Avril Davies

Ivinghoe Division News January 2008

Avril Davies

District Councillor Pitstone Ward (Ivinghoe and Pitstone)

County Councillor Ivinghoe Division (Edlesborough, Northall, Dagnall, Ivinghoe Aston Slapton, Horton, Cheddington, Marsworth, Ivinghoe, Pitstone)

Cairns and Camiers applications to increase vehicle traffic refused

Residents of Ivinghoe and Pitstone joined people from Cheddington and other affected villages at the Planning Committee held at Bucks County Council on 21^st December to determine the above application. The committee, on the officers recommendation, turned down both applications to increase lorry movements and in addition endorsed enforcement action on all breaches of planning control.

The reasons stated for Cairns were the that the applicant had failed to operate since 16^th January 2007 in accordance with the details set out in previous applications and consents, and that the proposed increase in vehicle movements would generate a significant additional level of disturbance to the amenity of local residents and other road users by way of noise, vibration and the additional number of traffic movements.

There were two red herrings at the meeting. A brief discussion on the definition of lorry and HGV. The committee needed to agree identical wording throughout. It did not need to identify the definition of an HGV – that needs consideration and is done at the legal agreement stage. Also the applicants attempted to imply that the Cheddington Ward Focus delivered by the District Councillor and myself, the County Councillor, was in fact the pre-determined Liberal Democrat group position on the development Control Committee. Ward matters, and particularly planning matters, are never pre determined by our group or any other group to my knowledge, but it was necessary to re-iterate this and as a result I also had to leave the public gallery for the discussion.

Community leaders fund.

So far this financial year I have been able to support all requests I have received as a result of publicizing the fund in Focus newsletters delivered to every door in the Division. These have been to

• The National Trust, Ashridge, towards flailing hawthorn scrub between Edlesborough and Ivinghoe adjacent B488. This helps maintain chalk grassland and improve road safety as it reduces roadside cover for deer.

• St John Ambulance Community Responders fluorescent jackets torches and other equipment not provided by NHS for volunteers running the scheme in Marsworth and Pitstone. This scheme uses volunteers trained to use de-fibrillators who are called out in their area to heart attack victims ahead of the ambulance.

• Tuesday club Christmas outing

• Aylesbury Vale Multicultural Centre events to mark the 200^th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade.

• Pitstone and Ivinghoe junior football club goal posts

• Pitstone and Ivinghoe baby and toddler club equipment

There is still some money left for this year and next year’s funding begins on April 1^st.

College Road Aston Clinton

The proposed energy from waste plant at College Road Aston Clinton has been dropped from the County Council’s consultations because the height of the chimney would have contravened defence airspace requirements around RAF Halton! Work will go ahead on the opposite side of the road on a badly needed household waste site, agreed some time ago at public enquiry.

Wing bypass.

A decision on the route of the road has been postponed because new rules brought in by the government would require this scheme to be part funded by the County Council, and the future growth plans for Leighton Buzzard and Luton are not sufficiently advanced for the effect on the routes to be calculated. The so-called ‘Cheddington route’ was definitely ruled out some time previously. The ‘alternative’ report by Friends of the earth local groups has just been published proposing measures to reduce traffic along the route.

Parking restrictions station road Cheddington.

It was proposed that Station road Cheddington should be incorporated into the Aylesbury Vale Special Parking Area and restrictions introduced. This proposal will be advertised in the local press in the new year. Parking is free at the station after 10am.

Interim findings on the Ashridge deer collision prevention trials

At a recent seminar it was shown that deer ignore the warning sounds and no more connect them with danger, than headlights. Once spooked the herd instinct takes over. It also appears that drivers are no smarter, as despite deer activated warning signs, and speed limit changes, drivers don’t register the risk and slow down. In Thetford Chase there has been more success with rumble strips which have reduced speeds by 5mph, which seems to have made a difference to collisions.

Northfield Road

Local Cyclists are lobbying Herts CC for urgent repairs to Northfield Road. I have joined in with representation to the local county councilor for that area and a direct approach to Herts County Council.

Planning application received for the next phase of Castlemead

This was registered in December. Work is starting on the highway and community requirements that will be the condition of any permission. I have already been in discussion about a cycleway along Northfield Road and proper joined up planning with Dacorum and Hertfordshire and the new Rail Franchise Midland Rail to restore the bus service to Tring station.

Water on Westfield Road and manhole on Marsworth Road Pitstone

Much effort has been put in by many people to get these two problems sorted. The water running across Westfield road appears to be run-off from the vacant site next to Goodrich. Several accidents were caused when it froze over. Taylor Wimpey constantly chase the owners to remedy the situation.

Similarly the County Council are chasing Anglian Water to fix the broken manhole cover on Marsworth Road at the end of Rushendon Furlong. It took months for Anglian Water to admit responsibility, but the date of repair 21^st December came and went with no action.

Best Wishes for 2008