TAPLOW PARISH COUNCIL (original) (raw)

Taplow Parish Council is your first tier of local government. Our website provides information on Parish Council responsibilities and activities, together with many other matters affecting Taplow – local news and information on other responsible bodies that affect life in Taplow.

We aim to update this website on a weekly basis. If you have any information, for example about a forthcoming event or an important issue in the village which you think we should add, please contact us

Our website now includes a facility to sign up for a monthly email news service

TAPLOW NEWS

“Taplow New Town”

12th January Councillors Walsh and Worthington were interviewed by the i newspaper who broke the initial story.

We are sure by now that most of you will be aware of a paper that includes a suggested new town development within Taplow. The paper has been produced by a “think tank” that specialises in promoting New Town research.
(New Towns for a New Generation – UK Day One)

We are co-operating with Dorney and Burnham Parish Council and will react to any future proposals that may be put forward as a result of this research

Joy Morrissey MP has offered to make a written representation to the government, on our behalf, opposing any unviable proposals that may be put forward. Just to be clear, there have been no proposals from government or developers at this time to initiate the suggestions put forward.
Taplow Parish Council is currently studying and evaluating the research and we will be carefully monitoring any progression and we will keep you informed of any updates

TIDY UP TAPLOW – Next event is 22nd March – Please get in touch for more information on this event organised by Taplow Parish Council and the Hitcham & Taplow Society – ALL WELCOME

2026-27 Admissions Policy – St Nicolas’ School Taplow – Consultation

We would like to welcome two new Parish Councillors – Lunel Van-Zijl and Saty Joshi.

If you would like more information or are interested in joining the Parish Council, please email the Clerk taplow.pc@googlemail.com

Taplow Parish Council has received very positive feedback with regards to the Mobile Vehicle Activated Speed Signs around the village. These signs are proven to be one of the best speeding deterrents currently available and we were fortunate enough to have four installed through a grant from the Beeches Community Board.

St Nicolas Playgroup based at Taplow Village Hall have recently been awarded ‘good’ status following their Ofsted visit. Congratulations to the new Manager Vicky Evans and all the staff.

Parking on Approach Road – the Parish Council are very aware of the major problems with street parking outside Taplow Station since the opening of the Elizabeth Line. This is a regular discussion topic at our Parish Council meetings (open to all to attend) and we are working closely with TFL and Buckinghamshire Council for a suitable resolution to the problem. In the short term, the Parish Council has funded temporary no parking bays along Approach Road to allow for vehicles to safely pass eachother.

We would like to thank the Communities Team at Buckinghamshire Council for getting this project underway and O’Hara Bros Surfacing Ltd for their very generous provision of a road sweeper free of charge on the day the yellow lines were being painted, to stop any delay.

Taplow Parish Clerk

The Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer for Taplow is Ruth Senior. Being the Parish Council Clerk involves amongst other things making sure our meetings and decisions are taken legally, managing the day to day running of the Village Hall, the streetlighting and local public open spaces. Please feel free to pop in and introduce yourselves. The office will be open to the public (unless my duties or holiday/ sickness should mean I am out of the office) on Wednesday afternoons.

Alternatively email me taplow.pc@googlemail.com or leave a message on 01628 667311.

In an emergency please contact Cllr. Roger Worthington on 01628 773987 or 07787 556309 or Cllr. Walsh on 01628 604074/07753 857886

Next Council Meeting

Our next Parish Council meeting is at 7.30pm on Tues 21st January 2025.

Meeting Dates 2025

How to raise issues for debate at Council meetings

Taplow Parish Council prides itself on its open and inclusive meetings, conducted in a relaxed environment where members of the public are encouraged to raise issues of importance or concern. Over the years, many positive actions of the Council have been taken in direct response to matters raised by our Parishioners. Our meetings provide a useful opportunity for issues to be presented and discussed in public, and it is common for decisions to be deferred to give Councillors time to consider their position or to clarify points of ambiguity.

However, it is a matter of good governance that the Parish Council does not take decisions without proper consideration of the facts. It is standard practice that, for substantial issues to be considered by Councillors, background papers are provided by the person seeking to have a motion on the agenda.

If you would like to request any matter be debated at a council meeting in the future please contact the Parish Clerk taplow.pc@googlemail.com

Notice of public rights and publication of unaudited Annual governance and Accountability return

Any person has the right to inspect and make copies of the accounting records of the Council for the financial year ending 31st March 2024. These documents will be available by application to the Clerk.

