Archives: Local News

More thefts of tools from vans in Pitstone last night. Thames Valley Police issued notes on their Twitter feed about similar thefts last week. Please make sure all your tools/valuables are removed from your vehicles, and keep your eyes open for suspicious activity over night. Report any information to Thames Valley Police, telephone 101.

We have been advised that Grebe Canal Cruises has ceased trading, so there will unfortunately no longer be any boat trips from Pitstone wharf.  The Waterside Café is however still there and open, so please do pop along.

Visit their page on the website for more information about opening times etc:

http://pitstone.co.uk/localinfo/grebe-waterside-cafe/

If you’ve got an old washing machine or sofa that needs shifting, then there is good news, Aylesbury Vale District Council is re-introducing its bulky household waste collection service.

The council will now take away up to 3 items at a cost of £75.   Any extra items are charged at £5 each up to a maximum of 8.

As part of the service, the council will also collect any unwanted small electrical items, including hairdryers and kettles, and textiles including linen and clothes, free of charge.

Please contact Aylesbury Vale District Council for more information or to book a collection.

Volunteer Executive Committee  & Beaver/Cub Leader Vacancies:

We are looking for people to join our Executive Committee.  The role of this committee is to support the growth and development of our Scout Group.  We are currently the fastest growing youth organisation in the surrounding areas with over 120 children attending each week from Ivinghoe, Pitstone, Marsworth, Adlbury and Tring.  We operate five days a week from our HQ in Ivinghoe.

The Executive Committee meet approximately 4 times a year and assist the Group Scout Leader to run an effective Scouts Group.  They control the group’s finances, provide secretarial support, assist with recruitment and help organise/plan Group events as well as other responsibilities.   They are in regular contact with the Group Scout Leader.

The current Executive Committee is made up of the Chairman, Treasurer and Group Scout Leader, we also have two other members who assist us.

We are seeking a secretary plus 4 other members for this committee.  If you are enthusiastic about providing the youth of our communities with the opportunities to grow and develop into responsible adults of the future, have organisational skill and would like to be part of the future of Scouting within the local community please contact Keith Steers on 0789 9696722 or email ksteers@aol.com.  We look forward to hearing from you.

We also have two vacancies within our Group for uniformed positions.  We are looking for an assistant Beaver Leader for Monday evenings 6-7pm.  You will be working alongside the current leader and two other assistants.  Beavers are aged 6-8 years.   Plus we are looking for an assistant Cub leader for Wednesday evenings, 6.30-8pm.  You will be working alongside the current leader and three other assistants.  Cubs are aged 8-10 years.

No experience necessary as all training and uniform are provided.  Must be good with children.  These are exciting times for our Group with many changes happening.  Come and join us, and be part of the adventure.  For more information, please contact Keith Steers on 0789 9696722 or email ksteers@aol.com

Our village is fortunate that there are a number of community groups and activities that provide support, entertainment and education for us all.  All these services require the essential support of volunteers in order to operate, and at the moment our community is currently experiencing a massive volunteer shortage.

 

Part of the pleasure of living in a rural village should be pulling together and uniting to form a strong community spirit.  Without some additional volunteers, some of these services may soon have to close altogether, including our Memorial Hall, Youth Café and Toddler Group.

 

All sorts of people are needed, so please don’t worry if you don’t feel you have experience or qualifications, get in touch anyway.  So please look at your diaries and calendars and offer your services to one of the groups below.  Many really only need a small amount of your time.

• Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity is in urgent need of extra trustees and nominated officers.  The charity meets approximately once every two months, for a couple of hours, so this will not take up a huge amount of your time.   All types of people welcome, with an interest and passion in the hall & the services/events it can bring to our whole community.
• Pitstone Youth Cafe if you would enjoy helping our 11-14yr olds have fun, learn and grow, then the youth café is the place for you.  The café needs people willing to get involved in the running & administration of the café, as well as general volunteers to talk to our young people, play a game of snooker/table tennis/football/cards etc with them.  Minimum commitment not high at just 1.5hrs once per month.
• Pitstone & Ivinghoe Toddler Group is struggling along with no management committee and a lack of support to help set up/put away. If you can spare some time on a Wednesday afternoon to help the local mums and babies they would be delighted for you to join them.
• Ivinghoe & Pitstone Scouts are still looking for one assistant Beaver leader for a Monday evening & an assistant Cub leader on a Wednesday evening to work alongside the existing volunteer team, so if you can help our 6-10 year olds broaden their horizens and learn new skills then this is the role for you. Scouts also need new members and a secretary for the executive committee.  They only meet once per quarter, so it won’t be a big commitment, but without the committee none of the scout groups are able to operate, so your support is extremely important.
• Pitstone Community Car Scheme needs a new co-ordinator and more volunteer drivers, neither are particularly onerous roles.  The co-ordinator simply takes calls from the elderly residents that need to get to their hospital appointments and matches their requirement to one of the listed volunteer drivers.   The scheme also needs more volunteers that are willing to take these residents to their appointments.  You can volunteer for whatever days/times would suit your schedule and you will only be contacted if a request comes in that matches your availability.  You will receive payment for your petrol and any car parking expenses.
• Pitstone Community Cinema shows a film on the last Friday of each month at Pitstone Memorial Hall.  The cinema run by a small group of dedicated volunteers that help to select the films, sell the tickets and set up the hall.   The local cinema is the only cinema that some of our less mobile residents, or those reliant on public transport, can get to.  If you have a passion for films and can spare just a couple of hours each month, please get in touch.
• Pitstone Church need extra help to man the church on open days, and help with the annual flower festival.   Please do get in touch and help preserve our wonderful village church.
• Party in the Park provides an annual summer outdoor concert on Pitstone Recreation Ground.   If music and/or raising funds for good local causes is of interest, then please get in touch.   The committee meet every month on the run up to the event and there are always things to be done on the day.
• Ivinghoe Entertainments have had to cancel their Summer Festival this year due to a lack of people on the committee.  This organisation is made up of Pitstone & Ivinghoe residents that want to put on activities for the community and raise funds for local community groups.  So if you have ever attended the firework display, ball or comedy night, then think about joining and lending a helping hand.

 

Please ring 01296 660791 or email parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk in the first instance and the parish clerk will be delighted to put you in touch with the right people.

Information Entirely about Planning from District Councillor Avril Davies

Why are there suddenly so many big planning applications in rural areas?

In the last two years an unprecedented number of speculative planning applications for large numbers of homes on land not planned for development have been submitted to Aylesbury Vale District Council.  This is because the new national planning policy introduced in 2012, and the scrapping of the South East regional plan which put a ceiling on numbers, means it is now presumed that planning permission will be given unless there is an overwhelming case against it.

Also encouraging locally to developers is that Aylesbury Vale has no longer got a required 5 year housing land supply, and the Council has failed twice to put in place a strong local plan to state local priorities which can interpret and adapt the national guidance to local needs.

Applications for mind boggling numbers are now accumulating across the Vale. For example as well as the approval in principle for 40 houses on land at Rushendon Furlong in Pitstone (not yet signed off) and 30 in Edlesborough in Cow Lane, 47 houses were approved on appeal in Aston Clinton on Stablebridge Road, their development currently delayed by the discovery of an Iron Age village on the  site, plus another 47 on land off Chapel Drive, granted on an appeal with far reaching consequences for other  decisions, leading almost directly to permission for 120 in Brook Street Aston Clinton. In Haddenham 280 were recently granted on the Glebeland, with still larger numbers applied for on other Haddenham sites. There are outstanding applications in  Slapton, Waddesdon, Steeple Claydon, and many more.

Why are so many of these applications being allowed?

Many applications have been allowed because although Aylesbury Vale planners can still apply policies saved from previous plans, such as encroachment in to the countryside or detriment to the character of the landscape, a succession of planning appeal judgements have given very little weight to these, stating instead that the benefits of supplying the houses needed for a five year supply of housing outweighs these considerations and the traffic growth. One of the first policies to be thrown out at appeal was the former limit on rural developments to 5 houses.

So planning applications are being judged on whether the ‘good’ in terms of providing a five year housing land supply outweighs the ‘harm’ as measured by the criteria in the NPPF for sustainable development. This is defined as building a strong competitive economy; promoting sustainable transport; delivering a wide choice of high quality homes; requiring good design;promoting healthy communities; conserving and enhancing the natural environment; conserving and enhancing the historic environment. When applications are submitted in outline only this is often hard to judge, which is why appeal judgements are so important in interpreting the guidance.

 

The 2 applications in Ivinghoe for 110 houses

The two planning applications for Ivinghoe are still not determined. The first application for 70 houses by Gladman has been referred to the  planning inspectorate on the grounds of non determination by the planning authority within the statutory time limit, and the other adjacent one on The Park for 40 houses is still being evaluated at AVDC.

