Communities - Chalfont St Peter

Pothole problems continue

2010-02-09T17:02:59Z

ANGER over the state of the roads in Chalfont St Peter has continued after few improvements have been made to fix the pothole problems.
Drivers who use the A413 from Denham into the village and onwards have been shocked to find the fast moving road littered with the potentially deadly holes.

]]> Most of the problems started following the heavy snow which plagued the area in early January and late December last year, but while some potholes in the area have been fixed by Bucks County Council (BCC), a large amount of them still remain, especially on the busy A413.
Judi Aylett, who regularly uses the road, said: "The surface of the A413 from Chalfont St Peter and onwards is lethal, full of potholes, missing chunks of tarmac and the white lines that separate the lanes are virtually gone, meaning all that is left is a trench.
"We were told that the county council were saving money by turning the street lights off and that the money would be spent on road repairs, but that has not happened.
"They should have turned the lights back on until the repairs have been completed.
"They should hang their heads in shame after leaving such a busy road in such a state."
The road has become much worse since the snow, but many drivers say that it was in a poor state even before.
In January this year, the county council said that they would be working to fix the pothole problem as quickly as possible, and that main roads would take priority over lesser ones.
A statement said: "These repairs must be carried out as a matter of urgency. The longer we wait, the worse potholes will become. It is imperative that we get these repairs under way as quickly as possible.
"Six extra highways maintenance gangs were drafted in earlier in January, bringing the total to 15 gangs out on the roads, repairing 25 -30 potholes a day. That's around 2000 potholes repaired per week across the county."

More Nazi graffiti appears in village

2010-02-09T17:00:56Z

MORE racist graffiti has appeared in Chalfont St Peter, with another children's play area being defaced.
Last week, the Advertiser reported that the playground on Gold Hill Common had had Nazi swastikas daubed over some of the play equipment there, as well as foul language.

]]> This week, the playground in Gravel Hill by the village's community centre suffered the same fate, with more swastikas painted there.
Parents using the site were shocked at their discovery and reported the matter to the police.
In recent weeks, there have been a number of reports of the graffiti at a number of other sites in the village, prompting concerns among residents.
However, it is believed that the group responsible for the damage is coming into the village from Iver, as much of the graffiti contains a reference to the SL3 postcode, which belongs to Iver.
Police now say that they are close to catching the group following their latest activities.
Chief inspector Ian Hunter said: "We have assigned extra patrols in the area and we have done some work at the Chalfonts Community College to try and show the youngsters in the village that we take these types of incidents very seriously.
"I think this is most likely to be a case of youngsters causing trouble and not anything more sinister than that."
However, residents in the village who have seen the graffiti remain angry.
Steve Smith, who saw the vandalism at the community centre, said: "It is disgusting. Even if it is just kids, it needs to stop now, because it is getting out of control and the village is being defaced."

Feast Day preparations get under way

2010-02-05T14:41:10Z

PREPARATIONS are already under way for next year's Chalfont St Peter Feast Day.
The event, which was given a major revamp last year, is set to take place on Saturday, June 26.

]]> Last year's Feast Day proved to be a huge success, with around 6,000 people attending, nearly half the population of the village.
It was reintroduced after having not taken place the previous year, and was held on Gold Hill Common for the first time.
Attractions at the event included a free concert by an Abba tribute band at the end of the day.
This year, organisers are hoping for an even better event, with a series of displays and event, stalls, food and drink and other entertainment.
This year, the day is set to culminate in another free concert, this time by a top Queen tribute band.
Michael Day, president of the Chalfont St Peter Chamber of Commerce, one of the groups who organise the event, said: "It is anticipated that several thousand people will attend what, it is hoped, will be the event of the year.
"Any surplus profits from the day will be used to support three local chairties."
The Feast Day is a long standing tradition in Chalfont St Peter, with records of it dating back to 1229 when the right to hold an annual fair in the village was conferred by the King to the Lord of the Manor.
Stall pitches are already being booked for the event, and advertising support is being sought.
If you would like to book a pitch or to be a sponsor, call Sandra Clark at the parish church on 01753 880067, or Michael Day on 07717 295369.