Highways Issues

Many of our parishioners contact us regarding issues on the highways and pavements. Although we like to know where the problems are, and will always try and support our parishioners in trying to get them fixed, sadly only Bucks Council have the remit and responsibility to deal with highway issues. So if you have any concern about the state of the pavements, potholes in the road, fly tipping or drainage issues on the highways please report it directly to Buckinghamshire Council using their website ‘Fix my Street’ page. The link is below. If you are not able to do this yourself then please get in touch and we will do this for you.

Fix My Street

The situation is slightly different regarding streetlighting. Bucks Council are responsible for streetlighting on main routes such as the A4 but most of the streetlighting on village roads has been put in over the years by the Parish Council. BC’s lights tend to be a lot taller than the ones the parish council put in and any faults on those lights you would still need to report via the fix my street app above. But for most village streetlighting please contact the Clerk on taplow.pc@googlemail.com

If you have an issue regarding a public right of way you can report issues online by visiting https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/environment/public-rights-of-way/report-a-rights-of-way-issue/

Environment and Biodiversity

Naturally, the Parish Council takes environmental and biodiversity and our environmental responsibilities seriously, and we have undertaken a number of initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint in the Parish, such as introducing LED streetlights, maintaining and increasing the provision of public amenity green spaces, Councillor-led litter picking, maintaining rural public footpaths, and robustly defending local Green Belt. We are currently investigating opportunities to plant a substantial numbers of trees within the Parish and create a wildlife diversity recreation space.

Most recently we have changed our utility energy providers to a company that provides 100% renewable energy.

One of the key things to come out of a recent meeting was the adoption of a new policy on climate, nature and the environment.

Please see a copy of this policy below:-

Taplow Parish Council Policy on Climate, Nature and the Environment

A new way to tackle the issues that matter most to our community

There is a new way to tackle the issues that matter most to our community – through Buckinghamshire Council’s new Community Boards. The boards will connect local people, organisations and groups with the council to improve our local areas. Beeches Community Board covers the Burnham, Dorney, Farnham, Stoke Poges and Taplow areas and held an introductory meeting in July to start this conversation. Over the next few weeks organisers will be getting people, groups and organisations in the community involved and helping to identify our key priorities ahead of the official launch in September. Everyone is welcome – read on to find out more about what the board will do, how it will work and how you can get involved.

What is a Community Board?

Beeches Community Board will identify the themes and issues that most need to be addressed for this area and create an action plan to do this, with working groups to look at specific projects and issues. The board will:

How does it work? Partnerships created in response to Covid-19 are enabling the new Community Boards to quickly get up and running. All boards have a leader, as well as a coordinator who makes sure local people, groups and organisations feel connected with the boards and the council, ensuring information is shared and views are heard.

There will be a mixture of core meetings and working groups who will focus on a specific issue or local project. Core meetings will agree priorities, allocate funding and feed back on the plan of action. Anyone who wants to get involved won’t need to attend every session. You’ll be able to read the agendas and minutes online and can participate in the issues that you feel passionate about. You can join meetings, or take part in a specific priority or project working group. You can complete surveys, take part in polls or share your views.

Who’s in the Beeches Community Board? The chairman for Beeches is Dev Dhillon, who like all of the boards’ chairs is a member of Buckinghamshire Council.

If you’d like to get involved, email localities@buckinghamshire.gov.uk or visit www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/community-boards

Other helpful organisations

24/7 Mental Health Helpline now live for Bucks:

A new telephone helpline for mental health advice has been launched in Buckinghamshire. It will operate during the coronavirus pandemic 24 hours a day, seven days a week and temporarily replaces 111 for people who need mental health care and their situation is not life threatening.

Residents of all ages can call when they need advice about how to manage their symptoms, to find out when and where to get help and to access support from mental health professionals.

Adults: 01865 904997. Children and young people: 01865 904998

During office hours, people who already use mental health services should contact services directly using the numbers in their care plan.

When someone is seriously ill or injured, or in an acute confused state, call 999 .

People can also contact:

Their own GP

Adults Mental Health Services:

https://www.bucksmind.org.uk/services/safe-haven/

Aylesbury Safe Haven 01296 453017 (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday from 6.30pm until midnight)

Wycombe Safe Haven 01494 218098 (Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 6.30pm until midnight)

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services:

Other helplines, information and advice include:

‘See something. Say something. Do something’ Buckinghamshire Council, for reporting issues relating to adult abuse and neglect. If you are concerned about a colleague, neighbour, family member, friend or maybe a resident who you see as part of your role, please don’t ignore it. Speak out.

How to report

Online: Make a report using an online form available on the Buckinghamshire Safeguarding pages.
Telephone: Monday to Thursday 9am to 5.30pm 0800 137915
Friday 9am to 5pm 0800 137915

Community Fund

We would draw your attention to our Grants/donations policy. Upon request the Parish Council may from time to time make grants to organisations or voluntary groups for specific things within its remit and within a budget of £1,000 pa set aside for that purpose known as the Community Fund.

