Olney Town Council Reports

A new year beckoned with the gathering of the first Olney Town Council meeting of 2025. But that was about all that was ‘new’. As councillors settled down around the table, it became abundantly clear that there were still plenty of old problems, old issues and old squabbles to overcome.

There were no members of the public wishing to speak at the open forum section. In that case, said Mayor Debbie Whitworth, I will use some of the time to read this letter. She held aloft a missive that had been given to her by angry residents from Yardley Manor, the new estate in the north of Olney.
The locals were revolting. Feeling fed up and let down they had gathered together in a posse, hoping to bring a bit of weight to their call for action over their grievances. Referring directly to Phonebox Magazine’s January edition, the letter was about their ‘utter disappointment and concerns’ about the delays to the infrastructure and community amenities that had been promised when they moved in. These included – and still include – a community centre, a playground, landscaping, roads and pathways around the whole of the estate, flood defences, an art project and a bus stop. It was clearly a case of ‘bad Manors’.
The lack of completion of any of these features is, said the letter, ‘affecting the quality of the lives of all of those who have decided to come to your town’.
‘Your town’? The words had a ‘them and us’ feel to them. They hung in the air like the fog down at Goosey Bridge. A veiled threat which sat uncomfortably in the council chambers.
The Mayor continued with trepidation. The committee fear the development will never be completed ‘as promised in the sales pitches’, read Debbie. The letter reminded the council that the 200 or so houses on the estate contribute to more than £250,000 towards local services. We spend money in local shops and restaurants and are contributing to the vibrancy and growth of your local economy, it boomed. The writers demanded that the council adds its weight to their cause: namely making sure there are no more delays by Vistry Group – the housebuilder formerly known as Bovis Homes – to the various residential features that have been promised.
The community centre was particularly singled out by the unhappy correspondence, as a litany of problems was slowly unfolded before the council.
No work has started on the community centre, the letter reported, and the whole area set aside for it is ‘flooded and underwater’. Our houses are being flooded, it continued, and ‘we are still awaiting flood defences’.
The estate’s residents have now set up a steering committee of more than 200 people and have asked for Olney Town Council to support them as they demonstrate that delays will not be tolerated (‘not on my Manor’).
The Mayor said that the details of the letter couldn’t be discussed at that time but wanted the contents to be noted by councillors.

There were no apologies for absence as a full council was sitting. ‘Full’ is a loose term at present though, because, with 11 members, they are still several short of the desired 15. Town Clerk Jane Brushwood was welcomed back by the Mayor following a recent accident which had left her injured. Minutes from the previous meeting were approved.

