Archives: PPC News

The parish council is pleased to confirm that it has been awarded a grant of £370,000 from Aylesbury Vale District Council’s (AVDC’s) New Homes Bonus Funding Scheme towards the potential redevelopment of the pavilion site.

The planning application relating to the potential improvements to the pavilion site can be found on the AVDC’s planning portal (https://publicaccess.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=PHXDI9CLIQ800&activeTab=summary), or you can find all the  information on the parish council website (http://pitstone.co.uk/ppcnews/potential-improvements-to-pitstone-pavilion/).

AVDC will hold these funds until construction fulfilment, they are not held by the parish council.  We continue to explore other possible sources of funding and will keep residents updated on any progress.   It must again be stressed that the project can’t move forward to the next phase unless the project attracts sufficient grant/other funding.

If you would like more information about the AVDC grant funding available, please contact the grants officer, Jan Roffe, at  jroffe@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk.

We are pleased to report that the forth real-time-information panel has now been installed at the bus stop located near the Local Green Space on Marsworth Road.  All four units are now working and displaying live departure information.  The buses are fitted with GPS which feeds into the system to provide up-to-date travel information.  No more waiting around wondering how late the bus is running, or whether it has already gone, as you’ll be able to see at a glance.

The four units are located at the following bus stops:

• Travelling towards Dunstable:
  • The bus shelter by the Local Green Space on Marsworth Road, in front of The Crescent
  • The new bus shelter on Marsworth Road, by the junction of Rushendon Furlong
• Travelling towards Aylesbury:
  • The bus shelter almost opposite Masons store, between Queen Street & Albion Road, on Marsworth Road
  • The bus shelter outside the Recreation Ground, on Marsworth Road

The information panels have been provided by the housing developers off Rushendon Furlong and Vicarage Road, and are owned and managed by Bucks County Council.

 

 

Applications for consideration at the 3 January 2019  meeting:

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.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

 

The parish council Christmas lights in the tree on the Recreation Ground outside Pitstone Memorial Hall were switched on again on the first Sunday in Advent and will remain illuminated each night time until 12th night, bringing some seasonal cheer and welcoming those attending events at the hall.

May we take this opportunity to wish all of our residents a happy and healthy festive season.

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 January 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.

We are pleased to report that the new kissing gate has now been installed on the Local Green Space between Marsworth Road and The Crescent.  This is situated at the far end of the green space and therefore opens up use of the internal grassed area putting an end to people walking down to the end and then finding that there is was no exit.

The new wooden kissing gate is also suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs to ensure it can be utilised by as many residents as possible.

Extra daffodil bulbs have also now been planted along the inside of the fence line and around a couple of crab apple trees, and both the wooden fence and the mesh fencing have been repaired.

 

 

 

The young people that attend the youth cafe have asked for the council’s help to buy some new equipment. We have worked with them to apply for a grant, and committed some funding towards their target. The youngsters themselves opted to hold bring-and-buy cake sales over the next few weeks to raise their contribution and demonstrate commitment to the potential grant provider. If your child is planning to attend cafe over the next few weeks please consider supporting them by providing a donation of cakes and/or a few extra pennies for them to purchase a cake.

The parish council is pleased to announce that the Bucks County Council Great Brickhill, Wing & Ivinghoe Local Area Forum (BCC LAF) has agreed to allocate £7,535.50 from its Local Priorities Reserve towards the Pitstone Feasibility Study Scheme.  The parish council is also contributing £11,288.96.

As the flow of vehicles, bicycles & pedestrians affects both villages, this is a project we are working on in close partnership with Ivinghoe Parish Council.  The Ivinghoe elements have also been awarded BCC LAF funding, and Ivinghoe Parish Council is also making a financial contribution.

You will recall that concept studies for both parishes were initially commissioned from Ben Hamilton-Baillie Associates (available on our website), and the resulting consultation showed widespread support from both parishes.  Bucks County Council Local Area Forum then worked with the parishes to undertake a Feasibility Stage Road Safety Audit, which concluded in 2017, and outlines several other factors to be taken into consideration within any future design.

The next step needed is the current Feasibility Design Scheme which will aim to identify low-cost short-term measures and long-term structural suggestions, with layout plans of proposed options, commentary on the designs, recommended materials palette, cross sections where appropriate and budget estimates for implementation.

The Local Area Forum has placed the order for this Scheme with Transport for Bucks who will program the works, and we hope to be able to provide an update next spring.

As part of the neighbourhood planning process, and from previous surveys, we know that the community feels strongly that the pavilion site is developed and expanded to become a facility that can be utilised by a far larger sector of our local community.

At the moment, the site is home to senior and junior football pitches along with a changing pavilion.  The facilities were passed to the community many years ago as part of the leisure contributions paid by the developers of the Castlemead estate, but don’t meet the current needs of the football leagues or all the required legislation for public buildings.

The annual bonfire and fireworks event is hosted at the site, but the limited facilities restrict the number of other uses, both indoors and outdoors.

