As of Thursday the 19th of June, there are still tickets left for the inaugural Ivinghoe Festival 70s Night this coming Saturday night, June 21st.

You can buy them on the door (doors open 7.30), or Masons, Grooms or the Post Office, £15 inc food.

`Come on Down and Boogie' is the catchphrase for the night.

Building on many successful Cabaret Nights of past years this year the committee are hoping this year to both please the festival regulars and bring in new people.

They have chosen the evergreen 1970s theme and booked two stage acts to create the atmosphere.

The first hour will be the time for drinks, fancy dress judging, and the start of the BBQ.

Christopher Nott, best known for his David Essex tribute will mix pop, soul and Motown.

Chris will sing from 8.30 to 9.30.

The stage show, Ballroom Glitz who have created a show around the famous rock bands of the time T Rex, the Bee Gees, Queen, Abba, Status Quo, take things on at 10.00.

We hope the audience will use this as a great excuse to dress the part and get up on the bigger-than-ever dancefloor.

There is a bar as usual - and the evening will open with the barbecue, which will remain open all night, and if you want to stay at your table and not come on down and boogie the committee have devised a fun 70s TV quiz for you as well.

Tickets, including barbecue, are £15 available from Masons, other shops in the village, Pat Brindle on 01296 662553, or on the night



Organised by Ivinghoe Entertainments

Planes from Luton would cause 'untold damage' to Northern Buckinghamshire.

Avril Davies, County Councillor, Ivinghoe Division and District Councillor, Pitstone Ward added this on June 19th (see BCC and AVDC submisison below:

"I wish to support the submissions made by Bucks County Council and Aylesbury Vale District Council on the whole consultation for the South East and Buckinghamshire. In addition I would like to say a few words about the effects on the locality I represent.

The proposals have a disproportionate effect on the residents of Aylesbury Vale due east of Luton Airport in my County Council division of Ivinghoe, which includes the parishes of Edlesborough, Slapton, Ivinghoe, Pitstone, Cheddington and Marsworth. Changes to the east and north east approach and take off for Luton Airport do not allow any respite for the communities overflown, as they will have take off when the wind is in a westerly direction, and landing as at present, when the wind is in the east.

I would have wished to have seen alternative proposals consulted upon, to include direct and shorter landing and take off routes regardless of the population overflown. This is because the noise impact flying over rural areas of lower population density is greater against lower background noise. Additionally the longer routes flown to avoid population areas increase pollution, not only by more fuel consumption, even if mitigated by more efficient runway procedures, but by the adverse effects on those below of flying at relatively lower heights for a longer distance. In my opinion it is better to take off and gain height at the most rapid rate.

I would have liked to see alternative and radical proposals for the Bovingdon stack. If this were to be higher, and even further away, over the sea for example, the direct and higher take off and approach routes to Luton Airport could be possible. The Bovingdon Stack is historical, and needs to be radically reviewed.

Finally, for all take off and landing over this particular area, a policy of diverse approach to the final beacon before landing, as at present, and conversely, dispersal as soon as possible, as with Olney 1B from Luton as at present, is to be preferred as this mitigates the impact on the ground to an extent."

Avril Davies

County Councillor, Ivinghoe Division
District Councillor, Pitstone Ward

---

This is a summary of a letter of response to the NATS (National Air Traffic Services) consultation by Martin Tett, Bucks county council's Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, on 29/05/2008