Schools celebrate Ofsted success

2010-02-04T12:33:23Z

TWO schools in Chalfont St Giles joined together to celebrate glowing Ofsted reports.
Chalfont St Giles Infant School in School Lane and the Junior School in Parsonage Lane both received Outstanding Ofsted reports in recent months, so decided to hold a joint celebration.

]]> Cheryl Gillan MP spent all afternoon at the two schools to help them celebrate their success, and visited every class in both schools, talking to teachers and pupils.
She also met school council members to discuss what makes each school a success and attended an assembly at the Junior School.
After the event, she said: "What a fantastic afternoon I have spent looking at these terrific schools.
"Both schools show great leadership, from the governors, staff and of course the head teachers.
"The children are delightful and welcomed me into all their classes. There is a wonderful standard of education in Chalfont St Giles and it is great for the families in the village to know that both schools have been recognised so highly in their Ofsted inspections."
Later on, the schools joined together in the village's Memorial Hall for a special celebration.

Schools, roads and drains threat from housing plans

2010-02-04T09:01:03Z

FEARS about the effects of building 2,900 houses in the Chiltern District could have on Chalfont St Peter's infrastructure have been raised.
Chiltern District councillors spoke about possible consequences new homes would have on schools, highways and drains in the area at a cabinet meeting to discuss the proposals.
CDC was required by central government to name sites where housing could be built in a 20 year period and have released a report to address the issue.

]]> Deputy leader of the council, Linda Smith, who represents Chalfont Common, said the council was having to make decisions on the issue both hands tied around its back'. She said: "No one is suggesting we don't want any new dwellings in our village but everyone who has written is worried the existing infrastructure can't cope. I've met with all our schools in Chalfont St Peter and they have stated they are already full and turning children away. They've explained it would not just be adding one extra classroom, but one for every year in the schools."
She expressed concern for the former Holy Cross Convent site. She added: "It's the most historic site in the village. I would like to invite the officers to look again at this site and to support English Heritage's application to protect it."
A total of 400 houses are proposed for Chalfont St Peter in the new version of the document - a reduction of 120, although 70 have already either been built or received planning permission.
Cllr Smith also called for the Newlands Park site, where an additional 200 homes are proposed to be built, to be included in the allocation of housing for Chalfont St Peter village and for it not to be a separate issue.
Councillors decided the public should be given their say on the proposals and agreed to a six-week consultation, costing £20,000, which is expected to be launched next month.
John Warder, leader of the council, said about the district: "Over the last ten years we have built an average of 157 dwellings per year. The target of 145 dwellings per year should be well within reach."
He said not to have a plan in place would leave the council vulnerable at planning appeals. He added: "Without a core strategy, we would be in a very perilous position." He also said that all new homes will be subject to the normal planning application procedure.
Do you think we should plan for extra homes? Leave a comment below.

Chiltern 7p a week rise in council tax

2010-02-03T17:04:57Z

HOUSEHOLDERS are set to face a 2.5 per cent increase in their council tax bill.
The average Band D property owner will pay £159.50 to the district council, up from £155.61, in the next financial year - equivalent to an increase of 7p a week.
Chiltern District Council's cabinet approved the rise at its meeting yesterday.

Car park charges set to increase

2010-02-03T16:11:41Z

MOTORISTS will have to pay more for leaving their cars in council car parks as charges are set to increase.
Plans include charging more for the cost of one hour stays - from 50p to 60p. The cost of leaving a vehcile for two-hours will go up by 20p to £1.20, Chiltern District Council's Cabinet agreed yesterday. An 'upto three hours' band will also be introduced at the Civic Centre Car Park, in Amersham.
The changes to the tariffs at car parks controlled by Chiltern District Council, are due to take effect from April 1.
They would make an estimated additional £130,000 for the council, according to a report.
However a proposal to introduce a half an hour tariff, as seen in car parks in South Bucks district, was thrown out at the meeting.
The issue will come before the full council later this month.

Racist solgans daubed on children's play area

2010-02-03T10:25:04Z

A CHILDREN'S playground has been defaced by racist vandals.
The play area on Gold Hill Common was vandalised over the weekend, with racist graffiti including swastikas spray painted there.

