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22 Phonebox Magazine | July 2025Newport Pagnell Mayor%u2019s UpdateNewport Pagnell Councillor CornerYou can contact the Focus team by emailing newportsouthlibdems@gmail.com or phoning 01908 216366. Follow us on Facebook %u2013 Newport Pagnell South Ward Newport Pagnell South FOCUS Team, Cllrs Jane & Andy Carr, Tony Oyakhire20 Mile Hour ConsultationThe police and City Council offi cers recently held a consultation to gain views on reducing the speed along a stretch of Willen Road to 20 miles per hour.We have supported reduced speeds at various accident spots to ensure better safety but were surprised to see this consultation as we felt this was not the %u2018hot spot%u2019. We had hoped that Marsh End Road would be the area surveyed, especially after the sterling work from our volunteer Speed Watch teams and the very sad recent fatality, which all suggest that speeding is an issue. However, following the consultation, it was decided that there was no need to reduce the speed, so it would remain at 30 miles an hour. We will continue to monitor the area and listen to residents%u2019 views on this issue.%u00a0Old Boots ChemistWe are pleased to report that the old chemist building is to be recommissioned for clinical use, adding more resources to the Newport Pagnell Medical Centre. A grant provided via what is called planning gain has been awarded to complete the work to transform the space. %u00a0Planning Gain grants, known as S106 funding, come from developers and are used to improve the infrastructure following new development. On this occasion the money came from the new residential Care Home on Wolverton Road, Great Linford, as it was recognised that with more vulnerable local residents%u2019 more medical services will be needed, so this is a timely use of the funding.%u00a0A509 OpeningMany will want to know the latest date for opening the road to the M1. We have repeated many times that whilst we are given dates, we have been let down so many times we are not confi dent.However, we have invited our Town Mayor, Paul Day and our MP, Chris Curtis, In May 2026 all the Milton Keynes City Council seats will be up for election. The new ward boundaries for Newport Pagnell will match the town council area, which I welcome.I expect that all the major political parties will fi eld candidates in every seat, though individuals are also entitled to stand as independent candidates if they wish. Councils should refl ect the population, so if you ever think to yourself that the people on the council don%u2019t look like you or share your values and priorities, then this could be your chance to change that.If you are interested in fi nding out more about serving on Milton Keynes City Council, I would be more than happy to have a chat with you about what it%u2019s like to be a councillor (I%u2019ve served on four diff erent local councils, including Milton Keynes, chairing two of them and being a cabinet member on MK). Alternatively, speak to your political party of choice if you have one.Share your viewsThe town council held our vintage day in June, and we would welcome constructive feedback on what worked well and ideas as to what we might do diff erently in future. Please share your thoughts.Open roadsThe A509 now connects Newport Pagnell back to Moulsoe, but we continue to anticipate it reopening fully to J14 of the motorway. Now promised as just a few more weeks away, at the end of August, the town residents are counting down the days. Diary reminders%u2022%u2002 Reminder to join the town council%u2019s 40th birthday party on Bury Common from 1pm on Saturday 13th September. %u2022 %u2002 The Strawberry Fayre was excellent this year, and %u2018Strawberry Hepburn%u2019, the new mascot, will be inviting you back for Father%u2019s Day fun next year on Sunday, 21st June 2026. Again, please get it in your diary.Contact mePhonebox readers with any comments about Newport Pagnell can contact me at pauldayMK@outlook.com. I am also pleased Email: pauldayMK@outlook.com Facebook: facebook.com/pauldayMK along with some local press, to join us on 31st August 2025 (their latest date) to celebrate or commiserate. We have put Berkley St Johns on notice, so we are hopeful that this will spear them on. Please do feel free to join us. We will keep you posted via our Facebook page %u2013 Newport Pagnell South. Feel free to follow us.Litter Pick DatesThe dates for our next community litter picks are:30th August %u2013 meet at the entrance at Portfi eld Ave shops at 1pm.25th October %u2013 meet at Station Road Car Park at 1pm.Councillor SurgeryOur next councillor%u2019s surgery will be on 26th July from 10 to 11.30am at the Mead Centre, Newport Pagnell, to coincide with the Repair Shop. %u00a0200 Club Winners June: 1st prize, C Greenwood. 2nd prize, G Winfi eld.%u00a0Your voice mattersto report after three and a half months locked out, Facebook fi nally confi rmed that their %u2018technology made a mistake%u2019, and I am once again on social media facebook.com/pauldayMK