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Editor Sue Nicholls Tel: 01296 661910 [email protected]
Advertising and Distribution Klaus Ginda Tel: 01296 668911 [email protected] Where is this? The next edition will be distributed in May Deadline is 15th April 2017 Pitstone Parish
If you wish to view the Post plans for any planning PPP is produced on behalf of Pitstone Parish application currently under Council and distributed quarterly, free to every consultation by AVDC, household, PPP aims to keep members of the local please visit community informed about events and news that www.aylesburyvaledc. may affect them. gov.uk We are very grateful to the following distributors, who deliver the magazine to your door every Brown bin collection dates quarter: The service starts again on: Gill Arney, Kathy Brassington, Martyn Bronziet, Barbara Monday 30 January Byrom, Mike Clayton, Dawn Eaglesham, Laurie Eagling, Monday 6 February Lynn Fountain, Klaus Ginda, David Hawkins, Barbara Jacob, Sally Kapadia, Norma Leighton, Linda Current PPP advertising rates (inc. Martin, Nikki Mattey, Julie Mead, Sue Nicholls, Janet VAT at 20%) Nielsen, Vanita Patel, Louise Pope, Isobel Robinson, Quarter Page £14, Half Page £24.50, Full page £48.50, Inside Sarah Smith, Annie Stack, Tracey Stone, Fiona colour half £30, Inside colour full Thompson, Linda Thompson, Louise Weatherill, Connie £60, Back page colour £65. Wesley, Linda Willimont, Maria Lashley, Lesley Horlock . If you would like to help with the distribution then please contact the distribution manager (see left).
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WELCOME Bob Saintey, Chairman, Pitstone Parish Council A belated Happy New Year to engage with this procedure so that one and all! we have some knowledge of the Although this seems a long time requirement. ago I must mention the Christmas It was good to see the new Lights in the tree outside the venture of “Theatre in the Villages” Memorial Hall. Its position was a vast well supported on the two occasions improvement on previous years and that they occurred. Let’s hope it widely enjoyed throughout the continues and doesn’t suffer from Community. Talking of lights, we local Government cuts. should thank and congratulate the As we progress through Winter residents of Church Road and please be ever vigilant and mindful of Meadow Lane for their stunning elderly neighbours who might just displays in aid of ‘A Cure for Frankie’. need a contact. We must also thank all of you who Last, but by no means least, The decorated your houses over the Clerk to the Parish Council has Festive period. completed 10 Years dedicated and Further on in this new issue of loyal service to the parish of Pitstone. PPP you will read an article about the Councillors will mark this event in possible requirement for more the very near future. I would like to affordable rural housing. If you know thank Laurie Eagling on your behalf. of anybody who is now, or likely to In the meantime, stay warm, stay be in the future, looking for safe and look out for Spring! affordable housing in this area please
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COUNTY COUNCIL NEWS Avril Davies County Councillor, Ivinghoe Division Planning for school places has The Chief Constable has responded been given a high priority, joint in writing, which will be put before working between planners and the next LAF (Local Area Forum) education has started and local head meeting in early February. teachers have had a positive meeting The proposals to change home to with county officers. school transport policies for At the annual Transport for secondary school pupils have been Bucks conference, a promise was abandoned, which is good news for made to begin work on an HGV my Division strategy, and I put my name forward The joint bid from Pitstone and for the working group, which kicks Marsworth Parish Councils to the off in February. New Homes Bonus fund has been The local area forum has sent the successful and work is beginning on proposed letter to the Police and designing and building the footway Crime Commissioner on the to make walking between the two enforcement of speed limits in rural villages a much safer enterprise. areas, where significant breaches have been recorder by volunteers. (Continued on page 6)
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(Continued from page 5) replaced by a share of the business rate going to central government A new 'Active Bucks', County council tax will inevitably increase as Council walk has been launched the £46M of savings still needs to be from College Lake, every found. Wednesday at 10.15am. It is going to be very difficult to Participation is free, much like the deliver public services at a local Monday walk from Ivinghoe Lawn, government level in the foreseeable which is such a success that it will future. The chance for Parish feature in a County Council video. Councils to take more responsibility I visited the Greatmoor Energy for their own locality has had a from Waste, For more information mixed response. The future hangs on the plant, see page 28. on the Secretary of State and I continue to be impressed by council, and the impact of a local the good work the Aylesbury plan on the environment, our cluster of children centres are doing quality of life, roads, schools and in Wing and Ivinghoe. Where they other services in our communities. have to share sessions between Finally, may I add a personal centres, they hope to facilitate thank you to everyone who has more informal sessions on a been so kind and supportive and voluntary basis, however £500K of said such lovely things about my cuts for children's centres is father, who passed away in his sleep proposed in the current budget. on January 4th, one month short of The County is yet again looking to his 97th birthday. 'B' was a well reduce its spending by £46M in the known figure in Ivinghoe until he next four years, 75% by 'efficiencies' moved to sheltered accommodation and only 6% by cuts, but where 18 months ago. Someone was kind efficiencies are not achievable, cuts enough to say to me 'He gave a lot are the result. The County's total to the village in his paintings and budget is about £340M, of which drawings, that meant a lot to £58M is in ring fenced grants. The people'. He had a great life here £23M general support grant will after my mother died, and thank only continue for the next two you to everyone who made that years, and although due to be happen for him.
