Road Closures for Charter Fairs: 15th & 16th and 22nd & 23rd October 2021

Posted on 27th September 2021 by office

We would like to inform you that a Road Closure Order and Parking Order will be in force for the Charter Fairs and covers the following areas on Friday 15th October, Saturday 16th October and then again on Friday 22nd October and Saturday 23rd October 2021.

Cars found to be parked in such a way as to cause an obstruction in the designated area covered by the order, are liable to be removed by the relevant authorities. The cost of reclaiming your vehicle could be from £150.

NORTH END SQUARE
HIGH STREET
BULL RING
MARKET HILL
MARKET SQUARE
WESTERN AVE (FROM BRACKLEY RD TO GRENVILLE RD – NO PARKING ON THIS PART OF THE ROAD)

Emergency access will be ensured for Northend Court, Buckingham Hospital, Paynes Court, Markhams Court and Verney Close.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused, however we can assure you that the steps taken are in the interest of public safety.

We’ve been informed by Buckinghamshire Council that parking at Cornwalls Meadow car park will be free on Saturday 16th and 23rd October.

Further information is available about bus diversions.

Your contact in this matter is Amanda Brubaker, Events Co-ordinator, who can be contacted on 01280 816426 or e-mailed at events@buckingham-tc.gov.uk.

After a summer of otter spotting, the Buckingham Otters bidding extravaganza begins

Posted on 24th September 2021 by office

Did you fall in love with the otters? Would you like to become the proud owner of one? Our final key event of the project, the Buckingham Otter Auction is here and bidding opens this Friday 24th September 2021!

The Buckingham Otter Trail was a temporary feel-good public art installation featuring ten 3ft tall sized otter sculptures. Sponsored by local businesses and organisations, the otters were decorated by professional artists, school children and community groups which brought much excitement to the town over summer.

Following the removal of the otter-tastic sculptures at the end of the trail and their appearance at the first-ever Celebrate Buckingham event, Buckingham Town Council will now say their final farewells to the beloved otters as they swim away to their new forever homes.

Chairman of the Town Centre Events Committee Cllr Robin Stuchbury said “After a summer of giving so many people pleasure the otters are going up for auction, if you’ve enjoyed seeing the otters this is your opportunity to purchase one and by doing so you’ll be contributing to the Mayor’s charities and benefiting our local community, in the very same way the otters have throughout the summer. So please don’t miss this one off opportunity of owning your own Buckingham otter and by doing so you’ll be helping others”.

The bidding will be taking place online using social media and the Town Council Photograph of painted otter sculptures website. Each week one otter will be added to the auction, you will have nearly two weeks to make your highest bid. The otter being auctioned will be on display at the Tourist Information Centre. Bids may be submitted through the Town Council website and by telephone.

The online event will see our large sculptures auctioned, with profits to be split equally between the Mayor’s Charities and a future similar event next summer. The Mayor’s Charities are Project Street Life and Community Care North Bucks, which includes YC2 Buckingham & Winslow Young Carers, North Bucks Carers, Open House and the Hospital Car Service. We could not be more delighted to raise money for these worthy causes, pouring funds straight back into supporting the community and making another sculpture trail next summer for everyone to enjoy.

Visit the otter auction pages to find out more information about the auction or one or more of the otter sculptures.

We’ll be sad to wave goodbye to our otters but we’re sure there are wonderful things on the horizon for them in their new homes!

The Buckingham Otters Auction

Posted on 24th September 2021 by lacehill

After a Summer of Otter Spotting, the Buckingham Otters Bidding Extravaganza Begins

Photograph of painted otter sculptures

The bidding will be taking place online using social media and the Town Council website. Each week one otter will be added to the auction, you will have nearly two weeks to make your highest bid. The otter being auctioned will be on display at the Tourist Information Centre. Bids may be submitted through the Town Council website and by telephone.

The online event will see our large sculptures auctioned, with profits to be split equally between the Mayor’s Charities and a future similar event next summer. The Mayor’s Charities are Project Street Life and Community Care North Bucks, which includes YC2 Buckingham & Winslow Young Carers, North Bucks Carers, Open House and the Hospital Car Service. We could not be more delighted to raise money for these worthy causes, pouring funds straight back into supporting the community and making another sculpture trail next summer for everyone to enjoy.

If you wish to find out more information about the auction or one or more of the otter sculptures, please visit www.buckingham-tc.gov.uk

We’ll be sad to wave goodbye to our otters but we’re sure there are wonderful things on the horizon for them in their new homes!

From building bridges to pianist wanted: volunteering in Buckingham

Posted on 21st September 2021 by office

Interested in helping your community? There's a huge number of community groups in Buckingham - each one powered by a small army of volunteers.

Whether you want to help build literal bridges, provide fun and support for young carers, play the piano for a panto, greet museum visitors, or be a projectionist at the cinema there's a community group in Buckingham that would love to have your help!

At this year’s Celebrate Buckingham Day, Buckingham Town Council filmed interviews with eight different community groups about their opportunities to volunteer in Buckingham and shared the results on their YouTube channel.

The video makes up part of our fantastic new web page promoting and supporting local community groups – offering them opportunities to recruit volunteers for free, share what they’re doing and apply for grants.

Chair of the Communications Strategy Working Group Cllr. Jon Harvey said that: “Volunteering is the lifeblood of our town. This has been even more apparent during the last few months when many, many people stepped forward to help their neighbours, strangers and the wider community as we all faced extraordinary and difficult times together.

