TOTTERNHOE PARISH Summ er 2014 Issue 5

WELCOME

It’s hard to believe that the first half of the year is almost over. We’ve gone from a mild winter to a spring full of colour, sun and the smell of barbeques. It is certainly wonderful to see gardens throughout the village looking lovely and the flower boxes at the entrances to the village full of colour. I hope you have all had a look at our new village sign and seat. The design of the sign was agreed at a council meeting and the artwork done by a local artist. We hope that many a happy an hour will be spent sitting and contemplating under the sign. POLICE MATTERS

Vehicle crime, visit the following link where you All Parish Council meetings are open to the public and it is at these meetings that can find some crime prevention advice- we would like to encourage you to raise any issues or concerns you may have. http://www.bedfordshire.police.uk/pdf/advice_vehicl The dates for the rest of the meetings to be held this year are: 15 July, e_crime_cro2012.pdf 16 September, 21 October, 18 November, 9 December. We do not have a If you wish to contact your Local Policing Team meeting in August. All meetings start at 7:30pm and are held at the Memorial then please call: Hall. 01582 473411 or email LPT.LeightonBuzzardLinslade&Rural@bedfordshir e.pnn.police.uk PARISH COUNCIL Otherwise if you have any information regarding illegal activities or suspicious behavior, please contact the non emergency 101 police number or  The annual Council elections were held during the May meeting. The text information to 07786 200011. Alternatively you following members make up the Totternhoe Parish Council: can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 - Cllr Roger Clarke (Chairman) and Cllr Peter Tasker 555 111, or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. (Vice-Chairman) Remember that this is the season for illegal raves, so - Cllrs Kate Revel, Marion Kirk, Natalie Nel, Tim Linney and Julian if you do notice large groups gathering in a specific Mustoe area, please phone the police. - Two Councillors have resigned – Cllr Steve Kennedy and Cllr Steve Cooper. Cllr Clarke thanked both for the work they have put into the council and wished them all the best for their future 1 Feb – 28 Feb: 4 incidents of crime reported ventures. Cllr Cooper was responsible for maintaining the village website and although he will no longer be doing this, we are now in 1March – 31 March: 3 incidents of crime reported the capable hands of Andy Baker. 1 April – 30 April: 0 incidents of crime reported  During Public Question Time of the Annual Parish Meeting, a member There were 6 incidents of public nuisance of public brought up the state of the road in Knolls View. The relevant due to a party which was advertised on social authorities have been contacted and there is an undertaking to make Best Kept Front Garden sure the road is cleaned on a regular basis.  At the same meeting we had a query regarding the speeding and Are you aware of our Best Kept Front Garden dangerous driving of vehicles through Furlong Lane. We do Competition? This competition has been running understand that there is a problem and we are evaluating all options to for a number of years and recognizes the gardens make the area safer for residents. and allotments which are visible from the road. This year, we will be again running the  The council are also liaising with the Highways authority regarding the competition sometime at the end of July toward potholes in Stanbridge Road at the A505 junction. the beginning of August. This is the perfect time  The allotments are in the process of getting their biannual cut. We are to get into your gardens and spruce them up. still looking for people who are keen to rent the Lower End Allotments as we do have several for rent. If you know of anyone who would like Anyone can be a winner..... to rent an allotment, please contact Natalie @ 01582 472 546 (after Weight Restrictions on roads in the village: A further meeting is to be held in early July by Cllrs with Central Beds Traffic Team and their Contactors Amey about the introduction of this design scheme and the costs involved, the roads to be restricted are Road from the top of the hill through Castle Hill Road to Knolls View, Church Road to junction with Bower Lane/Harling Road and Wellhead Road from the Tring Road by the London Flying Club. The process will take time as there has to be consultation with the various organisations in particular the Transport Companies in the area including . Further progress will be put on the website. TOTTERNHOE PARISH COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 Our Chairman, Cllr. Clarke had attended a Town & Parish Help to make your village safer Councils