 

Ivinghoe conservation area revision

Meanwhile the long overdue revision of the 1971 Ivinghoe Conservation Area has been published for consultation and can be viewed on line http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/environment/conservation-listed-buildings/current-conservation-area-consultation/ivinghoe-conservation-area-review/ or in the Beacon Villages library. This proposes major extensions to the conservation area to include the Park and Ford End farm, and describes the significance of views in and out of the conservation area from all points.

Appeals won

It is not all bad news. What we think in Aylesbury Vale still holds some weight. On 26thJanuary the appeal for three sites, Hampden Fields, Weedon Hill and Fleet Marston, totalling 5,800 houses, was dismissed. The inspector upholding in almost every detail the council’s grounds for refusal. Even if these appeals had been allowed, The 5,800 would not have increased the 5 year supply as the sites would not have delivered any houses inside five years, as so much pre construction and infrastructure work as well as detailed plans would have been required.

Aylesbury Vale still one of the fastest growing areas

In Aylesbury the Buckingham Park and Berryfields developments, still being built out from an earlier plan, make Aylesbury Vale the fastest housebuilding area in the country. In addition between Bierton and Broughton, ‘Aylesbury East’, 2450 houses have been given permission in outline and currently the detailed planning permission is being considered. A further 1560 between Bierton and Watermead are currently at appeal hearing.

Progress on a new plan for Aylesbury Vale

The new Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan (VALP) was begun in May, and has just completed the ‘call for sites’ stage http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/planning-policy/vale-of-aylesbury-local-plan/vale-aylesbury-local-plan-call-sites-response/. These sites will all be examined for viability and deliverability, and consulted on next summer. The final plan is expected to be adopted in 2017.

Neighbourhood Plans

The third important strand for planning after the NPPF and the District plan  is the Neighbourhood plan.

Cheddington and Pitstone have had their respective neighbourhood areas approved and the process of putting together a plan has begun, with Cheddington being further ahead having already held a public consultation.

Ivinghoe and Slapton have made an application to designate an area for a plan.

Winslow has completed its plan and held a referendum as required. Wing, Marsh Gibbon Haddenham and Great Horwood are following closely behind.

Neighbourhood plans are intended to complement rather than contradict District Plans, so it is with interest we await the outcome of a judicial review brought by Gladman against the Winslow plan on the grounds it had no status without an overarching District Plan, as this will affect every neighbourhood plan currently being put together by hard working volunteers.

The February newsletter from Thames Valley Police is now available on their website including updates on the latest scams to watch out for and drugs advice:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=300685

Youth Voice is a forum allows young people to have their voices heard on issues that are important to them.   Please see the flyer below for more information and details of how to book.

 

Youth Voice Event Flyer Feb 2015

Dignity & Respect Awards 2015

Nomination form

 

Closing date: 5 pm, Wednesday 25 February 2015

 

 

Now in its third year, we are pleased to announce the

Dignity & Respect Awards for 2015

The Awards celebrate outstanding examples of how dignity and respect are demonstrated across Buckinghamshire. We are looking for individuals, teams and organisations that have gone the extra mile in supporting people in Buckinghamshire in a way that promotes dignity, respect and well-being.

 

This year, for the first time, we are inviting nominations from members of the public as well as people working in the health and care sectors.

 

Short-listed nominations will be shown at the Dignity & Awards event on FRIDAY, 17 APRIL 2015 and the audience will vote for the winner in each category.

 

If you know of a person, team, group or organisation that has gone over and above in supporting people in Buckinghamshire then why not recognise them for their excellence and nominate them for the Dignity & Respect Awards 2015.

Please download a nomination form from the Bucks County Council website www.buckscc.gov.uk/dignity or call 01296 387821

 

The January 2015 edition of the Pitstone and Ivinghoe JFC Newsletter is now available via the P&I JFC website:

http://www.pandifootball.net/news-and-announcements/pijfc-clubnewsletter-january2015/PIJFC_Newsletter_January_2015.pdf

This edition of the newsletter features a mid-season team write up on all age-groups, details of the early starter scheme for reception-age boys and girls, information on Pitstone and Ivinghoe Junior Football Club’s partnership with Watford FC (through its Community Sports & Education Trust), and an exciting write up on the success of various P&I JFC female players, past and present!

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:

It is with some sadness that the Committee of Ivinghoe Entertainments has to announce that there will not be a Summer Festival in 2015. Unfortunately we no longer have the critical mass of members to successfully execute the Summer Festival.