The parish council has been working with a number of partners to develop potential proposals that will provide adequate changing facilities; a multi-function room that will be available for local meetings, events and indoor exercise etc; a parish store & office to enable a wider range of services to be delivered to the community; required ground-keeping and storage facilities and improved parking & access.  The proposed facilities will enable a greater range of indoor and outdoor services to be delivered to the community, now and in the future.  A planning application has now been submitted to Aylesbury Vale District Council, a number of documents are attached below, and you can also view the full details on the AVDC website (https://publicaccess.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/online-applications//search.do?action=simple&searchType=Application) by searching for application number 18/04002/APP.   We encourage all residents to view the plans and submit your comments to AVDC.  The AVDC consultation is open until 10 December 2018.

It must be stressed, that for these proposals to progress to implementation, the council will need to be successful with a number of applications for grant funding to raise the necessary funds for the construction costs.

The council will keep residents updated with progress on both the planning application and our fundraising endeavours.

Attachments:

• Design and Access Statement
• Existing and proposed elevations
• Existing and proposed layouts
• Existing and proposed site plans
• Proposed visuals

You are self-motivated, able to work to a deadline, a good communicator and keen to be involved in your community.

No experience necessary.

It’s not a big job – only once a quarter.

You know you want to …

Call Sue on 01296 661910 or 07788662349

• Eat fresh food, grown yourself, with no hidden chemicals.
• The pleasure of seeing your own crops grow.
• Physical health from regular exercise, as part of a healthy lifestyle
• Do your bit for the environment reducing the need for transport and packaging of your food.

Visit the website for application forms and club secretary contact details: www.pitstoneallotment association.org.uk

or email: pitstoneallotmentassocation@gmail.com

 

Pleased to confirm that two new benches have now been installed on the Local Green Space between Marsworth Road and The Crescent.   We know that this area of public open space is important to local residents and hope that now more of you will be able to take a moment to sit and enjoy this area.

A new kissing gate at the far end, and further planting, will be taking place shortly.

100 years ago the First World War ended, and a new world began. The example and experience of those who lived through it shaped the world we live in today. In 2018 we join the nation in saying Thank You to all who served, sacrificed and changed our world.

Our thanks also to Pitstone Memorial Hall charity for allowing the Parish Council’s silent soldier, remembering the fallen of Pitstone, to be mounted onto the wall at the Memorial Hall (which is the site of the Pitstone War Memorial).

Our thanks to the Women’s Institute for the donation of a silent soldier to stand on Marsworth Road.

Our thanks also to the Women’s Institute, the children of Brookmead School, and all those who contributed poppies for the yarn bombing and bus stop decorations around the village.

 

Pleased to announce that the new bus shelter has now been installed on Marsworth Road, close to the junction with Rushendon Furlong.

The real-time information panels will be installed during November, so we’ll post another update then.

 

 

 

Perhaps there are a group of residents that travel to and from Tring station each day?  or a group of young people that need to get to and from the Aylesbury/Wing schools or one of the local colleges?
you could be looking to travel to work more efficiently?
maybe there is a place you like to visit regularly to dog walk or socialise or shop?
or perhaps you need a one-off lift to somewhere?

BreakfastPoster

Join 600,000 like-minded people saving money and the planet by car sharing.

• Join for free and find drivers or passengers to share with
• Save money (to get an idea of how much you could save, click here: https://liftshare.com/uk/savings-calculator )
• Cut congestion and pollution and help reduce CO2 emissions
• Reduce parking problems
• Reduce the stress of driving by sharing
• Make new friends

Register with Liftshare and travel happy:

• Add your journey details and filter your search to find the best Liftshare for you
• Use the messaging system to arrange with your potential Liftshare partner(s) how and when you will meet
• Start sharing – once you’ve accepted the request to share you are free to start your Liftshare journey

To find out what existing members say about their Liftshare experience click here: https://liftshare.com/uk/community/ourmembers

Click here if you have any questions: https://liftshare.com/uk/community/faqs 

Visit Liftshare.com via this link and Pitstone residents and join in helping each other: https://liftshare.com/uk

 

Applications for consideration at the 29 November  meeting:

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.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

 

 

All your nominations for the Pitstone Volunteer of the Year 2019 need to be sent to the parish council by 15 January 2019, so if you know of someone that is giving up their time and making a difference to the lives of the people in Pitstone, then please let us know.

A huge army of volunteers make our village special.  Did you know that volunteers manage the Memorial Hall; the Pitstone Heritage Park/museum; staff the Pitstone Windmill open days; are parish councillors; form the governing body of Brookmead school; deliver and edit Pitstone Parish Post; operate Pitstone Youth Café; form the management committee for Windmill pre-school; drive for the Community Car scheme; run mums & toddlers; run Brownies/Rainbows/Cubs/Scouts; are trustees for The Williamson Trust and Pitstone Town Lands Charity; run sporting groups such as I&PUCC, P&IUFC and P&IJFC; check street lights; provide ground-keeping on the cricket square; manage our allotment site; help at the Beacon Villages Community Library; are members of Pitstone & Ivinghoe Entertainments who organise the summer festival and annual fireworks; and form the Friends of St Mary’s church in Pitstone, manning open days and organising events.  Just think what our village would be like without all these facilities!

