey at www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk/survey.  It should take no more than 10 minutes to complete and will be open until Friday 30^th September 2016.

If you would like a copy of the survey posted to you, please contact the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner on 01865 846780

The June monthly report for our area from Thames Valley Police:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-n416?id=335158

We are currently looking for a Group Scout Treasurer to provide much needed financial administration and support to our group. Key responsibilities include keeping accounts, banking, receiving money and making payments. This is an important role for our Group. For more information, please contact our Group Secretary – Abby Turner on 07793 017809 or ivinghoe.pitstone.scouts@gmail.com

Today we have launched our consultation on Home to School Transport and we’re looking for communities, schools and parents views on proposed changes to Home to School Transport in Buckinghamshire.

What changes are we suggesting?

Changing our School Transport Policy

Bringing our Policy in line with what we’re legally required to do should save an estimated £0.5 million.

This means we would only provide free school transport to the nearest secondary school to your home address. The school could be located in Buckinghamshire or in a neighbouring county and could be an Upper, Grammar (for qualified children only) or Comprehensive.

Paying to use our Home to School Transport

We know that families like to use and pay for our school transport services when they’re not eligible for the free service.

For the Under 16’s who live in Buckinghamshire, we charge the same whether you are travelling 3 miles or 15 miles. This will be £599 for an annual pass for a 2016/17 academic year.

We do not make enough money from providing this service to cover its costs.  We are really keen to receive ideas on alternative ways we can provide this service.

To find out more and access the survey visit: www.buckscc.gov.uk/schooltransportconsultation

We will be promoting this consultation through the media and extensively through social media. It is one survey for any interested resident, family, school or organisation. There is a section at the end to tell us who you are responding on behalf of as well as a ‘free text’ space to tell us any other comments you may wish to make.

BCC Home to school Transport Team

AVDC have issued the following press release reminding residents that the bin collection day changes this week.  They also confirm that this does mean that there will be two green lid bin collections in a row (green also having been collected on Friday last week).

Changes to bin collections are all set to take effect this week (from Tuesday 7 June). Everyone’s first collection of the new schedule will be the green rubbish bin, even if this was collected last week. The following week, the blue-lidded recycling bin will be collected. There are no changes to garden waste collections.

For some, this may mean there is a three-week gap between recycling collections. These residents are welcome to leave any extra recycling that doesn’t fit in their bin in cardboard boxes or clear see-through plastic bags by their recycling bin. No-one will have a three week gap in rubbish collections, avoiding issues of extra rubbish waste.

Although not everyone’s collection day has changed, to help avoid confusion, all residents – except people using communal bins who are not affected – should have received a confirmation letter last week.

Enclosed with the letter confirming their new schedule was a leaflet saying what to put in each bin, a helpful calendar showing new collection dates for June and July, and a reminder about AVDC’s garden waste and bulky items services. If you have mislaid your letter, you can check the new dates on AVDC’s website (http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/find-your-bin-day) and bin app.

Sir Beville Stanier, Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, said: “Waste is now being sent to the new Energy from Waste (EfW) facility at Greatmoor rather than landfill. This allows us to accommodate the extra 4,000 households the Vale has gained over the last four years, and saves AVDC around £250,000 a year! This money can then be reinvested to improve services.

“A change in waste disposal sites unfortunately means a change in waste collection days, so please keep a note of your new day and put your green rubbish bin out for collection this week.”

For more information and to find out what goes in each bin, please visit our website http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/recycling

We are delighted that Waitrose in Leighton Buzzard has chosen BVCL as one of its 3
local charities under its Community Matters Scheme for the whole of the month of June.

So, if you are shopping there, please pop your Green Tokens into the BVCL box –
it’s a great way of showing your support for your local Library!

Many thanks in advance.

Colin Arney
(Hon. Treasurer BVCL)

Due to maternity and other reasons, the Library now needs a few new committee members. The duties are not onerous, and meetings are held every 1-2 months – for details of what is required please see attached flyer.

