Pitstone Step-Up Grants have so far helped two young people with their university accommodation fees, one person to continue their skills education by providing help with their bus fare, and another person realise an opportunity to visit Kenya and build a playground for a disadvantaged community. It has been a privilege to work with these individuals and see not just the impact that the grant can have on them, but also the impact the activity has on others that benefit from the actions they are undertaking.
Applications for the next round need to be submitted by the end of November 2024. You will need to attend an interview in support of your application on the evening of Thursday 19 December. You will receive notification of any grant offered by early January. As applications are only considered quarterly, we encourage you to think ahead and apply early !
Pitstone Step–Up Grants are new grants available to Pitstone residents, funded from income from a local charity (Pitstone Parish Charity). They are designed to relieve hardship, need or distress by enabling the long-term transformation of the recipient’s quality of life in some way. This could be through removing barriers to enable an individual to pursue a life-improving opportunity that would otherwise have been unaffordable, or to complete some form of training or upskilling that will demonstrably improve their professional or earning potential, where funding is not available from another source.
To Apply:
Visit the main webpage at https://pitstone.co.uk/localinfo/pitstone-step-up-grants/ for more information on the different grants available, to read our Grant Making Policy and Application Guidelines, and then complete the application form. If you’d like us to deliver a copy of the documents to your home, please call 01296 767261 or email stepupgrants@pitstone.co.uk and we will happily drop them off to you.
Pitstone Parish Council is working with Toy Hub, a local charity who believe that every child should be able to open a gift from their grown-ups on Christmas Day. They also provide gifts for vulnerable or elderly people in the community, and for some recipients, these gifts might be the only ones they receive this Christmas.
There are a number of residents in Pitstone that are being supported by the charity this year, so if you are in a position to help in anyway, please do consider making a donation.
There is a donation point open at St Mary’s Church in Ivinghoe. Please click here for information about the type of things that can be donated (new or like-new gifts for all ages): https://www.toyhub.org/donate
Where Toy Hub do not receive enough donations, the charity will source a suitable gift, so you can also make a financial donation or buy items from their Amazon wish list. See above link. The Parish Council has provided a financial grant to help towards the cost of providing support to our residents.
They also welcome volunteers to help sort, pack and deliver the Christmas magic. If you can get involved, please click here for more information: https://www.toyhub.org/volunteer
Toy Hub work with local schools and foodbanks etc to help identify those that may need assistance. Families can also self refer. Click here for more information on the eligibility criteria and registering with the charity to receive support (applications need to be received by the end of this weekend): https://www.toyhub.org/apply
The installation of the three new bus shelters has been completed and we hope that you find them to be beneficial. Thank you for your patience whilst the works were undertaken.
Once again, our sincere thanks to Safran for sponsoring the cost of the shelter outside their premises. We are most grateful for their support of the community.
Finally a reminder that if you use the bus stop up by Colbree to get ON the bus, as opposed to just getting off the bus at that location, to please email parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or call 01296 767261 so we can gauge demand for an additional shelter at that location and provision within the budget accordingly. Thank you.
Were you travelling by bus today, from the new bus shelter on Westfield Road? This little chap seems to have got separated from his family and we are sure that there is a small person out there somewhere that would love to have their precious toy back.
He’s currently safe, in the warm and dry.
Please get in touch with us on 01296 767261 or email parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk if you are missing him.
We are delighted that the new bus service to Tring Station came into effect on 2 September 2024. Our sincere thanks to everyone that took the time to complete the original Bus to Tring Station survey and to all the employees at Safran who completed the more recent workplace survey about potential bus usage, both of which have helped to provide evidence to Buckinghamshire Council and Red Eagle to support the introduction of the route.
Most of the Number 61 bus services will operate the Tring station route. There are currently a number of buses in both directions each day. The online timetable can be found here https://pitstone.co.uk/newbustimetable and Bucks Council should keep the ones at the bus stops updated.
The service currently being offered by Red Eagle is being used to assess demand. Once they have some data on actual uptake, they will then look to make any definitive timetable changes they feel are necessary. At the moment, Bucks Council and Red Eagle hope that the service will be a permanent change, but if there is insufficient demand or they receive complaints about the new routes / timetables then the times/services may be reviewed. It is possible that they may receive negative feedback from users of the previous route at the diverted times, who now find that their preferred bus is no longer available.
Buckinghamshire Council has also said that they are not promoting the current new service, as the timetable is yet to be refined. To ensure that demand can be accurately assessed, people need to know about it. The Parish Council has put information on the website, Facebook , X and our noticeboards, as well as in this magazine which will reach every home and business in the parish. If you know people that use Tring station that may find the service useful, please do make sure they are aware of it (especially as the car park charges at the station have just increased).
How can you help ensure the service continues?
· Use it! Please use the service as much as possible to ensure that Red Eagle has accurate data from which to assess the level of demand.
· If there are particular timed buses that you find of the most benefit, you’d like to provide some general positive feedback about the new route, or you have suggestions about specific timings to coincide with train times etc please take a moment to email both Passenger Transport at Buckinghamshire Council on email: passtrans@buckinghamshire.gov.uk and Red Eagle on email: enquiries@redeagle.org.uk (please copy parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk) so that they have evidence of how useful everyone finds the service.
· Do pass the information to friends / neighbours / colleagues that may also find the service of interest.
There has been a reluctance from service providers/Bucks over the years to offer this service, as it has been perceived as unsustainable and of negative impact to those on the prior route. So our thanks also go to the current staff at Red Eagle and Buckinghamshire Council who have been willing to work with us this time around to implement the service—but this does mean it’s even more important to show that the revised service is worthwhile.
Please use the new service to prove there is a demand for it and provide feedback to Buckinghamshire Council and Red Eagle to show your support for the service. Thank you.
