Archives: Local News

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

The charity committee at Pitstone Memorial Hall have launched a new dedicated website full of useful information about the hall and direct link to the electronic booking system to ensure you can place your reservation.

Please visit:

http://www.pitstonememorialhall.co.uk/

Please follow the link to the Thames Valley Police newsletter for January:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=326752

You may like to consider responding to the consultation below, which covers Tring train station.

They seek answers to 20 questions before the new franchise comes into operation in 2017, about whether you use the station, what issues you have accessing the station or its services, if you use your nearest station etc.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/west-midlands-rail-franchise

Our congratulations to local resident Scott Barnard on his achievement as finalist in Masterchef 2015.

https://www.facebook.com/Scott-Barnard-MasterChef-The-Professionals-2015-Finalist-779479955512531/

The Safer Bucks Plan is Buckinghamshire’s response to the statutory duty in multi-tier areas to produce a countywide Community Safety Agreement.  This should identify what our priorities are and how we will work (with our partners) to address them.  In Bucks, we also include reference to local, district priorities as many will complement each other.

This document must be evidence based.  We look at a minimum of one year of crime and disorder data and information and look at trends, emerging areas, changing nature of crime etc.  This evidence base is called the Partnership Strategic Assessment and is carefully written over approx. 3 months, culminating in a detailed analysis document looking at victims, offenders and locations of crime.

From this work, the county Safer Communities team has identified four priority areas for 2016/17.

The priorities to be included in the Safer Bucks Plan should:

• be based on evidence
• recognise the current and emerging countywide needs and issues
• take into consideration equality and ethics
• be within the scope and capabilities of the Community Safety team, alongside its crime & disorder partners

We are now starting to consult with key stakeholders about these proposed priorities.  This includes discussions with those who live and work in Buckinghamshire.

Obtaining views and feedback from our parishes is crucial to this process and, to that end, please use this link below to answer a very short online survey about the proposed crime & disorder priorities for next year.  The survey is open for one month and will close on 17^th January.  Information received from the survey will be analysed and summarised before finalising the priorities and developing next year’s Plan.

The survey can be found here:  https://www.research.net/r/saferbucksplan1617

Christmas recycling and waste

Aylesbury Vale District Council is encouraging residents to be more careful when recycling this Christmas and to be aware that over the festive period all Aylesbury Vale households will be affected by revised bin collection dates.

You can check your revised Christmas bin collection dates on our website: www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/christmasrecycling, on the AVDC Bin app, or in the latest issue of the Aylesbury Vale Times.

Households tend to produce more waste over the festive period, so it’s even more important to reduce, reuse and recycle the waste produced at this time of year.

Over Christmas, Aylesbury Vale residents can put anything from turkey bones to Christmas pudding in their food waste bin. Plastic and glass drinks bottles, cream and brandy butter pots, tins and cans, glass jars and juice tetra-pak cartons can all be recycled in the blue-lidded recycling bin. Gift packaging and wrapping paper, gift tags and Christmas cards – all that are non-glittery and non-metallic – go in their household recycling bins too.

All this extra recycling means that recycling bins may fill up quickly. Whilst the council normally do not accept plastic bags in recycling bins, to help residents with the extra recycling at Christmas, they will collect extra recycling providing it is left in clear see through carrier bags on top of recycling bins. Bags must be clear so the collection crews can see at a glance that any bags only contains recyclable products.

Alternatively, residents can take excess recycling to the Recycling & Waste centres (tips), based at Aston Clinton, Aylesbury and Buckingham, together with Christmas trees, wreathes and mistletoe. A wide range of other materials including household electrical items, domestic batteries and used cooking oil can also be recycled at these sites. Page 2 of 2

Residents who have subscribed to AVDC’s garden waste service can put natural Christmas trees, wreaths, holly and mistletoe in their brown garden waste bin. Trees should be cut into small pieces before placing in the brown bin and all decorations and metal should be removed first. Garden waste collections will recommence in February 2016.

Please follow the link for details of the Buckinghamshire Business Awards 2016:

http://www.bbf.uk.com/the-buckinghamshire-business-awards

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

Sometime between Wednesday 9^th and Friday 11^th December offender(s) broke into a residence on Chequers Lane.  It is thought that they used a pair of shears from the garden shed to force open one of the ground floor rear windows.

