Have your say on the future of Aylesbury Vale

How many new jobs and homes should be created in Aylesbury Vale? That’s the big question that Aylesbury Vale District Council is asking residents in a major consultation set to get underway.

Between 1 December 2011 and 26 January 2012, the district council wants to hear what local people, community groups, parish and town councils and other organisations think is the right level of new housing and jobs in the Vale over the next 20 years.

The move comes after the government announced its intention to abolish the South East Plan, taking with it the requirement to build 1,060 homes a year in Aylesbury Vale. This means it will now be down to the council to make these local decisions for our district.

Over the past few years the district has seen an average of 750 new homes built every year. With regional targets set to be abolished the council is going back to the drawing board to look again at what is the right figure for the number of new jobs and homes for the Vale.

AVDC cannot just say that no more housing will be built, as homes will be needed for young people that have grown up in the Vale and older people that want to stay in the area and downsize after their families have flown the nest.

In addition, the council needs to create a thriving and prosperous district, by attracting new businesses to the Vale. New homes will be required so that people can afford to live in the area and not have to commute in and out every day, making congestion worse.

The consultation will put forward four possible scenarios for housing and job numbers for the Vale to 2031, ranging from 4,500 homes up to 13,500 homes. The options are:
• 4,500 to 6,700 homes and 0 to 3,000 jobs
• 6,750 to 9,000 homes and 3,000 to 6,100 jobs
• 9,000 to 11,250 homes and 6,100 to 9,100 jobs
• 11,250 to 13,500 homes and 9,100 to 12,000 jobs

The proposed figures are all lower than the level of new jobs and homes the council had to plan for in the past. They are based on careful consideration of a number of factors including current and future levels of housing need and affordability; predictions about changes in the population, demographics, births and deaths and changes in household size; how the economy may perform; the number of jobs and houses provided over the past few years; how new housing can support the local economy; and a number of other relevant studies and evidence.

Planners have put forward the figures as part of work on a new planning policy for the district over the next 20 years called the Vale of Aylesbury Plan. Planning applications will be judged against this once it is approved and finalised in about two years time.

People are also being asked to comment on how new homes might be distributed across the Vale. The options are:
• Continue past trends: based upon where recent development has taken place in the district
• Economic led: based on economic forecasts for where jobs growth is most likely to occur
• New settlement: based on concentrating homes at one or two theoretical new settlements in the district
• Population and demographic change: based on ten year population trend projections
• Housing need: based on affordable housing needs analysis, putting growth where housing need is greatest
• Maintain work age population: based on demographic need projections
• Urban concentration: concentrating new homes in the more urban areas of the district, which continues the council’s present policy approach

Councillor Carole Paternoster, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, said: “We must balance the need to protect the environment of the district with our communities’ jobs and housing needs, and the infrastructure which is essential to make it all work. Building new homes is an emotive issue and it is only right that we go back to the drawing board, look at the needs of our district and ask people what they think is the right number of new houses and jobs for the Vale. I look forward to hearing residents’ views on the options for the jobs and housing numbers we are putting forward.”

To ensure the consultation will engage with as many people as possible, three drop-in sessions will be held so that residents can talk with planning officers about the content of the document. The sessions will take place at:
• Aylesbury Waterside Theatre – Tuesday 10 January, from 3pm to 8pm
• Buckingham Community Centre – Wednesday 11 January, from 3pm to 8pm
• The Winslow Centre – Wednesday 18 January, from 3pm to 8pm

Comments must be received by Thursday 26 January 2012. The responses will then feed into the work on the Vale of Aylesbury Plan, alongside the engagement that the council is currently undertaking with parish and town councils, key stakeholders and technical evidence. There will be a further opportunity to comment later in 2012 as the plan moves forward.

Happy New Year from your District Councillor

Wishing all the residents of the Claydons a happy and prosperous New Year, and looking forward to continuing to serve you in 2012. Please do not hesitate to contact me over any local issues which you would like to discuss.

Refuse and Recycling collections over Christmas and the New Year

Aylesbury Vale District Council’s refuse and recycling collections change over the festive period due to the public bank holidays.

