Annual Parish Meeting

This was the first Parish Meeting that your reporter has been to, but it will not be the last.  One hour long, but with lots to say.

Last year's Chairman gave a 'masterly' presentation which thanked many people.  Until the thanks were given, it was easy to overlook the work that goes on behind the scenes by a great many people - almost all of whom are unpaid.

He reviewed the work of the council over the last year and the impression given was that it takes a lot of work to get the facts to present considered views to the level two (Wycombe District) authority, for them to do just what they were planning to do before the 'consultation'.  Yet we have to have a parish council otherwise the day of central control will become that much nearer.

His opinion of central government seemed to accurately reflect the views of those present, which was quite refreshing to hear it said in public.  If anybody believes in the integrity of Members of Parliament, perhaps they could contact me with their reasons for thinking this way.... but more on that subject later.

He did make one excellent observation, which was that 'if government does not listen to the strong views of the population, then the population's view of the government will become sceptical and that scepticism, if not addressed, will become cynicism, which is where we are with our views on the present government'.  (Although I have used quotes, the wording is not a direct quote of what he said, but gives the flavour.)  If anybody disagrees with this analysis and conclusion, then do write in.  I won't hold my breath as I have not yet met anybody not sharing this view.

The eponimous 'Four Ashes' had been planted during the year at the burial ground, although two have since died.  A member of the audience, a botanist, explained that ash trees come in two distinct sexes - male and female -  and that the male is a stronger tree.  Now there is something you didn't know!  So there are plans to replace the two dead trees.  They need space to grow, but apparently the configuration they currently have is to be maintained as it meets the satisfaction of residents and council, so why fix it if it ain't broke?  Perhaps the new trees will be male for strength as we don't need to run the risk of it becoming 'Five Ashes'!

It was a thoroughly engaging review and showed that we will regret his departure from the Parish Council.

So we then moved on to the accounts.  One comment relating to a slight obscurity in the presentation of assets and liablities was raised and noted for presentation of the accounts in the future.  Not bad from a member of the public who had seen the accounts only a few minutes earlier.  But just in case you wonder about the accounts - these balanced perfectly first time -and have never been questioned by the auditors in over thirteen years - so the numbers are fine but the presentation of one part could be imporved.

The rate of inflation was raised.  The Parish precept (the cost of the Parish Council) has been rising faster than any other parish in the area apparently, so the Clerk and the Chairman of the meeting explained that the council now has more land than ever before, which needs maintenance, has adopted maintenance of the playgrounds in the area and has given more grants to village halls in the area, to name but a few.  More work costs more.

Now before anybody writes in to question my use of the word 'chairman' to describe a woman, as our chariman was last night, I merely point out that the origin of the word has nothing to do with sex, but derives from the Lation word manus, which is 'hand'.  The chairman was the person who made things happen.  Nothing to do with the feminist hijacking of any word where the three letters m.a.n. are present.  So on this website, it will be 'chairman' as recognition of a position and not a sex.

To continue....

We lost the Parish Warden during the year and the Council is now looking at a number of ways to get the work done.  this might be by appointing a new Parish Warden or contracting out the work, or getting it done some other cost-effective way.

I've set out a few topics separately below as they are slightly contentious and were covered at various points during the meeting.

Speed Limit

The parish council was instrumental in getting the 30 mph speed limit imposed on the village.  Our County Council/District Council representative explained how to a pedestrian, 30 mph is a speed that threatens life and limb, whereas to a motorist, 30 mph is a speed somewhat slower than a snail travels.  As a pedestrian and motorist, I concur with this view and would urge any motorist who rarely walks, to leave the car and walk the length of the valley and back when there is some traffic.  It will alter their perspective.  I know - I used to think that the speed limit was a threat to my personal liberty, but now realise that we need to slow down when we see a pedestrian - out of politeness if nothing else.  But of course, those who don't care about others, will continue to break the speed limit when there are pedestrians and children around.

One final note on the subject from this author is ... if you don't stop in time and you do cause injury or death to anybody, you will never live it down for the rest of your life.  And if you are young, that is a long time indeed.  As the village is somewhat less than a mile long, the difference in time saved between 60 mph (reckless) and 30mph (cautious) is probably half a minute.  It is not worth it.

Lighting

The County Council is going to turn off the lighting along the Valley Road from High Wycombe to Coombe Lane.  This is against the views of the Parish Council and residents.  It is a cost saving measure with a supposed 'green' element to make it sound holy.  If anybody would like to use the Freedom of Information Act to find out how many '5 a Day Outreach Co-ordinators' and the like are employed by the County and District Councils, then the answer might lie in the response.  So much for democracy.

Zebra Crossing

We need one, but do we need it where it is?  This was the question last night.

We were assured that it is used by children on their way from Coombe Lane to Kingshill School, yet a member of the audience said that the crocodile leaves from the bus shelter because 'it has to start from a place where there is shelter from the rain'.  As this means a U turn for school children, it is most likely that they dodge the speeding traffic and join the crocodile at the shelter by the shortest route.

Can the crossing be placed anywhere else?  Not really as you cannot have it where it interferes with house driveways, which would place it some way down the Valley Road. 

So there we are.  We need one, but not where it is and nowhere else will do.  Now if only motorists would always drive slowly when there are pedestrians around..........

If you have read this far, I'd like to introduce a game for us to play.  It's called 'Spot the Pedestrian on the PedestrianCrossing'.  The title spoils the fun a bit, but if you and any of your friends either use, or see anybody using, the pedestrian crossing, please contact me with date, time and numbers of people on the corssing.  I won't hold my breath!

So there we are - all this and more besides covered in one hour flat.  And wine an nibbles to follow.  Definitely a good night out.  And it lets you realise that we have some pretty smart cookies in this area and that some of them are on the Parish Council.  At least democracy is alive in the Parish, if not higher up the chain.