Wycombe District Council - Revision history

Joan at 17:25, 19 June 2025

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Joan at 17:21, 19 June 2025

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Joan at 17:20, 19 June 2025

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Joan at 18:11, 13 December 2024

2024-12-13T18:11:28Z

Joan at 16:05, 5 July 2024

2024-07-05T16:05:01Z

Joan at 16:03, 5 July 2024

2024-07-05T16:03:14Z

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Joan at 07:31, 4 July 2024

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Joan at 17:26, 26 June 2024

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Joan at 07:51, 19 June 2024

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 click [[John & Jean Gabbitas]] or more about Jean Gabbitas.
-click [[Organisations]] for others.
+click [[Organisations]] for others
 '''Wycombe District Council was formed in 1974''', when Wycombe Rural District Council, Wycombe Borough Council and Marlow Urban Council were merged.

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 click [[John & Jean Gabbitas]] or more about Jean Gabbitas.
-click [[Organisations]] for others
+click [[Organisations]] for others.
 '''Wycombe District Council was formed in 1974''', when Wycombe Rural District Council, Wycombe Borough Council and Marlow Urban Council were merged.

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:20, 19 June 2025
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	'''Wycombe District Council was formed in 1974''', when Wycombe Rural District Council, Wycombe Borough Council and Marlow Urban Council were merged.		'''Wycombe District Council was formed in 1974''', when Wycombe Rural District Council, Wycombe Borough Council and Marlow Urban Council were merged.
		+
		+	'''[[Buckinghamshire Council]] was formed in 2022,''' when the Distric and County Councils were merged.

	'''Hallmark January 1988. Bus Passes.''' By County and District Councillor Geoffrey Spear		'''Hallmark January 1988. Bus Passes.''' By County and District Councillor Geoffrey Spear

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:11, 13 December 2024
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		+	click [[Councillors Wycombe District Council]] for list
		+
	click [[John & Jean Gabbitas]] or more about Jean Gabbitas.		click [[John & Jean Gabbitas]] or more about Jean Gabbitas.

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 During recent years many have become unemployed, forced into early retirement or generally suffered from the recession and there has grown up a need for more – rented accommodation.
-Buckinghamshire Housing Association already has five cottages in Speen and one in Loosley Row for rental and so I was delighted to learn that Elizabeth Betts had decided to sell her listed cottage to the Buckinghamshire Housing Association for the use of the village.   (click Church Lane
+Buckinghamshire Housing Association already has five cottages in Speen and one in Loosley Row for rental and so I was delighted to learn that Elizabeth Betts had decided to sell her listed cottage to the Buckinghamshire Housing Association for the use of the village.   (click [[Crown Cottage]], [[Church Lane]] for more about this cottage)
 Thank you Elizabeth – I call this a Rolls-Royce gesture from a vintage lady!

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:01, 5 July 2024
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	'''Finally, I would like to mention a seminar on Rural Housing''' which I attended last year where the difficulty of providing affordable housing for the indigenous inhabitants was tackled. The most worthwhile speaker has now, due to so many enquiries, committed her advice to print – Developing Village Housing Schemes, NECC Guide. I commend this as reading to our Parish Council and all interested parties.		'''Finally, I would like to mention a seminar on Rural Housing''' which I attended last year where the difficulty of providing affordable housing for the indigenous inhabitants was tackled. The most worthwhile speaker has now, due to so many enquiries, committed her advice to print – Developing Village Housing Schemes, NECC Guide. I commend this as reading to our Parish Council and all interested parties.
		+
		+	'''Hallmark December 1993.''' Report by District Councillor Jean Gabbitas
		+
		+	"But This Is A Rolls-Royce Village!" complained an angry man
		+
		+	Is this how you would describe Lacey Green?
		+
		+	A village to be proud of – yes indeed!
		+
		+	I felt myself swelling with pride on Village Day as I cheered the procession and I took in the events with my husband and son and in the afternoon continued to enjoy the programme with my god-daughter and her mother. I was full of admiration as I took my guests to concerts, exhibitions and displays; The reason why Lacey Green is so special is because so many of you are so generous with your time and talents not because you're elitist. I find Lacey Green 'rich' in the same way as my Christmas Pudding is rich; it contains a variety of good ingredients which together give the authentic flavour, we in Lacey Green are not just a collection of the rich and the privileged.
		+
		+	During recent years many have become unemployed, forced into early retirement or generally suffered from the recession and there has grown up a need for more – rented accommodation.
		+
		+	Buckinghamshire Housing Association already has five cottages in Speen and one in Loosley Row for rental and so I was delighted to learn that Elizabeth Betts had decided to sell her listed cottage to the Buckinghamshire Housing Association for the use of the village.
		+
		+	Thank you Elizabeth – I call this a Rolls-Royce gesture from a vintage lady!
		+
		+	I have received strong criticism in your letter pages from some quarters for the line I have taken on certain housing developments. In this respect whilst I do not go out of my way to attract criticism, I accept that if I express my own views robustly, I cannot complain if others who disagree with me do likewise. Underlying this however is a serious point: what type of village do people of Lacey Green and Loosley Row want?
		+
		+	The view has been expressed that Lacey Green is a Rolls-Royce Village and should remain as such, whereas I have been working to the guide lines laid down in the Parish Council's Village Plan and the Residents Association's "Village Appraisal' which were undertaken some years ago which emphasized two matters of general concern:
		+
		+	'''Traffic.''' A subject which I and other village representatives continue to do battle.
		+
		+	'''Village Amenities.''' There was a clear concern that the composition of the villages should be such as to maintain support for the school, shop, post office and other amenities. I interpret this as a democratic expression of a wish as to how our two villages should develop in relation to housing development.
		+
		+	You will remember that only two sites were identified for housing development apart from the individual infill plots that occur, and therefore I have worked with your [[Parish Council]] to include some smaller cottage style dwellings so that young families might find it possible to come and live here.

	'''Hallmark November 1994. Councillor Jean Gabbitas Reports'''		'''Hallmark November 1994. Councillor Jean Gabbitas Reports'''

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:31, 4 July 2024
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	'''Finally, I would like to mention a seminar on Rural Housing''' which I attended last year where the difficulty of providing affordable housing for the indigenous inhabitants was tackled. The most worthwhile speaker has now, due to so many enquiries, committed her advice to print – Developing Village Housing Schemes, NECC Guide. I commend this as reading to our Parish Council and all interested parties.		'''Finally, I would like to mention a seminar on Rural Housing''' which I attended last year where the difficulty of providing affordable housing for the indigenous inhabitants was tackled. The most worthwhile speaker has now, due to so many enquiries, committed her advice to print – Developing Village Housing Schemes, NECC Guide. I commend this as reading to our Parish Council and all interested parties.
		+
		+	'''Hallmark November 1994. Councillor Jean Gabbitas Reports'''
		+
		+	When I first became a councillor many villages had entertained fears that the adjoining fields would soon be developed however, thanks to the efforts of the Parish Council and the letters of many of you Lacey Green and Loosley Row became safely established in the Green Belt, this together with our designation as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty protected us from any large scale development. Later the District Council brought out its Rural Areas Plan and established conservation areas in many villages thus giving further re-assurance.
		+
		+	The Parish Council's Village Plan and the Residents Association's Village Appraisal both identified the Palmer and Harvey Site and the Christmas Meats Sites as Sites for housing development both with room have taken place so apart from the occasional infill sites or demolish and rebuild opportunities there only remains the need for us to consider the need for low cost rural housing and affordable housing: Although the need for this in Wycombe District is great the rules concerning Villages are particularly strict and involve full consultation with you all.
		+
		+	I have decided that the expressions of concern and interest which I have received would be best answered if I forward to the Editor the relevant sections of the policy and he can include or summarise according to the space available.
		+
		+	'''Reply by the Editor'''
		+
		+	Jean sets me the almost impossible task of summarising many thousands of words in local government jargon which must be read in conjunction with other minutes and appendix that are not in my possession.
		+
		+	At least its nice to know the District Council appear concerned about the shortfall of affordable houses, and have identified that shortfall to be 1,500 units for the period 1991/96.
		+
		+	"A demonstrable lack of affordable housing across a broad range of house type and location within the district has been identified. Subject to market and site conditions and other appropriate policies of this plan, a minimum of 20% of the bedspaces in housing schemes of 20 units or over will be sought, by a planning condition or legal agreement, to be provided in the form of units of affordable housing secured in cooperation with a housing association or other appropriate body. On a smaller site the provision of affordable housing will also be sought following consultation with an appropriate housing association or other social body."
		+
		+	Again its nice to know that the Council will try to negotiate with developers to include some affordable housing within their schemes, although \| don't think we saw much evidence of that recently at Lacey Green and Loosley Row.
		+
		+	A local need should be identified by a house to house survey, possible best carried out by the Parish Council.
		+
		+	But as I see it that presents a bit of a problem because the Parish Council has already submitted a village plan that allows only development on the Palmer and Harvey and Christmas Meat sites and these have, or soon will be used up without any affordable houses.
		+
		+	It seems to me Jean, that as things stand this district council housing policy is going to be pretty irrelevant to our needs at Lacey Green and Loosley Row.
		+
		+	I may not have done justice to the lengthy document you sent me, which I think you will agree wasn't suitable for a small village magazine. I think the best I can do if there are people who would like to read it in full, is for me to display it in the Village Hall notice board.

