Local Area Forum

 Local Area Plan 

August 2015

Contents

The purpose of the Area Plan 2

Local Community Areas map 3

Map of The Amersham Local Area 4

The Amersham Local Area Forum 5

The Amersham Local Area Forum membership 6

Local Area Forum representatives 8

Service representatives and other contacts 9

The Local Area Profile 10

The Amersham Local Area Forum priorities 12

The purpose of the Amersham Area Plan

The purpose of the Amersham Area Plan is to The Area Plan should be regarded as an initial set out a clear list of local priorities that need to set of commitments, which can be added to in be addressed in order to improve the social, the light of emerging opportunities, rather than economic and environmental conditions within a fixed agenda that must be adhered to rigidly. the Amersham local area. The LAF will work closely with partner In some instances, the Amersham Local Area organisations to seek progress on the Forum (LAF) will be able to directly impact on priorities within the area plan. actions to address one or more priority themes through allocation of it’s delegated budgets. For most of the projects, it is likely that the main role of the LAF will be to act as a coordinating body and catalyst for action, with the LAF taking an investigative, supportive, developmental, championing and monitoring role.

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The Amersham Local Area Forum The Amersham local area is covered by five including community transport schemes parishes (see page 7) which form the Local Area  Reducing social isolation for older and Forum. vulnerable people  Improvements to the environment and Local Area Forums are meetings where local green spaces. county, district and parish councillors, along Previous meetings have looked at: Changes to with representatives of the police, fire and Welfare Benefits; Improving the Health and rescue, other public and voluntary/community Wellbeing of the local community; ‘Access to sector partners, meet to discuss local residents’ Stations’ project and the promotion of cycling; needs and priorities. young people’s employability skills.

One of the first tasks for each Local Area Forum Forthcoming meetings will be focussing on was to determine priorities for the local area addressing the identified local priorities for the plan. To this end, the Amersham LAF held a local area. More information on this work can be area planning workshop in November 2009. The found on the following pages. local priorities were then refreshed at work- shops in June 2011, January 2013 and lastly in Meetings are held throughout the area. All December 2014. meetings are open to the public whose attendance and questions are welcomed. Following the December 2014 workshop, five top priorities were chosen to be taken forward The Forum times and dates can be located at for action. These are:: www.buckscc.gov.uk. From the A-Z menu at the bottom of the home page go to ‘C’ and then  Activities, facilities and support for young committee membership. The LAF details are people aged 11+ towards the bottom of the page.  Traffic concerns including parking, road safety and safer routes to schools The LAF welcomes participation from  More accessible transport required other partners/local groups and residents.

5 The Amersham Local Area Forum membership

The Amersham local community area covers three divisions of the County Council. The role of chairman is usually taken by a County Councillor

County Councillors in the Amersham local area

Martin Phillips Amersham and Bois Tel: 01296 387699 Tel: 01494 433634 Email: [email protected] Martin Tett and Amersham Tel: 01296 382302 Common Email: [email protected]

David Schofield Penn Wood and Old Amersham Tel: 01494 676440 Email: [email protected]

Timothy Butcher Tel: 01494 872070 Email: [email protected]

Noel Brown Chess Valley Tel: 01494 783164 Email: [email protected]

The local area falls within the . The Vice-Chairman for each meeting is taken from one of the following district councillors: District Councillors in the Amersham local area Davida Allen Amersham Town Phone: 01494 721085 Email: [email protected]

Mark Flys Amersham Town Phone: Email: [email protected]

Caroline Jones Amersham Common Mobile: 07833 444740 Email: [email protected]

Liz Walsh Amersham-on-the-Hill Phone: 01494 724833 Email: [email protected]

Nigel Shepherd Amersham-on-the-Hill Phone: 01494 433340 Email: [email protected]

Ashley Garth , Latimer & Chenies Mobile: 07980 462628 Email: [email protected]

6 District Councillors in the Amersham local area

Mimi Harker & Weedon Hill Mobile: 07798 892749 [email protected] Keith Harris Chesham Bois & Weedon Hill Phone: 01494 433025 Email: [email protected]

Alan Hardie Penn & Coleshill Mobile: 01494 681359 Email: [email protected]

Julie Burton Penn & Coleshill Phone: 01494 726411 Email: [email protected]

The Amersham LAF also comprises the following parishes. Each will have a nominated representative (not shown) which, in addition to the County and District Councillors, are also voting members. Contact details for the clerks are available by going to http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/about-your-council/ and reviewing the list of parish councils in ‘Councillors, meetings and decisions’.

Parish council

Amersham Town Council

Chenies CP

Chesham Bois CP

Coleshill CP

Penn CP

The LAF welcomes memberships from  Amersham Action Group other partners/local groups and resident  Old Amersham Community Revitalisation attendance. The following organisations Group are members of the Local Area Forum:  Local Neighbourhood Action Groups 

7 Local Area Forum representatives

There are a number of representatives from the County and District Council at the Amersham Local Area Forum. These are: Representative Name Contact

Chairman Martin Phillips Tel: 01494 433634 A local County Councillor agreed by the Tel: 01296 387699 LAF membership Email: [email protected]

Vice-Chairman Mimi Harker Mobile: 07798 892749 A District Council nominated by the Email: [email protected] District Council and agreed by the LAF membership

Lead Area Officer (County) Mark Preston Tel: 01296 383107 The Lead Area Officer is a County Email: [email protected] Council senior manager who works with the Locality Manager to provide senior management support to the LAF.

