What matters to you in your local area?

Is it the state of the local park, the need for more activities for young people, improving services for older people, making the roads safer or ensuring that local businesses can thrive?

Whatever needs changing in your neighbourhood, you could be just the person to change it by becoming a local councillor. No other role gives you a chance to make such a huge difference to quality of life for people in your local area. It is a good time to start thinking about standing as a councillor as the District and Parish Council elections will be taking place on 7 May 2015.

What do councillors do?

Councillors are elected to the local council to represent their local community, so they must either live or work in the area. Becoming a councillor is both a rewarding and privileged form of public service. You will be in a position to make a difference to the quality of other people’s daily lives and prospects.

Being an effective councillor requires both commitment and hard work. Councillors have to balance the needs and interests of residents the political party they represent (if any) and the council. These will all make legitimate demands on a councillor’s time, on top of the demands and needs of their personal and professional lives. Before you consider becoming a councillor you may want to discuss it with your family and friends to make sure they understand what you are taking on. You will need their support as you’ll have to spend some of your spare time on council business.

Independent or political?

Over 95 per cent of councillors are members of political parties, but you don’t have to be a member of a political party to stand for election as a councillor. You can either stand as an independent candidate or as a group or party political candidate. The political parties in your local area are already looking for people interested in representing them and will be pleased to hear from you. They will be able to support your election campaign and your work as a councillor.

Don’t worry if you’re not already a party member as they will be able to go through all the options with you. Some parties have special training and encouragement schemes for new candidates. Some places have organised residents’ associations or community groups which put candidates up for election.

Next steps to becoming a councillor

Once you decide you want to take it further and put yourself forward as a candidate, what’s the next step? The answer depends on whether you want to represent a political party or group or would like to stand as an independent candidate. If you want to represent a political party then the next step would be to get involved with your party locally as soon as possible. This will help you find out more about what the role entails, who you will be working with and what it takes to win elections.

Ultimately it’s up to the political parties’ local groups to decide whether to select you as a candidate, so you need to make contact with them as soon as possible and get involved with their work. Political parties will expect you to be, or become, a party member.

If you are thinking of standing as an independent candidate your next step is to start building your profile so that local people know who you are, and working out your position on local ‘hot’ issues such as crime, traffic, the environment and schools. You will need to know what your local council is doing about these issues and how your own opinion differs from the political parties. Nearer election time, as you start going door to door persuading people to vote for you, you will be challenged on your opinions.

Whether you have been selected by a party or are standing as an independent candidate, you must make sure that you are officially nominated as the election date draws nearer. Election packs will be available from the parish council clerk from 17 March 2015.  All packs have to be returned to AVDC by 9 April.

The web site below gives you more information about parish councillors in general, and the attached leaflet gives you information about Pitstone parish council.  We look forward to hearing from you.

 

http://www.beacouncillor.org.uk/

 

It is understood that Gladman have lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate for non-determination by AVDC in respect of outline planning application number 14/02002/AOP for up to 70 dwellings on land off Station Road in Ivinghoe (which also included some dwellings across the brook into a field behind Rushendon Furlong in Pitstone).

There will therefore be a Public Enquiry into this application.  At the moment, the timing of such an enquiry is unknown, but it is estimated that it is likely to take place in the summer.   The Parish Council will keep you advised of any further developments.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

Come along and try out AVYFC’s new Rocket Go Karts!

1-3pm on Tuesday 17 February 2015 in Pitstone Memorial Hall Car Park

Minimum age 8 years.  Helmets provided.  Please make sure you come in sturdy footwear with no loose clothing.

Free event organised by Pitstone Parish Council and Aylesbury Vale Youth for Christ for the benefit of the youth of Pitstone.    No need to book, just turn up and join in the fun.

If you are a member of the Pitstone Youth Café, you can sign up for a trip to the Pioneer indoor skate park at St Albans during half term – Wednesday 18 February.

Please visit the Facebook page for more details, or pick up a form from youth café tonight.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/pitstoneyouth/803236476424810/?ref=notif&notif_t=group_activity

The parish council is currently working on a dedicated planning application section for the web site.   In the meantime, following your feedback, we will post details of applications in this news section so that you can find them more easily.

Applications for consideration at the 26 February 2015 parish council meeting are:

 

Erlegh Manor, Vicarage Road, Pitstone, Bucks – 15/00312/AOP – Outline submission with access and scale to be considered and all other matters reserved for the erection of one dwelling.
It was resolved to advise AVDC that the parish council was opposed to this application as development would fall outside the observed settlement boundary

4 Hever Close, 15/00170/APP – conversion of garage into living accommodation including replacement of garage door with window
It was resolved to advise AVDC that the parish council had no objection to this application

Please note that the following application has been withdrawn by AVDC and will no longer be considered at the Parish Council meeting on 26/2/15 :  Land rear of Vicarage Road, Pitstone, Bucks – 15/00139/AOP – outline submission with all matters reserved for the erection of a residential development of up to 68 dwellings, estate roads and associated works

 

 

The plans may be viewed online by going to http://eplanning.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk and searching using the planning reference number.