 

As well as being an opportunity for you, and the parish council, to thank our Volunteer of the Year in public, the winner receives £50.00 and a framed certificate.

Previous winners include: Rob Spiller, Margaret Cole, Klaus Ginda, Dave Clifford, Mary Saintey, Joe Marling, Michelle Lee, David Hawkins, John Groom and
Elaine Thorogood.

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.

 

If you have some spare time and would like join this volunteer army and start enjoying the benefits that volunteering brings, please do get in touch.

 

Local Green Space in front of The Crescent

 

Now that the parish council has purchased this land from Bucks County Council, work has commenced to repair damaged fencing, improve access to the site by installing a kissing gate which is also suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs, and providing additional seating for those residents that like to stop and enjoy this pretty space.  Almost 2,000 daffodil bulbs will also be planted over the autumn, to enhance the current planting, and should create a beautiful display in the spring.

 

Play Update

 

New pedestrian gates have been installed at the Windsor Road and Hever Close play areas and the Rocking Rocket has been repaired on the Recreation Ground.  Unfortunately, one of the swing seats on the Recreation Ground was vandalised and had to be removed, and the concrete for the new gates had to be replaced twice as somebody kept removing the protective fencing and writing in/walking in the new concrete before it had set.  Quotations are being sought to replace/repair the swinging plank in the Windsor Road playground.

 

We are aware that the play equipment in the Recreation Ground playground is getting tired.  As you know, there are plans to replace all of this equipment with a new play space which has been delayed because of a land issue.  The parish council will be progressing with these aspirations as soon as the other landowner is able to negotiate with us.

 

As in previous years, the Parish Council paid for two Play around the Parishes sessions during the summer holidays, which offer games and activities aimed at those <11 years, and these were well attended with up to 100 children at each session.   The council has resolved to repeat again next year.

 

Services Devolved from Bucks County Council

 

The current four-year contract with Bucks County Council (BCC) comes to a close at the end of 2018.  The parish council has resolved to enter into a new agreement with BCC so that we can continue to offer an enhanced level of service to residents.  At the time of writing, we have yet to receive the draft contract from BCC but hope to be going to tender for these works in the next month or so.

 

Getting Out and About

 

Pitstone and Ivinghoe Parish Councils are working on a joint initiative with the BCC Local Area Forum to undertake an engineering/feasibility study into the Pitstone & Ivinghoe Safety Scheme which developed from the Ben Hamilton-Baillie study and presentation which many of you attended.  Any such major changes are a long, slow, expensive process but we continue to move through the necessary steps and hope to have the results of this stage later in the financial year.

 

We continue to work with both Hertfordshire County Council and Bucks County Council to explore options for a cycle route along Northfield Road and will come back to you in due course when HCC have any information that they are able to share.  There may be a need for a questionnaire or event to try and gauge how many people would use the facilities, as grant providers need to assess how many people would benefit vs the costs involved, so if you have even a passing interest in improving the safety along this route then please take the time to respond/attend.

 

For those needing to reach their hospital and medical appointments without their own transport, the Pitstone Community Car Scheme provides a vital service.  The volunteer drivers fulfilled over 300 bookings last year!  There is often no timely public transport service available and knowing they can get to the appointment and back safely and on time, helps to reduce the stress of these appointments.  Due to a lack of volunteer support to run the committee & co-ordinate the calls, the scheme potentially looked as though it may close, but the parish council has now resolved to operate the scheme themselves.   However, we do need more volunteer drivers and it doesn’t have to be time consuming – so if you have enough time to drive an elderly person to their doctor’s/dental appointment in Tring, or can drive someone to the Pitstone surgery, we’d love to hear from you.  If you have a more time/flexibility and would be willing to take someone to their hospital appointments, that would also be great.  Drivers are refunded their petrol costs by the customer.

 

We are at the early stage of investigating whether there is any demand or support for a Community Bus within our cluster of villages, especially if such a service could help to tackle social isolation.   The first step will be to assess the level of interest from all the residents in all the parishes, so look out for a questionnaire or event coming soon.

 

To help those travelling by public bus, October/November will also see the installation of Real Time Information Panels besides the two existing bus shelters either side of Marsworth Road by the Recreation Ground, at the existing bus shelter opposite Queen Street/Albion Road and both a Real-Time Panel and a new bus shelter installed at the end of Rushendon Furlong to assist those travelling in the direction of Leighton Buzzard.  The buses are fitted with GPS and the information panels will show helpful information such as the time of the bus and the length of any delays.

 

Lighting

 

The LED roll-out continues, with lights now converted in the The Green and Chequers Lane, with another batch for Yardley Avenue on order which will hopefully be installed before Christmas.  We have a team of volunteer residents that help us monitor whether any lights are in need to repair, so if you’d be willing to join our Street Light Champions and check the lights near you once a month, please get in touch.

 

At the start of Advent, our Christmas lights will also be back in the tree on the Recreation Ground to bring some festive cheer.

