Archives: Local News

Follow the link for the April newsletter from Thames Valley Police:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=309487

The Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity would like to express their thanks to County & District Councillor Avril Davies who provided a Community Leader Grant of £1,000 to the charity towards the cost of insulating the main hall loft space.

The newly insulated void should lead to improved energy efficiency for the renovated main hall and help prevent burst pipes etc during adverse weather.

The Hall Charity is also currently in desperate need of volunteers for the management committee, so if you are passionate about keeping this vital village facility open, please do volunteer your time as a trustee.

Please find below the link to the March edition of the Thames Valley Police newsletter for our area, including tips on how to keep your vehicles and contents safe:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=302729

The Bucks Affordable Warmth Network is pleased to be accessing ECO grants in partnership with British Gas to offer free, A-rated replacement boilers to homeowners and private renting tenants whose boilers are rated D or below and are in receipt of certain benefits. This includes:

Residents in receipt of:

• Child tax credit
• State Pension Credit
• Aged 60 or over and in receipt of Working Tax Credit

Or:

• Income-related employment and support allowance
• Income-based job seeker’s allowance
• Income Support, or

• Working Tax Credit with a relevant income of £15, 860 or less

And who also:

• Receive the work-related activity or support component of the income-related employment and support allowance
• Have parental responsibility for a child under the age of 16 or up to their 20^th birthday if they are in full-time non-advanced education who ordinarily reside with that member
• Or are in receipt of certain disability payments, including: child tax credit which includes a disability or sever disability element; a disabled child premium, a disability premium, enhanced disability premium or sever disability premium; or a pensioner premium, higher pensioner premium or enhanced pensioner premium.

An easy way to check your eligibility and to discover how else we can assist you is via our freephone helpline: 0800 107 0044. We’re encouraging organisations to send this to any organisations or groups that this may be applicable to. Please contact us via the helpline

0800 107 0044

Or email us:

awn@nef.org.uk

Funding is only available for a limited time, so please don’t delay:-

Our friendly staff are available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

This is an urgent appeal for volunteers to come forward and join the management committee of the Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity.

It is an exciting time to be a trustee at the hall.   It has seen extensive modernisation and improvement over the recent years and there are plans for further works to extend the hall.  There will be good opportunities for the hall to become the central hub of the village, especially once the last phase of the Pitstone Development Area and the new leisure facilities are installed on the recreation ground.

The commitment isn’t onerous.  The charity tend to meet once every other month and there can be other work to be undertaken in between meetings to help drive forward current projects.

The charity is currently desperately in need of both general members and officers.   Unless enough people come forward the charity will be unable to continue to operate.

Please, please give some consideration to whether you would be willing to join the charity (as an officer or a general member), and speak to your family, neighbours and friends to see if they would be willing to join and support this vital community facility.

Please get in touch with the Acting Chairman (Steve Mattey on steve.mattey@treelondon.com) or Laurie Eagling (memorialhall@pitstone.co.uk or 01296 660791) for further information or to express an interest.

Entries for the 2015 Mix 96 Tour De Vale Bike Ride have are now open.

Up to 2,000 places are up for grabs for what has long been established as Buckinghamshire’s biggest bike ride.

In aid of WheelPower, the wheelchair sport charity based at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the Tour de Vale fundraising bike ride has helped transform the lives of thousands of disabled adults and children in the 12 years since it began.

Due to the increasing demand which has seen entry levels soar in recent years WheelPower have confirmed that the 2015 ride will have a maximum of 2,000 cyclists.

Organiser, Jo Hall of WheelPower said “Last year was the greatest ever Tour de Vale bike with riders raising over £46,000 for WheelPower for which we would like to thank everyone involved.

We look forward to welcoming the many cyclists of all ages and abilities who come from all around the Aylesbury Vale and much further beyond at the annual this year’s Mix 96 Tour De Vale.”

The ride takes place on Sunday 7 June with three routes taking cyclists through the delightful Buckinghamshire countryside and villages.

Advanced entries are £15 for adults and free for children under 16 with an accompanying adult

Every rider is given chip timing. Helmets are compulsory. Start and finish is at Stoke Mandeville Stadium.

