The Village Green

Covering the communities at Chearsley, Haddenham, Ickford, Kingsey, Long Crendon, Shabbington, and Worminghall

February 2017 Aylesbury Vale Green Party

Tories fail to invest in Long Crendon School In Long Crendon two large housing developments have been given planning permission, with the developers being required to make contributions of hundreds of thousands of pounds towards expanding primary and secondary education. Yet rather than invest in the highly regarded Long Crendon School, Buckinghamshire County Council, which is are responsible for education, has allocated the money to expand schools in Brill, Waddesdon and Aylesbury. Why not Long Crendon? Long Crendon School is very well regarded but short on capacity. In some years even children living Green Party activist David Lyons with nearby have been unable to get Florence Miller, whose eldest daughter a place. As a result parents have did not get into their local school to drive them to schools in other villages such as Haddenham. Now with the population of Long have not bothered to explain why As many of the new houses will Crendon set to grow even further, they aren’t investing in Long Crendon be near the school, in the future the developer’s contributions should School. children in other parts of the village be invested in the local school, not Green Party councillors would will be less likely to be able to attend schools between four and 11 miles commit to putting decisions in their local school. away. the hands of local communities, Long Crendon School has been But yet again Conservative empowering people to be able to grappling for years with the councillors are failing to look make decisions at a local level. The economics of trying to open an after the interests of local people. Green Party believes in building additional reception class that would They have not bothered to consult and supporting truly sustainable enable all village children to attend. villagers or the Parish Council. They communities in our villages. A unitary authority for Buckinghamshire You may have heard about proposals wide unitary that it believes will save these will provide more efficient to create a unitary authority in the most money. The district councils service delivery given the geography Buckinghamshire that combines the are suggesting two unitaries — one of the county. services provided by both the county the current Aylesbury Vale area The final decision will be made and the districts. and the other an amalgamation of by Sajid Javid, the communities There are two options given. The Chiltern, South Buckinghamshire secretary. We suggest you write to county council proposes one county- and Wycombe Districts. They believe your MP to make your voice heard.

Printed by Hillingdon GreenPrint Ltd, 58 Beech Ave, Ruislip HA4 8UQ Promoted by Mary Hunt on behalf of Aylesbury Vale Green Party, both at 58 Beamish Way, Winslow, Buckingham MK18 3EU Haddenham parking problem

Green Party activist David Lyons hub for the district, but intermodal has supported moves to introduce connections are limited: parking restrictions near to the ● There are still no cycle paths station and can report that Transport to either Thame, Aylesbury or for Buckinghamshire (TfB) has finally villages such as Long Crendon, More about David Lyons agreed to install double yellow lines Chearsley or Cuddington. on the Thame Road. ● The X80 Aylesbury-Oxford ● David (pictured above) is a hard- Unfortunately, Dave says express bus does not stop near working parish councillor, standing restrictions in one area will just mean Haddenham because TfB has not up for local people since 2011. that problem parking moves further made any layby provision. ● His approach is innovative as well from the station. Calls for Chiltern ● There is little or no bus provision as practical. He has successfully Railways to reduce its parking fees to Long Crendon, Chearsley or achieved a village orchard and fall on deaf ears. Cuddington, particularly that founded Haddenham in Transition, With hundreds of houses to be could support commuters via promoting community action for built in Haddenham in the future, the Haddenham. food and energy. problem will increase. Dave wants an However, there are now direct ● He is an advocate for a integrated transport plan that will trains to Oxford from Haddenham, comprehensive and sustainable reduce the need for people to drive thus attracting more commuters to transport strategy, including speed in the village. Haddenham and Thame Parkway controls to make local roads safer, Haddenham and Thame Parkway station. Dave says he will continue to and a more pleasant environment station is an important transport fight for improvements. for all. Former party leader visits Long Crendon An audience of about Natalie is a natural speaker with the real power of taking part in 50 people turned loads of enthusiasm. political activity and how important out to hear ex-Green Natalie is particularly focused that is in a democracy. Party leader Natalie on the need for all of us to be If you would like to get involved Bennett (pictured) unashamedly political. Her catch with the Green Party as a member or speaking at Long phrase is “make politics something would be willing help us out locally Crendon Library in you do” and she talked about the as a volunteer, please email info@ early December. value of individual action but also aylesburyvale.greenparty.org.uk. Greener Living Fair returning in May AVGP hosted its second Greener to upcylced garden tools, vintage May from 2pm to 4pm in Haddenham Living Fair on Sunday 11th December. clothing and much more. Village Hall. If you or someone you We welcomed back some old faces We raised nearly £300 to help with know has a greener business, or is and greeted new ones, with a wide campaigning on local issues and we part of a greener organisation or variety of stalls selling everything hope to raise even more when we charity and would like a stall, please from driftwood arts and models host the next event on Sunday 21st email [email protected].