Category Archives: Bucks CC

Hughenden Lunch Club

The Hughenden Street Association (HSA)was started a few years ago as part of Buckinghamshire Council’s (BC) initiative to combat loneliness & isolation in the older population. At one time several street associations worked well in Bucks and a co-ordinator was employed. When she resigned support was reduced.

HSA was run by a committee of 3 volunteers as needed. In the last few months the Chairman has resigned and the Communications Secretary has had a stroke. This leaves one person, the Treasurer. Luckily a few years ago we associated ourselves with the ‘Lunch Club’ initiative, again run by BC, and this has been a great success.

These are well attended but there is space for more people who want to make and meet new friends. 

Volunteers organise three lunch clubs per month in the local area:

1st Wednesday, The Harrow, Hughenden Valley

3rd Wednesday, The Spindle & Thread, High Wycombe

4th Wednesday, The Full Moon, Little Kingshill

The list below gives the dates & contacts for each venue. If you are interested please contact Anne Smart, Susan Bickerstaffe or Janet Booth using the numbers below. They can tell you the menu choice & take the booking. 

We also run a monthly table-top games afternoon held at the Bon Ami cafe in Naphill, which may be of interest. Contact Anne for details.

1st Wednesday of each month at The Harrow, Hughenden Valley

Anne 07970 037 419

  • 3rd June, 1st July, 5th August, 2nd Sept, 7th Oct, 4th Nov, 2nd Dec.

3rd Wednesday, Spindle and Thread, High Wycombe

Susan 07880 519 323

  • 20th May, 17th June, 15th July, 19th Aug, 16th Sept, 21st Oct, 18th Nov, 16th Dec.

4th Wednesday, The Full Moon, Little Kingshill

Janet 07976 896 219

  • 27th May, 24th June, 22nd July, 26th Aug, 23rd Sept, 28th Oct, 25th Nov, 9th Dec (allowing for Christmas) 

The dates are also shown on the Hughenden Valley Hub calendar page https://hughenden.org.uk/events/month/  or the HVRA calendar page https://hughendenresidents.org/calendar/  

Anne Smart

New survey launched to unlock tree planting opportunities across Buckinghamshire​

Press Release from Buckinghamshire Council30 April 2026

New survey launched to unlock tree planting opportunities across Buckinghamshire​

Buckinghamshire Council is inviting expressions of interest from those with land and large gardens available for tree planting, to help realise the ambition of the Bucks Tree Mission, which aims to plant over half a million trees by 2031 – one for every resident living in Buckinghamshire. Almost half of the target has already been achieved, with 257,000 trees predominantly planted in new woodland created on council-owned land.
Now, residents, business owners, public organisations, community groups, farmers and landowners are being invited to support the mission by taking part in a short survey. The survey aims to identify what support would be needed to unlock more tree planting opportunities across the county. Anyone with land potentially suitable for tree planting is encouraged to complete a short, multiple-choice questionnaire (https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/environment/tree-planting/ ) that takes no more than three minutes to complete.
Participants can also sign-up to receive further information about future funding opportunities and tree giveaways, as well as planting and maintenance advice and guidance on which species are best suited to their location.

Coffee & Chat Morning. Support For Those Affected by Suicide

We would like to let you know about an upcoming Coffee & Chat Morning taking place at Bierton Crematorium on Saturday 6 December, from 10am–12pm, in partnership with Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS).

This gentle and supportive session offers a safe space for anyone affected by suicide to come together, share a coffee, and connect with others who understand. Trained volunteers will be available to offer support, guidance, and a listening ear.

The free community event is open to all and aims to provide a caring and understanding environment within the tranquil surroundings of Bierton Crematorium.

We would be grateful if you could please share details of this event within your own networks, and with any families or individuals who may find it of comfort or benefit.

Event details:

📅 Saturday 6th December. 10am- 12pm

📍 Bierton Crematorium, Cane End Lane, Bierton, Aylesbury, HP22 5BH

📞 01296 350 019

📩 Biertoncrem.csb@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Thank you for your continued support in helping us reach those who may benefit from this meaningful event.