Bus Shelters for Westfield Road
Another long-awaited project is coming to fruition. Whilst they owned the land over which Westfield Road runs, Taylor Wimpey had denied permission for bus shelters to be erected. Now the land has transferred to Buckinghamshire Council we have finally been granted permission. Bucks have approved the proposals submitted by our preferred supplier for three shelters – two on the residential side and one outside Safran. The works will include minor amendments to the bases where required, removal of the existing poles and inclusion of the timetables & flags within the new shelters.
The Parish Council has sufficient budget to install both shelters on the residential side of the road, accrued over several years. Our sincere thanks to Safran Electrical and Power who have provided the funding for the shelter outside their premises, benefitting both their employees and our parishioners.
The final bus stop on the business park side of the road up by Warwick Road seems to get a lot of people alighting at that point, but fewer people waiting to board a bus there. If you wait for a bus at this stop, we would love to hear from you, so that we can assess the demand for a fourth shelter at this location and therefore enable us to budget towards the associated costs.
Installation works are currently proposed for 28 to 30 October 2024 (one day per stop) between 09.30 and 15.00.
Bin Stickers and Posters to tackleSpeeding in Residential Roads
We continue to receive reports of excessive speeding in some residential roads. We will be distributing anti-speeding wheelie bin stickers (approx. 18” x 12”) to properties in some of the worst affected roads including in Yardley Avenue, Windsor Road, Cheddington Road, Vicarage Road and Marsworth Road. If you live in another road, but would be
interested in receiving some stickers, please email us on parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk so we can gauge the level of interest before placing any additional orders.
We are also hoping to work with Thames Valley Police and local children on a poster campaign that we will be able to utilize on our lamp posts etc. We’ll let you know more details once they are finalized.
Street lighting in Chilterns Edgedevelopment
Croudace, the developer, has now completed the Section 38 highways works enabling the estate highway and path (excluding those areas to be private roads) to be adopted by Buckinghamshire Council, and this also triggers the ability of the Parish Council to adopt the 17 street light columns that are situated within the public highway. The rest, and the bollards, remain the responsibility of Croudace’s management company.
Tun Furlong play space
Bellway are in the process of completing the outstanding remedials in the children’s playground in Tun Furlong, and this will enable the Parish Council to adopt the area inside the playground fencing. All open space areas outside the playground fence will remain with the management company appointed by Bellway.
Both the above initiatives should be completed within the next couple of months.
Thank you to all our volunteers
Approximately 100 residents provide voluntary services to the Parish Council – some help at youth café or sit on the Allotment or Sports & Leisure Committees, some drive for our car scheme, help to deliver the Parish Post or act as street light champions. We’d like to express a huge thank you to each and every one of you. Your help, support and dedication to the village is very much appreciated by both the council and all those that benefit from the services you provide.
The council is particularly looking for more volunteers to help at the Youth Café or to drive residents to their medical appointments (see adverts in this edition of the magazine).
If you don’t currently volunteer but you’d like to give-back to the area in which you live, we have a number of opportunities listed in the volunteer database which can be found here: https://pitstone.co.uk/ppcinfo/vacancies-and-employment/ We look forward to hearing from you. You might even become the next winner of …
Volunteer of the Year
The Parish Council runs the Volunteer of the Year scheme to celebrate the unsung heroes within our community. If you know someone who goes that extra mile and provides an outstanding voluntary service to the residents of Pitstone, please submit your nominations to the Parish Clerk (parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk) so that they can be taken into consideration for the 2025 award.
Vacancies
Our thanks to those people that have expressed an interest in becoming a member of the Parish Council, to serve the remaining term of office until the elections in May 2025. If you’d also like to join us, please do get in touch via parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk.
Thinking of Standing for Election?
If you are interested in standing for election in May, the Local Government Association are hosting a free Democracy in Action workshop in November. It will provide a valuable opportunity to learn about the work and role of local councillors in your community and answer your questions about standing for election. More information can be found here:
Interest in a footpath along the UpperIcknield Way to College Lake
Thank you to the 461 people that responded to the survey to gauge interest in a footpath along the Upper Icknield Way. Most of the responses were in support with some of the main reasons expressed including safety concerns due to the busy road, when both walking and running. There were many comments that a footpath would allow for safe and enjoyable circular walks, access to local amenities, and connections to other footpaths and routes in the area. Many respondents said that a footpath would encourage more walking, reduce the need for driving, and provide safer access to key destinations such as College Lake, the Grand Junction Arms pub, and the garden centre.
Part of the route is within Hertfordshire and part would fall within Buckinghamshire. It is not an easy terrain, with many ditches, items of street furniture, traffic lights, rail safety barriers, private residences and uneven surfaces within the roadside space that any path would need to occupy, to say nothing of a long thin railway bridge. Both councils estimate the cost would exceed £2m.
We’ve provided both councils with the data and asked that they include the route within their Cycling and Walking Infrastructure plans, which would enable them to request contributory funds if there is residential development in local areas and enable them to apply for central government funding if some becomes available. It will be up to Bucks and Herts to assess the route further and determine if they are willing to include the path proposals within those plans.
Conclusion of Audit for the Year Ending 31-3-2024
The Parish Council goes through three levels of audit each year. The first is carried out by members of the council. The second called an ‘Internal Audit’ and is carried out by an independent expert whom the Parish Council appoints. The third level is called the ‘External Audit’ and is carried out by independent experts who are appointed to the Parish Council – in our case PKF Littlejohn LLP. The accounts for the year to 31 March 2024 have now concluded passing through all tiers of audit with no matters of concern raised by either IAC Ltd or PKF Littlejohn. All audit documents are available on our website.
Lithium Batteries
The council was pleased to support the campaign to improve the safety of lithium batteries (used in e-bikes and e-scooters) and their disposal. Lithium battery fires are on the increase – there have been over 1000 in the past few years, nearly 200 injuries and a dozen fatalities. Homes have been destroyed. The cost to the UK runs into £billions.
Lord Foster and Electrical Safety First are promoting a Bill to ensure greater safety in the use and disposal of lithium batteries and are aiming to get it into law as soon as possible. The campaign is supported by the National Fire Chiefs Council, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Royal Society for Public Health. In addition 2 coroners have called for the law to be tightened to ensure greater safety.
