DIG Update 31 January 2024

               I thought I would drop an update around as there are one or two things going on that might be of interest and it’s coincided with my having to drum up an article for the Hughenden News. As a result this update is a bit wordy…..

  1. The Stream
    1. According to official statistics, the rainfall across South East England from November to January was 21.1mm; this compares to the long term average of 16.5mm for the same period. This was above average with most rain having fallen in December and frankly the rainfall seemed much more than this. The net result is that our winterbourne stream is showing in its upper reaches. At the end of January, the springs could be seen bubbling up in the ditch outside Spring Rising and even emerging from the middle of the culvert brickwork beside the pumping station. It is now flowing in the back gardens along Valley Road in the vicinity of the Village Hall.
    2. Normally at this time of the year, when the winterbourne stream is flowing and the water table is rising we expect to see signs of the sewers becoming full. This year there presently seems no threat of this happening as a brief check on the sewers suggests they are running normally, unless you know to the contrary that is.
  2. Road Drains
    1. I’ve done a walk through the Valley checking road drains and that has shown that many are blocked with leaves, twigs and other detritus, to be expected perhaps after the winter. We have to count ourselves fortunate that the drainage system has coped during this time and we have not suffered massive levels of rainfall such as has happened in so many areas of the country. We have reported the state of the road drains via FixMyStreet and have requested a substantial operation to clear drains throughout the Valley. I’ve asked David Carroll to lend some impetus to this. Additionally, we have asked that the kerbsides are swept throughout the village as they, too, are in a poor state. It is worth saying that we requested the road drains outside the Harrow to be cleared in October following their flooding but that remains to be done, so we have to hope that this work can be prioritised soon.
  3. Thames Water
    1. As reported in November, our contact in the planning area at TW, Darren Trenchard has departed to another area in the company and we have been left with no replacement contact, which makes it difficult getting hold of meaningful updates. I have directed an email to the Developer Services group and posed a simple request to them but there has been no response so far.
    2. Darren suggested when he left that I contact Customer Feedback for help. Following speaking to them I was referred to Developer Services, who then transferred me to Operations. Operations said yes, they could help and gave me a particular telephone number to ring, which actually turned out to be Developer Services…..waste of time.
    3. I have mailed Alan Beechey at the Chiltern Society to see if he can offer any advice as to who we might speak to.
  4. Bucks CC Drainage Engineer Contact
    1. Well, we don’t have one since Jonathan Roberts left us. I am hoping we may be able to establish a contact through the FixMyStreet app.

Rgds

Paul

HVRA DIG

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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

Join the ‘Primary Care Conversation’ to transform services

The Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) is working with health and care partners to develop a strategy and implementation plan for the future of primary care. This includes general practice, community pharmacy, optometry (eye care) and dentistry across BOB.

The ICB will also involve local people and patients to transform the way these services are delivered in their communities and neighbourhoods, enabling the integration of primary care and community services with the aim of improving access to services, people’s experiences of using them and better outcomes for patients.

The work aims to:

  • build a shared understanding of the current state of primary and community services and present a case for change
  • build a consensus on the future vision for primary care and its integration with community services
  • design the way we deliver this care (operating model) and other tools such as digital healthcare support 
  • test the practical application of the new model through projects
  • capture learning and build capability for phased roll-out of the final strategy.

As part of our programme of work to transform primary care, we have launched the ‘Primary Care Conversation’ to let you share your experiences about these services in an online survey at: https://yourvoicebob-icb.uk.engagementhq.com/hub-page/primary-care  Your views will help to inform and shape an ICB primary care strategy to deliver better care for you.

A printed copy of the survey is available by post or by telephone for people without online access. To request one please contact 0300 123 4465 or email engagement.BOBICS@nhs.net

Your Conservation Group

The Hughenden Valley Conservation group need two new volunteers to help us maintain and improve our wonderful Chalk Bank situated adjacent to the village hall.

We meet once a week on a Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock and work until 4 pm when it’s time for tea and cake!

It’s a free outdoor gym taking in breath taking views and the best fresh air in Britain.

Absolutely no experience necessary, we supply all that’s necessary, you bring your willingness to cut/slash/burn/crop/hedge lay/ and nurture all types of flora and fauna.

If you have any interest at all or any questions please ring Bev on 07793546580

Happy conservating

Bev.

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