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

Fireworks Night going ahead tonight, Sat 8th, Ivinghoe Lawn Sat. 18:00: food, drinks, fairground rides. And special guest appearance of the famous Ivinghoe Beacon, last used as one of the 2012 beacons marking the Queen’s Jubilee, June, 2012. That will be our centrepiece. Tickets on gate – £15 Family £5 Adult

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.

From the Ivinghoe Entertainments Committee

Our next event will be the Annual Fireworks on Saturday 08-November, Ivinghoe Lawn.

For safety reasons we will be using the Jubilee Beacon. The event kicks off at 18:00 with the Jubilee Beacon being lit at 18:45 followed at 19:15 by a spectacular fireworks display managed by our team of trained pyro-technicians. As previous years we will have musical accompaniment to the fireworks display provided by Dave Mann. As is tradition; there will be food concessions including hot & cold drinks, and a Fairground ride to entertain the children. Naturally we hope that the weather will be kind to ensure that the event will be a great success.   Please note that it is a condition of our insurance that no personal fireworks (including sparklers, etc.) are brought onto Ivinghoe Lawn.   Tickets will be available in advance from Masons (Pitstone), Post Office (Ivinghoe), Grooms (Ivinghoe) and The Rose & Crown (Ivinghoe) £15 Family, £5 Adult from mid-Oct. Tickets will also be available on the night.

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

Congratulations to our local tea shop – Curiositea Rooms has won the award for Best Loved Community Cafe in the Chilterns. The official presentation of the certificate etc will take place in due course. They team would like to thank everyone who nominated and voted for them.

Curiositea is also in the final of the LBO Cafe of the Year Award so please keep voting for them.

BEN TREACHER JAZZ QUARTET

PITSTONE MEMORIAL HALL

19^TH JULY 2014

 

I would like to say a huge ‘Thank You’ to all who supported this very successful event in the village last month.

We were able to raise a fantastic £560 for the Memorial Hall Fund, whilst enjoying an evening of Jazz from a young, up and coming London Jazz Quartet who have already appeared upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s and at the Vortex Jazz Club in London.

This is the second time that the Jazz Quartet have performed here to raise money for the Hall in memory of Ben’s Grandfather, Ron Treacher, former Chairman of Pitstone Parish Council, making a running total of very nearly £1000 donated so far to the Hall Committee.

Thanks need to go to Sue and Barry Gregory for all their hard work in helping to transform the Hall into our very own ‘Ronnie Scott’s’ for the evening and for running the bar.  Thanks go also to those who made donations to the kitty!

The Quartet will be back next year in early July to perform once again, so if you missed it this year, do try to support these young musicians and this great village facility next time.

THANK YOU AND SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!    BEN TREACHER

Now available on their web site:

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

Dear residents,

As the weather becomes warmer, it may be tempting to take a swim in open water but we would like to remind people it is not advisable to swim or play in any lakes or open water in Aylesbury Vale. We would like residents to be aware of the following dangers:
 

• 60% of all drowning incidents occur in canals, lakes and rivers.
• You can drown in just a few centimetres of water.
• If you fall or jump into the water, the cold will shock your body, making your muscles seize up so you can’t move.                                                                                           
• You could easily cut yourself on rubbish or rocks and you may become ill due to bacteria in the water.

We would like the residents in Aylesbury Vale to enjoy the outdoors during the summer months. However, the only safe place to swim is in a swimming pool.  The water is clean, clear and warm.  There are life guards on hand if something goes wrong.  If you witness people swimming in the lakes, ponds, the river or canal, call Thames Valley Police on 101.  In an emergency call 999.

AVDC has led on the development of the plan, working closely with Aylesbury Town Centre and Buckinghamshire County Council.

The plan sets out a programme of improvements to build on the investment already made in Aylesbury and help make sure it continues to grow and develop as a town centre we can all be proud of.

You can see the full version of the plan at:

http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/about-aylesbury-vale/aylesbury

Depression: Asking the Right Questions (ARQ) project.

 

This is a national public survey on depression, which is seeking the views of anyone affected by depression, in order to inform future research.

