LOCAL NEWS

The Barbara Bus Fund is a registered charity that provides wheelchair adapted vehicles on loan to anyone reliant on their wheelchair for mobility. They may be driven by family members, friends and carers of the wheelchair user at minimal cost and vehicle loan may be for a few hours, a day, a weekend or even a week’s holiday, giving complete freedom and privacy to all concerned.

One of our fleet is a small adapted vehicle the size of a small comfortable van, for which only a normal driving licence is required, which we plan to base at a location in this area from where it may be collected and returned.

Our immediate need is for a safe, easily accessible location where the vehicle may be parked free of charge when not in use - maybe a local care home or other organisation with whom we could agree a mutually satisfactory agreement. We are also seeking local volunteers to assist occasionally with the administration of the new local service.

Initial enquiries should be made by email or telephone to David Thomas at the Barbara Bus Fund: davidbthomas@btinternet.com or 07801 433447 (afternoons/evenings). More details barbarabus.com. Future bookings will be handled centrally (details will be provided). David Thomas

Wendover Community Library is to undergo a major £500k refurbishment thanks to a combination of grant funding and Buckinghamshire Council investment. The planned works will see a brand new community hub created at the library, as well as a range of internal works to improve the layout and access. More on: https://bit.ly/3OpzWfe

Buckinghamshire Library Service has proposed changing its management structure, which will see the Wendover manager also managing Princes Risborough. There will still be a staff library assistant available during opening hours. The consultation closes in early May, with the decision announced soon after.

•Do you have 3 hours a week to give to a family for a 4-6-month period? •Do you have experience with children? This could be through work or volunteering, having younger siblings or raising your own children. •Are you an empathetic, non-judgmental and friendly person, who can offer guidance in a non-patronizing and respectful way? • Are you resilient to setbacks, and open to trying new ideas? Can you share that mindset with parents who need help to build their self-esteem? If you can answer yes to these questions, please email volunteers@connectionsupport.org.uk or phone 07999 118080.

Despite dire warnings of snow showers, nine stalwart members of the public joined the first walk from the new Mead's Farmhouse Kitchen tea rooms. These walks take place on the first Saturday of the month up to and including September. More on: https://bit.ly/3xFwKpW

From 10am on Saturday 7 May Aces High Gallery and High Revs in Station Approach are hosting a FREE Lotus event for all car enthusiasts! There’ll be complimentary refreshments including tea and coffee, or something a little stronger for your passengers, plus a free hog roast and goodie-bag for every Lotus driver who attends. With plenty of free (and secure) parking it seems an ideal opportunity to look around both Aces High and some of the stunning vehicles on display.

No booking necessary, but to help give them an idea on numbers please drop Aces High a line so they can make sure there’s enough tea to go around! uk@aces-high.com or 01296 625681.

The Covid pandemic stopped us all in our tracks and none more so than musicians. There have been many stories in the press about the ingenuity of professional musicians, still determined to play even in the streets.

Here in Wendover, local duo The GillyBillies picked up on this trend and played on their front drive during the summer of 2020 in the worst of the lockdown. It was a good experience for all concerned and brought together (at a distance) neighbours who hitherto had not known each other well.

Now the GillyBillies are trying to build back regular bookings. They play purely for the joy of it or to help charities. Visit gillybillies.com to learn more and get in touch!

A pilot programme has been launched by the Chilterns MS Centre to open up its services to people with neurological conditions other than multiple sclerosis. Initially focussed on people with Parkinson’s Disease, the programme will make further use of the expertise the Wendoverbased charity has built up over the last 36 years. If anyone with Parkinson’s Disease feels they would benefit from the services offered then they should get in touch with the Chilterns MS Centre by phoning 01296 696133.

After ten wonderful years on Wendover High Street we decided it was time for a change of pace, and so have retired, and Cromptons Interiors closed its doors on 14th April 2022. We want to thank all our lovely customers - you have been an amazing support over the years! God bless, Ken and Karen

We wanted to thank you for your support of our event which as you know was scheduled for Saturday, 4 June 2022. Sadly, following a number of meetings in late March, we need to report that with great sadness and much frustration that, owing to logistical issues beyond our control, it is now apparent that we will not be able to proceed as planned. However, subject to final confirmation, we are planning to go ahead with a spectacular celebration on or around Saturday 5 November, 2022. Bob, Fiona & Matt

The WPC HS2 survey has now finished but the results are not available as I write this report.

Currently we are still waiting for the next planning applications from HS2 which are well overdue. These are the Small Dean Viaduct and green tunnel packages. As a result, we have now finished regular meetings with our lobbyist, Murray Stewart and our thanks to him for his help and support over the past years.

In the meantime, we continue to monitor the works by EKFB and endeavour to move forward with alternative Public Rights of Way diversions and other housekeeping. The Easter closure of the Chiltern Line has gone ahead, to enable the conveyor belt to be constructed over the railway track. There will be changes to the traffic management on the A413 until the construction has been completed. Please check our website regularly as all updates about works/closures are available at www.wendover-pc. gov.uk.

Sheila Bulpett - Chair WPC HS2 Working Group