Any comments, representations or objections you may have should be submitted directly to AVDC as the planning authority, by the date shown on the yellow site notice, quoting the planning reference number.  This can be done on-line or you can post comments to:

The Head of Development Control, Aylesbury Vale District Council, The Gateway,
Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 8FF

If you wish the parish council to take your comments into consideration when making our recommendation, please also supply the details to us before noon on 25 February 2015

 

Pitstone is now a little bit safer thanks to the Village Health Centre in Yardley Avenue and the local sports clubs.   A new external defibrillator has been purchased and mounted outside the surgery.  In the event of a cardiac emergency, the 999 operator will provide the release code and the defibrillator will talk you through the process of giving life saving treatment to the patient whilst the ambulance is on its way.   Please make sure that you familiarise yourself with its location, as you never know when you might need it.   Please also look out for community training sessions that will provide you all with a chance to see how the unit works so that you are more confident in the event of an emergency.

Our very grateful thanks to The Village Health Centre in Yardley Avenue for funding the purchase and ongoing maintenance costs of the defibrillator itself, and to all the following local sports clubs for funding the purchase of the external lock box that makes this vital life saving equipment available to the whole community: Ivinghhoe & Pitstone United Cricket Club, Pitstone & Ivinghoe Junior Football Club, Pitstone & Ivinghoe United Football Club, Tring Town Football Club and Envirologistics Football Club.

The parish council is currently working on a dedicated planning application section for the web site.   In the meantime, following your feedback, we will post details of applications in this news section so that you can find them more easily.

Applications for consideration at the 29 January 2015 parish council meeting are:

Land west of 120 Vicarage Road, Pitstone, Bucks – 15/00140/AOP – outline submission with all matters reserved for the erection of one bungalow
The Parish Council received no objections from members of the public.  After consideration at the meeting, it was RESOLVED to advise AVDC that the Parish Council had no objection to the application.
Planning application now approved by AVDC.

27 Campbell Lane, Pitstone – 14/03189/APP – erection of 6′ fence  The Parish Council received no objections from members of the public.  After consideration at the meeting, it was RESOLVED to advise AVDC that the Parish Council had no objection to the application.
Planning application now approved by AVDC.

The plans may be viewed online by going to http://eplanning.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk and searching using the planning reference number.

Any comments, representations or objections you may have should be submitted directly to AVDC as the planning authority, by the date shown on the yellow site notice, quoting the planning reference number.  This can be done on-line or you can post comments to:

The Head of Development Control, Aylesbury Vale District Council, The Gateway,
Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 8FF

If you wish the parish council to take your comments into consideration when making our recommendation, please also supply the details to us before noon on 29 January 2015

 

Some roads seems to be a particular hot spot for some irresponsible dog owners that fail to clear up after their pets at present.   The Parish Council has repeatedly tried to educate and encourage owners in responsible dog ownership and provides plentiful number of both dedicated dog bins and ordinary refuse bins in which the deposits can be placed.    However, there appears to remain a number of repeat offenders.

If you notice a deposit on the public footpath outside your house:

• Please inform AVDC Community Spaces team on 0800 389 3395 or email CommunitySpaces@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk, and request they send the street cleansing team to remove the fouling and clean the footpath.  You will need to tell them the exact location and which property it is outside.
• Please don’t assume someone else has noticed and will phone them, and please report it as soon as possible, before it is trampled and spread.
• The more often the street cleansing team are called out to a particular problem hot spot, the more regular cleansing patrols are likely to be assigned to the area.

If you notice someone not clearing up after their dog when it has fouled the public footpath, or notice someone dumping sack loads of dog fouling beside the dog bins in the village, please:

• Take a photograph of the incident.
• Report them to Enforcement Officer for Bucks County Council on 07793 721911 or email drounding@buckscc.gov.uk providing your evidence, particularly if you have a photograph and/or know the name/address/car registration number of the person involved.

Thank you for your assistance with helping to keep our footpaths free of toxic waste.

Please note that this only applies to public footpaths and not fields or Rights of Way etc.

The Parish Council and Pitstone Allotment Association are delighted to announce that there will be no price increase for allotment plot rental for the 2015/16 season.

Therefore, annual subscription to PAA will remain at £6.50 per quarter plot, annual rental to the Parish Council remains at £8.50 per quarter plot, bringing the total charge to £15 per quarter plot per annum.

Residents are permitted to rent up to 4 quarter plots, subject to availability.   The next allotment year commences at the end of March.

If you are interested in finding out more about our allotments or adding your name to the list for a plot, please visit: http://pitstoneallotmentassociation.org.uk/ or email secretary@pitstoneallotmentassociation.org.uk.

Thank you.