We have decided that it is necessary to re-launch our campaign for committee membership as we require new members to contribute fresh ideas, enhance & develop our events, help in their organisation and ensure the future of the Summer Festival. We will be holding an Open Informal Meeting on 11 June 2015 from 2000 onwards at the Rose & Crown, Ivinghoe for individuals interested in meeting the members of the Committee in a social environment to see what we’re about and our objectives. We would be particularly interested in individuals with Marketing and Organisation skills however, everyone is welcome as it is diversity and ideas that we are looking for.

Without additional membership it will become increasingly difficult to deliver the Summer Festival going forwards.

Planning for the Summer Festival 2016 will commence in July 2015 to ensure the quality experienced in 2014 is maintained and improved – details will be published as they are finalised.

Our next event will be the Fireworks on the Lawn, Ivinghoe on Saturday 7 November 2015 – more details to follow as plans evolve.

Following a recent review, the Conservation Officer is consulting on a proposed extension to the Conservation Area in Ivinghoe.   The proposals would extend the Conservation Area in a number of locations, including The Park (at the bottom of The Lawn).

Comments are invited before 13 March 2015.   Please follow the link below for further information:

http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/environment/conservation-listed-buildings/current-conservation-area-consultation/ivinghoe-conservation-area-review/

 

Please note that tonight’s screening has had to be cancelled as no advanced tickets have been sold.

Residents asked for the cinema to be created, and a lot of volunteer time and expense has been invested.   So please do get in touch and let the cinema team or the Parish Council have your thoughts about what films you would like shown, what days/times it should operate etc so that the cinema can best serve the needs of our community.

If you’ve been to our cinema, what were the key benefits for you?  If you haven’t been along yet, please let us know why, and what might entice you to give it a try.

Thank you.

Please contact Laurie Eagling (parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk) or Dave Nicholls (dave@djnsolutions.co.uk)

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

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=298442

Message sent by

Helen Thorne (Police, Communications Officer, Thames Valley)

Happy New Year from Thames Valley Police.  We hope that everyone had a peaceful and enjoyable festive season.

We thought we’d provide some advice for people who gave or received a new smart device for Christmas, and for anyone who’s New Year’s resolution is to get more internet safety aware.

Internet Security advice through Get Safe Online

Did you know that 80% of online crime is easily preventable by taking simple steps to protect computers, smart phones and tablets?

During 2015, Thames Valley Police will be working in partnership with Get Safe Online to provide practical advice to help our communities protect themselves on the internet.

The website covers a wide range of topics, and will be a useful read for parents, businesses and the vulnerable and elderly too.

Visit www.GetSafeOnline.org

Are you a parent or carer of a child aged 8 – 12?

You may have already seen or heard about the new NSPCC online safety campaign, Share Aware which launched today.

Many parents feel out of their depth in understanding what their children are doing online and what the risks might be.

This campaign is aimed at parents and carers of children aged 8-12, and is a good tool to help with understanding what children like to get up to online, that will certainly help parents to have those difficult conversations with children about staying safe.

There is a downloadable Share Aware guide for parents that has three main purposes:

• to provide an overview of sites, apps and games that children and young people use from a user-perspective;
• to give parents the confidence to facilitate balanced and informed conversations about what their children are doing online; and
• to encourage parents to look at social networking platforms themselves and form their own views about the appropriateness of popular sites for their children.

Thames Valley Police supports the campaign, and we encourage you to read the guide, watch the video with your children, and to start having those important conversations about staying safe as a family.

Visit www.NSPCC.org.uk/ShareAware, follow @NSPCC and #ShareAware

Taking a few moments now to familiarise yourself with the best ways to protect yourself, your family and your devices online might be a smart and safe way to start 2015.

Kind regards,

Thames Valley Police

Pitstone Parish Council would like to welcome Rev Adrian Manning to our community.  He was inducted to the United Benefice of Ivinghoe, Pitstone, Slapton and Marsworth in a service last week.

http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/news/more-news/new-vicar-goes-from-the-classroom-to-the-church-pulpit-at-ivinghoe-1-6518488?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

There is consultation running until 20 January 2015 about possible changes to the Ivinghoe Post Office in line with the national Post Office modernising program.  The new “Local style Post Office branches will provide a wide range of services from the retail till and are open when the shop it is housed within is open.”

You can find out more information about the modernisation program by following the link below:

http://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/modernising-post-office

Opening hours will be extended.

Most of the products and services will still be available, but Transcash (without barcode), NS&I Premium Savings Bonds, On Demand Travel Insurance and Parcelforce Worldwide International Parcels will no longer be available.  The nearest alternative venues for these services will be Aldbury or Tring.