 

Depression ARQ is a partnership of 27 national organisations, including charities, NHS Trusts and Royal Colleges.  They want to know what questions people have about depression. They are collecting questions from those directly affected, their friends, family and carers, and they also are seeking input from health and social care professionals who work with people with depression.

 

Depression ARQ believe that research has the potential to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of depression. The top priority unanswered questions uncovered by the survey will be promoted to researchers and funders to help find answers that will make a real difference to people’s lives.

 

To take part visit www.depressionarq.org, and also share this with your friends and colleagues via Twitter or Facebook. You can follow the progress of the survey on Twitter at @depressionarq.

 

Sent on behalf of

Gregor Henderson

National Lead, Wellbeing and Mental Health

Public Health England

Gregor.henderson@phe.gov.uk

07769304075

Message sent by

Naveenat Sahota (Police, Local Comms, Thames Valley)

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a burglary and two attempted burglaries in Ivinghoe and Slapton.

Between 11pm on Friday (11/7) at 11pm and 7:00am on Tuesday (15/7) offenders  gained access to a property in Maud Janes Close, Ivinghoe  through the front door.

Once, inside the offenders stole credit cards, jewellery and electrical items.

Yesterday, (15/7) at 10:11am offenders attempted to gain entry to a property in Maud Janes Close, Ivinghoe by jemmying the door. No entry was gained to the property and no items were stolen.

Between 10pm on Monday (14/7) and 2:30pm on Tuesday (15/7), offenders attempted to gain access to a property in Church Road, Slapton by jemmying the door. No entry was gained and no items were stolen.

Det Con Bruce Wilson, said: “I am keen to speak to anyone that may have been in the area during the dates and times of these offences and may have seen any suspicious persons and/or vehicles to please contact me via the 101 number.

“We believe the burglary and these attempted break-ins are linked and we are actively pursuing all lines on enquiries.”

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Bruce Wilson from Aylesbury Vale Police station via the non-emergency 101 enquiry centre.

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

County Councillors news report July 2014

Prevention Matters – a little bit of help to stay independent and active. This is a Bucks county Council service for all adults, but mainly older people, who may be wondering how long they can maintain their independence, maybe after an illness or longer term, are feeling anxious, lonely or isolated, or find it difficult to get out and about. For more information call 0300 666 0159 or email admin@preventionmatters.org.uk. I have left some leaflets in the Beacon Villages Community Library.

Ringshall Road closed by badgers at Trust cottages. The road has been closed since mid June and is due to re-open mid July as the carriageway outside Trust Cottages collapsed into a badger sett! (Not sink holes as some might think)! A license to repair the subsidence is needed from Natural England and an expert will be on site for the repairs. Is this another first for Ivinghoe Division?!

More change at Bucks CC – new cabinet member for Transportation Ruth Vigor-Hedderly has instigated a thorough overhaul of the way Transport for Bucks delivers it’s services, particularly maintenance and grass cutting, by returning to area depots and local responsibility. She is trying very hard, right down to retraining all operatives on quality pothole filling, and we hope she will be successful. This is against a background of continuing change at senior management level. Meanwhile we must continue to place our trust in Clifford Marshall and Rob Anderson as the first port of call. I have asked her to consider adopting the Plantlife verge cutting regime as campaigned for by Alan Tichmarsh http://www.plantlife.org.uk/roadvergecampaign which she will be investigating as I think this could be a winner all round for the rural cuts and junction safety.

Planning – The AVDC planning committee on 18th June agreed by 5 votes to 4 that they were minded to approve an outline application for 40 houses behind Rushendon Furlong subject to conditions to be agreed by officers, despite Pitstone Parish Council and local residents making a strong case with high quality presentations to the committee, to uphold the policies still relevant from the old local plan, followed by a long debate on the value of those policies, the footpath, drainage, and landscape. The committee resolved ‘ that the application be delegated to the Development Management Manager to determine, subject to the satisfactory completion of a Planning Obligation Agreement to secure on site provision of affordable housing, financial contributions towards off site leisure, education and public transport provision, the provision and maintenance of an on site open space and a suitable SuDS scheme (drainage) and to secure a travel plan. Any approval to be subject to such conditions as the Development Control Manager considers appropriate or, if this cannot be achieved, refused for such reasons as considered appropriate’. At the same meeting a controversial application in Aston Clinton was also approved by 5 votes to 4 and I have since learned that since that meeting applicants have won an appeal for 40 houses at Stoke Hammond. Several other planning applications have been received – 40 houses on the edge of Edlesborough and 40 on the edge of Great Horwood, and a further application for 90 houses has been submitted in Aston Clinton. Ivinghoe is anticipating an application for about 80 houses.