The Parish Council is delighted to award a grant of £93.95 to the Ivinghoe & Pitstone with Cheddington Guides, to fund the cost of a replacement personalised flag.   The outgoing flag is now over 30 years old, doesn’t reflect the current branding or name, and even has Pitstone mis-spelt on it.

The council wishes the Guides every success for the forthcoming year.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

Happy New Year to everyone that attends the Pitstone Youth Café!  We hope you have enjoyed your Christmas holidays.

The Youth Café will be open on Wednesday 14 January 2015 from 6.30pm to 8pm at Brookmead School, and every term time Wednesday for the rest of term.   No session on 7 January as AVYFC are not available.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Laurie, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

The parish council is currently working on a dedicated planning application section for the web site.   In the meantime, following your feedback, we will post details of applications in this news section so that you can find them more easily.

Applications for consideration at the 8 January 2015 parish council meeting are:

8 Crispin Field, 14/03608/APP, two storey side extension and removal of chimney breast

The plans may be viewed online by going to http://eplanning.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk and searching using the planning reference number.

Any comments, representations or objections you may have should be submitted directly to AVDC as the planning authority, by the date shown on the yellow site notice, quoting the planning reference number.  This can be done on-line or you can post comments to:

The Head of Development Control, Aylesbury Vale District Council, The Gateway,
Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 8FF

If you wish the parish council to take your comments into consideration when making our recommendation, please also supply the details to us before noon on 8 January 2015

 

Just a reminder that the last youth café this term is tomorrow night, Wednesday 17 December 2014, 6.30-8.00pm at Brookmead.

Café will be back on Wednesday 7 January 2015.

We would like to wish everyone who attends, all our volunteers, and everyone from AVYFC, a magical Christmas.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

The Parish Council is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a grant of £6,500 from the Supporting Communities in Neighbourhood Planning programme that will enable us to provide our Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Group with professional support and to commission a necessary Strategic Environmental Assessment report.

Supporting Communities in Neighbourhood Planning is a £9.5m programme of expert support and funding to help communities across the country create neighbourhood plans.  The programme is run by Locality in association with RTPI/Planning Aid England, Community Development Foundation, Urban Vision Entertprise, Eden Project and URS, and funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government.  It is available through the My Community Rights website.

The Parish Council is considering taking on devolved services from Bucks County Council.   The contract would include grass cutting within the 30mph limit, rights of way clearance, hedge cutting, cleaning road signs, siding out footpaths, weed spraying, trimming vegetation obstructing signs/paths etc.

If you are a company, with £10m public liability insurance, and would be interested in quoting for to undertake this work within our parish, please contact the parish clerk for more information.

parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk
9 Warwick Road, Pitstone, Beds, LU7 9FE

Please note that the Pitstone youth café has been cancelled on Wednesday 26 November, but should be open again the following week (3 December).

A number of issues have arisen on the same night, meaning that we would have been unable to adequately supervise the young people that attended on 26/11/14.   If your child enjoys attending youth café, please ensure you have volunteered for the rota – it simply can’t run without enough support.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

The parish council has received formal notification from Aylesbury Vale District Council that our neighbourhood area (defined as the whole of our parish) has been approved.

This was the first step necessary in the production of a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) and allows our community to submit an NDP for the publicity consultation and examination to be undertaken.

Our NDP Steering Group, made up of volunteers from the community and parish councillors, is up and running.  Look out for more information from them shortly and a dedicated section on the website.   It is not too late to get involved, so if you can spare some time to join one of the sub-groups please get in touch via neighbourhoodplan@pitstone.co.uk.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to the Parish Council

 

 

The parish council is currently working on a dedicated planning application section for the web site.   In the meantime, following your feedback, we will post details of applications in this news section so that you can find them more easily.

Applications for consideration at the 27 November 2014 parish council meeting are:

35 Chequers Lane, 14/03208/ACL, single storey side and rear extension  No objections were received from residents.  The parish council considered the application and resolved to submit no objections. 

5 Rowland Close, 14/03219/APP, single storey rear extension and formation of front canopy  No objections were received from residents.  The parish council considered the application and resolved to submit no objections.  It was agreed to request that AVDC stipulate that construction traffic should utilise Rowland Close and not the private driveway off Vicarage Road.

The plans may be viewed online by going to http://eplanning.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk and searching using the planning reference number.

Any comments, representations or objections you may have should be submitted directly to AVDC as the planning authority, by the date shown on the yellow site notice, quoting the planning reference number.  This can be done on-line or you can post comments to:

The Head of Development Control, Aylesbury Vale District Council, The Gateway,
Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 8FF

If you wish the parish council to take your comments into consideration when making our recommendation, please also supply the details to us before noon on 27 November 2014.

 

You are now able to submit your nominations for the Pitstone Volunteer of the Year, so if you know of someone that it giving up their time and making a difference to the lives of the people in Pitstone, then please let us know.    As well as being an opportunity for you and the parish council to thank them in public, they may win a £50.00 award, framed certificate and entry into the AVDC Volunteer of the Year award.

