COUNCILLOR RAISES LORRY ISSUES. Writing in local newsletter, The Ivinghoe Beacon, local county and district councillor Avril Davies said Bucks County Council needed enough evidence to limit and enforce vehicle movements by Cairns Skips and Camiers - two waste transfer companies operating from Marsworth Airfield North - to the scale already agreed.
The two firms have submitted applications to increase these movements to a total of 208 a day, and these are opposed by Campaign Against Lorry Menace (CALM!), which has backing across 11 local villages.
"The planners have to balance the rights o
f the applicants and the interests of those employed on the site with the amenity of nearby residents," said Cllr Davies. She believes the council needs to address a number of questions to get the balance right in a way that will stand up to appeal:
Firstly, can the existing restrictions on movements be maintained and enforced and, if not, "what conditions could be put in place to improve enforcement?"
Secondly, given that waste vehicles over a certain size accessing the airfield may not go through Cheddington, Mentmore of Long Marston, "does this put an unfair burden on Ivinghoe, Pitstone, Horton and Northall" and "show that the whole road network is unsuitable and the site is effectively landlocked?
And thirdly, the applicants have suggested that waste could be brought in from Hemel Hempstead and High Wycombe - "Construction waste should be disposed of locally. How far away is local?" Cllr Davies suggested that, with Quarry Two at Pitstone having permission (but not a licence) for similar operations, there was already adequate capacity for local waste.
"Those two towns (High Wycombe and Hemel Hempstead) should have their own facilities and not export waste to Aylesbury Vale." She called for a time limit on signing off the legal agreement on the conditions under which Cairns were given retrospective approval back in January for the re-siting of buildings and operation of recycling equipment. "The operators have continued to run for ten months without complying with the new conditions. We can all see and hear the traffic, but equally important are the other detrimental environmental effects which still continue, away from public view, unmitigated by any conditions."
REFUSE COLLECTION. Local district councillor Avril Davies has highlighted Aylesbury Vale District Council's poor position at the bottom of the recycling league tables and apparent confusion over its plans to extend alternate weekly collections of household waste and garden waste and other recycling to the whole of the district.
The alternate weeks scheme currently operates only in Winslow and Buckingham. Cllr Davies blames the council's lowly position on "poor planning and lack of interest", but is especially concerned about the situation on food waste, which she says will not be able to be put in both collections.
"Because AVDC had not developed the composting facilities that can legally take cooked food waste along with garden waste and cardboard, the only option for food waste is for it to be sent to landfill." She said she had received three different answers from different members of the cabinet to her questions to Council on the issue.
"One said that weekly collections will continue, but not specifically weekly collections of food waste. Another confirmed the alternate weekly collections as announced. The latest one this week specifically promised composting facilities that will enable weekly collection of food waste." Cllr Davies said she was presenting a motion to council on the subject. "I hope to achieve a U-turn in the policies before it is too late."
CRIB FESTIVAL: St Mary's Church, Ivinghoe with Pitstone, launches its Festival of the Crib on Saturday December 1, when local clubs and societies will be filling the church with Nativity scenes. They will be on display until Thursday December 6. Vicar Tracey Doyle will be blessing the cribs and officially opening the festival at the Sunday Service on December 2.
CAN YOU HELP WITH MARKET MARQUEES? Volunteers are being sought to help put up and/or take down marquees for St Mary's Church, Ivinghoe with Pitstone's Christmas Market on Saturday December 8. The event takes place on Ivinghoe Lawn and in the Old School, Ivinghoe from 11am to 3pm and attractions will include cakes, games, raffle, crafts, toys, presents, tombola, books, CDs, plants and more.
Programmes are available for 20p and include a picture to colour, with a prize for the best one, posted in the box by the church on December 8.
BELL QUIZ: The Bell Inn, Ivinghoe, is holding a quiz on Friday November 23. All proceeds will be donated to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Quiz entry is £1 per person, and last orders for bar food will be taken at 8.30pm when the first questions will be asked. The evening includes a raffle.