Avril Davies

County and District Councillor

Change4Life and Disney are partnering on a major new summer campaign called the 10 Minute Shake Up. This campaign uses a bit of Disney magic to inspire children aged 5-11 to reach the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day, with fun, manageable 10 minute bursts of exercise.

How do parents get involved? Parents can order a FREE 10 Minute Shake Up pack – which includes a wide variety of fun, interactive and practical ways to encourage children to complete activity every day. Parents can visit the Change4Life website and order the kit directly.

Up to £5,000 is available for businesses that want to increase profits, expand, recruit and grow their reputation.

This funding is available through the Velocity Growth Grants scheme; a great way for businesses that are inspired to grow to access the funding they require.

Velocity Growth Grants can help businesses create and safeguard jobs, increase sales and boost productivity and profitability. This could be through:
•Improved sales and marketing efficiency
•Improved back room systems and recruitment
•Help purchasing computers and other equipment.

Only businesses based in Aylesbury Vale are eligible.

Do you have clients in Aylesbury Vale who may be able to benefit? If so, please pass on this information. Alternatively, if you would like to discuss how the grant could benefit your business and how you can apply, please call Heather Martin on 01494 568941 or email heatherm@bbf.uk.com

Also

Do you know that there is a free funding search for businesses?

j4bGrants can help you find funding to start and grow your business.

Register now for free to: search for funding by sector and location; create email grant alerts that tell you when new funds are launched; read the latest funding news; and view approaching deadlines.

http://www.j4bgrants.co.uk/Logon.aspx?WCI=htmRegister&WCU=URI%3dsearch.aspx

1                   South Central Ambulance Trust – Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire
The Care Quality Commission will be inspecting this service from 8 September 2014. The inspection will look at:

• Care for people who are in life      threatening circumstances using an emergency ambulance
• Patient transport services

The inspection team is interested in the experiences of people who have had to use an ambulance in an emergency as well as people who use an ambulance to get to a clinic etc, and may do so regularly.  For an ambulance trust this includes the experience from:

• first making a call for an      ambulance
• the response
• the care provided on the phone      and getting on and off an ambulance

• what happens on the ambulance

 

People’s experiences of whether the ambulance services are ‘joined up’ with other services (particularly hospitals) is also important to the inspection team. The inspection team is also keen to hear evidence from local voluntary and community groups about the quality and safety of care that their members and service users have experienced.

You can send reports, peoples stories of care or other evidence your group holds about people’s care to hospitalinspections@cqc.org.uk or you can ring CQC on 03000 616161. Please put the name of the trust you are sending information about in the title of the email to ensure it is passed to the right inspection team.

2                          Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust PLACE assessments 2014

Each year hospitals must carry out Patient Led Assessment of the Clinical Environment (PLACE) ad these take place in April/May. This is a national initiative resulting in a formal publication of the results. To do this, volunteers are required to carry out the assessment alongside NHS staff Some training is required which takes a couple of hours and this is run in various locations across the county. Once trained, volunteers are notified of the assessment dates for each of the county’s hospitals and you can then volunteer to take part if the dates are not convenient. If you would like to find out more please contact Tracey Underhill directly on 01494 734405 to register your interest

Now available on their website:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=285224

A new online virtual neighbourhood tool has been launched on the Thames Valley Police website to further enhance the advice available on crime prevention.
The interactive street illustration, sited in the Home and Garden Security page,

offers advice on how to improve security in six different property locations to prevent burglaries.