Cold-ridden Keith McLean readied himself to deliver his monthly report, but before he could even take a snuffling breath the Mayor said she had a ‘mini update’ to impart concerning the so-called One Stop crossing along the High Street. She and Keith had met with Milton Keynes Council’s highways people late last year to discuss the data they had about the crossing and its camera which had been running for three months. At that meeting it was reported that there were only ‘a couple’ of near-misses on the site.
One was a cyclist who had not dismounted from his bike, and there was a runner crossing the road, which was also recorded. Following that meeting, officers agreed to the following steps: a street lighting team will conduct a full lighting assessment of the crossing; they agreed also to an improved flashing ‘Belisha’ beacon with greater visibility; they were going to investigate road markings on the approach to the crossing; and the camera which monitors the site will remain until the end of January. Debbie asked residents to contact her or Councillor McLean if there were any other incidents of note.
Deirdre Bethune said that the iron posts near the crossing were ‘one of the worst things’ about the facility as they obscure the view from drivers. It hides pedestrians, she added. David Tyler agreed, he said he had a stigmatism which can give a ‘starry effect’ when he drives past the posts. And David Chennells nodded wholeheartedly at Deirdre’s comment: three people have told him that the crossing is the ‘most dangerous one they have ever come across’, he said, because the posts obscure visibility and with LED lights shining on them, you can see nothing. They are actually inhibiting good vision there, he added, particularly with cars parked on either side.
Colin Rodden said that the concern he had was that OTC has asked for a push-button traffic system there like the two that Olney has a either end of the town, but that highways experts say it’s not appropriate at the One Stop site because of a bend in the road. Well, it’s all leading to that final outcome, said the Mayor. No, that was all done before, said Colin, so we’re going round in circles here. My understanding was that when they put this one in, they did a risk assessment and decided a push button was not appropriate for the road.
It was a cost issue, said the Clerk. Oh, so it was all about cost, said Colin. Not about safety then, just about cost. He wanted further assessments to find out ‘where we are with this’. That’s what they are doing, countered the Clerk, somewhat wearily.
The cost for this is phenomenal, confirmed the Mayor. We are nearer to resolving this than we were 12 months ago, she said, but we are having to go through the motions and relay back to (MK) Council. But in three months of camera monitoring, said the Mayor, there have only been those two near-misses.
At last it was Keith McLean’s turn. Ironically, the start of his ward message to council was concerning the One Stop crossing. He said he had seen the footage taken from the crossing too. He described the technology as ‘Artificial Intelligence’ and said there were still ‘lots of things to learn there’. He said the road was a main trunk route, so needed Department of Transport permission to do anything like putting down road markings. He said work to open up the crossing to make it more visible could mean removing some of the car parking spaces which in itself could ‘cause problems’.
He said the majority of cars passing over the crossing are not speeding, adding that he had looked at the footage of the runner ‘near-miss’ which was mentioned earlier. He comes from the east side, said Keith, runs up and doesn’t even break stride, he goes straight across. And the cyclist coming from the Sandwich Land side of the road, added Keith, ‘again does not even slow down’. It was a bit like… There was a pause. What was that game we used to play? asked Keith thoughtfully. Chicken, said Deirdre at once, suggesting that it might have been a pastime she had once enjoyed. Yes that’s it, said Keith. Luckily they didn’t get hit, but the evidence is there that there is no speeding, and the cases the cameras picked up were down to pedestrian and cyclist behaviour, not the drivers. So he didn’t think there was much of a case at present for a signal-controlled crossing there.
A consultation on the proposed changes to the ward boundaries is open until mid-February, Keith continued. The proposals are that Olney Ward would ‘get back’ Stoke Goldington and Gayhurst but likely lose Moulsoe, which is growing fast as the massive ‘MK East’ site is developed.
The budget for 2025/26 for MK City Council is still open for comment until the end of January, said the councillor. So if you want to make any comments please do so. There is a tender out for a new demand-responsive transport link, which was known as MK Connect. More meetings are due, said Keith, and he hoped to be able to find out more about current plans.
Each ward councillor has £1,000 to give every year to support local projects. Keith said that if anyone around the table or any resident had an idea of where the money (‘not a lot’) could be spent, to let the ward councillors know.
He ended his slot with two proposals, one of which was the closure of Newport Pagnell tip to move to a larger facility in Milton Keynes’s Old Wolverton or Tattenhoe. It’s part of a broader scheme to close three local tips: NP, New Bradwell and Bleak Hall. It could mean a longer journey time for people wishing to dispose of rubbish from Olney, he said. The other proposal is to charge £55 to have an extra ‘green’ bin. It wouldn’t affect everyone but he suspected there were more homes ‘this side of the M1 with more than one green bin than on the other side’. Keith asked if there were any questions. Colin Rodden’s hand went straight up.
I have two points, he said. First, Happy New Year. That’s not a point by the way, he helpfully cleared up. I hear the Junction 14 road closure might be extended and closed for a longer period of time. Are we trying to do anything to get that open in some way so people can use that A509, which is dead to them at the moment?
And as far as Yardley Manor goes, Colin continued without pause, what can ward councillors do to support the residents? The Clerk wasn’t happy that Colin had asked that particular question of Keith when the Mayor was sat there, virtually next to him. Debbie’s a ward councillor, she said, and we’ve been through all this already. Debbie nodded in agreement.
We have three ward councillors and I’m talking to another one, countered Colin. Bad move. Deirdre Bethune instantly waded in to support the Clerk. You are only supposed to ask the ward councillor questions about what he’s talked about.
No, I’m talking to Keith because he has been involved with this, as has Peter (Geary, the third ward councillor).
No, we’ve been through all this, said the Clerk again, this time with a shake of the head. The Mayor echoed Deirdre’s comment about asking appropriate questions at the right time. Otherwise we are going to be here all night, affirmed the Clerk.
Colin was now fighting a three-way battle and had to keep his wits about him. This was his chance to back down. But no, he opted to poke the bear, stir up the hornets’ nest and shake the box of snakes.
Really? he asked the now silent room. Where does it say that we can only ask questions on what was reported? Oh-oh. We all waited, scarcely daring to breathe.
Thankfully, committee room veteran Keith McLean could see that this little diversion from the night’s agenda was about to get messy, and stepped in with a more conciliatory approach. I’m happy to answer questions on this, he said. The view is that the A509 section will not open for some time and will not even open in its current form. To get from Olney to Junction 14 (of the M1) there will be a ring road around the north side of the new development. He suggested there’s likely to be a junction built near the North Crawley bridge on the approach to the current junction.
I don’t think we will see the A509 as a straight-through road from the Tickford roundabout to Junction 14 as we know it, he added.
On Yardley Manor, Keith said he was disappointed to see ‘no movement in about eight weeks’ but suggested an approach that wasn’t seen as ‘antagonistic’. At some time, he added, he would be supportive of saying to the developers that they must do something about it or find themselves with ‘legal action taken against you’.
David Tyler asked if Keith thought that closing Newport Pagnell tip would exacerbate fly tipping in the local area. It has been assessed, said Keith, as was the potential for increased journey times, but I don’t know the results.
The Mayor finished the ward section by saying the deadline for the voluntary removal of a crane near the new Aldi store deadline had passed. She said MKCC would now be serving a formal notice for its removal.