EVERY FLOWER COUNTS – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR  ANNUAL STOCK TAKE OF UK’s WILDFLOWERS

 

Making plants a priority

 

The new National Plant Monitoring Scheme (NPMS), launching in spring 2015, will for the first time enable scientists to take an annual stock take of the UK’s wild plants and their habitats, but to do this we need the public’s help. We are looking for volunteers to carry out surveys of wildflowers and their habitats that will provide robust evidence of which widespread plants are increasing or declining, as well as indicating the changing state of our most valued habitats such as grassland, fenland and even road verges. Plants are nature’s building blocks and this new monitoring scheme will sit alongside existing schemes for the UK’s birds and butterflies to help us understand more about how the countryside is changing.

Chris Cheffings, from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee says “Currently, information on plant species’ abundance and change is very limited, and it is difficult to gauge the condition of habitats outside protected sites. JNCC is delighted to be able to support the NPMS, which will fill this significant gap in UK biodiversity surveillance. The annual results collected by volunteers will help to identify trends in hundreds of species, allowing us to assess plant community changes.”

The search is now on to find 2000 volunteers to take part in the NPMS who will play a vital role in gathering information. Together the volunteers will monitor wild plants in 28 important habitats, ranging from hedgerows and meadows to salt marsh and scree slopes.

Hayley New, from Plantlife says “The NPMS is hugely enjoyable and over 400 volunteers have helped us set up the new scheme. It’s easy to do and everyone will receive free training and guidance plus support from the partnership for volunteers who have queries, as well as web support and illustrated guidance notes – so volunteers will have the perfect survey tool kit to get them started!”

Dr Kevin Walker, Head of Science, Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) says:

“It’s really great to finally have a national scheme that everyone can take part in. Whether you simply love wildflowers or are a budding botanist, input from volunteers will provide sound evidence on how our wild plants and habitats are changing. It’s a fantastic achievement and should mean that wild plants are at the forefront of discussions on how our environment is changing and what we should be doing about it.”

How does the NPMS work?

 Volunteers will be able to choose from three options depending on their level of expertise: recording from a short or an extended list of target species in each habitat or recording all species they find in their plots.

 Volunteers will be given a 1 km square with a grid showing up to 25 locations. Surveyors will be asked to visit three of those locations and carry out surveys in square plots and then identify two linear features such as hedgerows, rivers and road verges and survey these locations too.

 The squares have been randomly chosen, but with a focus on squares containing habitats of interest.

Oliver Pescott, from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology says “The results from this new scheme should allow us to quantify the smaller changes that are occurring within our most valuable habitats. In the past, volunteer-collected data have been able to demonstrate the results of large-scale habitat loss over the last century, now we would like to reveal even more detail about the changes within the remaining areas of these habitats in our landscape.”

Changes to service 61 from 20^th April 2015

Arriva have decided to alter service 61 from 20^th April 2015 so that it will terminate in Dunstable and no longer continue beyond to Luton Town Centre. This follows a service review which indicated that most passengers are actually travelling on sections of the route covered by other services and that within the unique section only served by service 61, between Dunstable and Tring, passenger numbers were very low. Passengers will still be able to travel onward to Luton & Dunstable Hospital, Luton Town Centre and Luton Airport via high frequency connecting services from Dunstable.

As well as revising the route Arriva is also making a number of timetable changes designed to improve punctuality and better match journeys to the number of passengers actually travelling.

The revised service will follow the current route to Dunstable town centre, serving the existing stop in Church Street (known as the Winston Churchill) and then divert to terminate at the ASDA store in Court Drive. Return journeys from Dunstable will start from ASDA, serve the existing stop in West Street and then follow the current route back to Aylesbury.

Within Dunstable, passengers will be able to make same-stop connections onto either service A, which provides a fast link via the Busway to Luton Town Centre and Luton Airport, or onto service 31 to the Luton & Dunstable Hospital. Both services run up to every 15 minutes and through tickets will be available. Passengers towards Luton should change at Church Street (Winston Churchill), while those travelling back from the Luton area should change onto service 61 at ASDA.

Although the overall frequency of service 61 is generally unchanged, the timetable has been completely revised and contains some major changes including:

 

Mondays to Fridays

• A new early morning journey from Aylesbury at 0540, providing connections arriving in Luton at 0656 and at Luton Airport at 0707
• The 1230 and 1330 departures from Aylesbury will be replaced by a new 1305 journey
• The 1455 departure from Aylesbury will run 20 minutes EARLIER
• Journeys from Aylesbury after 1700 will run 20 minutes LATER
• To improve reliability, the 0820 (0815 on school holidays) arrival into Aylesbury is retimed throughout
• The 0900 journey from Eaton Bray to Aylesbury will now start from Dunstable with connections available from Luton
• The 1337 from Dunstable to Aylesbury will no longer run
• The 1822 journey from Dunstable to Aylesbury will be replaced by a 1900 departure, starting from Dunstable ASDA and providing a later connection from Luton
• Evening journeys from Ivinghoe to Aylesbury are retimed to run LATER throughout

 

Saturdays

• A new journey from Aylesbury to Dunstable at 1335
• The 1400 and 1500 departures from Aylesbury will be replaced by a new 1435 journey
• Evening journeys from Aylesbury to Ivinghoe will run 20 minutes LATER
• The 0820 journey from Dunstable will now start from Ivinghoe at 0840 and has been retimed
• A new journey from Dunstable to Aylesbury at 0855
• The 1836 journey from Dunstable to Aylesbury will be replaced by a 1857 departure, starting from Dunstable ASDA and providing a later connection from Luton
• Evening journeys from Ivinghoe to Aylesbury are retimed to run LATER throughout

 

From the same date, the frequency of Arriva service 500 to Hemel Hempstead and Watford will increase on Mondays to Fridays to operate every 20 minutes, providing additional buses between Aylesbury, Aston Clinton and Tring.

A copy of the timetable showing suggested connections is attached and will be made available on our website http://www.transportforbucks.net/Buses-and-trains/Bus-timetables.aspx. Arriva will shortly be producing new timetable leaflets and will also be providing information on their buses.

Pitstone Parish Council would like to wish a very happy retirement to Ron, the Postmaster of the Ivinghoe Post Office, who has served our community for over 34 years. Ron retires at the end of next week. The Post Office is due to be refitted the following week. We are sure all our residents will join us in thanking Ron for his service and wishing him well for the future.

The Aylesbury Vale Village Pub Competition aims to showcase

the vast number of high quality rural pubs in Aylesbury Vale.

Whether your favourite is large or small, traditional or trendy it

makes no difference; we are looking for variety, so if your local

doesn’t possess an enormous beer garden or serve food

round the clock, don’t worry. It could still be a winner!

Each pub only needs one nomination to be entered into the

competition. If you are interested in joining the judging panel

please email villagepub@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk by 20 April,

stating why you would be a great addition to the panel.

To make sure your favourite pub is included visit

www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/pubcomp

or call 01296 585301 to complete

a nomination form.

 

BCC want to make it as quick and easy as possible for our residents and customers to get in touch with us, whether it’s to report a problem, find out some information or make a simple transaction.

So we have been working hard to improve our website and online services, meaning that you can use our secure online services to get in touch with us on your mobile, tablet or computer, either on the go or from the comfort of home.

You can do a whole range of things online with us:

Apply – Join the library, apply for a school place or Blue Badge

Book – Events or Adult Learning courses

Report – Potholes or road problems, fly-tipping

Buy – Copies of certificates, pay an invoice

Renew – Library books

Go to www.buckscc.gov.uk/online to see what you can do.

We’re introducing more and more online services all the time; for example we’ve recently introduced ‘live web chat’ to our Libraries, schools and Blue Badge webpages and will be expanding web chat more widely across more of our website.

Help to get online

We want to help make sure that people who are less able to access online services are not excluded and are helped to gain vital computer and internet skills.

Read more about this at:

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/about-your-council/our-plans/digital-strategy/help-to-get-online/

If you are not confident at using the internet and would like to find out more about how you can improve your digital skills, Buckinghamshire libraries run a variety of courses and taster sessions.

We also run free volunteer-led sessions using Learn My Way, the free online IT training package for everyone aged 16 and over. From learning to use a keyboard, staying safe online to shopping and social media, Learn My Way is a fantastic way to learn at your own pace and within the familiar and safe environment of our libraries.

Start Something Digital today and find a session near you at: http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/libraries/start-something-digital/

 

 

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