You can find full details about the revised opening hours, services that will be retained/lost and the anticipated closure period to refit the post office by following the link below, or clicking on the ‘consultation’ tab from the above link and searching for ‘Ivinghoe’ in the branch name box:

https://www.postofficeviews.co.uk/branchname.php?query=Ivinghoe&frmnd=liveconsultation

A local teenager, with the support of his parents, is offering his Christmas Tree collection Service again this year in order to raise money for the Malawi Education Initiative charity.

For only £5 he will collect and dispose of your real tree. To book your collection (and find out more about the charity), please follow the link below and leave some contact details along with your payment so that Charlie can get in touch with you.

Please support your local services.

Please do not dump your Christmas trees in the parish countryside.

https://www.justgiving.com/Charlie-Scott3/

Drivers throughout the Thames Valley area are urged not to leave their vehicles unattended with the engine running on frosty mornings.

Opportunist thieves could be on the lookout to take advantage of such a situation.

It only needs a moment for a thief to jump behind the wheel and drive off in your car.

Even if the door is locked, a thief will not think twice about smashing a window to get in.

The simple message is not to leave a running car unattended for any length of time, whether it is left on your own driveway to de-ice on a cold winter morning, or for example while you pop to post a letter or pay for fuel.

Give yourself extra time to defrost all your cars windows and don’t be tempted to leave the car even for a few moments.

A car unattended with its engine running is a golden opportunity for a thief.

As well as causing a huge amount of upset and stress, this type of theft can also result in your insurance company refusing to settle the claim because the vehicle was left running whilst unattended. You could potentially lose thousands of pounds.

You can watch a video on our Thames Valley Police YouTube account (opens new window) which provides Winter Driving Tips, including not leaving your car unattended with the keys in the ignition.

Windmill Parmacy in Ivinghoe now also stock a range of general pet medicines eg to treat worms or fleas.

Transport for Bucks advise that Glebe Close is scheduled for it’s highway patching works on 8 January 2015, weather dependant.

 

A reminder that no trains will be operating on the Milton Keynes to Euston line which runs through Tring station from close of business on 24 December, re-opening on 29 December.

For further info, visit the West Coast Main Line website:

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/improvements/west-coast-main-line/

Please find below a link to the BCC collective switching scheme:

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/environment/sustainability/energy-reduction/collective-switching-reducing-your-energy-bills/

Just a reminder that the new village pharmacy is now open, located in Ivinghoe High Street next door to the hairdressers and close to the post office.

Excellent service from the team.  Free prescription collection and/or delivery service.  Medicine review.  Blood pressure checking.  Help to quit smoking. etc.

Do support all your local services and business.

Thames Valley Police newsletter for December in our area:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=296434

This year, non drop Christmas Trees are available from the old Silver Birch Cafe on the Upper Icknield Way in Pitstone.

 

Look out for Santa and his helpers in Pitstone this Christmas.

They will be visiting on Wednesday 17th (around Castlemead) and Thursday 18th (Vicarage Road, Cheddington Road, Marsworth Road & all streets off these roads) and collecting for Iain Rennie hospice at home.

Listen out for the familiar sound of the sleigh, come and say hello and pop your loose change in the collecting buckets.
www.renniegrove.org

Best Day Ever

| BBC One

Do you know someone who is a true unsung hero who helps others without ever expecting anything in return?

Is there someone in your community who everyone knows and loves? Does your best friend have a hidden helping side that not many people know about? Is a colleague brilliant at their job and do they deserve to be rewarded for their hard work? Do you know someone who’s about to retire who you’d love to thank for all of their years of service?

A new pilot show for BBC One is looking for extraordinary people to reward for their amazing selflessness with a series of great surprises, giving them their Best Day Ever.

If you think someone finally deserves praise for all that they do, this is your chance to thank them in the biggest way possible. You can nominate them by completing the application form below but remember, IT MUST BE KEPT A SECRET!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/beonashow/best_day_ever

At some point between 8 December and 14 January Marsworth Road and Cheddington Road will be closed for resurfacing works.  Transport for Bucks anticipate 1 day on Marsworth Road and 2 days in Cheddington Road.

Please allow extra time for your journey.

Please note that Transport for Bucks have now erected signage to say that Marsworth Road will be closed from Cheddington Road up to Ivinghoe on 15 December, and Cheddington Road itself will be closed on 16 December, so please remember to leave enough time to walk everywhere.

Monday’s closure on Marsworth Road is planned as a limited closure, 9.30am-3pm only, so wont affect the school bus service into Aylesbury etc or the Marsworth bus to Brookmead.

The new Windmill Pharmacy opens on 11 December 2014 at 19-21 High Street, Ivinghoe (next door to Vision hairdressers).

