As we are in a period of extremely cold weather Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC) have activated our Severe Weather Emergency Provision for this week.
AVDC ask that any one who comes into contact with a person sleeping rough or is likely to end up sleeping rough themselves, to please contact StreetLink via http://streetlink.org.uk
You can also call 0300 500 0914 or a member of the Housing Team on 01296 585168 during working hours.
Buckingham Town Council’s Environment Committee is holding a ‘fix my street’ week, running from 5th to 13th January.
Town Councillors will be out and about carrying out an audit and reporting defects and repairs around the town centre and parks. Councillors are asking residents to help build a complete picture of issues using the County Council’s page on fixmystreet.buckscc.gov.uk
The Town Council already works with the County Council to carry out minor works 
including cutting grass verges. In early 2019, the County Council will also provide the Town Council with a small budget to arrange minor repairs. Feedback will also be used to help devise the Town Council’s small work programme, as well as to help the County Council identify works which are needed in the town.
The County Council’s FixMyStreet site enables anyone to report details of an issue, including photos, which ensures that the query is forwarded to the correct council. Where it is the County Council’s responsibility, the issue is logged on their system and the website updated as progress is made. FixMyStreet is primarily for reporting things which are broken or dirty or damaged or dumped, and need fixing, cleaning or clearing, like graffiti, dog fouling, potholes or street lights that don’t work.
It is helpful to be as precise as possible; a photo or asset number (e.g. from a streetlight) can be really helpful.
Councillor Margaret Gateley, Chair of the Environment Committee, said, “I am delighted that we are able to use fix my street to register issues and to monitor progress. I encourage all residents to look at their street and to report anything that needs fixing”.
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Grounds Maintenance Person (2 Positions) Full Time 37 Hours per week |
We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join our Greenspaces team to assist the Town Council with maintenance of its open spaces and properties.
Buckingham Town Council manages parks, play areas, a Cemetery and other assets within the Town, so this is a varied role with both grounds and property maintenance being required.
We are looking for an enthusiastic person with good hands-on skills, who is capable of working alone or as part of a team. A background and training in horticulture is desirable and a full driving licence is essential.
The main tasks will include:
The role is a full time position with occasional additional weekend work being required to assist in the running of events.
Due to the nature of the role, all grounds maintenance staff are subject to health surveillance to ensure they are physically able to complete their duties.
For further information or an informal discussion about the post, please contact the Estates Manager Lee Phillips on 01280 816426.
To apply complete the downloadable job application pack which should be submitted either by post to:
Buckingham Town Council
Buckingham Centre
Verney Close
Buckingham
MK18 1JP
or by email to: Greenspaces@buckingham-tc.gov.uk
Closing date for applications: Monday 21st January 2019 at 12 noon.
At its meeting on Monday evening (10 December 2018) Buckingham Town Council’s Environment Committee decided to pay to install gates on the new play area at Lace Hill to prevent dogs from entering the playground. The Council was disappointed to learn that the Management Company was not prepared to install the gates, and felt the need for this work was so strong that the Town Council should fund the work directly.
The Town Council has written to the Lace Hill Developers highlighting the absence of gates at the Lace Hill play area and asking for a contribution towards their installation. No response has been received despite chaser emails.
The Town Council will now arrange works in April 2019 to install two sets of gates at a cost of £3,339.
Councillor Margaret Gateley, Chair of the Environment Committee, said, “while it is disappointing that the Lace Hill Management Company is not prepared to fund this work, I am delighted that the Town Council have agreed to install gates to ensure the safety of children using this valuable play area.”
The following update has been provided by the Environment Agency, following the Community Briefing in November. Having the Environment Agency holding 
this open session in Buckingham was extremely useful, as it enabled residents to ask them questions directly and to learn more about the future of the River Great Ouse.
Click here to read the full update from the Environment Agency
The River Warden Scheme is also due to begin soon:
Click here to read the River Warden leaflet from the Environment Agency.
If you are interested in becoming a River Warden, or have any questions, please get in touch with Karen Paterson: karen.paterson@environment-agency.gov.uk The Environment Agency plans to be in touch early in the New Year with further information on the scheme.
Three years ago, Buckingham Town Council paid DisabledGo to carry out and publish detailed accessibility surveys of 65 venues in Buckingham. The Town Council have commissioned the renamed AccessAble to update the surveys each year and to add 5 more each year. In addition, Buckingham’s Access Awareness Group will continue to support the scheme. Volunteers will be trained to carry out and submit additional surveys at a workshop to be arranged in 2019.
AccessAble, previously called DisabledGo, have been working for over a year to develop and launch the new website and App, involving its user community every step of the way.
Councillor Mike Smith, Chair of the Town Council’s Resources Committee, said, “I’m delighted that the Town Council are continuing to support AccessAble. We are committed to supporting venues across the town that are accessible to everyone, and to promoting the continuing good work to achieve this.”