	'''Hallmark May 1996.''' Excerpt from report by Jean Gabbitas. SPEEDING. The Parish Council has continued to work very hard to reduce the speed on the Main Road and [[The Residents Association]] at their AGM demonstrated that they too have been beavering on. Furthermore residents of Loosley Row have discovered that 60 mph is approved in [[Little Lane, Loosley Row]], therefore I have requested a petition which will require the SUPPORT OF YOU ALL. This well then be presented formally to the COUNTY COUNCIL. (Footnote to newcomers) Efforts have been made regularly for 20 years or more to improve this serious problem. Please become involved.		'''Hallmark May 1996.''' Excerpt from report by Jean Gabbitas. SPEEDING. The Parish Council has continued to work very hard to reduce the speed on the Main Road and [[The Residents Association]] at their AGM demonstrated that they too have been beavering on. Furthermore residents of Loosley Row have discovered that 60 mph is approved in [[Little Lane, Loosley Row]], therefore I have requested a petition which will require the SUPPORT OF YOU ALL. This well then be presented formally to the COUNTY COUNCIL. (Footnote to newcomers) Efforts have been made regularly for 20 years or more to improve this serious problem. Please become involved.

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:26, 26 June 2024
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		+	click [[John & Jean Gabbitas]] or more about Jean Gabbitas.
		+
	click [[Organisations]] for others		click [[Organisations]] for others

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:51, 19 June 2024
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	I had not expected to have much to do with the Housing Department, however an eviction, a request for an ill grandchild to be moved from a damp flat and assistance with heating for an elderly in ill-health have all come my way and thankfully the Housing officials have been able to help in each case in fact when I made representations about the heating matter, aided by a story letter from a local Doctor their case was treated as a priority. I can also pass on good news to the tenants of the bungalows at Greenlands that they are scheduled for insulation and central heating work to be carried out during the year commencing 1st April 1986.		I had not expected to have much to do with the Housing Department, however an eviction, a request for an ill grandchild to be moved from a damp flat and assistance with heating for an elderly in ill-health have all come my way and thankfully the Housing officials have been able to help in each case in fact when I made representations about the heating matter, aided by a story letter from a local Doctor their case was treated as a priority. I can also pass on good news to the tenants of the bungalows at Greenlands that they are scheduled for insulation and central heating work to be carried out during the year commencing 1st April 1986.
		+
		+	'''Hallmark May 1989'''. '''District Council – ‘Matters’.''' by Councillor Jean Gabbitas
		+
		+	'''Is the present refuse collection fiasco''' just a plot to make everyone welcome the strong, commodious wheelie-bins? Were it as simple as that.
		+
		+	The main problem, I am sure, stems from the fact that when the refuse collection went to public tender our dustmen in their desire to keep their jobs and raise their wages agreed to the redundancy of twenty men! I content that they were wrongly advised and we are now suffering.
		+
		+	This village was serviced by a really excellent team of men – apart from [[The Residents Association]]'s questions about holiday arrangements I received only one complaint from Lacey Green in four years – now it's different!
		+
		+	'''The most satisfying activity''' carried out on your behalf has been taking part in the consultations regarding the development proposals for demolition and clearing of the site at 10 acres Christmas Meats, Loosley Row and the replacement by 22 houses.
		+
		+	Instead of an inappropriate development being fought off by local people, the [[Parish Council]], immediate neighbours of the site and myself were all able to make an input and finally the plan was presented to the public at a special meeting of the Parish Council. I had hoped to know the result of this application by now but the planning officers who, in the past, have shown no reluctance to allow unsuitable houses to be squashed into our village are behaving with strange reluctance to rid the village of [[Loosley Row]] of what many of them consider to be a badly-sited user and have it replaced by an attractive development of mixed housing of rural character including, at the suggestion of myself, supported by the Parish Council in response to your Village Plan, a terrace of ten small cottages.
		+
		+	'''Sadly, there has been no similar contact''' between the village representatives and those who may put in an application for the Palmer & Harvey site. Apart from the meeting I initiated a few months after Palmer & Harvey closed down all enquiries have been greeted by a deafening silence.
		+
		+	'''Finally, I would like to mention a seminar on Rural Housing''' which I attended last year where the difficulty of providing affordable housing for the indigenous inhabitants was tackled. The most worthwhile speaker has now, due to so many enquiries, committed her advice to print – Developing Village Housing Schemes, NECC Guide. I commend this as reading to our Parish Council and all interested parties.

	'''Hallmark May 1996.''' Excerpt from report by Jean Gabbitas. SPEEDING. The Parish Council has continued to work very hard to reduce the speed on the Main Road and [[The Residents Association]] at their AGM demonstrated that they too have been beavering on. Furthermore residents of Loosley Row have discovered that 60 mph is approved in [[Little Lane, Loosley Row]], therefore I have requested a petition which will require the SUPPORT OF YOU ALL. This well then be presented formally to the COUNTY COUNCIL. (Footnote to newcomers) Efforts have been made regularly for 20 years or more to improve this serious problem. Please become involved.		'''Hallmark May 1996.''' Excerpt from report by Jean Gabbitas. SPEEDING. The Parish Council has continued to work very hard to reduce the speed on the Main Road and [[The Residents Association]] at their AGM demonstrated that they too have been beavering on. Furthermore residents of Loosley Row have discovered that 60 mph is approved in [[Little Lane, Loosley Row]], therefore I have requested a petition which will require the SUPPORT OF YOU ALL. This well then be presented formally to the COUNTY COUNCIL. (Footnote to newcomers) Efforts have been made regularly for 20 years or more to improve this serious problem. Please become involved.