Mr Tett said proposals for altered flight paths from Luton airport which would mean more noisy aircraft flying lower over Aylesbury Vale and the Chilterns are 'little short of vandalism' which would cause 'untold damage to a nationally important area.'
The NATS' proposals include changing flight paths from Luton, Northolt and Heathrow airports. He said the Luton proposals were a particular concern as they would mean large aircraft flying at 3,000 to 4,000 feet above sea level over rural villages in the Chilterns which are already 600 feet above sea level. They would also require light aircraft to fly lower to avoid jet flight paths.
After consulting local residents the council says it is 'wholly opposed' to the proposals on grounds of noise, safety, CO2 pollution and increased air traffic (Luton airport proposes trebling the number of flights it handles by 2020. This could mean one aircraft every six minutes). The council feels NATS has not provided adequate information about the noise impacts the proposals would have on communities living under the flight paths.
In the consultation response Councillor Tett says: "Whilst it is appreciated that an aim of some of the proposals affecting this area has been to relieve the Buckinghamshire towns of Wendover and Princes Risborough of the noise currently created by overflights from Luton, in our view - and in the view of our communities - any such effects are likely to be more than cancelled out by the fact that the re-routed Luton departures will be overflying nearby areas at much lower altitudes.
"We would request that the following points are considered:
• That the turn on all three of these flight paths is moved to the east to move the centre line away from Cheddington, Pitstone and Ivinghoe.
• We would also ask that consideration be given to vectoring aircraft off the published routes (as currently happens with the Olney 1B route) once aircraft have reached 4,000ft. This will provide a degree of dispersion so that no one community is impacted all the time.'
Concerns are also raised about the very short period NATS will be taking to consider responses to its consultation before submitting its final advice to the Civil Aviation Authority. In his letter to NATS, Martin Tett says: 'We do not believe that such a short space of time is consistent with NATS giving serious consideration to the many representations which it is doubtless going to receive and this casts serious doubt about the validity of the whole consultation process.'
Councillor Tett said: 'We are not being NIMBYs here. We accept the reality of increased flights, but feel that these proposed changes raise serious concerns about health and safety. As well as the environmental damage to large areas of Buckinghamshire, they could also damage the economy of the Chiltern Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which not only serves Buckinghamshire residents, but the 50 million visitors each year who are drawn to the peace and beauty of the area.

'One further major concern is that NATS cannot possibly be offering impartial advice as the major airlines have a majority stake in the company.

This is a flyer which PITSTONE & IVINGHOE FAMILIES AGAINST MORE AIRCRAFT NOISE has issued.

You have until June 19th to add your voice to this campaign.

FIGHT THE CHANGES
TO LUTON AIRCRAFT
DEPARTURES

NATS propose to direct aircraft taking-off from Luton Airport to fly directly over Pitstone and Ivinghoe. Time is running out to make your voice heard. The deadline is Thursday 19th June.

Who are NATS ?

They are an organisation owned by the UK government and a number of airlines (including Easyjet, British Airways and Virgin). NATS provide air traffic control services to the UK.

Why are changes being planned ?
NATS admit themselves that they have a number of contradictory reasons for these changes. They want to reduce the number of people overflown by aircraft and at the same time reduce aircraft traffic’s harm on the environment. Another aim is to improve air traffic control efficiency.

How will the changes affect Pitstone and Ivinghoe ?
We suffer a significant amount of aircraft noise already from planes landing at Luton in an easterly direction. Unfortunately this will remain pretty much the same as it does now.
The NATS proposal is to change the route of aircraft taking off from Luton towards the West. At the moment they avoid our area by using a direct route to their destination. The new plans are for aircraft to make a big loop over our villages before heading off to
their destinations. On some of the routes, each aircraft will have to fly between 18 and 23 km extra per flight.

Isn’t this just Nimby-ism (Not In My Back Yard) ?
We don’t think so - and here is why :
1) The environmental impact, to both our air quality and the
carbon resources used in the extra aircraft fuel burnt flying
those additional miles, far outweigh the benefits of noise
reduction to those living under the existing route.
2) The noise impact of aircraft flying over villages like ours, compared with main towns, is of far more consequence.

As we live in a very quiet area, every aircraft movement is significant. In towns and cities, there are other environmental sounds and aircraft noise is not noteworthy compared to the existing background noises. We already have to suffer landings and currently only get a reprieve when the wind blows west to east. The proposed
changes will result in planes flying over our houses REGARDLESS of wind direction.

