Buckinghamshire County Council Rights of Way Improvement Plan – click here
East-West Rail Update February 2019 – click here
Notice giving details of date, time and place of the Public Inquiry for the Network Rail, East West Rail Bicester to Bedford Improvements application
From AVDC:
12 September 2018 For immediate release
Cambridge – Milton Keynes – Oxford Expressway Corridor B announcement
Highways England has today announced that Corridor B is its preferred route for the proposed Cambridge – Milton Keynes – Oxford Expressway, following a programme of stakeholder engagement. This is the first of a number of key decisions that will be taken in respect of this locally and nationally important project. Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC) says today’s announcement is important in helping us to start to understand more about the government’s plan for the area and to continue to work with partners to understand the potential implications with its members, local communities and partners.
The expressway is just one of the components of the government’s strategy for the Cambridge – Milton Keynes – Oxford growth corridor and is of great relevance to our residents and businesses as approximately 70% of the new road will pass through Aylesbury Vale.
The Leader of the Council, Councillor Angela Macpherson, said:
“Today’s announcement provides clarity on the government’s preferred corridor. Whilst this is a scheme of national importance, it is essential that Highways England engages with us and our communities in the critical next stage of this project that will be focused on determining the detailed route within the identified corridor.
“We now need to take time to properly assess and understand the corridor decision and discuss the implications with our local communities, members and partners, in particular, Buckinghamshire County Council. This cannot be another HS2, and we will press the government to understand the benefits this infrastructure can bring to the Vale.
“The government has identified that the expressway can help to unlock growth across the corridor and we want to work with government to help shape good growth and create successful and sustainable places with our local communities.”
Message from AVDC:
This week, Aylesbury Vale customers will receive a letter, sent directly to every household, from Aylesbury Vale District Council. The letter explains the upcoming new bin collection schedules and changes to the recycling and waste service, and contains a new bin collection calendar. We have provided customers with all the information to their new recycling and waste service, alongside some pre-empted FAQs, to help ensure this transformation goes as smoothly as possible. However, we do expect a few teething problems as the crews and our customers become accustomed to the changes.
Are you Registered to Vote?
AVDC is conducting its Annual Household Canvass for the Electoral Register. You should have received a letter containing a Household Enquiry Form. Full details can be viewed here.
Message from East-West Rail Alliance
Network Rail is submitting a transport and Works Act Order to authorise the construction, operation and maintenance of the railway between Bicester, Bedford and Aylesbury, known as East West Rail Phase 2 on 27 July 2018.
Please note that as a legal requirement we have to display and maintain notices around the full site for the six week objection period which starts upon submission of the order.
Documents can be viewed on the Network Rail website at www.networkrail.co.uk/east-west-railand paper copies are available in the following locations:
Bicester library
Aylesbury Study Centre
Winslow library
Milton Keynes library
Bedford library
House of Lord library
House of Commons library
Kind regards, Lesia Kozlowsky, Communications Manager, EWR Alliance
Message from AVDC:
We’ve got good news for Aylesbury Vale’s food #recycling families. You can now use plastic liners or bags in your food waste caddy!
Find out more: https://bit.ly/2hFFxms
East West Rail 2 Land referencing Briefing Note to Councils
201805 AVDC Community Governance Review
Parish Council Facebook Page
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Are you a good neighbour?
Many of us want to help our elderly or frail neighbours but we may not always be sure how to go about it, or even whether it’s appropriate. After all, no one wants to seem nosy or interfering, but a few simple steps can make a world of difference to someone who may be reluctant to ask for help themselves.
Buckinghamshire County Council and your local NHS organisations have jointly developed a campaign, “Be a Good Neighbour”
It’s pothole season
This winter’s weather has been tough on Buckinghamshire’s roads – while the heavy snowfall in December was the most remarkable weather event, the worst conditions for roads are actually when the ground temperature fluctuates constantly between just above and just below zero.
Pothole formation is accelerated by this ‘freeze-thaw’ effect, whereby moisture gets into small cracks in the road surface and expands when it freezes, then thaws out when the temperature rises. This process repeats until the road surface begins to break up and potholes are formed.
County Councillor Mark Shaw, Cabinet Member for Transportation, urges road users in Buckinghamshire to report potholes when they see them:
“Transport for Buckinghamshire will investigate every pothole reported to them, and react on a risk based prioritisation process – put simply, that means the worst ones will be attended to first, as a matter of urgency. But we’re not mind readers, and the road network is far too vast for us to possibly know where all the potholes are, so we need members of the public to report them to us either using the online form, which only takes a few minutes, or by calling if it’s dangerous or an emergency. I would ask that everyone be patient while we deal with the fallout of a bad winter – potholes are as inevitable as weather, roads are made of a porous material so that they don’t flood constantly in rain and so when water within the structure freezes, defects will form.”
On average, when there are no severe weather issues, TfB repairs over 4,000 potholes every month.
Pothole FAQ:
- You fixed one pothole, why didn’t you fix the one next to it while you were here? Potholes are prioritised according to risk – if they are on very well used roads, they are more of a priority. Size and depth are also factors. Resources have to be used responsibly, and cannot be used up fixing a more minor road surface defect when there are more urgent defects needing attention just up the road.
- Why can I only report one pothole online at a time? Our online reporting system works on an interactive map, so that each individual defect can be risk assessed and dealt with on a case by case basis. The map allows for accurate pinpointing, which saves time when it comes to inspections. There are drop-down menus to allow you to input as much detail, such as size and position, as possible.
- Why do you make temporary repairs that don’t last? Temporary repairs, where the pothole is filled in with hot material and made smooth, are often carried out as a safety measure when a permanent repair cannot be carried out at that moment, likely due to the location of the defect. That is to say, where a larger area of road needs to be cut away to make a full repair, likely requiring a road or lane closure, a temporary or ‘make safe’ repair is an effective way of keeping the road safe in the meantime.
- How do I report a pothole?
You can report potholes, as well as any other road issue, using the Report It forms on the county council website. In an emergency, for instance a severe road defect, a flooded road, or a tree in the road, you can always call Transport for Buckinghamshire on 01296 382416 or 486630 (out of hours). The online reporting tool is at www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/report-a-problem/report-a-pothole/
Rural Crime
If you become a victim of rural crime or suspect that a crime has taken place, you should always report it to police by calling the non-emergency number, 101. If an incident is in progress, or there is an immediate threat to life, you should call 999.
You can receive the latest rural crime news from Thames Valley Police and their partners directly to your phone or inbox by signing up to CountryWatch at: http://www.thamesvalleycountrywatch.co.uk/
War Memorial
Drayton Parslow War Memorial has been accorded Grade II Listed Status and added to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. This has been achieved in conjunction with Historic England and the recommendation approved by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
Aylesbury Vale District Council (the local planning authority) has prepared the statutory notices required under the planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.
The List entry, together with a map has now been published on the National Heritage List and can be accessed through Historic England’s website.
