The EWR Consortium has commissioned from consultants, Atkins, a costed outline design of the infrastructure required to run passenger services on the EWR Western Section, linking Oxford and Aylesbury with Milton Keynes and Bedford. The route could also from part of a longer distance cross-country service. Existing waste trains to Calvert will continue to run and the route might also be used by a freight service.
For the benefit of those of you who do not already have a copy, I shall attach an updated version of the leaflet about the scheme that I sent you in June. The most notable change is to the timetable. Construction is now expected to start in 2014 and services in 2016. Contrary to my expectation, the June version of the leaflet was not sent to Parish Councils along the route.
Atkins have been undertaking surveys along the route and they are also investigating arrangements for the stations proposed at Winslow and Newton Longville. At Winslow, a site was reserved in the Aylesbury Vale District Local Plan and Atkins’ investigations will include drilling a borehole there. The LDF Core Strategy proposes that the other station should be provided at the Salden Chase Strategic Development Area.
Atkins expect to complete the bulk of their technical work by December. The balance of their work will include notably working up the business case for the scheme and that work should be completed within the following 3 months.
Chiltern Railways’ Evergreen 3 project is a proposal to improve the route between Oxford and Bicester Town to allow them to provide an Oxford-Marylebone passenger service with effect from 2013. They hope to receive the Department for Transport’s approval for the expenditure in December. Evergreen 3 would deliver most of EWR’s requirements for the Oxford-Bicester section. Its implementation would reduce the cost of the EWR Western Section, in round terms from £250m to £200m.
The Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis, has expressed support for the EWR Western Section scheme in principle.
Funding is a critically important issue that is outstanding. The Regional Transport Board has been leading on the exploration of funding options. Lord Adonis’s positive reaction indicates acceptance of the wider strategic benefits of the scheme and it should, therefore, be possible to secure some funding from the national budget. However, in view of the importance of the scheme to the delivery of the South East Plan (SEP) and Regional Economic Strategy, it is likely that some funding will also be expected at regional level and from Local Planning Authorities on the route where there will be a direct benefit.
Insofar as Aylesbury Vale District is concerned, the mechanism for securing contributions from development and the amount of such contributions will be addressed in the LDF Core Strategy, Delivery Policies Development Planning Document and Supplementary Planning Documents. However, we have always made it clear that we do not expect funding to be raised by making additional allocations for development over and above those proposed in the LDF to accord with the requirements in the SEP.
Claydon House
Claydon House Gardens
Thursday 26 November 2009
Saturday 14 November 2009
Aylesbury Christmas Lights switch-on 19th Nov
Christmas Lights switch on
Come along to the Christmas lights switch on in Aylesbury Market Square on 19th November from 5pm to get your free home safety pack, which includes a property marking kit, light timer switch and energy efficient light bulb.
Aylesbury will light up for the Christmas period next Thursday night.
Starting at 5.30pm on Thursday November 19 there will be a packed evening of activities and entertainment in Kingsbury and Market Square to officially start the festive season in the town centre.
There will be a fireworks display with the lights being switched on at 6.50pm followed by free musical entertainment.
It will also be the first Thursday of the Christmas season that shops will observe the late shopping opening hours. They will stay open until 8pm.
Come along to the Christmas lights switch on in Aylesbury Market Square on 19th November from 5pm to get your free home safety pack, which includes a property marking kit, light timer switch and energy efficient light bulb.
Aylesbury will light up for the Christmas period next Thursday night.
Starting at 5.30pm on Thursday November 19 there will be a packed evening of activities and entertainment in Kingsbury and Market Square to officially start the festive season in the town centre.
There will be a fireworks display with the lights being switched on at 6.50pm followed by free musical entertainment.
It will also be the first Thursday of the Christmas season that shops will observe the late shopping opening hours. They will stay open until 8pm.
Bucks Home Choice
Prior to May 2009, anyone interested in applying to the District Council for a rented home, including homes on rural exception schemes, were asked to complete forms and go on the housing register.
In May 2009, the housing register as we knew it became obsolete and a new initiative was rolled out across the county, called Bucks Home Choice (BHC).
Bucks Home Choice is the new way of allocating council and housing association tenancies in Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, South Bucks and Wycombe.
Applicants looking for a tenancy or existing tenants who want to transfer will now have chance to see what properties are available - see website www.buckshomchoice.gov.uk.
It is very important that all parishoners in villages where there is a rural exception scheme, or one planned for the future are aware of BHC and the fact they must register and express an interest to be considered for a rented property.
Use website or call AVDC Customer Service Centre on 01296 585197 or 01296 585168 as necessary.
In May 2009, the housing register as we knew it became obsolete and a new initiative was rolled out across the county, called Bucks Home Choice (BHC).
