Hilltop News December 2016 & January 2017 Season’s Greetings hristmas cards, I am reminded, first Cover picture appeared in England during the mid- Our school was asked 19th Century and were adopted by if some of the children C would like to design a other countries about 20 years later. Once festive front cover for exclusively a Christian gift, cards are now this edition of Hilltop widely used in non-Christian parts of the News. They relished the world as well. opportunity. Thanks to The first cards usually pictured the Year 6 teacher Caroline Nativity scene. In Victorian times the robin Davey for organising her class, who produced some became popular because postmen at that very artistic interpretations time were nicknamed ‘Robin Postmen’ of the Christmas message. Our choice this time was because of the red uniform they wore. This, painted by Lottie Dickinson-Lomas. Thank you to by the way, didn’t influence our choice for all Year 6 for your efforts. our front cover illustration! Snow scenes became popular after the particularly Also in this issue: snowy winter of 1836. Michael Joseph cycles for Charity Looking ahead to 2017, our Commons Preservation Society has produced another Cllr Chris Brown gets well-earned lovely calendar featuring photos recording recognition life on and around our commons. Don’t Plus our regular features… delay in securing your copy… In his Nature Notes Chris Brown uncovers the secrets of autumn changes. Goodbye Alan Our Curvaceous Cook serves up a treat in a pumpkin When I compiled pen pictures of the 1985 …plus all the news from our churches, Hawridge & Cholesbury Cricket Club team school, pubs, clubs, councils and societies. members for the Centenary Handbook, I described Alan Brown as ‘the voice’ of the Club. That familiar Bucks drawl will sadly be heard no more, but never forgotten by anyone associated with the Club. Born, raised and lived just along the road from the cricket ground he cherished and looked after, Alan was a familiar sight for decades; whether playing, umpiring or preparing the pitch. Tributes to Alan, a true Hilltop Village character, are in this issue…Ed The Hilltop News team wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Hilltop News 3 THE PARISH COUNCIL plot has become available. If anyone would namely those in the following groups: Putting your pet into boarding? like to take it over, please get in touch. • anyone visiting the centre in a van or Most people know that if they put their In addition to the usual activities of the Planning other commercial vehicle dog or cat into boarding kennels, those council, this autumn has seen a great deal The planning appeals on the refusal • anyone towing a twin-axle or larger premises need to be licensed. But few of discussion with both the District and for change of use and the subsequent single-axle trailer realise that a licence is needed by anyone County Councils on their possible plans for enforcement notice for The White Lion • anyone wishing to dispose of asbestos who takes care of a dog or a cat for a fee some form of Unitary Authority (where the were heard in May and June by the • anyone arriving at the centre on foot in their own home or in premises other workings of both types of councils would Planning Inspectorate. Both of the appeals So anyone with general waste or than the owner’s home. This means some be combined in an effort to save money). were dismissed and the enforcement notice recycling in a car (including 4x4s and MPVs) people, keen to be helpful and board Fido Discussions are at a relatively early stage, will be upheld by the District Council. will not need a waste permit - and these or Felix while you’re away for a few days, with both District and County Councils Defibrillator make up the vast majority of visitors. For may unwittingly be breaking the law. setting out their separate visions for the A new defibrillator awareness session has those that do need a permit, the process for Dog walkers are not required to hold a future and giving Parish and Town Councils been booked for Saturday 21 January obtaining it has changed. licence unless the dog is cared for at the the opportunity to comment. However, if 2017 from 10am to 12noon at Cholesbury Previously, permits were ordered by the dog walker’s property. Anyone wishing to a consensus can be reached between the Village Hall. If you would like to attend, resident either online or on the phone, and look after a dog or cat for a fee or operate two levels of authority, then you as Bucks please send me an email. There is space for then the Council would send the permit(s) a boarding kennel or cattery will need a residents will be bound to hear more of it approximately 20 attendees. You may also by post. The process has now changed and licence from the local authority. The licence in 2017. wish to cut out and keep the usage notes become fully digital, making it faster, more will stipulate the number of animals that lso, the council has been in printed near the back of this edition of convenient for residents, and more cost- may be kept at the premises along with consultation on the District’s Local Hilltop News. efficient for the Council. other specific conditions. These licences Under the new system, a resident APlan. There are 15 Green Belt sites Rights of way preservation and conditions are to ensure the welfare applies for the permit online at the County that are suggested for development in You may remember that in the last edition of families’ pets when they need to be Council website, and the permit is available order to meet some housings needs for of the Hilltop News I included an appeal temporarily placed in the trust of one of instantly along with a digital QR code – the next 20 years. None are in this parish: for volunteers to take on a task to preserve these businesses. Anyone wishing to check similar to a barcode. The QR code can then the nearest being in Chesham, but these our rights of way for the future, as from 1st if their current dog sitter holds a valid be presented at the Household Recycling possible developments will still affect where January 2026, it will no longer be possible licence, please contact the licensing team Centre, either directly on a smartphone we travel and shop and the appearance of to use documentary evidence to claim ‘lost on 01494 732258. or tablet, or as a print-out from a home our neighbourhood. If you have not had rights-of-ways’. Any path, track, alleyway, There is more information on our computer. The QR code can be read by the chance to review and comment on the bridleway, cut-through, etc. not registered websites: Chiltern District Council; devices carried by Recycling Centre staff, plans, the closing date is 12 December. on a ‘Definitive Map’ could be in danger of www.chiltern.gov.uk/animalboarding giving them the information they need to Go to www.chiltern.gov.uk/planning/ being lost forever. I am pleased to say that Any queries regarding the Parish please let the person go ahead with their visit. localplan2014-2036 to find the relevant our Parish now has a couple of volunteers, get in touch… Although this new system has many information and feedback forms. one to walk the paths and the other to Hayley Lewis, Clerk to the Council, 758843 advantages, the Council does accept that Roads document them. I am sure they would [email protected] there may be some individuals who do In time for the start of the winter weather, appreciate some support, so if you are not have access to a smartphone or home the council is pleased that, thanks to interested and would like to find out more computer. In these instances, the person the determined efforts of Cllr Allen, the about what is involved, please contact the should visit their local library, where a majority of the necessary road repairs project coordinator rossosborn41@gmail. member of staff will be happy to help them Your councillors are: have been completed. However, we com directly and he will gladly give more through the online permit application and John Allen, Chairman: 758095 are aware that there are still notable details. then print out the permit for them on the exceptions and are continuing to apply Nigel Blomfield, 758314 Changes to Recycling Centre permit process spot. Alternatively, the person may prefer pressure to the County Council, who cite Chris Brown, 758890 The County Council has for many years to ask a friend or family member to help budgetary restraints as their reasons for not operated a permit system at the county’s them through the process. Philip Matthews, 758205 completing all of the necessary works. Household Recycling Centres. However, To find out more, or to apply for John Minting, 758206 Allotments permits – which are free to Bucks residents a permit, please go to the following Francis Sanger, 758767 - have always only been needed by a small Following contract renewals at the web page: http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/ Judith Joseph: 758702 allotments earlier in the autumn, one whole proportion of people using the centres, wastepermit 4 Hilltop News Hilltop News 5 HS2 continues to be an absolute priority THE COUNTY COUNCIL with the county council responsible for A Buckinghamshire agreeing to both permanent and temporary road works.