We are working to create a Design Code for Buckinghamshire. This is a set of rules and design principles for buildings, streets and public spaces which developers will need to follow. We need your input to help us to create the design code, which will contain design rules for:
Street design Walking and cycling Green spaces and trees Spaces for water and nature Cycle storage Storage for waste and recycling containers E-car and e-cycle charging Car parking Safe streets and public spaces
Once we’ve completed the Buckinghamshire Design Code we will test it before we conduct a formal public consultation. We will then consider formally adopting the Design Code as the official guidelines we will use to help us determine planning applications.
It’s quick and simple to get involved. Please visit https://www.bucks.place and follow these three steps:
Tag Find your local area on our interactive map. Zoom into the street, public space or building you want to talk about, or key in the postcode in the search box. Then click +Tag and follow the instructions on the screen to add your idea, comment or suggestion.
Type Tell us what you think by typing a few words. We’re interested to know:
Is this a good place for children to live? Are there enough places for children to play in this area? Could I get around easily in a wheelchair? What obstacles are there if you were pushing a pushchair? Is it easy to cross the street? Are there enough trees? Do children have a safe walking route to school? Are there obstacles for people who are walking and cycling such as missing pavements? How could new developments in this place be better in the future?
Snap You can also upload a photo directly from your smartphone or computer (optional).
The Home of 2050 We would also like to know how you think the Home of 2050 could respond to changing lifestyles and climate change. You can find some ideas and share your thoughts online on the Home of 2050 page (https://www.bucks.place/index.php?contentid=97).
Thank you for taking part in this important work for shaping the new Design Code for Buckinghamshire
During Refugee Week 2022 (20-26 June), local charity Community Impact Bucks is promoting a new initiative which provides volunteer community interpreters to hosts and community groups in the county on a task-by-task basis.
Available through the Volunteer Matching Service, the volunteer interpreters are available to help in a community setting for example, interpretation at a coffee morning or interpreting on behalf of a host to help settle a family into the home. Both Ukrainian or Russian interpreters are available. For more details, visit Community Support for Ukrainian Refugees.
The charity has also recently appointed Tania Orlova as its Ukrainian Community Liaison Officer to coordinate community support for Ukrainian refugees in Buckinghamshire. If you are a host, refugee, or part of a voluntary group providing help to refugees and would like to be kept up-to-date on latest news and opportunities, contact Tania Orlova on tania@communityimpactbucks.org.uk/ tel 01844 617308
Buckinghamshire nears top of the table in planning enforcements
A recently published table shows that Buckinghamshire Council is the second most active council outside London and the seventh most active in the country in issuing planning enforcement notices. The table, produced by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) monitors and ranks councils by the number of planning enforcement notices they issue. It reveals that some areas are more active than others in issuing legal notices for contravention of planning rules and that 35 councils issued no notices at all. A planning enforcement notice is a legal document which is issued when there has been a breach of planning control that cannot be resolved through negotiation and is so serious that it requires formal action. It sets out what steps need to be taken to resolve the breach. In 2021 the team at Buckinghamshire Council investigated 1,675 new cases and issued 65 planning enforcement notices. In the last year, breaches in Buckinghamshire have included unauthorised residential extensions, changes of use, untidy land, airport parking and illegal works to listed buildings.
Bucks residents offered discounted home composting equipment
Buckinghamshire Council is offering residents discounts of up to 40% on home compost bins, hot composters and food waste digesters. Many of these items are made from recycled plastic and all of them are made in the UK. Composting is an inexpensive, natural process that transforms your kitchen and garden waste into a valuable and nutrient rich food for your garden. Compost is easy to use and a home composting bin can divert around 150 kg of organic waste per year from disposal per household. Inspired by International Compost Awareness Week (1-7 May), Buckinghamshire Council is also offering an ‘Introduction to Home Composting’webinar hosted by UK charity Garden Organic. During the free one-hour webinar, residents will find out the: Benefits of home composting Composting process Bin types and methods Uses of compost in the garden Benefits to the environment Answers to common composting questions The webinar will take place on three dates: Session 1: Friday 6 May at 1pm Session 2: Wednesday 25 May at 7pm Session 3:Thursday 16 June at 7pm You can also pick up a discounted composter or food waste digester at our Recycle for Bucks website.” For more ways to reduce your carbon emissions and to help the environment, please see the Bucks Climate Challenge webpage.
Play Streets scheme launches in Bucks
Children across Bucks are being given the opportunity to play safely outside on their doorstep through a new scheme that’s been launched by Buckinghamshire Council. Neighbours can now apply for a Play Streets session to close their road for a few hours at a time, so that communities can come together and children can meet up and have fun outdoors. Play Streets already take place in many other areas across the UK and have proved very popular, encouraging children to get active in the fresh air and also helping to tackle social isolation by connecting neighbours. The scheme first started in Bristol through the national organisation ‘Playing Out’. Two trial events took place in Aylesbury and High Wycombe and children enjoyed being able to scoot and cycle on their street, while adults chatted and got to know each other. Gareth Williams, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, commented: “We’re delighted to bring Play Streets to Bucks. Many of us will remember playing out on the street when we were younger, but lots of children just don’t have that opportunity now. Play Streets gives them that freedom again, to grab their bike or skipping rope and make friends outside their front door.” Emma Bornebroek organised the Play Streets trial event in High Wycombe and found it really helped bring her neighbours together. She said: “Our road can be quite busy with traffic and so it’s not possible for children to play on the street. Being able to close it for a few hours made a huge difference and the kids had a fantastic time playing. It was also great for adults to meet up and connect with people they hadn’t met before or seen for some time due to the Covid pandemic.” Residents can apply to see if their street is suitable for a Play Streets session on Buckinghamshire Council’s Play Streets webpage – and there is more information about the scheme on the national Playing Out website.
Buckinghamshire Council announces fresh financial support package for residents in need
Buckinghamshire Council has finalised a new package of support for residents facing financial hardship and who are struggling with rising bills and costs. The Council has already announced additional measures it’s put in place on top of the government’s national council tax rebate scheme. As well as that help, today Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet has finalised how it will allocate a further £2.4 million of funding from the Government’s Household Support Fund, to help residents struggling to pay bills and buy food. Residents facing severe financial hardship can contact the council’s Helping Hand service which can: help with energy, cooking, lighting and water bills support with food costs through vouchers pay for household essentials such as sanitary products, boiler servicing, warm clothing costs £880,000 of the funding has been allocated to provide food vouchers to families in need, including covering children’s meals during school holidays if they are eligible for free school meals during term time. These digital food vouchers will also be available for Afghan and Ukrainian families who’ve arrived in Buckinghamshire as a package of wider support for these families under Helping Hand. The Household Support Fund package is designed – through Helping Hand – to help families with children, pensioners and other vulnerable households who are struggling with paying for the basics of food, clothing and heating. This new wave of Helping Hand funding comes on top of extra support the council is giving to residents who may not be in crisis but who are still struggling with the sharp increase in household bills. The £150 council tax rebate is now being paid to eligible households (council tax bands A-D) across Buckinghamshire as part of the national scheme to offset the cost of energy bills – the Buckinghamshire scheme has been designed so the funds can be issued as quickly as possible and this is now happening sooner than in some other council areas On top of the national council tax scheme, the council has introduced its own scheme and is making £150 payments to eligible residents who live in Bands E-H who are in receipt of certain benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance Under a further strand of Buckinghamshire Council help, the council is also topping up payments under both schemes through the Helping Hand programme, meaning some residents will also be eligible for an extra £25 payment on top of the other payments. The council is also providing extra support for families during the school holidays through its HAF (holiday activities and food) scheme, ensuring families have access to quality food and care outside of term-time. We are working closely with a number of local organisations to ensure support is there for all who need it, from general financial advice, to those who sadly have been pushed into severe hardship. We know people need different levels of help at the moment, that we’re all feeling the pinch and our aim is to help as many Buckinghamshire households as possible who are experiencing varying amounts of financial pressure.” For the full breakdown of how Buckinghamshire Council is allocating the Household Support Fund, please go to: https://buckinghamshire.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s42765/Government%20funding%20supporting%20Buckinghamshire%20Residents%202022-05-10%20v1.3%20-%20Cabinet.pdf For Helping Hand queries please call 01296 531 151 – this line operates Mon – Thu 9am – 5:30pm and Fri 9am – 5pm. You can also use the online contact form on the Helping Hand webpage: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/helping-hand. For information on the council’s HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) programme please go to www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/haf For general advice on money matters, go to www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/backontrack
Buckinghamshire Council takes steps to secure more affordable housing in the county Buckinghamshire Council is taking proactive steps to tackle the challenges around delivering enough affordable housing in Buckinghamshire. As a key priority for the council, the council’s Cabinet has, this week, agreed an affordable housing position statement and committed to some specific actions. These include exploring the viability of piloting of an affordable housing development on disused council owned sites to help increase the delivery of affordable housing. Over the next 12 months, as well as exploring the piloting of an affordable housing development using one of its own disused sites, Buckinghamshire Council will: work closely with house builders and use planning obligations to maximise delivery of affordable housing on all new sites. Developers who apply for planning permission for homes have to supply a percentage of affordable homes within their development. On average, this system has delivered 643 new affordable homes in Buckinghamshire each year. work closely with Registered Social Landlords to support them to deliver their development plans and also use s106 funds and other enabling grants to make nomination rights for affordable rented accommodation available to those on the Bucks Home Choice system. engage with private house builders to explore the viability of acquiring homes to accommodate key workers. Provided this is a viable option, the Council will deliver at least one scheme in 2022. review and catalogue empty homes in Buckinghamshire and explore if these can be brought back into use. Council Tax charges for persistently empty homes will also be reviewed. Councillor Nick Naylor, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Regulatory Services said: Having a safe and secure home is a basic need we all have a right to, so we’re looking at a suite of options to secure greater numbers of affordable homes across the county. Buckinghamshire Council has also set out how the Government’s First Homes scheme will work in Buckinghamshire. The scheme is designed to help local first time buyers and key workers onto the property ladder, by offering homes at a discount of at least 30% compared to the market price. This could save each buyer a significant amount of money, making deposits and mortgages more affordable. The discounts will apply to the homes forever, meaning that generations of new buyers and the local community will continue to benefit every time the property is sold. The council has set local eligibility criteria restrictions so that First Homes have the best chance to be sold to local people and key workers.
Buckinghamshire Council offers free events in support of Dementia Action Week
To mark Dementia Action Week 2022, which runs from 16 to 22 May, Buckinghamshire Council is running a series of events in the county. The awareness week is run annually by the Alzheimer’s Society, with this year’s theme being diagnosis. Diagnosis rates for dementia have fallen to a five-year low and the Alzheimer’s Society is encouraging those experiencing common dementia symptoms, such as memory loss, personality changes and changes in behaviour, to seek guidance and support in understanding those symptoms. Research by the Society indicates that the biggest barrier to those seeking a diagnosis is the misconception that memory loss is a normal sign of ageing. This year’s Dementia Action Week aims to help those who might be living with undiagnosed dementia to understand potential symptoms, to come forward for guidance and support, and to feel empowered to take the next steps towards diagnosis. During the week, Buckinghamshire Council will be running a series of events which are open to residents across the county to raise awareness of dementia-related conditions. Tuesday 17 May Aylesbury – To celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, Aylesbury Town Council and Aylesbury Library will be hosting a FREE event as part of our dementia friendly initiative in Dementia Action Week. Buckingham – Free drop-in session at Buckingham Library 10am – 1pm. Wednesday 18 May Adult Social Care Commissioning Virtual Post Diagnosis Information session. This session is for anyone who has had a diagnosis of dementia and their carers and would like to find out more about the condition, how to manage symptoms and live well and find out what support is available. It’s also an opportunity to ask questions to the Dementia Advisors. The session runs from 10:30am – 12pm. In addition to the above, Virtual Dementia Tours – organised by Buckinghamshire Council’s Community Boards and local Dementia Action Alliances – will be available to interested residents. The Virtual Dementia Tour is a life-changing experience and the only scientifically and medically proven method of giving a person with a healthy brain an experience of what dementia might be like. Enter the world of a person with dementia and understand the simple changes you can make to your practice and to the environment to improve the lives of people with dementia. The Virtual Dementia Tour is taken by over 200,000 people per year in the UK and is the benchmark training used by multiple NHS Trusts, HSE Trusts, care homes, nursing homes, families and more. Available dates and locations for the Virtual Dementia Tour are: Monday 16 May – Burnham Park Hall Interactive Dementia Awareness Experience – Monday 16 May, multiple times | EventbriteTuesday 17 May – Beaconsfield Town Hall, Penn Road, Beaconsfield, HP9 2PP – Interactive Dementia Awareness Experience – Tuesday 17 May, multiple times | EventbriteWednesday 18 May – Lace Hill Manor Care Home – Virtual Dementia Tour Session 2 Buckingham Tickets – Wednesday 18 May at 10:30am | EventbriteThursday 19 May – Bourne End Community Centre, Wakeman Rd, Wooburn Green, Bourne End SL8 5SX Friday 20 May Risborough Community Centre, Wades Park, Stratton Road, Princes Risborough, HP27 9AX – Interactive Dementia Awareness Experience – Friday 20 May, multiple times | Eventbrite There are four sessions available on every day, each with nine places, including an interactive experience on the specially designed vehicle followed by a group debrief.
Council asks for residents’ help in tackling the costly problem of food waste
It’s a priority for Buckinghamshire Council to take local action to reduce food waste, and to do this it’s asking local people to share their experience in an online survey of why almost a third of the food we buy never makes it to a plate. The results will be used to plan projects and positive campaigns which help local people reduce food waste. Food waste is a serious issue – for the average family, wasted food costs £720 a year, at a time when the cost of living is increasing at a rate not seen for many years. Nationally, 4.5 million tonnes of edible food is wasted every year. And globally, wasted food not only contributes to serious food scarcity, but plays a major part in causing the carbon emissions that are behind climate change. That’s why Buckinghamshire Council is working hard to address the problem at a local level. To better do this, the Council’s waste team wants to find out more about the day-to-day reasons why food goes to waste, and they want to hear from you. The online survey just takes a few minutes at yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/communities/food-waste-survey-2022 and a completed survey means you get to enter a £250 prize draw!
Whatever your excuse, there’s no excuse for speeding
“I was late for work.” “I didn’t see the sign.” “There was no one else on the road!” All these excuses are commonly heard when people are stopped for speeding. Buckinghamshire Council’s road safety initiative, Travel Safe Bucks is launching a new campaign to remind people that whatever the excuse, there’s no excuse for speeding. Managing speed is something a lot of drivers and riders seem to struggle with, for many and varied reasons. The ‘No Excuses, No Speeding’ campaign looks to remind people of all the excuses that may be used to justify their speeding and all the ways these excuses can be challenged. Managing speed is about knowing the speed limit for the road, planning and concentration. It’s important for drivers and riders to plan their journey to allow plenty of time to get to their destination, as being late is an excuse frequently used as a justification for speeding. It’s also important to keep an eye on the speedometer, especially when leaving faster roads and to look out for road signs when turning into a new road. It’s not just about tackling the excuses for speeding, but also about reminding people that the speed limit depends on the vehicle you’re in and the type of road you are driving on. For example, vans and lorries may have different speed limits on some roads compared to cars.
