Open Spaces 280526

CHEPPING WYCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL

OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE

Report of the meeting held on Thursday 28 May 2026 at 7.30pm at the Council Office, Cock Lane, Tylers Green, High Wycombe Bucks  HP10 8DS

 

 

Present:               Cllr N Thomas (Vice-chairman)                                   Cllr I Forbes                                                       

                                Cllr L Townsend                                                                Cllr L Johncock                                                                                                  Cllr H Darch                                                                        Cllr K Griffiths   

                                Cllr D Johncock (ex officio)                                           Cllr K Wood (ex officio)

 

Also present:     Cllr A Barron and three Flackwell Heath residents

 

In the absence of Cllr Webb, Cllr Thomas chaired the meeting.

 

OS/26/001           Apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received and approved from Cllr S Herron (medical), Cllr J Gurney (family), Cllr S Guy (medical) and Cllr L Webb (family)

 

It was noted that best wishes be sent to all absent members.

 

OS/26/002           Declarations of members’ interests in Items on the agenda

                There were none.

 

OS/25/003           Delegated Action

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

 

                                Plants and seeds for Biodiversity Project                                                £199.61

 

The chairman of the meeting suspended standing orders asking members to approve a re-ordering of the agenda bringing item 7.3 Extension to Car Park to the beginning of the meeting.  All in attendance approved.

 

OS/26/004           Straight Bit Recreation Ground

3 Car Park extension request

Members were asked to review the documentation provided by the Flackwell Heath Parking Working Group, following a meeting at Christ Church, Flackwell Heath arranged by Buckinghamshire Council Councillors Larisa Townsend, Penny Drayton and Stuart Wilson. 

 

Members were reminded that the Straight Bit Recreation Ground is the main green space within the village and was originally purchased by the parish council for recreational purposes.  The extension to the car park would be classified as ‘new’, and since 1 January 2025 it is a requirement that car parks with 20 or more spaces must provide one EV charging point.  The proposed car park layout also does not allow for the 10% requirement for disabled bays which have a standard width of 2.4 metres plus 1.2 metres on either side for egress and ingress. The proposed layout also indicates 13 bays along the front of the car park where there are 8 spaces of standard width between the lime trees.

 

Since receiving this documentation, the Clerk had been in contact with Buckinghamshire Council Parking information was still awaited.

 

The three residents from Flackwell Heath attending explained the perceived issues; Bowls Club match days/school drop off and pick up times/loss of the Old Kiln Road car park and restrictions on wait times.

 

Following further discussion

 

It was RESOLVED that;

The committee had reviewed the documentation and that the Clerk be asked to write to Buckinghamshire Council in relation to the easing of the 30-minute wait time and investigate the legality of changing the use of a section of playing field to car parking.

A suggestion to formalise the Gala Day parking for Bowls Club match days was noted and following feedback this would come back for further consideration.

 

Summing up – car parking on the site would be the last resort however a value for money test would need to be carried out, along with further investigation into the alternative options mentioned at the Parking Working Group meeting.

 

The chairman thanked the three Flackwell Heath residents for their contributions and they left the meeting at 8.20pm

 

OS/26/005           Allotments

Members were asked to note that there were no vacancies on either allotment site.  There were currently nine people on the waiting list for Chapel Road and there were eight people on the waiting list at Ashley Drive. Members were asked to note that the Clerk and Deputy Clerk had undertaken the first inspection, and letters had been sent where applicable.

 

1  Allotment Competition

Members were asked to set a date for the annual competition which is normally in July.  Last year Cllr Griffiths and Cllr Guy did a marvellous job, members are asked to nominate the judges for this year.

 

It was RESOLVED that;

Cllr Griffiths would continue for a second year, and Cllr Forbes would be the second judge.  A date would be advised as soon as possible.

 

2  Chapel Road Track

Members were asked to note that the grounds team had re-distributed the gravel on the track, breaking out the compacted stones and filling the potholes. 

 

OS/26/006           Derehams Lane Recreation Ground

Members were asked to note that the planning application was still waiting determination.  However, the architect is now appealing the non-determination and going for costs.

 

Members were asked to note that a TEAMS meeting took place with the Delivery Manager from the Lawn Tennis Association on 3 February.  He was extremely interested in assisting with the project and helping find funding sources.

 

OS/26/007           Green Dragon Lane Recreation Ground

1  Flackwell Heath Minors FC – water tank

Members were asked to consider the installation of the water tank underground.

 

It was RESOLVED that;

installation of the water tank underground be declined in the first instance and a request for plans and floatation calculations be requested.

