Page 26 - Phonebox Magazine April 2016

A Message from the Mayor
Cllr Phil Winsor
Well, Easter has been and gone for another year. It was very early this year and Spring began with
snow urries which dented my aim of getting started on the allotment. It’s been too wet to dig but I was able to recycle the adjacent riding stable’s manure onto the plot.
The Kickles solar farm is actually being built and fortunately the HGVs have been able to get all the plant and equipment onto site without too many problems via Lakes Lane. We are hoping that as part of the ‘community bene t’ of the scheme we will have some solar panels on the roof of the swimming pool that will help keep the electricity bill down. Mayoral duties have been light this month which was useful as I needed to recover from the Rotary Club Swimathon 2016. The rst element of the Swimathon was held at Middleton Pool in Newport Pagnell so as to allow disabled swimmers to participate as the
pool has a hoist and the water is kept warmer than other Milton Keynes swimming pools. My team of four kept going for the allotted one hour which resulted in a very creditable 147 lengths between us although cramp was a problem for some of us. It must be my age! Many thanks to all our nancial sponsors. Our jubilation was however numbed by the fact that the Middleton Pool Lifeguard Team who were in the next lane to us completed 447 lengths in their hour. I have to say their technique and stamina was awesome as the lifeguards kept going past me very fast - so we are in safe hands when using the pool. There have been a few grumbles about the lack of arti cial lighting in the car park extension at the pool. We had real dif culty in getting planning permission for a ‘car park in the wood’ anyway and Milton Keynes Council planners and residents had concerns about it being lit. We are exploring the options that may be available to improve the situation. We have also had the voids lled in on the preformed concreted surface so that the trip hazards are reduced. In time these pockets will be grass.
On the 5th May 2012 voters attending Newport Pagnell Polling Stations will be given the opportunity to vote on the nal version of the Newport Pagnell Neighbourhood Plan through a referendum. All I can say is that we listened to every comment made on the draft documents and adjusted the plan as far as we felt able to. So Newport Pagnell’s residents now have the opportunity to let the Newport Pagnell Town Council’s plans on future developments in Newport Pagnell be
given primacy over Milton Keynes Council’s own documents going forward.
Redrow Homes - South Midlands have now submitted a planning application for the Tesco site and as a result of the Town Council’s robust position during dialogue, the three historic buildings have now been included in the development proposals although their future use is dependent on ‘market forces.’ JD Wetherspoon have withdrawn the two planning applications for the ex-Robinsons restaurant and wine bar so watch this space!! The Newport Pagnell Youth Club is now on the Milton Keynes Council - Community Asset Transfer (CAT) list and the Town Council will be applying to take over this much valued facility.
Having just got back from walking the dog around Bury Field is good to note that Milton Keynes Council have finally sent in the contractors to fell the fallen and dangerous trees on the boundary before someone got hurt. Now it just needs all the remaining cut timber to be removed from the adjacent ditch as they should be clear of debris!
The Swan’s - Newport Pagnell Town F.C. are still near the top of the United Counties league and are planning to undertake ground improvements that would be required if promotion is achieved at a future date. No change with the MK Dons as they are still giving away points interspersed with valiant triumphs. The games are running out, so it will probably go to the wire. We can only keep our ngers crossed that they stay in the Championship.
Come on sunshine - where are you?
Newport Pagnell WI
Who would travel from Nepal to Tibet – on a motorbike? Well, Paul Heley did and in March he came to tell us all about it.
After the Chinese authorities opened up a route
through the Himalayas, Paul and a group of intrepid motorcyclists decided to make the 700 mile journey from Katmandu in Nepal to Lhasa in Tibet. Katmandu lies at 4,000 feet, and the general level of the plateau to be traversed was at 12-13,000 feet, with the highest mountain pass at 17,000 feet.
Because of the altitude it was necessary for everyone to drink at least one gallon of water per day in order to combat altitude sickness – dehydration of the brain.
Katmandu was a bit like India – chaotic. The road was good to begin with but soon deteriorated to a dirt track. The border between Nepal and Tibet is no more than a pole across the road, with a large tract of ‘No Man’s Land’ between the two countries. Once into Chinese territory, however, the party was required to have a guide as they were not allowed to travel alone.
26 Phonebox Magazine | April 2016
Motorcycle Adventures
Rural Tibet is very poor and the roads just dust tracks. There’s no vegetation, just bare rock. There’s no rain, just glacial water, so it’s effectively a desert.
Accommodation en route was less than basic, often being awarded -3 stars (that’s minus 3 stars) by the motorcyclists.
After many adventures, the group arrived at Lhasa, a bustling city where there’s a clash between young and old. On their ight back to Katmandu, they ew over Mount Everest, which they had seen at various points on their journey.
A most interesting talk, but not a trip many people would wish to copy. Competition winners were Teresa Jones, Sylvia Puddephatt and Jyoti Gandhi-Wilkinson.
The raf e was won by Celia Boyer and Sylvia Puddephatt.
Newport Pagnell Women’s Institute meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm in the café at the rear of the Methodist Church. April’s speaker will talk about the Dysfunctional Family at Frogmore House. For further information please call Evelyn Mison on 01908 615630 or just turn up on the night.