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8.30am-1pm & 2pm-6pm plus Saturdays 9am-12noon.

Free prescription collection, free home delivery, medicine use review, stop smoking support, free blood pressure testing, disposal of unwanted medicines and health advice / self care.

Telephone 01296 706280

Please show your support for this new local service.  Javid and Fayaz look forward to meeting you, so do pop in next Thursday (11th) to introduce yourself and you’ll also be treated to tea and biscuits!

Thames Valley Police have launched a Christmas Crime Prevention web page.

The campaign starts with information about online fraud.

Read advice on avoiding online fraud and other crime prevention advice on the Christmas crime prevention page on the Thames Valley Police website.

There will be four further strands in the lead up to and during the Christmas and the New Year festive period.

In full the five strands are

• Online fraud
• Personal safety
• Theft from motor vehicles
• Burglary dwelling
• Domestic abuse

Throughout the festive period the Force will be publishing regular updates, tips, videos and advice on Facebook and on Twitter using the #TVP_Christmas.

Join Thames Valley Police on Facebook (opens new window).
Follow us on Twitter (opens new window).

The Haldi, Pitstone’s award-winning Asian restaurant is offering a free Christmas lunch for senior citizens on Sunday 21 December.

To book a place, please call 01296 662204 or 01296 661223.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/community-and-ancillary-sellers-notice-consultation

If you are a community group, you may be interested in the above consultation.

Stamp Poster 2014

Please see above the poster for the Scouts Christmas Postal Service

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

You can buy our special Scout stamps, at 15p each, from the local venues below from 28^th November onwards.  Stick them on your cards and post them in one of our many special post boxes – locations also below.

We will ensure that all cards posted by the ‘last post’ (5pm on Friday 19^th December) will be delivered across the weekend of 20^th/21^st December 2014.

 

You can buy stamps at:		Post your Christmas cards at:
Pitstone		Pitstone
Masons Stores		Masons Stores
Ivinghoe		Ivinghoe
The Rose and Crown pub		The Rose and Crown pub
CuriosiTEA Rooms		CuriosiTEA Rooms (Ivinghoe Old School)
(Ivinghoe Old School)		St Mary’s Church
Marsworth		Marsworth
The Red Lion pub		The Red Lion pub

 

We can only cover the villages of Ivinghoe, Pitstone and Marsworth.

Please write addresses legibly – if we can’t read it, we can’t deliver it!

Congratulations to the Haldi – Winners of the Best Indian Resturant in the South East Buckinghamshire at the 2014 Asian Curry awards UK.

Do support your local facilities and businesses – go and enjoy an award winning meal.

Please find below the link to the TVP newsletter for November which includes some helpful tips to keep your home safe now that the nights have drawn in:

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

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust “One chance to get it right”   Achieving good quality care for people who are approaching the end of life,  whilst in our care. Please come and share your views on the 11th December in Wycombe from 6.30p.m      This may be a difficult subject for some to talk about but if you, someone close to you, a friend or relative is frail or very ill, it is a subject that you may need to raise sooner rather than later. The needs and wishes of the individual, involvement, support and planning are all important areas ……… but what do you think as a patient, carer or relative? Come and share your views and learn what Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is doing to improve our care for patients who are at the end stage of life. Please come and join us for an evening of listening and discussion and help shape this priority for all. To book onto this session please contact Dee Irvin at dee.irvin@buckshealthcare.nhs.uk or tel (01494) 734149

Please note that the Memorial Hall Charity meeting has been postponed.  A new date will be notified as soon as possible.

The Annual General Meeting of the Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity is being held at 7.30pm on Monday 10 November 2014 in the meeting room at Pitstone Memorial Hall.

The agenda includes updates from the Chairman and Treasurer, nomination & election of committee members, setting of hire rates for the forthcoming year and a discussion about future development of the hall building.

Everyone is welcome to attend so please do come along and support your local hall.   If you have a little spare time, they would love you to join the committee.

Now available on their website:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=292013

With Halloween fast approaching, police are reminding people make sure they spend their time trick-or-treating responsibly.

Many residents enjoy Halloween and view it as harmless fun, but for others it can be distressing receiving visits from unexpected callers, particularly the elderly and those that live alone.

The neighbourhood police teams in the Thames Valley will be undertaking high-visibility patrols over the Halloween period to deal with any anti-social behaviour. They also work with schools and parents to reduce the incidents of nuisance and criminal damage that can happen at this time of year.

You can download and print a ‘No trick-or-treat’ flyer from the Thames Valley Police website and display it in a window or visit your local station to pick up a copy.