 

First Time Sewerage for Cheddington Road / Forthcoming Road Closure

 

You may not have been aware that the properties by the railway bridge at the end of Cheddington Road and those at Wellington Place/Cooks Wharf have not been connected to the mains sewer.  Starting at the end of October, Anglian Water will be installing the necessary infrastructure to connect these properties including a pumping station by the T junction and piping back as far as Chequers Close to join the existing mains.   Works are anticipated to last several months and will include road closures for each section as the work is undertaken and diversion routes.   Road closure signs will be erected prior to the works.  Please be patient and allow extra time for your journey during the installation of this important infrastructure.

 

 

Who will you nominate for Volunteer of the Year?  Let us know by 15 January 2019

 

Our community couldn’t function without the small army of volunteers in our midst.  Do you know someone that goes the extra mile to improve the life of people in Pitstone?  Maybe they give up lots of time to help run one of our many charitable bodies (like the pre-school, memorial hall or scouts) or community groups (like the community car scheme or youth café).  Maybe they are someone that regularly checks on their elderly neighbours, does their shopping or takes them to appointments.   Every year, the parish council celebrates one local person with the honour of the Pitstone Volunteer of the Year which is awarded at the Pitstone Annual Assembly and comprises of a cheque for £50, framed certificate and local publicity to spread the word of their good deeds.  Help us thank our local heroes and send the name of the person you nominate, along with some information about why you think they deserve to be recognised, to the parish clerk by 15 January 2019 (tel: 01296 767261, email: parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk, post: 9 Warwick Road, LU7 9FE).

 

 

Remembering the fallen of Pitstone

 

The parish council is honoured to have procured a silent soldier silhouette to remember the fallen of Pitstone and the Memorial Hall Charity have granted permission for its location in the memorial garden at the hall (the hall obviously having been built as the parish’s Memorial, hence the name).  The council will also be welcoming the donation of another silhouette from the Women’s Institute to be located by the decorative Pitstone sign.  We have worked with BCC TfB and Taylor Wimpey to ensure that Westfield Road and Marsworth Road, along with the Recreation Ground, can be included within the WI yarn bombing.

 

There will be lots of local events, including remembrance services at both St Mary’s Church in Ivinghoe and Pitstone Memorial Hall plus the Beacons of Light events on Ivinghoe Beacon which we encourage you to attend.    Beacons of Light is an event is organised by the Ashridge Estate and honours the fallen of all villages that border the Ashridge Estate, more information can be found here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events/82364215-d442-44cf-a9b3-7e21aefbf214/pages/details

 

 

Bonfire and Fireworks on Saturday 3 November 2018

 

The council is pleased that Pitstone & Ivinghoe Entertainments (PIE) have again chosen to host an annual bonfire and firework event at the sports pavilion on Saturday 3 November 2018.  This event really seems to bring the community together and sees a lot of public support.  Any surplus funds raised by PIE are ploughed back into supporting local community groups, so please do support their events.

 

 

Can you help at the youth café on a Wednesday evening?

 

Our youth café offers a safe place for young people of secondary school age to hang out, meet up with friends, enjoy a snack, play sports/games/crafts etc.  We employ a qualified youth worker to run the café but it is very reliant on sufficient adult voluntary helpers to attend each week in order to be able to operate and meet the necessary child:adult ratios.  Many of our volunteers are retired and enjoy the company of the young people as much as they benefit from our helpers being there.  We can accommodate couples/friends who want an opportunity where they can volunteer together.   Volunteering can be very rewarding.  The council provides full training.   If you are able to join us from 6.30pm to 8pm on Wednesday’s during term time we would really love to hear from you.   Please call 01296 767261 or email parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk.

 

Adult Volunteers Needed

6.30-8.00pm Wednesdays at Pitstone Youth Cafe

Please come and join our team of volunteers at Pitstone Youth Café, 6.30-8.00pm Wednesday’s at Brookmead school during term time.  The café provides a safe environment for young people to meet with friends, try new activities, keep active and access the services of our qualified youth worker.  We’ve been able to provide services to over 725 young people aged between 11-17 years since we opened 7 years ago.

No qualifications necessary.  Just a willingness to play games, serve refreshments, or join in with sports, crafts or activities.   Suitable for anyone 18yrs or over – no upper age limit and many of our volunteers are retired.

If you can spare 90 minutes once a week, or once a fortnight, we would love to hear from you. 

Our much needed café can’t operate without volunteers, so please support the young people in our community and join us for a fulfilling and fun evening once a week. 

Further information about the youth cafe available here: http://pitstone.co.uk/ppcinfo/youth-cafe/

Please contact: Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council, 9 Warwick Road, Pitstone, Beds, LU7 9FE. Tel: 01296 767261. Email: parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk

In Pitstone, we have a number of residents that are unable to drive, don’t benefit from 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 and see 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 parish clerk on parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or
01296 767261 or at 9 Warwick Road, Pitstone, LU7 9FE

We hope that you have enjoyed cafe this half term. Cafe is now closed for two weeks (not open on 24 Oct or 31 Oct) to span the half term holidays in Bucks and Herts (different weeks this time) and allow all our wonderful volunteers to enjoy their holidays with their families. We hope you also enjoy your school holiday. Youth Cafe will re-open on Wednesday 7 November at 6.30pm.

