JULYJULY 20172017 || ISSUEISSUE 2222 AYLESBURY VALE aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk • Aylesbury special focus - a town that’s transforming! • Artificial Intelligence - our pioneering approach • Bringing back Bowie - the man behind the statue ALSO: The latest on our local plan, What’s on, win a summer makeover - and lots more! News from Aylesbury Vale District Council Aylesbury focus • 1 Making the most of Aylesbury’s markets It was in 1554 that a charter for a market in Aylesbury was first granted and more than 460 years later, the buzz of traders bantering with customers on Market Square is still a major feature of the town. But things have definitely moved on. There are now three different weekly markets – on Tuesdays you can find the Vintage and Craft Bazaar, Wednesdays and Saturdays are general market days and Foodie Fridays are the latest addition. So what brings market traders to Aylesbury? The Vintage and Craft Bazaar is good for everything retro, but is also ideal for entrepreneurs wanting to give Well an award-winning approach helps! AVDC’s Town a home-made product a trial with customers. There’s Centre Manager Diana Fawcett and her team took even the flexibility to just take a stand between 10am- over the running of the markets three years ago and 2pm, for parents doing the school run. last year were recognised as the ‘Best Small Market Team’ by the National Association of British Market The markets are constantly evolving and offer special Authorities. Diana is committed to making the market events throughout the year, including Christmas, as well work: “It’s aspirational, bringing you things you can’t get as for niche groups like book lovers. elsewhere. We’re really proud of where we’ve got to.” Sarah Allen from Hemel Hempstead visits the market Some of the traders have been every week with her mum, “We love Market customers, with Aylesbury Market for many Marie. She says: Sarah, Marie & Andy years. Pat Staple has had a looking around and mum stall for two decades. She now often buys plants. There’s a runs Trend and Tradition every nice atmosphere when you Tuesday, with her daughter have a market in a town. Lisa, selling antique jewellery When it went in Hemel we Traders Pat & Lisa lost that community spirit.” Trader Nigel in the 80s and ornaments, as well as David Stott from Aylesbury contemporary pieces. Nigel regularly raids the Tuesday Garbutt, meanwhile, sells bags CD stand: “It gets all the and luggage and has been music that I can’t get trading since the 1980s – he elsewhere. I’d like to see the markets even says after all this time, it’s still bigger again.” good fun. Many English towns have lost their way over recent What’s the appeal for years and no longer have a thriving market at their customers? Nigel today heart, but Aylesbury isn’t one of them. Market Manager A diverse range of products is Paul Kirkham sums up the ethos that ensures the town probably the biggest selling point. On Foodie Fridays one retains its vibrant, market culture: “It’s about bringing trader travels all the way from the Isle of Wight bringing the traders with you, building relationships and working their own produce including together to give the customers what they want.” tomatoes, garlic and mushrooms. Gyoza Japan offers sushi and To find out more about taking a stand in Japanese food that’s handmade Aylesbury Market go to: on site. And Divine Meals have www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/markets or call Afro-Caribbean delicacies. 01296 585880. 2 • contents Welcome to the latest edition of the Aylesbury Vale Times. It’s packed Inside this issue: with all the news from AVDC, plus a cut out and keep What’s on guide, so you won’t find yourself at a loss for something to do over the next 1 Something for everyone few months. We also have a special focus on Aylesbury this time. The at Aylesbury’s markets county town of Bucks is undergoing a big regeneration programme currently and we thought it would be good to share all the great things Win a complete on offer. Our cover celebrates Aylesbury’s rich music heritage, with summer Bowie at the Friars club in 1972, on the night he premiered The Rise and makeover! 5 Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Enjoy your summer! Let’s get kick off this issue with some AVDC number- 6 Pioneering the way with crunching, here’s some of our latest stats: artificial intelligence 88% £16 million That’s the number of major planning is the amount saved by AVDC over the last seven Queens Park applications that are processed on years to counteract government cuts. Our digital Art’s Centre – time by AVDC - strategy ‘Connected Knowledge’ has helped arts for all! 8 against a us achieve this, find out more on page six. government target of 50%. 