Senior political appointments confirmed at Buckinghamshire Council
Senior political appointments have been confirmed by Buckinghamshire Council following its Annual General Meeting today (18 May) held at The Gateway offices in Aylesbury. Martin Tett continues as Leader of the Council with his own set of portfolio responsibilities covering financial strategy, economic development, skills and employability, strategic infrastructure, policy and communications and the recovery plan for Buckinghamshire. Two deputy leaders, Angela Macpherson and Gareth Williams, will continue to provide support in addition to their own cabinet responsibilities. Taking up the important ceremonial position of Chairman of the Council for the forthcoming year is Dev Dhillon, with Patricia Birchley supporting him as Vice-Chairman of the Council. Martin also announced his new Cabinet appointments, together with deputy cabinet member positions. The full list is: Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Angela Macpherson – Cabinet Member and Deputy Leader Zahir Mohammed – Deputy Cabinet Member (Public Health) Climate Change and Environment Portfolio Gareth Williams – Cabinet Member and Deputy Leader Jilly Jordan – Deputy Cabinet Member (Environment) Planning and Regeneration Portfolio Peter Strachan – Cabinet Member Rachael Matthews – Deputy Cabinet Member (Town Centre Regeneration) Gary Hall – Deputy Cabinet Member (Enforcement) Homelessness and Regulatory Services Portfolio Mark Winn – Cabinet Member Carl Jackson – Deputy Cabinet Member (Regulatory Services) Education and Children’s Services Portfolio Anita Cranmer – Cabinet Member Joe Baum – Deputy Cabinet Member (Skills) Transport Portfolio Steven Broadbent – Cabinet Member Peter Martin – Deputy Cabinet Member (HS2/EWR) David King – Deputy Cabinet Member (Transport Delivery) Accessible Housing and Resources Portfolio John Chilver – Cabinet Member Tim Butcher – Deputy Cabinet Member (Resources and HR) Culture and Leisure Portfolio Clive Harriss – Cabinet Member Communities Portfolio Steve Bowles – Cabinet Member Arif Hussain – Deputy Cabinet Member (Community Safety)
Please remember the right way to recycle electricals
Buckinghamshire residents are being given a timely reminder to take note of the right and responsible way to recycle electrical items, following a recent fire on one of the council’s refuse vehicles. The recycling collection truck was on rounds in Amersham when it caught fire last week. Luckily the quick-thinking crew spotted the fire and acted promptly to contain it, calling on the Fire Service to attend. Once the fire was extinguished, the vehicle returned straight to the depot where the contents were tipped out and monitored to ensure no further fires broke out. The cause of the fire was found to be a laptop and battery, which had been placed in a recycling bin for collection. No-one was hurt in the incident and the vehicle was undamaged. Across Buckinghamshire, batteries can be recycled at the kerbside if placed inside a standard carrier bag and left on top of the resident’s recycling bin. They will then be collected by council crews on the day they normally empty the bin. Small electrical items (broadly categorised as anything with a plug, battery or charger) should be taken to a local household recycling centre. These items include: Hair dryers Hair straighteners Electric toothbrushes Games controllers Mobile phones and chargers Small electrical power tools If an electrical item is larger than a shoe box (for example, microwave ovens and car batteries) it will need to be taken to a local Household Recycling Centre. Alternatively, residents can arrange for items to be collected, for a fee, using the council’s bulky waste collection services. For more information visit the Recycle for Buckinghamshire website.
Bin collections across Buckinghamshire will be operating to a revised timetable over the Spring and Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday. Collections due to take place on Thursday 2 June (Spring Bank Holiday) will move to Saturday 4 June. Collections due to take place on Friday 3 June (Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday) will move to Monday 6 June. All collections the week commencing Monday 6 June will take place one day later than usual for this week only. Collections will return to normal from Monday 13 June. Please check the revised timetable and present any bins or containers by 6.30am on the revised collection day.
Wednesday 1 June – no change Wednesday 8 June – moves to Thursday 9 June
If your re-arranged collection day falls on the day your road is closed over Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend, please leave your bin out for collection and we will do our best to collect it early or return on Monday 6 June for collection.
A friendly reminder that Buckinghamshire’s nine household recycling centres are open as usual. All sites will remain open for their usual operating hours over the Bank Holiday weekend. Check online before you visit to confirm opening hours and avoid the queues. Visit our website for all the latest Household Recycling Centre information.
With lots of community street parties and Big Jubilee Lunches planned to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, please also remember to reduce, reuse and recycle. Consider choosing sustainable and/or environmentally-friendly party tableware (including reusable straws and paper table cloths), don’t let any leftover lunch go to waste and remember to recycle any celebratory cans of pop and bottles of bubbly. Find out more about how to keep your celebrations as eco-friendly as possible on our website: Jubilee | Buckinghamshire Recycles (recycleforbuckinghamshire.co.uk)
For more information including how to check your Bank Holiday bin collections, where to find your nearest household recycling centre, and useful recycling tips, visit: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/bank-holiday-bins
Please also follow @BucksCouncil to keep up-to-date with the latest recycling & waste and bin collection information on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Children across Bucks are being given the opportunity to play safely outside on their doorstep through a new scheme that’s been launched by Buckinghamshire Council. Neighbours can now apply for a Play Streets session to close their road for a few hours at a time, so that communities can come together and children can meet up and have fun outdoors. Play Streets already take place in many other areas across the UK and have proved very popular, encouraging children to get active in the fresh air and also helping to tackle social isolation by connecting neighbours. The scheme first started in Bristol through the national organisation ‘Playing Out’. Two trial events took place in Aylesbury and High Wycombe and children enjoyed being able to scoot and cycle on their street, while adults chatted and got to know each other.
Gareth Williams, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, commented: “We’re delighted to bring Play Streets to Bucks. Many of us will remember playing out on the street when we were younger, but lots of children just don’t have that opportunity now. Play Streets gives them that freedom again, to grab their bike or skipping rope and make friends outside their front door.”
Emma Bornebroek organised the Play Streets trial event in High Wycombe and found it really helped bring her neighbours together. She said: “Our road can be quite busy with traffic and so it’s not possible for children to play on the street. Being able to close it for a few hours made a huge difference and the kids had a fantastic time playing. It was also great for adults to meet up and connect with people they hadn’t met before or seen for some time due to the Covid pandemic.”
Buckinghamshire Council and FCC Environment unveil bug hotel to celebrate new Household Recycling Centre contract
On 1April FCC Environment begins a new five-year contract to manage the nine Household Recycling Centres across Buckinghamshire and to celebrate the milestone, the council and its contractor have teamed up with a local Men in Sheds group to create bespoke bug hotels to encourage insect life and diversity at all of the sites. The sites already attract over a million visits a year and handle more than 60,000 tonnes of waste. The new contract is worth £15 million over five years rising to £28.5 million over ten years if the contract is extended. Peter Strachan, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, commented: “It’s been a privilege to take part in the new contract celebration and open the new bug hotel at Aston Clinton Recycling Centre. FCC Environment have consistently demonstrated their dedication to improving reuse, repair and recycling across the county. Buckinghamshire Council looks forward to building on this success over the duration of the new contract.” Steve Longdon, FCC Operations Director, said: “We have operated the facilities in Buckinghamshire since 2012 and we have worked hard during this time to deliver an exceptional service, so we are delighted to have secured the new contract to provide the ongoing management and operation of the nine Household Recycling Centres. “The new contract will enable us to continue our relationship with Buckinghamshire Council and South Bucks Hospice to embrace new ways of working focusing on the waste prevention, repair and reuse agenda that is vital if we are to meet our Net Zero targets as a nation.” Jackie Ward, South Bucks Hospice Chief Executive Officer, said: “South Bucks Hospice are thrilled to continue operating the reuse shops at Aston Clinton and High Wycombe Recycling Centres working with FCC Environment to ensure even more of Buckinghamshire’s waste is reused. The new contract not only benefits the environment but also supports the fantastic work of the hospice to provide end-of-life care and family support.” Residents have recently expressed their happiness at the level of service provided at the recycling centres. During November/December last year 2,238 visitors took part in a customer satisfaction survey. The report was conducted across the nine sites during peak and off-peak times and outlines overall customer satisfaction ratings, what items were brought to the centre, the frequency of customer visits, and key performance indicators such as site cleanliness, queuing, website information, safety advice and procedures. 100% of those interviewed said that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the site staff and service provided at the Household Recycling Centres
Bucks Lottery celebrates two years of supporting local good causes
The Buckinghamshire Lottery is celebrating its second birthday. In the last year, it has raised over £125,000 for the local community and over £27,000 has been given away in prizes. So far more than 350 local good causes in Buckinghamshire have signed up as a fun and effective way to raise funds for their valued services in the community. Any local charities or not-for-profit groups such as parent teacher associations and sports clubs, looking to fundraise can register free of charge at any time to take part in the Buckinghamshire Lottery. One of the best things about the Buckinghamshire Lottery is that supporters are able to choose the good causes that matter personally to them.” We would advise other causes thinking of joining the lottery to sign up, it’s free and really easy to get started. There is a huge amount of support given as well as advice and tips on fundraising. Supporters can win weekly cash prizes of up to £25,000 for just £1 per ticket and if you enter before Saturday, 23 April 2022 you will also be in with the chance of winning the national prize, of a £1,000 B&Q gift card. Visit our website to see which good causes you can support, and buy a ticket today online at: https://www.buckinghamshirelottery.co.uk/ At least 60% from each ticket sold goes directly to the cause of your choice. Unlike larger lotteries, the majority of your ticket purchase comes back into the community and the odds of winning a prize are much better, at an amazing 50:1. It really is a win-win scenario. Even if you don’t win a cash prize you can be content in knowing that you are making a real difference in your local community!” Good causes that have been supported via the Buckinghamshire Lottery include: Bucks Carers, PACE, Thames Valley Air Ambulance, BucksVision, South Bucks Riding for the Disabled, Aylesbury Homeless Action Group, Autism Bucks, Medical Detection Dogs, Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Service for south Buckinghamshire (previously known as Rape Crisis), Age UK Buckinghamshire, Bucks Search and Rescue, Cancer Care and Haematology Fund, Child Bereavement UK, Chiltern Carers, Chiltern, High Wycombe and South Bucks Cats Protection, Citizens Advice Bucks, Chilterns MS Centre, Parkinson’s UK Aylesbury Branch and Thames Valley Adventure Playground.
70 Trees for 70 Years – one month to go!
It’s the final countdown for the 70 Trees for 70 Years campaign – you have one month left to nominate your favourite trees and woodland in Buckinghamshire to be included in our Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. This year we have been taking part in The Queen’s Green Canopy tree planting initiative, planting trees for the Jubilee to create a lasting legacy for future generations. Alongside this, we would like to celebrate the beautiful trees and woodland we already have, so we have been inviting residents to nominate their favourites. We have received some fantastic nominations so far, which have highlighted how important trees and woodlands are to us for our mental health, our physical health and our enjoyment of our surroundings. Cllr Peter Strachan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said: “We are very lucky in Buckinghamshire to be surrounded by so much natural beauty, and as part of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year, Buckinghamshire Council is looking to celebrate this with our 70 Trees for 70 Years campaign. “The nominations we have already received have been really touching, demonstrating just how important our natural environment is to us, and how many memories are evoked by special places. “One couple nominated a tree where they had their engagement photoshoot, and someone else nominated trees in a park where they had enjoyed picnics with friends after the first lockdown lifted. We’ve also had people nominating woodlands because they have memories of walking in the woods with loved ones who have since passed away. “Whatever the reason, if you have a tree or woodland in Buckinghamshire which you think should be recognised on our Platinum Jubilee list, please send us a photo before 1 May.” To take part, take a photo of your chosen tree or woodland, tell us where it is and why it is meaningful to you, and send it to us via social media @BucksCouncil or 70trees@buckinghamshire.gov.uk. Nominations close on Sunday 1 May 2022. Visit https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/news/70-trees-for-70-years/ for more information.
Buckinghamshire Adult Learning shortlisted for 2022 Family Learning Awards
The Family Learning Team at Buckinghamshire Adult Learning have been shortlisted for this year’s Family Learning Award. The awards show how organisations are using imaginative, innovative and inclusive ways to deliver learning opportunities which help families in their communities. The awards, organised by education charity Campaign for Learning, celebrate learning activities that supported families during lockdown and beyond and supported health and wellbeing. As to be expected, some of the top priorities for organisations were focused around the significant changes to how learning is delivered beyond the pandemic, keeping families connected, boosting mental health and ensuring everyone can access opportunities to learn. The Buckinghamshire Family Learning team developed a full, interactive online course programme during the pandemic for families, while addressing current learning needs as well as those identified or amplified by recent world events. They supported parents to access online learning as well as developing their own digital skills. All information is shared through a Google Classroom so everyone receives the same information and time for reflection. Learners use the Classroom to communicate with each other and support each other following the session. Parents have given excellent feedback on the Family Learning courses, stating that they have helped build their confidence, reduce their social isolation, develop their language skills and realise the importance of play. One parent said: “The courses have given me confidence to explore more play options to encourage my son’s learning. It has also been great to have someone to talk over any worries I have as a parent.” The Early Years are particularly important as they lay the foundations for lifelong learning, behaviour, and health. The Family Learning in the Early Years Award shortlistrecognised organisations that best demonstrated innovative approaches to delivering family learning aimed at families with children aged between 0-5. The shortlisted organisations are: Adult and Community Learning, Warwickshire Buckinghamshire Adult Learning Learning Unlimited The Whitworth Art Gallery
If you are a parent or carer of a child in the county who hasn’t yet discovered our free, online Family Learning courses, then I would encourage you to see what’s on offer by going to: www.adultlearningbc.ac.uk/family-learning
Chiltern Beechwood Special Area of Conservation – CBSAC
CBSAC or Ashridge Estate/Woods as we locally refer to the area of the Chilterns including the Ivinghoe Hills and Wendover Woods. These areas are suffering significant damage as a result of increasing leisure usage. This has become ever more a problem over the past 6 or 7 years and even more so as a result of Covid 19 encouraging outdoor activities.
The Chiltern Beechwoods (Ashridge) are adversely impacted by ramblers, joggers, bikers and visitors. Obviously increased local population will increase the adverse impact so measures are to be taken to mitigate this.
2 500m exclusion zones have been identified by Dacorum’s Local Plan and endorsed by Natural England. Both zones extend into Bucks.These do not impact Cheddington but will impact areas close to Tring. There is a presumption against any net increase of new homes within these 500 metres of the Special Area of Conservation.
Further, 12.6 kilometres and 1.7 kilometres Zones of Influence have been created which extend throughout the Ivinghoe Ward. The Habitats Regulations are clear that development proposals in the zones of influence must not give rise to adverse effects on the integrity of the Special Area of Conservation either alone or in combination with other plans or development proposals. If it is likely, or even where it is uncertain that a significant adverse effect will occur, then measures must be secured to either avoid or mitigate the impact. If it is not possible to avoid or mitigate an adverse impact, then planning permission will be refused. This will cause delays to all applications for additional housing, especially large scale, but should not affect extensions or replacement houses.
Any new application for development in Pitstone will now have to incorporate mitigation measures, clearly that will take time and prove difficult.
Further information can be found on the Buckinghamshire Council and Dacorum Borough Council Web sites, this included maps and FAQs.
Helping to give taxi drivers the keys to success with their English language skills
From September 2022, anyone who renews a taxi licence in Buckinghamshire will need to pass an English language test to ensure all drivers can speak and understand English at an appropriate level. Taxi drivers are in a unique and ideal position to spot and report safeguarding issues by being able to identify when a passenger is being pressured into doing something or is being taken somewhere against their will. Previously, all taxi drivers needed to have a good standard of English, but this was not always assessed in an independent test. Now, the government has introduced new requirements, which mean anyone renewing a licence will need to show that they have a standard of English that enables them to identify potential exploitation to protect children and vulnerable adults. If drivers do not pass the test, they will not be able to renew their licence. In Buckinghamshire, taxi licences are renewed every three years, so those who had a licence issued or renewed three years ago will be the first drivers who need to pass the assessment from September 2022. Drivers who have already passed the test or hold an equivalent qualification do not need to take the test.
