Open Spaces Committee Meeting, 29 January 2026 – Report

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CHEPPING WYCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL

OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE

Report of the meeting held on Thursday 29 January 2026 at 7.30pm at the Council Office, Cock Lane, Tylers Green, High Wycombe Bucks  HP10 8DS

The meeting was open to the public and press

 

 

Present:               Cllr L Webb (Chairman)                                 Cllr I Forbes                                                                                                                           Cllr L Willis (Vice-chairman)                         Cllr S Guy                                            

                                Cllr L Townsend                                                Cllr L Johncock                                                                                                                  Cllr S Herron                                                       Cllr K Griffiths                                                                                                                    Cllr D Johncock (ex officio)                           Cllr K Wood (ex officio)

 

Also present:     Mr M Green & Mr R Read (P&TG Residents Society) & Cllr M West (BC)

 

OS/25/045           Apologies for absence

                Apologies for absence were received and approved from Cllr J Gurney (personal) and Cllr H Darch                 (family).

 

OS/25/046           Declarations of members’ interests in Items on the agenda

                Cllr K Wood declared a personal interest in agenda item 14 Accounts for Payment being in receipt of an expenses payment.

 

The chairman suspended Standing Orders with the approval of the committee and re-ordered the meeting at below.

 

OS/25/047           Tylers Green Common

1  Tracks

Members were asked to note that on receipt of the quotation for the grid systems for Track 6 a further quotation was being sought as a comparison.

 

Members were also asked to note that contributions would be sought from the residents along the track once a solution was approved.

 

2 Widmer Pond

Members were asked to note that a joint meeting with Penn Parish Council took place to discuss the future monitoring and care of the pond.  Members were asked to receive a verbal update from Cllr Wood and Cllr Webb who attended the meeting. 

 

• A measuring pole had been discussed to assist in the monitoring of the water level this would be action by Penn Parish Council.
• The skip brought in when the pond is cleared of reeds will continue to be paid for by Chepping Wycombe Parish Council.
• Extra signage was discussed.

 

Cllr West who had also been present at the meeting advised that it had been extremely constructive.

 

Mr Green, who provided some history about the pond, advised that he would be working on historical content for an information board that would straddle both parish boundaries at the pond.

 

3  Bus Stop

Members were asked to note that the clerk is in communication with Passenger Transport at Buckinghamshire Council in relation to improving the bus stop at the pond, they had offered, as a solution some hard standing at the stop also with a bus gate painted on the road.

 

Mr Read advised that he still felt there was a need for an extension to the path passed the bus stop.  However, it was noted that Cllr Darch had advised that he used the bus stop regularly and he felt that it was under used.

 

                                It was noted that all interested parties would be kept up to date with any progress.

 

Mr Green & Mr Read thanked the meeting and left at 7.50pm

 

 

OS/25/048           Delegated Action

Members were asked to note that since the last committee meeting in October the following delegated action had been taken.

 

Purchase of a scarifier for the Biodiversity Project at a cost of £338.40

 

OS/25/049           Allotments

Members were asked to note that there were no vacancies on either allotment site.  There are currently six people on the waiting list for Chapel Road and there are four people on the waiting list at Ashley Drive.

 

1  Community Allotment Plot

Members were asked to note that the community allotment plots were now on the waiting lists for both sites.  They would probably be offered in the next Allotment year from October 2026. 

 

It was noted that Cllr D Johncock advised that a piece of land off Old Kiln Road in Flackwell Heath to the rear of Christ Church was being investigated by the vicar James Dwyer.  There could be a potential to use this as part of the biodiversity project and also a community allotment which would assist with the waiting lists.

 

OS/25/050           Derehams Lane Recreation Ground

Members were asked to note that the planning application submitted to Buckinghamshire Council was still waiting determination.  The next steps for the project would depend on the planning outcome, however, a session for residents to drop in and discuss the proposals at the Loudwater Centre will be arranged.

 

Members are asked to note that since the meeting Brocklehurst Architects have been in contact advising that they will be chasing the planning officer for feedback and an explanation as to the length of time the application has been waiting for determination.

 

Members were asked to note that a TEAMS meeting had been arranged with the Delivery Manager from the Lawn Tennis Association on 3 February.

 

OS/25/051           Straight Bit Recreation Ground

1  CCTV

Members were asked to note that following the last committee meeting when Cllr D Johncock queried the extension of the current CCTV on the site, the clerk obtained a quotation for the supply and install of an extra camera at the cost of £650.00. The recordings would be accessible on the office mobile phone.

 

It was RESOLVED that;

the quotation be approved and the extra CCTV camera ordered.