Bucks Home Choice is the new way of allocating council and housing association tenancies in Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, South Bucks and Wycombe.
Applicants looking for a tenancy or existing tenants who want to transfer will now have chance to see what properties are available - see website www.buckshomchoice.gov.uk.
It is very important that all parishoners in villages where there is a rural exception scheme, or one planned for the future are aware of BHC and the fact they must register and express an interest to be considered for a rented property.
Use website or call AVDC Customer Service Centre on 01296 585197 or 01296 585168 as necessary.
Local businesses benefit from AVDC grants
More and more businesses are being given a helping hand with grants from Aylesbury Vale District Council.
The AVDC business grants panel recently awarded four grants to new and existing businesses, a total amount of £16,000. It brings the grand total for 2009 to £22,000 of grants from the council for local firms.
The grant scheme is just one of the ways in which AVDC is helping local businesses during the recession.
Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, said: “We are very keen as a council to support local businesses and the grants scheme has been an excellent way of encouraging new enterprise. A huge range of local businesses have already benefited from it and feedback from them has been very positive. The scheme forms part of a package of measures we have put in place to help the economy during the recession.”
Next month marks the fifth anniversary of the scheme’s launch, and the council has provided grant assistance and support to more than 60 businesses across the Vale, totalling almost £240,000. The grants of £3,000 to £5,000 have been used to support all kinds of growth in the companies, ranging from buying new machinery, expanding premises, marketing and promotion, and training staff.
The businesses who are the latest to benefit from the scheme are Baker Sales and Lettings, Skill Centre UK LLP, Teknomat UK Ltd and Caremark.
Baker Sales and Lettings, a newly formed sales and lettings agency located in Kingfisher Exchange, Aylesbury, was awarded a £3,000 grant towards staff training.
Skill Centre UK LLP provides vocational training for 13 to 16 year-olds who have emotional, behavioural and social problems. The company received a grant of £5,000 towards a mini-bus which will enable them to take students to and from courses without relying on external organisations.
Teknomat UK Ltd, who sell imported coffee, coffee machines and related supplies, received a £5,000 grant towards a new van and infrastructure improvements, which will allow them to widen their distribution channel opportunities.
Caremark provides care services to the elderly, disabled, people with learning difficulties and those recovering from hospital treatment within their own home. The business was awarded a grant of £3,000 towards new equipment including computers and printers.
Find out more about the AVDC business grant scheme at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/business or call 01296 585657.
The AVDC business grants panel recently awarded four grants to new and existing businesses, a total amount of £16,000. It brings the grand total for 2009 to £22,000 of grants from the council for local firms.
The grant scheme is just one of the ways in which AVDC is helping local businesses during the recession.
Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, said: “We are very keen as a council to support local businesses and the grants scheme has been an excellent way of encouraging new enterprise. A huge range of local businesses have already benefited from it and feedback from them has been very positive. The scheme forms part of a package of measures we have put in place to help the economy during the recession.”
Next month marks the fifth anniversary of the scheme’s launch, and the council has provided grant assistance and support to more than 60 businesses across the Vale, totalling almost £240,000. The grants of £3,000 to £5,000 have been used to support all kinds of growth in the companies, ranging from buying new machinery, expanding premises, marketing and promotion, and training staff.
The businesses who are the latest to benefit from the scheme are Baker Sales and Lettings, Skill Centre UK LLP, Teknomat UK Ltd and Caremark.
Baker Sales and Lettings, a newly formed sales and lettings agency located in Kingfisher Exchange, Aylesbury, was awarded a £3,000 grant towards staff training.
Skill Centre UK LLP provides vocational training for 13 to 16 year-olds who have emotional, behavioural and social problems. The company received a grant of £5,000 towards a mini-bus which will enable them to take students to and from courses without relying on external organisations.
Teknomat UK Ltd, who sell imported coffee, coffee machines and related supplies, received a £5,000 grant towards a new van and infrastructure improvements, which will allow them to widen their distribution channel opportunities.
Caremark provides care services to the elderly, disabled, people with learning difficulties and those recovering from hospital treatment within their own home. The business was awarded a grant of £3,000 towards new equipment including computers and printers.
Find out more about the AVDC business grant scheme at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/business or call 01296 585657.
Thursday 12 November 2009
News from our local PCSO
Speeding
The Safer Roads and Neighbourhood policing teams have started speed enforcement again – this time with a difference. ANPR equipment is also used. As a result at a
session in Newton Longville 19 drivers ticketed for speeding. Lorries were also stopped. In sessions at Padbury, Steeple Claydon and Twyford 22 drivers were
processed for speeding, 81% of which were local, and two cars were seized
for being driven without insurance/MOT.
