Environment and flooding is top of the agenda at Aylesbury Vale, Buckingham & Villages Community Board meeting

The online meeting gave residents and local interested groups the opportunity to find out what the board has been working on in recent months.

Experts from the Environment Agency and Buckinghamshire Council’s Flood Team addressed the meeting to update on recent events when many areas and villages covered by the board were affected by flooding.

The meeting heard in more detail about the causes of the flooding just before Christmas.

The month of December saw twice the average monthly rainfall and the Great Ouse river reached nearly record levels.

The flooding led to 11 local road closures and up to 90 properties across the board area were affected by flooding. The speakers gave details of what is now going on to address the issues and will engage with local groups and residents as part of this work.

Two projects were awarded funding after agreement by board member at the meeting. The first was for £2,700 for Maids Moreton Parish Council and Maids Moreton Conservation Group to carry out bramble clearance and tree planting around the local playing field. The newly cleared area will create more space for sports spectators and the new trees will provide wider and better biodiversity for the area.

The second group to successfully gain funding was The Buckingham Society who applied for £2,200 to install a new information board at the former Buckingham Railway Station. The board would be similar to others placed at sites of special interest and will tell the story of the railway in Buckingham, an important part of the town’s history. Over time the Buckingham Society hopes to erect similar information boards in other sites of interest around the town.

Due to the in-depth discussions on flooding, representatives from each of the sub-groups were unable to give their usual verbal updates. Instead anyone interested in the work of any of the sub-groups is invited to attend the next meetings (dates below). Email the board coordinator for more information: [email protected]

Buckingham & Villages Community Board has sub-groups focusing on the following areas:

Road safety & cycleways - next meeting Tuesday 2 March

Youth engagement - next meeting TBC

Green spaces and community - next meeting Tuesday 9 March

Covid-19 support & economic recovery - next meeting Wednesday 3 March

HS2/East West Rail - next meeting Monday 1 March

Charlie Clare, Chairman of the Buckingham & Villages Community Board said: “One of the primary aims of community boards is to drill down and deal with matters that concern people on a really local level. We have been working with partners to address a range of issues and topics in recent months. One of these issues is flooding which we know is a matter of great concern to many residents and businesses. We are always keen to hear the views of local people and would urge anyone who is passionate about their local community to get involved.”

Buckingham & Villages Community Board is one of 16 boards across the Buckinghamshire Council area. Their aim is to help the council respond to local needs by working in partnership with residents, town and parish councils, community groups, police and healthcare organisations.

To find out more about Buckingham & Villages Community Board find them on Facebook. You can find general information on community boards on the council website – www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/community-boards You can watch a recording of the recent Buckingham & Villages Community Board meeting online: https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z73UDC40EFA