Parish Council meeting held on Monday January 18
10 members of the public were present.
- Chestnut Tree The situation regarding the chestnut tree was discussed during the Open session and made clear that at present no decision has been made for it to be cut down. A second and possibly a third opinion by tree surgeons will be requested on the health of the tree in the hope that it can be saved. But if the safety of the public is in danger due to the tree’s decay, the Parish Council will have no option but to have it cut down. In anticipation of this, an amount has been included in the budget to replace it with a mature tree.
- Parking near the post box and The Green Cars and vans parked in this area by villagers and customers to the pub are a potential danger to pedestrians who are forced to walk on the road to get round them. The Parish council have no legal redress to stop parking here, and a general discussion regarding traffic generally in the village and on the approach roads to the village is a great problem and needs thought and consideration.
- 3 and 4 Winchendon Road: The Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust plan to organise a public meeting in the village hall in February when they will put forward their plans and answer questions and receive comments from villagers.
- War Memorial area. The proposed work to the trees and hedge will be carried out at the end of February. At the same time, the hornbeams on The Green and the walnut tree near the phone box will be pruned. The flagpole could then be installed in its new position by the War Memorial in the first or second week of March.
- Kerbing: Having been let down by one kerbing contractor, another one on the AVDC approved list has responded and will hopefully be inspecting and quoting shortly.
- Defibrillator: John Howard hopes to progress with this scheme, now being told that he should contact the ambulance service for advice and training once it is installed.
- Noticeboard: this has now been agreed and will be ordered.
- Railings by the noticeboard: The suggestion that these could be removed as they had little point and looked unsightly was generally met with disapproval by councillors.
- Village Hall: it is hoped that a public consultation meeting will shortly be arranged for the village vote.
- Vehicle Activated Sign: To date, this has been an unsuccessful project having quickly stopped working. This has now hopefully been corrected. Paul Bown and Mike Heybrook agreed to find the locations on the four approach roads, to contact Adam Lazaruk who has the sign and to get the sign working to remind car drivers that they are in a 30mph area and make a difference to speeding cars into and out of the village.
- The final Open Session brought on a discussion again about the problems of cars and parking in the village, the state of The Green because of parked cars and possibilities of solutions by seeking professional help and ideas from Highways at Bucks CC and to welcome any villagers suggestions. Short term, 'No Parking' signs could possibly be put on the walls of the houses near to The Green.
- Chuf were criticised for discouraging a request to view the hall and for keeping the gates locked denying access to villagers to the grounds and play equipment.
- Next Meetings:
Monday February 15; Monday March 21 and Monday April 18 all in the village hall at 7.30pm
Christingle Service
This very popular lovely service was held in Chearsley Church shortly before Christmas when the children were given oranges representing the world with lighted candles representing the light of Jesus. The service raised over £200 which was donated to The Children’s Society. This charity fights child poverty and neglect and helps all children have a better chance in life.
Adam Lazaruk, Angela Gray, Tina and Stu Burnham and Sharon Woodford are taking part in Vitality Reading Half Marathon on April 3rd to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. This is to support Adam’s wife who has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently awaiting hospital treatment. Adam has a Just Giving Page for easy and safe donations to Breast Cancer Care and to Maggie’s Centres. Maggie’s Centres offer emotional and practical help and support to people with cancer, their families and friends. Adam and friends welcome anyone who would like to run with them on the day and anyone who would like to donate. Please go to www.justgiving.com/Adam-Lazaruk and it is then very easy to make a donation. All good wishes go to Claire and her family.
Help Keep our Church Clean
Volunteers are needed to clean the church, which would involve a couple of hours every other month. Please contact the church wardens, Alicia Howard or Joy Payne if you would like to help.
Burns Supper on Saturday January 30 in The Bell
January 25 1759 is the birthday of Robbie Burns, Scotland’s national poet. As this is a Monday, it will be celebrated in The Bell on Saturday January 30 at 7.30pm with a Burns Night Supper when Sharon is offering a 2 or 3 course menu. The 2 courses menu costs £16.95 and the 3 courses cost £19.95. Traditional Burns Night food is on offer including cock-a-leekie soup, haggis, a scotch broth vegetarian option and lemon posset or cranachan for pudding. It is bound to be a lively evening with good food and company and the celebration of Burns’ poetry with traditional customs of the Selkirk Grace and addressing the haggis. Bookings must be made with Sharon as soon as possible with a £5 deposit per person. Probably a few whiskies will be consumed in Burns’ honour.
Brown Bins - the fortnightly collection of the brown bins for garden waste starts again on Monday February 1st, the week in which the ordinary general waste bins are collected on the Friday.
Church Services at St Nicholas:
- Sunday January 31 . A United Benefice service will be held at Long Crendon at 10am There is no service in Chearsley or Nether Winchendon as this is the 5th Sunday of the month
- Saturday January 30 Burns Night Celebrations at The Bell
- Monday February 1 Brown Bins collected
- Tuesday February 2 Bingo at The Bell at 8.30pm.
- Wednesday February 3 Roast lunch at The Bell at 12.30pm. £7.50 for roast dinner and pudding of your choice and tea or coffee. Let me know or Sharon at The Bell if you would like to come a few days beforehand
- Tuesday March 1 Village Litter Pick at 10am