If you or your children see this flyer displayed please move on to the next house. Most people will have a pumpkin or Halloween decorations on display to welcome callers.

We will also be encouraging people to watch our ‘Click Your Trick’ (opens new window) film which highlights the consequences of anti-social behaviour. The film features a teenager who was convicted of arson after he and his friend put a firework through a family home as a prank in 2008. The prank went horribly wrong with the firework setting the house on fire. Luckily nobody was seriously injured.

We want everybody to have fun during Halloween and Bonfire night, but don’t want children and teenagers to be influenced by others into doing things that may seem minor at the time. Please remember, your actions could have a massive impact on not only people inside their house but to your life as well.

Don’t let Halloween become a terrifying experience for all the wrong reasons, warn fire fighters. John Robinson, station Manager from Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service community safety team, said: “We don’t want to stop people enjoying Halloween, but we do want them to celebrate safely. There is nothing more terrifying than having a fire at home or seeing your clothes catch fire.

“Just follow this safety advice for a safer Halloween: never make costumes from flammable materials, always check costumes and masks are labelled as flame resistant, keep candles away from children and ensure they are extinguished at night, and do not overload electricity sockets with lightings.”

If you are trick-or-treating this year:

• Don’t knock where you see a ‘No Trick-or-Treat’ poster.
• Be visible and stick to well-lit streets.
• Although Halloween is meant to be spooky, be careful not to frighten people.
• Plan your trick-or-treat route before you go and let an adult know where you’ll be going and what time you will be back.
• Go with an adult when possible.

If at any point you do feel nervous or unsafe:

• Don’t open your door if you’re unsure who is there. Use your spy-hole, look out of a window, and use your door chain if you do decide to open your door.
• Have a contact number of a close relative or good neighbour by your telephone, just in case you need to phone them.
• If you are part of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme, let your coordinator know that you will be on your own at Halloween. If you are a coordinator, please identify people in your scheme that may be vulnerable and offer them reassurance.

Thames Valley Police will not tolerate any anti-social behaviour at any time of the year.

To report anti-social behaviour please call the 24 hour non-emergency number 101. If it is a crime in progress, call 999 immediately.

BEACON VILLAGES COMMUNITY LIBRARY – NEW 100 CLUB!
Support your Community Library and be in with a chance of winning monthly cash prizes!
Pick up a welcome pack from the Library or email treasurer@bvcl.org.uk for an online form.

Volunteers needed to help with a new National Heritage Project

The AVDC Heritage Team, working in partnership with English Heritage, are pleased to announce that they will soon be embarking upon a comprehensive Grade II Listed Building Survey across the District, to help inform a strategy for Buildings at Risk in the future.

This survey will be undertaken as part of the National Heritage at Risk Grade II Project – a national initiative led by English Heritage.

The aim of the project is to train local volunteers up to survey important historic buildings in their area, and to monitor those buildings to make sure that they are not falling into disrepair.

AVDC would like to invite all interested local residents, Parish and Town representatives and amenity societies to help us with the project, which will be taking place between now and April 2015.

To kick start the programme, AVDC are hosting a free half day seminar on Wednesday 22nd October 2014, where you can learn more about the project and the way in which we can secure the future of important historic buildings. If you would like to attend, please contact buildingsatrisk@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk

On the Menu is a small socially responsible organisation that aims to support those who, for whatever reason, can no longer cook for themselves and require smaller size meals that meet their dietary needs.

We are setting up a network of ‘Community Champions’ throughout Buckinghamshire to inform their local community of our nutritious hand prepared food and home delivery service for older people.

In order to achieve this we are looking for caring, community oriented people who have a ‘neighbourly attitude’ in their local area to join our team.

Our network benefits local communities by both providing some part-time self-employment, as well as assisting older people to remain independent in their own homes.

The role of ‘Community Champion’ is to liaise with local community in order to create awareness of the service on offer within the area and visit older people that require the service to make sure they have adequate deliveries of food on a weekly basis.

Regular contact with the older people (over the phone and/or in person) is an important ongoing part of the role, as often older people feel socially isolated.

All of our meals and desserts are freely delivered by our Buckinghamshire delivery partner ‘Festival Catering Supplies’ based in Aylesbury.

For further information about On the Menu please visit our web site  www.onthemenufood.com

People across Buckinghamshire are being asked to help the County Council make important spending decisions on next year’s budget and give their preference for the level of council tax, in the residents survey launched today (Thursday 25 September).