Please email or write to the parish clerk on: parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or at 9 Warwick Road, Pitstone, Beds, LU7 9FE providing the full name of the person you wish to nominate and the reasons why you think they deserve to win.   All submissions must be received by the end of January 2015.

It takes an ambulance between 15 and 20 minutes to reach Pitstone when you make an emergency call.   If you have suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, you have only 5 minutes to receive life-saving treatment.   If you are lucky, one of our local volunteer Community First Responders will be on duty & will rush to your aid.   However, if they are not on duty, you will soon be able to access a life-saving defibrillator.

The parish council is extremely grateful to the Village Health Centre in Yardley Avenue who have agreed to purchase and externally mount a defibrillator at their site; and also to the Pitstone & Ivinghoe Junior Football Club, Ivinghoe & Pitstone United Cricket Club, Envirologistics Football Club, Tring Town Football Club and Pitstone & Ivinghoe United Football Club who between them have funded the purchase of the necessary external lock-box.

You will all receive an invitation to come along to the hall to hear about the benefits of defibrillators and see just how easy it is to work one. The machine has voice prompts throughout and will not shock a patient who would not benefit from it, so there is no chance you could do any damage to the patient.   Make sure you come along – you never know if it might be one of your family & friends that needs your urgent assistance.

Taylor Wimpey (TW) has started to work with Bucks County Council to define and carry out all the remedial works required before BCC will consider adopting the highway along Westfield Road, the industrial estate and the residential areas.   The highways then need to be maintained at adoptable standard by TW for 12 months before BCC will accept the transfer.

The areas of open space will transfer to Aylesbury Vale District Council (apart from the two play areas which are already owned by the parish council).  Phases I and II have already transferred and Phase III is in the process.   The other phases will follow.

The parish council has been working with Royal Mail to hopefully obtain a letter box along Windsor Road.   Historically, Royal Mail has declined to consider an additional box, however they are now reviewing the position for Castlemead and we hope to be able to secure one before Christmas.

Highway Works 

Both Cheddington Road and Glebe Close are due to receive extensive patching and repair as part of Transport for Bucks Severe Weather program of works.   The former should be complete in October (road closure will be in place) and then the white lines will be renewed.   Glebe Close should follow before Christmas.

 Cycle Path along Northfield Road 

Herts County Council has now received the funding contribution from Taylor Wimpey via Bucks County Council and are now making good progress on plans for the cycle path down to Tring station.   There are still some hurdles to overcome and funding to secure, but they hope that it may be installed within the next 18 months – 2 years.

Path to Marsworth

Unfortunately this has suffered a further delay.   The majority of this initiative falls within the control of Marsworth Parish Council who had hoped to submit a bid for New Homes Bonus funding in September 2014, but this did not occur.  They now hope to prepare a bid for the next round of funding in September 2015.   In the meantime, Pitstone parish council is looking to see if there are alternative ways to get the Pitstone stretch of this footpath installed, which will run from Westfield Road up to the railway bridge and are currently working with Transport for Bucks to investigate options.

Following feedback from residents as part of the Love It, Loath It survey and the Leisure Survey carried out over the last few years, the parish council has been working with Bucks County Council Transport for Bucks (TfB) to gain agreement to visually improve the roundabout. This process has been frustratingly slow.   Once again, TfB has declined permission for their roundabout to be converted to enable shrubs/trees to be planted, however they are prepared to now discuss a horticultural licence which would permit us to manage a number of flowering planters on the roundabout and at other locations throughout the village, such as by the village gates and around the village sign.

This would be the second project as part of the plan to brighten up and enhance the village, the first having been the hundreds of daffodil bulbs planted along Marsworth Road which provide such a glorious display in the spring-time.

If there was sufficient local interest, the parish could enter the In Bloom competition in the future. Alternatively, the parish council may run a more local competition with each container sponsored by a local community group or individual and prizes awarded for the winners; or even seek local commercial sponsorship from interested local firms.   If you have any thoughts, or can spare a little time to get involved in the beautification scheme, please get in touch (01296 660791 or parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk).

Finally, whilst discussing the roundabout, TfB think that the central light and all the surrounding fixtures should be replaced before Christmas.   The main light didn’t work at all for 2 years and then for the last 2 years they have been unable to turn it off so it has been lit 24 hours a day!   It has taken much effort over many years to get agreement for the works but we are told that the equipment is now at least in the warehouse and they are just waiting for available time to install it.

The parish council are pleased to be able to support the 1^st Ivinghoe and Pitstone Scout Group by supplying a grant of £640 towards their target of £2,500 to purchase much needed camping equipment for the different troops of Beavers, Cubs and Scouts.   If you can assist them in any way, please get in touch with Keith Steers on 01296-662781 or 0789-9696722

Please find attached a leaflet that is currently being printed and will shortly be distributed to every home in Pitstone by Pitstone Parish Council.