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DISTRICT COUNCIL NEWS Sandra Jenkins & Derek Town, District Councillors, Pitstone & Cheddington Ward
Vale Aylesbury local Plan is at the stage of examination by the AVDC Officers have sought to House of Lords Select Committee reduce the unmet need from with the aim of HS2 for the Bill Wycombe, Chiltern and South Bucks achieving Royal Assent at some point District Councils through the in 2017. continuing Duty to Co-operate. Both AVDC continues to oppose plans Wycombe and Chiltern/South Bucks for HS2, and has secured a number had been able to find capacity for of assurances from HS2 through the more houses than originally declared. petitioning process and has continued This means that AVDC will now be to petition on a number of issues in working to a figure of 26,800 homes the House of Lords Select and the Strategy will need re-writing, Committee stage. However if the Bill so the timetable for submission of is successful AVDC will continue to the VALP has been pushed back by 8 seek the best mitigation for those weeks. communities directly and indirectly HS2 Information affected through the planning process As parishes will be aware the Bill (Continued on page 11)
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(Continued from page 9) not require planning permission, and the responsibility for it lies as well as to look for benefits with HS2. Whilst we appreciate and opportunities for the vale. that this creates concern and In anticipation of receiving anxiety for local residents and Royal Assent, HS2 are carrying can be seen as HS2 jumping the out some preparatory ‘enabling’ gun, we do not have the powers work, which includes ground to stop such work. If there are investigations, surveys and other any concerns over this work gathering of information as part HS2 have a dedicated web site of their preliminary works, https://www.gov.uk/government/ including: organisations/high-speed-two- • Surveys (ecology, limited or contact HS2 directly arboriculture, topographic, on 020 7944 4908 or email to structural, demolition) [email protected] • Watercourse works including However there may be some modelling development such as • Archaeology compounds related to that work • Advance planting & that will require planning landscaping permission in the normal way • Habitat creation and species ahead of the Bill becoming an translocation Act of Parliament. There may • Site clearance and compound also be some applications creation coming forward as a result of • Utility diversions landowner discussions with HS2 • Highway capacity and safety for some changes which affects reviews, upgrades & land outside Bill or “build limits diversions where needed (the land identified in the Bill as This is likely to increase in affected). These will be early 2017. considered under the usual The majority of this work will planning regime.
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(Continued from page 11) park adjacent to the site which was opened last year by Bucks County
New development commences Council. All the existing disabled in Aylesbury Town Centre bays from the Exchange Street car Exchange Street car park park will be relocated within the The construction work for development and a number of 30 Aylesbury Vale District Council’s minute short stay and market trader exciting new development in the van bays will be relocated too. Exchange Street car park will During the construction period, commenced on Monday, 9 January, approximately 30 additional parking with AVDC’s chosen development spaces will be temporarily lost to partner for the scheme, Durkan Ltd. allow the construction traffic access The new development will around bottom and cinema side, provide Aylesbury town centre with ensuring safety for car park users. its first purpose-built mixed Cllr. Neil Blake, Leader of restaurant and residential Aylesbury Vale District Council, development, reflecting how said: “This new development is an modern town centres are changing important stage within Aylesbury to meet a demand for more town Town Centre’s regeneration and it centre homes and leisure dining. is with great anticipation that we see The development will take place the development start. The at the top end of the Exchange Exchange will help provide Street car park, opposite the Aylesbury with the facilities required cinema. It will create four new in a modern town centre, giving restaurants with 47 one and two both residents and visitors more bedroom apartments above them reason to come into the town.” and a stunning new public square Introducing Aylesbury Garden funded by a grant from the South Town East Midlands Local Enterprise. Aylesbury has been chosen by the The development means that the government to become one of three Exchange Street car park has lost new Garden Towns, which will see around 120 parking spaces. it receive more than half a million However, most of these have pounds initially to help improve the already been offset by the new car long-term plans for the town and
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develop infrastructure proposals. In green infrastructure, which could telling AVDC that they were include new parks and cycle routes. successful in their bid for an initial The funding and support that comes £540,000, Gavin Barwell MP, Minister hand-in-hand with being a Garden of State for Housing and Planning, Town will help the whole Vale said: “I am impressed by the strength become a greener, more connected of local leadership and commitment and more vibrant place to live, work to transformational change that your and visit. expression of interest shows.” AVDC submitted an application in October explaining why Aylesbury is the perfect place to become part of the Garden Town programme due to its central location within the ‘brain belt’ between Oxford and Cambridge, and its critical role in delivering growth for the district and the wider area. Aylesbury Vale is set to have 27,000 new homes built in the next 15 years, with Aylesbury itself expected to accommodate Councillor Neil Blake, Leader of around 15,000 of them. Getting the Aylesbury Vale District Council Garden Town status gives AVDC the said: “I am tremendously pleased that opportunity to develop Aylesbury our hard work to make Aylesbury and the surrounding area in a truly Vale the best possible place to live visionary and sustainable way, and work has been recognised by supporting its development as government. People right across the a settlement that offers the best of Vale and beyond will benefit from town and country living. The money Aylesbury becoming a Garden Town, will be spent in a number of areas and it will truly help unlock the such as developing the longer term town’s full potential. It’s an exciting masterplan for the town, which will opportunity to help make Aylesbury look at improving transport links and a more inclusive, innovative and