The virtual neighbourhood also provides pop-up tips to highlight typical external areas around a property where security can be improved.

Users can zoom in or out on the neighbourhood, and scroll up or down, to access the different areas.

The new tool completes a revamped Crime Prevention section on the website which, as well as Home and Garden Security, also offers advice on a host of topics including Keeping Safe, Identity Fraud, Business Security, Watch Schemes, Vehicle Security, Fire Safety and Rural Security.

Sgt Bryan Percival, Force Crime Prevention Manager, said: “The virtual neighbourhood is the new and welcome addition to our crime prevention tools.

“Many of us prefer images and interactivity, we can better relate to them, we learn from them and they can be fun too.

“Here, our virtual homes, gardens and streets can show you some of the key areas in and around your home which you might want to consider changing or updating in order to make you, your family and your hard-earned possessions safer.”

To use the virtual neighbourhood tool, visit the Crime Prevention section pages on the Force website.

LIGHTS OUT 10-11PM, 4TH AUGUST 2014

“The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our life-time” Words spoken by Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary in August 1914, as Britain’s ultimatum to Germany was about to expire

What is LIGHTS OUT? LIGHTS OUT is an invitation to everyone in the UK to turn off their lights from 10pm until 11pm, leaving on a single light or candle for this shared moment of reflection. In a dramatic nationwide event, the UK will plunge into darkness between 10pm and 11pm on 4th August 2014: upon this darkened canvas single lights will appear across the four nations, marking the hour that Britain entered World War 1 one hundred years ago.

LIGHTS OUT is a headline project of the cultural programme 14-18 NOW and was initiated by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport; 14-18 NOW is a curated programme of new art works across the UK that forms part of the official commemorations of the Centenary of the First World War, and is hosted within Imperial War Museums. LIGHTS OUT complements a candlelit vigil to be held at Westminster Abbey from 10pm-11pm on 4thAugust. Every member of every community in the UK is invited to respond to LIGHTS OUT, bringing their own personal thoughts and reflections to the occasion.

We understand many civic buildings, city landmarks, war memorials and other gathering places within local communities, are to become natural assembly points during the LIGHTS OUT hour

In Pitstone, our Polling Station is the Memorial Hall.  The Memorial Hall Charity has invested heavily over the last few years to improve their disabled provision including access ramps to all external doors, lower viewing panels for doors, dedicated toilet provision and a microphone system in the main hall.   If you have any comments regarding disabled provision at the hall, perhaps you could let us know.   Some other places may not be as fortunate and BuDS is running a survey to try and identify problems so solutions can be found.

 

BuDS is helping to make sure that all disabled people in Buckinghamshire are able to vote as easily as everyone else, by conducting a short and anonymous survey about barriers faced by disabled people to voting.  The survey is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2KYXRTL.  All results will be fed back to the appropriate District Council to help them improve how they run future elections in Bucks.  BuDS will also follow up any complaints or comments about individual polling stations or officials highlighted in the survey.

 

Sent on behalf of

 

Andrew Clark | Chair of Trustees

Bucks Disability Service (BuDS)

www.buds.org.uk

The Clare Charity Centre, Wycombe Road, Saunderton, Bucks HP14 4BF

General Enquiries: 01494 568864 | Personal phone: 07811 142935

The latest edition of the e:newsletter from Thames Valley Police is now available:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=282318

The Ivinghoe and Pitstone Summer Festival comes to a lively musical conclusion on Sunday, June 22nd with an afternoon performance by the Beacon Community Choir. The event, Music on the Lawn, will be held on Ivinghoe Lawn (in front of the church) outside the marquee, which is being used for the Comedy Night and the Ball during the course of the weekend. (If wet, in the marquee.) The Beacon Community Choir is made up of local amateur performers. There will be guest musician and singers – “folk, jazz, classical, pop and rock”. Times 1pm – 5pm. Suiggested donation £5. Children free.

Ivinghoe Entertainments is marking the start of its third decade by revamping its popular festival weekend.