Locality Manager Jackie Wesley Tel: 01296 383839 The Locality Manager progresses both the Email: [email protected] Local Area Plan and issues raised. The Locality Manager also works with local parishes and a wide range of partners on projects to benefit local communities.

Lead Area Officer (District) Paul Nanji Tel: 01494 732110 Email: [email protected]

Democratic Services Officer James Batt Tel: 01296 387541 The Democratic Services Officer is Email: [email protected] responsible for the meeting administration and note taking.

8 Service representatives

The following County Council service areas have local representatives working in your local community are:

Service Contact

Adult Social Care Karen Adamson Tel: 01296 383847 Email: [email protected]

Prevention Matters Community Links Officer: Tel: 01296 382140 Natalie Judson Email: [email protected]

Transportation Transport for Tel: 0845 230 2882 Main number for reporting highways issues, etc.:

Local area technicians for Little Chalfont and Amersham Common and Amersham and Chesham Bois: Kathleen Wilmhurst

Local area technicians for Penn Wood and Old Amersham Wayne Fabian Mike Raven

Area Manager: John Lowe Tel: 0845 230 2882 Email: [email protected]

9 10 11 The Amersham area priorities

The priorities below were identified at a workshop held in December 2014.

The priorities are split into those that the LAF can work on locally and those that are more strategic and therefore, the LAF has to influence through lobbying different services and organisations.

The top actionable priorities will be worked on by the LAF and also updated on a regular basis as they are taken forward. LAF budgets will be allocated to the actionable priorities.

Top actionable priorities: to be worked on locally by the LAF and community groups Activities, facilities and support for young people aged 11+

Traffic concerns including parking, road safety and safer routes to schools

More accessible transport required, including community transport schemes

Reducing social isolation for older and vulnerable people

Improvements to the environment and green spaces

Strategic priorities: the LAF will monitor and lobby on behalf of these priorities

12 Priority: Activities, facilities and support for young people aged 11+ Summary of current More facilities and activities are required for young people as well as improving situation links in service provision and information to young people. The LAF is particular- ly interested in outreach work and work in rural communities.

Chiltern Youth Projects run a number of activities at the youth centre and during the holidays, many in conjunction with the youth work supported by the Town Council/St Mary’s Church. Youth groups have recently been set up in Coleshill/Winchmore Hill through St Mary’s Church.

Work being Since 2014, the LAF has supported a mentoring project at Chiltern Youth taken forward and Projects and is working with the group on funding a Mental Health First Aid achievements to Training project for young people through the Amersham Decides community date budgeting project.

The Pop-Up Cinema has been supported through the LAF (Martin Phillips) and it is hoped that this activity can be extended to the parishes through funding provided by Amersham Decides. Other support is being sought for a film project for young people.

Work has taken place in the local area to engage with young people in all the parishes and encourage them to participate in the democratic process. Almost half the votes received in the Amersham Decides 2014 project were from young people and it is hoped to achieve this success with the 2015 project being extended to more schools and youth groups in the area.

Priority: Traffic concerns including parking, road safety and safer routes to schools Summary of current Parking and speeding is an issue in the area, with speeding concerns identified situation in Coleshill and areas of Amersham in particular. Also, residents have raised concerns about parking and traffic congestion in Amersham Town and also Raans Road in Amersham-on-the Hill and Pineapple Road/Limetree Walk in Amersham Common.

Work being A number of projects were funded in 2014/15 including Barracks Hill Triangle in taken forward and Coleshill and white lining on the A404 at Chenies to reduce the hazard for right- achievements to turning vehicles. date Since then, projects have come forward to the LAF for support and funding in 2014/15. Currently (June 2014) work is ongoing with residents with regard to parking and traffic issues identified in Raans Road and Pineapple Road (also Limetree Walk).

The LAF is also involved in a Living Streets walking project in Chesham and Amersham.

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Priority: More accessible transport required, including community transport schemes Summary of current Work is taking place to investigate the accessible transport needs in the area. situation

Work being taken forward and achievements to date

Priority: Reducing social isolation for older and vulnerable people

Summary of current There is a need for projects that allow older people to live in their own homes situation as well as support in accessing services. Particular interest is in local community projects that aim to address the issue of social isolation and outreach projects or building community capacity / neighbourliness schemes particularly in the parishes.

Work being Currently work is ongoing to set up a Men in Sheds project in the Amersham taken forward and area with the aim of reducing social isolation for men to include those who have achievements to been recently bereaved, retired or unemployed, etc. date A Health and Wellbeing event was held in Amersham-on-the-Hill in late May 2015 in conjunction with the LAF’s Amersham Decides project to promote health and activity opportunities for older people.

Priority: Improvements to the environment and green spaces

Summary of current The rural and green nature of the town and villages needs to be maintained and situation there is an interest in developing volunteering and community service projects.

Work being One of the projects participating in Amersham Decides 2015 is Chiltern Rangers taken forward and which offers volunteering opportunities and conservation for young and older achievements to people. date The LAF funded footpaths in Chesham Bois conservation area in 2014 and work on the footpaths around Widmer Pond and Common Wood in Penn and a permissive footpath in Whielden Lane, Winchmore Hill.

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