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forward looking town that meets the organisations across Bucks (this needs and aspirations of people who included Parish Councils). 41% live in the area, as well as businesses favoured a two-unitary model, 32% and visitors.” AVDC will work favoured a three-unitary model whilst closely with a range of partners to only 27% said they would prefer a deliver the garden towns programme single unitary authority (as proposed including central government by Bucks County Council). This agencies, Buckinghamshire County information has been used to help Council, the two Local Enterprise form a proposal for innovative change Partnerships, developers and town that will not only improve the and parish councils. outcomes for the people of Bucks, UNITARY - Could five Councils but will also provide a solid become two? foundation for service provision and On 16th January, District future challenges. Councillors across Bucks voted in AVDC together with Wycombe, favour of submitting to Government, Chiltern and South Bucks District the business case for having two new Councils, have commissioned Deloitte councils for Buckinghamshire. The to undertake an open and proposal is to abolish the county and independent review to find the best the four district authorities and option for the future of local replace them with two new unitary government in Buckinghamshire. councils, one in the north alongside Our proposal is to abolish all five the existing unitary of Milton Keynes county and district authorities and and one in the south to cover the replace them with two new unitary area of the three southern district councils, one in the north (current councils. This will save tax payers AVDC) alongside the existing unitary almost £58million over a five-year of Milton Keynes and one in the south period. Under the new proposals to cover the area of the three each unitary council would be southern district councils, saving tax responsible for the delivery of all payers almost £58million over a five- council services. year period. Under the new proposals Late last year, the district councils each unitary council would be engaged with 146 key stakeholder responsible for the delivery of all
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(Continued from page 15) unlikely that changes would be implemented until spring 2019. council services. As part of the work to draft the The four district councils have business case Deloitte considered now drawn up a proposal for two evidence about the current new unitary councils in Bucks. This performance of services and the was presented to members of the geography, topography, economies council at each of the four districts and communities which make up this on Monday 16 January. They are in diverse County. We have looked at agreement that we will be submitting models of delivery across the our proposal to the Secretary of Country and abroad and have looked State for Communities and Local at the challenges which local Government. The four District government is likely to face in the Leaders met with the Secretary of future. State for Communities and Local A copy of the executive summary Government, Sajid Javid, on Thursday and the full report can be accessed 19 January to discuss the districts’ from the AVDC website. proposal. He has already stated that he will make a decision early this year. If a proposal is adopted, it is
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PITSTONE PARISH COUNCIL Laurie Eagling, Parish Clerk
We’d like to welcome Dr Dave to Councillor Dr Dave Frearson Frearson, your new parish who has recently joined the parish councilor council to fill this vacancy. As you may know, Councilor Dr. Frearson moved to Pitstone Joanne Groom resigned from the with his family in 2007 and currently parish council in the autumn. We’d lives in Yardley Avenue. He has two like to take this opportunity to children, both of whom attend thank her for her contribution to Brookmead School. Dr. Frearson is the parish since joining in May 2015. a member of the local Beacon We are delighted to introduce you Community Choir and has been
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involved with the Developmnt of the These may include people who need Pitstone Community Plan. He works to be near close relatives to care for for a Water Hygiene Consultancy in them, or need the care of someone Aylesbury and has back-ground in living in the parish. We are also Environmental Science, Agricultural aware that young people may be Research and Health & Safety. finding it increasingly difficult to access homes of their own, and older people finding it hard to find suitable homes to ‘downsize’ into. To gauge the extent of local need for "low cost housing", and any particular types of need, we would like all interested Pitstone residents to complete a short survey and tell us their stories. The results will help the parish council to understand what needs exist and to investigate possible solutions. Enclosed in this edition of PPP you will find a survey to complete, or you can complete it online at http://pitstone.co.uk/housing -survey-2017/ . Deadline Sunday, 5 Dr. Dave Frearson March, 2017. Footpath between Pitstone and Do you have a local housing Marsworth receives important need? grant funding Pitstone Parish Council would like to We are delighted to confirm that a find out whether there is any need footpath along the B489 between for more "low cost housing" in our Pitstone and Marsworth is now community to help local people who looking viable following our are struggling to stay in the parish successful grant application (by due to the high cost of housing. Pitstone and Marsworth Parish