Queen’s Award for Enterprise – Buckinghamshire winners announcedSix businesses recognised
The awards are the most prestigious awards for UK business. They are designed to recognise and encourage outstanding achievements in the fields of Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity (through social mobility). The 2022 award winners in Buckinghamshire were successful in two categories: International Trade and Innovation. Five of the six businesses received their award in the International Trade Category which recognises substantial growth in overseas earnings and in commercial success (for their business size and sector) through either outstanding achievement over three years or continuous achievement over six years. Medical Research Network Ltd, Milton Keynes Turville Valley Wines (Rafine Ltd), Haddenham M&M Supplies (UK) PLC, Milton Keynes Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd, High Wycombe G&L Scientific Limited, Marlow In the Innovation category achievements are assessed for: invention, design or production of goods; performance of services; marketing and distribution; or, after-sale support of goods or services, that have realised outstanding commercial success over two years or continuous commercial success over five years. The award has been given to: Dawson Group Plc, Milton Keynes
Buckinghamshire Council becomes the first local authority in the UK to support AWorld
On Earth Day 2022, which took place on Friday 22 April, Buckinghamshire Council will become the first local authority in the UK to support the AWorld app. AWorld is the official platform in support of ActNow, the United Nations campaign for individual action on climate change and sustainability. The AWorld app guides users towards living sustainably. It does this by showing you how much energy or water you can save by making small changes to your daily life and creating new habits – such as putting the washing machine in eco wash mode or unplugging your charger as soon as your phone is fully charged. Download AWorld for free to see the difference small changes can make. Once you’ve logged into the app, you can also join the Bucks Climate Challenge team, so you can be part of the county-wide effort in reducing carbon emissions and living sustainably. Promoting the app is just one of the ways that Buckinghamshire Council is helping everyone to reduce their carbon emissions and lead Bucks to a net zero carbon goal by 2050. The Council is inviting residents to join them on this carbon reduction day to see how much energy they can save by turning things off.
Council Tax rebates being paid to Buckinghamshire residents
Buckinghamshire residents living in homes under Council Tax bands A-D will begin receiving their £150 rebate payments from next week (w/c Mon 2 May). This is part of the national scheme to off-set the rise in energy costs. Some residents who live in homes in Bands E-H who receive certain benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance will also be able to claim money back on their Council Tax under Buckinghamshire Council’s own scheme, which aims to provide extra support for those who need it but who don’t qualify for the national Bands A-D scheme. Buckinghamshire residents who pay Council Tax by Direct Debit, and whose home is in Band A to D or who qualify for the Buckinghamshire Council scheme under Bands E-H, will automatically get the £150 back in their bank account in the next few weeks. If residents pay by another method, they will be contacted directly by letter about how to claim the payment. The Council is also topping up payments under both schemes through its own ‘Helping Hand’ programme, meaning some residents will also be eligible for an extra £25 payment on top of the other payments. Overall, the Council Tax rebates and £25 ‘top ups’ are designed to help as many residents as possible as households face rising fuel and energy prices and increases in other living costs. Bucks Council wanted to go above and beyond the national scheme to offer extra support to Bucks residents, hence designing our own scheme under our ‘Helping Hand’ programme. This means we can offer additional payments to a wider number of residents. BC have taken an approach here in Buckinghamshire to get this money out as quickly as possible, avoiding lengthy application or means testing processes. We want as many people in need as possible to be able to access this cash at a time it’s really needed, hence linking our own scheme to those already in receipt of certain benefits. Overall, it is hoped around half of all Buckinghamshire households will be able to claim payments under these schemes, which I hope will make a difference. I don’t lose sight of how squeezed household bills are at the moment so please reach out and access support if you are worried about money and the cost of living, whether you qualify for these schemes or not. Our Helping Hand programme is there to offer help and support to all residents who need it.
Bin collections across Buckinghamshire will be operating to a revised timetable next week.
With no usual collections on Monday 2 May (Early May Bank Holiday), all usual collections that week will take place one day later than usual. Please check the revised timetable and present any bins by 6:30am on your revised collection day.
As the weather continues to improve, it’s likely that BBQ season will be fast approaching in Buckinghamshire. Remember all foil drinks cans, plastic and glass bottles can be recycled at home. If you use a disposable barbecue, please make sure you’re disposing of it safely and responsibly after use. For helpful hints and tips, please take a look at our online Waste Wizard.
All of Buckinghamshire’s nine household recycling centres will remain open over the Bank Holiday weekend, including Monday 2 May. Before making a trip to the tip, please check the Council’s website for all the latest household recycling centre information.
For more information including how to check your Bank Holiday bin collections and where to find your nearest household recycling centre, go to www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/bank-holiday-bins.
Bin collections across Buckinghamshire will be operating to a revised timetable over the Easter Bank Holiday.
Collections due to take place on Good Friday, 15 April, will move to Saturday 16 April, and with no collections on Easter Monday, 18 April, all collections that week will take place one day later than usual. Please check the revised timetable online and present any bins or containers by 6.30am on the revised collection day.
Residents who might be using the Easter Bank Holiday to get started on some spring cleaning are reminded that on 1 April, Buckinghamshire’s nine household recycling centres moved to their summer opening hours: 9am – 6pm. All sites will also remain open over the Easter bank holiday weekend, including Good Friday and Easter Monday. Please check the website before you travel.
For more information including how to check your Easter bank holiday bin collections, where to find your nearest household recycling centre and top recycling tips for this Easter, visit, www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/bank-holiday-bins
Please also follow @BucksCouncil to keep up-to-date with the latest recycling & waste and bin collection information on Facebook and Twitter.
Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity’s annual Midnight Walk returns to Aylesbury for the final time after a two year hiatus on Saturday 16th July.
Since it began in 2010, the Midnight Walk has seen hundreds of men and women come together and take to the streets of Aylesbury, walking over 50,000 miles and raising over £650,000 for the charity over the years. But this will be the last opportunity to take part in the event.
The charity is hoping its local community will support their Farewell Midnight Walk, with walkers joining them to remember loved ones and support their local hospice as they walk the final miles for one last time.
Walkers can choose from 5 mile or 10 mile circular routes – both starting from Aylesbury College at midnight on Saturday 16th July, with refreshments at pit stops along the way. Each walker will also receive a commemorative Farewell Midnight Walk 2022 T-shirt, as well as a Finisher’s medal and complimentary breakfast at the end of the walk. For more information and to sign up, please visit www.fnhospice.org.uk/midnightwalk or call 01296 429975
Over 2,000 nominations received for Buckinghamshire’s Local Heritage List
More than 2,000 sites and assets have been nominated by local people for inclusion on Buckinghamshire’s Local Heritage List. Using funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Buckinghamshire Council is working to improve the quality and extent of its Local Heritage List. The Local Heritage List seeks to identify locally significant assets and celebrate their contribution to local identity and character. These assets can include historic buildings, archaeological sites, landscape features, historic parks and gardens and more. To date, over 2,000 assets have been nominated for Buckinghamshire’s Local Heritage List, including clock towers, road signs, post boxes, bridges and lamp posts, as well as the usual historic buildings, heritage assets and archaeological sites. The Local Heritage List Project Team is now seeking volunteers to help identify and assess assets important and local to them. If you have an interest in heritage, particularly that of Buckinghamshire, and some spare time on your hands, this could be something for you! For more information on the Local Heritage List or to register your interest in volunteering visit: Home – Buckinghamshire’s Local Heritage List (local-heritage-list.org.uk) or email localheritagelist@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
More Bucks children offered first choice secondary schools places this year Nearly four out of every five pupils in Buckinghamshire have been offered their first choice of secondary school in this year’s allocations. Figures for Buckinghamshire show that 78% of the 6917 children who applied for a school place were given their first-choice preference. This compares to 74% in 2020. A total of 99% of children in Buckinghamshire who applied in this year’s process received an offer of a school place on Tuesday 1 March. The school system we operated in Buckinghamshire can sometimes cause complications but I’m so pleased that we have been able to support the majority of our families in finding the right school for their child, to help them continue their education in the school of their choice. Just over 10% of applicants received their second-choice placement and 4% were offered their third choice. Only a handful of children, (0.0187%) have not yet been allocated a place. The reasons for this include late applications and preferences for schools far outside catchment or not meeting individual schools’ entry requirements. Offers must be accepted by 11.59pm on Monday 14 March. Families who wish to appeal their allocation can do so by following the guidance given on the Council website.
Free grants for energy improvements to homes We are reminding residents of the free Government funding available to help them improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Not only does better energy efficiency have a positive impact on the environment and our collective bid to tackle climate change, it also helps reduce energy bills and at a time when costs are rising rapidly this can only be welcomed. The scheme is run by our partner Warmworks and is available to households on low incomes in both private and rented properties. Please help us promote the scheme in your local communities so residents can benefit. The deadline for applications is fast approaching at the end of this month. warmworks.co.uk/greenhomesgrant
New licensing policy adopted for Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire Council has adopted a new policy that sets out how it will consider applications and issues relating to licensing. Under the Licensing Act 2003, the new Licensing Policy for Buckinghamshire replaces those that were previously being used by the former district councils. The policy sets out how the Council will consider applications for licences for alcohol sales, entertainment provided at large scale or late night events and late night food take-aways. It also explains the Council’s approach to dealing with problems at existing licensed premises. The law requires that the Council produces and publishes this policy at least every five years. Before the policy was approved, the Council consulted with a wide range of people and organisations who might be affected by it, including the police, licence holders, members of the public and residents’ associations. All of the comments received were considered and some changes were made to the final policy as a result. The policy includes elements that reflect how licensing can support the Council’s core aims of strengthening our communities, improving our environment, protecting the vulnerable and increasing prosperity. Applications for permanent licences, and any significant changes to current licences must be advertised at the premises and on the Council’s website. Anyone who might be affected by the proposed activities, or changes, can object if they think that any of the licensing objectives are likely to be undermined. These objectives are: the prevention of public nuisance, public safety, the prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of children from harm. Existing licences can also be reviewed and action taken where activities are causing a problem.
Are you caring for someone else’s child? Buckinghamshire Council is urging residents to get in touch if they are aware of children living apart from close family, as this informal arrangement could be what is known as Private Fostering and if so, by law, the council needs to be informed. Children under 16 (or under 18 if they are disabled) who are living away from their parents or close relatives (such as aunts and uncles, grandparents, siblings or step-parents) for more than 28 days are classed as being in a Private Fostering arrangement. By law, the council must be told of this. Private Fostering arrangements are completely legal and can often be the best solution for the child. There can be lots of reasons why a child doesn’t live at home and their parent has arranged for someone else to care for them. It might be due to illness or instability at home, being sent from overseas for education or healthcare, teenagers living with the family of their boyfriend or girlfriend, or something else. As a council, we simply need to know about the arrangement so we can support everyone involved and ensure the child is safe and well looked after. So, if you think you might be involved in a Private Fostering arrangement, or if you are a professional and know someone who is in such an arrangement, please let us know, it’s the law. Last year, Buckinghamshire Council supported a number of children in a Private Fostering arrangement, but it is believed there are other cases it has not been made aware of. Find out more at: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/private-fostering or call the Connected Persons team 01296 383 962 or email: cypfirstresponse@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.
Buckinghamshire Council to convert first refuse vehicle to electric thanks to government grant Buckinghamshire Council has been awarded more than half a million pounds to upcycle its first refuse collection vehicle to electric. It marks the start of the Council’s programme to convert its fleet to electric, resulting in zero exhaust emissions. The £578,000 funding, which was announced this week, is from the Government’s Air Quality Grant, which helps councils to develop and implement measures to reduce the impact of dirty air on people’s health. The grant will cover the cost of upcycling the first vehicle as well as providing a blueprint for the future conversion programme. The funds will also be used to pay for performance trials, spare parts and specialist equipment for maintaining the vehicle. It all paves the way for more vehicle conversions to follow in the future. The upcycled 10-year-old Dennis Eagle 26 tonne refuse collection vehicle will travel 412 miles a week in the north of Aylesbury, including through three air quality management areas. These are areas which have exceeded the air quality objective for nitrogen dioxide so the use of an electric refuse vehicle in these areas will also promote and contribute towards improving air quality. As a result of using the electric refuse vehicle, over 10 tonnes of greenhouse gas, 69 kg of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and half a kilo of particulate matter emissions will be saved per year. Air pollution is the single biggest environmental risk to public health. As part of the same government funding scheme Buckinghamshire Council has also been awarded a grant to purchase and trial low-cost monitoring sensors which will be part of clean air campaigns throughout the year.
Do you know where your food and drink comes from? Do you know who makes and grows the products you buy? Do you want to shop locally and reduce your food miles? Come along to Tring Farmers’ Market where you can speak to the stallholders and find out exactly how things are produced or grown and where they have come from.
The market takes place twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays at the Market Place in Brook Street, Tring. Except in December when it is on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays. There is easy free 1 hour parking in the Forge Car Park just off the High Street which adjoins The Market Place, but don’t forget to get your ticket. It’s just a short walk down to the market where we have a wide selection of stalls for you to browse. Bread, meat, eggs, plants, cut flowers, charcuterie, juices, British cheese, gifts, home products, second-hand books, cosmetics, candles, cakes, preserves, sauces, the list goes on and on! We often have the Market Mynstralls playing folk music and sometimes even Morris dancing.
All our stallholders come from within a 30 mile radius of Tring and grow, make or produce everything they sell. With some exceptions, for fruit and vegetables, which are bought in, but local when in season and Eco Home products which we think are a vital part to a sustainable way of life that the market promotes. Think about all the food miles you could save!
We also have Fair Trade products and support two local charity stalls. Akeman Street Baptist Church who provides free fair trade hot drinks to everyone, friendly chats and a chance to pick up great Christian literature. They also have fair trade chocolate at bargain prices and beautiful greetings cards! Money raised by them goes to a farm-based charity in Leeds called Caring for Life that care for society’s lost and vulnerable souls.
Our wonderful second-hand charity bookstall raises money for Hector’s House and The Hospice of St Francis. All the books are £1 and donations are welcome too.
Sign up to our fortnightly newsletter on our website www.tringfarmersmarket or follow us on Instagram and Facebook @tringfarmersmarket to keep up to date with all the latest news and events.
This month’s newsletter includes articles on: our THINK WIDE(N) burglary prevention campaign launch of our 40 YEARS, 40 ACTIONS pack Neighbourhood Watch Community Grants Fund International Women’s Day Neighbour of the Year Awards 2021 regional winners You can read about all this and more in our newsletter attached.
Ukrainian Crisis Warning – We have begun to hear about scams using the Ukrainian Crisis to extort or scam money. Please be mindful of this and check the origins of requests to support the crisis. If you come across scams please report them. Visit our REPORTING SCAMS webpage for more information.
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK, Central Support Team Follow us.. ourwatch.org.uk / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn Neighbourhood Watch Network is a charity registered in England & Wales, CIO no: 1173349
Overnight on the 15th of March 2022, 2 BMW vehicles were stolen from 2 separate locations in Pitstone. Both of these vehicles were keyless.
If you saw or heard anything suspicious around that time, or leading up to it, please contact us by either telephoning 101 or filling out an online Webform on the Thames Valley Police website.
If you own a keyless vehicle, please ensure that your key fob is kept in a blocking pouch (Faraday Bag). This stops thieves from being able to get a signal from the key and gaining entry to your vehicle and starting it/driving it away.
