Page 24 - Phonebox Magazine July 2006

Mercury Report
Olney Town Council Meeting of Monday 5th June 2006
Public Participation
Just one member of the public spoke this month. Rob Chaproniere had recently heard scant details of the traffic calming measures proposed for Aspreys. He said that both he and others in the area were concerned about the extent of the measures, mainly that they appeared to be planned for the whole length of Aspreys. He also noted that the measures were required for the school only around 10% of the time (approximately five hours a day, five days a week, 36 weeks a year).
Police report
This month’s report was given by PC Kevin Leaney, who was accompanied by his colleague Sgt Mark Emmingham. There’d been an increase in crime during May with a total of 41 offences including two thefts, 15 incidents of criminal damage to vehicles, two pedal cycle thefts, 5 burglares from non dwellings, seven thefts from vehicles, at least two incidents of criminal damage and one of Actual Bodily Harm.
PC Leaney stressed that the Police very much wanted people to ring to report crimes and, whenever possible, to give their name. This both ensures that the Police can accurately measure how many crimes there are in the area and also helps with solving them. The number to ring to report a crime is 0845 850 5505.
He concluded his report by saying that the two PCSOs in Olney felt disillusioned having read the Mercury report of May’s Olney Town Council meeting, which included Councillors having discussed the restricted powers of PCSOs along with the ‘ring fenced’ Police Officer not being in Olney as much as expected. Paul Watson explained that the Council acknowledged the professionalism and efforts of the local
Police and respected the way in which they dealt with the people of Olney.
In various Council meetings, the issue of Olney not having the Police cover that it used to has been discussed, and it was discussed again at this one. The Council will write a letter to Deputy Chief Constable Sara Thornton and Chief Superintendent John Liversidge to request that more Police cover be available for Olney. Sgt Emmingham noted that Olney was, along with Slough, top in the Thames Valley region in terms neighbourhood Policing, and agreed that the letter was a good idea.
Finally, the behaviour of some young people outside One Stop was noted and this led to a brief discussion of Dispersal Orders. Sgt Emmingham explained that these could be placed on a specific area and they allow a Police Officer to detain, take home and inform the parents of any under 16 year old in the area unaccompanied by an adult between 9pm and 6am. He stressed again that such incidents need reporting – the Police need to build up information so they can decide what action to take.
Olney Newton Link
Rena Partridge attended the meeting having just returned from Sierra Leone, her third visit in the six years since the Link started. She said that life had become more stable and less dangerous in Newton since then and that 60 houses had been built there because of the Link. In addition to work by the Link, the Sierra Leone Government has built a Community and a Youth Centre and rebuilt the Health Centre. However, Rena noted that the Government was better at providing capital grants to build things than it was at providing money to keep them running. For instance, the Health Centre had no medicine and no electricity; night time births there happen under candlelight. So,
while a lot has been achieved, she stressed that there was a tremendous amount still to do.
Rena concluded by saying that the support of Olney is well appreciated in Newton, and that the Link was trying to set up as an independent charity no longer related to the Church.
Joint Users Group
Tony Evans reported on the latest meeting of the Joint Users Group (JUG). A letter of complaint had been received regarding some spectators’ and players’ language and behaviour at recent rugby and football matches on the Recreation Ground. A notice will be placed in the changing rooms asking people to behave more appropriately.
He noted that the new Football Club lights on the Nursery and Charity Fields have now been agreed. In addition, all clubs have been asked to inspect their lights to see how they could be adjusted to reduce the light spilling into other, e.g., residential, areas.
Finally, clubs were reminded that only authorised vehicles are allowed on the Recreation Ground and, in particular, that parking in front of the gate is prohibited in order to allow access for emergency vehicles.
Aspreys traffic calming
This had been discussed in a Council planning meeting a few days earlier and it appeared the proposal was for 30-40 calming measures, including 20 speed cushions along the length of the road. John Sharp explained that Olney Town Council would send a letter to the consultants who drew up the proposed calming measures, strongly objecting to them. Paul Watson agreed with this. John went on to note that Milton Keynes Council (MKC) had stopped
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