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January 2026 | Phonebox Magazine 25December 2025place to demonstrate an app for reporting incidents to the police, but not a single local retailer had attended, she said. On a positive note Sarah said that the retailers are keen to engage with any initiative that might achieve results.Data results from Speed Indicating Devices (SIDs)Deputy Clerk Rob Mungham provided the stats for the period 09/10/2025 to 06/11/2025:LocationVehicle CountSpeedLimitAverageSpeedYardley Road, Yardley Manor - Northbound27845 20 mph21.37 mphAspreys, Hollow Wood end - Northbound58592 30 mph26.51 mphAspreys, Foxhill end - Southbound42703 30 mph23.59 mphAll locations recorded a decrease in average speed from previous measurements. River water testingDebbie Whitworth reported that Mark Butterfi eld and members of Olney and Clifton Fishing Association continue testing for pollution at various locations. After months of drought there has been considerable rainfall with the river almost at fl ood level. As a result it has not been possible to carry out fl y testing to measure the insect quantity and therefore water quality. Electroconductivity levels have dropped due to the drop in temperature and increased volume of water, with an average of 550%u0447S/cm across all sites. Ammonia is good, averaging 0.2mg/l with a spike of 0.56mg/l at the weir. Phosphates are much too high with average of 0.85mg/l. Nitrates are a poor 5mg/l. T%u0447hese results are obtained using testing strips so funding is being sought from MKCC for more accurate testing equipment. Mark is concerned that Anglian Water might be dumping sewage into the river in the early hours hoping not to get caught as has allegedly occurred in Bedford. Debbie said that Chris Curtis MP has been asked to follow up. She thanked Mark and the Fishing Association for their continued work.20mph limit for all of OlneyDebbie Whitworth reminded councillors that this had been requested by a resident who had spoken at last month%u2019s meeting and invited comments. Richard Hillier expressed his support but Jane Brushwood said there are an awful lot of people who are against it. Chris Shaw said whether it was right or wrong was up for debate but his concern was whether it would be enforced. Rob Mungham said it was his understanding that there is no police enforcement of 20mph restrictions. David Chennells said that in his experience when regulations are broken the authorities response is to impose more regulation on those who are already compliant so the result would be to inconvenience those who already travel at speeds of 25-30mph. Those who break the existing limit would ignore a 20mph limit so it becomes completely undervalued. It would be more sense to target specific areas but a blanket restriction to make people drive at 20mph at 11:00 at night would not work. The Hight Street might benefi t but who has driven down there at more than 20mph for 90% of the time he asked? It would be regulation for regulation sake and he would be against it, he said. Colin Rodden spoke in favour of %u2018Twenty is Plenty%u2019 expressing the opinion that even if the limit was not observed people would be more likely to drive at 30mph in a 20mph area but at 30mph they will drive above that. Resident like to walk and cycle in the town and every month there are reports of animals being killed on the roads so he was very much in favour. Chris Tennant observed that OTC could only request MKCC to consider such a restriction, as had happened with the areas already limited to 20mph, such as near to schools. In those cases OTC had provided evidence and MKCC had carried out the necessary monitoring and consultations before approving the restriction and he would support any targeted locations with evidence, but not a blanket restriction. He put this forward as a formal proposal for a vote which was passed by an overwhelming majority. Colin Rodden wished his objection to be formally recorded. Request to hold the Big Olney Food Festival (BOFF) between 11th to 14th September 2026As a member of both the BOFF committee and OTC, Deirdre Bethune had requested permission to use the Market Place from Friday to Monday, with every effort being made to clear the Market Place by early Monday afternoon. Debbie Whitworth was concerned that a number of issues were yet to be resolved, such as H&S, Risk Assessments, Accessibility, and without a full proposal the council were unable to agree to the dates in isolation. Richard Hillier was fi rmly against approving the dates without the full proposal being available. Colin Rodden said that although unable to attend this year it had been a great success as far as he was aware, and he had personally received no complaints. Chris Shaw said it would show good faith to approve the date, pending receipt of the detailed plan. Chris Tennant said he agreed with Colin Rodden, noting that this was a somewhat unusual occurrence to much amusement from fellow councillors. He formally proposed that permission be granted subject to receipt of the agreed management plans, which was passed by a majority vote.Yardley Manor developmentProgress is being made on the community building which is due to be completed in February. Landscaping work continues, but work on the pond has stalled because of the bad weather. Repairs to the play equipment were due to complete that week, weather permitting.Update on the ex-Football Club building and Padel CourtJane Brushwood said there was nothing to report but she had managed to obtain some additional funding.Odds and SodsThe absent David Tyler had provided a report on behalf of the Tree Working Group but it had not been provided to Mercury as part of the meeting pack and no discussion took place so we must assume that all trees are happy with the current state of aff airs.It was agreed to purchase a %u2018Lamp Light of Peace%u2019 to be lit on Remembrance Day next year and future years. One of the aims is to get young people involved, which Mary Prosser felt was very important in her role of Standard Bearer for the local branch of the Royal British Legion. A resident had requested that additional Christmas decorations be erected on the lampposts in a northerly direction along the High Street, Dartmouth Road and Wellingborough Road. Jane Brushwood said the decorations were %u2018jolly expensive%u2019 and there is a huge cost involved in getting them put up, taken down, connected to the electricity supply and use thereof. The general feeling was that the existing decorations being concentrated in a smaller area had more impact which would be diluted if they were extended further so it was agreed not to proceed. New artwork has been installed in the Market Place bus shelter.The next meeting will be held on Monday 5th January 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 appropriate, please contact the Town Clerk, townclerk@olneytowncouncil.gov.uk.