This year the Ivinghoe and Pitstone-based organization moves its popular Ball on the Lawn to a Saturday night (June 21), to give guests more time to prepare and fully savour the smart dress-up occasion. And it has booked a big headlining band, The Collection.

The formal, black-tie ball has been a firm fixture, held in a marquee on the scenic Ivinghoe Lawn in front of the village church, since the early 1990s. This year the Friday night spot (June 20) will be given over to the Comedy Night, “Laughter on the Lawn”. Tickets are still available for both events.

“It will be a new night, new band, new caterers and hopefully new friends for the Ball”, said Ivinghoe Entertainments chairman Graham Hollands. “We want to make the 2014 Summer Festival the strongest yet. If you haven’t been before, this is the year to come.”

This year, for the first time, the committee has opted for a major headlining band. The Collection, fronted by Keavy Lynch from B*witched, has enjoyed success in Europe and North America. They released two albums and eight singles, all of which made the UK Top 20. “C’est la Vie”, “Rollercoaster”, “To You I Belong” and “Blame It on the Weatherman” all reached number one in the UK Singles Chart. B*witched enjoyed recent success on the “Reunion” TV programme and tour.

The committee has booked a new caterer, too, offering a choice of three starters and four main courses. “We’ve managed to peg the price at £60 a ticket, which represents very good value for a ball in this area,” said Mr Hollands. “After you have bought your ticket, the only expenses are photographs, and drinks.”

The second part of the summer festival, traditionally on Saturday, now becomes the first part, on the Friday night. The festival follows up the success of Laughter on the Lawn 2013 with a different line up of comedians. Tickets cost £15.

The event, associated with the Get Stuffed Tring Comedy Festival (Tringe), will be compered by Kevin Day. The lineup will be headlined by Mick Ferry, and feature John Maloney and Tammy Stone.

Kevin Day, stand-up comedian, comedy writer and sports presenter has hosted the comedy discussion programme Loose Talk on BBC Radio 1. He is a programme associate for Have I Got News for You. Since 2004 he has been a regular on Match of the Day 2.

Mick Ferry is described as “a master of the dark arts…no subject too solemn, no insight too mournful, no theory too surreal.” He was a finalist in Channel 4’s So You Think You’re Funny competition. Mick has performed with Johnny Vegas, Peter Kay, Al Murray and Steve Coogan. He is a regular at The Comedy Store in London and Manchester, and recently starred in BBC`s Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow. He made his cinema debut in 2009 in Ken Loach’s Looking For Eric.

John Moloney has headlined at top clubs such as the Comedy Store. He twice won Best Live Performer at the London Comedy Festival, and has been nominated as Best Live Stand Up at The British Comedy Awards. He is best known for his performances on BBC’s The Stand Up Show and the most recent series of Grumpy Old Men. He was included in Channel 4’s One Hundred Greatest Stand Ups in 2006.

Tammy Stone has contributed to ‘QI’ and ‘Never Mind The Buzzcocks’. Recently she brought her “skewed, sometimes risqué but undeniably funny” act to the Edinburgh Festival with a “teatime feast of standup, comedic songs and quirky humour.”

*  Tickets

For tickets for both events, see http://ivinghoeentertainments.org.uk or contact Penny 01296 668017 (enquiries@ivinghoeentertainments.org.uk)

 

Message sent by

Diane Brown (Police, NHW & Community Messaging Co-ordinator, Aylesbury Vale LPA)

Appeal for witnesses after collision – Ivinghoe

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a single vehicle collision in Ivinghoe.

At around 2.40am on Tuesday (3/6), a blue Renault Clio, which was travelling along the B489 from the direction of Ivinghoe Beacon, approached the junction with the B488 and left the road.  

The vehicle collided with a telegraph pole before rolling down an embankment into a grass paddock where it landed on its roof.

One of the three men who were in the car was thrown from the vehicle.

The driver sustained extensive bruising and was treated at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

One of the passengers sustained back and hand injuries and was taken to Stoke Mandeville Hospital for treatment.

The other passenger sustained extensive facial injuries and was taken to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital for treatment. All three injured people remain in hospital.

Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact PC Steve Leathersich from Milton Keynes Roads Policing via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 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 online at the Crimestoppers website. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

Forthcoming events in Aylesbury:

 

Roald Dahl Festival 2014

 

5 July, Aylesbury Town Centre, 11am – 3pm

 

Celebrating the internationally renowned author for the 12th year, the unique Roald Dahl Festival is commemorating the 50th anniversary of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Come along for a scrumdiddlyumptious day brimmed full of colour, noise, activities and entertainment for all the family to enjoy, whatever the weather!

 

Line the streets ready for the spectacular and colourful Roald Dahl Parade which starts at 11am! Larger than life puppets and colourful artwork made by children and young people in the local area will parade through the streets of Aylesbury, starting at St Mary’s Church, accompanied by boisterous samba and brass bands and street entertainers that are sure to get you in the festival mood.

 

A range of family entertainment will follow until 3pm across the town including crafts, inflatables, story telling and face painting. There will also be a Great Glass Elevator Golden Ticket Grab, starting with a trail through town for a chance to grab a winning golden ticket!

 

Although most activities will be free, some will have a small charge.

 

www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/dahl

 

Play around the parishes

 

28 July – 29 August, 10am – 4pm

 

Enjoy a series of open access play sessions during the Summer school holidays provided by Aylesbury Vale District Council in partnership with Sure Start Children’s Centre’s, parish representatives and Bucks Play Association. Sessions include play, sports and arts activities for children aged 1 – 11 years and are held at various locations across Aylesbury Vale, accessible to all residents in the local area. The project encourages families to play together using equipment not found at home, helps to form friendships and teach children new skills and develop self esteem.

 

Bring your friends and family along for some fun in the sun!

 

The full timetable of venues and times can be found at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/play

 

Love Parks Week 2014

 

26 July – 3 August, 11am – 3pm

 

Spend time in your local park in Aylesbury or Buckingham this summer during the national initiative Love Parks Week. Aylesbury Vale District Council with partners is putting on a series of events suitable for children aged 0 – 10 years including geocaching, arts and crafts, bouncy castles, sports activities, orienteering, walks and nature treasure trails.

 

For full information about the individual events and locations go to www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/loveparksweek

 

Mix 96 Play in the Park

 

6 August, 11am – 4pm

Vale Park, Aylesbury HP20 1DX

 

Join in the summer fun on National Play Day. This fantastic day of entertainment will include:

 

Bouncy castles, laser game, bungee run, assault course, Climbing wall, Pedal go-karts, Under 5s area, Circus skills area, Umbanda Drumming, Giant sand pit and Arts & crafts activities.

 

All children must be accompanied by an adult. Why not bring a picnic and spend a day with us. Most activities will be free but there will be small charges for some activities. Ticket booths will be at entrance to the park where you can buy pay-as-you-go tokens to redeem on chargeable activities. Some activities may be limited if wet. Please use publics transport or park in the town centre car parks.

 

www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/play

Butterfly themed craft activities, entertainment, live music from Backbeat & light refreshments.  Shelter available if wet.

Family Butterfly Picnic
21st June 2014
Forget Me Not Baby Memorial Garden, Gadebridge Park, Hemel Hempstead (adjacent to Picotts End Road entrance)

11am to 3pm,

12pm commemoration in the Garden

Organised by West Hertfordshire & Buckinghamshire Sands

Message sent by

Diane Brown (Police, NHW & Community Messaging Co-ordinator, Aylesbury Vale LPA)

Appeal to trace relatives of First World War police officers

Thames Valley Police is trying to trace relatives of police officers who served in the forces that make up today’s Thames Valley Police area who were killed or served in the First World War.

The Force would also like to hear from anyone who has police-related photographs or other memorabilia for the area relating to the war.

The Force will commemorate the officers who were killed in the First World War at a ceremony and exhibition at this year’s Thames Valley Police Open Day, which will be held at the Force Training Centre at Sulhamstead on Saturday 2 August.

If anyone can help or would like more information, please contact the Communications Service Desk on 01865 846578.