 

2  Flackwell Heath Bowls Club

Members were asked to consider a request for a permit from the Bowls Club for a Gala Day in July with associated parking on the site.

 

It was RESOLVED that;

The request be approved with caveats as follows:

• There is to be a marshal in hi-vis on the gate at all times during the event to allow cars access to the site;
• The parking would only be permitted if the ground conditions were right (dry);
• This is a one-off event and permission for parking.

 

OS/25/052           Biodiversity Project

Members were asked to note that the Biodiversity Working Group met on Friday 21 November.  The ward representatives for the project are Cllr D Johncock, Cllr K Wood and Cllr S Guy.

 

Members were also asked to note that following communication from the new chairman of Revive the Wye our representative, Cllr J Gurney, would be attending a meeting in February and will feedback.

 

                                A further Working Group meeting would be arranged shortly.

 

1  Orchard Green

Members were asked to note that the cut and collect was completed by an external contractor.

Further work on this site would come under the Working Group who will develop a plan going forward.

 

OS/25/053           Railway Land

Members were asked to note that the work for the removal of the remaining larger overhanging trees along the bank, approved at the last meeting, had been completed.   The consultant from Core Geotechnics Ltd attended the site on Wednesday 21 January and a further report was now awaited.

 

It was noted that, on receipt of the report, the consultant would be asked to attend a meeting so further discussion about the bank could take place.

 

OS/25/054           Winter Works Schedule

Members were asked to note the following itemised works that had been scheduled.

• Beechwood Gardens, Loudwater – tree and scrub work to be undertaken in-house to open the area STARTED
• Flackwell Heath allotment site – track to be re-surfaced, in-house
• All areas – ladder boards revarnished, in-house
• Green Dragon Lane – bollard installation

 

Members were also asked to note the following completed works.

• King’s Wood – glades to be opened up by our contractor COMPLETED
• Ashley Drive Allotment site – new plot creation, in-house COMPLETED
• Ashley Drive allotments – lean-to – COMPLETED
• Tylers Green Common posts – to be re-instated –, in-house COMPLETED

 

OS/25/055           Committee Finances

1  Income & Expenditure

Members were asked to note the income and expenditure for month 9 (December)

 

OS/25/056           Questions from committee members and the public

Cllr West advised that the silt clearance from the pond on Beacons Hill had been cancelled due to a permit not being given for the placement of the skip.

He also advised that on Thursday 5 February he and Cllr Waters would be holding a Buckinghamshire Council surgery at St Peter’s Church Café from 11am – 12.30pm.  This will one of a series of regular surgeries held in the area.  It was hoped that it would help to gauge the interest for a residents’ association in Loudwater.

Cllr Webb advised that the flagpole item had not been forgotten but should be an item for the Finance & General Purposes committee.

Cllr Webb also mentioned the new email addresses and that all members should, by the end of the month, be using their new addresses.

Cllr Guy mentioned the possibility of adding a signature and disclaimer to the emails.  This would be an action for Redsquid. 

 

In view of the confidential nature of the business to be considered it was RECOMMENDED that Council resolve to exclude the public and press from the remainder of the meeting as permitted under the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960.

 

Cllr West thanked the committee and left the meeting at 8.25pm

 

 

 

OS/25/057           King’s Wood

                                Members were asked to receive an update from Cllr Webb.  It was agreed that the item should be                                 taken to full Council for further consideration.  The clerk was asked to obtained further detailed                                 information.

 

OS/25/058           Accounts for payment

                                Accounts for payment were circulated at the meeting for consideration by councillors.

 

                It was RESOLVED that;

              The following payments be approved; cheque payments to Clarity Copiers Ltd and Petty Cash;         

              transfers to Active Enviopest, APS Window Company, Briants of Risborough Ltd, Castle Water,                               Graeme Christie, Cleaning with Sammi, Collison Tree Care Ltd, Gough Contractors Ltd, Payroll,

              P&TG Scouts, Reliance Auto Test, St Peters Church Loudwater, Tilhill Forestry, Wingrove Media and

              Cllr K Wood. Also, direct debits to Barclaycard, Barclays, Castle Water, Clear Business, EE, Motia

              Fuelcard Services Ltd, Grenke Leasing Ltd, HMRC, NEST, Peninsula, Quartix Ltd, Redsquid

              Communications Ltd, Shorts Group Ltd SSE and Trade Point (B&Q).

 

The chairman thanked members for their attendance and closed the meeting at 8.40pm

 

 

 

 

Date and time of next meeting:  Thursday 21 May 2026 @ 7.30pm 

 

 

 

Signed:                                                                                                                                                                 Dated: 19/03/2026