If you can help, please contact secretary@bvcl.co.uk in the first instance. Even if you feel unable at this time to make such a commitment, why not join our band of volunteers to help in the running of the Library during opening hours? It’s fun, and full training will be given.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Follow us on Facebook (Beacon Villages Community Library); Twitter @BeaconVillages; and at www.bvcl.org.uk

http://www.mix96.co.uk/news/local/1972695/burglars-target-sheds-in-pitstone/

See above link for details of recent thefts from sheds in Pitstone

Honey Bee Swarms:
Swarms are merely Colonies that are in transition. Normally these Swarms are
found hanging from tree branch, fence post or any place where the swarm can gather close to the Queen while scouts are sent out to look for a more permanent home. A swarm left alone will only be in place from just a few minutes to a few hours and occasionally a few days. Generally these swarms are very docile and the swarming bees usually will not sting. When Honey Bees swarm they gorge
themselves with honey before leaving the hive which makes it very hard for them to double over and sting.

If you are planning to visit the bluebells in Ashridge later this month/in May, particularly those at Dockey Wood, please note the information in the link below and help to protect these beautiful flowers:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridge-estate/features/protecting-the-bluebells-at-ashridge

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=331576

May 5th Police and Crime Commissioner election, and June 23rd Euro referendum. Are you registered to vote?  

The March referendum on Pitstone neighbourhood plan saw a high turnout and only 39 votes against the plan.

But it could have been higher. Nearly as many people as voted against the plan came to the polling station and found they weren’t registered to vote.

For several years now registration has to be done individually, not by household. But you can register and be entitled to vote at any time, not just once a year.

Although you don’t have to take your polling card to the polling station in order to vote, if you don’t get one, or if only one person in your household gets one, it’s a good indication you are not on the register.

To check your registration and register call 01296 585807. To register on line www.gov.uk/register to vote. For more information www.aboutmyvote.co.uk

Slippage on our local road maintenance program.  

It’s been a very disappointing to see work scheduled for 2015 slipping to mid year 2016. I’ve been sent a provisional timetable for work on the B488 ivinghoe to Horton in stages from April to June, June to August and July to October 2016. Work is also overdue on the Beacon Road and Main Road South Dagnall.

Cheddington railway bridge closure .

I have been informed but not officially that the repairs currently being undertaken to the bridge are only a temporary fix and that more work is scheduled for later in the year. I have been meeting with the decision-makers at Bucks county council to impress upon them the fragility of the network in this division in an attempt to force some joined up thinking for the future.

The A4146 through Dagnall Edlesborough and Northall is to become the B440 shortly after the completion of the A5/M1 link but no progress has yet been made on putting weight limits on the B488 at enforceable points to prevent the displacement of HGVs to the west rather than the M1.

Bucks county council chief executive retires. 

Chris Williams retired at the end of March after 15 years in the post. I am one of the small interview panel recruiting a new chief executive in mid April.

Avril Davies

Bucks County Councillor

Ivinghoe Division

Advert for book keeper March 2016

Please click the link above for details of the book-keeper vacancy at Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity.

Closing date 15 April 2016

From 1^st May 2016

Service 61: Aylesbury – Dunstable

A new timetable will be introduced with off-peak buses running every 90-120 minutes.

On Monday to Saturday evenings the 1900 and 2020 journeys from Aylesbury to Ivinghoe will be replaced by a  journey at 1945 and the 1940 and 2100 journeys from Ivinghoe to Aylesbury will be replaced by a  journey at 2025.

In addition, one early morning journey on schooldays will be diverted between Aylesbury and Tring to serve Wendover and RAF Halton instead of Aston Clinton – Service 500 provides alternative buses every 20-30 minutes between Aylesbury, Aston Clinton and Tring.

A copy of the new timetable will be made available on our website http://www.transportforbucks.net/Buses-and-trains/Bus-timetables.aspx. in advance of the service change dates. Arriva are currently producing new timetable leaflets and will also be providing information on their buses.

There will also be changes to Aylesbury Town Services 8 and 9, Service 50 (Aylesbury – RAF Halton) and Service 60/X60 (Aylesbury – Buckingham/Milton Keynes) from the same date and changes to Service 500 (Aylesbury – Watford) from the following week.

The decision to make changes to these services, which operate commercially, has been made by the bus operator to reflect current and anticipated patronage.

‘Together, we can tackle child abuse’ – new national campaign

The County Council is supporting a national campaign launched on 3 March by the Department for Education to encourage members of the public to report child abuse.

The campaign’s main message is that if you’re worried about a child or think their safety might be at risk, then it is important to tell someone. You don’t have to be absolutely certain about whether a child is being abused; if you have a feeling that something’s not right, talk to your local children’s social care team who can look into it.

Everyone has a role to play in helping to protect children. All children have a right to be safe and should be protected from all forms of abuse and neglect.

It is not just up to social services, doctors and the police to spot the signs of abuse and neglect. It is important that we all look out for children and young people within our community who may be experiencing abuse or neglect. Members of the public, and particularly other parents, are in a unique position to spot concerns among children with whom they have contact – which may not be apparent to professionals.

Some of the signs of abuse or neglect include changes in:

• Appearance – such as frequent unexplained injuries, consistently poor hygiene, matted hair, unexplained gifts, or a parent regularly collecting children from school when drunk
• Behaviour – such as demanding or aggressive behavior, frequent lateness or absence from school, avoiding their own family, misusing drugs or alcohol, or being constantly tired
• Communication – such as sexual or aggressive language, self-harming, becoming secretive and reluctant to share information or being overly obedient

A third of people who suspect child abuse, do nothing. Some people don’t act on their suspicions because they’re worried about being wrong. It is better to help children as early as possible so that action can be taken to help the child and support the family concerned.

In 2014/15 more than 400,000 children in England were supported because someone noticed they needed help.

If you suspect child abuse or neglect, visit www.gov.uk/reportchildabuse to get the number for your local authority. For Buckinghamshire, call the First Response Team on 0845 460 0001 or email: secure-cypfirstresponse@buckscc.gcsx.gov.uk

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=329638

Job number 52248534

Anglian Water needs to flush the water mains in your neighbourhood over the next couple of weeks.  This work is essential to make sure that we can maintain the quality of your drinking water supply.

We’re writing to you because you may see us doing this work and/or the flushed water running down the road and into the drains.  We know that it may seem unusual for us to let water run in this way, but we want to reassure you that this work is essential to maintain high water quality.

We shouldn’t need to visit your property as part of this work but for your peace of mind if we do need to call all our staff and representatives carry ID cards.  For extra security, you can check their identity by asking for their card and their special number.  Then close your front door and call us on 0800 145145.  Our staff will be very happy to wait outisde whilst you do this.

The following information explains what our flusing work involves and how our work might affect you.  We’ve pulled together answers to a few of the general questions you may have.

When do you plan to do this work?

• Take a look at the table at the end of this letter to see when we will be working and when it might affect you and your property.  Please be aware you may be affected on more than one occasion.

• You might also be affected when flushing takes place in neighbouring areas.

How will I be affected?

Your tap water will be safe to drink, however on the dates shown in the table:

• Your water may become discoloured or cloudy
• Your water supply may be interrupted for short periods of time
• You may experience lower water pressure.

What happens to flushed water?

The water that is flushed out of our mains is not wasted, but is returned to the environoment via a network of sewage and drainage pipes.  The water then runs into rivers and streams, and can actually help support these rivers if low rainfall levels leave some of them to run dry.

Do I need to do anything?

To minimise any inconvenience, we recommend the following do’s and don’ts:

• Fill your kettle, or a suitable container, with drinking water before the work starts
• Don’t use washing machines and dishwashers, or leave taps open
• Don’t use mains fed instantaneous water heaters / showers if the water supply is interrupted (central heating will be fine)
• If you have a water softener, you should isolate it using the bypass pipe work until the work is completed
• Don’t fill or change the water in fishponds or tanks for 48 hours.

Once we’ve finished flushing, you may still experience discoloured or cloudy water.  Please don’t be alarmed – just run your kitchen cold-water tap until the water runs clear.

If you need any further help, please give our Customer Contact Centre a call on 03457 145 145 and quote the job number at the top of this letter.”

And then this is the table they give, but I can’t put it in table form:

“Monday 29th February 2016, 10pm to 6am

Cheddington: Cooks Wharf

Ivinghoe: Green Lane, Groomsby Drive, High Street

Pitstone: Cheddington Road, Farriers Corner, Marsworth Road, Newells Hedge, Quarry Road (Victor House, Pitstone Green Business Park only), Ridgeway View, Rowland Close, Yardley Avenue (even numbers 2 to 96, odd numbers 1 to 45 and 161 to 209 and Pitstone Surgery), Vicarage Road, Wellington Place (properties known as 2, 3, 4, Cooks Wharf Marina, Duke of Wellington, Dunstable and District Boat Club, Cooks Wharf House and Pitstone Wharf)

Tuesday 1st March 2016, 10pm to 6am

Ivinghoe: High Street (Brookmead School only), Yewtree Close, Windmill Close

Pitstone: Albion Road, Cheyne Close, Glebe Close, Grange Road, Long Hedge, Old Farm, Orchard Way, Queen Street, Rushendon Furlong, The Green, Yardley Avenue (even numbers 66 to 96, odd numbers 47 to 209 and Pitstone Surgery)

Wednesday 2nd March 2016, 10pm to 6am

Pitstone: Chequers Close, Chequers Lane, Church Road, Crispin Field, Meadow Lane, Morton Close, Ship Lane, The Crescent, The Pightle

The Heart Of The Village

At the heart of our village we have a fantastic facility in The Memorial Hall.

Built in 1974 to replace the original hall, and extended since, it is not only a facility which provides room hire for meetings, parties and large functions, but is also a sports and social hub for our village.

The hall provides changing, refreshment and meeting space for our football and cricket teams from the Junior members all the way through to Seniors.

The Social Club (which operates out of the bar area on Friday/Saturday and Sundays), has a growing membership and is open to all residents for a get together and a drink.

And, of course, Party In The Park has become a fixture on our Summer calendars for the last four years and goes from strength to strength.

And this is without the large numbers of people who visit the fitness, dance, bowls and numerous other activities which are run from the Hall.

Meeting Future Needs

The Memorial Hall Committee is a charity founded to raise funds for the Hall and manage the financial side of the Hall. The Committee is made up of volunteers from the village, and we have written this article as we now need your help to make our Hall fit for the demands of the future of the village.

We have achieved a lot, but there is still more to do.

The hall is aging and we continue to maintain and upgrade facilities as necessary. However, we are aware that we could make better use of some parts of the hall. So, we carried out a survey of Pitstone residents and hall users in autumn 2015 to find out what the community wanted to see at the hall.

The survey showed us that there is demand for a cafe in the village, which would also draw people of all ages to use this community facility more. You also said you wanted more for young and older generations and that we needed to better publicise what goes on at the hall right now. So you will see some changes over the next few months aimed to meet these requests – the new website, for example,  is www.pitstonememorialhall.co.uk please check it out !

Additionally, plans for an extension of the hall have been ongoing for several years, but we have been hampered by lack of funds.

The sports clubs also have ambitious plans, which include greater facilities at The Hall as they grow.

And we obviously also have more properties being built over the next few years, which will increase demand for social and leisure facilities in the village.

There is much we could be doing, but currently lack funds and people to help.

It’s your Memorial Hall – Help Us Make it better

The Committee is looking for volunteers.

We can’t raise the necessary funds to create our visions of the future on our own. We need people with relevant skills to help us fundraise, a chair, a secretary and a bookkeeper, and also people who have some time to spare to devote to the Hall.

If we achieve our aims, the village will have something even more special at its centre which will last for many many years into the future.

Please help us and get in touch.

www.pitstonememorialhall.co.uk

Contact – memorialhall@pitstone.co.uk 01296 660791

Social Club Hours Friday from 7pm, Saturday afternoons when there is a local football match, Sunday from 12pm.

Please find below the link to the Thames Valley Police February newsletter for our area:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=328308

This is a message sent via Thames Valley Alert. This information has been sent on behalf of Thames Valley Police

(Please do not reply directly to this email, please use the Reply button at the bottom of this message)

Message sent by

Amy Singleton (Police, Comms, Thames Valley)

• Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond in their role?
• Should they be recognised for their hard work and effort over the last year?
• Do you have an example of how they have exceeded what is expected of them?

There are seven categories again this year and after the success of last year’s ceremony in July being chosen as a winner is a huge honour.

Community Police Officer 2016
Do you know a neighbourhood police officer who has made a difference to your community?

PCSO 2016
Can you think of a PCSO who has made an outstanding contribution to your community?

Special Constable 2016
Special Constables are volunteer police officers who help to serve your communities. Do you know a Special who has gone above and beyond in your community?

Volunteer 2016
Volunteers donate their time to the police force. Do you know a volunteer who supports police community engagement in your area?

Diversity Champion 2016
Diversity Champions improve engagement with minority groups in the community, work towards increasing diversity and improving accessibility between the Force and the public.
Do you know someone who has helped to improve diversity in your community?

Cadet 2016
Cadets are young dedicated volunteers who want to make a difference in your community. Do you know a cadet who supports fellow cadets, shows initiative, supports community events, is committed to and is an advocate for the police force?

Victim Support Award 2016 
Do you know an officer or member of police staff who has provided outstanding support for victims?

To nominate please follow the link relating to the relevant award above, remember the nominations close on Monday 22 February so get yours in soon.

CLEANER REQUIRED

For Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity

Registered charity no. 300318

• Approximately 6 hours per week, flexible timings around bookings
• Responsible for the cleanliness of the millennium extension
• Occasional weekend work
• £7.00 ph
• Must be self-motivated, reliable and able to work alone
• Must have NI number and UK bank account

Please contact us for further information and full job description: c/o Mrs L Eagling, Secretary, 9 Warwick Road, Pitstone, Beds, LU7 9FE.  Telephone: 01296 660791, Email: memorialhall@pitstone.co.uk

Closing date: Monday 7 March 2016

Information from Bucks County Council about renewing your bus pass:

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/transport/buses-and-trains/concessionary-bus-passes/

1^st Ivinghoe and Pitstone Scout group

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

WATERMILL BEAVER GROUP – MONDAY NIGHTS

As from Monday 11^th April, we will no longer be able to run Watermill Beavers on a Monday night.

Both Deric and Debbie are moving into our Cubs section meaning that due to having no Leaders or Assistant Leaders, we will have to close this section.

We currently have 16 children who attend this group.

If you think you can help, in any capacity at all, please, please, please, get in touch.

Keith Steers – GSL – ksteers@aol.com – 07899 696722

Abby Turner – Group Sec. – abbyturner1904@hotmail.com – 07793 017809

This month, Buckinghamshire County Council will again be working with the four District Councils, to invite residents to see if they can make savings on their energy bills through the Government’s Collective Switching Scheme and we need your help to spread the message.

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 auctions, that took place in November 2015:

• 100 percent of people who registered in Buckinghamshire were able to make a saving
• The average savings in the county have been around £295 per year – higher than the national average.

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

We really need everyone’s help getting the message out to people. I would be grateful if you could pass this email on to residents in your area, spread the message via your social media accounts, or use any other communication channel you feel is suitable ahead of the deadline at the end of this month.

The deadline is 1^st February 2016 and the auction for suppliers will take place on 2^nd February. Please note that residents will need their existing energy bill(s) to complete your registration.

Best wishes,

Filipe Fernandes

Resource Strategy Officer

Transport, Economy & Environment

Buckinghamshire County Council

7^th Floor, County Hall, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1UA

Tel No. 01296 382243

Mobile No. 07710 146879

Email: fifernandes@buckscc.gov.uk  energy@buckscc.gov.uk