]]> The graffiti appeared between Friday and Saturday, and was cleared by the parish council on Monday afternoon, but many children and their parents were still exposed to it.
Jenny Lewis, 34, a mother-of-two, went to the playground with her young children on Sunday morning.
She said: "I quite often take the children there at the weekend and they absolutely love it. When we got there on Sunday morning I was appalled to see what had been written there.
"There were Nazi logos and all sorts of foul and abusive language. It was disgusting.
"Most of it was written on the floor but there was some on the rocking horse and in other places.
"It made me feel sick. The children are too young to know what it all meant, which was lucky, but I took them straight home. I didn't want them looking at it and asking me questions abut it.
"I couldn't believe what had happened. What sort of sick idiots would do something like that to an area designed for the enjoyment of children."
There were also reports of racist language sprayed in other areas of Chalfont St Peter on the same night, including part of the St Peter's precinct development at the bottom of the village.
A police statement said: "Graffiti, some of which was of a racist nature, was spray panted on walls and benches and children's play equipment at Gold Hill Common, the Community Centre and on telephone junction boxes.
"This is part of an emerging pattern in the area and police are appealing for help in identifying the offenders."
If you have any information on the incident, contact the police on 0845 8 505 505, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Gillan to discuss housing threat with villagers

2010-02-03T10:23:29Z

A special meeting is set to take place in Chalfont St Peter next week to discuss the threat of housing in the village.
Cheryl Gillan MP will attend the meeting to talk to residents about their views on the subject and the possible development of the Holy Cross site.
The meeting will take place at the Chalfonts Community College at 10.30am on Saturday, February 13.

Tragic children's author has first book published

2010-02-03T10:21:36Z

AN AUTHOR from Chalfont St Giles who died suddenly last year has had her first novel published.
Katie Roy, unexpectedly died in February 2009, after collapsing at her home in the village.

]]> She had worked as a TV reporter for the British Forces Broadcasting Service, based in Chalfont St Peter, for a number of years.
However, she had a talent for writing from a young age, and the novel, which is called Tassie and the Black Baron, was her first attempt at being a published author.
Having worked for BFBS following British troops around the globe, reporting on wars, as well as earthquake and flood disasters, Katie decided that she would try her hand at writing a children's book.
Before her unexpected death last year, she had finished Tassie and the Black Baron and was in the process of writing a sequel.
The book tells the story of Tassie Ripley, who travels back in time to save an unworldly prince who has been challenged to a duel by the evil Black Baron.
Now that the book has been published Edgmont, the publishers, have decided that the 10 per cent of the profits from the sales of the novel will go to the Help for Heroes charity, in recognition of Katie's work for BFBS and her passionate support of the services.

Man attacked by snowball throwing youths

2010-02-03T10:20:09Z

A MAN was kicked and headbutted in front of his own family by a gang of snowball throwing youths in Chalfont St Peter.
The incident happened in Gold Hill Common last month during the heavy snowfall, and police are appealing for witnesses into the crime.

]]> On Wednesday, January 6, the man was driving along the street when he was forced to stop due to a large amount of snowballs being placed in the middle of the road by a gang of youths.
He got out of the car, which was also occupied by his wife and young child, and asked the group to move their snowballs.
As he spoke to them, they began throwing snow at him, and he was forced to take cover, telling them that his wife and child were in the car.
However, he was then headbutted and kicked while on the ground, sustaining minor injuries.
Investigations to identify the group have so far proved unsuccessful, so officers are now appealing for any witnesses to the attack.
If you know anything about the incident, call PC Gavin McVeigh at Amersham police station on 0845 8 505 505, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Bucks fire service comes out on top of survey

2010-02-01T11:53:06Z

THE fire service in Buckinghamshire has come out on top of a survey measuring how well fire fighters perform at emergency incidents.
The survey was conducted last year and involved a total of 37 fire and rescue services across the UK.

]]> The poll asked more than 200 people in Bucks and Milton Keynes who had been forced to call out the fire service to give their views.
It was split into three categories, which dealt with how the fire fighters dealt with the situation upon first arrival, how they reacted at the scene and the quality of the information and advice that they gave out following the incident.
Fire fighters were ranked on speed of response, how polite, helpful, efficient, reassuring, informative and sensitive they were and whether they kept the effect of the incident to a minimum.
Bucks Fire and Rescue Service scored a perfect 100 per cent in one category, and an overall satisfaction score of 99 per cent, putting it in first place.
Denis O'Driscoll, area manager for the service, said: "All the brigades taking part scored highly, reflecting the high standards and professionalism of fire and rescue services throughout the UK.
"This makes our own achievement even more impressive and I am immensely proud of the station based staff who have earned this accolade.
"The fact that this is the view of the community that we serve show that the quality service we always aim to provide is really appreciated by them.
"While this is clearly very pleasing, we are in no way complacent and want to ensure that we can maintain or even improve on this overall performance in the future."