Please check the Buckinghamshire Council Waste Wizard for details of where you can safely dispose of any batteries and never put them in your general waste bin, as they can cause fires in the collection lorries.
On a much sadder note:
Gillian Arney
It was with great sadness that we announced that Gillian Arney passed away in September. Gill was a previous long serving Parish Councillor, a much loved and respected colleague. She volunteered with many community groups over the years and was still active with the Friends of St Mary’s Church in Pitstone including the Arts & Crafts Festival, and the Beacon Villages Community Library in Ivinghoe. She has touched the lives of very many of our residents and we are sure that you will join us in sending heartfelt condolences to her family.
Theft of mVAS battery
Along with many other units in other villages and towns across Herts, Beds and Bucks, thieves stole the battery from one of our flashing mobile vehicle activated signs. Both units were then removed from rotation whilst we wait for the current spate of thefts to subside and for the replacement batteries to arrive. The theft was reported to Thames Valley Police. All our equipment is security marked. We are also exploring potential opportunities to increase the security of the units to deter further thefts.
Inconsiderate parking and criminal damage at the Local Wildlife Site
Two signs have been erected on the maintenance access gate to the Local Wildlife Site asking people not to block the access, or to park on the footpath/cyclepath. Disappointingly, someone who would prefer to continue to park inconsiderately removed the first sign, defaced the second sign with black graffiti paint (which we managed to clean) and then removed the second sign (which required power tools). On each occasion this happened within 48 hours of the sign being erected/cleaned. All instances of criminal damage have been reported to Thames Valley Police. Another sign will go up in due course.
We recognise that for many years people parked unofficially around the entrance to the site. However, now that Westfield Road has been adopted by the local highways authority, different standards apply and it is the Parish Council’s duty to implement and oversee these.
It is also recognised that many of the vehicles that park there may not be from Pitstone, so we have continued (and will continue) to put polite advisory notes on vehicles we see parked there, advising that Thames Valley Police now patrol the area and highlighting some of the difficulties these vehicles cause. Whilst some drivers have recognised that there are more appropriate, legal and safe places to park and changed their habits accordingly, there would appear to be a small minority of individuals who think it is acceptable to undertake criminal damage, to verbally abuse our staff, and for local residents to incur extra cost to rectify the damage they cause to the property and the verge.
The new government are currently proposing huge uplifts in the level of residential housing required in Buckinghamshire, which puts all towns and villages that fall outside the existing Neighbourhood Plans at greater risk of speculative housing developments. Bucks Council are strongly opposing the level of uplift.
Finally, looking forward over the next couple of months:
Remembrance Day
We have made plans for the silent soldiers to be re-erected and wreaths to be laid at both the Memorial Hall and St Mary’s Church in Ivinghoe in remembrance of the fallen of the parish.
Christmas
The festive lighting will be returning to the Recreation Ground and Pavilion in December. We wish all our residents seasons greetings and best wishes for a peaceful and healthy 2025.
We continue to receive reports of excessive speeding in some residential roads.
We will be distributing anti-speeding wheelie bin stickers (approx. 18” x 12”) to properties in some of the worst affected roads including in Yardley Avenue, Windsor Road, Cheddington Road, Vicarage Road and Marsworth Road. They will be hand delivered over the next couple of weeks.
If you live in another road, but would be interested in receiving some stickers, please email us on parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk so we can gauge the level of interest before placing any additional orders.
We are also hoping to work with Thames Valley Police and local children on a poster campaign that we will be able to utilise on our lamp posts etc. We’ll let you know more details once they are finalised.
Another long-awaited project is coming to fruition. Whilst they owned the land over which Westfield Road runs, Taylor Wimpey had denied permission for bus shelters to be erected. Now the land has transferred to Buckinghamshire Council we have finally been granted permission. Bucks have approved the proposals submitted by our preferred supplier for three shelters – two on the residential side and one outside Safran. The works will include minor amendments to the bases where required, removal of the existing poles and inclusion of the timetables & flags within the new shelters.
The Parish Council has sufficient budget to install both shelters on the residential side of the road, accrued over several years. Our sincere thanks to Safran Electrical and Power who have provided the funding for the shelter outside their premises, benefitting both their employees and our parishioners.
The final bus stop on the business park side of the road up by Warwick Road seems to get a lot of people alighting at that point, but fewer people waiting to board a bus there. If you wait for a bus at this stop, we would love to hear from you, so that we can assess the demand for a fourth shelter at this location and therefore enable us to budget towards the associated costs.
Installation works are currently proposed for 28 to 30 October 2024 (one day per stop) between 09.30 and 15.00.
It is with great sadness that we announce that Gillian Arney passed away on Saturday night at the Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted.
Gill was a previous long serving parish councillor, a much loved and respected colleague. She volunteered with many community groups over the years and was still active with the Friends of St Mary’s Church in Pitstone including the Arts & Crafts Festival, and the Beacon Villages Community Library in Ivinghoe. She has touched the lives of very many of our residents and we are sure that you will join us in sending heartfelt condolences to her family.
Her funeral will be on Friday 18th October at 11 a.m. in St Mary’s Ivinghoe and afterwards at the Rose and Crown.
No flowers, but donations to the Hospice of St Francis would be welcome. Thank you.
Please note that the Pitstone youth cafe re-opens on 11 September, 6.30-8.00pm, after our summer holiday break. (There is no session on 4 September 2024).
We look forward to welcoming everyone back and to meeting any new young people who may be joining us but couldn’t make the taster sessions last term.
The parish council was delighted to assist the Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity with a grant of £3,000 for an improved floor scrubber and drier.
The trustees advise that the new machine cleans the hard flooring in the hall much more effectively than mopping alone and the difference has already been noted by their hirers and hall users. As it also dries, the floor can be more efficiently cleaned between bookings, which could not always previously take place as the floor would still be wet when the next hirer arrived. As the Memorial Hall has large open spaces, this new machine is able to carry out the work in much less time than hand mopping, which has made life a lot easier for their cleaning staff.