Message Sent By Megan Dean (Police,Pcso,Great Brickhill Wing and Ivinghoe, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire)
£100k funding available to address health inequalities in Bucks
JOINT PRESS RELEASE FROM HEART OF BUCKS AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL Charities and community groups across Buckinghamshire can now apply for grant funding for projects that address avoidable and systematic differences in health through the Health Equity Fund. Funded by Buckinghamshire Council, in partnership with Heart of Bucks, the purpose of the Health Equity Fund is to address health inequalities that impact the life expectancy and quality of life for people from ethnic minority groups across Buckinghamshire. Health inequalities can involve differences such as prevalence of health conditions, access to care, and behavioural risks to health. Some of the ways in which these inequalities can impact on health are evident from national data published by the NHS Race and Health Observatory, including: In the UK, Black women are four times more likely than white women to die in pregnancy or childbirth In the UK, African-Caribbean men are up to three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men of the same age In the UK, Black and Ethnic Minority groups have up to 2x the mortality risk from Covid-19 compared to people from a White British background Grants of up to £15,000 are available for projects that address inequalities in physical and/or mental health for any age group. Examples include improving advice and guidance, education and awareness raising, and advocacy support. Projects must be designed and delivered primarily for ethnic minority groups. For more information on the Health Equity Fund, please click here: heartofbucks.org/health-equity-fund-addressing-ethnic-health-inequalities
Could you Be the Change for a child waiting to be adopted this year?
Buckinghamshire Council is asking residents who may be thinking about adoption whether this could be the time they make the decision to Be the Change in a child’s life. At any one time, Buckinghamshire has more than 25 children waiting to be adopted. Unfortunately, some children wait longer than others to be adopted. We are especially looking for adopters for: Older children (aged 5 and over) Children with more complex needs Brothers and sisters Children from Black & Minority Ethnic backgrounds For those thinking about adoption, finding out more about the process and your suitability couldn’t be easier. Buckinghamshire’s unique Adoption Readiness Checker gives practical advice and creates a personalised plan to prepare people to take the next step in their adoption journey. For people who are considering adoption but are unsure of where to start, the checker acts as a quick way to learn more about the process, find out how they can prepare, and provides links to practical next steps. We need adopters for many of the children currently in our care, but we have a particular need for those who can enrich the cultural and ethnic heritage of the children they care for and support them as they grow Anyone who has thought about adopting in the past but hasn’t yet put their thoughts into action, get in touch with us today. Find out more about the children who are looking for homes and how the process works. Just by picking up the phone or logging onto our website you are already making a change that could transform a child’s life. For more information on adoption visit our website: https://adoption.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/
More Bucks homes to benefit from funding to improve energy efficiency
Even more less well-off households in Buckinghamshire are set to benefit from new funding to make their homes more energy efficient following a successful, joint bid for central government funding. With rising fuel costs and the country braced for an announcement on an increase to the cap on energy prices later this month, the news will be welcomed by hundreds of households in Buckinghamshire, many of whom are at risk of being pushed into fuel poverty as a result of the increases. The BEIS (Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy) Sustainable Warmth competition which ran last year invited bids from local authorities for a share of the available funding. Buckinghamshire Council joined forces with other regional authorities under the umbrella of the Greater South East Energy Hub (GSEEH). The funding allocation has just been announced and Buckinghamshire has received £4.9m to support local households. The new funding brings together two schemes to help local authorities tackle fuel poverty on a local level. The grants are generally used to install energy saving upgrades and low carbon heating in households on low incomes. Adding in the new funding, since October 2020, Buckinghamshire Council has received £7.3m to help improve poorly insulated homes in the county. Eligible home-owners can find out more about how to access the funding via the GSEEH website. The scheme will benefit both home-owners and those who rent privately. The new grant funding will potentially help more than 400 households in the county and includes properties that are ‘off grid’, currently using an alternative energy supply such as oil. For owner occupiers, the work will be carried out for free. However, for rental properties (whether private or social), the landlord will be expected to pay at least one third of the cost towards the work. For more information on the funding visit the GSEEH website. Anyone worried about their energy bills can access free advice and information via the Big Energy Saving campaign being run jointly by Citizen’s Advice and the Energy Saving Trust. It includes ideas on how to save energy at home: Energy advice for your home – Energy Saving Trust and advice on what to do if your energy supplier goes bust: Your energy supplier has gone bust – Citizens Advice
Buckinghamshire Council announces fresh support for local businesses
Local businesses who’ve been adversely affected by the impact of the Omicron variant can apply for a new grant from the council to help them get their business back on track. Lots of local businesses suffered a downturn at the end of last year because of the impact of Omicron on trade. The government has given local councils funds so they can issue grants to eligible businesses in the hospitality, leisure, transportation and events sectors. The funding available falls into two categories: Hospitality and leisure grant – up to £6,000 available to eligible businesses depending on the rateable value of their property Additional Restrictions Grant Booster (ARG Booster) – grants of £1,500 for eligible businesses in hospitality, events and transportation who do not qualify for the hospitality and leisure grant. Due to limited funding allocation, ARG Booster grants will be paid on a first come, first served basis until all funding is allocated. Businesses should apply online: Business grants and schemes | Buckinghamshire Council Applications for the ARG booster will be open for around a month, but as they will close as soon as the funding is used up, businesses are advised not to delay their application, which they can make from today (Monday 24 January). The two grants are part of package of support for businesses announced by the Government at the end of last year. This includes some business rates relief which is also currently available for eligible firms. Please check our website for the full details.
Nominate your Bucks Batonbearers
Inspirational and active local community members are being sought to take part in a special relay to mark the run up to this year’s Commonwealth Games. The 2022 Commonwealth Games will take place in Birmingham, starting on 28 July. As part of the build-up, The Queen’s 16th Baton Relay is taking place with a commemorative baton travelling to all 72 Commonwealth nations across the globe in a 294 day relay. The baton, which contains a special message to the Commonwealth, written by Her Majesty The Queen, started its journey in October 2021. It will arrive in the UK in the summer and nominations are now being sought for batonbearers to carry it on a tour of England before the start of the Commonwealth Games at the end of July. The Take It On campaign is seeking to find 2,022 batonbearers, each with their own inspiring stories to take on the special experience of carrying the Queen’s Baton as it makes its journey across the country. People are being asked to nominate those who they think should be given the chance to take on this once in a lifetime opportunity. Bearers should be over 12 years old and meet one or more of the following criteria: Always willing to take on a challenge and has a unique and inspiring story Has made a meaningful contribution to sport, education, the arts, culture, or charity Is a figure of inspiration that positively challenges others to achieve their best Has taken on a challenge or cause and made a positive impact within their community Nominations are made online through the official website: Batonbearer Nominations | Birmingham 2022. The form is simple to complete but the window to nominate is fairly short. Nominations close on Tuesday 22 Feb 2022. For more information visit: Queen’s Baton Relay | Birmingham 2022
Funding available for local organisations who can give children a fun and activity packed Easter
Are you an organisation, business or local group that could provide interesting activities and a healthy meal for school-aged children during the Easter break? If so, Buckinghamshire Council wants to hear from you today! Through the government’s Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme, the Council is making grant funding available to work with local providers to help deliver a range of free holiday activity clubs for children in Reception to Year 11 who receive benefits related free school meals. The children who access these holiday clubs are those who might not otherwise be able to get a healthy meal or participate in activities during the school holidays. It’s up to you what activities you apply to provide, as long as they are activities that children and young people would find interesting to try and that would encourage them to develop a new skill or future hobby – or would just be fun to do. Potential activities to consider include: Drama and dance Sports and multi-sports Gaming and e-sports Photography Cooking or Easter baking Day trips to the cinema, bowling or other indoor leisure venues Fitness and wellbeing All activities must last a minimum of four hours and new ideas and suggestions are always welcome! Organisations that could provide these holiday activities can apply for a grant from Buckinghamshire Council, to help them do so. Groups that could apply might be community and voluntary organisations, creative and performing arts providers, sports coaches, schools and others. If you can help put on a brilliant range of activities and healthy hot meals for eligible children over the Easter break then we’d like to hear from you!
Bucks drivers warned about law changes for using mobile phones behind the wheel
Motorists in Buckinghamshire are being reminded not to use their mobile phone when behind the wheel, even when stationary. New legislation comes into force within the next few months and Travel Safe Bucks, the council’s road safety initiative is promoting the change in plenty of time, so drivers don’t get caught out. It is already against the law to use a hand-held device to send a text or make a call while driving unless you’re in an emergency. However, laws are now going to go even further to ban drivers from using their phones, for taking photos and videos, playing games and scrolling through playlists. Anyone caught using a hand-held device while driving for any of these reasons will face a £200 fixed penalty notice and six points on their licence. The change in legislation comes after a public consultation found that 81% of people supported proposals to strengthen the law and make it easier for culprits to be prosecuted. In addition to the strengthening of the laws around mobile phones, The Highway Code will also become more precise about the fact that it is also illegal to use a phone whilst stationary in traffic or stopped at traffic lights, as being stationary in a car counts as ‘driving’. Cabinet Member for Transport, Steven Broadbent, said: “Using a mobile phone whilst driving is an incredibly dangerous thing to do and puts so many people at risk. People think that if they’re stopped in traffic, it’s okay to send a quick text, but that’s not the case – you can still be prosecuted.” Research has shown that using your mobile phone whilst driving means you’re four times more likely to crash. Drivers distracted by their phone also have trouble staying in their own lane and managing their speed. To find out more about the new legislation, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/any-use-of-hand-held-mobile-phone-while-driving-to-become-illegal
Grants now available to all Bucks businesses affected by Omicron
Businesses in Buckinghamshire are being urged to take advantage of limited time funding to help them bounce back from the impact of December’s Plan B (Omicron) restrictions. Central Government allocated local authorities a “Boost” to the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) funding specifically to support businesses impacted by the December 2021 Omicron wave and Plan B restrictions. Initially this support was only on offer to certain sectors in Bucks, but from this week it is offered to any local business that meets the eligibility criteria. When the ARG Booster funding was distributed, the amount allocated to our area was limited and so to ensure the best use, we restricted applications to those businesses we believed to be most seriously affected by the impact of the Omicron variant. Since the number of applications we have received for this funding has been lower than expected, we have now opened up our criteria so that businesses from all sectors can now apply. The deadline for applications is midnight on 23 February. For more information on how to apply visit our website. Successful applicants will receive £1,500 per business. Hospitality and leisure businesses that pay business rates are still encouraged to apply for funding from the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG) instead of the ARG booster. OHLG is specifically for leisure and hospitality businesses and pays larger amounts of up to £6,000. Apply online.
Working together to tackle fly-tipping in Bucks
Buckinghamshire Council has joined forces with a local housing association to combat fly-tipping and support residents in disposing of their waste responsibly. For the past seven months, the council has been working with Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust in dealing with a number of small-scale fly-tipping incidents in our local area. In the first incident, rubbish piled behind bins in Hampden Gardens was examined by the council’s fly-tipping team. Letters and other documents within the rubbish led the team back to one a local resident who was issued with a fixed penalty notice. The second incident took place in Jenner Road, Aylesbury when a resident left an old bed by a garage block. They said they were told it would be taken away by a friend but it never was. The owner of the bed was also issued with a fixed penalty notice and given advice on how to safely dispose of similar items in the future. In the final case, a teenager was caught dumping a cabinet by some bins. When questioned he said his parents had asked him to put it there. The couple were sent a warning letter and also given information about the correct way to get rid of unwanted furniture. The Council will continue to work with the Trust to ensure that the ‘scrap fly-tipping’ message reaches more tenants and people in the local area. This will include installing new signage and providing information on council waste disposal services and also how to report fly-tipping incidents. https://www.recycleforbuckinghamshire.co.uk/scrap-fly-tipping/
Over 2,000 nominations received for Buckinghamshire’s Local Heritage List
More than 2,000 sites and assets have been nominated by local people for inclusion on Buckinghamshire’s Local Heritage List. Using funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Buckinghamshire Council is working to improve the quality and extent of its Local Heritage List. The Local Heritage List seeks to identify locally significant assets and celebrate their contribution to local identity and character. These assets can include historic buildings, archaeological sites, landscape features, historic parks and gardens and more. To date, over 2,000 assets have been nominated for Buckinghamshire’s Local Heritage List, including clock towers, road signs, post boxes, bridges and lamp posts, as well as the usual historic buildings, heritage assets and archaeological sites. The Local Heritage List Project Team is now seeking volunteers to help identify and assess assets important and local to them. If you have an interest in heritage, particularly that of Buckinghamshire, and some spare time on your hands, this could be something for you! For more information on the Local Heritage List or to register your interest in volunteering visit: Home – Buckinghamshire’s Local Heritage List (local-heritage-list.org.uk) or email localheritagelist@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
Ofsted Inspection Outcome – Buckinghamshire Council Children’s Social Care
Between 29 November and 17 December 2021, Ofsted conducted their re-inspection of services for children in need of help and protection, children looked after, and care leavers. The report published 11 February 2022, says that Children’s Services in Buckinghamshire are no longer inadequate, but still require further improvements to be good. As part of the inspection, inspectors evaluated: overall effectiveness of the service the experiences and progress of children in need of help and protection the experiences and progress of children in care and care leavers the impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families Inspectors looked at approximately 350 children’s cases and reviewed over 300 documents and supporting evidence. They met with staff, partners, children and young people, care leavers, parents and carers, adopters and foster carers. Cabinet Member for Buckinghamshire Children’s Services, Councillor Anita Cranmer said: “We are pleased to hear that the majority of our children in care feel settled and safe where they live. We have made considerable progress in our approach to children at immediate risk of serious harm and prompt action is taken to protect them. Our most vulnerable children/new-born babies are safely protected from future harm, either through care proceedings or through rigorous child protection plans.”
Buckinghamshire Council Cabinet makes budget recommendations Next year’s spending plans and council tax proposals have been considered by Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet today as part of the overall process to set the 2022/23 budget. The Buckinghamshire Council budget for 2022/23 has been set amidst a turbulent time for public sector finances, with many competing pressures such as higher inflation rates and the significant costs of providing social care. However, Buckinghamshire Council is in a better position than many local authorities; we are able to balance our books and commit spending to key priorities that our residents have told us matter most to them. Social care costs are projected to rise by around 5% next year, meaning that overall the Council is budgeting for nearly £300 million in total social care spending during 2022/23. This huge sum means we can go on providing critical services for the residents that need them most but we need to raise council tax to help cover this cost. Last year councils were advised they could raise the adult social care precept by a full 3 % to cover the costs of adult social care. However, we chose to defer some of that rise until this year, to spread the burden for our residents over a longer time. It means that this year we’re proposing a 2% rise in Council Tax to cover the increase in adult social care costs. In addition, we are proposing an inflation increase in our general service costs of 1.99%. This compares to inflation of over 5%. This general inflation increase, combined with the special increase to cover the increased costs of social care gives an overall proposed rise of 3.99%, or £1.23 per week for the average Band D property. This proposal is part of the overall budget plans that have been scrutinised in recent weeks and which have now been recommended by Cabinet, ahead of final consideration by Full Council on Wednesday 23 February. The budget was set following consultation with residents who told the Council which areas they wanted to see prioritised. It means the balanced budget proposal includes plans to spend money on key projects such as: Continuing to spend over £100 million on improvements to roads and pavements Tackling the climate crisis including planting more than half a million new trees in Buckinghamshire, one for every resident Investing nearly £25 million in waste services, including vehicle upgrades and a new household recycling centre in the north of the county Cleaning every one of the 85,000 gullies in the county again this year Continued additional funding for litter clearance Adding to the funds available for rolling out high-speed broadband into additional areas Maintaining the Street Warden scheme in High Wycombe Council Tax now makes up 82% of how we fund these services and given costs such as Adult Social Care are going up by as much as 5%, we simply don’t have a choice. We are doing what we can to keep this to a minimum and are implementing the additional 1% Adult Social Care precept that was deferred from last year. We also know that residents in Bands A-D will also get a Council Tax rebate of £150 as announced by Government recently, so this will reduce the cost for many households in Buckinghamshire. Our budget is formed on behalf of our residents so we must include spend on projects they tell us they want. So overall, I am proud we are in a position to produce a balanced budget that still includes significant spending on improving our roads and infrastructure, improving our environment, and carrying on making Buckinghamshire the best place to live, raise a family, work and do business.