Conference in April, when he found the following of particular interest: Are you concerned about speeding through the village? Now is your chance to do something about it. The Community Heartbeat Trust made a presentation to the In co-operation with the police, a “Speedwatch” scheme has conference regarding the installation of defibrillators in the been established for the village. Evidence shows that speed community. Defibrillators would be stored in secure boxes in monitoring reduces traffic speeds thereby reducing the risk of prominent positions and their location and the access code to accidents and enhancing road safety generally. open the box is kept by the ambulance service. The machines would be used in the vital few minutes before the arrival of an A small number of volunteers have been trained to use speed ambulance. The Trust would maintain this machine and monitoring equipment and monitoring locations throughout the Central are funding the cost of purchase. village have been approved by the police. However we do need Totternhoe Parish Council have put in a bid for a machine for more volunteers to make the scheme successful. the village. The more people involved the less time commitment will be required. Even if you can only spare an hour or so a week we would love to hear from you. Full training in the use of the Cllr. Clarke proposed at our May meeting that we look further equipment is provided and volunteers do not get involved in any into this and the Council were in total agreement due to the enforcement action. The police will issue warning letters to those fact that lives could be saved by having such equipment in the motorists caught speeding. village. If you would like to help or wish to find out more without If there is anyone in the village who has the knowledge and CHURCH GREEN And more news..... RECREATIION GROUND: The Annual ROSPA Inspection has been carried out on all equipment and the A meeting was held between Cllrs. Clarke, Kirk, Tasker, together subsequent Report was received. Most complaints were with Cllr. M Mustoe on April 11 along with about vegetation, which has to be removed. This is being Cllr. Hegley and Mr Barrow from the Housing Department at organized. Additional safety barriers have been installed at Central Bedfordshire regarding the ongoing issues on Church Church End Recreational Ground to discourage children Green. from running out onto the road. Middle End Recreation Ground equipment needs some attention and this will be looked into by the Council. There were a number of proposals put forward and decisions TOTTERNHOE LOWER SCHOOL: The Council had made: heard the news that Dr. Janet Robinson, Head Teacher at 1) An additional 5-8 Aylesbury Prune trees should be Totternhoe Lower School is to retire. On behalf of the planted - Agreed and will be done in the Autumn. residents and Council of Totternhoe, we would like to thank her for the hard work and dedication she has put into 2) Central Bedfordshire Council to place a Tree making our little village school such a wonderful and Preservation Order on all the trees – Central Bedfordshire will positive environment for our local children to learn. We consider this. wish her all the best for the future. 3) The trees to be under-planted with flowers and poppies – AND FINALLY: The Parish Clerk was rung on the Agreed. morning of the 4th July by Sgt Rivers who informed her that 4) The grass cutting schedule to include the location of the thanks to the vigilance of a local resident, two burglars flowers and stress the importance of avoiding strimmer damage were apprehended while burglarizing Castle Hill Road and to the trees themselves – Agreed. Castle Close. The two were arrested and are now being 5) Hardwood posts approximately 6 inches square to be installed at appropriate centres on the grass boundary of the upper CONTACTS 6) Car park to prevent cars parking on the Green - Agreed. 7) Upper Car Park to be re-surfaced – To be considered. Parish Council Clerk, Mrs Burton: 01582 601570 8) Removal of signage regarding reserved parking – Email for Mrs Burton: [email protected] Agreed. The Parish Council meet on the third Tuesday of the month 9) Central Bedfordshire to register the Green as a Village except in December when the meeting is held on the second Green or an Open Space – Not Agreed. The Green belongs to Tuesday. There is no meeting in August. the Housing Department and as such is an asset. However, Central Bedfordshire will re-visit this. We meet in the Memorial Hall in Castle Hill Road at 7:30pm 10) Central Bedfordshire to undertake regular inspections of and as this is a public meeting, all are welcome. This would be the place to raise any concerns you may have.

Local PCSO Tel: 01582 473 434