Stokenchurch
Parish Council
Stokenchurch and Radnage Community Action Forum
Please note that Stokenchurch Parish Council, whilst supporting the work of the Community Action Forum, have given this space to them but do not necessarily subscribe to the views and comments listed below.
The Stokenchurch and Radnage Community Action Forum (SRCAF) was formed in 2002. Its objective was to act as a pressure group in getting the Stokenchurch and Radnage Parish Councils, Wycombe District Council, Bucks County Council and other agencies to support and enhance living and working in the two parish communities.
At its peak the group had around forty members but this has now fallen to a handful of people who meet quarterly. SRCAF has produced two reports - 'A Village Plan' (2003) and 'Village Survey' (2007). The 2007 'Village Survey' can be read by clicking here.
In the 2007 survey an action plan was included to provide a yardstick to measure progress and responses. This is shown below. Both Parish Councils accepted the results of the survey. Further news will be added to this page in due course.
| ONGOING / SHORT TERM ACTIONS | |
| S1 | Preserve and enhance village activities that contribute to a sense of community. |
| S2 | Support and encourage existing village facilities that are valued by the community. |
| S3 | Clarify the existing use of the Community Centre and publicise its current activities. |
| S4 | Encourage and develop more sporting and leisure facilities in the area. |
| S5 | Encourage a wider range of shops and produce on offer in the area. |
| S6 | Review and, if necessary, improve play areas. In particular review facilities for older children. |
| S7 | Form a group with representatives from the parish and district councils and from our younger people to see what can be done to provide better facilities for the children and youths of our villages. |
| S8 | The Neighbourhood Action Group and the police should take account of priorities and visibility concerns. |
| S9 | Parish Councils should review the structure of meetings and how they communicate with parishioners. |
| S10 | Protect the countryside and green spaces by using every means available. |
| S11 | Support the objectives and activities of the M40 Chilterns Environmental Group. |
| S12 | The public should be encouraged to show vigilance and readiness to report fly tipping incidents. |
| S13 | Wycombe District Council should provide an effective response to fly tipping incidents. |
| S14 | Bucks County Council should review restrictions at the Booker and Bledlow Ridge disposal sites. |
| S15 | Monitor the Mudds Bank recycling site and report any drop in standards to Wycombe District Council. |
| S16 | Monitor and enforce the recently revised speed limits. |
| S17 | Ensure that all school travel plans address the parking problems caused at ‘school run’ time. |
| S18 | Parish Councils should introduce a good neighbour campaign to reduce the impact of pavement parking. |
| S19 | Publicise and encourage use of ‘Highways On Call’ to help improve road and pavement maintenance. |
| S20 | Monitor bus service performance and encourage reporting of good and bad experiences. |
| S21 | Maintain dialogue with those funding and operating the bus services. |
| S22 | Ensure the transport needs of Radnage and other rural areas are publicised and addressed. |
| MEDIUM / LONGER TERM ACTIONS | |
| L1 | Explore the possibility of a community shop in both Studley Green and in Radnage. |
| L2 | Ensure that the future of the Slade Road site is compatible with the survey results. |
| L3 | Expand Parish Council websites to include more village information. |
| L4 | Set up village environment groups to carry out miscellaneous environmental projects. |
| L5 | Extend Stokenchurch kerbside collection regime to other areas. |
| L6 | Periodically review and update the action plan. |
News and Updates
ANNUAL REPORT
The AGM of the Stokenchurch Community Action Forum was held on 11th July 2011. Details of the Chairman's Annual report are given below.
At our AGM a year ago we discussed whether the Community Action Forum had outlived its usefulness. We were diminished in size, had not conducted a survey for three years or so and were working on a limited range of projects. At that time we had just had the results of the general election and were being promised much more control over our own environment - we agreed to keep the group together and see how things developed.
Twelve months on and we are still in the same position. The Localism Bill has been produced, but it is just that and likely to change further before it becomes the law of the land. Apart from anything else, it is still not clear (at least to me) what local means. It follows that we should continue to carry that watching brief for a further twelve months.
There are however local issues in which we have been involved. Tomorrow (12th July) there is a meeting to try and progress whether the community can take over the running of our local library. We have attended all the meetings to date and will continue to take an active interest.
Mike Chadwick has been very closely involved in putting together a schedule that enabled Stokenchurch and Lane End to keep at least a vestige of an evening and Sunday bus service. This is something that the Community Action Forum fought long and hard for in its formative years.
Nigel Entwistle has been working hard to put together a management committee for the Stokenchurch Youth Club. This was threatened with closure over an accounting nicety within Bucks County Council, but thanks to a lot of goodwill it now looks as if it will survive at least for another year.
We have also continued to help the Parish Council maintain the village website. This is a vital tool in communicating with people who live or work in the village. During the past year the number of hits on the website has been steadily rising, a true measure of success. In addition we help the Parish Council to compile a fortnightly digest of the main news from the website which is produced in hard copy and put on the six Parish notice boards. The target readership here is those without internet access.
When the Community Action Forum was formed it was as part of a District-wide initiative of community engagement, which was based on District Council ward areas. Consequently we were the Stokenchurch and Radnage Community Action Forum, even though the two parishes are very different with very different issues.
With different community engagement structures now in place, and with an eye to the future where it is anticipated that neighbourhood planning will be based on single parishes, we have decided to focus just on Stokenchurch parish as the Stokenchurch Community Action Forum. This change has been discussed with Radnage Parish Council and they agree it makes sense; it is also the case that all of our active members now live in Stokenchurch.
We routinely send Radnage Parish Council the fortnightly digest to keep them informed, and will continue to do so. They can also, of course, check the Parish Council website on a regular basis. The proposed revisions to our constitution, to be considered at the AGM and previously circulated, include this change to our area of coverage, as well as a number of other adjustments and updating.
Last Edited: 11th October 2011
HAVE YOU ANY SPARE TIME FROM MARCH 2012?
If you find that as of March 2012 you have some spare time then please contact Steve Jones on telephone no. on 01494-483716 to help with tidying up The Marlow Road Cemetery. You may only be required perhaps once or twice a month but if interested then please call!
Last Edited: 6th January 2012
HELP HELEN HOUSE
A Spring Craft Fayre is being held at the Kings Hotel this Saturday - 26th February - between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. The fayre is in support of Helen and Douglas House Children's Hospice.
There will be lots of stalls with work from local crafters - art work, baby knits, bags, jewellery and lots more. It will perfect for finding gift ideas for Mothers' Day and for Easter.
Please give this very worthy charity your support.
Last Edited: 22nd February 2012