Now is the time to start planning your Jubilee celebrations Buckinghamshire communities are being encouraged to get planning their celebrations to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee later this year. The official public holiday to mark the historic occasion of The Queen’s 70 years on the throne, falls from 2 to 5 June 2022. The four-day bank holiday weekend is the perfect time for local communities to plan their own celebrations. From street parties to special lunches and beacon lighting to bespoke events there are many ways for communities to get involved. o support those who may want to hold a street party the Council is waiving the fee for temporary road closures, but it is important that people apply in plenty of time before the deadline of 6 May. See this webpage to find out more. On 2 June hundreds of beacons will be lit up and down the county to mark the Jubilee. Local communities can register to light a beacon. For more information, visit the official website. In Buckinghamshire, the council is supporting The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC), a nationwide planting initiative which invites people to Plant a Tree for the Jubilee. The tree planting season comes to an end in March but starts again in November so people can plan ahead. Leading on from this, the council’s 70 Trees for 70 Years project is asking residents to nominate their favourite tree or woodland to compile into a list of the 70 best-loved trees. For more information on all the projects relating to the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, please visit Buckinghamshire Council’s website.
News release from the Boundary Commission for England The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) invites comments during its secondary public consultation on constituency boundaries, which is open now until 4 April 2022. [Note: This public consultation relates to MPs constituencies and is separate from the councillors ward consultation.] The Commission is undertaking an independent and impartial review of all constituencies in England, to make the number of electors in each constituency roughly the same. The number of constituencies in England will also increase to 543. The 2023 Boundary Review requires substantial changes to the map of constituencies across England, and the Commission wants members of the public to help shape the boundaries in their area by taking part in a consultation, running 22 February – 4 April. View the initially proposed constituency boundaries for your area and provide views on them by visiting the consultation website bcereviews.org.uk. Responses can also be sent in by letter, email or provided in person at a public hearing. The Commission will hold 32 public hearings across the country throughout the consultation period, allowing members of the public to have their say in person about the proposed changes in their area. Book a 10 minute slot to speak at a hearing in your region on the Boundary Commission website: bit.ly/bcepublichearings. A video of each hearing will be available to watch on the Boundary Commission for England’s YouTube channel shortly after it has taken place. The Commission received over 34,000 responses from the public during its first consultation last year. These comments are now available to view by area, along with the initial proposals for constituencies, on the consultation website. Secretary to the Boundary Commission for England, Tim Bowden, said: “The 2023 Boundary Review will rebalance the number of electors represented by each MP. It’s important that the constituencies we shape reflect your local community as best as possible. We received over 34,000 responses during our first consultation last year which are available online for the public to read and comment on. We’re inviting more people to have their say in our current secondary consultation, which is open now until 4 April. Help us to get our proposals right for your area by telling us your views via bcereviews.org.uk, or at a public hearing in your region. We’re looking forward to hearing your feedback, and we take every response into account during our review of constituency boundaries.”
Just days to go before Buckinghamshire Council hosts its first ever Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair! The first ever Buckinghamshire Council Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair is taking place this Saturday (5 March) at The Elgiva Theatre in Chesham, with almost 1,000 attendees registered so far. The county-wide event will be a chance for businesses and organisations to showcase their career opportunities to those looking for an apprenticeship or job, as well as those who are looking to reskill or explore new horizons. Attendees will be able to meet and talk with 36 exhibitors, including: Aldi, BBC, Buckinghamshire Council, Greggs, Morgan Sindall Group, National Grid, Ocado, Papa Johns, Pinewood Studios, Thames Valley Police and The Army. The dozens of available apprenticeships and jobs include: Chefs Communications Engineers Lifeguards Port Operators Production Assistants Retail Supervisors Gareth Williams, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration, said: “Our first ever Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair will help match employers with local candidates and will help our residents kickstart their career or get back into work after an extended break. “I’m very pleased to see that we have 36 employers attending and almost 1,000 residents who have already registered to visit the fair. Although we have limited availability left in the morning, there are still some afternoon time slots available, so please secure your place by going to Eventbrite.” Joseph Baum, Buckinghamshire Councillor for Chess Valley, commented: “Nothing is more important than ensuring that our residents have access to opportunities to enable them to get on in life. The high level of interest that we have seen in this Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair shows just how exciting this event is for local people – it is a great chance to meet some of the UK’s biggest employers and I look forward to being there.” Ellena Stojanovic from the BBC’s Early Careers Team, commented: “I am looking forward to meeting candidates who might be interested in apprenticeships for our behind-the-camera roles in technology, production and journalism.” The fair – which coincides with National Careers Week – has been organised by Buckinghamshire Council with support from Chesham Town Council and Chesham & Villages Community Board. Additional partners for the fair include Buckinghamshire Business First, Buckinghamshire College Group, Buckinghamshire New University, the Department for Work and Pensions, Oasis Partnership, Chiltern Chamber of Commerce, Screen Skills, All Spring Media and Buckinghamshire Skills Hub. Buckinghamshire Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair will run from 10am-3pm on Saturday 5 March. If you are interested in attending the free event, book your place now by going to Eventbrite.
Please find below the latest crime information for Pitstone, supplied by Thames Valley Police.
Crime Figures
Between 20/01/2022 and 23/02/2022, there were 15 incidents reported to the police for Pitstone, 5 of which were of note and are as follows:
Suspicious male seen on a bicycle in Rushendon Furlong. Enquiries made but we were unable to identify.
ASB reported at the Pavillion – The team will continue to monitor the area and provide a presence.
Reports of a group who set fire to some rubbish near to the play equipment at the Memorial Hall. This area is on our patrol plan and we will continue to monitor the area.
Report of a suspicious van in Cheddington Road.
A male offering to cut trees down at properties on Windsor Road – our caller believed that they were trying to take advantage of an elderly neighbour.
We would like to take this opportunity to offer some Crime Prevention Advice, as we are approaching the Spring months and this is where we see an increase in certain crimes.
Spring Time Burglaries – This is the time of year where we naturally start to open our windows and doors more often. Please ensure that you remember to secure them if you leave your property. We also start doing more activities in the garden, so please ensure that you secure any sheds or outbuildings after you have been in them.
Is your property well lit during the hours of darkness? Consider sensor security lights which come on when someone is on your property and alert you and any others overlooking your property.
Consider installing CCTV around your property. This acts as a great deterrent.
If you have an alarm, ensure it is set before you leave your home. An alarm box on your property is a visual deterrent for thieves and it will alert you and/or your neighbours if someone enters your property.
Theft From Motor Vehicles – As the weather slightly improves, people naturally go out more. Please remember to remove all valuables from your vehicle, particularly if you are leaving it in a remote location. We always advise to leave any compartments open so if thieves look into your vehicle, they can see there is nothing in there. Always wipe Sat-Nav rings off the window and always ensure your vehicle is locked when left unattended.
If you note anything suspicious, please contact us on either 101 or 999 – whichever is more appropriate. If a crime is in progress you should always dial 999. If it is not an emergency, please contact us on our Non-Emergency number – 101.
Keep Britain Tidy are running the Great British Spring Clean between 25/3 and 10/4/22 to encourage local residents to litter pick. More details can be found via the above link. The website also contains lots of useful information about how to stay safe whilst you are out, especially if you plan to collect litter from near any roads, and has links where you can buy litter picking kit.
Buckinghamshire Council can offer a variety of support to people who officially register for the above (as this ensures that you’ve read and agreed to the safety advice). They can supply black sacks and will come and collect the full bags once you notify them of the location. They can also loan litter pickers and other equipment. Please contact the email address below for more information: streetscene.av@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
The parish council has staff that regularly collect litter from our playgrounds, open space, paths and roadsides. You may therefore like to consider concentrating on less frequently visited areas of open space such as the woodland walk through Castlemead, the local wildlife site or the right of way network etc. These areas are particularly suitable if you plan to litter pick with children or take your dog, so that you are away from the roadside. We don’t recommend that volunteers try to litter pick beside derestricted roads, where extra hi-vis clothing and knowledge of working safely by the highway would be required.
The parish council would also like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere thanks to all the residents that regularly litter pick around the village on a voluntary basis. Your support for our environment is very much appreciated.
Nicholas King Homes (NKH) have now undertaken the planting of the replacement woodland, as specified as part of their planning application conditions imposed by Buckinghamshire Council for the NKH development around the recreation ground (which removed the old plantation).
The new woodland, with greater biodiversity, has been planted across the back of Bell Field (off Marsworth Road).
Please note, that like the previous plantation, this is on private land and there is no permitted public access.
The first Local Voluntary Sector Network – northern Bucks forum for voluntary groups in the area to meet, share ideas and work together to address local needs will take place on Wednesday 16th February/ 6.30-7.30pm.
At the first forum, attendees will hear from the local Community Boards about priorities they have identified, be able to raise issues/ areas of priority that the Community Board should be considering, and discuss how the Boards and voluntary sector could work together better. Going forward, the network will meet several times a year with local voluntary organisations deciding the issues to discuss to bring about change in local communities.
You can register for this Community Impact Bucks event here
More information about the group in general available to download here:
Luton Rising have commenced a consultation into the proposed expansion of Luton Airport to increase passenger numbers to 32 million per year by building a new terminal and making best use of the existing runway.
There is also a consultation event at Pitstone Memorial Hall on Friday 25 February between 13.30 and 21.00 so you can view the proposals in person and speak to their representatives.
Buckinghamshire Council invite your comments on the Ivinghoe Area Freight Zone Traffic Regulation Order (TRO). The purpose of this order is to reduce Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) traffic in the Cheddington, Ivinghoe and Mentmore area. This is the first TRO of its kind in Buckinghamshire and is the result of 3 years of research, monitoring, discussions,, public engagement and detailed planning. The original proposals have been amended to extend the eastern area of the propsed weight restriction zone up to the B440. This amendment was made upon conclusion of a previous consultation where this amendment was heavily suggested in the comments and responses.
To view the amended plan of the proposed weight restriction area, the supporting documents and have your say, please click the link below.
Join us at an Arthritis Action Group to meet other people living with arthritis and share tips and experiences. Groups are friendly and we actively welcome new attendees. We discuss a variety of self-management techniques. Participants will need to contact us directly for the log in instructions for the meeting, and we have produced ‘How To’ guides for those not familiar with using Zoom.
Message from Buckinghamshire Integrated Care Partnership:
People in Buckinghamshire are urged to keep their COVID-19 jab appointment wherever possible after figures revealed a total of 5,251 appointments booked via the National Booking Service (NBS) were missed across the area in the last seven days – more than 750 a day. However, the real figure is likely to be far higher as this does not include missed COVID-19 appointment slots at GP practices across Bucks, which record the data individually.
The ask is for people who cannot make their appointment or need to change it for any reason, do so via the NBS. This allows others to book their slot and helps clinics plan vaccine sessions more efficiently. It comes as dedicated health and care teams continue to do all they can to help ensure every eligible person across the county is offered a booster jab by the New Year. This includes delivering jabs via GP practices and outreach clinics, hospital hubs, pharmacies and mass vaccination centres.
Raj Bajwa, local GP and Chair of Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We have had an incredible response from the public to get their vaccinations ever since we first opened the mass vaccination centres across Buckinghamshire in December 2020. “However, more than 5,250 appointments booked via the National Booking Service at our centres were missed in the last week. These unwanted slots could have been offered to other eligible people if they had been cancelled. Please help others by cancelling your COVID-19 vaccination appointment if you do not plan to attend or if you have had an earlier appointment elsewhere.” Anyone eligible who has not yet taken up the offer of a first, second or booster dose is strongly encouraged to do so as soon as possible to ensure they are as protected as possible from the virus. The offer of a COVID-19 jab is not time-limited so anyone invited can have the vaccine – even if they have previously declined and changed their mind. The Omicron COVID-19 variant remains highly transmissible.
Existing public health measures remain in place including: staying at home if you feel unwell get a test if you experience any COVID-19 symptoms wear a face covering in crowded, enclosed spaces work from home if possible maintain social distancing and regular hand washing take up the offer of the free COVID-19 vaccine
To cancel or move a COVID-19 vaccine appointment booked through National Booking Service, please visit the website or call 119 (open between 7am and 11pm daily). If you need to cancel or move an appointment booked via a pharmacy or your GP practice, please contact them directly.
I must, on behalf of Transport for Buckinghamshire, apologise for the amount of time it is taking to remedy the replacement of the sign post at this location.
The sign/chevron post was planned to be installed on 18th November 2021 however due to urgent works required on the HS2 project the planned installation had to be postponed.
The sign/chevron post is now planned for installation on the 17th January 2022.
Delays possible – Traffic control (two-way signals)
Description: one.network has automatically assigned a category of Mains Renewal to this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Anglian Water.
The December newsletter for Neighbourhood Watch supporters across England and Wales can be read here.
This edition features pieces on our amazing partnerships with Patlock and ERA, the Neighbourhood Watch Community Grants Fund, Neighbour of the Year Awards 2021, the success of Park Hall Area Neighbourhood Watch using WhatsApp, how to make sure we all #ShopKind this season, working towards ending men’s violence against women, and much more.
Best wishes, NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK, Central Support Team Follow us.. ourwatch.org.uk / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn Neighbourhood Watch Network is a charity registered in England & Wales, CIO no: 1173349
Message Sent By Central Support Team (NWN, Neighbourhood Watch Network, England and Wales)
During this time frame, we have had 9 incidents reported to us. Of these 9, 2 were of note and are as follows:
A suspicious vehicle was seen driving slowly in the Yardley Avenue area going up and down all the roads.
Theft of Motor Vehicle in Chequers Close. Enquiries ongoing.
We have had an increase in the thefts of Motorhomes across the area so we are asking residents to be extra vigilant. Please keep an eye out for the following and report to Police accordingly:
Suspicious vehicles being driven around your area – they may be being driven slowly up and down roads.
Suspicious persons who may be looking at properties.
If you see a suspicious vehicle, if it is safe to do so then please get the registration plate, the colour and the make. This is helpful to us as we can then make relevant enquiries.
If you own a Motorhome, please take this opportunity to look at the security of it. Here is some advice we give to owners:
Consider installing CCTV that covers where it is parked.
Remove all valuable items from it.
Have a tracker installed if it does not have one already.
Install a post behind where it is parked so it cannot be moved easily.
Please find attached completed diversionary route for some EMERGENCY WORKS to be undertaken by UK Power Networks in respect of emergency works needing full width of road. Diversion in place.
Description: one.network has automatically assigned a category of Mains Renewal to this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Anglian Water.
Lights, Camera, Action! Buckinghamshire’s new Film Office takes centre stage
Residents could soon be seeing much more of Buckinghamshire on both the big and small screen, as the council is setting up a dedicated film office to help production companies take advantage of the county’s rolling countryside, diverse architecture, picture-perfect villages and edgy, urban landscapes. The brand new Buckinghamshire Film Office is being developed in collaboration with key partners and the film industry, including Buckinghamshire Business First (BBF), Buckinghamshire’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Pinewood Studios and Creative England. The Film Office will support production companies and filming crews with information on Buckinghamshire locations, obtaining permits for filming and production advice and guidance. It aims to maximise the economic and social benefits to the county through increased inward spend, employment opportunities and as a boost to tourism, while also ensuring local residents and businesses continue to benefit from filming in Buckinghamshire and that any disruption from filming is minimised. Recruitment is now underway for a dedicated Film Officer to develop the Film Office including streamlining support to production companies and crews, developing the website to make it easier to find and film at locations and venues and promoting the world-class filming opportunities Buckinghamshire has to offer within both the UK and internationally. Clive Harriss, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to get Buckinghamshire firmly on the map as one of the best places in the country to film – from one-off television dramas to international blockbusters. We are working together with our local partners to create a dynamic, one-stop unit to offer a quality and professional end-to-end service to production companies from around the world, boosting our economy and providing valuable skills development for the county’s workforce.” The project has the support of Pinewood Studios, where international blockbusters have been filmed, including the James Bond films. Supervising Location Manager, Emma Pill, whose credits include 1917, Spectre, Blade Runner 2049 and Cinderella added: “Buckinghamshire includes many great locations to film and a dedicated team with local knowledge will make it even better. This is exciting news for the county and the film industry as a whole. I look forward to working with the Buckinghamshire Film Office in the very near future.” Buckinghamshire locations have featured in a range of films and TV series from the entire Harry Potter film series and Star Wars: Phantom Menace, to Mission: Impossible, Bridgerton and Cinderella. Applications are currently open for the Film Officer role and close on 25 October: Buckinghamshire Film Officer | Buckinghamshire Council Jobs The new Buckinghamshire Film Office website will be up and running shortly.
Trial traffic enforcement cameras to be piloted in Buckinghamshire
Three locations in Buckinghamshire have been chosen for a camera trial to assess the level of traffic violations. From Wednesday 3 November, temporary cameras will be placed in three known areas where multiple complaints from residents and road users have been received over a period of time. The three locations are: Marlow BridgeCastle Street, High WycombeCorporation Street, High Wycombe Marlow Bridge is a historic, listed structure with a three tonne (max gross weight) restriction. Despite clear signage and width restriction measures in place, drivers continue to attempt to cross the bridge, damaging its integral structure. Many vehicles get stuck, so causing the need for repetitive and costly repairs. The two locations in High Wycombe are bus gateways. Problems have existed for a number of years with people driving through the roads which are only meant to be accessed by buses. This causes a threat to safety for pedestrians. Legislation is currently being passed through Government to allow all local authorities in England and Wales to apply for powers to take over the responsibility of enforcing moving traffic offences. These include no stopping in yellow box junctions, no right/left turn for vehicular traffic, no U-turns for vehicular traffic, as well as weight restrictions and many more. Currently such violations are dealt with by the police apart from in London and Cardiff. In the near future, possibly as early as March 2022, all councils will be able to apply to adopt these powers to take on the responsibility of upholding restrictions and issuing fixed penalty notices to those caught contravening the restriction. Steve Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport said: “We are looking to install these temporary cameras to give us a better idea of the number of vehicles currently breaking the rules and causing a danger to others and damage to our roads and highways infrastructure. “We want to make our roads and towns as safe as possible for everyone who uses them. This exercise will help us to better understand the way motorists are using these areas so that we can address particular issues and introduce measures to help improve safety and accessibility for all.” The trial will be for a period of one month.
Covid update from Martin Tete Buckinghamshire Council Leader Whilst most of us have seen life return to something approaching ‘normal’ over the past few months it is important to remember that Covid has not gone way and remains a threat to many in our county. You may have seen in the news that Covid infection rates are rising again nationally. This is also true in Buckinghamshire. Here we now have an infection rate of 699 per 100,000 population. This compares to just 440 a few weeks ago. It is important to stress that infection rates are not the same as serious illness. Infection rates reflect the number of people being tested and also will include many people who do not display any symptoms at all. More than half of Covid infections in Bucks are either school age children or live with school age children. With our national vaccine programme, it is also more likely that anyone catching Covid will not suffer severe effects. Nevertheless, the trend is concerning and we are seeing more cases amongst older aged people who may be more vulnerable to serious illness. This is especially true if they have not been fully vaccinated. The current Covid-19 figures for Buckinghamshire can be found here: https://covid-dashboard.buckinghamshire.gov.uk A concern is that rising Covid cases, when combined with a greater likelihood of catching the winter flu, the need for the NHS to catch up with the large backlog of operations and treatments delayed due to Covid, and higher numbers of people attending Accident and Emergency departments is already putting pressure on our NHS hospitals in Buckinghamshire. None of us want to go back into more restrictions unnecessarily. I am therefore urging all of us to take the basic sensible precautions that will reduce the likelihood of this being necessary. I would strongly encourage you to: Be vaccinated if you’re eligible. This is so important. Have the booster vaccination as soon as you’re eligible. You will be invited by the NHS to book an appointment. Have your winter flu jab if you’re eligible. Wear a face mask on public transport and when asked to by shops and in crowded enclosed spaces. Self-isolate and book a PCR test if you have symptoms. Keep rooms ventilated if you’re meeting with others inside. The council has been working hard with other organisations to help keep Buckinghamshire safe. This has included working with the NHS to set up more local vaccine clinics, sending mobile testing vans into our communities and supporting the vaccine roll out for 12-15 year olds in secondary schools. We have come a long way since the difficult lockdown days earlier this year. Let’s keep working together to keep each other safe.
Support for the vulnerable
Our Helping Hand team are available to help individuals or families in need, those on low incomes and those who are experiencing a financial emergency or crisis. Whether you get in contact by phone or the online form, we will ask you a few questions about your situation so that we can offer the best support or advice. Help with food and food costs – If you are struggling to afford food, our Helping Hand team can make referrals on your behalf to a local food bank. You can also use the Buckinghamshire Online Directory to find organisations in your area who can help you with food. Many of these organisations are providing food and meals during the school holidays. Help with household bills –If you are unable to pay your energy costs and are struggling to keep your home warm, please contact us. We can discuss the options available to you and help you apply for grants from third party organisations. We may also be able to help with any other essential bills. Help with essential items for your home –Please contact us if you need help with essential furniture. We can explore the best support for you. Some external charities can help with essential furniture if you are on a low income: Aylesbury Vineyard Church: The Vineyard work on a referral basis for furniture collections. High Wycombe Central Aid: Help local people who are in need and/or on a low income with basic essential furniture and electricals. Thomas Hickman Charity: Can help people on low incomes with aids for living such as washing machines, carpets, cookers and fridges. Get in touch –let us know if: you are struggling to afford food you cannot keep on top of your bills you are in debt you are struggling to pay for essential goods in your home To request support from the Helping Hand team either use our online form or phone 01296 531151. Our phone lines are open Monday to Thursday 9am to 5:30pm and Friday 9am to 5pm. In an emergency, our out-of-hours team can be contacted on 0800 999 7677.
Food collections In the Chiltern and Wycombe areas we are still collecting food waste as general rubbish. This is because of a national shortage of HGV drivers and a small number of Covid-related cases meaning crews have had to self-isolate in line with government guidelines. This is just an interim measure and means that residents in Chiltern and Wycombe should dispose of their food waste together with their general rubbish (in the black bin). Brown food caddies will still be emptied if presented on general rubbish week only, but this waste will not be recycled during this time. General rubbish will still be collected every two weeks. Collections in the rest of the county are unaffected. We will let you know when the situation changes.
Mental health support The free Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire 24/7 mental health helpline for adults and young people has supported more than 2,000 people since the start of the pandemic. Contact the helpline anytime if you are worried about your mental health or that of a loved one via 111 online or by phone.
Lastly, please keep an eye on elderly or frail friends or neighbours as we go into the winter months. Vulnerable people may be afraid or too proud to ask for help but it takes so little to enquire if they are all right or need any assistance.
In Buckinghamshire, self-isolating does not mean you are alone
The latest ONS (Office for National Statistics) research suggests people of working age are least likely to self-isolate for the full 10 days. As cases of Covid-19 are rising, if you are required to self-isolate and you are unable to get help from friends and family, there is a range of support available for you. Practical, social and emotional support is available to those self-isolating. This includes arranging for shopping to be delivered online, contacting the National Responders Service https://nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/ for practical tasks and wellbeing and using the Medical Delivery Service to have your prescriptions delivered. Please check locally for participating pharmacies or ask your GP surgery. Buckinghamshire also has many local volunteer organisations and charities that can help. You can search for more information in your local area through Bucks Online Directory: https://directory.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/ There is also additional support from Buckinghamshire Council’s Helping Hand service who can provide you with a range of support including emergency access to food and other essential supplies, signposting for financial difficulties such as paying for fuel and other bills and access to mental wellbeing services.
If you’re required to self-isolate in line with the latest guidance, please play your part. Follow the advice from NHS Test and Trace to keep your family, friends, neighbours and others safe. It’s a legal requirement to self-isolate if you are told to by NHS Test and Trace and not following the rules could result in a fine.
Community boards explore the realities of living with dementia
What is it really like to live with dementia? Three of Buckinghamshire’s community boards have been finding out as they took part in a series of special events last week. Dementia affects more than 850,000 people in the UK. One in 14 people over 65 have dementia and 1 in 6 people over 80 have the condition. There are also over 42,000 people under the age of 65 who are living with dementia. There is currently no cure but with the right level of support and treatment many people continue to live active and fulfilled lives for many years. One of the best ways to help someone with dementia is to gain a greater understanding of how the condition affects them and that is where the Interactive Dementia Awareness Experience to be provided by funding from the Ivinghoe and Wing Community Board comes in. This project is to be rolled out in in the Ivinghoe ward in the near future, whatch this space !. The activity offers an interactive, virtual experience of what it is like to live with dementia and gives people the opportunity to gain a first-hand insight into how the condition affects individuals. The mobile unit is unique in the way it works and is scientifically and medically proven to give a person with a healthy brain, the chance to experience what having dementia really feels like. Steve Bowles, Cabinet Member for Communities said: “Dementia is a condition that sadly affects a large number of people, even the relatively young. These events hosted by three of our community boards reflect their commitment to supporting those living with dementia in their local communities. “Our community boards work closely with local people and groups to find out what issues are important to them and then work together to make improvements.” Buckinghamshire has 16 local community boards, set up to work in partnership with local people and organisations. The boards aim to work with communities to listen and take action on matters of importance to local people. For more information visit our website: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/community-boards
Nominations are open for this year’s Proud of Bucks Awards!
Nominations are now open for Buckinghamshire Council’s Proud of Bucks Community Awards 2021 – generously sponsored by The Clare Foundation. The awards aim to recognise and applaud outstanding community contribution carried out by local individuals, groups and organisations. They celebrate Buckinghamshire’s communities that have made a positive impact in their local areas. This year, each of Buckinghamshire’s 16 Community Boards will be celebrating local people in three award categories. Members of the public are invited to send in their nominations for those who they feel deserve recognition and praise. The three award categories are: Buckinghamshire Community Award Best Adult Contribution – For an individual (aged over 21) who has contributed to their local community during 2021 by improving lives for others or improving their local environment. Buckinghamshire Community Award Best Young Person Contribution – For young people (aged under 21) who have had a positive impact on the local community or peers through community engagement or activism. Buckinghamshire Community Award Best Community Group Contribution – Recognises and celebrates a group in the community board area who has made a clear and positive impact on the community during 2021. Nominate someone today using the Proud of Bucks Awards online nomination form. You can also download a Proud of Bucks Awards nomination form and return by email to awards@buckinghamshire.gov.uk, or pick up and drop off your nomination form at one of Buckinghamshire’s libraries. Find your local library. The closing date for nominations is Friday 31 December. Nominations will be reviewed by a panel of judges and the winners will be announced early next year. Steve Bowles, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “The Proud of Bucks Awards are a fantastic way to celebrate all those who have gone above and beyond in their local community. By working closely this year with our Community Boards, we can use a more locally driven approach to recognise and praise adults, young people and groups within Buckinghamshire’s amazing communities. “Whether you have directly benefited from an initiative in your local area or you know someone who has wowed you with their efforts, enthusiasm and innovation, we want to hear from you!” Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council, added: “Last year the awards focused on the community contribution in response to the pandemic. This year we’re broadening the nominations to shine a light on anyone who has contributed to or has had a positive impact in their local area, and we know there’s plenty of deserving winners in Buckinghamshire.” The Clare Foundation is delighted to be sponsoring the Proud of Bucks Awards for the second year running. Mike Clare, Founder and Chairman said: “We are really pleased to be able to congratulate those who have gone above and beyond helping those in need in their local community. We look forward to hearing all the amazing stories from the individuals and groups who have made an impact.” More information on the awards including how to nominate someone from your local area can be found on Buckinghamshire Council’s Proud of Bucks Awards webpage.
Two successful business bids for Bucks
Two projects within Buckinghamshire have been successful in achieving funding through the Government’s Community Renewal Fund, part of a £200 million boost to help level up communities across the UK. The fund aims to support people and communities to pilot programmes and new approaches and will invest in skills, community and place, local business, and supporting people into employment. The two successful Buckinghamshire-based projects are: Buckinghamshire Business First – £728,250 for the Build Back Better Tourism and Hospitality sector in Buckinghamshire (3BTHB). This is for a range of support work-packages to the Visitor Economy businesses. These work packages aim to support organisational resilience and decarbonisation in the Tourism and Hospitality sector. Philippa Batting, Managing Director, Buckinghamshire Business First said: “Our Visitor Economy was hit hard during the pandemic and this funding is a fantastic opportunity to help Buckinghamshire’s Tourism and Hospitality sector recover and build resilience for the long term. The project will support businesses and their employees to lower their carbon footprint, encourage green and accessible tourism and invest in the range of digital skills needed to improve their short, medium and longer-term productivity and sustainability.”
£39, 994 for the Neurodiverse Self Advocacy Partnership – to tool up a mentoring into employment programme – this offers a highly specialised tailored programme designed and led by autistic people for autistic people to enhance and develop their employability. The programme proposes to satisfy autistic needs for growth and recognition, reduce social exclusion and remove the disadvantage of disability through a modern digital experience.
Marie Van Herteryck from NSAP said: “We are proud to bring the Tool Up mentoring into employment programme to Buckinghamshire. The programme is developed with the help from leading academics. We start by helping to articulate strengths, set goals and provide 20 weeks of support to achieve them whether it is getting a desired job, an apprenticeship or simply to get ready to start job search. Previous runs of the programme resulted in 32% of participants gaining employment. The Tool Up programme also resulted in higher mentee confidence and a statistically significant improvement in Personal Wellbeing Index quality of life measures of satisfaction with achievement in life, future security, being part of the community, life as a whole and positive autism identity. Mentoring is a goal-oriented relationship where the mentee is in the driving seat based on intrinsic motivation. This is the factor of our success.”
Buckinghamshire Council’s Adoption Readiness Checker has reached 4,000 users. The tool is aimed at people considering adoption who are unsure of where to start. The Adoption Readiness Checker can help anyone to determine if they are in a position to adopt and gives practical advice with a personalised plan to prepare people to take the next step in their journey. Since the site launch in October 2019, over 250 plans have been created with over 4,000 people using the site. Between April 2020 and April 2021, the Council approved 30 people or couples as adopters – many of whom used the Adoption Readiness Tool. Karen, a prospective adopter (name changed for confidentiality reasons), said: “I’d been putting off looking into adoption because I was afraid of finding out I’m not what they’re looking for but I’m so glad this tool exists as it put my mind at rest. I learned loads and the advice is way more practical than anything else I’ve come across. Couldn’t recommend it enough to anyone thinking of adopting.” The tool is continuing to evolve based on feedback from users, with new sections coming soon. An online tool helping to connect Special Guardians and young people to support, is due to launch early next year. Buckinghamshire has approximately 25 children at any one time waiting to be adopted. The Adoption Readiness tool aims to dispel myths about adoption and who can adopt, to enable more people to apply. “We welcome all enquiries, so if you think you could provide a safe and loving home for a child who needs adopting, then please get in touch with our friendly team. You may be able to make a positive difference to a child’s life.” Anyone considering adopting with Buckinghamshire Council can use the Adoption Readiness Checker to see if they are in a position to adopt, and learn more about the process. All enquiries are welcome so if you think you could provide a safe and loving home for a child who needs adopting then please get in touch with the Council’s friendly team. Visit the adoption webpage or get in touch with the team by calling 01494 586 349 or emailing adoption@buckinghamshire.gov.uk to find out more about adopting with Buckinghamshire Council.
