Drayton Parslow Parish Council
The village, with its 614 inhabitants (2011 census) is situated approximately ten miles from Aylesbury, Milton Keynes and Buckingham, and approximately six miles from Winslow, Bletchley, Wing and Leighton Buzzard. It falls within the administrative district of Aylesbury Vale. There is little employment within the village but the towns mentioned above provide jobs and secondary schooling for many of our inhabitants. Drayton has a peaceful, rural atmosphere.
There is one public house (The Three Horseshoes), an Anglican Church and Baptist Chapel, a village hall (Greenacre Hall), a Sports and Social Club, and a recreation field with playground and cricket pitch. A MUGA (multi-use games area) is also available adjacent to the village hall.
Early years’ education is provided by the village Pre-School and Infant School. After their first three years at the village school, children move to the nearby villages of Swanbourne or Stewkley for Years 4-7 education.
Today only two crops are grown in the village – wheat and rapeseed. Kingsland Farm, at the end of New Road, is one of the few remaining working farms. Cattle are no longer kept in the village, although Kingsacre Farm near Drayton Crossroads keeps several hundred sheep. Sheepdog trials are held there several times a year. Drayton Parslow is also home to an intensive pig unit, holding some 2,000 piglets providing meat to leading high street suppliers. Many families keep horses, and there are livery stables in the village.
Allotments are available for residents to rent for a nominal sum. Those interested should contact the Parish Clerk for details and current availability.
Every August the Village Produce Association organises a popular Village Show, complete with brass band, animal displays, stalls, competitions and family entertainment.
Traditional Victorian buildings, to be found in all corners of the village, are built in red brick often with inlaid brick patterns. Holy Trinity church is the oldest building in the village. Part of Drayton Parslow is a conservation area.
The village website contains information about village facilities, community groups, the Church & Chapel, the school and history.
What is a town, parish or community council?
Parish and town councils in England and community and town councils in Wales are the first tier of local government. They deliver a vast range of services at a community level.
There are around 10,000 community, parish and town councils in England and Wales, made up of nearly 100,000 councillors. These first-tier councils can respond to the needs of the community – delivering the services or representation it most needs.
How Parish Councils work
Parish councils are statutory bodies. Members are elected for a term of four years and councils are funded principally by an annual precept. Income and expenditure for the next financial year are calculated in the form of estimates. The net amount (the precept) is added to council tax, collected by the county, borough or district council (principal authorities) and paid to parishes in two six-monthly instalments. Parish and town councils can apply for other funding such as grant and funding awards, but they do not receive funds direct from central government, as principal authorities do.
