PPP updates from the Parish Council

Council information from PPP that hasn’t previously appeared on the website:

Coronavirus
We continue to update our website page with all the latest details about how you can get help and support, and provide details relating to any of our services that may currently be affected.  The local volunteer help group are still ready and waiting to assist you, should you be contacted by Track & Trace or become unwell.  Please visit www.pitstone.co.uk.

 

Election
The May elections were postponed by central government due to the Coronavirus outbreak, so your existing ten members will continue to serve the community for a further 12 months.

 

Thank you to all our amazing volunteers

Over 80 individuals volunteer for the parish council in some capacity on a regular basis.  This includes helping at youth café, driving for the car scheme, monitoring streetlights, delivering and producing Pitstone Parish Post, sitting on one of our committees, running our allotment site, helping with one of our projects and keeping our grounds in great condition.  This doesn’t include your parish councillors themselves who are also volunteers.  We were delighted that almost half of these individuals were able to attend the annual volunteer thank you event this January.  It was lovely to see everybody and be able to thank them in person for the contribution they all make to our community.  Thank you to each and every one of you.  If you are inspired to get involved in our community, please do get in touch (parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk) as we always have vacancies for volunteers.

 

Annual Assembly
For the safety of our residents, the annual assembly was postponed due to the Coronavirus outbreak, which also means that the presentation of our Annual Volunteer of the Year Award had to be postponed.  We hope that coronavirus restrictions may ease sufficiently to permit this meeting to take place later in the year and will keep residents updated. 

Pitstone Development Area & Replacement Woodland

Residents will have noticed that Nicholas King Homes have undertaken site clearance and commenced works at their site off Marsworth Road and we are aware that a few people have expressed sadness at the tree felling.  Buckinghamshire Council (BC) (previously ‘Aylesbury Vale District Council’) is our local Planning Authority and they determine any tree requirements as part of planning applications.  Both the tree officer and environmental officers at BC were fully involved in the plans submitted by Nicholas King Homes for the development site off Marsworth Road/Vicarage Road and as well as trees within the new development, a whole replacement woodland is being planted in the village.

 

A full tree report was commissioned which assessed the quality of the trees in the private plantation (there never has been public access to this area).  Many of the trees were determined to be of poor quality and nearing the end of their natural life.  No trees were subject to a Tree Protection Order.  A full ecological report was commissioned which identified no protected species in the woodland.   As part of their development, Nicholas King Homes are planting a replacement woodland in the parish, which the tree officer has been fully involved in specifying.  We understand that the replacement woodland will be richer in biodiversity than that which is being removed.  There is also a management plan in place for the ongoing care of the new woodland.  AVDC were satisfied that there will actually be a net gain to biodiversity and ecology as a result of the development proposals.

 

The full reports regarding both the replacement woodland and the trees to be planted within the development site remain available on the AVDC planning portal and can be accessed via the link below, or by searching the portal using the application reference and details listed.  https://publicaccess.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=OQ3EFECL0JC00

17/01871/APP | Residential development comprising 74 dwellings, creation of two new accesses, car parking, leisure facilities, landscaping and associated works. on Land Adjacent to Allotment Gardens Marsworth Road Pitstone Buckinghamshire

 

This particular site was approved for development back in 2005 with the publication of the Pitstone Comprehensive Development Plan and has taken 15 years to bring to fruition.  Biodiversity is very important to the parish council and the Pitstone Neighbourhood Development Plan both protects our village from further large-scale residential developments until 2033 and contains environmental policies.  Both these documents remain available on our website, link below:

http://pitstone.co.uk/

 

If you are wondering about the day nursery and restaurant/pub/café for which Nicholas King Homes (NKH) obtained outline planning permission, then NKH are in the process of appointing an agent.  Once the tendering process is complete, the two parcels of land will be advertised on the open market to see if buyers can be secured.  Once we are passed the selling details, we will publish these onto our website etc so that any local operators who are interested in purchasing the sites can contact the relevant body.

 

The two roads within the new development will be named as follows:

 

  • The main road, from the Lower Icknield Way to Vicarage Road, will be named “Poultons Meadow” to commemorate the previous name by which the meadow was known, which this site now occupies.
  • The smaller road facing the Recreation Ground, will be known as “Icknield Gardens” to commemorate the fact that it sits upon the site of the old Allotment Gardens and is adjacent to the Lower Icknield Way.

AVDC has conducted a public consultation and residents were invited to submit any objections.

 

Community Bus and possible alternatives in the meantime

 

Thank you to all the residents from the four parishes who took the time to respond to the Community Bus survey.  We are working to determine if there would be enough demand to make such a service viable and will update you in due course.

 

In the meantime, you may find the following information useful when our country gets moving again:

 

  • Many residents responded that they would like to use the service to access healthcare appointments. Both Pitstone (whose scheme covers both Pitstone & Ivinghoe) and Cheddington have Community Car Schemes which are operated by volunteers specifically to help residents to access medical appointments.  Pitstone residents should call our coordinator on 01296 767116, who will provide further information.
  • Residents also expressed an interest in journeys to Tring station. A lift-share scheme is operational for this station which may be able to assist you, please visit liftshare.com for more information, or email accessibility@wmtrains.co.uk or call 07970447880.  You can register as a driver or passenger, for a single journey or regular trips.  This service may currently be affected by the Coronavirus regulations, but you should still be able to register your interest.
  • Attending the cinema was of interest to some residents. You may not be aware that the Pitstone Film Club operates from the Memorial Hall on the last Friday of every month.  Soundproofing and black out blinds have been installed.  The cinema has a professional projector and screen.  Drinks and snacks are available from the bar.  You can follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PitstoneFilmClub/     or email them at: filmclub@pitstone.co.uk and ask to be included on the regular mailing list.
  • There was also some interest in attending day trips and excursions. Local firm, Masons Coaches, offer a comprehensive range of day trips, lunch club outings and holidays, all with local pick up points in Pitstone.  You can find full details via this website page:  https://www.masonscoachhire.co.uk/days-out-and-holidays or you can ask for a brochure to be posted out to you by phoning 01296 661604 or emailing info@masonscoachhire.co.uk.  As examples, trips that had previously been arranged for May included a Stratford Upon Avon River Cruise, the Malvern Spring Flower Show, a lunch club visit to The Anchor in Great Barford and a Market Day in Litchfield.

 

 

 

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