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Councils) for up to £200,000 from canal around Marsworth, the College Aylesbury Vale District Council’s Lake wildlife centre (via the New Homes Bonus Scheme. bridleway), two public houses, As you know, the B489 between Marsworth primary and pre-schools Marsworth and Pitstone is a 1.3km, and Marsworth church. derestricted road carrying Marsworth residents will benefit approximately 1 million vehicles per from access to 2 shops, 2 doctors year, of all sizes, surgeries, the in both pharmacy, the directions. Beacon Villages There is no Community pedestrian Library, the post footway and the office, the number road travels 61 bus service, the over a blind sports and summit making recreation facilities it dangerous for in Pitstone and pedestrians, Ivinghoe, 2 wheelchair and restaurants plus a pushchair users, take-away, both and other slow primary and pre- moving school facilities and unprotected employment traffic. As a opportunities at consequence Pitstone Business many potential users are deterred Park. from walking along the route and Both Pitstone Parish Council and denied access to facilities at the Marsworth Parish Council have been other end. The new path will provide working on proposals for this Pitstone residents with safe walkway scheme for a number of years in to the Chilterns Area of Outstanding conjunction with Bucks County Natural Beauty, the reservoirs and Council Local Area Forum. The first
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stage Road Safety Audit has been to investigate a cycle path along undertaken, and the subsequent Northfield Road to Tring station. At Feasibility Study and Biodiversity the time of writing, we are waiting Assessment. Now that sufficient for the results of the Road Safety funding has been secured, the full Audit relating to the Ben Hamilton- Engineering Report has been Baillie highway proposals, and for a commissioned. Next, Transport for quotation from Transport for Bucks Bucks will enter into a tender towards the associated Feasibility procurement phase for the Study. works. We hope that actual Sports Update construction may commence in The council is actively progressing September 2017 (post the closed Phase I of a redevelopment program season for hedgerow works to for the Sports Pavilion off preserve biodiversity) and be Marsworth Road and hoping to completed by December 2017. install some ball stop netting, Both parish councils, the Bucks County Council Local Area Forum and County Councillor Avril Davies’ Community Leaders Grant are also contributing financially to the scheme. Our sincere thanks to all those bodies involved with bringing this project to fruition. This project received a grant from Aylesbury Vale District Council’s New Homes Bonus Funding Scheme. If you would like more information about the grants available, please call the relocate and extend the senior pitch Grants Officer, Jan Roffe, on 01296 and replace a section of wooden 585186 or email fencing during the summer [email protected] renovation period in 2017. We are A quick update on other also seeking an architect to develop highway matters Phase II plans for a re-vamped Herts County Council continue building and grounds that will bring
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PITSTONE COMMUNITY
FILM CLUB PITSTONE MEMORIAL HALL
This season we are showing films on the first Friday of
the month
We would welcome volunteers to help set up
See posters in the village notice boards Details also on the events page at Www.pitstone.co.uk Email: [email protected] Search for us on Facebook
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GROOMS FARM SHOP
FRESH MEAT & POULTRY EGGS, VEGETABLES & DAIRY PRODUCTS FREE DELIVERY Open: Thurs10am—1.45pm, Fri 8am—5.30pm, Sat 8am—1pm WILLOWDENE FARM IVINGHOE TEL: 01296 668326
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it up to the standard required by the announce a price freeze for allotment football league and expand the use of plots for a further year. All plots are the site. currently full, but if you would like to Street light improvement add your name to the waiting list, program please contact: As you will be aware, the pitstoneallotmentassociation@gmail. government are phasing out all SOX com and SON bulbs, so all the street Keeping up to date with Parish lights will be converted to LED, Council news which is more energy efficient, better Remember that the most efficient for the environment, requires less and timely way to keep up to date maintenance and offers improved with news from the parish council is illumination. New lanterns are costly, to like our new Facebook page so the parish council is developing a https://www.facebook.com/ rolling program over the next few pitstoneparishcouncil/ follow us on years. You will already see these Twitter @pitstone_pc or watch our lanterns in many other communities website http://pitstone.co.uk/pitstone and around the village including -parish-council/ which has copies of Glebe Close, The Pightle, Chequers all our minutes and policies. Close and some in Cheddington Thank you for supporting the Road and Church Road. As well as Christmas activities in the having a structured roll-out program, parish lanterns will also be converted as and A big thank when they reach the end of their you to everyone useful life. The council is also who supported currently investigating options for any of the mitigating measures, where Christmas necessary. More information can be activities held in found in the street light policy on our the village, many website. of which were raising funds for Price Freeze on Pitstone various charities. Rennie Grove Allotments advised that their Santa float raised The Parish Council and the nearly £5k this year (across all the Allotment Association are pleased to towns, not just Pitstone!) raising vital
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funds to support their nurses and attractive deals. Construction work help some families spend a to cope with increased numbers (up memorable last Christmas together. to 18mppa) is in its comparatively The Church Road residents created early stages. A revised flightpath was an amazing light display and raised introduced in 2015 for some enough to provide Frankie, a local girl departures in westerly winds and with Retts Syndrome, with a hoist to does not affect Bucks. A combination enable her to enjoy hydrotherapy to of reducing the planes’ speeds and help maintain her mobility. Pitstone advances in new technology means Church opened for the first time this changes could be made so that now Christmas and raised over £200 with the vast majority of the flights fly their memory tree. The Scouts within 500m of the official centre operated their Christmas post again, line, which would be good news for St Marys Church and Ivinghoe Hub many communities. both held Christmas Markets, there LADACAN – a community action was a Charity Shopping & Pamper group – explained that as well as Evening for Macmillan Cancer Care, significantly more flights, the fleet mix Friends of Brookmead hosted a has altered and there are fewer Christmas Craft evening, Ivinghoe & quieter planes now at Luton. The Pitstone United Cricket Club planes are carrying more passengers arranged Christmas Bingo and the and perhaps freight, so they are Pitstone Social Club put on a heavier and therefore noisier. Luton’s Christmas Eve event. We’d also like planes arrive and depart in bunches, to thank those involved with the United Benefice Senior Citizens Christmas Lunch. Update on Luton airport We are advised that: The airport is now up to 14 million passengers per annum, growth fuelled by the and such bunches are lasting longer, comparatively strong economy, and the planes are flying closer business from Eastern Europe and together. Remember that if you are