Listed below are the holiday collection dates:

Date Revised collections
Monday 26 Dec No collection
Tuesday 27 Dec No collection
Wednesday 28 Dec Normal collection
Thursday 29 Dec Normal collection
Friday 30 Dec Normal collection

Monday 2 Jan Tuesday 3 Jan
Tuesday 3 Jan Wednesday 4 Jan
Wednesday 4 Jan Thursday 5 Jan
Thursday 5 Jan Friday 6 Jan
Friday 6 Jan Saturday 7 Jan

Some encouraging news on East West Rail

From the County Council:

East-West Rail Consortium members today (Monday December 5) gave Transport Minister Theresa Villiers a first hand view of the proposals to link Oxford, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury and Bedford by rail, when she visited Bicester Town station.

Her visit follows Chancellor George Osborne's announcement in last week's Autumn Statement that east-west rail is included in the government's rail investment programme for 2014 to 2019. It could be running by 2017, making it the first railway in England to be reopened since the 1960s Beeching era.

The Minister met local MPs and Consortium members, and saw plans and schematics for the proposed route. Bicester Town, currently the end of the line for a shuttle train to Oxford, will be developed by Chiltern Railways as part of its new London to Oxford service, and form the junction for the planned east-west rail line towards Milton Keynes.

The Consortium of businesses and local authorities has for 16 years been championing the cause of improved east-west rail links to improve transport connections and stimulate economic growth, and Chairman Neil Gibson said members were encouraged by the minister's visit. 'This really does put us on track for the government's investment programme,' he said. 'We've a very strong business case, but there's still much work to do to before final approval.'

Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire County Council, who met the Minister, was delighted with her endorsement. 'The Minister's visit signals strong government support for this project, which is good news for economic growth for the counties along the route,' he said.

The Consortium project board will meet on December 13 to review the implications of the Autumn Statement announcement. Partners want to identify the next steps they need to take to meet the conditions of Government support and to develop practical project arrangements with Network Rail and the rail industry.

As part of the National Infrastructure Plan, the £270 million east-west link has Government approval on two conditions: a sound business case, and a 'suitable local contribution'. Work on confirming the business case and developing a local contribution portfolio will aim at a deadline of Spring 2012.

Message on Wednesday's refuse collection from AVDC

Please note that Wednesday's refuse will be collected on your next normal collection day. Services for the remainder of this week will not be affected by the strike.

Free Parking to continue in Greyhound Lane car park, Winslow

Traders and shoppers in Winslow will welcome the news that parking is to remain free in the town’s Greyhound Lane car park, following an agreement reached with the town council.

Aylesbury Vale District Council’s cabinet this week approved a proposal to provide free parking in the car park until 2018.

The agreement will see Winslow Town Council contribute £5,000 in 2012/13, increasing annually by £500 until 2018 when the position will be reviewed.

The Market Square will continue to enjoy free parking for the first hour with a 50p charge for the second hour.

Earlier this year AVDC consulted on proposals to introduce parking charges in the Greyhound Lane car park. The town council and local traders raised their concerns that due to the current economic situation any charging proposals would be damaging to local businesses and could hinder any future recovery.

Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, said: “AVDC is keen to support the local retailers and we recognise the difficult trading environment that businesses in Winslow are facing. We have met with the town council and local traders and have listened to their concerns for their businesses during these tough economic times.

“We are pleased that we have been able to reach an agreement that enabled the situation to be resolved satisfactorily for all concerned. We hope the agreement will be welcomed by businesses, visitors and shoppers who will all continue to benefit from free parking in the town.”

AVDC: free parking for Christmas shoppers

Aylesbury Vale District Council is offering free parking in its Buckingham, Winslow and Wendover car parks on selected Saturdays in December.

The offer is a bid to encourage shoppers to stay local this Christmas and take advantage of the excellent mix of independent and high street shops that the district has to offer.

The town and parish councils have helped plan the free Christmas parking days, which will take place in Buckingham on 10 December and in Wendover and Winslow on 17 December.

Free parking will also be available in council car parks in Aylesbury on Thursday evenings from 4.30pm between 17 November and 22 December.

Shoppers across Aylesbury Vale are also being reminded that all of AVDC’s pay and display car parks are free to use on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

When charges are suspended in Buckingham, Wendover and Winslow, the pay and display machines will be covered and signs will be displayed to prevent any confusion. Other parking rules still apply, so motorists need to make sure they’re parked within the white lines, and stay out of spaces for the disabled unless they display a valid blue badge.

Councillor Brian Roberts, Cabinet Member for Civic Amenities, said: “This is a very positive step we can take to support our retailers at their most important time of year. Our district has a lot to offer shoppers including a wide range of small independent shops alongside the bigger stores. We want to bring visitors into the area and encourage residents to shop local too.”