3) This is not just our backyard. Our villages are surrounded by an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which is visited by thousands of people every year. The Chiltern Society (www.chilternsociety.org.uk) who encourage visitors to our area strongly object to these proposals as they fear it will impact the tranquility of our area. “We believe NATS' proposals are wrong and that they have not looked properly at the alternatives.”

Where can I find out more information ?
Our local library in Ivinghoe has a copy of
the proposal in full. Alternatively you can read the document online at www.consultation.nats.co.uk

What should I do ?
Make sure your opinion is known to NATS. You can object to these plans in
one of two ways :
Web : www.consultation.nats.co.uk/feedback/27/your_comments.html
or follow the link from the document URL above.
Postal : TCN Consultation, NATS,
Freepost NAT22750, Reading, RG1 4BR

Note : Please make clear your reasons for objecting. NATS have indicated that they won’t
pay much credence to responses that just say “we object” without reasons why.
If you would like to contact us with a question about the proposal, or any of the
information in this leaflet, please email us at no2nats@googlemail.com .

Want to discuss the issues online ? Why not visit the village forums at www.pitstone.co.uk
and let your fellow villagers know what you think.

County Councillor Avril Davies.
Update, April 21st 2008.

Pitstone. Castlemead phase 2 planning application.

The most recent application for 164 houses on Castlemead came before the Strategic Development Control Committee at Aylesbury Vale District Council on April 16th. This development covers only half the area included in the masterplan for Pitstone and did not include any of the amenities required in the masterplan, as they were all designed to cluster around the village hall and recreation ground, belonging to the other parties. Instead, Taylor Wilson proposed setting aside sums of money for those amenities.

This gave the committee a dilemma, as to whether this would help or hinder the achievement of the overall plan. After listening carefully to submissions from Pitstone Parish Council, the Hawkins Trust, and Taylor Wilson, the committee reached a decision to defer and delegate approval to the officers subject to the following

That the £583,285.37 contribution to a multi-use games area and youth drop in centre be ring-fenced for use only in Pitstone.

That AVDC support Pitstone Parish and Hawkins Trust in negotiations with the Charity Commission in order to ensure the completion of the masterplan.

That £1,344,903 is provided to Bucks County Council for educational facilities (at Brookmead School)

A network of cycleways linking both phases of the development

Work to be completed by Bucks County Council and Hertfordshire County Council on a cycleway and bus service to Tring Station

Forty percent of the houses to be affordable – for both rent and part ownership - reflecting current housing needs

That private homes are built to the Eco-Homes ‘very good’ standard and the affordable units to the ‘excellent’ standard.

Outstanding contamination and drainage issues to be resolved to the satisfaction of the Environment Agency.

The layout and design of the site itself had been subject to considerable revision in response to comments from the public and the planning team, although the density of 37 dwellings per hectare is higher than the 30 originally proposed, in line with revised government guidelines on the use of brownfield land. The street layout has been designed with the rural location in mind, with varying widths to allow passing and on-street parking and a lane around the edge of the site giving access to refuse and service vehicles. There will be a variety of fences, walls and gates to reflect a typical village appearance, and the design of the houses reflects existing building in Ivinghoe and Pitstone, though for some inexplicable reason Taylor Wilson have named them ‘Kensworth’ ‘Leighton’, both in Bedfordshire, and ‘Nettleden’ in Herts!



Proposed Closure Tring Recycling Centre



Hertfordshire County Council have reviewed all their centres and are proposing to close Tring on the grounds that the Berkhamsted one used only to 50% capacity, and that half to two thirds the users of Tring are Buckinghamshire residents, costing Herts £22,000 on landfill tax at the moment, shortly to more than double. In addition there are problems with HGV access, security, space, and future expansion.

Bucks CC was not consulted on this but at my request have approached Herts to talk about it. The new Bucks site at Aston Clinton is on schedule to open next year, leaving a gap of several months where there would be no facilites open for this area. Talks are now going on between the two authorities to reach a solution to prevent this.

The fact that as Bucks residents we are not paying for the Hertfordshire facilities, and are in line to get a new and better local facility within the county boundary does not mean there are not good reasons to still keep the Tring site open. These are

Tring residents will have to travel further to dispose of their bulky items, green waste and recyclables, increasing car journeys.

The additional effort involved will reduce recycling rates and increase waste going to landfill, and flytipping.

You can write to Mr Ray Greenall, Head of Waste Management, County Hall, Hertford SG13 8DN.

BCC Speed Limit Review area 13 brought forward to 2009

Originally started in 2001 and due to be complete by 2007 the timetable for this county-wide review has ebbed and flowed according to county and government priorities, with lack of money always given as the reason for delay. Because all Counties in England must have completed full speed limit reviews by 2011, our review is now going to take place next year, with consultation in the spring, and implementation in the autumn.

County Councillor Avril Davies full news page on Bucks County Council's website can be reached on

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/moderngov/mgMiniSite.asp?UID=140

As of Monday the 16th of June, there are still tickets left for the inaugural Ivinghoe Festival 70s Night this coming Saturday night, June 21st.

`Come on Down and Boogie' is the catchphrase for the night.

Building on many successful Cabaret Nights of past years this year the committee are hoping this year to both please the festival regulars and bring in new people.

They have chosen the evergreen 1970s theme and booked two stage acts to create the atmosphere.

Christopher Nott, best known for his David Essex tribute will mix pop, soul and Motown, followed by Ballroom Glitz who have created a stage show around the famous rock bands of the time T Rex, the Bee Gees, Queen, Abba, Status Quo.

We hope the audience will use this as a great excuse to dress the part and get up on the bigger-than-ever dancefloor.

There is a bar as usual - and the evening will open with the barbecue, which will remain open all night, and if you want to stay at your table and not come on down and boogie the committee have devised a fun 70s TV quiz for you as well.

Tickets, including barbecue, are £15 available from Masons, other shops in the village, Pat Brindle on 01296 662553, or on the night



Organised by Ivinghoe Entertainments

The Times has nominated Pitstone as "Hot Tip of the Week" in its property section (June 29th, 2007). (news.)

While the accolade will come as no surprise to many local people, it is nevertheless quite an honour when you consider the rival claims of so many other places. It shows how far the village has come as a desirable place to settle, since the closure of the cement works.

There is one rather obvious error in the article, which actually would support the argument that the article was written by an outsider who came to look around, and decide for him or herself, rather than an estate agent who simply sent the newspaper a press release. (You would expect such a person to know that we are not on the Marylebone line!)

Sadly, Helen McCashey is unable to continue her role as Assistant Guide Leader after the end of this term. If another leader does not come forward by the end of this term the unit will have to close.

This will be a real shame as you will have seen from the recent publicity how three of the girls recently gained their Baden Powell Challenge Award, the highest award in Guiding. The local guides in Cheddington do not have any places, so the current Guides will have to travel further a field to continue, some of whom are starting their BP Challenge too.

If you are interested and would like to know more please contact me.

To make things a bit easier for people who are new to the website we have written some instructions that cover the initial registration process and posting messages to the forums.

You'll find the document attached to this message. It's an Adobe PDF file, which means you'll need the Adobe Reader software to open it. Most PC's will have this software loaded but if yours hasn't you can download it from the following location:

Adobe Reader download link

If you have any questions email the Web Team at webteam@ivinghoe.co.uk

Pitstone ward (turrnout 43%).

Avril Davies - Liberal Democrat 775
Brenda Jennings - Conservative 338.

More details - http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/avdc/elections/index.jsp

Aylesbury Vale District Council is run by the Conservatives (37 seats), who have an overall majority over other parties (Liberal Democrats 21 seats; Independents 1 seat.) Labour currently have no seats on AVDC.

Please find attached the agenda for the Annual Assembly which will be held on 24 April 2007 at 7.30pm in the Main Hall of the Memorial Hall.

This is your chance to catch up on everything that has been happening over the past year, and find out the plans for the coming one.

Everyone is welcome. Refreshments will be served during the evening.

Laurie Eagling
Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council