There are no elections in Pitstone, Ivinghoe or anywhere in the Buckingham constituency on May the first.

Several people have asked us, understandably confused because of all the publicity in the media.

Aylesbury Vale District Council is elected all in one go. That happened in May 2007.

Buckinghamshire County Council is up for election in May of 2009. So you have a rest from the polling booths for the time being.

County Councillor Avril Davies.
Update, April 21st 2008.

Pitstone. Castlemead phase 2 planning application.

The most recent application for 164 houses on Castlemead came before the Strategic Development Control Committee at Aylesbury Vale District Council on April 16th. This development covers only half the area included in the masterplan for Pitstone and did not include any of the amenities required in the masterplan, as they were all designed to cluster around the village hall and recreation ground, belonging to the other parties. Instead, Taylor Wilson proposed setting aside sums of money for those amenities.

This gave the committee a dilemma, as to whether this would help or hinder the achievement of the overall plan. After listening carefully to submissions from Pitstone Parish Council, the Hawkins Trust, and Taylor Wilson, the committee reached a decision to defer and delegate approval to the officers subject to the following

That the £583,285.37 contribution to a multi-use games area and youth drop in centre be ring-fenced for use only in Pitstone.

That AVDC support Pitstone Parish and Hawkins Trust in negotiations with the Charity Commission in order to ensure the completion of the masterplan.

That £1,344,903 is provided to Bucks County Council for educational facilities (at Brookmead School)

A network of cycleways linking both phases of the development

Work to be completed by Bucks County Council and Hertfordshire County Council on a cycleway and bus service to Tring Station

Forty percent of the houses to be affordable – for both rent and part ownership - reflecting current housing needs

That private homes are built to the Eco-Homes ‘very good’ standard and the affordable units to the ‘excellent’ standard.

Outstanding contamination and drainage issues to be resolved to the satisfaction of the Environment Agency.

The layout and design of the site itself had been subject to considerable revision in response to comments from the public and the planning team, although the density of 37 dwellings per hectare is higher than the 30 originally proposed, in line with revised government guidelines on the use of brownfield land. The street layout has been designed with the rural location in mind, with varying widths to allow passing and on-street parking and a lane around the edge of the site giving access to refuse and service vehicles. There will be a variety of fences, walls and gates to reflect a typical village appearance, and the design of the houses reflects existing building in Ivinghoe and Pitstone, though for some inexplicable reason Taylor Wilson have named them ‘Kensworth’ ‘Leighton’, both in Bedfordshire, and ‘Nettleden’ in Herts!



Proposed Closure Tring Recycling Centre



Hertfordshire County Council have reviewed all their centres and are proposing to close Tring on the grounds that the Berkhamsted one used only to 50% capacity, and that half to two thirds the users of Tring are Buckinghamshire residents, costing Herts £22,000 on landfill tax at the moment, shortly to more than double. In addition there are problems with HGV access, security, space, and future expansion.

Bucks CC was not consulted on this but at my request have approached Herts to talk about it. The new Bucks site at Aston Clinton is on schedule to open next year, leaving a gap of several months where there would be no facilites open for this area. Talks are now going on between the two authorities to reach a solution to prevent this.

The fact that as Bucks residents we are not paying for the Hertfordshire facilities, and are in line to get a new and better local facility within the county boundary does not mean there are not good reasons to still keep the Tring site open. These are

Tring residents will have to travel further to dispose of their bulky items, green waste and recyclables, increasing car journeys.

The additional effort involved will reduce recycling rates and increase waste going to landfill, and flytipping.

You can write to Mr Ray Greenall, Head of Waste Management, County Hall, Hertford SG13 8DN.

BCC Speed Limit Review area 13 brought forward to 2009

Originally started in 2001 and due to be complete by 2007 the timetable for this county-wide review has ebbed and flowed according to county and government priorities, with lack of money always given as the reason for delay. Because all Counties in England must have completed full speed limit reviews by 2011, our review is now going to take place next year, with consultation in the spring, and implementation in the autumn.