Your Town Council is committed to doing all that we can to nurture, support and develop volunteering in our town. We keep track of local organisations that need volunteers and endeavour to connect people’s desires to ‘do something for others’ with those organisations that need willing volunteers.

Don’t forget research shows that volunteering has a positive effect on our mental health and wellbeing. Volunteering is good for everyone: the volunteers, the people benefitting from the work and our whole community!"

Residents turn out to Celebrate Buckingham

Posted on 9th September 2021 by office

Following the delay in lifting Covid regulations until 19^th July, Buckingham Town Council decided to postpone Celebrate Buckingham which was originally due to take place in July, until Saturday 4^th September.

Organised by Buckingham Town Council and the Buckingham Society the event was arranged to celebrate the range of voluntary organisations who are serving the town, and to enable local groups to raise funds and recruit volunteers and to bring residents together. The day also included the Buckingham Society’s annual Civic Day event and award giving.

This was the first time the event had been held – the overwhelming feedback to the Town Council has been that another event should be planned for next year! The Council are currently making plans for events in 2022, and would be happy to hear any suggestions, and particularly from any groups or individuals who are interested in holding events next year.

The event took place under blue skies in the paddock in Bourton Park. Members of the public where given the opportunity to see Buckingham’s new Mayor Cllr Margaret Gateley formally robed for the first time. There was also the presentation of civic awards and the Town Council awards which were presented by The Buckingham Civic Society and Mayor Cllr Margaret Gateley. Hundreds of people attended the event. Entertainment was provided by the Winslow Concert Band and the ever enthusiastic Buckingham Ukulele group. The Council arranged for bouncy castles and food vans to ensure there were plenty of reasons for residents to stay and enjoy the day.

Community groups

Organisations that took part in the event included Bux & Oxon 4 x 4 Response Group (BORG) worked hard all day escorting vehicles safely through the park. Every organisation provided an activity. The Angling Association held a maggot racing competition. The Buckingham Society ran a bowling for the pig stall (actually, bowling for butcher’s or supermarket voucher) and the Buckingham Pantomime Group offered pantomime characters in stocks for children to throw wet sponges at. There were opportunities to splat rats, find treasure and try the lucky dip. There were 24 stalls in all, each of which were busy all day.

Several groups were not able to attend either because they are still regrouping after Covid, or some members were Covid positive on the day. So it is hoped that future events will be bigger and better!

Mayor Making

Mayor Making is normally held in the Buckingham Community Centre in the presence of distinguished, invited guests. This was not possible this year due to Covid restrictions. So the Council decided to hold the event in the open air for the first time at the beginning of the Celebrate Buckingham event. The Mayor, Town Clerk and Mace Bearer formally processed the town’s mace across the field to begin proceedings. Councillor Martin Try explained the history of the elements of the Mayor’s regalia. The ceremony was watched by more people than is normally possible, and enabled the town’s historic assets to be enjoyed in a more open and inclusive event than is normally possible.

Councillor Gateley said, “It is a great honour to have been chosen as the 256th Mayor of Buckingham. It was wonderful to be part of the amazing celebration on Saturday in Bourton Park, a fantastic setting for the event. I was delighted to be able to present awards to some of our community’s outstanding volunteers, who have made such a difference over the last difficult year. My thanks go to them, and to all the voluntary groups represented. The day was also enhanced by the music provided by the Winslow Concert Band and Buckingham Ukulele Group. Thanks to everyone who came and to the Town Council teams who made all the arrangements."

Awards

A number of awards were made to individuals and group who have made a significant contribution to Buckingham. Full details are available on our awards announcement.

Celebrate Buckingham: Awards

Posted on 4th September 2021 by office

The Mayor of Buckingham Cllr. Margaret Gateley was delighted to be formally 'robed' at the first ever Celebrate Buckingham Day.

Margaret went on to award the following individuals in groups with prizes for their exceptional contribution to the town.

Freewomen of Buckingham

The Honorary Freemen/women Award was presented to previous councillors, Ruth Newell and Christine Strain-Clark for their valuable and dedicated service over their 30 and 26 years as Town Councillors. These awards are one of the most prestigious awards which a council can bestow upon a valued member of the community, or upon a visiting celebrity or dignitary. It arises from the medieval practice of granting respected citizens freedom from serfdom.

Friend of Buckingham

Friend of Buckingham is awarded to individuals who have shown exceptional and outstanding contribution to the local community. This years awards were given to:

Dr. Roger Harrington for his work with the Buckingham Alms-house charity and the Buckingham Hospital League of Friends
Right Hon. Jon Bercow in recognition of his time as Member of Parliament for Buckingham.
Beverly Stockill for her work with the Buckingham Community Food Bank

Special Town council Awards

Sports & Arts Award: Lace Hill Association
Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Organisation of the Year: Buckingham Rotary Club and all the volunteers that supported the Covid-19 and Flu vaccination programmes.
Natural Environment and Climate Champion: Stowe Sub Aqua Club for their continued support of the River Rinses.
Mayor's Prize for Outstanding Young Person: Sulayman for his exemplary and inspirational management of the Buckingham Free School Meals programme.

The Buckingham Society awarded their annual Trader of the Year award to all the traders of Buckingham in recognition of the difficult times they have been going through. Mary Simonds, of the Traders Association, accepted the award on all traders behalf.

The Buckingham Rotary Club awarded Young Citizen of the Year to Sulayman for his management of the Buckingham Free School Meals Programme and Citizen of the Year to Janet Knicks.