If you are part of a local community organisation that benefits the residents of Pitstone, and that group would benefit from financial assistance towards a project, please get in touch with the parish council to find out more information about our community group grant scheme. Email: parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or Telephone 01296 767261.
The parish council offers grants to local community groups and local charities that specifically benefit Pitstone residents. Applications are considered quarterly. The next opportunity for grants to be considered is coming up next month , so please get your submissions to us by 18 October 2024.
Some of our most recent recipients include 1st Ivinghoe & Pitstone Scouts for the air riffle project and Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity for their floor scrubber.
Applications must be received at least 10 days ahead of the meeting date so that the information can be circulated to all members ahead of the meeting and your application can be advertised on our agenda.
Just a reminder that the last youth cafe before the summer holidays is 10 July 2024, 6.30-8.00pm
This is also the session where we welcome the year 6 Brookmead children to see what cafe is all about. Please remember to register your child before they attend, so that we have correct contact details for parents in case they are needed.
The parish council were delighted to assist the 1st Ivinghoe and Pitstone Scouts with a grant of £1,800 towards their air riffle project.
Two scouting leaders have completed training qualifications that enable them to instruct in the use of air rifles and to run formal training for Youth Shooting Efficiency courses. Thanks to the grant, the group now has the equipment/storage/safety equipment to allow them to run shooting sessions at both scouting events and local community events, and also to run the formal courses.
The air rifles had their debut outing at the Ivinghoe fete. Supervised groups were organised over the afternoon, and this gave lots of people, young and old, the opportunity to have a go.
If you are part of a local community organisation that benefits the residents of Pitstone, and that group would benefit from financial assistance towards a project, please get in touch with the parish council to find out more information about our community group grant scheme. Email: parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or Telephone 01296 767261.
Buckinghamshire Council has confirmed that no election has been requested by residents and we will therefore seek to fill the casual vacancy for a parish councillor (following the passing of Cllr Mitra) to serve out the remaining term of office until the next election in May 2025 via co-option.
When you join the parish council, you also become a corporate trustee to two local charities, the Pitstone Recreation Ground Charity and the Pitstone Parish Charity, so the above link also includes information from the Charity Commission on Essential Trustee guidance.
If you are interested in joining us, please contact the parish clerk on parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or 01296 767261 and we will happily chat to you and provide a full information pack.
A casual vacancy has arisen for a parish councillor to serve out the remaining term of office until the next election in May 2025.
Unless 10 electors request a by-election by 26 June 2024, the parish council will seek to fill this vacancy via co-option. See Notice of Vacancy below for details of how to submit such a request:
When you join the parish council, you also become a corporate trustee to two local charities, the Pitstone Recreation Ground Charity and the Pitstone Parish Charity, so the above link also includes information from the Charity Commission on Essential Trustee guidance.
If you are interested in joining us, please contact the parish clerk on parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or 01296 767261, as soon as possible and we will happily chat to you and provide a full information pack.
We will provide an update to residents at the end of the month on whether a by-election has been called once we hear back from the elections team at Buckinghamshire Council.
We would like to congratulate Barry and Sue Gregory, who were awarded Volunteers of the Year 2024 at the Annual Assembly for many years of voluntary support to local organisations, the local community, and general help to neighbours. Examples include: acting as Trustee for the Pitstone Town Lands Charity and Williamson Trust, running the Pace stall, carrying out grass cutting and maintaining planters by The Crescent, and helping obtain the official designation of the open space by The Crescent. The Chairman presented Barry and Sue with a framed certificate, card and £50.
The Parish Council runs the Volunteer of the Year scheme to celebrate the unsung heroes within our community. If you know someone who goes that extra mile and provides an outstanding voluntary service to the residents of Pitstone, please submit your nominations to the parish clerk (parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk) so that they can be taken into consideration for the 2025 award.
We very much want the skate park to be a facility that the everyone can enjoy, safely.
A proficient skateboarder can travel at over 20mph around a skate park, so please be particularly mindful of this if you allow your younger children onto the skate park. Whilst some young children may be confident already, others are just learning and travel much slower, stop suddenly, or leave their bikes/scooters/ equipment on the park and wander about. This places them in danger of being hit by a travelling skateboarder/scooter rider (or their board/scooter) who can’t change course in time, and also puts the more proficient riders in danger as they try their best to avoid the small children by ditching their equipment or deliberately falling/jumping off and causing injury to themselves in the process.
For everyone’s safety, if you take young children to the skate park, particularly pre-school children, please be mindful of the above, supervise them/their equipment at all times, consider utilising the park during quieter times, or keep to a quiet area of the park. Then they can grow in confidence and learn new skills without placing themselves, or others, in danger.
A reminder of some of the guidelines listed on the signage:
users under 8 should be supervised by a responsible adult at all times
use protective clothing/equipment at all times
keep all areas clear
users of the skatepark do so at their own risk
skate to your own ability and do not skate alone
this is not a playground
We wish you all happy, and safe, use of the skatepark.
We currently have one vacancy for a parish councillor to serve out the remaining term of office until the May 2025 elections.
If you have a passion for the village we live in and plenty of spare time (an average of 3 hours per week) and would like to volunteer as a member of the parish council, we would love to hear from you. You can find some initial information here about what parish councils do and what you could expect from your role as a councillor: https://pitstone.co.uk/ppcnews/calling-all-community-heroes-become-a-parish-councillor-elections-in-may-2021/
When you join the parish council, you also become a corporate trustee to two local charities, the Pitstone Recreation Ground Charity and the Pitstone Parish Charity, so the above link also includes information from the Charity Commission on Essential Trustee guidance.
If you are interested in joining us, please contact the parish clerk on parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or 01296 767261 and we will happily chat to you and provide a full information pack for your consideration.
The parish council offers grants to local community groups and local charities that specifically benefit Pitstone residents. Applications are considered quarterly. The next opportunity for grants to be considered is coming up on 25 April 2024.