Chalfont St Giles shown on BBC sitcom

2010-02-01T11:50:06Z

VILLAGERS in Chalfont St Giles were shocked to see the area appearing on a BBC comedy.
The BBC One show Rock and Chips, which details the early life of Del Boy Trotter from the hit 1980s sitcom Only Fools and Horses, was partly filmed in the village.

]]> Chalfont St Giles High Street appeared in certain shots, despite the programme being primarily set in Peckham in London.
The show told the story of Del Boy, who was played in this version by James Buckley, and his early days before the birth of his brother Rodney.
Sidney Warwick, 75, who watched the show, said: "I couldn't believe it when I saw the village being featured in the programme.
"I wasn't expecting it all, as Only Fools and Horses is obviously set in central London, but the village was doubling as a rural area.
"I had no idea that the programme had been filmed in the village. I didn't hear anything about it at the time, but it was nice to see it appearing on the television."
Chalfont St Giles has a rich history of classic comedies being filmed there.
In the 1970s, the village doubled as Walmington-On-Sea for the filming of the Dad's Army film.
Many of the shops featured in the film still exist in the village today.

Rotary club help out Haiti

2010-02-01T11:47:55Z

A ROTARY club has dug deep to make a big effort to raise money for those effected by the Haiti earthquake disaster.
The Rotary Club of Gerrards Cross and Chalfont St Peter, has managed to raise £2,500 to assist the victims of the devastating quake.

]]> The money will be used to send five specially designed packs to the country.
The boxes, which are being send with the Shelter Box charity, contain a complete survival kit for up to 10 people for six months, and are being sent as part of a nationwide campaign among rotary clubs to send the equipment to the country.
Jim Patterson, president of the club, said; "Because all Rotarians are volunteers there are no staffing, administrative or marketing costs.
"That means that all the money generously donated by local residents and Rotarians goes directly and in full to the cause."
Shelter boxes from rotary clubs in the UK are transported free of charge to Miami, Florida, in the USA by Virgin Atlantic.
They then connect with specialist relief flights to Haiti.
Lasse Petersen, the team manager for the shelter box project in Haiti, said: "Port au Prince is overflowing with encampments of people sleeping without basic shelter.
"The demand remains enormous, but with the help of our donors, Shelter Box has flown five aircraft and more than 2,000 Shelter Boxes to aid those left homeless by the quake.
"In the hospitals, orphanages and local communities we are making a difference and thousands of more boxes are en route."

Chalfont St Peter appears on Street View

2010-01-29T12:06:06Z

PARTS of Chalfont St Peter have started to appear on Google Street View.
Areas of the Chalfont Common side of the village have started to appear on the internet site, which allows viewers to look at up to date photographs of the village.

]]> The site works by Google sending cars out to take pictures of different areas, which then appear on the internet site.
Google Street View first started in 2007 in the UK and was predominately used in major cities like London and Manchester, but gradually it has progressed to include smaller towns and now villages.
Last year, it was reported that villagers in Broughton in Buckinghamshire had formed a human barrier to stop a Google car from entering their village because of their fears over privacy.
Simon Jacobs, 42, said: "I was messing around on Google Street View the other day and I found that the Chalfont Common area has now been included.
"This is the first time I have ever noticed this. I think before, the area was deemed too rural but now Google seem to be expanding the areas include in Street View, and it looks like now they have come to Chalfont St Peter.
"It is only a small area of the village that has appeared on the site, but it will no doubt soon feature the entire area.
"It will be interesting to see what people's views on this area as the Google cars become more prominent.
"I personally don't mind it and I think it is relatively harmless, but there will no doubt be a lot of people who are concerned about their privacy and won't want to appear on the internet."
What do you think about Google Street View coming to Chalfont St Peter?
Call reporter Jack Abell on 07795 953387, or email jackabell@trinitysouth.co.uk