The May update is now available, including useful advice about how to keep your teenagers safe, and how to protect your homes and belongings now the weather is getting warmer:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=280709

Message sent by

Rebecca Webber (Police, Communications Officer, Corporate Communications)

Want to support your community by identifying people and help make your neighbourhood safer? Download the Facewatch App!

From today (12/5), Thames Valley Police will be using the Facewatch App to upload pictures of unidentified people they would like to speak to in connection with low-level crime.

The App works on any smartphone, is free to download and the images are searchable by postcode.

Ch Insp Colleen Lavery, from Neighbourhood Policing and Partnerships, said: “The Facewatch App gives members of the public the opportunity to see images of people police would like to speak to in their neighbourhood.

“If they recognise anyone they can choose to submit information, in confidence or openly, via their smartphone directly to the police by clicking ‘Identify’.

“The App is already used by a number of forces across the country, including the Metropolitan Police Service, West Midlands Police, City of London Police, Surrey Police, Northamptonshire Police and British Transport Police.

“We hope residents in the Thames Valley will also download the App to help us reduce crime and keep their communities safe.”

Do you have a message you would like over 2,000 local residents to see?

The Party in the Park committee are offering local businesses the opportunity to provide a 
sign or poster to promote their business which will be displayed on the railings around the 
garden area outside the social club/hall on the day of the event. 
There is a flat fee of just £25 to secure your advertising space.   All funds raised will be 
used to support the event and the charities that the event is raising funds for.

The sign will be in a very busy area near the bar so there will be plenty of people seeing the advert.
Last years event was attended by over 2,000 local people.
If you are interested in taking up this offer, please contact either Linda Howarth by email on:
howarthlinda4@gmail.com  or pop in to see Barry Gregory at the social club on a Friday or Saturday 
night.

On 14 May Aylesbury will celebrate the relaunch of the town centre market with a series of fantastic events, coinciding with the national ‘Love your Local Market Fortnight’ campaign. These will not only showcase a number of changes to the market: including brand new stalls, awnings and the introduction of the Tuesday Vintage & Craft Bazaar, but will also celebrate the Market’s sign up to the Real Deal initiative – a campaign that ensures markets are free of counterfeit and other illegal goods, so that consumers can shop, and legitimate dealers can trade, in safety and with confidence. During the Love Your Local Market fortnight, a series of events will be taking place starting on Wednesday 14 May with the unveiling of the new look market stalls and the sign up to the Real Deal initiative with a cake cutting, live music and giveaways. The new Vintage & Craft bazaar opens on 20May, showcasing new stallholders selling jewellery, glassware, coins and handcrafted goods. People will also be able to bring their treasured items along to be valued by antiques expert John Bly. With vintage cars, bouncy castles, donkey rides and magicians, from 14 – 28 May, Aylesbury will be celebrating its rejuvenated Market in style, by providing fun for all the family. It is not just the look and feel of the Market that has undergone a major transformation. Working with the existing market traders, over the last 18 months, Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC) has introduced a number of fundamental changes to the way the Market operates. These have included; updated terms and conditions for traders, the introduction of cashless payment options for existing stallholders and discount incentives for new traders. A dedicated market team now works closely with the traders, holding monthly meetings to discuss any issues and to help plan the future of the Market, as well as working to raise the profile of the Market with events and offers to attract new customers. Councillor Brian Roberts, AVDC’s Cabinet Member for Civic Amenities commented: “For us, it is about demonstrating our ongoing commitment to the Market, not just by improving the look and feel, but also by investing in the infrastructure. “The Council’s commitment to the Market is unwavering, particularly in the current financial climate, we cannot afford to sit still – we need to ensure our market offers value for traders and consumers alike. The investment in our Market, combined with the recently revealed plans for the town centre, shows how dedicated we are to ensuring that the town continues to evolve enabling us to attract new businesses and investment to benefit traders, customers and the town as a whole.” Diana Fawcett, Aylesbury Town Centre Manager, added: “Here in Aylesbury we have a long tradition of holding a successful town market but we don’t rest on our laurels.  We continually review the way our market operates and work with the current traders to ensure the Market can continue to grow. It has been wonderful to see how everyone involved with the Market has worked together to help implement these changes as smoothly as possible. “The Love Your Local Market Campaign has provided us with the perfect opportunity to showcase the changes we have made. We hope local residents who use the market and those who may not have visited for a while, will take the opportunity over this fortnight to visit the Market and see for themselves what a bustling, vibrant and modern market their town has to offer.“

Inclusive Angling in Marsworth

Although not free, this subsidised course is only £10 for 5 lessons of inclusive “Learning to Fish” courses where young people with physical or learning disabilities and their parents and carers can learn to fish! 