Some of our most recent recipients include Brookmead School for an outdoor sandpit and Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity for black out curtains for their main hall.
Applications must be received at least 10 days ahead of the meeting date so that the information can be circulated to all members ahead of the meeting and your application can be advertised on our agenda.
Buckinghamshire Council has confirmed that no election has been requested by residents and we will therefore seek to fill the casual vacancy for a parish councillor to serve out the remaining term of office until the next election in May 2025 via co-option.
When you join the parish council, you also become a corporate trustee to two local charities, the Pitstone Recreation Ground Charity and the Pitstone Parish Charity, so the above link also includes information from the Charity Commission on Essential Trustee guidance.
If you are interested in joining us, please contact the parish clerk on parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or 01296 767261 and we will happily chat to you and provide a full information pack.
Applications to be received by Monday 4 March 2024.
We would like to express our gratitude to the Deeley family for the donation of a commemorative bench, now located on the Recreation Ground by the magnificent Oak tree, in loving memory of Graham Joseph Deeley 27/08/79-14/01/22.
Christmas Lights
We hope that all our residents enjoyed the festive illuminations at the Recreation Ground and Pavilion. As the cherry tree that used to house the lights at the pavilion had sadly needed to be felled during the year, we opted for column mounted panels combined with our existing string lights. Feedback from residents and hirers has been very positive.
Buckinghamshire Council Street Lights
Buckinghamshire Council worked hard to try and catch up on the backlog of outstanding street light remedials in the village. By the end of October all the columns along Westfield Road were operational except 2 that had UK Power Network faults that had to be rectified before BC could return to complete their works. Since that point, several have developed new faults, and been fixed again so on 21/12/23 all streetlights along Westfield Road were operational with the exception of one on the corner of Warwick Road. By 31/12 3 further lights had gone out, which had been fixed on the next check on 4/1/24 (the one on the corner of Warwick Road remained out), but 3 different lights had then gone out, all were reported to BC. These are all old lighting stock so will be subject to ongoing issues. The Parish Council has been pushing for them to be upgraded to LED in line with the rest of our village and BC’s own policies, and Taylor Wimpey provided Buckinghamshire Council with some funding.
Along Marsworth Road, the illuminated bollards were all fixed, but some are now out again, but the illuminated directional arrow signs on the islands required some replacement parts that will be installed upon receipt. BC continue to experience some issues with the reliability of some of the main lanterns along the road, but they did fix many of the long outstanding issues. BC Lighting are also working on the replacement of the signage & illumination at the Westfield Road roundabout following a traffic accident.
BC no longer monitor any of their lights, they solely rely on reports being uploaded to their Fix My Street portal on their website. The Parish Council, and a team of volunteers, do monitor lights and we upload reports to the BC portal on a regular basis. If you spot a light that is not operational, or is flashing, or is on when it should not be, please let us know by emailing parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or log it direct to the BC website. If you would like to join our team of street light champions and check the lights near you, please email parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk.
Would you use a footpath between Westfield Road and College Lake?
A few residents have enquired whether a path along this route would be possible. Initial enquiries with adjacent landowners have shown that any such path would need to run within the verge, besides the carriageway, rather than being set back through the woodland. Buckinghamshire Council’s Community Board has advised that such a path would not qualify for grant funding via the Board, so would need to be funded locally or via grants from other sources, if any are identified. Before any investigative work can be undertaken by the Highways Authority, we would need to assess how many people already walk this route, how many would utilise such a path, where you are trying to access, what other routes you currently use, and whether residents feel that this would be a good use of Local Council tax funds. If you have any views, for or against, please complete the online survey at https://pitstone.co.uk/path-to-college-lake/ by the end of February. If you do not have computer access and would prefer a hard copy, please telephone 767261 and we will happily provide a printed version. Buckinghamshire Council has advised that it will be consulting in 2024 on its Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) so if you are keen to see such a path installed, please keep your eyes out for that consultation and make sure you have your say.
Do you experience any problems crossing Westfield Road?
At the Annual Assembly a resident enquired whether Westfield Road qualified for zebra crossings. Buckinghamshire Council’s Community Board has advised that crossings would not qualify for grant funding via the Board nor BC, so would need to be funded locally or via grants from other sources, if any are identified. Before any investigative work can be undertaken by the Highways Authority, we would need to assess how many people experience difficulty crossing Westfield Road, how long you have to wait before a clear gap becomes available, where along the road you are crossing, where you are trying to reach, how many people would benefit/use a crossing, and whether residents feel that this would be a good use of Local Council tax funds. If you have any views, for or against, please complete the online survey at https://pitstone.co.uk/westfield-road-crossing/ by the end of February. If you do not have computer access and would prefer a hard copy please phone 767261 and we will happily provide a printed version.
Another resident enquired whether the pedestrian refuge islands along Marsworth Road could be upgraded to zebra crossings. The Highways Authority advise that the low wait time and clear visibility at these locations had identified refuge islands as the most appropriate type of pedestrian crossings for these locations. There are proposals within the Pitstone Safety Scheme to try and enhance their prominence, and reduce traffic speeds, via the use of coloured tarmac at crossings and median strips. Phase I of the safety scheme was installed outside Brookmead School in 2023. Buckinghamshire Council are currently reviewing Section 106 funds they are holding towards Safety Scheme works and whether the next phase of Safety Scheme implementation can progress to the next phase.
Westfield Road Bus Shelters
We continue to liaise with Buckinghamshire Council regarding the possibility of bus shelters for Westfield Road. They have now confirmed that no funding is available from either Buckinghamshire Council Public Transport or the Community Board, so these will need to be funded locally via the precept. There are a number of steps that would need to be completed before we can obtain their final approval on the design (particularly as they’d sit next to the cycle path) and get permission to carry out minor works to their highway verge to install them, so this may take some time yet.