Applications for consideration at the 18 October planning committee meeting.

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.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

 

The parish council is seeking quotations from local gardening firms, with suitable public liability insurance, to supply and plant approximately 2000 daffodil bulbs this autumn.   Will involve lifting turf in clumps and trenches, planting bulbs and then replacing the turf.  Will also need to be able to take into consideration the protection of tree roots and demonstrate an ability to work beside the highway and in public spaces.

Quotations required by 20 September 2018.

If your company is interested, please email parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk for further information.

At the parish council meeting on Thursday 6 September, the council voted to appoint Louise Stoddart to fill the current vacancy.

Louise says “I have been living in Pitstone for 7 years on the Castlemead Estate. I decided to join the Parish Council as I wanted to use my spare time to be able to give back to the community and make a difference for the future of Pitstone. My career with the Building Engineering Services Association, means I can use my expertise in planning, building and commercial activities in the Parish. I look forward to meeting more fellow residents and welcoming everyone to future meetings.”

We warmly welcome Louise to the council.

 

 

The parish council offers grants to local community groups and charities that benefit Pitstone residents.  Applications are considered quarterly.   The last grant review for 2018 is on 25 October 2018.

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.

We hope you have had an enjoyable summer. Please remember that there is no youth cafe this week, as not everyone is back at school, but cafe will be open on Wednesday 12 September 6.30-8pm.

If you are unfamiliar with our youth cafe, further details can be found here:

Youth Cafe

 

Applications for consideration on 6 September:

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.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

 

Please see full details in previous post:

Would you like to join the parish council?

 

 

 

Thank you to everyone that attended the defibrillator training and football matches at the pavilion yesterday (29 July 2018) to celebrate the official opening of the new ball stop netting, boundary fence and pitch extension plus the installation of the defibrilator:

Our thanks to South Central Ambulance Service, the WI, Pitstone & Ivinghoe United Football Club and Pitstone & Ivinghoe Junior Football Club.

 

We hope you all have an enjoyable summer holiday.    Youth Cafe will re-open on Wednesday 12 September 2018 6.30-8.00pm in the grounds of Brookmead School.

Please note that there is no youth cafe on Wed 5 Sept.

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 2019.   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 Feb 18

PPC Key projects leaflet Feb 18

Code of Conduct May 2017 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 before Friday 10 August 2018 so that we can arrange an interview with you.

 

 

 

The parish council is looking to purchase two additional benches to install in the Local Green Space between Marsworth Road and The Crescent, so that more people can sit within the shade of the trees and enjoy this quieter open area.

The current bench was funded and donated by the Young Farmers a number of years ago and displays a plaque to commemorate this.

The new seats will duplicate the one currently installed at the end of Glebe Close (pictured above), which has 100% recycled cast aluminium ends with Amortec coating and strong recycled material slats to provide a strong, durable,  low maintenance, disability compliant bench which will last for many years to come.

There is an option for these benches to be supplied with laser etched stainless steel memorial plaques with your choice of dedication or wording (see illustrations below), and therefore the council would like to give residents the opportunity to sponsor a bench in this manner.

One bench with memorial plaque costs just over £1,000.

If you are a local company who would like to sponsor a bench in return for your company details on the plaque and publicity by the parish council, or a local family who would like to sponsor a bench in memory of a loved one, then please contact the parish clerk on 01296 767261 or parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk by Monday 13 August 2018.

 

Very many congratulations to Rob Spiller who was nominated the Pitstone Volunteer of the Year 2018 at the Annual Parish Assembly.   Rob has volunteered at the youth café almost every week since it launched many years ago, he is a very active member of the Pitstone Allotment Association committee and also the Site Manager for the allotments.  Rob is always ready to help out and lend a hand wherever required.

 

A huge thank you to Rob from both the members of Pitstone Parish Council and all the residents who have had the pleasure of benefitting from the hours of time that Rob has contributed.

 

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 2019 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.

 

Come along to free training session

Our grateful thanks to the South-Central Ambulance Service who have agreed to come along to the Charity Football Match and Opening Celebration at the pavilion site on Sunday 29 July from noon til 3pm to provide free training on the use of the defibrillator to all the attendees. The charity event and the training are both free to attend. Do come along as see how easy the equipment is to use, and so that you are familiar with the equipment in case you should ever need it.

Where are our defibrillators?

A third emergency defibrillator is now active in the parish – this unit is located on the outside front wall of the Pitstone Sports Pavilion on Marsworth Road (opposite the junction with Westfield Road) and can be accessed via the pedestrian gate. The other two defibrillators are located at Pitstone Memorial Hall in Vicarage Road and the Village Health Centre in Yardley Avenue.

Why do we need emergency defibrillators?