It shows you all the sites that landowners have put forward for residential development over the next 5 years, and more worryingly the ones that could potentially be subject to speculative development such as the Gladman application that recently hit Ivinghoe.

As Aylesbury Vale District Council won’t have their new Local Plan signed off until 2017 at the earliest, the only way to obtain any security for our village is by producing a Neighbourhood Development Plan, which would carry as much weight and provide tangible grounds for AVDC to refuse planning permissions.

The parish council is prepared to find the necessary funding of £10-15,000 to prepare such a plan.   However, the work involved has to be a joint effort between the community and the parish council.   Therefore, if you want to make your voice heard, we need you to come forward and volunteer to join the Steering Committee.  The plan would need to include any impact on education, any additional community facilities that we need, what new infrastructure is required etc.

If we get enough volunteers come forward to make the project viable, there will be some initial work between the Steering Group, Community Impact Bucks, RCOH and Aylesbury Vale District Council.  Then we would be able to hold open meetings for the whole community.

Without resident volunteers coming forward to support this initiative, we will be unable to produce a Neighbourhood Plan.  This will mean that the community & council has very little power to fight any speculative or other planning applications.

Please take the time to read the attached leaflet and volunteer to help us protect and shape our parish.

 

 

 

Pitstone parish council has applied to Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC), as our planning authority, for the designation of the whole of our parish as a neighbourhood area.

This would enable the parish to produce a neighbourhood plan, which would give our residents a voice in the future development of the parish – not just housing, but education, leisure, employment & protection of our community assets etc.

AVDC will now commence a 6 week consultation period which will run from 22 September until 3 November 2014.  You will see the consultation in the local press and the AVDC web site.

The parish council will need the help and commitment of everyone in the parish to produce a neighbourhood plan as they can’t be prepared by a council alone.  If you have been worried about school or pre-school capacities, the number of proposed residential developments or a lack of facilities, now will be the time to speak up and get involved.   The parish council will shortly be distributing some literature to all households and erecting notices, giving you more information and telling you how you can get involved.

Attached you will find a copy of our application letter and the associated parish map.

 

Just a reminder that the Pitstone Youth Café re-opens at 6.30pm on Wednesday 10 September.

Remember to bring your £1 entrance money or speak to Dave and the team about termly payment options.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

Transport for Bucks has advised that Cheddington Road in Pitstone will be closed for 5 days during the period 13/10/14 to 7/11/14 between the hours of 07.00 and 19.00 for highways works.

Pitstone will also be affected by the closure of the Lower Icknield Way in Marsworth between Wingrave Road and Cheddington Road, for 6 nights during the period 15/9/14 to 10/10/14 between the hours of 19.30 and 06.00.

For further information, please refer to the Transport for Bucks web site.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

The school holidays are nearly over, so this is just a reminder that the youth café opens its doors on Wednesday 10 September (not Wed 3 September, even though you are all back at secondary school then).

Remember you can also now pay for your entrance fee either termly or monthly, as well as the original option of just paying £1 each week you visit.   Please speak to Dave Rollins or any member of the AVYFC team.

We look forward to welcoming all our new volunteers and young people!

 

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone parish council

The parish council has been asked if it can help identify a few volunteers that can help at this years British Legion lunch and WWI commemorative event being held at Pitstone Memorial Hall on 14 September.

Helpers are needed to set up, help serve, clear away and man the WWI display.   The lunch itself runs from 12-1pm, set up from 10.30am and should be finished by 4pm.

If you can help for even a short while during this time, with any of these activities, please get in touch with the parish clerk on parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or 01296 660791.

Thank you.

Owning a dog can be hugely rewarding in numerous ways.  However, we would like to encourage all residents to display responsible dog ownership when out with their pets.

Please:

• keep dogs on leads when walking around the residential paths – not all our residents are dog lovers and other walkers may become distressed or worried by your dogs behaviour if it approaches them.
• clear up all dog fouling when you are away from home – it is an offence to allow your dog to foul the footpath or other public places like our recreation ground.  Please bag all fouling whilst you are out walking and place it into one of the numerous dog bins or litter bins provided around the village.
• secure any fouling at home into bags and then dispose of in your green lid refuse bin.
• remember never to leave your dog in your vehicle, even for a short while, when it is hot.
• ensure your dog is micro-chipped – this is shortly to become compulsory, so please get in touch with your vet if you haven’t already chipped your dog and this will also help you to be reunited should your pet become lost.

Thank you.

 

 

The parish council is currently working on a dedicated planning application section for the web site.   In the meantime, following your feedback, we will post details of applications in this news section so that you can find them more easily.