Anti-SocialBehaviour
On a sadder note, we continue to experience vandalism to the play equipment on the Recreation Ground and have received one report of anti-social behaviour near the Skate Park. If you do witness any anti-social behaviour, please report it to our neighbourhood policing team at Thames Valley Police by emailing greatbrickhillwingivinghoenhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk and providing details of the people/vehicles etc involved and the date/time that it was witnessed. This enables them to speak to offenders (if known) and better target their patrol activity.
New Curtains at Pitstone Memorial Hall
The Parish Council was pleased to supply a grant to Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity for the supply and installation of new curtains in the main hall, to provide improved acoustic and black out qualities, which will benefit many hirers and enable the Pitstone Picturehouse (previously Pitstone Film Club) to resume. The curtains were supplied by Panache Interiors at cost, so thank you to this local company for their support of a local charity. If you are a local community group that benefits the residents of Pitstone, and could do with a helping hand towards the cost of a project, you can find out all about our grant scheme and how to apply by clicking this link: https://pitstone.co.uk/ppcinfo/grant-policy/
Vacancy for Parish Councillor
Due to a change in personal circumstances Councillor Jack Heyman sadly resigned from his seat on the council as of 4/1/24. We thank Jack for his hard work and dedication during his term in office and wish him well for the future. Jack was a member of the Sports & Leisure Committee, the Pitstone Development Area working party, the youth café working party and regularly organised the annual Children’s Competition, as well as fulfilling his duties on the main council. The BC Monitoring Officer has been advised and notices erected, the details are also available on our website. Please contact parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or 01296 767261 if you have spare time to volunteer each week (the role of councillor is a voluntary one with no renumeration), a passion for our village, and would like to fulfil the remaining term of office until the parish elections in 2025.
Planning
There are several major planning applications for which we are still waiting for BC to provide a determination including 5 new dwellings behind 87 Marsworth Road, 1 new dwelling on Marsworth Road and 4 dwellings on Queen Street. As always, you can find full details of all planning applications on the BC Planning Portal.
Would you use a footpath between Westfield Road and College Lake?
A few residents have enquired whether a path along this route (along the Upper Icknield Way, from the Westfield Road roundabout to College Lake) would be possible. Initial enquiries with adjacent landowners have shown that any such path would need to run within the verge, besides the carriageway, rather than being set back through the woodland. Buckinghamshire Council’s Community Board has advised that such a path would not qualify for grant funding via the Board, so would need to be funded locally or via grants from other sources, if any are identified. Before any investigative work can be undertaken by the Highways Authority, we would need to assess how many people already walk this route, how many would utilise such a path, where you are trying to access, what other routes you currently use, and whether residents feel that this would be a good use of Local Council tax funds. If you have any views, for or against, please complete the online survey at https://pitstone.co.uk/path-to-college-lake/ by the end of February. If you do not have computer access and would prefer a hard copy, please telephone 767261 and we will happily provide a printed version. Buckinghamshire Council has advised that it will be consulting in 2024 on its Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) so if you are keen to see such a path installed, please keep your eyes out for that consultation and make sure you have your say.
Do you experience any problems crossing Westfield Road?
At the Annual Assembly a resident enquired whether Westfield Road qualified for zebra crossings. Buckinghamshire Council’s Community Board has advised that crossings would not qualify for grant funding via the Board nor BC, so would need to be funded locally or via grants from other sources, if any are identified. Before any investigative work can be undertaken by the Highways Authority, we would need to assess how many people experience difficulty crossing Westfield Road, how long you have to wait before a clear gap becomes available, where along the road you are crossing, where you are trying to reach, how many people would benefit/use a crossing, and whether residents feel that this would be a good use of Local Council tax funds. If you have any views, for or against, please complete the online survey at https://pitstone.co.uk/westfield-road-crossing/ by the end of February. If you do not have computer access and would prefer a hard copy please phone 767261 and we will happily provide a printed version.
Another resident enquired whether the pedestrian refuge islands along Marsworth Road could be upgraded to zebra crossings. The Highways Authority advise that the low wait time and clear visibility at these locations had identified refuge islands as the most appropriate type of pedestrian crossings for these locations. There are proposals within the Pitstone Safety Scheme to try and enhance their prominence, and reduce traffic speeds, via the use of coloured tarmac at crossings and median strips. Phase I of the safety scheme was installed outside Brookmead School in 2023. Buckinghamshire Council are currently reviewing Section 106 funds they are holding towards Safety Scheme works and whether the next phase of Safety Scheme implementation can progress to the next phase.
Due to the resignation of Councillor Jack Heyman due to a change in personal circumstances, we currently have a casual vacancy for a parish councillor to serve out the remaining term of office until the next election in May 2025.
Unless 10 electors request a by-election by 31 January 2024, the parish council will seek to fill this vacancy via co-option. See Notice of Vacancy below for details of how to submit such a request:
When you join the parish council, you also become a corporate trustee to two local charities, the Pitstone Recreation Ground Charity and the Pitstone Parish Charity, so the above link also includes information from the Charity Commission on Essential Trustee guidance.
If you are interested in joining us, please contact the parish clerk on parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or 01296 767261, as soon as possible and we will happily chat to you and provide a full information pack.
We thank Jack for his hard work and dedication during his term in office and wish him well for the future. Jack was a member of the Sports & Leisure Committee, the Pitstone Development Area working party, the youth café working party/cafe visits, and regularly organised the annual Children’s Competition, as well as fulfilling his duties on the main council.
We will provide an update to residents in February on whether a by-election has been called once we hear back from the elections team at Buckinghamshire Council.
Youth Cafe re-opens on Wednesday 17 January 2024. We look forward to seeing you all again, 6.30-8.00pm.
If you are interested in joining our team of cafe volunteers, please email parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk and we can put you in touch with our Cafe Manager.
All your nominations for the Pitstone Volunteer of the Year 2024 need to be sent to the parish council by 18 January 2024, so if you know of someone that is giving up their time and making a difference to the lives of the people in Pitstone, then please let us know.