9 Update on our local plan Our planning performance is 12 How to spot an one of the best abandoned vehicle in the country. 13 Helping prevent homelessness in the Vale 6,000 219 That’s the latest number of followers new affordable homes were completed Special we have on Twitter, you can find us across the Vale during 2016/17 – screenings at @aylesburyvale and we’re also on helping people to rent or buy a home the Waterside 15 Facebook, join us at of their own. www.facebook.com/aylesburyvale 17 What’s on - cut out and keep 19 Nominate your sports hero! Local loves with the man Advertise with us behind the 20 To find out more about how we could help your company or Bowie statue organisation, please email [email protected] Aylesbury Vale Times is a publication from Aylesbury Vale 01296 585858 (main switchboard) District Council. It is printed on environmentally friendly www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk paper; please recycle after reading. The editor: 01296 585861 If you’d like a free copy of this magazine in large print, or [email protected] or on CD, call 01296 585861. This edition of Aylesbury Vale Times costs around 13p per copy.* Front cover: David Bowie appearing at Friars Aylesbury on Some stock images are used in the production of this magazine to help illustrate an article, this is in part to ensure costs are kept to 29 January 1972, courtesy of www.aylesburyfriars.co.uk a minimum. *Copy price may vary slightly per issue, depending on advertising revenue and postage costs. External advertising in the magazine does not imply an endorsement or The views expressed by individuals in Aylesbury Vale Times are not promotion of the advertisement, nor its content, products or services by necessarily the views of Aylesbury Vale District Council. Every effort is made Aylesbury Vale District Council. to ensure that all information is accurate at the time of going to press. xxxxx xxx • 3 4 • Aylesbury focus Aylesbury – the transformation town If you live in Aylesbury, or are a regular visitor, you can’t have failed to have noticed that the town centre is going through a major regeneration process. A multi-million pound improvement programme has seen it undergo significant changes in recent years. From the Waterside Theatre and canal basin development, to the great new shopping opportunities, the makeover is giving the town a new identity that will be further enhanced through the recently granted garden town status (see page seven for more). The town’s location means it’s accessible to around a quarter of a million people who live within a 20 minute drive. And with Aylesbury Vale set to experience major housing growth in the next fifteen years, this county town of Buckinghamshire will become even more of a local hub. The key is to ensure it continues to thrive and prosper as it caters to the needs of the Vale’s expanding population. A vision for the future of Aylesbury was set out in the Town Centre Plan, which was drawn up in 2014. It was developed by AVDC in conjunction with Aylesbury Town Council and Buckinghamshire County Council, supported by a range of partners from the public and private sector. It sets out a framework to help rejuvenate the town centre and encourage job growth, while drawing on the history and heritage that make Aylesbury unique. OUR AIM IS FOR AYLESBURY TO BE: • A centre for arts and entertainment • A modern market town which is attractive, safe, sustainable and accessible • A great place for leisure, shopping and dining out – by day and night Making progress Progress on the plan has already been considerable. It has included the opening of the new University Campus Aylesbury Vale in 2015, as part of the regeneration of the Canal Basin area, alongside the new Waitrose and Travelodge and the Waterside Theatre, which opened in 2010. We’re working closely with Bucks County Council, to ensure that as Aylesbury develops, a suitable transport infrastructure is in place to meet its needs. The Fare4All team, in partnership with the Taxi Association and Bucks Disability Service, has made it easier for people with disabilities to use taxis in the town. There are more pedestrianised areas in the town centre, along with new shopping opportunities. And work is well underway on The Exchange - the exciting new development opposite the cinema, providing a mix of town centre living, dining and new public space. There’s lots more still to be done though and over the Artist’s impression of ‘The Exchange’ next few years Aylesbury will continue to evolve. Find out more at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/aylesbury-town-centre-plan Aylesbury focus • 5 Cultural hotspot! From an arts point of view, Aylesbury is already on the map and was named as one of the top 20 ‘best cultural places to live’ by the Sunday Times this year.