The survey, ‘Tough decisions for tough times’, aims to get people involved in helping to decide which areas of the Council’s work spending should be focussed on. The survey is easiest to complete online at www.buckscc.gov.uk/budget, taking no more than 10 minutes.

Paper copies will also available to pick up from libraries, children’s centres, adult learning centres and County Council offices in Aylesbury and Wycombe from next week.

The survey will be posted to a random selection of 3,000 residents; and Buckinghamshire community groups and businesses are also being asked to take part.

Martin Phillips, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, says it’s more important than ever for residents to take part in budget decision-making: “The County Council is facing its biggest ever challenge this year, and we need our residents to help us make what will be some very difficult decisions on the areas of work where we should prioritise spending.

“Last year, we took the difficult decision to raise council tax by 1.5%. We’re asking residents to tell us their views on what should happen to council tax next year, and in the survey there are options to freeze council tax or increase it again.

“The financial landscape in which we’re operating has changed dramatically: in the past three years our central government funding has reduced by 40%, and we’ve reduced our spending by £55 million. This year, we will lose another £11 million of government funding, and we’re facing a shortfall of £28m in next year’s budget. We will be able to lessen that shortfall by £16m through generating income and working more efficiently. But that still leaves a substantial £12m budget gap, which means that some reduced services will be inevitable – even if there is an increase in council tax.

“It’s absolutely vital that people tell us what’s important to them: where we should reduce spending, where we should continue to invest, and what should happen to council tax.”

The survey is online at www.buckscc.gov.uk/budget
until the closing date of 9 November.

Dacorum Borough Council has launched a new consultation into their site allocations policy which sets out major planning areas within the borough for the next 20 years.  The consultation runs from 24/9/14-5/11/14.

The plans include new areas of employment, three medium sized residential developments of 24 houses in Miswell Lane, 25 houses in Western Road and 10 in Landgon Street plus a major development of up to 200 houses off Icknield Way in West Tring.  The latter site also includes an extension to the cemetery and 5 pitches for travellers.

You can view the plans online by following the link below, or view them at Temperance Hall in Christchurch Road on Tuesday 14 October from 2-8pm.

http://www.dacorum.gov.uk/home/planning-development/planning-strategic-planning/local-planning-framework/site-allocations/site-allocations-2014

The document does not state if the new homes will have an impact on capacity at Tring senior school.

The plans do include the long awaited cycle path from Pitstone to Tring Station.

Please note that due to a water leak on Marsworth Road, there are traffic controlled roadworks between Rushendon Furlong and Brookmead School. This is likely to cause severe delays and congestion around school drop-off & pick up times. Please do not attempt to take your car to this area, but make use of the parking facilities at New May Fu or Pitstone Memorial Hall. If you must park closer to the school, please ensure you park well before the Rushendon Furlong junction.

There are also road closures from tomorrow on Marsworth Road from the Westfield Road junction towards Marsworth. Therefore expect heavier traffic along Westfield Road, Vicarage Road or Upper Icknield Way.

Please follow the link below to the Thames Valley Police website:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/newsevents/newsevents-pressreleases/newsevents-pressreleases-item.htm?id=290748

Update on 18/9/14 – Thames Valley Police advice that the escaped prisoner was located and re-arrested in Oxford yesterday.

Suspicious incident – Pitstone

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a suspicious incident in Pitstone.

At around 5.45am this morning (15/9), a woman got into her car in Yardley Avenue and noticed the interior light was on.

She thought nothing of it but during the drive she noticed a man in the backseat.

The woman pulled over in Castlemead and got out of the car and the man jumped out of the car and ran away.

The woman was not injured during the incident.

The man is white, between 40 and 50 years old, of medium build and average height.

He was possibly wearing a red top or jumper.

Inspector Donna Wilmshurst from Aylesbury police station said: “Fortunately the woman was not injured but it was a frightening incident for her. It is not clear why the man was in the car but he fled the scene on foot and I would ask anyone who saw a man matching his description to contact me immediately via the 101 number.

“Officers are in the area this morning conducting enquiries and trying to locate the man so we can establish the circumstances around this incident. If anyone has any concerns, please feel free to approach officers or call 101.”

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

The September e:newsletter is now available on the Thames Valley Police website:

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

Please find attached a link to the nomination page for the 9^th Annual Bucks & MK Sports Awards. It celebrates people in the communities who do untold good through their involvement in sport. Volunteers are the backbone of community sport and this is a chance for us to recognise their commitment and promote the work they do.

 

The link to the page is here http://www.leapwithus.org.uk/sportawards/

 

Nominations can be made up to the 15^th September