The local issues that need sorting!

I lived in Maids Moreton from 2007 to 2019 and then moved into near the centre of Buckingham just over two years ago. In the 13+ years I have lived around here, I have become aware of many of the local bugbears and matters that persist in affecting the lives of many if not all of us in these parts. Here is a list of those issues that I would endeavour to resolve with community support and public ingenuity. 

• Local flooding: Buckingham, Leckhampstead and Thornborough suffer badly with this and what was once meant to be one in a hundred year problems now seem to far (far) more frequent. A review is under way of what happened over Christmas 2020. I can promise that I will not let this matter go without a proper and thorough analysis of the causes and a deep investigation into what can be done in the future. For example I have learnt recently that some storm drains in Page Hill could be diverted so that less water ends up overloading the systems in Linden Village. And we need to be looking into measures to slow up water flow in the streams feeding the Great Ouse.
• The potholes and road quality generally: we all know how bad this can get on our local roads. It is also notable how the A413 and A422 improve as they cross the border into Northamptonshire! We need more rigorous measurement of 'road health' and we need much more attention to putting in place long term improvements in the road surfaces.
• Parking in Buckingham: Where do I start?! Now that we have one Council looking after both off street and on street parking there is an opportunity to formulate a proper plan for parking into the future. I think we have a real opportunity to think boldly and creatively to join up the dots better. And we need to sort out the parking in front of the Old Town Hall... 
• Planning gain: When new homes are built there is an opportunity to negotiate with the developers to install what are called 'section 106' (s106) investments that improve the local area. These might include new roads, new paths, new play areas, as well as social and affordable housing. Every development is different but I can tell you now, I would not have let the Moreton Road development happen with out a proper pathway between the new estate and the bus stop! I would have made sure that the new residents of the Tingewick Road development had a safe way to cross the road onto the only pavement into town! 
• Double taxation: Some years ago, AVDC (as was) discovered a neat trick to save themselves money: allow developers to build new houses and 'tax' the new home owners with a service charge to pay for children's playgrounds, estate maintenance and other services that people in older homes get as part of their council tax. Meanwhile, AVDC and now Buckinghamshire Council get to have their full council tax with fewer services to provide to these new estates. Everyone is a winner... well, except for the new residents! I will stretch every sinew to ensure that any new developments in our area do not repeat this problem. I will also support local residents' associations to break free from this double taxation in every way possible. 
• Tool thefts and crime prevention: whilst this is more a police matter, I have been liaising with our MP Greg Smith about passing legislation that would require people selling online any second hand tools to include serial numbers in both the text and photos. If this happens, this should begin to make it far more difficult for the thieves to sell on the stolen gear. This idea was first mentioned by a member of the Buckingham: What Matters to You Facebook group and I forwarded the idea onto Greg. He has been enthusiastic in his response. Having worked lots with the police and justice system, I am keen to use this knowledge in assisting Buckinghamshire Council fulfil its responsibilities on crime prevention even better than they do now.  
• Youth support services: While there are some excellent charitable bodies offering entertainment and support to our youngsters, it is now time for the Buckinghamshire Council to step back into providing services directly. They should complement what we have, but we need better support for young families and we need professional outreach youth workers. I will be doing everything I can to make this happen in our villages as well as in Buckingham.  
• A new fast N/S coach service: Many of us enjoy the advantages of the X5 which travels between Oxford and Cambridge. I was struck some years ago, that we really need a similar service going north/south connecting Northampton with High Wycombe - and specifically locally Silverstone, Akeley, Buckingham, Aylesbury and beyond. With a regular service like this, the new jobs begining in Silverstone will become accessible to more people in Buckingham and Akeley. With a link down to M4 High Wycombe coach hub, it will become more easy to travel to Heathrow. This service needs to be explored and tested for viability. And I will be campaigning for that. 
• Lorries and speedsters using our road network: Akeley, Dadford, Maids Moreton and Buckingham suffer badly with large lorries using the network when perhaps they shouldn't. And there is often too much speeding as well. I will work with local people to find some solutions that can mitigate the damage to community life. I will be looking for ways to have more chicanes and lower speed limits in areas with lots of children.
• Making sure our local health and social care services are fit for purpose: Buckingham and North Bucks exists in something of a twilight zone. Many of us use health services based in MK (or via Buckingham Community Hospital) but our local health provider is the Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust operating out of Aylesbury. The now merged GP practice based in Buckingham and Steeple Claydon has been talking about a new surgery up on Lace Hill for several years now but we still await any tangible developments. What this area needs is a clear vision of the future for health and care services that fits our unique place. I will be working hard to bring this about. 

And what else matters to you...? Please let me know and I will do what I can to help

The old front door to Buckingham Community Hospital