 

2  Bollards – Green Dragon Lane, Flackwell Heath

Members were asked to consider a further request from the Flackwell Heath Minors FC for more bollards along the verge.  The parish council had already installed 25 bollards at a cost of £1,566.00 excluding installation.

 

Members were reminded that car parking is mentioned in the lease and is the responsibility of the club –

            4.12        To ensure that members/visitors parking vehicles do so without causing a nuisance to local residents and do not park on the grass or other verges whether to car park is full or not.

 

Members were asked to approve the next course of action.

 

It was noted that the bollards had been installed as a goodwill gesture as the verge and bollards were Highway property.

 

                                It was RESOLVED that;

                                the request for further bollards be declined as this was on Highway land.

OS/26/008           Straight Bit Recreation Ground

                                1  CCTV

Members were asked to note that the second camera had been installed, and the software was on the Clerk’s mobile phone. 

 

2 Flackwell Heath Bowls Club Gala Day – Reminder

Members are asked to note that the Flackwell Heath Bowls Club are holding a Gala Day on Friday 10 July.

 

OS/26/009           Tylers Green Common

1  Tracks

Members were asked to note that the grid system for Track 6, which we received a quotation in the sum of £44,500 – this system had not worked on a path elsewhere and was therefore being removed.

 

The Clerk will ask the contractor to attend the site again with a view to investigating an alternative means of surfacing.

 

OS/26/010           Biodiversity Project

Members were asked to consider the Plan for Orchard Green, Flackwell Heath.

 

It was noted that the Plan would be used a model for other sites that are part of the project.  It would be reviewed and updated regularly.

 

It was RESOLVED that;

the Plan for Orchard Green be approved

 

Members were asked to consider the purchase of a small one door noticeboard for Orchard Green. 

 

It was RESOLVED that;

Quote A for a man-made timber 4 x A4 at a cost of £1,046.96 be approved.

 

Cllr Griffiths voted against.

 

OS/26/011           Blind Lane, Flackwell Heath Dog Waste Bin

Members were asked to consider a request for an extra dog waste bin at the top of the footpath on Blind Lane, Flackwell Heath.  The dog bin would cost £299.00 and the collection cost for the year would be £566.28. 

 

It was RESOLVED that;

the request for an extra dog bin be declined as this was not our land.

 

Cllr Forbes abstained from the vote

 

OS/26/012           Railway Land

Members were asked to note that the report had been received from the consultant who was happy with the state of the bank now that the trees had been removed; asking that the remaining trees be monitored regularly.  There was also a recommendation that the bank be planted with ground stabilising shrubs.  This site would be part of the Committee Site Visit.

 

OS/26/013           Committee Site Visits

Members were asked to consider a date for the site visit.  In the absence of the chairman, three dates were suggested; 8 July, 16 July and 23 July at either 9.30am or 10am start.  Date and time to be confirmed at a later date.

 

The following sites would be visited:

 

• Tylers Green Common – tracks – ongoing issue with surfaces
• Railway Land – to approve a grid for initial shrub planting in Autumn
• Orchard Green, Flackwell Heath – biodiversity project

 

There were no further suggestions.

 

OS/26/014           Committee Finances

1  Income & Expenditure

Members were asked to note the income and expenditure for month 1 (April)

 

OS/26/015           Questions from committee members and the public

• Cllr Darch highlighted a tree that was failing on the footpath leading from New Road to the back Common.
• The Clerk would ask the grounds team to inspect.
• Cllr Forbes advised that the Sequioa on the front common needed crown lifting.
• Cllr Thomas asked if there had been any progress on the woodland off Hammersley Lane.
• Cllr Wood advised that this would not be progressing.
• Cllr Griffiths advised that it had been reported that the toilets at the Straight Bit Recreation Ground were being locked.
• The clerk advised that the toilet block was a Buckinghamshire Council asset.

 

OS/26/016           Accounts for payment

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

 

It was RESOLVED that;

the accounts for payment be approved as follows; direct debits to Barclays, Castle Water, C;ear Business, EE, E-On Next, Fuel Card Services Ltd (Motia), HMRC, Iris Software, Peninsula Business Solutions Ltd, Redsquid Communications, Shorts Group Ltd, SSE and Trade UK along with bank transfers to Active Enviropest, BMKALC, Castle Water, Clarity Copiers, Cleaning with Sammi, Country Supplies, ICU Window Cleaning, Payroll, Spaldings Ltd, SparkX Ltd and W Thompson.

 

The chairman of the meeting thanked members for their attendance and closed the meeting at 9pm.

 

 

 

 

Date and time of next meeting:  Thursday 10 September 2026 @ 7.30pm 

 

Signed:                                                 Date: 23 June 2026