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) does not give warning symptoms like a traditional heart attack. The heart goes into an unstable rhythm called ventricular fibrillation, the heart stops beating effectively, and the person becomes unconscious. Less than 30% of the time someone will do CPR on a victim, which does help buy time. However, CPR alone cannot put the heart back in normal rhythm, only a defibrillator can. You lose 7-10% chance of surviving each minute you are in SCA and an emergency ambulance from Stoke Mandeville can take up to 20 minutes to arrive. Only 8.3% of victims survive neurologically intact because emergency medical services simply cannot get to the victim and shock them in the four to six minutes before brain damage occurs.

Do you need to be trained to use the defibrillator?

No. Dial 999 as soon as the patient is taken poorly. The emergency services will dispatch an ambulance and if appropriate, provide you with details of the nearest defibrillator. The operator will stay on the line and talk you using the equipment. The defibrillator itself also gives you voice commands to talk you through the process. The defibrillator will only shock the patient if it first detects abnormal rhythms that can be treated via shocking, so you don’t need to be worried about hurting the patient or causing any damage.

However, we have offered community training events on the use of the defibrillators in the past and the next event is on 29 July 12-3pm at the pavilion. We hope that all residents will take the time to attend an event and familiarise themselves with the equipment so that it does not seem as daunting in the event of an emergency.

The council is delighted to introduce you to Anil Mitra and Jack Hawkins who were both appointed as co-opted councillors on 24/5/18 to fill the vacancies that existed until the May 2019 elections.

 

Anil Mitra

Having moved to Pitstone in 2015, Anil Mitra is a retired Principal Civil Engineer with nearly 50 years of senior engineering management experience. Anil has spent most of his retired life engaged in voluntary work working with councils, NHS and charities, working with people from all generations and backgrounds. Having lived in Beaconsfield for over 30 years, Anil and his wife made the decision to move to our village of Pitstone to be closer to their daughter, son in law and grandchildren. With a passion for working in the community and voluntary activities, Anil is keen to work with the Parish Council to play an active role in the development of our beautiful village. As a sociable gentleman with incredible knowledge and experience, Anil brings opinions, advice and plenty of enthusiasm to our team and to our village.

 

Jack Hawkins

Born in 1992 I’ve lived in Pitstone all my life. I’m the 7th generation of both sides of my family to live and work in the village.  I spent my first 6 years of my education in Brookmead. From here I went onto Tring School and finished off my education with a national diploma in agriculture at Moulton college. Since then I’ve progressed through the ranks of Young Farmers. I was club chairman for 2 years and then county chairman and national council representative for a further 2 years. Since finishing college, I have worked alongside my father in the family business based in Pitstone. At 25 years old I’m the youngest current council member. I hope my youth and knowledge of the village and its surroundings will be a great asset to council.

 

We are sure that you will join us in making them both very welcome.   Another vacancy arose at the 28/6/18 council meeting, so if you share their passion for our village, have plenty of time to volunteer and would like to join the parish council, please contact the parish clerk (parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or 01296 767261) for more information.

Applications for consideration on 28 June:

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.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

 

The cherries on the trees in the Local Green Space between Marsworth Road and The Crescent are beginning to ripen in the sun.  Almost ready for picking!

Sad to see the criminal damage inflicted to these trees on the recreation ground this week.  The perpetrator(s), removed the protective wire netting from around the tree trunk to get at the bark, and spent a considerable amount of time on the grounds with a sharp blade/implement.

Thames Valley Police has been made aware.  Please be vigilant on the Recreation Ground and report any suspicious activity to TVP by calling 101.

 

The parish council is delighted to announce that on 23 May 2018 the purchase of the parcel of land previously owned by Bucks County Council (BCC) was completed.

The triangle of land resides between Marsworth Road and The Crescent and has been utilised as open green space for many years.   Due to financial pressures, BCC was exploring the possibility of erecting residential housing on this land and as part of the Neighbourhood Planning process, the community indicated that this was against their wishes.   The parish council’s application to have this area designated as Local Green Space was accepted by Aylesbury Vale District Council, based on the strength of local support, prohibiting development on the land.  Subsequently the parish council entered negotiations with Bucks County Council to purchase the parcel and protect it for perpetuity.

Aylesbury Vale District Council has supported this purchase with the provision of a release of Section 106 leisure funds they were holding from the Castlemead and Lower End Garage residential developments, and the parish council has contributed £3k.

We hope you continue to enjoy this peaceful green space for years to come.

The parish council is delighted to confirm that a third emergency defibrillator is now active in the parish.   This unit is located on the outside front wall of the Pitstone Sports Pavilion on Marsworth Road (opposite the junction with Westfield Road) and can be accessed via the pedestrian gate.

Why do we need emergency defibrillators? 

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) does not give warning symptoms like a traditional heart attack. The heart goes into an unstable rhythm called ventricular fibrillation, the heart stops beating effectively and the person becomes unconscious. Less than 30% of the time someone will do CPR on a victim, which does help buy time.  However, CPR alone cannot put the heart back in normal rhythm, only a defibrillator can.  You lose 7-10% chance of surviving each minute you are in SCA and an emergency ambulance from Stoke Mandeville can take up to 20 minutes to arrive.  Only 8.3% of victims survive neurologically intact because emergency medical services simply cannot get to the victim and shock them in the four to six minutes before brain damage occurs.

Do you need to be trained to use the defibrillator?  