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disturbed by aircraft noise, you that they will submit a planning should report it to the airport via the application in 2017. The airport has following email address: asked Arriva to review its bus service [email protected] from Aylesbury to the airport (which What would help most currently requires several changes of communities (apart from those who bus service). really are at the ends of the runway) Completion of road would be if the planes could fly higher improvements for longer. However, interaction with other flightpaths for other airports and holding positions (stacks) make this impossible most of the time. Eventually they want to move the stacks further out and higher up, which would make a huge difference. Heathrow is trialling a later deployment of the undercarriage and we understand that Luton are going to meet with Our thanks to Transport for Heathrow with a view to reducing Bucks/Bucks County Council for now their own deployment. Some plane completing patching works on engines are being retro-fitted to Yardley Avenue, The Crescent and reduce a whining/whistling noise. Church Road. Remember that you Luton Borough Council are can report potholes and other currently consulting on a Mass highway problems to Transport for Passenger Transit System to move Bucks using the following link: http:// passengers to and from Luton www.buckscc.gov.uk/transport/tell- Airport Parkway railway station and tfb/ the airport terminal. It is anticipated
If you are a Pitstone resident aged 65+ you are entitled to receive a cheque from the Williamson Trust, however recently you moved here. Our annual grants are awarded in April and are not means tested. To join our list call Gill on 01296 668809 or email [email protected].
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Save Money on Energy Bills but be Quick! This December, Bucks CC. again switch. invited residents to see if they could In the last round of Auction: make savings on their energy bills 41% of people who registered in through the Government’s Bucks were able to make a saving of, Collective Switching Scheme, a on average, around £280 per year. national scheme, that joins local Read more at people with others around the www.buckscc.gov.uk/switchedon and country then invite energy suppliers register your interest. to bid in an auction to provide energy The deadline for registration is to this pool of people at a 13rd February 2017 and the auction preferential rate. Once a supplier has for suppliers will take place on 14th been found they will write to February. Please note that you will everyone with a personalised need your existing energy bill(s) to quote. There is no obligation to complete your registration.
Personal thanks from Jean and Kurt Uyan Who says good neighbours do not exist any more? I have been very lucky to have such wonderful neighbours, who rallied round to help me so much, and support Kurt in our darkest hours. A huge thank-you to you all: Nick and Paolo, Claire and Ian, Roy and Linda and Christian and Anita. We are so grateful to you all for your good wishes and prayers.
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ENERGY FROM OUR WASTE SAVES US
MONEY Do you ever wonder what hap- Stage 2 and above), colleges and uni- pens to the things you put in your versities. If you are not a member of waste bin? a local group but would like a tour, All of the residual (non-recyclable) why not organise a group of your household waste generated in Buck- friends for a visit, or come to one of inghamshire is now processed at the our open days? Greatmoor Energy from Waste facili- ty, at Woodham, near Aylesbury. Greatmoor is operated by FCC Envi- ronment, in partnership with Buck- inghamshire County Council. Greatmoor has the capacity to treat up to 300,000 tonnes of waste a year (approximately 900 tonnes a day), waste which would otherwise have gone to landfill. As a result, it generates a minimum of 22 mega- watts of electricity to the national A group of Pitstone Parish Coun- grid, meeting the energy needs of cillors (above) visited Greatmoor, around 36,000 homes. recently. Their tour included the con- This alternative treatment of trol room (where the cranes load the waste will result in a saving to Buck- waste), a visit to the viewing hatch inghamshire County Council of ap- providing an exciting view into the proximately £150 million over the life heart of the fire, and the turbine hall of the contract. and condenser fans. Greatmoor has a visitor centre, www.greatmoor.co.uk and offers free guided tours by prior For visits please contact: agreement. Tours are open to local [email protected] organisations, clubs, schools (Key 01296 323633
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SAYING THANK YOU Revd Adrian Manning
By now if you are ever going to you will have sent thank you letters to those who sent Christmas presents to you or the children. It can be a chore but it is important to say thank you to those who have been kind, generous, supportive or helpful to recognise what they have done. However are you ever grateful for text messages? And if so to whom? Most of us take them so much for granted that we can’t imagine a world without them. But the Finn- ish engineer who first suggested SMS messaging couldn’t see any use for them so he didn’t pursue the idea or patent it. What an opportunity he missed. The first text was sent 25 years ago in 1992 but from an office in Berkshire. in February 1992, exactly 25 years ago John Major with the eleven other national leaders of the EC signed the Maastricht treaty that formed the EU providing freedom of movement between member states along with other benefits and costs to us. I wonder if a failure to appreciate all we gain from the treaty and taking for granted the benefits skewed our decision to leave in the referendum last year. Being grateful for the good things we enjoy in life is at the heart of faith. The Christian service of Holy Commun- ion is often called the ‘Eucharist’, which means ‘thank you’. Being thankful makes all the difference to life.