Kind Regards

Jodie Warren

Crematorium & Cemeteries Events Officer

Chilterns & Bierton Crematoria 

Communities Directorate

Buckinghamshire Council

Tel: 01494 724263

www.chilternscrematorium.co.uk

Tel: 01296 350019

www.biertoncrematorium.co.uk

E-PETITION to Reduce 50mph speed limit to 40mph – A4128 CRYERS HILL AND VALLEY ROAD

Dear Resident,

After many meetings with relevant County Councillors and other parties,  this ePetition has been posted on the Bucks CC website.  It remains live for 28 days  (until 20th Dec.) , if you choose to do so please support it as soon as possible , many have already said they will.  Remember all residents in a household who are 16 or over can support it. After the 28 days there will be a consultation period and we will hopefully hear the outcome at a meeting of the North West Chilterns Community Board on 6th March which I will attend – it’s a long process!

  • You will then see a short list of ePetitions – click on ours, and add your details please – your name, and address.

I will be adding supporting evidence later as well.  Some of you have already told me or written to me with examples of, e.g., near misses.  Can you please email me a short letter about them so I can add them as ‘residents’ evidence’ – we will be adding information on speed recordings carried out recently.  This shows that not many drivers exceed the 50 limit, however we are basing our petition on the concern that the actual limit is itself too high – you will see the wording when you read the ePetition.

If you need any help accessing it just let me know and I will help you.

Kind regards

Brian McCollum

brianmccollum@hotmail.co.uk

Bucks History Festival returns to celebrate our history and heritage

Buckinghamshire History Festival returns next month for its ninth annual celebration of the county’s history and cultural heritage.

The festival, organised by Buckinghamshire Archives, sees the Archives team come together with partner organisations from across the county to present a huge range of events to see and do throughout November. Buckinghamshire’s past will be brought to life and the untold stories of its people and places will be uncovered.

Buckinghamshire Council Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure Clive Harriss commented: “We’re delighted to be once again joining with partner organisations to showcase our county’s fascinating history and rich culture through the Buckinghamshire History Festival. There’s something for everyone, ranging from tours of the Buckinghamshire Archives, historic walks through High Wycombe, to traditional corn milling demonstrations – and there’s even some pub quizzes where you can show off your historical knowledge! I’d encourage everyone to check out the full listing of events happening throughout November.”

Find the full listing of festival events at: https://histfestbucks.co.uk/whats-on/

Money Matters – at Bucks Council

Money Matters – say how you want your council tax spent

Buckinghamshire Council is preparing its spending plans for 2025/26 and is asking residents, businesses and other local stakeholders to give their views on which services should be prioritised.

The ‘Money Matters’ survey is the opportunity for residents to have a say on what’s important to them and they you would like to see the council’s budget distributed.

Councils across the country continue to experience significant financial pressures due to rising costs and added demand on services. In particular, Buckinghamshire Council has seen social care costs escalate even further in recent months due to more vulnerable residents needing help.

With continuing pressures on household budgets after a period of high inflation and other turbulence, it’s important that residents tell the council how they want to see their council tax spent during the next financial year.

Council tax is the main way that local council services are funded – from bin collections to road repairs to looking after adults and children who need care. The council has ongoing costs to provide these services and also draws up capital spending plans too – ‘one-off’ spends on particular projects or schemes such as extra money invested into the local road network for repairs and improvements. The money received from council tax covers 79% of the cost of providing our 700 services, with the rest of our funding coming from Business Rates (13%), the New Homes Bonus (1%) and other grants (7%).

The council’s ‘Money Matters’ survey is now live –and takes just 10 minutes to complete. These views are then fed into the final budget proposals which are scrutinised after Christmas in a series of special meetings. The final budget will then be voted on during February ready to ‘go live’ on 1 April 2025.

Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council, commented:

“Budget setting in recent times has become extremely difficult for all councils, including our own. Since becoming a single unitary council we have made significant savings and efficiencies already, totalling £75.4 million to date, with a further £41.3 million of savings earmarked for this year. This means we’ve taken more than £100 million out of our budgets over the first five years as a council to deliver efficiencies and to pay for key services for our most vulnerable residents. The cost of providing these services – namely social care, temporary housing and providing school transport for children who need it – eats up around 71% of our entire budget, leaving us with less than 30% of our expenditure available to pay for everything else that we do.

Therefore it’s never been more crucial for our residents to tell us where they want their money spent – please let your friends and family know too that they can have a say.”