No.  Dial 999 as soon as the patient is taken poorly.  The emergency services will dispatch an ambulance and if appropriate, provide you with details of the nearest defibrillator.  The operator will stay on the line and talk you through the use of the equipment.  The defibrillator itself also gives you voice commands to talk you through the process.   The defibrillator will only shock the patient if it first detects abnormal rhythms that can be treated via shocking, so you don’t need to be worried about hurting the patient or causing any damage.

We have offered community training events on the use of the defibrillators before and will be arranging a further session again soon.  We hope that all residents will take the time to attend an event and familiarise themselves with the equipment so that it does not seem as daunting in the event of an emergency.

How has this defibrillator been funded?

Our grateful thanks to Pitstone & Ivinghoe Junior Football Club for purchasing the defibrillator and donating it to the parish council for use at the sports pavilion site, and granting permission for this to be utilised by the wider community.

Our grateful thanks to the Women’s Institute for their grant to enable the purchase and installation of the external lock box (which makes the defibrillator available to all) and associated signage (currently being manufactured and will be erected shortly).

The parish council is meeting the additional costs associated with daily/weekly/monthly maintenance regimes, utility costs, consumable costs, insurance and regular status reporting to the ambulance service etc.

 

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 on 24 May :

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.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

 

In case you have misplaced your copy of the Pitstone Parish Post, please find below the parish council updates it included:

New Footpath to Marsworth

Work commenced on 5 February and should be complete by the time you receive this edition of PPP.   We hope that you all make good use of the new safe route into Marsworth and up to College Lake Nature Reserve.   This project has taken several years to get implemented and funded, and we’d like to express our grateful thanks to all the parties and individuals that have been involved in pulling together and implementing this initiative.  Funding was made available via a New Homes Bonus Grant, a Community Leaders Grant, a Local Area Forum Grant and provision from both parish councils.   Look out for details on the website and noticeboards of an official opening ceremony and walk to Marsworth.

Ball Stop Netting and Fencing at the Sports Pavilion

We are also delighted that the installation of two sections of ball stop netting, and two sections of replacement fencing at the sports pavilion has now been concluded.   Work will shortly commence on the extension of the larger pitch.   Funding has been made available for this project by the Football Foundation, a release of Section 106 sports & leisure development funds from Aylesbury Vale District Council, donations from both the senior and junior football clubs and a provision by the parish council.

New Telephone Number

Please note that the parish council has a new telephone number, so please use 01296 767261 when trying to reach the parish clerk.

Playgrounds
There are long outstanding plans to update/replace the play equipment on the recreation ground once it has been possible to secure the purchase/use of the land.   We also operate two further playgrounds in Hever Close and Windsor Road.   The current residential development see further play equipment installed in the parish.   Did you know that we check all our playgrounds on a weekly basis to ensure they are in a good state of repair and safe for your enjoyment?  If you are the parent of a child with a disability and have any concerns relating to disabled access or have particular disabled equipment needs, please get in touch with the parish council on parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk.

Public Transport Infrastructure
Bucks County Council are currently investigating how best to utilize the Section 106 public transport funds provided by the residential developments in Vicarage Road and Rushendon Furlong.  We will keep you updated once the plans have been confirmed.

Pitstone Community Car Scheme

The parish council is still working with the existing car scheme members, other individuals, advisory bodies and local organisations to relaunch the car scheme.   If you can spare some time to volunteer as a driver or would like to take up the post of voluntary co-ordinator we would love to hear from you.

Should we have a Community Bus?

Bucks County Council and the parish council are jointly investigating whether there is a demand and support for a Community Bus amongst the local parishes.  In other locations, such buses might run trips to the supermarket, surgeries, libraries, day care centres, some do scheduled bus routes, some do day trip exercisions, some are used by schools/community groups etc.    If you feel a community bus would be of value or would like to volunteer to get involved as a driver/committee member/co-ordinator etc then please get in touch.  We will keep you updated with the outcome of the initial investigations.

Would you like to get involved?

Would you like to get involved with all the variety of work that falls under the scope of a parish council?   Do you have plenty of spare time to devote to improving life for the residents of our parish?  Perhaps you would like to consider joining the parish council?  For more information on what a parish council is, what it does and how you can be involved please check out the leaflet on : http://pitstone.co.uk/ppcpubs/pitstone-parish-council-general-information-leaflet/ or call the parish clerk and we will provide you with further information.    Please note that these are voluntary roles – all your parish councilors volunteer their time for the benefit of the community.

 

New Homes Bonus Micro Grants up to £1,000 are now available for voluntary and community sector organisations as well as parish and town councils!

An exciting development sees the introduction of a new NHB Micro Grant Funding Scheme which is open to voluntary and community sector organisations operating within a parish.  Easily accessible micro grants up to £1,000 are available for a variety of  capital costs including refurbishment and equipment purchases and are assessed on a monthly basis.  It is not necessary for the project to link to growth, although those that do may score more highly. Projects to be put forward for funding must evidence consultation at parish level and the application form must be endorsed by the relevant town or parish council prior to submission.  The closing date for applications is the 15th of each month.   For more information please visit the AVDC website.