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GUIDES RECEIVE HIGHEST AWARD Yvonne Ashton
Four girls have received their weekend in London at Icando centre Baden-Powell Challenge in Nov at UK Guide Headquarters, where 2016, the highest award that can be they had to travel around London gained in the Guide section. Over doing a treasure hunt with other the past year aKitty Forssling, girls from the region. They received Hannah Isdale, Emily Humble and their award at Pitstone Millenium Amelia Shults have planned and Room along with the rest of the carried out various activities for the Guides, leaders and families. other girls, including an International Evening and Disability Awareness activities. They also did their own Guides is for girls aged 10 – 14. If activities including building a shelter you would like to give it a try visit and sleeping in it overnight. Their www.girlguiding.uk, to register your final challenge was a residential interest.
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IN BRIEF Apologies for the summarising of this news. There’s been too much happening this quarter!
Pitstone Church thanks everyone who wrote messages on the memory tree. They raised £209 for the Churches Conservation Trust. Upcoming events: Festival of Art, Craft and Flowers Holiday 27th – 29th May. Concert by the Icknield Sixteen 15th July in the Church. Church open as usual, Sunday afternoons and Bank Holidays between May and September from 2.30 – 5.30 pm . W.I. 100 years old this year. Upcoming events: Sunday 12th February, Valentine’s Lunch. Cost £12.00 – Two course hot meal, Town Hall, Ivinghoe,12 noon for 12.30pm, Tickets: Lynn Martin, 668072, Helen McCashey 668888. Monday 3rd April: Talk, ‘Tears of the Dragon’ by Frances Benton, about pearls – some jewellery on sale. Cost £7.00 – to include a glass of wine. Cheddington Hall, 7.30pm, Tickets Lynn Martin 668072. Chiltern Society Woodland Appeal The Chiltern Woodlands Project is working with the Chiltern Society to manage a number of sites including Bottom Wood, Marlow Common, Brush Hill & Whiteleaf Hill, Captains Wood, Cobblers Pits, Cholesbury Camp hillfort and Penn Jubilee Wood. The Chiltern Society is appealing for funds to support these sites and the work of the Chiltern Woodlands Project, a charity they set up in 1989. Due to uncertainty and recent deficits, the Chiltern Woodlands Project needs to build up its reserves if it is to continue. • Bucks County Council's household waste permits: Now obtained digitally for: vans or other commercial vehicles, vehicles towing a twin-axle or larger single-axle trailer, asbestos disposal, anyone arriving at the centre on foot. Further information http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/ wastepermit
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Do you have a daughter aged 5 or under? We currently have places available for girls at Rainbows! Rainbows is for the youngest members of the Girlguiding family – girls aged 5 to 7 years. The sessions are held on Mondays (during term time) at Pitstone Memorial Hall from 4.30 to 5.30 p.m. If you would like to join us, please register your interest on our website at www.girlguiding.org.uk. We hope to see you soon!
1st Ivinghoe & Pitstone Scouts Group (Group Scout Leader: Keith Steers)
Contact: Email - [email protected] Tel—07899 696 722
Scouting Sections
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Watermill Windmill Windmill Watermill Scouts Beavers Beavers Cubs Cubs
6pm—7pm 6pm—7pm 6.30pm—8pm 6.30pm—8pm 7.30pm-9pm
Leader: Leader: Leader: Leader: Leader: Andrew Broad Keith Steers Rob Haddock Rob Mercel Andrew Woods
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Cheddington Pre-School is in the grounds of Cheddington Combined School. We have a purpose built building and our own well-equipped outdoor learning environment with vegetable patch and mud kitchen, plus access to some of the primary school’s facilities. We offer a great variety of activities each week including PE, library time, Forest School visits, as well as visits to reception in the summer term for those who will be joining school in the September. Cheddington Pre-School prides itself in delivering a high quality of pre- school education. We have very healthy registers at Pre-School so please remember to register your child from 18 months old. We take children from 2 years up until they start school. For further information or to register your child with us please contact Michelle Andrews, Manager. Tel. 01296 662292 or [email protected] or visit www.cheddingtonpreschool.co.uk
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Friends At Brookmead (PTA) Charity number 104137
Friends At Brookmead raise funds by running a recycling textiles project. Items that are no longer required such as adults’ and children’s clothing, shoes, hats, belts, handbags, ties and soft toys can all be turned into money, which assists us in purchasing additional resources to enhance the children's learning at Brookmead School. Rob Clarke of Colbree Engineering has kindly agreed to use their village based engineering site at Pitstone Green Business Park to store additional textile collections on our behalf. Donations should be placed into plastic sacks and dropped off at the signed collection point at the rear gates at Colbree Engineering on Quarry Road. Friends At Brookmead would like to thank Colbree Engineering for their support in enabling us to extend this project out to the wider community. So next time you are sorting out your wardrobes, don’t take it to the tip…take it to Colbree
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POPPY APPEAL A BLOOMING SUCCESS. Joe Marling, ex Middlesex Regiment (DCO TA)