Local crime analysis
The crime figures for Buckingham South remain stable, which is good news.
The only glitch is acquisitive crime has increased slightly.
Several main players have been arrested. However, TVP are increasing patrols in
known areas but is still encouraging the use of property marking, not leaving
property in vehicles, cleaning marks from windscreens so it is not obvious that you use a sat nav and generally being security aware.
Halloween – more good news
31 October passed without incident in Bucks South. Patrols were increased to take account of any potential increased activity in neighbourhoods.
Winter considerations
Driving with fog lights on under normal driving conditions is not ‘cool’, in fact it is illegal. These lights are simply too bright for normal driving conditions. They dazzle and will cause accidents.
Please check that your lights are not switch on and are only used in foggy conditions where visibility is approx. 100 metres or less.
It is also timely to remind drivers not to leave their cars running unattended while windscreens defrost.
Apart from being a clear invitation to a thief (and your insurance company will not cover you) it is also illegal. Also check that all your lights are working
and your wipers are in good working order. Make sure you have the correct levels of anti-freeze too!!
PCSO of the Year – Buckinghamshire
As you all know, TVP has awarded PSCO Wendy Taylor with the above accolade and
she attended the Awards Dinner in October to collect it. It highlighted the
extraordinary things that ordinary people achieved for the good of their communities
– to be part of that was a real honour.
Dog watch
Parish Councils are being approached again by the Dog Warden to allocate areas where the delegated powers will be in force to enable those with these powers to issue tickets to irresponsible dog owners, be it for dog fouling, livestock worrying, etc.
Parish Councils please be aware and respond accordingly so enforcement measures can proceed.
The Safer Roads and Neighbourhood policing teams have started speed enforcement again – this time with a difference. ANPR equipment is also used. As a result at a
session in Newton Longville 19 drivers ticketed for speeding. Lorries were also stopped. In sessions at Padbury, Steeple Claydon and Twyford 22 drivers were
processed for speeding, 81% of which were local, and two cars were seized
for being driven without insurance/MOT.
Local crime analysis
The crime figures for Buckingham South remain stable, which is good news.
The only glitch is acquisitive crime has increased slightly.
Several main players have been arrested. However, TVP are increasing patrols in
known areas but is still encouraging the use of property marking, not leaving
property in vehicles, cleaning marks from windscreens so it is not obvious that you use a sat nav and generally being security aware.
Halloween – more good news
31 October passed without incident in Bucks South. Patrols were increased to take account of any potential increased activity in neighbourhoods.
Winter considerations
Driving with fog lights on under normal driving conditions is not ‘cool’, in fact it is illegal. These lights are simply too bright for normal driving conditions. They dazzle and will cause accidents.
Please check that your lights are not switch on and are only used in foggy conditions where visibility is approx. 100 metres or less.
It is also timely to remind drivers not to leave their cars running unattended while windscreens defrost.
Apart from being a clear invitation to a thief (and your insurance company will not cover you) it is also illegal. Also check that all your lights are working
and your wipers are in good working order. Make sure you have the correct levels of anti-freeze too!!
PCSO of the Year – Buckinghamshire
As you all know, TVP has awarded PSCO Wendy Taylor with the above accolade and
she attended the Awards Dinner in October to collect it. It highlighted the
extraordinary things that ordinary people achieved for the good of their communities
– to be part of that was a real honour.
Dog watch
Parish Councils are being approached again by the Dog Warden to allocate areas where the delegated powers will be in force to enable those with these powers to issue tickets to irresponsible dog owners, be it for dog fouling, livestock worrying, etc.
Parish Councils please be aware and respond accordingly so enforcement measures can proceed.
AVDC Chief Executive to visit the Claydons
The Chief Executive of Aylesbury Vale District Council, Andrew Grant, will be visiting all three parishes in the Claydons on Monday 30th November on a fact-finding visit. He will spend time with all three parish councils to find out about the important issues and concerns which they are dealing with, and also spend time visitng some of the local landmarks, such as the Recreation Ground, Library and Vicarage Orchard in Steeple Claydon. The timetable for his visit is:
2.30 pm Steeple Claydon
4.00 Middle Claydon
5.00 East Claydon
2.30 pm Steeple Claydon
4.00 Middle Claydon
5.00 East Claydon
Wren Grant for Recreation Ground secured
Many congratulations to Steeple Claydon Parish Council for securing a grant of
£ 9,000 from WREN (the operators of the Calvert landfill site) in order to replace the fence around the children's playgound in the corner of the Recreation Ground. The current fence is badly damaged in places.
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Steeple Claydon spire seen through oak trees
Map of Claydon Station
Meeting our local PCSO
Supporting our local businesses
With anti HS2 campaigners in Calvert