To commemorate the opening of the footpath between the villages of Pitstone and Marsworth, a walk will be taking place on Saturday 12 May 2018.

Residents of Marsworth will be departing from the Millennium Hall car park at 12 noon and walking across to Westfield Road in Pitstone and back again.

Residents in Pitstone are invited to meet at the Westfield Road junction, ready to join the Marsworth residents for the return trip.   Anticipated departure time approximately 12.20pm.  The sports pavilion car park will be available for parking.

If you choose to stay in Marsworth for some lunch we recommend booking a place at your chosen venue since numbers may be greater than normal that day.  Alternatively, you can join the immediate return walk back to Pitstone.

As well as providing a safe walking route to Marsworth and the facilities available there, the route can also be used to safely access College Lake.

The path is the result of many years of work in a joint project between both parish councils and Bucks County Council.  It has been made possible via a large grant from the Aylesbury Vale District Council New Homes Bonus, a grant from the County Councillor Community Leader Fund, grants from the Bucks County Council Local Area Forum and funding from both parish councils.

We  hope that many of you will be able to join us.

As part of the residential development off Rushendon Furlong, the developer paid a sum of money to Bucks County Council specifically to provide two bus shelters and two real-time information panels to improve the public transport infrastructure close to Rushendon Furlong.

 

Bucks County Council have carried out two sites visits, assessed the local area/utilities/land ownerships/access to sunlight etc, drawn up proposals and obtained quotations for this work.

 

Bus Shelters

 

It is proposed to install two glass/green metalwork bus shelters, similar in style to those that exist further down Marsworth Road.

 

When travelling towards Ivinghoe, the shelter would be located on the county council verge by the existing stop at the corner of Rushendon Furlong.   When travelling towards Marsworth, a new stop would be created in the county council verge between the junctions of Rushendon Furlong and Glebe Close.   The existing stop by the Haldi will remain operational as there is a sector of the Ivinghoe/Pitstone communities who will find this valuable, but it is not possible to upgrade this location to house a shelter.

 

Full engineering details still need to be established for both sites and Bucks County Council will be responsible for dealing with everything relating to safety, visibility, access and other matters.

 

Real-time Information Panels

 

Both new shelters will also be fitted with solar-powered real-time information panels which will provide travellers with up-to-date information about the services provided at that stop, along with real-time information about the location and progress of the bus you are hoping to catch eg whether it is running on time/its current location, thanks to GPS trackers fitted to the buses.

As part of the residential development off Vicarage Road, the developer of that site paid a sum of money to Bucks County Council specifically to provide two real-time information panels at the existing bus shelters by the recreation ground.   As this site is not suitable for solar powered devices, they will both be mains fed.

We trust that you will find these improvements to the public transport network in the village to be of benefit.   Should you have any comments, whether to show your support or to raise queries, please email the parish clerk on parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk or telephone 01296 767261 before Sunday 13 May 2018.   After this date, we will respond to Bucks County 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 on 26 April :

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.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

 

Pitstone Parish Council, Buckinghamshire County Council and Community Impact Bucks, are currently exploring the possibility of establishing a Community Transport Scheme (eg mini bus) to serve Pitstone and the surrounding villages.

Pitstone currently has a voluntary car scheme, but this provides a service for medical appointments only whereas an enhanced Community Transport scheme could provide a wider range of uses eg used by the schools and local groups, offering new/extended services like dial-a-ride, possibly regular routes.

As this will be a community-led venture, it is essential that we get as much input as possible from the wider community in regards to the viability of establishing this scheme and the priorities in terms of need from the potential service users.

To this end we are arranging a stakeholders meeting to discuss the idea in more detail. The meeting will take place on Thursday 10 May 2018 at 7.30pm and will be held at the Millennium Room at the Memorial Hall in Pitstone.

We encourage you to come along and take the opportunity to give us your views and ideas.  If you’d like to offer your voluntary services to help set up, maintain or drive for any such scheme, please also come along and chat to us. Please RSVP by Monday 30 April 2018.

If you have any questions about this then please contact Mrs Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council, on 01296 767261 or parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk

Mobile phone found on Pitstone  Recreation Ground yesterday.  If you think this may be yours, please call 07837 024175 and be able to provide details of the phone to prove ownership.

Thank you.

Following the resignations of Annie Stack (who has served on the council for 10 years) and Colin Starling (who joined us at the May 2015 election), there are now two vacancies on the parish council for individuals to serve their remaining term of office ie until May 2019 (next year) when there will be another full election.

Please find below the official notice of vacancies for the two posts.  If ten electors give notice in writing to the returning officer by 26 April 2018 then a by-election will be called to fill these posts.  If no election is requested, then the parish council will fill the vacancies via co-option of suitably qualified persons.

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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 Feb 18

PPC Key projects leaflet Feb 18

Code of Conduct May 2017 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.

 

 

 

Thank you to everyone who attended youth cafe last night.  We are now closed for the Easter school holidays and look forward to seeing everyone again on Wednesday 18 April 2018.

Enjoy your holidays!