County Councillor Avril Davies full news page on Bucks County Council's website can be reached on

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/moderngov/mgMiniSite.asp?UID=140

All places have now been sold for the summer ball on the 20th of June.

However there are plenty of tickets left for the Ivinghoe Festival 70s Night on the following night, Saturday the 21st of June, 2008.

Come on Down and Boogie

is the catchphrase for the organisers of the Saturday night event for Ivinghoe Festival this year.

Building on many successful Cabaret Nights of past years this year the committee are hoping this year to both please the festival regulars and bring in new audiences.

They have chosen the evergreen 1970s theme and booked two stage acts to create the atmosphere. Christopher Nott, best known for his David Essex tribute will mix pop, soul and Motown, followed by Ballroom Glitz who have created a stage show around the famous rock bands of the time T Rex, the Bee Gees, Queen, Abba, Status Quo.

It is hoped the audience will use this as a great excuse to dress the part and get up on the bigger-than-ever dancefloor.

There is a bar as usual - and the evening will open with the barbecue, which will remain open all night, and if you want to stay at your table and not come on down and boogie the committee have devised a fun 70s TV quiz for you as well.

Tickets, including barbecue, although not second helpings (!), are £15 available from shops in the village, Pat Brindle on 01296 662553, or on the night



Organised by Ivinghoe Entertainments

The Times has nominated Pitstone as "Hot Tip of the Week" in its property section (June 29th, 2007). (news.)

While the accolade will come as no surprise to many local people, it is nevertheless quite an honour when you consider the rival claims of so many other places. It shows how far the village has come as a desirable place to settle, since the closure of the cement works.

There is one rather obvious error in the article, which actually would support the argument that the article was written by an outsider who came to look around, and decide for him or herself, rather than an estate agent who simply sent the newspaper a press release. (You would expect such a person to know that we are not on the Marylebone line!)

Sadly, Helen McCashey is unable to continue her role as Assistant Guide Leader after the end of this term. If another leader does not come forward by the end of this term the unit will have to close.

This will be a real shame as you will have seen from the recent publicity how three of the girls recently gained their Baden Powell Challenge Award, the highest award in Guiding. The local guides in Cheddington do not have any places, so the current Guides will have to travel further a field to continue, some of whom are starting their BP Challenge too.

If you are interested and would like to know more please contact me.

To make things a bit easier for people who are new to the website we have written some instructions that cover the initial registration process and posting messages to the forums.

You'll find the document attached to this message. It's an Adobe PDF file, which means you'll need the Adobe Reader software to open it. Most PC's will have this software loaded but if yours hasn't you can download it from the following location:

Adobe Reader download link

If you have any questions email the Web Team at webteam@ivinghoe.co.uk

Pitstone ward (turrnout 43%).

Avril Davies - Liberal Democrat 775
Brenda Jennings - Conservative 338.

More details - http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/avdc/elections/index.jsp

Aylesbury Vale District Council is run by the Conservatives (37 seats), who have an overall majority over other parties (Liberal Democrats 21 seats; Independents 1 seat.) Labour currently have no seats on AVDC.

Please find attached the agenda for the Annual Assembly which will be held on 24 April 2007 at 7.30pm in the Main Hall of the Memorial Hall.

This is your chance to catch up on everything that has been happening over the past year, and find out the plans for the coming one.

Everyone is welcome. Refreshments will be served during the evening.

Laurie Eagling
Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

Are you a new mother and breastfeeding or
are you thinking about breastfeeding?

Come along for support and advice from
breastfeeding advisors and other mums in
a relaxed café setting.

TUESDAYS 10.15. – 11.45.
Pitstone Memorial Hall, Vicarage Rd.,
Pitstone LU7 9EY

Just drop in or contact your Health Visitor.