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July 2025 | Phonebox Magazine 17June 2025 had a soiree. %u2018Not just us two, but the rest of the trustees, %u2019 interjected David hurriedly, to much amusement. The residents had enjoyed it, and a BBQ was being planned. Although not strictly a representative of OTC, Deirdre Bethune explained that she is a member of the Cobbs Garden Surgery Patient Participation Group and invited all councillors to attend the forthcoming AGM.Data results from Speed Indicating Devices (SIDs)Jane Brushwood reported the following:Yardley Road by the Middle School travelling North 20 mph zone: 31,438 vehicles, average speed 19.66 mph. Weston Road top end travelling West: 52,349 vehicles, average speed 27.72 mph. Weston Road bottom end travelling East: 56,467 vehicles, average speed 26.17 mph.David Chennells expressed the opinion that it wasn%u2019t very wise to locate a SID just before a speed bump as even the speeders will slow down, but Richard Hillier said he had seen vehicles not slowing down at all as they go over. Jane Brushwood said the location of the SIDs was determined by the MKCC Road Safety Offi cer and suspected that in this particular location the speed bump was installed after the SID. She said she would investigate the possibility of moving the SID. Colin Rodden observed that a large number of vehicles were still travelling well over the speed limit and said that anyone hit by a vehicle travelling at 40 mph or more was unlikely to get up again. Debbie Whitworth said the results are sent to Thames Valley Police, who can take appropriate action once they have six months%u2019 worth of comparable readings.River water testingDebbie Whit wor th repor ted that members of the Fishing Association have recommenced testing for pollution at various locations, and the results were %u2018not great%u2019 and, in fact, showed a deterioration since last year, with E.coli being of particular concern. She read out the E.coli results and subsequently provided Mercury with the detailed fi gures.%u00a0A level of 900 or more Colony Forming Units (CFU)/100ml for E.coli is considered poor quality water and not recommended for bathing:The Weir%u00a0%u2022%u2002 E.coli has risen from 770 to 934 CFU/100ml%u2022%u2002 Phosphate from .2 to 1.98%u2022%u2002 Nitrate has remained stable at around 5Bathing Place steps at rec to river%u00a0%u2022%u2002 E.coli has risen from 752 to 882 CFU/100ml%u2022%u2002Phosphates from .3 to .48%u2022%u2002Nitrates from 5 to 7.5The Mill%u2022%u2002 E.coli has risen from 793 to 884 CFU/100ml%u2022%u2002 Phosphates from .26 to .45%u2022%u2002 Nitrates from 5 to 7.5Debbie said further testing will take place before the raft race on July 6th. David Chennells asked if the results are consistent all along the river, and Debbie replied that the results were being shared with groups from other areas and the Environmental Agency to ascertain if that is the case. Colin Rodden asked if the water company could be named and shamed since they consistently claim that the sewage system can cope with additional housing developments when that clearly isn%u2019t the case.Yardley Manor developmentDebbie Whitworth reported that not a lot of progress had been made, apart from the previously noted dog poo bin provision. Two dog poo bins interjected Jane Brushwood! There will be some general tidying up before the meeting of the joint Steering Group next month. The drains to the play area have been attended to, she said, and the ground adjacent to the proposed community building is being prepared for the installation of the sculpture on August 2nd, even though the building isn%u2019t due for completion until November. Jane Brushwood reminded members that the developers were supposed to complete the building by September 2023. Colin Rodden asked if there was any chance of getting a refund of the Section 106 funding, as the builders had failed to deliver within the contracted time. Jane Brushwood said she would investigate the possibility. How will the council know that the drainage is working when it hasn%u2019t rained signifi cantly for three months? Asked David Chennells. There was a long pause, and no one seemed to have an answer.Non-resident burial requestsSome time ago, the council implemented a policy of only permitting cemetery burials of Olney residents or people with a connection to the town. Two requests from former longstanding residents had been received and were agreed without discussion. This prompted David Chennells to ask if permission was required to scatter ashes (Mercury assumed he was referring to the cemetery) and, although not an agenda item, provoked some discussion. Jane Brushwood confi rmed that permission was required, prompting David to wonder whether everyone would know that and what was stopping someone from walking in and scattering Granny%u2019s ashes? Jane replied that if the council didn%u2019t know, there wouldn%u2019t be much they could do about it, but they wouldn%u2019t ask for them to be picked up.The next meeting will be held on Monday, July 7th at 7pm in the Olney Centre. If you would like to contribute to the Public Participation section at the start of the meeting or any time the mayor deems it appropriate, please contact the Town Clerk at townclerk@olneytowncouncil.gov.uk.Council wants your view on sustainability Milton Keynes City Council is inviting residents, businesses and community groups to have their say on a bold new draft Sustainability Strategy that sets out a vision to make MK one of the world%u2019s leading sustainable cities.The council%u2019s new strategy describes how the whole city and all council operations could be net zero by 2030, which is 20 years ahead of the legal deadline. Net zero means greenhouse gases have been balanced out by reducing harmful emissions. This goal %u2013 while ambitious %u2013 is built on years of progress, including the city council cutting carbon emissions by tens of thousands of tonnes and reducing its energy use by 80%. Milton Keynes Waste Recovery Park is now generating enough energy to power 11,000 homes, and the city council has secured funding to make 1,500 council homes more energy effi cient. More than 8,000 trees have been planted in recent years, including 10 forest gardens.The strategy outlines how the city will tackle climate change and reduce emissions. Collaboration is a key part; residents and businesses have a vital role to play in making the Milton Keynes area fully sustainable. %u201cThis draft strategy not only gives us the foundations to protect our environment but also creates real opportunities for everyone in our city,%u201d said Cllr Shanika Mahendran, Cabinet Member for Planning and Placemaking. %u201cFrom green jobs and better homes to cleaner transport and healthier communities, this is a plan for the future. The only way we can make a real diff erence and achieve our sustainability goals is if everyone comes on this journey with us.%u201d