Once inside they made a messy search of the property.  Jewellery has been taken, but it is not confirmed what else might have been stolen.

If you saw or heard anything suspicious in the area between the relevant dates please call the police 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.

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

December newsletter from Thames Valley Police:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=325217

overhanging trees

Please follow the above link to some information for home owners from Transport for Bucks asking residents to ensure that their trees and hedges don’t infringe onto the footpaths.  The same principle applies to block of lamp posts.

Please ensure your trees and hedges are cut back in line with your property boundary.

Thank you.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

scouts xmas post

Budget consultation – ‘The toughest decisions yet’, says the Council

People across Buckinghamshire are being asked to help the County Council make important spending decisions on next year’s budget, in a survey launched today (Thursday 26 November). The survey, which will run online until 17 December, aims to get people involved in helping to decide which areas of the Council’s work spending should be focused on. The short, easy to complete survey is available at www.buckscc.gov.uk/budget. People who don’t have access to the internet or a computer can take part at any of the county’s libraries, where staff will help people to complete the survey. Computers with internet and wi-fi access are available in all libraries where people can access the consultation for free. Leader of the Council, Martin Tett, said: “This really is the toughest budget yet. People will know that we’ve put in place a spending freeze until the end of this financial year, which will help us to manage the potential overspend that we have identified. But next year, given the growing demands on us, particularly in looking after vulnerable children and the elderly and the Living Wage requirements, we still need to save another £31 million to cope. “We were originally proposing to increase council tax by 1.99%, the maximum the Government normally allows. However, in yesterday’s Spending Review and Autumn Statement, the Chancellor, George Osborne, recognised the extra pressures facing those councils like Buckinghamshire with social care responsibilities. He told councils that they can raise up to 2% extra from council tax to spend solely on adult social care, which will also help relieve pressure on the NHS. We are planning to accept the Government’s proposal and are therefore now suggesting a 3.99% rise for next year. “I realise that the Government’s announcement means that everyone pays a bit more; however, in previous budget consultations, our residents have indicated that they would support a higher increase if it meant more local services being protected. This extra money will go some way to meeting what residents have told us.” Martin Phillips, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, says it’s absolutely vital that people take part in the survey: “This year, more than any other year, decision-making for the budget will be very, very challenging. We will need to take some extremely difficult decisions on where we continue to fund services and where we will have to stop doing things. “This process affects everyone in the county and I urge you to please let us have your views: tell us what’s important to you, where we should reduce spending, where we should continue to invest, and what you think of our council tax proposals.” The survey is online at www.buckscc.gov.uk/budget until the closing date of Thursday 17 December.

Volunteering Bucks have launched a new web site to promote the benefits of volunteering in your local community, regardless of how young or how old you are, everyone has a unique contribution to make.

Their Motto:

WE BELIEVE:

• In the power of people to change the world
• That volunteering should be a life-enhancing experience for both parties
• That every single person has a unique gift to offer
• We can create a better life together…

Life is short: do stuff that matters

For further information visit their web site:

http://volunteeringbucks.org.uk/

Right now, the Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity and the 1st Ivinghoe & Pitstone Scouts Charity are both looking for volunteer committee members.  You don’t need to become an officer or take minutes, you just need an interest in the charity and a willingness to get stuck in to a variety of tasks to help them grow and run.   You could make a difference to our local community right now.   Make it your New Year Resolution to volunteer with at least one local group.

Please contact Laurie on 01296 660791 or memorialhall@pitstone.co.uk for information about joining Pitstone Memorial Hall.

Please contact Keith Steers on ksteers@aol.com for information about joining the Scouts.

Thank you.