For ages 11 to 25, starting on 5 June, the course will be every Thursday 6.30pm to 8.30pm from 5 June ending in a short competition on 10 July.

Taking place at Tring Reservoirs, HP23 4LJ with parking at Startops car park, Marsworth. 

Book online now www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/activities

There are lots of activities for you to get involved in during May listed in our Events section.   Please do go along and support your local community.

Activities on offer include:

• the festival of art and flowers at Pitstone church
• the skate park
• the annual assembly
• walks
• talks
• open days at the Heritage Park
• tea & cakes at the church in Ivinghoe
• book fair
• artists and makers fair
• plant sale

http://pitstone.co.uk/event/

Buckinghamshire County Council has recently made it easier for everyone to report fly tipping.  There is an easy to use website tool that will work on all devices. Just use your pc, laptop, tablet, or smart phone to reach http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/fly now.

Use the single page link to report fly-tipping by entering the location of the incident and select ‘GO’. Drag the pin to the location (you may find zooming in and out helpful to select the exact position). Once you’re happy with the position click ‘Confirm pin location’: this is very important to ensure we respond to the right location as fast as we can. You can also upload a photo of the illegally dumped waste and add a description of the material tipped to help us even further.  Once your happy press the ‘Report’ button at the bottom of the page and we will do the rest.

Go on and have a look and help keep Buckinghamshire beautiful.

Why walk? Walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active On average, people are sedentary for more than 9 hours a day, when commuting, at work and at home.  But too much sitting is bad for your health! Adults should aim to be active for 150 mins a week at least, to benefit health and 60 mins a day for children Walking for just 20 minutes a day will burn 7 lbs of body fat a year Walking for just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week can: reduce the risk of heart disease by a quarter  reduce stress, cholesterol and blood pressure  reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by 30 – 40% Being active can help boost self-esteem, mood and energy and is one of the 5 ways to wellbeing

Ideas to get involved: Join in the Big Bucks Walk on May 14th – aim to spend some time walking that day – whether to work, to school, at lunchtime to the post box, with a friend. More details on twitter so follow us @PHBucks Join in the National Walking Month campaign by Living Streets Take part in the Workplace Challenge Download the Simply Walk brochure Take part in Walk to Work week May 12th-16th Check out www.walkit.com it has great maps of towns if you live or work in London, High Wycombe or Aylesbury (among others) and find a walking route from your bus stop or rail station Make sure you and your colleagues take a break and have a walk at lunchtime

Just a reminder that as it is Bank Holiday on 5 May, AVDC will be collected the brown lid garden waste bins on Saturday 10 May instead.

Further details on www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/garden

A reminder that due to engineering works, there are no trains running at all on the Hemel-Hempstead to Euston line this weekend between 3-5 May 2014.

If you were planning to travel into London from Tring, London Midland suggest either using St Albans station into St Pancras or Wendover station into Baker Street or Marylebone.

Further information can be found on their web site:

http://www.londonmidland.com/your-journey/journey-planning/watford%20improvement%20works%20/

 

Disappointingly, the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, has decided not to “call in” the planning application relating to the proposed alterations at Luton Airport, which means that the planning permission granted by Luton Borough Council in December 2013 remains valid.

The application did not include the installation of an additional runway, but did include alterations to terminal buildings and taxiways to facilitate an increased throughput which will be able to accommodate 18 million passengers a year (it handled 9.7 million in 2013).

Pitstone parish council will continue to work with the London Luton Airport Consultative Committee, PAIN and PAVAN to ensure that the conditions attached to the planning application are monitored and respected.