To be eligible, an organisation or voluntary group must have a constitution, membership rules, a bank account and keep accounts.

All grants will only be made where there is a clear benefit to the local community within the parish – for example to improve local facilities, free events to enhance community spirit or a charitable donation for services received that were of benefit to the local community in the Parish.

All applications are considered on their merits according to this policy.

The Parish Council will never make grants to:- any individual, for ongoing running costs, to political parties, to any profit making organisation, organisations raising funds to be passed upwards to a central HQ for redistribution or to any non-profit organisations to increase their funds.

The full Policy is below:-

TPC Grants policy

Police notices

Spring Garden Crime

Message In a Wallet

Ask For Angela

Shed Security

Safe Place Scheme

New Year Burglary

Neighbourhood Watch

Heathrow Consultation

Cllr. Spencer Norton writes:-

Heathrow has launched the second round of its mandatory consultation on airspace modernisation in the South East. This includes provisions for a potential third runway but is not limited to this.

The consultation basically covers the following:
1. Runway Alternation – This is which runway is used for take-off and landing. Depends on the prevailing winds which are inherently in a westerly direction approximately 70% of the year. A westerly wind means aircraft departures over Taplow. Runway Alternation is especially important for communities which have aircraft landing over them, as this gives predicted respite.
2. Noise – Covers how Heathrow can manage noise better for an expanded airport. The use of quieter aircraft should help here, although flight paths may change. The use of PBN (Precision Based Navigation) will mean aircraft tracks in the sky will be more accurate and consistent, so we should encourage the use of dispersion rather than concentration in Taplow, especially as we have two departure routes overhead currently.
3. Night flights – what times do we think is acceptable for aircraft to depart and arrival.
4. Directional Preference – the use of the easterly or westerly presence. As discussed before, aircraft have to take-off and land into wind and so we are really in the hands of the weather here.

There are no lines drawn on any maps yet, as to where new aircraft paths might be. With Maidenhead and Slough being on either side of us and Government policy to mitigate noise over built up areas, there is probably going to be little change for us.

How can residents make objections to planning applications anonymously?

Buckinghamshire Council planning department have advised:-

All comments on current planning applications are now being displayed on our website, which brings South Bucks’ processes into line with most other Councils, almost all of whom display representations.

Comments on Planning applications are public documents. This is not new and is required by planning legislation. It is stated on our letters to neighbours, in the acknowledgement letter that we send to each contributor and in several places on our website.

For many years we have supplied redacted copies of representations by email on demand when requested to by any party and, in the days before we maintained the file electronically, paper copies of representations were made available to view at the Council Offices.

We use our best endeavours to ensure that signatures, personal telephone numbers, personal email addresses and other personal data are not published but it is considered that names and addresses are necessary in order that all parties can properly understand the issues, concerns and context of specific comments in relation to any particular planning application. If an objector does not wish for their name and address to be displayed they may choose to approach yourselves (the Parish Council) or their Ward Councillors ( George Sandy) to put forward their objection. An individual’s rights and the action they can take is set out on the Council’s Privacy Notice.

It is our practice only to display representations whilst the application is under consideration (ie if it is undecided, if it is under appeal or if it is the subject of judicial review). Once the application is decided, the representations will ‘switch off’ so that they are not on public display any longer than is necessary. As we define representations as ‘background papers’ they are disposed of after 6 years, as set out in our Retention policy.

I understand that further guidance – particularly on how GDPR legislation and the Transparency agenda fit together – is due to be issued by the Planning Advisory Service ( https://www.local.gov.uk/pas ) before the end of the year and is likely to be recommending an industry standard on this matter. Once the guidance is issued we will see if/how its recommendations differ from our current practices and consider whether any changes are needed to our processes.

How do I report a pothole?

You can report potholes, as well as any other road issue, using the Report It forms on the county council website. In an emergency, for instance a severe road defect, a flooded road, or a tree in the road, you can always call Transport for Buckinghamshire on 01296 382416 or 486630 (out of hours). The online reporting tool is at https://fixmystreet.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/

How do I report a problem on a Right of Way footpath?

Click on: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/environment/countryside-and-public-rights-of-way/public-rights-of-way/ To report an issue, you will need to log in and then select the ‘Report an issue’ menu item. If it is your first time, you will need to register.

Questionnaire results
We have analysed the initial responses to the Neighbourhood Plan questionnaire and made a report at: Questionnaire responses

Old Priory Gardens

Please see our policy below on how this lovely local amenity can be used:-

TPC Public Use of OPG Policy