Clerk’s CornerBy Viv Robins, Clerk to The Lee Parish Council
I make no apology for returning yet again to the subject of pot-holes. You may have read in the press that Bucks County Council are making an extra £2m available for tackling them, in recognition of the huge problem they have become county-wide. The problem is that the money has obviously to be divided up between all the districts and parishes, and on the tried and tested principle that he who shouts loudest gets the best results Cllr Usborne and I took to the roads of The Lee a few days after the announcement and logged all the pot-holes that needed attention. Well I say “all”, but after the first 20 or so my levels of concentration began to dip and I lost the will to keep writing.
Suffice it to say that there is barely a road in the Parish without a pot-hole that needs fixing, with Potter Row and Leather Lane probably the worst of the roads that are regularly used (though I’m sure many of you would want to add other names). The unofficial and uncoveted award for the worst road of the lot would have to go I think to King’s Lane, but to be honest Bucks CC are likely to argue that it is not really a through route and therefore not so deserving of limited funds, though the people who live on it may beg to disagree! If anyone wants to see the full list that I sent to Bucks County Council just get in touch. I have been assured that it has been passed to the Area Technician who will act on it!!
Goodbye to PCSO LesMany of you will have seen Police Community Support Officer Les Roche around the Parish over the past year or so – among other things I gather she was quite a regular at the Shop! Anyway sadly she has moved on now to the Chesham West district, but she is being replaced by PCSO Andy Piotrowski, who can be contacted on the usual police number for non-emergencies of 0845 8 505 505. PCSO Victoria Cooper is remaining in the area along with PC Kevin Flint, under the leadership of Sgt Melvin Mutch. Les says she wants to thank everyone for the support they gave her during her time in the rural Chesham area.
No to anti-social behaviour
At the beginning of February Thames Valley Police and Chiltern District Council launched a campaign aimed at curbing anti-social behaviour across the Chilterns. (In fact they didn’t just launch it – they rolled it out!) Police officers and CDC’s community safety team are calling at homes across the area to explain their high visibilitypresence and to talk to residents about their concerns.
Chief Inspector Ian Hunter, Commander for Chiltern Local Police Area, said: “The operations will continue throughout the district in February and March with the Mounted Section lending support and show our significant investment in ensuring anti-social behaviour is tackled and not tolerated.”
Keep car crime down
In another new police initiative motorists in Chiltern District who leave valuables on display are being sent letters warning that their vehicles are at risk from thieves. The police warn that simply hiding items isn’t enough: the first place they will look for your sat-nav apparently is in the glove box or under the seat.
It is also important to lock your car once the valuables have been removed, even if it’s being left outside your home. During the last three months of 2009 62% of vehicles that had items stolen in the Chiltern area were unlocked.