I would like to say a HUGE thank you to the people of Pitstone. I have had an wonderful response to my post calling for drivers and elves for the Santa Float fo…r Rennie Grove Hospice Care and we’ve now nearly filled the rota. We have, however, hit another problem as we need a space to store the float during the weeks in December it is out and about. Our usual storage venue is not available this year and I have been trying to find a space for it but have so far not managed too. The float is large – 5.3 m long and nearly 2 m wide and needs to be stored undercover due to a PA system which is attached to it for the Xmas music. So we need somewhere dry and secure where the float can be stored during the day and then picked up to take out and dropped back later. Can you help? Do you know of anywhere that might be able to help? You have all been brilliant in helping so far, I’m sure someone out there will be able to come up with something. Again do get in touch either on here or email me claire.redrup@renniegrove.org or phone 01442 820718. Thank you Pitstone.

A unique Christmas gift idea, or treat yourself, and help enhance biodiversity.

See link below:

http://www.chilternsociety.org.uk/support-birdbox.php

Can anyone help? If so, please get in touch with Claire.

“Rennie Grove Hospice Care run the Santa Float every year in Pitstone and this year we intend to visit on Wednesday 16th & Thursday 17th December. Unfortunately we have had a number of problems finding a driver and volunteers to knock on doors this year.We may have to cancel if volunteers don’t come forward. If you have a vehicle that could tow the float or you can spare a few hours to walk along and knock on doors you will ensure this much loved festive tradition continues in Pitstone. We would hate to cancel this and disappoint the children of Pitstone but we can’t do it without your help. Please do help if you can. Email claire.redrup@renniegrove.org or call on 01442 820718 if you or anyone you know can help”

The November newsletter produced by Thames Valley Police is now available on their website:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=323584

Buckinghamshire County Council has announced a freeze on non-essential spending to ensure it can meet the rising cost of looking after the most vulnerable people across Buckinghamshire.

The Council is taking decisive action to address a possible budget shortfall of almost £6m by March 2016, mainly due to increasing demand for social care for both adults and children.

Martin Tett, Leader of the Council, said: “Yesterday, my Cabinet and I agreed, in public, to a freeze on all non-essential spending until the end of the financial year to stop what could become a very challenging situation for us and the public.

“External pressures and demand for services mean we face a potential overspend, despite the fact we are a well-run, efficient Council which has saved almost £100m over the past five years. It is precisely because we are well-run that we can see the early warning signs and react to them in time.

“Many county councils across the country are facing similar difficulties, not helped by the fact that we legally have to set a balanced budget at the beginning of every financial year.

“The main catalyst for our potential overspend is the significant increase in demand on services for vulnerable adults and children. There is little we can do about this because we have to give priority to safeguarding our old and our young.

“However, we can control other parts of Council spending. So, from now, spending will be frozen on non-essential, non-committed items until the end of March. By non-essential, we mean activities that we are not required to do by law. There will of course be exceptions because we have to keep the business going.

“The actions will include a freeze on the filling of non-essential vacancies. We will also be reviewing all agency and contracted posts, renewal of computer equipment, building adaptions and staff training, amongst other things. And the public will also see an impact in terms of highways and pavements maintenance, as we will need to postpone some routine repairs and improvement projects.

“I’m sorry to have to do this but if we don’t act, we could find we have no money left in reserves in a year or so.

“Managing the council’s budget is like managing your own household budget – as soon as you see the prospect of getting into debt, you tighten your belt.”

You are invited to a Transport for Buckinghamshire Winter Driving Workshop being held during November and December.

These are particularly valuable to organisations and individuals who are required to drive to reach their clients in all weathers.

The workshops are free, but a £10 cheque is requested in order to reserve your place which is returned to you on the night.

All the workshops are running from 6.30pm – 8.00pm.  Dates are below.

Tuesday 17^th November – Buckingham

Thursday 19^th November – Chesham

Tuesday 24^th November – High Wycombe

Wednesday 2^nd December – Aylesbury

For more information please follow the link below:

http://www.transportforbucks.net/Road-Safety/Winter-Driving.aspx

Buckinghamshire County Council, Stroke Support, would like to hear from anyone who has suffered a stroke or who has cared for someone with a stroke, on their views of the support they received at home.

Please see attached survey form, which can be emailed to inform@buckscc.gov.uk or sent to the address on the form.

Elaine Hassall

Community Engagement Officer for Older People

A local resident lost a gold wrist watch of great sentimental value on Sunday 8^th November whilst walking their dog on the footpath across the fields that runs from Chequers Lane to “The Lawns”.