Applications for consideration at the 11 August 2014 parish council meeting are:

Land off Station Road in Ivinghoe (but affects part of the rear of Rushendon Furlong in Pitstone), 14/02002/AOP outline planning application with access to be considered and all other matters reserved for the erection of up to 70 residential units and associated infrastructure.  Subsequent update:  the parish council resolved to oppose this application.

8 Castle Close, 14/02207/APP, conversion of part of an existing integral garage into living accommodation.  Subsequent update: the parish council resolved to tender no objections to this application.

3 Railway Cottages, Cheddington Road, 14/02303/APP, first floor rear extension and replacement front entrance porch   Subsequent update: the parish council resolved to tender no objections to this application.

The plans may be viewed online by going to http://eplanning.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk and searching using the planning reference number above or an appointment can be made with Councillor Robert Saintey on 01296 668633 to view the plans at 2 Albion Road, Pitstone.

Any comments, representations or objections you may have should be submitted directly to AVDC as the planning authority, by the date shown on the yellow site notice, quoting the planning reference number.  This can be done on-line or you can post comments to:

The Head of Development Control, Aylesbury Vale District Council, The Gateway,
Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 8FF

If you wish the parish council to take your comments into consideration when making our recommendation, please also supply the details to us before noon on 21 August 2014.

 

The parish council has received notification from Aylesbury Vale District Council that Gladman have submitted an outline planning application with access to be considered and all other matters reserved for the erection of up to 70 residential units and associated infrastructure on land off Station Road, Ivinghoe.  Whilst the majority of this site falls within the parish of Ivinghoe, part of the site is on ground to the rear of Rushendon Furlong in Pitstone (the brook being the parish boundary).

You can access the planning documents on the Aylesbury Vale District Council planning portal, by searching for planning reference number 14/02002/AOP.

As the parish council only received the substantial application papers on 24/7/14 this application will not be considered by the parish council until our meeting on 21/8/14 to allow sufficient time to give the matter due consideration.

Please submit your comments to the planning authority (AVDC) by the date on the yellow site notice, quoting the application number.  If you wish, you can supply copies of your comments to either/both Pitstone parish council and/or Ivinghoe parish council for consideration.   Both parish councils will, of course, monitor the feedback on the AVDC website but this is not always 100% up-to-date as they sometimes have to scan in and upload correspondence, so if you feel your comments are particularly important it is always best to copy the parish council as well.

Subsequent update: the parish council resolved to oppose this application at their meeting on 21/8/14.

Aged 13+ and want something to do in the holidays? Try out the youth café at Aylesbury college, open Monday to Friday from 11am to 4pm between 28 July and 1 August. Open to anyone 13+. Free entry – food and refreshments for sale. Want to know more? visit youthcafe.info/aylesburycollege or text 07887448680 or email team@youthcafe.info.

This café is run by AVYFC who also run our youth café in Pitstone, so you will see some familiar faces.

Pitstone parish council sets aside a small budget each year to help local groups with expenses for equipment or events.  It is able to offer grants to community and voluntary bodies provided they meet our criteria. 

Criteria:

•  All applicants must provide services that benefit the residents of Pitstone.
• The council reserve the right to prioritise applications that meet identified needs or other areas of focus that may be determined.
• It must be within the legal power of the parish council to supply a grant for the requested purpose.

The next quarterly grant review will take place at the 31 July full council meeting.   Any applications need to be received by noon on 18 July 2014 so that they can be included on the next agenda.   The next review will be on 23 October.

If you think your Pitstone based club or group may wish to apply, please ensure you read our attached “Grant Policy” for full application details.

Youth café has been amazing over the last few weeks and we have been delighted to see so many of the current year 6 children coming along.

This is just a reminder that next week, 16 July, is the last youth café before the summer holidays.   All senior school aged children and current year 6 children welcome.

We hope you all have an amazing summer holiday!

Just a reminder that the parish council has funded two visits from Play around the Parishes this summer holiday on 5/8 and 20/8/14.  Details can be found in the events section of this web site.

The portable skate park is not available for us to hire this summer, but is often at the youth café each week, so if you are of senior school age come along during term time from 6.30-8.00 on Wednesdays during term time.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to the parish council

The parish council is currently working on a dedicated planning application section for the web site.   In the meantime, following your feedback, we will post details of applications in this news section so that you can find them more easily.

Applications for consideration at the 31 July 2014 parish council meeting are:

19 Pitstone Green Cottages, The Green, Pitstone (14/01920/ATP)
Reduce one hornbeam by 15%   Subsequent update:  PPC offered no objections.   AVDC granted.

Ivinghoe parish council has also asked that Pitstone parish council give consideration to responding to application number 14/01572/APP for a solar photovoltaic farm at Great Seabrook Farm in Ivinghoe.

The plans may be viewed online by going to http://eplanning.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk and searching using the planning reference number above or an appointment can be made with Councillor Robert Saintey on 01296 668633 to view the plans at 2 Albion Road, Pitstone.

Any comments, representations or objections you may have should be submitted directly to AVDC as the planning authority, by the date shown on the yellow site notice, quoting the planning reference number.  This can be done on-line or you can post comments to:

The Head of Development Control, Aylesbury Vale District Council, The Gateway,
Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 8FF

If you wish the parish council to take your comments into consideration when making our recommendation, please also supply the details to us before noon on 31 July 2014.

In addition, on 24/7/14 the parish council received notification from AVDC of the following planning application:

Land off Station Road in Ivinghoe (but affects part of the rear of Rushendon Furlong in Pitstone), 14/02002/AOP outline planning application with access to be considered and all other matters reserved for the erection of up to 70 residential units and associated infrastructure.

This application will not be considered by the parish council until the 21/8/14 meeting, to allow sufficient time to consider all the materials and implications.

The parish council is grateful to the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust for their support to prohibit parking on the grass triangles at the end of Yardley Avenue by the junction with Cheddington Road.

PCSO Dodson of Thames Valley Police has been struggling against parking in this area for many months, which has been blocking the junction, reducing road visibility and posing a significant risk to road users.

Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust has agreed to take the necessary action to prevent vehicles from being able to access the grass verges by installing bollards along them.  Works will commence during week beginning 14 July 2014.

Our thanks to VAHT for their prompt actions and assistance.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone parish council

Please note that the portable skate park is not available for the parish council to hire during the summer holidays this year.   If you are attending senior school, you are welcome to come along to the Pitstone Youth Café on a Wednesday evening during term time, where the ramps are often available if the whether is good.

AVYFC will be arranging some holiday activities for youth café aged children and we will post details once they are available.

The parish council continues to strive to install our own permanent skate park and secure the permission of the landowner.   We will keep you updated of any progress.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to the parish council

Due to their budget cuts, Bucks County Council is only funding 6 cuts of the grass verges this year and next year.  The following year, the budget is cut in half again, meaning that in years 3 and 4 the grass verges will only be cut 3 times during the year.   The County Council is investigating devolving their grass and hedge cutting duties, siding out of footpaths and keeping road signs clean to the parish council.  They would provide the same amount of funding that was due to be spent in the parish, but as we would use local contractors, the cuts could be timed better.   If the parish council took on board this duty, there would also be the option to pay for additional cuts from our own element of the council tax, which is not capped in the same way as the County Council budget at present.

The other side of the argument is that environmentalists would encourage the grass verges to be cut less frequently (apart from vision splays) to encourage wild flowers and biodiversity.   A good example of this could be seen along Westfield Road where the wild flowers were beautiful this year (until the grass was cut) including a number of bee orchids.

We need to know the views of our electorate.   This issue affects your village and your council tax payments.   Get in touch before the end of July with your views on these three key questions:
Would you like to see the parish council take over this responsibility?

Would you be willing to pay extra council tax for extra cuts?

Would you like to see some areas left to grow to encourage biodiversity, and if so, which ones?

Please note that the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust and Aylesbury Vale District Council have their own contractors to cut their own areas of grass.  Hence the reason that you might find long grass right next to a cut area at some points around the village.  Whilst we would intend to speak to these two authorities, the offer of funding is currently only from Bucks County Council and only applies to the areas within the 30mph limits (BCC will retain authority for the areas outside the 30mph limits eg the vision splays at the far end of Vicarage Road).

We will be publishing this information on Facebook, Twitter and in the PPP (which is delivered to all homes) as well.   You can get in touch with us via the web site, Facebook, Twitter, phone, email or letter.

Thank you.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

If you lost a set of keys on 30/6/14 please contact the parish clerk and provide a full description.

The parish council is currently working on a dedicated planning application section for the web site.   In the meantime, following your feedback, we will post details of applications in this news section so that you can find them more easily.

Applications for consideration at the 26 June 2014 parish council meeting are:

31 Cheddington Road, Pitstone (14/01224/APP)
Change of use of land to the side for inclusion within the residential curtilage including new fence and gate.   The council received no objections as a result of the neighbour notification scheme.  At the meeting it was RESOLVED to advise AVDC that the parish council had no objection to this application, so long as the two lamp posts owned by the parish council remained outside the fenced area and freely accessible for repair / replacement as necessary.
AVDC permitted.

19 & 20 Pitstone Green Cottages, The Green, Pitstone (14/01647/ALB)
Conversion of numbers 19 & 20 into one property, insertion of internal doorway and new first floor bathrooms.  The council received no objections as a result of the neighbour notification scheme.  At the meeting it was RESOLVED to advise AVDC that the parish council had no objections to this application and defer the issue to the conservation officer.
AVDC permitted.

The plans may be viewed online by going to http://eplanning.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk and searching using the planning reference number above or an appointment can be made with Councillor Robert Saintey on 01296 668633 to view the plans at 2 Albion Road, Pitstone.

Any comments, representations or objections you may have should be submitted directly to AVDC as the planning authority, by the date shown on the yellow site notice, quoting the planning reference number.  This can be done on-line or you can post comments to:

The Head of Development Control, Aylesbury Vale District Council, The Gateway,
Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 8FF

If you wish the parish council to take your comments into consideration when making our recommendation, please also supply the details to us before noon on 26 June 2014.

Pitstone Parish Council is pleased to announce that it has been able to provide financial assistance to the Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity following the discovery of some asbestos sheets in the loft void above the corridor.  The material was discovered as part of a routine Asbestos Management Report commissioned by the Memorial Hall Management Committee in May.   Subsequent quotations obtained for the removal of the material exceeded £15,000 + VAT, a significant sum which was not available to the hall charity.  The parish council resolved to commission these works on behalf of the hall for the long term benefit of our local residents, hall hirers and employees.   Asbestos was a common building material during the 1970s when the hall was originally built.   Please be reassured that air test results confirm that there is no risk to hall hirers and all access to the identified materials has been sealed off.   Work on site will commence within a few weeks and the hall charity will seek to minimise any inconvenience to hall hirers on the day the work is undertaken.

The outline planning application 13/03491/AOP relating to land rear of Glebe Close and Rushendon Furlong, with all matters reserved except means of access, for the erection of 40 residential dwellings together with new access, associated parking and informal open space and attenuation pond will be heard by the AVDC Strategic Development Management Committee on the afternoon of 18 June 2014.

The report and recommendations from AVDC planning can be viewed here (last document at the bottom of the list):

https://publicaccess.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=MXWQODCL0BI00

Subsequent update posted the evening after the AVDC meeting:  after a lengthy debate, AVDC resolved to permit the outline planning application relating to Rushendon Furlong (and a similar outline scheme in Aston Clinton).

Pitstone parish council has received the attached leaflet from Gladman Developments Limited who are proposing a development of approximately 81 new homes on land off Station Road in Ivinghoe.   The majority of the development would stretch from Ford End Farm (by the watermill) up to the rear of the school playing fields, all of which falls within the parish of Ivinghoe.   However, it also proposing a small residential development and some sizable public open space on land to the rear of Rushendon Furlong in the parish of Pitstone.

Gladman will be distributing copies of the attached leaflet to local residents on Friday 13 June and will be advertising in the Leighton Buzzard Observer.   Both Ivinghoe and Pitstone parish councils have encouraged the developer to hold a public meeting.  We will keep you advised.

Further details of the proposal will be posted on their dedicated website www.your-views.co.uk/ivinghoe, which we understand will go live on Friday 13 June to coincide with the leaflet distribution.

Please note that no formal planning application (outline or full) has been submitted by the developer, therefore you will not find any of these details on the AVDC planning portal and are not required to submit any comments to AVDC at this stage.   The developer is seeking local views to help them shape their proposals before any formal application is submitted.    You can respond by email to comments@your-views.co.uk (using ‘Ivinghoe’ as the subject line) or by post to: Your Views Ivinghoe, Gladman House, Alexandria Way, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 1LB.

Pitstone parish council has not been provided with any more information than the public leaflet attached at this point in time, so we are unable to answer any of your detailed questions about this proposal.    We would encourage you to consider the attached leaflet carefully.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

 

Just a reminder to all our residents that the judging for the Best Kept Village competition takes place during June.  Everyone can play their part, as the judges are looking for evidence of community effort and a lack of litter, as well as well maintained public buildings and spaces.

So please make sure that the frontage outside your home is clean, tidy and litter free.

Thank you.

Just a reminder that the parish council has paid for the portable skate park to visit Pitstone between 1-4pm on Wednesday 28 May 2014.  Weather permitting, you’ll find the AVYFC crew at the bottom of Pitstone Memorial Hall car park.  Just come along and join in the fun.  Free.  No need to book.

This is part of the ongoing commitment from the parish council to bring the skate park to Pitstone during school holidays whilst we continue to work with the landowners for permission to install a permanent skate park.

Mary was nominated by the community for the twenty five years she dedicated to being a voluntary trustee of both the Pitstone Town Lands Charity and The Williamson Trust, the last seven years of which she served as Chairman.

Mrs Saintey was presented with her certificate and cheque at the Pitstone Annual Assembly on 13 May 2014 where she reminded everyone how lucky our village was to have two such charities when many other communities are not as fortunate.

A huge thank you to Mary, and the other trustees, from both the members of Pitstone Parish Council and all the residents who have had the pleasure of benefitting from the charities.

There are many people in our village that give up lots of their time to help other residents or community groups.   If you know someone that deserves a special thank you, please send their details to the parish clerk so they can be considered for the 2015 award.    The winner is presented with a framed certificate and cheque at the Annual Parish Assembly and is also entered into the AVDC Volunteer of the Year scheme.

If anyone left a jacket in the Windsor Road playground over the weekend, please contact the parish clerk (parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk) and provide a description.

Thank you.