Buckinghamshire Council hits 50% mark in its county-wide gully cleaning programme
Buckinghamshire Council’s extensive programme of cleaning highways gullies across the county has now hit the 50% mark. The drainage improvement works are designed to help prevent flooding on our roads and to keep drains and gullies across Buckinghamshire running freely. The council set aside an extra £4 million to fund the works, as part of a wider improvement programme for residents. The council is aiming to clean every single one of Buckinghamshire’s almost 85,000 gullies at least once. Critical gullies, that need cleaning more often to prevent flooding on the roads, will be cleaned more regularly. Maximising the amount of water that can drain off road surfaces will also help to maintain the condition of the roads themselves. As part of the improvement scheme, the council will also be carrying out repairs to drainage systems where there is a known local issue, or where a problem comes to light during the cleaning programme. The teams will also be carrying out comprehensive ditch clearance as part of these works and writing to landowners to remind them of their responsibilities to keep their ditches clear to prevent surface water from their land Flooding from blocked highway drains can blight people’s lives – especially during extreme weather – which is why the gully clearing programme is so essential. It’s designed to protect people and buildings from the impact of flooding on our roads and footways. An additional investment this year to clear every drain and gully whilst repairing those which require fixing. \the aim is to clean as many as possible before the winter rain sets in. More information on Buckinghamshire Council’s road maintenance and repairs can be found at: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-transport/road-maintenance-and-repairs
Hertfordshire Libraries provides the Home Library Service delivering books to some of the most vulnerable and isolated people in the county. Many of our customers regard the service as a “lifeline,” and value the regular collections of books which are tailored to their interests and delivered to them in their own home by a friendly and familiar face.
Approximately three hundred people now receive the Home Library Service made possible with the support of over a hundred DBS checked, trained, and dedicated volunteers.
It is not just the selection and the delivery of books which our customers appreciate, but also the opportunity for important contact and a chat. This is something that customers look forward to and that volunteers find rewarding.
To help develop this service further, Hertfordshire Libraries have launched our Reading Friends scheme. This enables library staff or volunteers to have a telephone call with Home Library Service customers about their favourite books, television programme or any topic of interest. The initial response to these befriending telephone calls has been very positive and demonstrates the importance for this work to expand.
The Home Library Service supports people who are unable to get to the library, for example those who: • have a physical disability which prevents travelling to a library • have a learning disability or mental health condition that makes it difficult to leave home alone • are registered blind (severely sight impaired) • are frail or in poor health which means they can’t get to a library • are a carer looking after someone affected by any of the above, and their caring responsibilities prevent them from getting to the library.
Works description: ***INSTALL NEW 3M LARGE BASE SIGN POST. TRANSFER PRIVATE SERVICE, REMOVE OLD COLUMN. FIT NEW A-TYPE LANTERN, RE-WIRE ETC. FIT NEW 606 TURN LEFT SIGN PLATE, GET INTO LIGHT, NUMBER. INSTALL 2 X 3M SIGN POSTS, CUT TO SIZE ON SITE. FIT CHEVRON SIGN PLATE. RE-INSTATE AREA*** E:494085 N:214195
There has been an increase in Theft From Motor Vehicles in the area in the past couple of days so Thames Valley Police will be holding 2 Tool Marking events at Wing Police Office.
We need your views to help us prioritise council spending
Residents, businesses and organisations in Buckinghamshire are being asked to give their views on how the council should prioritise its spending next year in the annual budget consultation. As the council prepares to set its budget for 2022/23, people are being invited to give their opinion on what services and areas should be given a higher priority and where they think savings could be made. The pandemic has seen local authorities across the country face new and ever-changing challenges. Increased costs across a range of areas, combined with reduced incomes, have only been partly balanced out by grants from central government. As this year has progressed, although the worst of the pandemic is seemingly behind us, many uncertainties still lie ahead. All of this puts extra pressure on budgets and careful decisions need to be made to ensure continued support and services to those most in need. At the same time the council is committed to making substantial savings and efficiencies. A number of council services, including social care for adults and children, are legal requirements, meaning that money for these services is effectively protected and can only be spent for this specific purpose. Other parts of the budget including spending on roads and transport, culture and leisure, street cleaning and parks and open spaces, have more flexibility with the ability for money to be spent where there is the highest priority. Within the council’s Corporate Plan there are four priority areas outlined for the coming year: Strengthening our communities Improving our environment Protecting the vulnerable Increasing prosperity Buckinghamshire Council Leader, Martin Tett explained: “Like any business, we must balance the books. We cannot spend money we haven’t got but we have the ability to prioritise where the money we do have available is spent so we can make decisions on how and where to allocate funds to help improve the quality of life of all Buckinghamshire residents. At the same time I remain determined that we achieve some very challenging financial savings as a result of bringing all of our local councils together. “We really want to hear from local people on what they feel our priorities for the coming year should be. It’s important to think about what’s important to you, your family or business but also to consider the bigger picture and the needs of our wider community. “I would urge everyone to take ten minutes to complete the consultation so we can consider your views and do what we can to act on them.” The budget consultation is open until 14 November. To take part visit our website.
Lights, Camera, Action! Buckinghamshire’s new Film Office takes centre stage
Residents could soon be seeing much more of Buckinghamshire on both the big and small screen, as the council is setting up a dedicated film office to help production companies take advantage of the county’s rolling countryside, diverse architecture, picture-perfect villages and edgy, urban landscapes. The brand new Buckinghamshire Film Office is being developed in collaboration with key partners and the film industry, including Buckinghamshire Business First (BBF), Buckinghamshire’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Pinewood Studios and Creative England. The Film Office will support production companies and filming crews with information on Buckinghamshire locations, obtaining permits for filming and production advice and guidance. It aims to maximise the economic and social benefits to the county through increased inward spend, employment opportunities and as a boost to tourism, while also ensuring local residents and businesses continue to benefit from filming in Buckinghamshire and that any disruption from filming is minimised. Recruitment is now underway for a dedicated Film Officer to develop the Film Office including streamlining support to production companies and crews, developing the website to make it easier to find and film at locations and venues and promoting the world-class filming opportunities Buckinghamshire has to offer within both the UK and internationally. Clive Harriss, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to get Buckinghamshire firmly on the map as one of the best places in the country to film – from one-off television dramas to international blockbusters. We are working together with our local partners to create a dynamic, one-stop unit to offer a quality and professional end-to-end service to production companies from around the world, boosting our economy and providing valuable skills development for the county’s workforce.” The project has the support of Pinewood Studios, where international blockbusters have been filmed, including the James Bond films. Supervising Location Manager, Emma Pill, whose credits include 1917, Spectre, Blade Runner 2049 and Cinderella added: “Buckinghamshire includes many great locations to film and a dedicated team with local knowledge will make it even better. This is exciting news for the county and the film industry as a whole. I look forward to working with the Buckinghamshire Film Office in the very near future.” Buckinghamshire locations have featured in a range of films and TV series from the entire Harry Potter film series and Star Wars: Phantom Menace, to Mission: Impossible, Bridgerton and Cinderella. Applications are currently open for the Film Officer role and close on 25 October: Buckinghamshire Film Officer | Buckinghamshire Council Jobs The new Buckinghamshire Film Office website will be up and running shortly.
Trial traffic enforcement cameras to be piloted in Buckinghamshire
Three locations in Buckinghamshire have been chosen for a camera trial to assess the level of traffic violations. From Wednesday 3 November, temporary cameras will be placed in three known areas where multiple complaints from residents and road users have been received over a period of time. The three locations are: Marlow BridgeCastle Street, High WycombeCorporation Street, High Wycombe Marlow Bridge is a historic, listed structure with a three tonne (max gross weight) restriction. Despite clear signage and width restriction measures in place, drivers continue to attempt to cross the bridge, damaging its integral structure. Many vehicles get stuck, so causing the need for repetitive and costly repairs. The two locations in High Wycombe are bus gateways. Problems have existed for a number of years with people driving through the roads which are only meant to be accessed by buses. This causes a threat to safety for pedestrians. Legislation is currently being passed through Government to allow all local authorities in England and Wales to apply for powers to take over the responsibility of enforcing moving traffic offences. These include no stopping in yellow box junctions, no right/left turn for vehicular traffic, no U-turns for vehicular traffic, as well as weight restrictions and many more. Currently such violations are dealt with by the police apart from in London and Cardiff. In the near future, possibly as early as March 2022, all councils will be able to apply to adopt these powers to take on the responsibility of upholding restrictions and issuing fixed penalty notices to those caught contravening the restriction. Steve Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport said: “We are looking to install these temporary cameras to give us a better idea of the number of vehicles currently breaking the rules and causing a danger to others and damage to our roads and highways infrastructure. “We want to make our roads and towns as safe as possible for everyone who uses them. This exercise will help us to better understand the way motorists are using these areas so that we can address particular issues and introduce measures to help improve safety and accessibility for all.” The trial will be for a period of one month.
Covid update from Martin Tete Buckinghamshire Council Leader Whilst most of us have seen life return to something approaching ‘normal’ over the past few months it is important to remember that Covid has not gone way and remains a threat to many in our county. You may have seen in the news that Covid infection rates are rising again nationally. This is also true in Buckinghamshire. Here we now have an infection rate of 699 per 100,000 population. This compares to just 440 a few weeks ago. It is important to stress that infection rates are not the same as serious illness. Infection rates reflect the number of people being tested and also will include many people who do not display any symptoms at all. More than half of Covid infections in Bucks are either school age children or live with school age children. With our national vaccine programme, it is also more likely that anyone catching Covid will not suffer severe effects. Nevertheless, the trend is concerning and we are seeing more cases amongst older aged people who may be more vulnerable to serious illness. This is especially true if they have not been fully vaccinated. The current Covid-19 figures for Buckinghamshire can be found here: https://covid-dashboard.buckinghamshire.gov.uk A concern is that rising Covid cases, when combined with a greater likelihood of catching the winter flu, the need for the NHS to catch up with the large backlog of operations and treatments delayed due to Covid, and higher numbers of people attending Accident and Emergency departments is already putting pressure on our NHS hospitals in Buckinghamshire. None of us want to go back into more restrictions unnecessarily. I am therefore urging all of us to take the basic sensible precautions that will reduce the likelihood of this being necessary. I would strongly encourage you to: Be vaccinated if you’re eligible. This is so important. Have the booster vaccination as soon as you’re eligible. You will be invited by the NHS to book an appointment. Have your winter flu jab if you’re eligible. Wear a face mask on public transport and when asked to by shops and in crowded enclosed spaces. Self-isolate and book a PCR test if you have symptoms. Keep rooms ventilated if you’re meeting with others inside. The council has been working hard with other organisations to help keep Buckinghamshire safe. This has included working with the NHS to set up more local vaccine clinics, sending mobile testing vans into our communities and supporting the vaccine roll out for 12-15 year olds in secondary schools. We have come a long way since the difficult lockdown days earlier this year. Let’s keep working together to keep each other safe.
Support for the vulnerable
Our Helping Hand team are available to help individuals or families in need, those on low incomes and those who are experiencing a financial emergency or crisis. Whether you get in contact by phone or the online form, we will ask you a few questions about your situation so that we can offer the best support or advice. Help with food and food costs – If you are struggling to afford food, our Helping Hand team can make referrals on your behalf to a local food bank. You can also use the Buckinghamshire Online Directory to find organisations in your area who can help you with food. Many of these organisations are providing food and meals during the school holidays. Help with household bills –If you are unable to pay your energy costs and are struggling to keep your home warm, please contact us. We can discuss the options available to you and help you apply for grants from third party organisations. We may also be able to help with any other essential bills. Help with essential items for your home –Please contact us if you need help with essential furniture. We can explore the best support for you. Some external charities can help with essential furniture if you are on a low income: Aylesbury Vineyard Church: The Vineyard work on a referral basis for furniture collections. High Wycombe Central Aid: Help local people who are in need and/or on a low income with basic essential furniture and electricals. Thomas Hickman Charity: Can help people on low incomes with aids for living such as washing machines, carpets, cookers and fridges. Get in touch –let us know if: you are struggling to afford food you cannot keep on top of your bills you are in debt you are struggling to pay for essential goods in your home To request support from the Helping Hand team either use our online form or phone 01296 531151. Our phone lines are open Monday to Thursday 9am to 5:30pm and Friday 9am to 5pm. In an emergency, our out-of-hours team can be contacted on 0800 999 7677.
Food collections In the Chiltern and Wycombe areas we are still collecting food waste as general rubbish. This is because of a national shortage of HGV drivers and a small number of Covid-related cases meaning crews have had to self-isolate in line with government guidelines. This is just an interim measure and means that residents in Chiltern and Wycombe should dispose of their food waste together with their general rubbish (in the black bin). Brown food caddies will still be emptied if presented on general rubbish week only, but this waste will not be recycled during this time. General rubbish will still be collected every two weeks. Collections in the rest of the county are unaffected. We will let you know when the situation changes.
Mental health support The free Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire 24/7 mental health helpline for adults and young people has supported more than 2,000 people since the start of the pandemic. Contact the helpline anytime if you are worried about your mental health or that of a loved one via 111 online or by phone.
Lastly, please keep an eye on elderly or frail friends or neighbours as we go into the winter months. Vulnerable people may be afraid or too proud to ask for help but it takes so little to enquire if they are all right or need any assistance.
In Buckinghamshire, self-isolating does not mean you are alone
The latest ONS (Office for National Statistics) research suggests people of working age are least likely to self-isolate for the full 10 days. As cases of Covid-19 are rising, if you are required to self-isolate and you are unable to get help from friends and family, there is a range of support available for you. Practical, social and emotional support is available to those self-isolating. This includes arranging for shopping to be delivered online, contacting the National Responders Service https://nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/ for practical tasks and wellbeing and using the Medical Delivery Service to have your prescriptions delivered. Please check locally for participating pharmacies or ask your GP surgery. Buckinghamshire also has many local volunteer organisations and charities that can help. You can search for more information in your local area through Bucks Online Directory: https://directory.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/ There is also additional support from Buckinghamshire Council’s Helping Hand service who can provide you with a range of support including emergency access to food and other essential supplies, signposting for financial difficulties such as paying for fuel and other bills and access to mental wellbeing services.
If you’re required to self-isolate in line with the latest guidance, please play your part. Follow the advice from NHS Test and Trace to keep your family, friends, neighbours and others safe. It’s a legal requirement to self-isolate if you are told to by NHS Test and Trace and not following the rules could result in a fine.
This survey is aimed at finding out people’s community safety concerns. It’s quick and easy to complete, to enable as many people as possible to have their say.
The results of the survey will be combined with an analysis of all crimes that happen in the county to help Safer Bucks set priorities for the year.
Please do take a few minutes to have your say – it will really help Safer Bucks focus its efforts to reduce these issues.
Buckinghamshire Council launches licensing policy consultation
Buckinghamshire Council is seeking views on a new draft licensing Policy, which explains the Council’s approach to making decisions about licences. The Policy is important for businesses such as pubs, shops, restaurants and nightclubs – but also for members of the wider community such as residents, community groups and responsible authorities who may be impacted by, or have an interest in, licensing decisions. The Policy reflects feedback Buckinghamshire Council received in their recent survey with key stakeholders, which included the licensed trade, representatives of Buckinghamshire residents and responsible authorities such as the police and fire service. It also includes items that reflect the Council’s core objectives of strengthening communities, improving the environment, protecting the vulnerable and increasing prosperity. Nick Naylor, Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Regulatory Services, said: “We welcome your views to help shape future policy decisions in this important area. To find out more and to complete the survey, please go to: https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/communities/licensingpolicy2021 “The online survey just takes a few minutes to complete, and responses can be submitted up until Sunday 26 September.
Support for Afghan families – ‘Helping Hand for Afghanistan’ refugee initiative.
Having launched this only two weeks ago, Bucks Council (BC) have now received pledges of over £22,000, including off-line donations. These have come from residents and businesses wanting to support refugees from Afghanistan as they start to arrive in Buckinghamshire. This money will go via the community charity, Heart of Bucks, to help provide new appropriate clothing, domestic equipment and other essentials as we welcome new arrivals into our community. If you would like to donate please do so at:www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/helping-hand
In addition, BC are still asking for offers of other support such as accommodation, translation skills, community support etc. At present we do not need offers of second-hand clothing. You can offer your help or support via the dedicated pages on our website.
BC are still in discussion with the Government to finalise the exact number of families we could welcome. We understand family sizes are large and accommodation is needed where schooling, community support, health services and potentially employment can be best provided. If you know of suitable accommodation that will be available for approximately a year, please contact us using the above link.
We anticipate our first Afghan family arriving shortly. This may or may not receive publicity as we will respect the wishes of the family concerned, particularly if they have relatives still in Afghanistan who may be vulnerable.
Statement on The Fremantle Trust’s residential care home Carey Lodge in Wing
Buckinghamshire Council has initiated a safeguarding enquiry following ongoing concerns around the quality of care and support provided at the residential care home Carey Lodge in Wing by The Fremantle Trust.
A dedicated team of Buckinghamshire Council social care staff is now based in Carey Lodge. This team will speak to all Buckinghamshire residents and their family members to ensure they are fully involved in any decisions that are made with regards to reviewing their support needs and identifying somewhere else to live and receive care.
The Council continues to work with Carey Lodge and The Fremantle Trust to ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents is given the highest priority.
The Council acknowledges this situation is a distressing time for people who live at Carey Lodge and their family. If you or your family member have any concerns that you would like to discuss, please speak to the Council’s Adult Social Care staff based at Carey Lodge.
Funding for local community projects up for grabs
Do you have a great idea for a community initiative that will benefit local people but just needs the funds to get it off the ground?
Have you already got a successful community project that you’d like to expand or develop?
If the answer is yes, then Buckinghamshire’s 16 Community Boards want to hear from you.
Community boards are the local arm of the council. Working at a grassroots level with local people, groups and organisations, their aim is to drive forward the council’s priorities at a local level, tailored to the needs of each individual area.
Since they were set up last July, the boards have made great strides in forging strong relationships with local communities, listening to and engaging with local people to understand what matters most to them and working together with them to deliver projects to benefit their local communities.
Each community board has funds available to support projects that meet the agreed priorities for their area. Community boards set their local priorities and an action plan for how they want to address these with local people, groups and businesses in their area. Everything from support for older people, health and wellbeing, transport and youth initiatives feature as part of their plans to make a difference. The boards are keen to hear from local people about projects and ideas they may have. Of particular focus this year will be initiatives to improve the environment and supporting economic recovery. Community boards are keen to hear from community groups and partners, to work with them on their ideas and projects in these areas. If you have an idea for funding or are just keen to get involved in an action group looking at how to tackle local issues, get in touch with your community board directly – www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/community-boards
Community board projects range from BMX parks for young people to skills to get back out to work, right through to improving roads and community spaces. In their first year Buckinghamshire’s 16 community boards supported a whole range of projects including:
Support to a range of groups providing support to local communities during the pandemic
Environmental projects including wildlife competitions, community clear-ups and planting schemes
Working with students and young people to develop an app to drive up engagement with the younger community
Funding a range of charity projects focused on mental health and wellbeing
Steve Bowles, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities said: “Community boards are here to make a real difference to the people of Buckinghamshire at a truly local level. We are delighted at how well the community boards have established themselves in their local communities over the past year but there is still work to be done. We want to make sure everyone knows about their local community board and how they can get involved. share ideas and work with us to improve where they live.
“Community boards are two-way partnerships between the council and local communities. The essence of our vision is summed up in our simple strapline – Local voices, local choices, local action. By working together with our local communities, we can truly bring change and improvement to your area, directly addressing your concerns and priorities at a local level.”
He continued: “Every community board has a range of ways of keeping in touch with their community including newsletters and social media. You can keep up to date with what’s going on and get involved in matters that you are interested in. We are especially keen to hear from local people on ideas they may have for ways to improve the area where they live. Not every idea will be doable but local residents and groups are the ones who can really tell us what issues need to be addressed and we want to work with them to make changes for the better.”
Innovative wireless electric vehicle charging comes to Bucks
Buckinghamshire Council has become one of the first local authorities in the country to trial a pioneering electric car club with an innovative induction charger, as part of the Council’s commitment to tackling climate change and to adopting modern transport solutions.
The On-Street Residential Induction Charger demonstrator (OSRIC) will make a hire car available to local residents in Marlow so they can test the latest wireless charging technology for electric vehicles (EV) and also gain experience of driving an EV.
Instead of plugging an electric car into a standard charging pillar, the Council is trialling an innovative induction wireless charging pad set into the ground. The trial will help assess solutions to EV charging that avoids potential trip hazards and a clutter of wires. The pad will only be activated when an electric car (installed with the specialised induction pad) parks over it.
Because existing electric cars don’t have wireless charging, an adapted Renault Zoe electric vehicle will be made available for hire using the hire car company HiyaCar, so that residents can try it out and become familiar with how to charge it using the wireless pad. It can also be charged using a standard cable connection if driven away from the wireless pad.
Councillor Steven Broadbent, Buckinghamshire Council Cabinet Member for Transport, said:
“This is a really exciting project and it’s been brilliant to see it in action. Buckinghamshire Council is forward thinking and willing to trial transport innovations such as this.
“The trial will explore the feasibility of wireless charging and will also allow residents who may be hesitant to change to an EV the chance to try one. The car offers hourly or daily rental options so for some people it could be an alternative to owning a car. This technology is still in the early stages but it should all make running an electric vehicle simpler and easier – to ultimately encourage more take up.”
The Marlow demonstrator is funded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles and is part of the government’s commitment to invest £1.3 billion on charging infrastructure for EVs across the country. Buckinghamshire Council is working with Char.gy, the charging point company, and with a team of local authorities, suppliers and researchers to run a set of trials in contrasting locations across Britain.
Richard Stobart, CEO and founder of Char.gy said:
“As the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) increases, the ability to recharge EVs for drivers without off-street parking poses a challenge without increasing the amount of EV charge points potentially hindering pedestrian freedom of movement.
EV wireless charging is a promising way of meeting this demand, and trials such as this for the public to use and provide feedback is invaluable to developing this technology. Char.gy appreciates Buckinghamshire Council’s partnership with this project, helping to ensure that the technology will be easily adopted in the future.’
In Marlow, this initiative is supported locally by the South West Chilterns Community Board. The trial will soon be expanded, taking place at two other sites within Buckinghamshire, along with sites in London Borough of Redbridge and Milton Keynes, which will provide contrasting urban and demographic situations.
For more information about OSRIC, including information about joining the car club, please visit the demonstrator’s website: www.osric.co.uk
Household recycling centres switch to winter hours
Buckinghamshire Council’s nine household recycling centres switch to winter opening hours on Friday 1 October. The new opening hours will be 9amto4pm.
The household recycling centres will open the same days as normal, it’s only the opening hours that are changing due to the number of visits to the centres tailing off after 4pm as the evenings get darker.
Peter Strachan, Cabinet Member for Environment & Climate Change, said:
“The switch to winter hours, 9am to 4pm, happens every year on 1 October as the sites get quieter and the evenings get darker. However, our household recycling centres will continue to offer a comprehensive service for residents within the revised opening hours.
Bring proof of address. Only residents who pay council tax to Buckinghamshire Council can use the sites. (Slough Borough Council residents are able to use Langley and Burnham sites only.)
Come back another time if the site is busy. Long queues can cause traffic and block access to homes and businesses.
If possible, wear a mask or face covering when outside your vehicle.
Further information, including what waste the centres do and don’t accept, can be found on Buckinghamshire Council’s Household recycling centres webpage.
Buckinghamshire Council adopts Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan
The Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan (VALP) completed the last part of the process tonight (15 September) when Buckinghamshire Council voted to adopt the plan which covers the northern part of the new unitary council’s area.
The VALP sets out a long term planning blueprint and vision for the area of the Vale of Aylesbury up to 2033. The local plan sets out how and where land can be used to
meet housing need
provide key infrastructure elements
protect and enhance the area’s key natural features
incorporate climate control policies
provide employment land
Housing
The VALP allocates land for 30,134 new homes. These are mostly concentrated around Aylesbury with other sites at Buckingham, Winslow, Haddenham and adjacent to Milton Keynes. It embeds policies to ensure that 25% of new homes that are built within the area will be affordable homes and that 10-15% will have disabled access.
The plan has gone through rigorous public consultation over a number of years including public hearings held before the independent planning Inspector. The independent Inspector cannot approve a local plan unless it meets current and projected local housing needs and falls within current government guidelines for determining what that local need is.
Infrastructure
The plan also sets out where essential infrastructure such as roads, schools and facilities which will support the new homes will be needed, as well as employment sites.
Nature and heritage
The VALP sets out policies to protect and enhance the natural environment and countryside for the future. It includes a net increase to the Green Belt by 98 hectares. It also embeds policies to protect our built heritage.
Climate change
There are many specific policies relating to climate change – including making sure there is provision for EV charging in every new home.
Work on the VALP started in 2014 and went through three stages of public consultation before it went to a nationally appointed independent Inspector in 2018. There were then two hearing sessions where people who objected to the plan could make their case for changes to the plan directly to the independent Inspector. The Inspector also looked closely at all the evidence sent to him by objectors and the Council before writing his full report. His report is final and cannot be amended.
Councillor Gareth Williams Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration commented: “Now we have completed the Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan process we can use the policies to give us more control and more local say about what gets built where. It gives us power to shape future development in the way we want and where we want it to be.”
The Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan will remain in force until it is superseded by the new Buckinghamshire Local Plan in 2025.
Many of us are quite accustomed to paying cash in hand to have odd jobs done to the house or in the garden – but if you ever need to have rubbish removed, this is the one time you should never pay cash.
Did you know that your rubbish is far more likely to end up fly-tipped if you pay someone cash to remove it? A bona fide waste carrier must pay a commercial tip when they want to dispose of rubbish -an anonymous ‘man with a van’ has a strong financial incentive to avoid the disposal charge – by dumping your rubbish in the countryside.
And there’s a sting in the tail. If we investigate a fly-tipping incident and find evidence that leads us to a householder, we’ll pay them a visit and ask them to provide evidence that they’ve taken reasonable steps to identify the person they hired to remove their rubbish and to ensure that it would be disposed of properly.
If the householder can provide evidence of the identity of the person who took their rubbish away such as details of a bank card payment, the investigation can focus on the fly-tipper. However, if the householder has paid an unidentified individual cash in hand to remove rubbish, we’ll issue them with a £400 fixed penalty notice for failing in their ‘duty of care’. If the incident is serious, this might be escalated to a court summons that could result in a criminal conviction and a hefty fine.
Jilly Jordan, Deputy Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said:
“Fly-tipping is a blight on the Buckinghamshire countryside, and the Council spends over £600,000 a year to clear it from public land – money that could be spent on providing other services to the county’s residents.
“So, if you pay cash in hand to have rubbish removed, you’re making yourself part of the problem.”
If you’re unsure of how to make sure you’re doing the right thing when someone is taking away your rubbish, our S.C.R.A.P. fly-tipping campaign code is a useful tool:
S – Suspect all waste carriers; do not let them take your waste until you’re confident they’re legitimate. A professional waste carrier should happily answer reasonable questions.
R – Refuse any unexpected offers to have your rubbish taken away. If you suspect that someone who approaches you will be disposing of waste illegally, report them to the Environment Agency.
A – Ask what will happen to your rubbish and assure yourself that it is going to be disposed of appropriately.
P – Paperwork must be obtained: a proper invoice, waste transfer note or receipt, including a description of the waste being removed and the waste carriers contact details.
I wanted to bring you up to speed on where we are with the proposed freight strategy and let you know details of the next steps.
As you are probably aware the proposed freight zone went to statutory consultation ending on the 3rd June 2021. Highlights of the consultation and survey are shown here:-
The consultation ran from the 7th May 2021 to 03rd June 2021.
A total of 1,103 responses were received in written form by letter, email and online survey feedback.
993 responses via the online survey.
110 responses via letter or direct email.
Of the 993 online survey responses, 600 were in favour of the proposal.
Many stated that the proposal would improve the environment and traffic in their villages; mainly Ivinghoe and those villages within the proposed zone.
Some responses agreed with the proposal but believed that including the B440 within the zone proposed weight restriction zone would be a better proposal
Of the 110 written responses received, 25 were in favour of the proposal stating improvements to quality of life.
32 responses were unsure on the proposals.
361 online survey responses were against the proposal as presented.
Many suggested that the proposed zone would increase HGV traffic in their area.
The majority agreed with the intention behind the proposal but, disagreed with the area proposed.
The majority of these wanted any proposal taken forward to include the B440 within its restricted area.
85 from the 110 received written responses were against the proposal,
As with the online responses many who objected to the proposal were in favour of a freight exclusion zone that included the B440 as part of the weight restriction zone.
Those against the proposal stated that their villages have had enough HGV traffic and the roads are not suitable for any increase, especially those transporting heavy goods.
The results from the statutory consultation have been summarised in a ‘Key Decision Report’ and presented to the Cabinet Member for Transport to determine how best to move forward with the Freight Strategy for the area. The report recommends that in light of the number of objections received with counter suggestions to include the B440 in the proposals, Buckinghamshire Council should now investigate the possibility of including the route of the B440 between the A505 junction and the roundabout with the B489 in the weight restriction zone.
The Cabinet Member for Transport has accepted the report’s findings and directed that we take steps to give due consideration to the inclusion of the B440 in the freight zone.
As a result of this decision:
The proposal will need to be redrawn and the revised version to go through the statutory consultation process.
Any extension to the proposed weight restriction to include the B440 will need the support of Central Bedfordshire Council.
Communications will be undertaken with Central Bedfordshire Council to ensure full visibility of any plans and consultations
Legal permissions will have to be sort and obtained in order to effectively add the B440 to the zone
Similar consultations will need to take place with Hertfordshire Council, with similar agreements and legal permissions obtained.
The revised proposal will need to be readvertised, legal papers redrawn and signage reviews reappraised and any additional surveys carried out; any additional costs allocated to the project’s budget.
A similar update has already been sent to the affected Buckinghamshire Councillors and to the Wing and Ivinghoe Community Board.
I am acutely aware of the concerns of the communities affected and their desire to see the freight zone introduced at the earliest opportunity. I will continue to strive to deliver this improvement across the area as soon as possible, it is of course important we listen to our communities and do the best we can.