Yet another year over, collecting post from a local young lady, asking for the Royal British Legion. The if the Poppy Man would be outside challenge I take on every year was, Mason’s Store. The first comment yet again, a great success, raising just over £2,565. said ‘Yes, he will be there, rain or shine.’ The lady who enquired, had It was hard this year, as my wife, crocheted som poppies as part of her Shirley, is really poorly now. She donation. How could I refuse. The insisted that I did it and after challenge was on! collecting for 6 years, I have been Tong, of the New May Fu, one told that I have raised over £10,000 again brought out meals, and a outside our local shop. young woman who did not wish to Still undecided, I saw a Facebook (Continued on page 39)
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be named, kept me going with bacon and Katherine, also to Richard and rolls on two occasions. the girls for their cups of tea. The challenge was made possible Believe it or not, the young lady by locals, who looked after my jeep who supplied the poppies, is already at lunch time so that I could go preparing for November 2017. home and care for Shirley. Without For the third year I have had a our lunch-time crew it would have donation from an old friend, who been impossible, so heartfelt thanks travels some distance to help the cause. Another guy was working away in Germany, when he saw the picture (left) of Fiona Harrison and I on Facebook. He came round to see me when he got back. Another picture was seen in Australia. So a final thanks to everyone who makes the Poppy Appeal outside Mason’s Stores, such a success. to Jane, Les, Paul, Mary, Barry, Dave
Dumping Garden Waste Following the request in the last PPP that people do not dispose of their gar- den waste thoughtlessly, it appears that some are still carrying out the prac- tice. Even if you live near woodland, or have a convenient verge or footpath on the other side of your fence, dumping clippings and grass cuttings is consid- ered fly-tipping and can incur a fine and costs. If you see garden waste being disposed of in this way, it is very easy to re- port it here: http://old.buckscc.gov.uk/environment/waste,-recycling-and- treatment/fly-tipping/report-fly-tipping/
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NEWS FROM IVINGHOE HUB
Happy New Year 2017 to all our seasonably decorated Hub venue. Community. This included the very new Simply It was through the Beacon Walks group who set off walking Magazine, now celebrating its 100th locally from the Hub every Monday edition, that we were all first alerted at 10am for just over an hour and in 2010 to the perilous future of the finish it all off with a CuriosiTEA Old School Ivinghoe. After a flier to Rooms coffee by 11.30am! each home, in May 2011 a team of Our new trustees have given villagers followed up our agreed plan their time generously shared their to save and restore the building for skills to support the running of our this community to continue its use Old School Hub venue. Bob within the village for everyone’s continues to be a very busy enhanced wellbeing. We achieved secretary, and it is through him that our goal in summer 2013 and you can hire space and time for opened the Ivinghoe Old School your activities. Our tenant Hayley Community Hub for the next 25 continues to keep the booking diary years! This year in our fourth year! on the counter of her cosy Hub Café We have paved the outside space, CuriosiTEA Rooms. and planted out our tubs and bought Our Christmas Market was a in more tables to sit at outside and sparkly success, a quieter affair watch our bit of the world go by! than its previous three, but very Jane Elliott’s bench should arrive this enjoyable for that, as everyone was year to enhance that activity also! more able to move around the stalls, Christmas parties and lunches and café and outside and chestnut one of CuriosiTEA Rooms roasting, to enjoy the melodic and special Christmas Pop up very skilled school choir singing their Restaurants have been a very tasty several carols to us, or hop on the and entertaining feature of our lovely Children’s old fashioned
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Carousel, more easily with no rewarding activities at other venues. queue. We made a small profit of Everyone’s hour is worth the £500 to spend on the upgrading of same and everyone gets thanked. the Hub. Thank you all comers! There is no limit to how many We are very keen as trustees to credits you can earn, and you can find the time and courage in 2017 to save them yourself, or share them face all the paperwork entailed, to with friends. reward voluntary help at the We still want to offer a session a week of ‘Movers and Shakers Club’ eventually! This is a three hour session centred around a lunch club bracketed by, a health promoting, moving-to-music hour and a social third hour of film, a speaker’s talk or a card game, etc., We will be calling for volunteers to assist anyone who needs mobility help. If you would like to help, Hub through Time Credits. For volunteering will earn you Time those who missed previous articles, Credits. Do get in touch to help or these are vouchers you can use for attend. free tickets at the Waterside Our Spring Market will be Theatre and other local theatres, back on Easter Saturday. Do swimming time at Aylesbury Aqua drop in, (to be kept in the loop join Vale, tickets to Lords Cricket our database) and become part of Ground; Amersham Museum; Adult this cosy village Hub experience! Learning Centres across Bucks; Marlow Museum; British Museum; Museum of London; Tower of London; Tower Bridge Exhibition; St Paul’s Cathedral; Keats House, London; and the Thames Clippers For information about hiring the Hub London for a start, plus many other see page 46
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Quality fresh vegetables. Extensive freezer range. Home produced beef and lamb. Stockists of Heygates animal feeds. Heygates flour. Speciality foods. TEA ROOM We serve tea, fresh coffee, Cakes, toasted sandwiches, Soup and filled rolls The Moors, Wilstone, Tring HP23 4NT 01442 828478