A huge army of volunteers make our village special. Did you know that volunteers manage the Memorial Hall; the Pitstone Heritage Park/museum; staff the Pitstone Windmill open days; are parish councillors; form the governing body of Brookmead school; deliver and edit Pitstone Parish Post; operate Pitstone Youth Café; form the management committee for Windmill pre-school; drive for the Community Car scheme; run mums & toddlers; run Brownies/Rainbows/Cubs/Scouts; are trustees for The Williamson Trust and Pitstone Town Lands Charity; run sporting groups such as I&PUCC, P&IUFC and P&IJFC; check street lights; provide ground-keeping on the cricket square; manage our allotment site; help at the Beacon Villages Community Library; organise community events and form the Friends of St Mary’s church in Pitstone, manning open days and organising events. Just think what our village would be like without all these facilities!
As well as being an opportunity for you, and the parish council, to thank our Volunteer of the Year in public, the winner receives £50.00 and a framed certificate.
Previous winners include: Mick Pilkingson, Howard Jones, Geoff Bratt, Linda Howarth, Gill Arney, Dave Seaton, Rob Spiller, Margaret Cole, Klaus Ginda, Dave Clifford, Mary Saintey, Joe Marling, Michelle Lee, David Hawkins, John Groom and Elaine Thorogood.
providing the full name of the person you wish to nominate, the reasons why you think they deserve to win and a contact detail (email/phone) for that person.
If you have some spare time and would like join this volunteer army and start enjoying the benefits that volunteering brings, please do get in touch.
The Parish Council was pleased to supply a grant to Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity for the supply and installation of new curtains in the main hall, to provide improved acoustic and black out qualities, which will benefit many hirers and enable the Pitstone Picturehouse (previously Pitstone Film Club) to resume.
The curtains were supplied by Panache Interiors at cost, so thank you to this local company for their support of a local charity.
If you are a local community group that benefits the residents of Pitstone, and could do with a helping hand towards the cost of a project, you can find out all about our grant scheme and how to apply by clicking this link: https://pitstone.co.uk/ppcinfo/grant-policy/
The parish council would like to wish all of our residents, business units, visitors and customers, a very merry Christmas followed by a peaceful new year.
The new illuminations at the pavilion (the cherry tree that previously housed the Christmas lights sadly had to be felled) and the illuminated tree on the recreation ground by the roundabout, will shine out each evening until twelfth night.
We’d like to express our gratitude to the Deeley family for the donation of a commemorative bench, now located on the Recreation Ground by the magnificent Oak tree, in loving memory of Graham Joseph Deeley 27/08/79-14/01/22.
The parish council has been delighted to work with Ivinghoe & Pitstone United Cricket Club on the procurement and installation of new cricket practice nets on the Recreation Ground.
These have been funded by a release of Section 106 developer sports & leisure funding by Buckinghamshire Council, the parish council, and fundraising by the club.
To help prevent vandalism whilst not in use, at the moment, the nets do have a gate across the front of them, but anyone in the community is welcome to use them for cricket practice and if this is of interest, please email ivinghoepitstonecricket@outlook.com for access information. I&PUCC ask that the facility is locked after use and that its respected while you are using it. If you are using the facility, please ensure that studded footwear is NOT used on any part of the nets.
If there are any more community groups etc that have arranged events between October and December 2023, and want them featured in the next edition of Pitstone Parish Post, please ensure the jpeg artwork is sent to parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk on Monday 2/10/23.
The parish council offers grants to local community groups and local charities that specifically benefit Pitstone residents. Applications are considered quarterly. The next opportunity for grants to be considered is coming up on 26 October 2023.
Some of our most recent recipients include Windmill Pre School for outdoor play equipment, Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity for two current projects and South Central Ambulance for a further dedicated kit for our Community First Responders.
Applications must be received at least 10 days ahead of the meeting date so that the information can be circulated to all members ahead of the meeting and your application can be advertised on our agenda.
The latest edition of Pitstone Parish Post is currently being hand delivered to every home and business in the parish, the online edition is available here: https://pitstone.co.uk/ppcpubs/pitstone-parish-post-issue-137/ and includes updates from the parish council, the annual report and accounts, updates from Buckinghamshire Council, 75 years of the NHS, information about Thames Valley Police alerts, news from local clubs and churches, event information and much more.
If you would like to advertise or submit an article for the next edition, please email parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk.
The new allotment year starts at the end of September, so renewal of tenancies will start to take place later this month. Often their are plot holders that decide that they do not wish to continue for the forthcoming year, so if you think you might be interested in taking on an allotment, remember to register your interest with the Pitstone Allotment Association (details available here: http://pitstoneallotmentassociation.org.uk/) and they can add you to the waiting list.
Both the Parish Council and the Allotment Association voted not to increase prices for the forthcoming season, so the charge remains at £15 per quarter plot. See the attached annual notice of fees for a full breakdown
We are looking for a back up distributor to help when Rachel is away and/or to help her on an ongoing basis.
The work is not too arduous: PPPs come out 4 times a year, counting takes an hour or two and distributing to the deliverers takes about the same. You will need a car.
If you would like to discuss this voluntary role, please call or text
The parish council offers grants to local community groups and local charities that specifically benefit Pitstone residents. Applications are considered quarterly. The next opportunity for grants to be considered is coming up on 27 July 2023.
Some of our most recent recipients include Windmill Pre School for outdoor play equipment, Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity for two current projects and South Central Ambulance for a further dedicated kit for our Community First Responders.
Applications must be received at least 10 days ahead of the meeting date so that the information can be circulated to all members ahead of the meeting and your application can be advertised on our agenda.
If anyone/local groups have any articles that they wish to appear in the next edition of Pitstone Parish Post, please ensure that they are received by the editor by 30 June 2023. Email address: pppeditor@pitstone.co.uk
If you wish to place an advert, please click this link to place your booking and upload your artwork: https://pitstone.co.uk/pppadverts/
During late 2021 Nicholas King Homes applied for planning permission for the construction of 21 dwellings (8 flats and 13 houses), including associated works, car parking and landscaping on the two plots of land that had long been earmarked, subject to viability, for a children’s day nursery and restaurant/pub/cafe. The Planning Inspectorate have now concluded their investigation and determined that planning permission should be granted. The parish council had opposed this application and felt strongly that these much hoped-for community facilities were feasible and should be delivered. Many local residents also objected to the proposals. Buckinghamshire Council, as local planning authority, were also said by the Inspectorate to be opposed to the application on a variety of grounds. Planning permission was nonetheless, on balance, granted to NKH.