The survey is accessed via the Your Voice Bucks website.

If you’re unable to complete the survey online, you can access a paper copy of the consultation in libraries and family centres. The Money Matters survey runs until 13 October 2024.

RAF Halton SPD consultation

Dear Consultee,

We want to hear your views on our draft RAF Halton Supplementary Planning Document.

We have launched a consultation asking people to give their views on a draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which provides a development framework for RAF Halton. This is a site allocated for growth in the Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan 2011-2031 (VALP), which was adopted in 2021. The site is located east of Halton village and on the edge of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Buckinghamshire Council has worked in conjunction with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (part of the Ministry of Defence) to develop a clear framework and principles for the development of the site as it transfers from military to residential use. The SPD builds on the policy D-HAL003 in the Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan to provide guidance on how the site should be redeveloped. It sets out the context and key principles for development to follow, whilst also providing a plan to inform comprehensive development across the site ensuring that the necessary infrastructure is delivered in a timely manner.

The SPD, together with supporting information on how to respond to the consultation, is available at https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/planning/raf-halton.
The consultation closes on Monday 4th March 2024 at 23:59.

Alternatively, a copy of the SPD document is available to view at:

Amersham: Amersham Library, Chiltern Avenue, Amersham HP6 5AH
Aylesbury: Aylesbury Library, Walton Street, Aylesbury HP20 1UA
High Wycombe: Council Offices, Queen Victoria Rd, High Wycombe HP11 1BB

You can tell us your views in one of the following ways:

complete the online survey at https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/planning/raf-halton
email us at planningpolicyteam.bc@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
write to us at Buckinghamshire Council, Planning Policy, RAF Halton SPD Consultation, Queen Victoria Road. High Wycombe, HP11 1BB

We are hosting a public drop-in session for you to find out more about the proposals. The drop-in session will be held on Wednesday 21 February 2024 from 2pm to 8pm.

The session will be held at Halton Village Hall, 11 Old School Close, Halton, Aylesbury, HP22 5NG.

If you have any questions about this consultation or would like this consultation in another format or language, please email us at planningpolicyteam.bc@buckinghamshire.gov.uk or phone us on 0300 131 6000.

If you want to keep up to date with the Local Plan for Buckinghamshire, please register online at buckinghamshire.oc2.uk/register.

Yours sincerely,

The Planning Policy Team
Buckinghamshire Council

3 Press Releases from Bucks Council

Food waste – Don’t bin it – Recycle it!

Buckinghamshire Council is asking residents to think twice before throwing food waste in the bin and to recycle it instead.

Currently around a third of the waste thrown in the regular rubbish bin in Buckinghamshire is food waste. This equates to around 28,000 tonnes of food every year, an average of 2kg per household per week. It is enough to fill Big Ben more than one and a half times each year. Not only does this cost local taxpayers more than £600,000 a year in disposal costs, disposing of food waste in this way also damages the environment as it produces double the amount of carbon emissions compared to recycling food waste. Read more here

Buckinghamshire’s Welcoming Spaces give a warm welcome to all

As the weather turns colder and the days get shorter, Buckinghamshire Council is reminding people that Welcoming Spaces across the county continue to offer a friendly and free place where people can go to stay warm and well this winter.

Last winter, the council opened up all of its libraries and community libraries as Welcoming Spaces. The initiative forms part of the council’s Helping Hand programme of support for residents impacted by cost of living pressures. The idea behind Welcoming Spaces is to provide warm, free, safe, and supportive places that any resident can visit at any time of year. They allow people to keep warm, save money on heating and access free support, advice and Wi-Fi, as well as meet new people, find local groups and activities to participate in and look after their physical and mental health. Read more here

Grow to Give scheme continues to grow and give to Bucks communities

Community spirit continues to thrive in Buckinghamshire as the popular Grow to Give scheme marks its third successful year.

In the past 12 months the community food initiative has further developed and expanded, providing over two tonnes of fresh, locally grown food to food banks and community fridges across the county.

Grow to Give works by encouraging people to grow more food in their garden or allotment and to donate the surplus to community food banks and fridges. Collection sites are set up at allotments, making it quick and easy for residents to donate. Volunteers organise the donations on site and coordinate delivery to their local food bank or community fridge. Read more here