If you have found the watch or have any relevant information, please get in touch with the parish clerk on 01296 660791 or parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk.

Thank you.

Pitstone Memorial Hall needs YOUR help! We know we need to continue to upgrade the hall to make sure can provide the facilities the village needs but we only have limited funds, so we need to focus our efforts.

Please spare 5 minutes to fill in this survey and let us know what YOU want to see being provided at the hall.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JJW7P3R

This online survey will close at the end of November but we are happy to hear suggestions at any time by email at memorialhall@pitstone.co.uk

ALSO COMING SOON – check out the hall’s new website at www.pitstonememorialhall.co.uk.

With thanks, the Memorial Hall Management Committee

1st Ivinghoe & Pitstone Scouts really need your help!

We have to vacate our current Scout Hut and we need to raise funds to make this happen. We have joined the Vale Lottery and would love if you could buy a ticket, support our cause and help to spread the word.

Tickets cost £1 each and 50p of that comes straight to us.

More importantly, you could win £20,000. All the details are on the website.

https://www.valelottery.co.uk/support/1st-ivinghoe-and-pitstone-scout-group

Tickets for the lottery cost just £1 per week. Each ticket has a 1 in 50 chance to win a prize each week, with a top prize of £20,000! That’s a better chance of winning than the National Lottery or the Health Lottery!

Each ticket will consist of 6 numbers and each number will be between 0 and 9. There will be a draw every Saturday night when a 6 digit winning combination will be picked. Prizes will be given to players with tickets that match the first or last 2-6 numbers from the winning combination. Match all 6 and you win the JACKPOT!

Vale Lottery Poster Scouts

VOLUNTEERING IN PRISON AND THE COMMUNITY

Do you have a couple of hours a week you could give to helping someone really change their life?

Pact is working with people in prison and the community helping people that are currently unable to access mainstream provision and require specialist one to one support to increase their social inclusion and integrate positively within the local community.

Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) provides support to offenders during their sentence and in the community, our Volunteer Mentors encourage full integration and social inclusion.  Mentors provide such important and vital support to those who want to move forward with their life.

We are looking for people who can encourage others, have a reliable and dependable attitude and have great communication skills!

As a volunteer mentor there is no end to the list of support you could be providing and activities you could do, but all of the support makes a huge difference to motivation, self-esteem and choices in life, as they re-enter society.

We provide foundation and ongoing training and all our volunteers have regular support and opportunities to further their skills and knowledge.

For more information call

Mim on 07791 548511 or email miriam.mcconachie@prisonadvice.org.uk

Visit us at: www.prisonadvice.org.uk

Wintertime Burglary

The Aylesbury Vale Community Safety Partnership is urging residents to take simple steps to secure their properties as the winter approaches.

Operation Arctic runs from October to January. The campaign focuses on providing advice to people on how to keep their properties safe during the winter months as homes can remain in darkness for much longer periods. This makes them easier to target, especially if there are no obvious signs there is anyone home.

For more information please visit:

http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/burglary-wintertime and http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/

Christmas Events in Aylesbury Town Centre

Come and join us at our Christmas light switch on event, held on Thursday 19 November from 5.30 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. This popular event provides free family entertainment from 5.30 p.m. The lights 4

will be switched on at 7 p.m. followed by fireworks. There is also a small funfair and the opportunity to do some late night shopping until 8 p.m.

Santa’s parade has become a firm family favourite, and he will be joined by all his friends as they parade through the town on Sunday 29 November from 10.45 a.m. The parade will begin in the High Street, and go around Market Square. After the parade there will be a small funfair, activities and entertainment.

Looking for that special gift? Then come and browse the array of unusual present ideas on offer at the Christmas Craft and Gift fair on Sunday 6 December from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the historic Market Square.

If you want to do some late night Christmas shopping then take advantage of free parking in AVDC owned Aylesbury town centre car parks every Thursday from 4.30 p.m. from 19 November to 24 December inclusive.

Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity is holding its Annual General Meeting at 8pm in the meeting room at Pitstone Memorial Hall on Tuesday 10 November.  Refreshments will be available from 7.45pm.

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 and there are currently trustee vacancies.   Please come along and have a chat with us.

County Councillors News

A4146 Proposed Reclassification and Weight Restriction

Transport for Bucks (TfB), Thames Valley Police (TVP), and senior officers from Central Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire county Council (HCC) have been working together to use the opportunity of the opening of the A5-M1 link road (the Dunstable Northern Bypass) to keep HGVs in the main arterial routes, reduce HGVs on unsuitable rural roads, and respond to local proposals from Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire residents to reclassify the A4146 and introduce weight restrictions.  As this will have serious repercussions for the B488 and B489, Buckinghamshire County Council and Transport for Bucks have acknowledged the importance of enforceable weight limits to be included for the B488 and 489.

Major advance signposting over long distances will be needed in order to make this work, so Highways England are also fully involved, as well as transport operators particularly the waste carriers going to Newton Longville.

Contact me by email if you need to know more and I can forward the briefing note made available to the Local Area Forum on Oct 1st, but not available on line.

‘Active Bucks’

The Local Area Forum voted for one off funding from the Public Health pot to be invested in this area in organised walking opportunities for all ages. There was a contest between setting up coached running groups similar to From Couch to 5K, and the Park Run, and for dance groups, but walking claimed the majority of votes.  There will be plenty of information available as soon as the walks are set up, which will be complementary to existing health walks and formal and informal Nordic walking groups that already take place.

Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority

The fire authority presented it’s annual report to the County Council in September. The Bucks and MK authority is the only authority in the country to have reduced its council tax for 2015-16 and frozen it since 2011. Since 2010 there have been savings of £2.1M in a £29M budget without reducing the numbers of fire engines and fire stations.  In the last 5 years deliberate fires have been reduced by 56%, non domestic fires by 33%’ and domestic fires and related injuries still continue to fall despite increased housing numbers.

Children’s services and prevention of child sexual abuse

This continues to be the main priority of the County Council at the moment. The trial and sentencing in the summer at the Old Bailey of a group of men involved locally in abuse shocked many people into questioning if everything possible is being done to prevent this now and in the future.  As well as implementing the major improvement plan for children’s services, and a peer group review by leading officers and members from other authorities taking place as I write, the select committee review in which I take part in to the prevention of child sexual exploitation has been continuing exhaustively all summer, and has revealed some excellent practice from our partners in the health service and the police, and committed individuals in schools.

Please find below the link to the October newsletter from Thames Valley Police:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=321618

Thames Valley Police Superintendent Olly Wright, LPA commander for Aylesbury, is to hold an online question and answer session this evenint (7/10) at 7pm, ahead of planned demonstrations in Aylesbury on Saturday 10 October.
The session’s aim will be to answer any questions that residents and local business owners may have about the forthcoming demonstrations.
It follows the announcement that the English Defence League (EDL) is planning to hold a peaceful demonstration in Aylesbury on 10 October. A counter-demonstration is also being planned in Aylesbury for the same day.
The route of the march will likely bring the EDL group from the top of Walton Street, into town and past the library, around Market Square and gathering in Kingsbury Square for speeches.
The march and speeches will take place between 1pm and 3pm approximately.
Superintendent Olly Wright, LPA commander for Aylesbury Vale, said: “Thames Valley Police recognises everyone’s right to demonstrate peacefully, and our aim is to facilitate a peaceful demonstration.
“I recognise the impact that this demonstration may have on the people of Aylesbury going about their business on Saturday.
“As always, we and our partner agencies will be working to ensure that the impact on local people, businesses and visitors is minimised.
“This online session is a valuable opportunity for members of the community to ask any questions, or make us aware of any concerns they might have about the planned demonstrations.
“I would ask for the support of all sections of the community to help us and our partners, to make sure these demonstrations pass by smoothly.”
Any residents with specific questions about the planned demonstrations can take part in the online question and answer session with Superintendent Wright, which can be accessed via the following link:
http://thamesvp.coverpage.coveritlive.com/index2.php/option=com_altcaster/task=viewaltcast
For more information about this weekend’s demonstrations, please follow @Tvp_aylesbury or #AylesburyDemos.