That, however, is not the end of the story. The Parish Council understands that Buckinghamshire Council (in conjunction with other local planning authorities) are challenging the Planning Inspectorate’s decision, via a process known as Judicial Review. They will be seeking a court ruling that the Planning Inspectorate was not properly able to reach the decision that it did, in other words asking that the planning permission should be quashed. The grounds for appeal are believed to include the Chiltern Beechwoods “Special Area of Conservation”, of which Ashridge forms a part. There is currently a moratorium on determining planning applications which relate to residential development where the application site is within approximately 8 miles of the Chiltern Beechwoods, which Pitstone is. The argument runs, it is understood, that if the local planning authority cannot properly determine any such application, the Planning Inspectorate should not have done so either.
Clearly these matters are at a very early stage and the Judicial Review process could be a lengthy one. If the planning permission is then quashed, NKH’s application will go back to the original decision-maker for further consideration on the correct basis. That would also be a time-consuming process. As a consequence, it is unlikely that anything substantive will happen to the two undeveloped parts of Ravensmoor for some time. The Parish Council is aware that concerns have been raised by local residents about the state of these two areas, and in particular the amount of unsightly litter and debris that they contain. We have requested that NKH take steps to tidy them up so that our local amenities are not subject to detriment because of the current hiatus. We will provide a further update when we are able to, about both (1) the condition of the two areas and (2) Buckinghamshire Council’s appeal against the Planning Inspectorate’s decision.
Buckinghamshire Council (BC) recently attended to sweep the public highways as part of their cyclical (twice per year) maintenance program.
They have been investigating some queries that arose following their visit and identified that the residential roads adopted by BC last year (public roads within Phases I-III of Castlemead) had not been added to the street scene road sweeping work schedule. They will be returning this week to sweep the affected roads, and send their apologies. New procedures will now be put in place by BC to ensure that when future roads are adopted by BC, that the street scene schedules are updated more efficiently, so the same issue should not arise for the remaining roads still waiting for adoption (either in Pitstone or other villages). A few queries arose regarding missed sections of roads and most of these have been identified as not being accessible when the sweeper attended.
Private roads do not fall under the remit of this BC service.
If your road still falls under the responsibility of a developer, then they continue to be responsible for the highways under their care. A request has been lodged with Taylor Wimpey for their road sweeper to attend the remaining residential and business park roads for which they are responsible. Bellway, Croudace and Nicholas King Homes developments should all be swept as part of their maintenance contracts.
Should any resident have any ongoing queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us (parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk) so that we can liaise with the appropriate body.
We would like to congratulate Mick Pilkington, who was awarded Volunteer of the Year 2023 at the Annual Assembly for many years of voluntary litter picking around the parish, participation in Keep Britain Tidy campaigns, and managing a litter picking co-ordination website for other local volunteers. The Chairman presented Mick with a framed certificate and card. If you are interested in helping with litter picks, please visit: https://pitstone.co.uk/ppcinfo/litter-picking/
Winners normally receive £50, but Mick generously asked that this be donated to the Ivinghoe & Pitstone Foodbank. Babs Byron thanked Mick on behalf of the Foodbank and provided some information about the scheme to those at the assembly. If you need assistance from the Foodbank, please contact them in confidence. If you can provide donations, please also get in touch with them. Full details available at: https://pitstone.co.uk/localinfo/foodbank/
The Parish Council runs the Volunteer of the Year scheme to celebrate the unsung heroes within our community. If you know someone who goes that extra mile and provides an outstanding voluntary service to the residents of Pitstone, please submit your nominations to the parish clerk (parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk) so that they can be taken into consideration for the 2024 award.
The Big Help Out is a Coronation initiative, encouraging everyone to get involved and volunteer to help ensure that local communities thrive.
Pitstone parish council is often made aware of local projects and community groups that would welcome your time and involvement. We also receive calls from residents that would like to volunteer but don’t know what opportunities exist. So, we set up a database of opportunities.
If you only have an hour or two a month, or have plenty of time on your hands, there is bound to be a role to suit you! If you are a community group that would like some extra support, please do get in touch and we will add your details to the database.
As part of the Big Help Out, we have been featuring one local opportunity each day, and today is the last day. Fifteen local groups have been appealing for your help to keep their charities, venues, clubs, tourist/historical attractions, services and facilities running. All these things help to make Pitstone a special place to live and work, with lots of things for residents to enjoy and provide help for those who need it. They are all possible because an amazing team of local volunteers dedicate their time to make them happen. Please do consider joining them.
Below is details of our street light champion scheme that helps to ensure the village is properly illuminated, and the full list of all the opportunities that we have featured over the last three weeks. We also have a display board of opportunities inside the pavilion, so we’d encourage everyone coming to the annual assembly on Thursday to have a browse whilst you are there.
Finally, we’d like to extend our thanks to anyone that has come forward already and registered their interest with any of the local groups that have been featured.
The Big Help Out is a Coronation initiative, encouraging everyone to get involved and volunteer to help ensure that local communities thrive.
Pitstone parish council is often made aware of local projects and community groups that would welcome your time and involvement. We also receive calls from residents that would like to volunteer but don’t know what opportunities exist. So, we set up a database of opportunities.
If you only have an hour or two a month, or have plenty of time on your hands, there is bound to be a role to suit you! If you are a community group that would like some extra support, please do get in touch and we will add your details to the database.
As part of the Big Help Out, we’ll be featuring one local opportunity each day.
ARe you able to help those residents that are in need, hardship or distress? Would you like to become a charity trustee? The trustees of the Town Lands Charity & Williamson Trust would love to hear from you. More details below:
