Archives: PPC News

The Parish Council is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a grant of £2,080 by the Buckinghamshire County Council Local Area Forum towards the cost of providing an outdoor table tennis table, stunt scooters, skateboards and hoops to keep the young people that attend the youth cafe fit and active.

The young people themselves are holding fundraising activities to raise their contribution and the parish council has supported their application with a financial contribution.  The orders and being placed and the new equipment will be provided upon receipt.

We’d also like to express our gratitude to Brookmead School for their ongoing support of the young people that attend the youth cafe.

 

 

The Parish Council is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a grant of up to £1,681 by the Buckinghamshire County Council Local Area Forum as 50% of the cost towards a second mobile vehicle activated sign (mVAS) for the village.

The parish council operates our mVAS along the four major through-roads in the village ie Marsworth Road, Cheddington Road, Vicarage Road and Westfield Road.  The unit operates for approximately 6 weeks (depending on volume of activation) on one battery charge.  Following the 6 weeks the unit is uplifted, the data collected, new batteries inserted and the unit is moved to the next location on the rotation.  The addition of a second unit will enable each site to be monitored on an approximate 6-weeks on & 6-weeks off basis, rather than only being monitored every fourth rotation.

The order has been placed for the second mVAS unit and members of the public will see it in operation in the new year.

Annual Christmas Present appeal

The Parish Council is happy to support the County Council with this appeal.  If any residents wish to donate gifts, these are always very much appreciated by the children, and can be dropped off to 9 Warwick Road, Pitstone.  By providing a local drop off point, we hope to encourage more residents to provide a gift for a child in care, and to limit environmental impact by reducing the number of vehicle movements into Aylesbury.  Your gifts will be stored off site and regularly collected by the local County Councillors to ensure that they reach the children in good time for Christmas.

The annual appeal, now in its fifth year, sees County Council employees, county councillors and members of the public, donate Christmas presents throughout November and December for disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people across the county. The presents will be handed over to children and young people by members of the council’s Children’s Services teams in time for Christmas.

Tolis Vouyioukas, Executive Director for Children’s Services, said: “Our employees are fantastic, caring people and for the last few years they’ve really committed to supporting our appeal by donating many hundreds, if not thousands, of presents.

“We are thrilled to be running the collection again this year as we know how much all our staff want to help make Christmas that little bit better for children who otherwise might not receive much. I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to every member of staff who brings in a present; it will make a real and tangible difference to the disadvantaged families we work with.

“Supporting us with the appeal again this year are a number of local residents, community organisations and businesses who together provide a lot of support, for which we are very grateful.”

Donation guidelines:

We would welcome gifts for children aged from babies to 19 years old, male or female

There are more disadvantaged children in the 10 – 16 age range than any other – so we do need most gifts for that age range

We ask that you leave the gift unwrapped so that we know what gender and age the present is for

Thank you to all the Pitstone residents that support this initiative.

The parish council would like to thank everyone that submitted an entry into the Design a Sign competition.   We have been delighted with both the high level of response and the quality of the artwork drawn by the children.

Judging will take place shortly and we will then be in contact with the winners.

Further news will be posted to our website once it is available.

Thank you for your patience.

The parish council offers grants to local community groups and charities that benefit Pitstone residents.  Applications are considered quarterly.   The next opportunity for grants to be considered is coming up on 30 January 2020.

Please see the grant policy on this web site (http://pitstone.co.uk/ppcinfo/grant-policy/ ) for further information or contact the parish clerk.

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.   Therefore, all materials must be received from your group by Monday 20 January 2020.

Is there someone who goes the extra mile and volunteers to help residents of Pitstone?  Maybe they regularly help their neighbours by collecting their shopping or taking them to their appointments?  Maybe they help run one of the local clubs?  Remember to send a message to the parish council (parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or 9 Warwick Road, Pitstone) by the end of January 2020 with a description of who you would like to nominate for our volunteer of the year and why you think they are so wonderful.  The winner receives £50 and a framed certificate, as a thank you from us to them.

We are delighted that the local charity who owned the land at the end of the Recreation Ground which has historically been used for the play area and half the football pitch is finally in a legal position which enables them to dispose of this parcel of land to the Parish Council.    The council is most grateful to Aylesbury Vale District Council for their support with this initiative and a release of Section 106 funding to facilitate the purchase of the land.

Now that the land is within the council’s ownership, we can progress with the removal of the old play equipment and installation of the new, challenging play space.  At the point of writing, we are finalising details with the supplier and waiting for them to confirm an installation date.   This is likely to be early in 2020 once the worst of the weather is behind us.  We will keep residents advised of progress.

Once the play space details have been confirmed, the council will be able to commence procurement of the long- awaited concrete skate park.  Look out for more updates in due course.

The parish council is delighted to announce that it has secured two further sources of grant funding towards the redevelopment of the pavilion site.   We are very grateful that this project has received £10,000 funding from the  Thriving Communities Fund, a grants scheme for community projects run by Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust.  If you would like more information about the grants available, please call the Grants Officer, on 01296 732600.

We are also delighted that Aylesbury Vale District Council has approved awarding £540,000 towards this project from the Section 106 Sports and Leisure Contributions.  Alongside the previous award of £370,000 from Aylesbury Vale District Council’s New Homes Bonus and financial contributions from both the football clubs and the parish council, we now hope to have enough funding pledged to offer security to potential contractors and will commence procurement procedures – we will keep residents advised of progress.   The council will continue to apply for further grant funding until the final costs for all elements are known and works are completed.

 

Please find below a document seeking expressions of interest from contractors in relation to the works to extend and refurbish the sports pavilion on Marsworth Road.

All timescales and requirements re submissions etc are contained within the document.

PITSTONE PC Pavilion – Pre Tender Notice Final

Thank you to everyone who completed the West Midlands Trains survey at Tring Station about usage of the station and how you access the service.  WMT were impressed with the level of response they received and are using the information obtained to help formulate effective longer-term strategies for the station.

There will be a short-term reduction in parking at the station due to engineering works.  West Midlands Trains are therefore introducing a Lift Share Scheme for the site, to help reduce the number of single occupant vehicles requiring parking.  Lift Sharing should be a viable option as there are lots of commuters travelling independently, lots of departures are clustered around a few key train times, and our village is relatively compact so picking up another passenger on-route to the station doesn’t take very long.

Please see the leaflet for full details:

A5 Flyer – Tring

You can register as a driver or passenger, select the station you use, and W M Trains find a match for people heading in the same direction at similar times of the day or week.

You can also visit wmtrains.liftshare.com for more information, or email accessibility@wmtrains.co.uk or call 07970447880.

Hopefully you will all save money on petrol & parking, make new friends, and enjoy the experience so much that you’ll continue to car share once the parking provision is re-introduced!

Users must be over 18 years.

The parish council is a consultee for all planning applications submitted to AVDC.  Applications for consideration at the meeting being held on Thursday 10 October 2019 at 7.00pm in the Millennium Room at Pitstone Memorial Hall:

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 the day of the meeting to allow sufficient time for the information to be circulated to all councillors.

Our meetings are all open to public and you are welcome to attend and express your views in person during the public participation session.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

 

Pitstone Parish Council is calling on our young people (under 18 years) to design some bright, colourful anti-speeding signs to encourage drivers to slow down and take care when driving through our village.   A selection of winning artwork will be converted into temporary signs and erected along our main through-roads to act as reminders to motorists, which will be especially important as the nights start to draw in and children are returning from school and clubs in the dark.

Each winner will be presented with an A2 copy of their artwork made into a sign for them to keep.  They will also be able to see their winning designs up on display around the village.

Entry forms are being distributed via Brookmead School, Brownies, Rainbows, Guides, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and the Youth Cafe.   You can also download a copy of the Entry Form using the link below.

How to enter:

1. Draw your design on a sheet of plain white A4 paper. Make your design as bright and colourful as possible and use big bold writing so that once it is made into a big sign (some will be A3, some A2) drivers can read it as they pass.  We can’t erect posters that look like actual road signs (for example, don’t include a number 30 inside a red circle), so make sure your poster is unique!
2. We need to be able to scan your artwork, to be able to convert it into a sign, so please avoid using glitter or sticking things onto your posters. Keep your artwork flat and do not crumple or fold your poster.
3. Complete the form which you can download from the link below, or which you will have received from Brookmead School or one of our local clubs.
4. Return your artwork and form to : Pitstone Parish Council, 9 Warwick Road, Pitstone, Beds, LU7 9FE by Friday 25 October 2019.
   

Entry Form here: design a sign entry form

Please remember to complete and return the Entry Form because we need your parents telephone number and email address so we can reach you if you are a winner and get permission for your artwork to be used.   Unfortunately we can only use artwork where we can obtain the necessary permissions.  We look after your data carefully, you can see our privacy policy here: Privacy Notice – General 2019  Your personal information will be erased once the competition has concluded.

Terms and conditions:

1. Children may submit more than one design if they wish.
2. All entrants must be under 18 years.
3. All artwork must be supplied with a completed Entry Form.
4. All artwork must be capable of being scanned and turned into a temporary road sign to be considered.
5. All artwork must be received by Friday 25 October 2019.
6. The Parish Council is not permitted to display temporary signs which resemble proper road signs and therefore artwork must be original as the Parish Council will need approval from the Highways Authority.
7. The judges decision will be final.
8. Parents will be contacted if their child’s design is chosen as a winner and consent obtained for utilising the artwork etc.  Therefore, please ensure your contact details are supplied on the Entry Form.
9. There is no cash alternative to the prize.

 

Rob has joined the council following the departure of Councillor Gillian Arney.

Rob says “I have been a parish councillor for 12 years in the neighbouring parish of Aldbury. I have lived at Tring Station for over 40 years and during my working life, I used to be a regular train commuter to London. For the last 4 years, I have attended Pitstone Parish Council meetings and have found that the issues facing Pitstone are very often the same problems as faced by the parish of Aldbury. I have always been a firm believer in co-operation between parish councils and am also vice chairman of the Hertfordshire Association of Parish & Town Councils (HAPTC).”

We are sure that you will join us in extending a warm welcome to Rob.

The parish council offers grants to local community groups and charities that benefit Pitstone residents.  Applications are considered quarterly.   The next opportunity for grants to be considered is coming up on 31 October 2019.

Please see the grant policy on this web site (http://pitstone.co.uk/ppcinfo/grant-policy/ ) for further information or contact the parish clerk.

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 parish council is a consultee for all planning applications submitted to AVDC.  Applications for consideration at the meeting being held on Thursday 5 September 2019 at 7.30pm in the Millennium Room at Pitstone Memorial Hall:

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 the day of the meeting to allow sufficient time for the information to be circulated to all councillors.

Our meetings are all open to public and you are welcome to attend and express your views in person during the public participation session.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

 

Hello, the parish councils know that for many residents (especially those who don’t drive), accessing social activities in neighbouring villages, going to the shops or even visiting loved ones in nursing homes, can be really difficult given that we have a limited public transport service.

 

So, the local councils (Pitstone, Marsworth, Ivinghoe and Cheddington) are gathering information about the types of activities and places that you feel you would like to be able to reach, to assess whether a community minibus service in the local villages would help to break down these barriers.  It may be able to offer some services where it collects residents from their homes, or some set routes.

 

We need as many people as possible to complete the survey so that we can investigate providing the most suitable service.  You can complete the survey online here:  http://pitstone.co.uk/cbsurvey (open until Friday 1 November).   Alternatively you can complete the printed paper survey which will be hand delivered to all homes in Pitstone over the course of the next few weeks and return it to the contact details at the end of the survey, by Friday 1 November 2019 (you can also print a paper copy from this link: community bus survey final ).   Other parishes will be publishing the survey in their parish magazines and/or delivering leaflets and/or publishing on their websites, so that we can reach as many residents as possible.

The parish council will provide details of the results, and any updates on the project, via PPP and our social media channels/website.

We take care of your data, and you can find details of our privacy notice & policies online at www.pitstone.co.uk.

Thank you for your help.

The parish council is a consultee for all planning applications submitted to AVDC.  Applications for consideration at the meeting being held on Thursday 22 August 2019 at 7.30pm in the Meeting Room at Pitstone Memorial Hall:

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 the day of the meeting to allow sufficient time for the information to be circulated to all councillors.

Our meetings are all open to public and you are welcome to attend and express your views in person during the public participation session.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

 

“Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) – also known as Sites of Biological Importance (SBI) or Sites of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC) – are areas which are locally important for the conservation of wildlife. They are identified and selected for the significant habitats and species that they contain.”

In Pitstone, we are lucky enough to have a Local Wildlife Site off Westfield Road.  There is a Right of Way diagonally across the centre.  The land is owned by Taylor Wimpey and they have granted permissive access to the rest of the site, so you will find a number of foot-trodden tracks.

Our Local Wildlife Site is one of the most important sites in the country for the rare small blue butterfly and also home to a variety of species of orchid, as well as other wild flowers, butterflies, birds and insects.

It is important that the site is respected and cared for.  It is not an area of waste land.  It is mown once per year as this is the optimum treatment to encourage growth of the wild flowers.  Please ensure that you try to stick to the tracks and paths as this helps to prevent the flora and fauna from being disturbed.  Please ensure you pick up and responsibly dispose of any dog fouling, as excessive fouling left in the field hinders the growth of certain wild flowers, which in turn affects the butterflies that would normally feed on them.

A new dog bin has been provided by Taylor Wimpey near the maintenance gate off Westfield Road and the parish council has agreed to pay for its ongoing maintenance and emptying.  You will also find parish council maintained dog bins by the entrance from Church Road, the entrance from Hever Close and the entrance from Westfield Road.

We hope that you visit the site frequently to enjoy all wildlife, leaving behind only footprints and taking only photographs away with you.

Please get in touch with the parish clerk on parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or 01296 767261 if the above bicycle belongs to you.

Thank you.

The parish council is a consultee for all planning applications submitted to AVDC.  Applications for consideration at the meeting being held on Thursday 25 July 2019 at 7.30pm in the Millennium Room at Pitstone Memorial Hall:

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 the day of the meeting to allow sufficient time for the information to be circulated to all councillors.

Our meetings are all open to public and you are welcome to attend and express your views in person during the public participation session.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

 

This Wednesday (10 July) is the last week of youth cafe for this term.  We are closed on Wednesday 17 July and all through the summer holidays.  Amazingly, over 750 local children have benefited from the youth cafe since the parish council first launched it in November 2011.

Some of our long standing volunteers have unfortunately had to step down this term and we are very short of volunteers from September.  Volunteering with us is fun – our volunteers get to race remote control cars, take on a console game challenge, play sports, make crafts etc.  Age is no barrier, many of our volunteers are retired.   Please consider joining our friendly crew and volunteering with the youth cafe.  We are open 6.30-8pm on a Wednesday evening during term time.  If you can help every week, or every other week, that would be marvellous – even helping once a month would be very helpful.

You can find out more about the youth cafe here: http://pitstone.co.uk/ppcinfo/youth-cafe/

Please ring the parish clerk, Laurie, on 01296 767261 or email parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk.   We have about 45 fabulous young people each week that would be very grateful for your support and would love to spend some time with you!

 

 

You are now able to submit your nominations for the Pitstone Volunteer of the Year 2020, 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.    As well as being an opportunity for you and the parish council to thank them in public, the winner receives a £50.00 award and framed certificate.

 

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 2020.

The new franchise operator, West Midlands Trains, is in the process of undertaking a Station Travel Plan for Tring and Cheddington stations which will include a survey of users to see how you get to Tring station and what improvements you would like to see.

The results from this survey will help to provide supporting evidence for any schemes that arise from the project and any requests for funding that are required.  It is really important that as many residents as possible respond to this survey because it may help to justify a cycle route along Northfield Road, possible public transport options to & from the station and/or parking solutions etc.

The surveys are also being handed out at the station and will be included in the forthcoming PPP.

Please click the link to complete the survey:

https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/TringLNR/

Inconsiderate parking is another area that seems to cause a multitude of problems around the village, especially where the roads are narrow, where parking causes visibility problems at junctions, when vehicles park on the pavement so pedestrians are forced into the highway, and when people park on top of ‘keep clear’ signs.

Here is some useful information provided to us by Thame Valley Police and Bucks Fire.

According to the Highway Code, you must not park:

• On a pedestrian crossing, including the area marked by the zig-zag lines
• In marked taxi bays
• In a cycle lane
• On red lines
• In spaces reserved for Blue Badge holders, residents or motorbikes (unless entitled to do so)
• Near a school entrance, including the area marked by the zig-zag lines
• Anywhere that would prevent access for Emergency Services at or near a bus stop
• Opposite or within 10 meters of a junction
• Over a dropped kerb
• In front of the entrance to a property

Answers to the top parking related questions:

* You don’t have the right to the parking space outside your house. So long as they don’t break the law or contravene parking regulations or restrictions, anyone can park there.

* You can’t force your neighbour to utilise their garage or driveway should they choose to park on the road instead.

* There is no restriction on how long a vehicle may park there, so long as it is taxed, insured and has an MOT. The only exception being if the police believe it to be abandoned.

* Driving on a pavement has been banned since the Highways Act of 1835. Parking on the pavement in London is banned in the Highway Code. If you do park partially on the pavement you must leave enough clearance for a double buggy to safely use the path, otherwise you will be committing other offences.

* The law only deals with obstruction to the highway, not your driveway. If someone has parked in such a way that your driveway is being blocked the police might be able to give you advice, but probably wouldn’t be able to take any action other than asking them to move it.

* If someone parks on your actual driveway without your permission, this is trespassing. Trespass is a civil, rather than criminal, offence. This means that the police are powerless to take action.

Access for Emergency Vehicles and Refuse Lorries

Firefighters are urging people to think about access for emergency service vehicles when parking in the street. Inconsiderate parking causes them to lose valuable time, and this could be vital if they are responding to an emergency incident. A fire engine needs 10ft (3 metres) clearance to pass safely and it doesn’t need to be a whole row of cars to cause a delay, it only takes two cars almost opposite each other, to cause an obstruction. Bucks Fire urge residents to think about their parking as they could be putting the lives of their families, friends and neighbours at risk.

…so please be considerate when using and parking your vehicle.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) are tackling a drugs problem in our village.  They are aware of both drug use and sale within the parish.  Initially activity was centred around the area by the Memorial Hall and Recreation Ground but as patrols have increased in this area, users are now dispersing around the village and activity has been witnessed in the woods by Pitstone church, in the woods off Marsworth Road, some of our residential roads, other areas of open space, the industrial park and the paths behind the allotments.

 

TVP can’t be in all areas all the time so they need your help.  They have asked for residents to report anything you witness either by calling 101 or by logging a report via their website (https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/ro/report/) this will help them build up their intelligence about who is involved, what areas they are using and what days/times, which will help them to target their patrols.  Any descriptions about the vehicles or people involved are also helpful.   Police patrols are centred on areas with the highest levels of crime reported, therefore your reports also help to ensure that Pitstone is included in more frequent patrols and allocation of police time.  So if you’ve wondered about a vehicle going up and down your road several times a day but doesn’t belong to anyone who lives there, or witnessed people smoking cannabis or using drugs, or seen a deal taking place, please take a few moment to log onto their website and report it.

 

Perhaps you are a parent of a young adult who has started to act differently, or stay out late, or hang around with different people.  Get advice about how you can help someone who may be experimenting with drugs from https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/treatment/what-to-do-if-your-adult-friend-or-loved-one-has-problem-drugs or  https://www.talktofrank.com/ or contact Thames Valley Police.

 

Whilst some individuals are known to be local, others are coming into our village from Tring or Aylesbury and surrounding areas.  Let us all work together to ensure that everyone knows that Pitstone is not the place to go and that drug use will not be tolerated.

Some of the most common complaints raised with the parish council, or at the annual assemblies, relate to anti-social behaviour committed by other people such as:

• dog fouling left on footpaths and in open spaces despite dog bins being provided,
• inconsiderate parking that puts other road users or pedestrians at risk,
• speeding, which we’re told are often local vehicles, so perhaps you drive carefully along your own road but then speed up along the through roads,
• anti-social/dangerous driving such as spinning donuts at the industrial estate or overtaking whilst there are oncoming vehicles along Westfield Road,
• littering despite rubbish bins being provided.

We live in a wonderful rural village, surrounded by beautiful countryside, which we should all appreciate and value.  Please spare a moment to consider the impact of your actions on other residents and be the type of neighbour that you would like your neighbours to be.

The new franchise operator, West Midlands Trains, is in the process of undertaking a Station Travel Plan for Tring and Cheddington stations which will include a survey of users to see how you get to Tring station and what improvements you would like to see.  The results from this survey will help to provide supporting evidence for any schemes that arise from the project and any requests for funding that are required.  It is really important that as many residents as possible respond to this survey because it may help to justify a cycle route along Northfield Road, possible public transport options to & from the station and/or parking solutions etc.

Please watch the Parish Council website, Facebook, Twitter feed and noticeboards and we will share the details with you as soon as they are available.

We are pleased to report that the landowner is now in a position to negotiate with the Parish Council over our application to purchase the parcel of land we need for the new play space and skate park.   We are being supported by Aylesbury Vale District Council with a release of Section 106 leisure monies to enable this purchase.  Matters are currently progressing through the various legal representatives, and once concluded we hope to review the proposed playspace with the contractor and commence tendering for a skate park.  We will keep residents updated.

Pitstone: the facts & a personal perspective

by Anil Mitra, Pitstone Parish Councillor 

 

Having lived in another tranquil and picturesque Buckinghamshire village for over 20 years, my wife and I moved to Pitstone in the summer of 2015 to be closer to our grandchildren.

As soon as we moved, the warmth and tranquil nature of the village was clear. There is a real sense of community which is the main reason I felt encouraged to get involved in the Parish Council.  Whether having a leisurely walk, popping to the shop, visiting the pharmacy or doctors or taking children to the pre-school or school, there is always a sense of friendliness with plenty of hellos from passing villagers or people stopping for conversation. This is the atmosphere my wife and I were looking during our retired years.

The pretty location of Pitstone and Ivinghoe on edge of the Chiltern Hills with Ivinghoe Beacon, the Windmill on our doorstep makes our little village attractive to so many different types of people and as the community expands, people seem to be coming far and wide to re-locate or move here. The village has a long history and the book, Pitstone 2000: The Village from the earliest times to the present captures the entire story and makes a very interesting read.

The facts about our village (the following text is taken from the book Pitstone 2000 from the earliest times to the present) .

Situated in Buckinghamshire on the border of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, Pitstone is located on the edge of Chiltern Hills along the east of the vale of Aylesbury with the eastern end marked 3 miles away by Tring railway station and located seven miles from the market town of Leighton Buzzard and 9 miles east of Aylesbury.

The neighbouring villages of Pitstone and Ivinghoe operate separately yet are closely linked in daily life. The population of Pitstone is growing at a rapid rate: by 1971, the population hit 1147 (Pitstone) and 949 (Ivinghoe) yet in 2001, Pitstone grew to approximately 2500.

In terms of topography and transport, chalk is the predominant sub surface layer and the chalk hills’ drainage is affected by the Thames Basin. Chalk helped to create a cement factory of three quarries with clear visibility of College Lake. The road network is formed mainly by Icknield Way, running along the Pitstone Hills and is one of the earliest roads used as a trading route. Marsworth Road is the main village road connecting to Ivinghoe High Street and the village of Marsworth. Whilst Cheddington Road connects us to Cooks Wharf and Cheddington. In 1894, Pitstone Parish took over the work of flooding and in 1940, Pitstone was connected to mains sewers. In 1950, 24 post-war houses were completed in The Crescent and the Memorial Hall was built in Pitstone.

Pitstone Windmill is an important landmark and forms the logo for Pitstone Parish Council. In 1627, the framework was carved yet damage left the mill financially unfeasible to repair. In 1970, restoration was completed thanks to funds and awards and since has continued to be a symbol of the village’s historic past.

In 1974, Pitstone became one of 108 Parishes in Aylesbury Vale District. After the 1991 closure of Cement Works, the new estate, Castlemead, began to take shape in 1999, expanding over the following 20 years and increasing the population of Pitstone by 35%. With this increase, travel and communication continues to be an area of concern. It has often raised the discussion about Pitstone having its own railway station with the first attempt made in 1910 for its introduction. With the village expanding, this discussion is looming again.

What needs to be improved?

As Pitstone and Ivinghoe continue to expand, the village will need to adapt to manage the new pressures on resources and local facilities. However, there are two key areas that residents have raised with the parish council:

• Road safety: traffic has already become a major problem in our village with speeding cars and HGVs using Marsworth Road and Westfield Road as through ways. The volume of traffic from the business park and the school area can cause further congestion. This can make it dangerous for all those using our roads, whether on foot, bicycle or car. Improving the situation would mean introducing pelican crossings, such as near the roundabout across to Marsworth Road and across Vicarage Road to allow school children to cross traffic heavy roads safely, working with the council to stop so many HGVs coming through the village, better road humps to control excessive speeds and introducing measures around the school to prevent the morning and mid-afternoon congestion. An increase of traffic calming measures across the village is definitely needed.
• Sports and Leisure Activity: We already have a lot going on in our village in terms of entertainment and sports etc but improving our parks and leisure facilities for the younger generation will be a definite step forward

 

Future plans:

The Parish Council are working hard to listen and address all the requests from residents. With so many plans for further expansion in the village, it is important that the facilities and roads are reviewed and adapted to meet the needs of our residents. This is all in hand and we always welcome feedback about anything that can improve Pitstone.  There is a warm, caring and friendly atmosphere in the village. It is an area steeped in history which is embracing all the plans for the future with enthusiasm and pride. With all this and the dedication of those that live here, Pitstone is truly lovely place to live and has an exciting future ahead.

Residents have complained about dog fouling along our footpaths, on our recreation ground, along the permissive footpaths and in the Local Wildlife Site off Westfield Road (which is not common ground as it is in private ownership & all dog fouling should be cleared).   This inconsiderate behaviour from a minority of dog owners is completely unacceptable and causes particular problems on the approach to Brookmead School and Windmill Pre-School where it gets onto the wheels of pushchairs, onto children’s shoes and then onto the carpets in the schools, where children then have to sit and touch the flooring with their hands.

 

How serious is this?

Dog mess is not only unpleasant it is a risk to health. The biggest threat to public health from dog excrement is toxocariasis, an infection of the roundworm toxocara canis. The eggs of the parasite can be found in soil or sand contaminated with faeces and if swallowed, result in infection that lasts between six and 24 months. Symptoms include eye disorders, vague ache, dizziness, nausea, asthma and, in extremely rare cases, seizures/fits. Toxocariasis most commonly affects small children as they tend to put their hands in their mouths after crawling around.

 

It is an offence for dog owners to fail to clear up any dog foul left by their dogs.

Offenders can be issued with a fixed penalty notice or a fine of up to £1,000 if the case goes to court.  Being unaware that your dog has fouled or not having a suitable means of clearing up after your dog is no excuse – you should carry poop scoop bags whenever you are out with your dog.

 

Where do I have to clear up after my dog?

You should clean up after your dog wherever you are. Kicking dog waste into the gutters is not acceptable. Nor is kicking it under a hedge.

 

Where can I dispose of my dog’s waste?

There are currently 16 dog waste bins in Pitstone alone.  However, you can dispose of dog waste in suitable bags in any public litter bin, of which there are another 19 in Pitstone, so there are 35 opportunities for you to dispose of your waste as you walk through our village.  You can also take your dog waste home and dispose of it in your green general household waste bin.

 

 

 

What else can I do to help keep Pitstone clear of dog waste?

Please report all incidents of dog fouling on footpaths, to the Aylesbury Vale District Council dog warden service via their online reporting form available at https://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/dog-fouling.  AVDC can implement more frequent cleansing visits or patrols by the dog warden if they are aware of a large-scale problem.

 

If you witness someone allowing their dog to foul, please report them to AVDC using the webpage above which also gives you some useful advice about the type of information they need in order to approach and fine a dog owner.   Photographic evidence on your mobile phone would be very helpful in securing a prosecution.

 

 

Let’s work together to prove that dog fouling in our public open spaces and on our footpaths will not be tolerated and culprits will be reported and fined.

The parish council offers grants to local community groups and charities that benefit Pitstone residents.  Applications are considered quarterly.   The next opportunity for grants to be considered is coming up at the July parish council meeting.

Please see the grant policy on this web site (http://pitstone.co.uk/ppcinfo/grant-policy/ ) for further information or contact the parish clerk.

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.

Further to the recent Notice of Vacancy, AVDC has confirmed that the parish did not call for an election and therefore the parish council can now co-opt a member to serve the remaining term of office ie until May 2020.   In May, there will be an election for the whole parish council and all members are required to re-stand or stand down.

If you are passionate about improving the life of local residents, and have plenty of spare time to volunteer with the council (all councillors are volunteers) then you may like to read the documents below to find out a little more about what is involved and who is qualified to stand:

about council booklet

Become a councillor

PPC general leaflet Dec 18

PPC Key projects leaflet jan 19

Code of Conduct May 2019 version

As a councillor, you also become trustee of two local charities, so you may also like to read:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-essential-trustee-what-you-need-to-know-cc3

If you would like further information, or to express an interest in joining the parish council, please get in touch with the parish clerk on parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or 01296 767261 as soon as possible and we will get a full information pack to you.  Applications required before Friday 21 June 2019 so that we can arrange an interview with you.

 

 

 

Good news.  Full planning has been granted for the improved pavilion building by Aylesbury Vale District Council.  Illustrative pictures above.  Layouts etc available below.

The parish council is now working to secure sufficient funding to undertake this project and to commence the lengthy public procurement process.  We will keep residents advised of progress.

17944-PL40 – Proposed Visuals and References_Rev C

17944-PL20 – Proposed Site Plan_Rev D

17944-PL02 – Existing Site Plan_0

17944-PL21 – Proposed Plans_Rev C

17944-PL03 – Existing Plans_0

17944-PL30 – Proposed Elevations_B

Very many congratulations to Dave Seaton on being awarded Pitstone Volunteer of the Year 2019.

Dave has served for 8 years on the Pitstone & Ivinghoe Entertainments committee putting in many hours of voluntary work to bring the Summer Festival and Bonfire & Fireworks Events to our community, the last few years of which he has served as Chairman.  Dave will unfortunately be stepping down later this year and will be sorely missed by his fellow committee members.

Parish Council Chairman, Dave Nicholls, presented the framed certificate, card and cheque for £50.00 to Dave Seaton at the Annual Parish Assembly on Tuesday evening.

Dave was the 11th recipient of this annual award.   If you know someone who goes above and beyond with their voluntary efforts to bring benefits to the residents of Pitstone, then please submit your nominations for next years award to the parish clerk on parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk.

 

Councillor Gillian Arney stepped down from the parish council at the last meeting after over 20 years of service.  Our thanks are given to Gill for all her commitment to our community.

As a result, a vacancy has arisen on Pitstone Parish Council for the office of Parish Councillor.  If any ten electors give notice in writing to the Returning Officer by Monday 3 June requesting an election be held, the vacancy will be filled at a by-election.  If no such notice is received the Parish Council will seek to fill the vacancy by co-option of a suitably qualified person.  Please see the notice attached for full details.

The position will last until the elections in May 2020, at which point all existing members will be required to stand for re-election should they wish to continue on the council and new members of the community may also stand.  At this election, the number of seats will also increase from 10 to 11 to reflect the growing population.

Please find attached an introductory leaflet about the work of a parish council.  If you would be interested in joining the parish council, please contact the parish clerk on parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or 01296 767261 and we will be happy to supply you with further details.

The parish council is a consultee for all planning applications submitted to AVDC.  Applications for consideration at the meeting being held on Thursday 30 May 2019 at 7.30pm in the Millennium Room at Pitstone Memorial Hall:

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 the day of the meeting to allow sufficient time for the information to be circulated to all councillors.

Our meetings are all open to public and you are welcome to attend and express your views in person during the public participation session.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

 

Drivers urgently needed

In Pitstone, we have a number of residents that are unable to drive, don’t benefit from having local relatives, and find it very difficult to access their medical and hospital appointments by the limited public transport services in the village.

Pitstone operates a Community Car scheme, where our residents can phone our coordinator who will check if there is a volunteer available to take them to their appointment.  We desperately need more drivers to keep the scheme operating.  It provides a much appreciated service and helps to reduce both stress and costs for residents during often worrying times of medical need.  The resident pays the driver a set fee for the destination they need, to cover the cost of petrol/parking.

Drivers only accept the journeys that they are able to accommodate/fits with their diary – so if you only want to accept journeys to Tring or Pitstone surgeries/clinics that is absolutely fine & if you are happy to drive someone out to Stoke or Oxford hospitals, that is also much appreciated.  There is no minimum or maximum commitment required.  Please don’t feel that the time you may be able to contribute may be too small, every assistance is very valuable to the scheme.

Could you become one of our volunteer drivers, using your own vehicle?  Training and support will be provided.  Expenses paid.

Please get in touch with the Pitstone Community Car Scheme Coordinator on communitytransport@pitstone.co.uk or
01296 767116

Did you know that we have almost 3,500 residents in the village now? We have a high proportion of people under 18 years (almost 30%) and approximately 12% of people that have reached retirement age.

We produce a quarterly magazine called Pitstone Parish Post (PPP) which is not only hand delivered to every home in the parish, but is also delivered to all the business units on the industrial park and published online.

If you are looking to attract customers from Pitstone, why not consider advertising in the PPP magazine?

• Submissions for the October edition have now closed.  The next deadline for submissions is January 2020.
• Quarter page £15, Half page £27, Full page £54.  Inside cover/back page half page in colour £32.50 or full page in colour £65.   Discounts available for pre-payment of 4 editions.
• Please contact the Editor on pppeditor@pitstone.co.uk & the Advertising Manager on klausginda@btinernet.com to reserve your space.

The parish council is seeking quotations for the following in connection with works planned at our allotment site later this autumn:

Location: Pitstone Allotments, Marsworth Road, Pitstone (opposite Woodz Pizza/Masons store).

1. To relocate a section of perimeter post and wire fence approximately 8m long, to be moved by 1.5m away from the allotment site and into the adjacent track site.  If you walk up the track beside the allotments you will see some blue paint to mark the new location by the 2nd sharp bend (opposite plot 45 on the attached plan).  Will involve 3-4 of the existing posts.  We presume you will be able to re-utilise existing materials, but please specify in your quotation if any new materials are required.
   All contractors must possess public liability insurance (please supply a copy with your quotation) and be able to provide a risk assessment prior to undertaking work.
2. To improve access for tenants, volunteers from the Allotment Association intend to lay some sections of track using a 20 tonne load of stone.  They require the assistance of a wheeled JCB with back actor and front shovel loader, complete with skilled driver.  Please provide quotations for both a full day rate and half day rate.  Please attach evidence of qualifications and suitable public liability insurance.

The parish council will need to provide evidence of insurance etc to the landowner before we can confirm appointment of the contractor.  Please be patient and bear with us whilst we obtain this permission.

Please submit your quotations by Sunday 19 May 2019 to parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or 9 Warwick Road, Pitstone, Beds, LU7 9FE, clearly marking your correspondence “ALLOTMENT QUOTATION”.  All quotations will be opened on Monday 20 May and anonymised data circulated to council for consideration at their meeting on 30 May 2019.

The Parish Council has long aspired to redevelop the leisure facilities on the land adjacent to Pitstone Memorial Hall.  This process has been complicated by a series of land and charity issues, as the land is not currently owned by the parish council.  We hope that these issues will be resolved in the near future, and in preparation, we are undertaking some initial ground-work at the site.

An illustration of the play space selected by the community and for which we already have planning permission is below.  The bulk of the old play equipment will be removed at the same time as the new equipment is installed.

It was originally hoped that an access path the new facilities could be provided along the far side of the hedgerow, but this is no longer feasible and the first section of the access path will now be installed on the recreation ground side of the site.  This will provide safe dry access to the site for pushchairs, wheelchairs and pedestrians and will be extended as the new facilities are installed (but currently won’t reach the entire length as construction vehicles require access at either end).

For safety reasons, the kicking goal unfortunately needs to be temporarily removed.  As part of the residential development around the hall, the developer is installing a new
multi-use ball court (illustration below), for which they have planning permission.

The youth shelter unfortunately needs to be temporarily removed as this area needs to be cleared for the new play equipment and access is required.  It will be stored so that it can be re-installed at a future date.

There remains an ambition to install a concrete skate park between the ball court and the play space.  Procurement for this can only commence once the land is within our
ownership.

We will keep residents updated with progress and apologise for any inconvenience caused by these initial works.

 

The parish council is a consultee for all planning applications submitted to AVDC.  Applications for consideration at a meeting being held on Thursday 9 May 2019 at 7pm in the Millennium Room at Pitstone Memorial Hall:

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 the day of the meeting to allow sufficient time for the information to be circulated to all councillors.

Our meetings are all open to public and you are welcome to attend and express your views in person during the public participation session.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

 

Your PPP is looking for local news stories from the residents of Pitstone. We want to include articles about YOU and everything that makes Pitstone a great place to live. We want to hear about:

● Do you or your family have an interesting talent?
● Is your pet the best?
● Have there been some strange goings-on?
● Are you tenth generation Pitstonion?
● Have you had some impressive achievements?
● What’s been dug up in your garden?

You don’t need to be able to write as local councillor Louise Stoddart will come to you and write the article for you and take a picture to feature in the magazine.

For more details, please contact: ​louise.stoddart@pitstonepc.org

In preparation for some forthcoming leisure development, the parish council needs to undertake some preparatory groundwork to clear access for the contractors and install an access path.

Please find below, details of the works required.

Quotations must be submitted by Friday 12 April.  Work must commence on, or before, 26 April.

If you have any questions or queries, please email parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk and we will ensure that the responses are published so that all potential contractors have access to the same level of information.

Thank you.

Update 9/4/19 : please allow for expansion joints at least every 8m.

 

The parish council is a consultee for all planning applications submitted to AVDC.  Applications for consideration at a meeting being held on 25 April 2019 (time tbc) in the Millennium Room at Pitstone Memorial Hall:

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 the day of the meeting to allow sufficient time for the information to be circulated to all councillors.

Our meetings are all open to public and you are welcome to attend and express your views in person during the public participation session.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

 

The parish council is a consultee for all planning applications submitted to AVDC.  Applications for consideration at a planning committee meeting being held on 28 March 2019 at 7pm in the Millennium Room at Pitstone Memorial Hall:

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 the day of the meeting to allow sufficient time for the information to be circulated to all councillors.

Our meetings are all open to public and you are welcome to attend and express your views in person during the public participation session.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

 

The parish council offers grants to local community groups and charities that benefit Pitstone residents.  Applications are considered quarterly.   The next opportunity for grants to be considered is coming up on 25 April 2019.

Please see the grant policy on this web site (http://pitstone.co.uk/ppcinfo/grant-policy/ ) for further information or contact the parish clerk.

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.

To help users of the bus information panels, Bucks County Council confirm that if a normal time is being shown, then for some reason the GPS tracking of that particular bus is not available in which case the display will disappear at the scheduled time.   If however, the GPS is working and the bus is being tracked, the minutes until arrival should be shown and will count down, and this tracking information should remain on display until the bus arrives.

We hope that clarifies the different display options.

On Monday 18 th February, Pitstone Parish Council took the opportunity to take a guided tour around the Greatmoor Energy from Waste Facility based in Aylesbury. The facility covers the whole of Buckinghamshire and some surrounding areas such as North London. Operated by FCC, Greatmoor sustainably manages the disposal of Buckinghamshire’s household waste by diverting it from landfill to turn into electricity. More than 25 megawatts of energy is recovered from the process of burning
waste which is enough to power 40,000 homes in Bucks.

How does it work?
The facility processes 110,000 tonnes of household (non-recyclable) waste and 235,000 tonnes of trade/commercial waste from bodies such as local authorities. The waste is collected in articulated lorries – using the most efficient vehicles with low emissions and they take the shortest distances from A to B to save fuel.

The waste processing site is enormous! The waste is dropped into a 23 metre deep bunker, a huge grab crane picks up the waste, dropping it into a grate where it burns at approx. 1000 degrees Celsius for 2 hours. The grate moves mechanically turning the waste to ensure full combustion. The grate is 10m x 12m making it the largest single-line facility.  The thermal energy from the combustion process is used to heat a boiler to produce high-pressured steam (400C and 50 bar pressure) that is fed to a turbine for the production and export of 25 megawatts of electricity. Sufficient to power 18% of all Bucks homes.

Emissions Treatment and Monitoring
Gases and fly ash generated from burning the waste passes thought a chemical neutralising system using ammonia, lime and activated carbon, cleaning the emissions. After chemical treatment the flue gases pass into the bag house filter, containing nearly 3,000 filter tunes, before leaving the 95m stack and entering the atmosphere. The emissions are monitored to ensure compliance with legislation and the requirements of the Environmental Permit are maintained. The emissions from the stack are 99% water vapour!

If you want to know more, or visit the UK’s largest single-line energy from waste facility please visit:

www.greatmoor.co.uk