The website has been completely rebuilt, the search is faster and easier to use and there is inspirational content so you can find new places to explore. The Accessibility Guides themselves are simpler to use and more clearly laid out. If you are after the detail you can navigate to it easily through a side menu or if you would prefer just the key information and photos you can use an ‘easy read’ toggle. The whole website looks totally different with many more photos, videos and icons.
A major part of the development has been working with users of screen readers and assistive technology to make sure the website and App meet the broadest range of accessibility requirements possible.
Another AccessAble development is new Accessibility Symbols. They have increased the number used from 19 to 32, which will enable anyone using the website or App to filter their results by the access requirements that are important to them. This includes symbols that may be helpful for people with autism, visual impairments and learning disabilities. The symbols can also be used to filter by facilities like Changing Places, accessible toilets, Safe Places, hoists and accessible fitting rooms.
Speaking about the development, AccessAble’s Executive Director, Anna Nelson said, ‘AccessAble exists to provide detailed information to venues throughout the UK and Ireland, so that disabled people, carers and anyone who needs to know more about accessibility can find out if a place will be right for them.
We are passionate about delivering our social mission and helping more of the c.20m people who have accessibility requirements. As part of the launch AccessAble have published an important survey that highlights the vital need for better accessibility information. The survey revealed that 99% of disabled people want to know about accessibility before visiting a new place and 98% search for accessibility information in advance. You can read more about it and check out the survey here https://www.accessable.co.uk/articles/new-survey-highlights-major-accessibility-gap-for-uk-s-20-million-disabled-people-and-carers
To check out the new service simply visit the website at www.AccessAble.co.uk or download the AccessAble App from the Apple Store or Google Play Store. If you have any feedback you can contact AccessAble at hello@AccessAble.co.uk, message them on social media or give AccessAble a call on 01438 842710.
A series of events have been arranged across Buckingham to commemorate the passing of 100 years since the end of the 1st World War.
Buckingham Town Council has spent the week putting up Remembrance flags across the town. The Lest We Forget: Army, Navy and Royal Air Force flags have been provided by The Woolpack and the Armistice flags have been provided by Lionel Weston with support from the Royal British Legion as part of the Armistice 100 event.
Mayor, Councillor Jon Harvey attended the launch of the Royal British Legions’ Poppy Appeal at the Old Gaol on the 23rd October alongside councillors and volunteers.
Already open is the Tapestry Exhibition, a series of tapestries symbolising each 
decade since 1918, organised by Lionel Weston and hosted by Buckingham Library. Each tapestry is the work of local artists, both young and old and hand made by local crafts people after over two years of planning and work.
The Old Gaol has held a series of exhibitions around the 1st World War, with the latest opening today and focusing on The British Army in Italy.
On Saturday the 10th November, Lionel Weston in support of the Royal British Legion has arranged for 10 young people will travel as Silent Soldiers through Buckingham, each one representing and displaying the story of a real person who once lived in 
Buckingham. At midday these soldiers will gather outside the Old Gaol as a tribute to the fallen. The Silent Soldier campaign is also marked by the black outline of a soldier currently fitter to the side of the Buckingham Town Council Chamber.
Sunday 11th November will begin with the Royal British Legion leading the Remembrance Parade. The parade leaves market square at 10.30am and continues towards the War Memorial at the Parish Church where Hon. Milly Soames will take the salute. A rolling road closure will take place for this event.
In the evening of the 11th November, from 5.15pm the Town Centre roads will again be closed from 4pm for the Armistice 100 Commemoration Concert. Charlie Ross (BBC’s Bargain Hunt) will compere a range of local artists and musicians including The Suffragettes, Winslow Concert Band, Miles Nottage and his Band, MK Pipe Band, Isabelle Morgan and children’s and adult choirs. This event is organised by the Lionel Weston with support from the British Legion and Buckingham Town Council.
At the close of the month the Radcliffe Centre will host a play about W
alter Tull Walter was the first mixed race officer in WW1. Before joining the British army he was the first mixed race professional footballer, an extremely talented man who played for Tottenham Hotspur and then Northampton Town. The play has been written by a local resident and will be performed on Friday 23rd, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th of November, sponsored by the Royal British Legion, University of Buckingham and the Arts Centre. Tickets are available from the Tourist Information Centre, Old Gaol, Buckingham.
Our Summer Newsletter is now available to view and download
It is also available as an audio version:
The Council has recently carried out a survey as part of the process in writing a Management Plan for Bourton Park. The Council wanted to understand how and what the community values in Bourton Park and what peoples’ suggestions were for the future of the popular greenspace. The consultation was created online and advertised for three weeks via social media. A link to the summary report can be found here.
Our Spring Newsletter is now available to view and download
It is also available as an audio version