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WHAT’S GOING ON AT COLLEGE LAKE? Leo Keedy, College Lake Warden
Even in the midst of winter, there allow the movement of water and are signs of spring, out on the re- nutrients from the roots to the rest serve. Early flowering plants such as of the plant. The stem (known as a spurge laurel and stinking hellebore pleacher as well as many other local are about to come into flower and names) is then laid at an angle with snowdrops shoots, to appear. One of stakes and binders used to create a our most striking summer flowers, sturdy hedge. The pleachers will car- the bee orchid, is also very much in ry on sprouting and this, along with evidence. Bee orchids do most of the new growth from the cut stem, their photosynthesis over winter so will produce a thick bushy hedge. we have leaf rosettes appearing all In January we began hosting Simply over the reserve. Another exciting Walk health walks run by Bucks record for us is the hind footprint of County Council. If you would like to an otter, found on a clay pad, used to come along the walks take place eve- monitor mammal activity. ry Wednesday mornings at 10.30. For We are currently carrying out one more details pick up a leaflet at Col- of my favourite winter jobs here at lege Lake, see the Bucks CC website College Lake - hedge laying. This tra- at www.buckscc.gov.uk/simplywalk or ditional management method was just pop along on a Wednesday originally developed as a way to main- morning around 10.15 and join us. tain field boundaries using hand tools. Later in the spring we will be hold- There are numerous local styles ing an official opening weekend with around the country, with our local guided walks and activities for chil- one being the Midland style, also dren, focusing on the distant past known as the Midland Bullock as it which very much shapes the College was used as a cattle proof barrier. A Lake of today. hedge is laid by cutting through the stem leaving a small strip uncut to website www.bbowt.org.uk.
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ADM ADMIN & BOOK-KEEPING
Spend time doing the jobs you want to do and leave the paperwork to me.
Locally based book-keeper Offering: Invoicing Estimates Personal Tax Returns CIS VAT returns And more
Contact Andrea for further details Tel: 07789262183 Email: [email protected]
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Beacon Villages Community Library New for 2017. We will be doing knitting and crochet in the library on the first Saturday of every month from 10:30 to12.30. You are welcome to come along with your own project or to make a blanket square. We need lots of 6" squares to make up into blankets for refugees, so If you can't come along but still want to help, you can collect yarn from us and borrow needles to make a square. Feel free to let your imagination run wild and use different stitches to add interest to your design. Plain squares equally
Performing Arts for 6 -18 year olds
Our workshops are taught by professionals, with classes in drama, singing and musical theatre, ensuring every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. To find out more about what we offer in Tring and surrounding villages, email [email protected] Visit our website www.tringshowstoppers.co.uk or call Kate on 07790 487 022
Spring 2017 Pitstone Parish Post Page 49 welcome, and they do grow quickly! If you would like to use the library for small group meetings when we are closed, please talk to Shelle about hiring the space. Cost is just £10 per hour.
Run by the community, for the community www.bvcl.org.uk General enquiries: [email protected] 01296 387890 Committee enquiries: [email protected] Opening times: Tuesday 2pm - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 12noon Thursday 2pm - 5pm Friday 2pm - 7pm Saturday 10am - 1pm
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James B Chadburn FBHI Fine Antique Clocks & Barometers
Specialist in repairs & restoration
Valuations & clock finding service.
Advice & assistance on formation & disposal of private clock collections.
Quality clocks / barometers Bought & Sold.
Tel: 01525 221165 Mobile 07790 000629 Email: [email protected]
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AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS OF ANTIQUE FURNITURE COLLECTABLES & FINE ART
GENERAL SALES OF ANTIQUE FURNITURE, FURNISHINGS & EFFECTS The largest General Sale auction in the area. Up to 2500 lots every fortnight
FINE ART SALES Antique furniture, treen, metal ware, silver, pictures, glass, ceramics, jewellery and Objets d’art. Up to 700 lots every other month
VALUATION FOR SALE, INSURANCE, TAXATION & PROBATE We provide valuations for a variety of needs
TOTAL AND PART HOUSE CLEARANCE SPECIALISTS
FREE AUCTION VALUATIONS
Buying or Selling Contact us: Tel: 01442 826446 Fax: 01442 890927
The Market Premises, Brook Street, Tring, HP23 5EF www.tringmarketauctions.co.uk E-mail: [email protected]
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Little Cravings Buy Direct, Quality Turf Grown at our own Farm Family Firm, Farming since 1949
3 Grades of Turf Weed Treated and Fertilised Discounts on large Loads Catering Small Orders Welcome General Public and Trade Enquiries Welcome From dinner parties to Palletised Delivery weddings we specialize in bespoke menus for your individual consultation IVINGHOE TURF
(01296 661939) please call www.ivinghoeturf.co.uk 07980 615 798 The Bungalow, Vicarage Farm, Ivinghoe, Leighton Buzzard
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New hall website: pitstone.co.uk/localinfo/pitstone-memorial-hall
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