There was no PCSO present, so the Clerk read out the list of shame from December. It included 1 x burglary of business, 1 x burglary of residential, 1 x criminal damage, 1 x drink/drug drive, and 4 x thefts (handbag, trailer, Hoover, mobile phone). Other incidents not crime-related were listed as anti-social behaviour and a suspicious person or vehicle. There was also a report of suspicious people looking at and breaking into vans.
Colin Rodden tried his luck again. So there’s no shoplifting here then, he asked. Look’s like it, came the Clerk’s rather curt reply. The Mayor clarified matters: there are none reported, she said. Thank you, said Colin.

Has everyone looked at the report, asked the Mayor. Does anything leap out on the expenses report, she asked, is there anything to query? She should have known better. Up shot Colin’s hand again.
Just a quick one, he said cheerily. I know there are a couple of people doing cemetery work and some cleaning, so are they paying their own tax on that as contractors?
Colin, do you really need to ask that, said a clearly riled Clerk. Yes, I think I do, said Councillor Rodden. Well, that’s sad, returned the Clerk. OK, thank you, said the Mayor stepping in. Can we approve the budget sheet please? It was duly approved, as were expenses.

Dan Rowland said he had been to the meeting of the Olney Flood Group. The local residents have been in touch with Newport Pagnell’s similar group and will take their own activities forward.

We were back at the Manor again. The Mayor said that she and the Clerk had been in regular contact with MKCC and with the developers with a view to pushing forward with their commitment to complete the schedule of items to be rectified. The playing area is open, as you all know, said the Mayor, albeit flooded. The area’s drainage is waiting for an installation date from the contractor which is likely to be in February. Paths through the same areas are being programmed in, she added, and the final remedials on road drainage will be done following an inspection ‘walk-about’. Completion of paths at the front of the site should also be completed in the next couple of months. Trees and outstanding landscaping are all underway, with new planting as promised. The football pitch will be ready for Spring and the Community Building completion is scheduled for the end of this year.
We have liaised with the city council’s James Williamson who is monitoring and implementing everything for us and being extremely helpful, said Debbie. We’re not just sitting here doing ‘absolutely zilch’. I just want it put on record that the council is working for our residents. But we can only do so much.
Colin Rodden’s hand went up, to nobody’s surprise. Can we get some dates (for the completion), please? The Clerk came straight back. We’ve had those, and they’ve gone past them, she said. We can’t do anything more. It didn’t really answer Colin’s question, but he let it go.
David Chennells had a good point. My understanding when you build things is that you put the drainage in first. You don’t actually build something, wait for it to flood and then put the drains in afterwards. So I just wonder, who would build something without putting proper drainage in before they started? Or perhaps why did it happen? There was a few seconds of silence. You’re shaking your heads as if to say nobody’s got a clue, said David in the direction of the Mayor and Clerk. No, we’re not able to say, said the Clerk. That is something between MKCC and the developers. They have their own inspectors, That’s not down to us. All we can do is keep feeding it back.
Christina Diamandopoulos asked whether all this information was being shared with the Yardley Manor mob – sorry, steering group – who had written to the Mayor. Well, it’s just come to light now, but absolutely it should be, confirmed Debbie.

This document will be sent out to the council’s volunteer drivers and is about what they are expected to do when collecting passengers, such as when they can use a mobile phone in an emergency and keeping the council informed of any driving licence points accrued. Dan Rowland asked if it was the responsibility of the driver to charge the council’s electric minibus. We have a charger here, said the Clerk. But we can’t work out how to use it, she added playfully. The document will evolve, she said, and so it was approved by councillors.

We are, as a council, doing a lot of things, and I think you should be proud of that, said the Clerk. There are some new initiatives added on, said the Mayor. Among them were the Thursday lunch club, community minibus, the Christmas Day lunch, Youth Club, Community Fridge, Tea and Chat and Walk and Talk.

We desperately need councillors to volunteer for the Olney Centre Management Committee, said the Mayor. It has now been renamed ‘Olney Community Centres Management’. Do I have any takers, she asked. David Chennells and Colin Rodden said they would join that committee. But, asked Colin, can I drop HR? He was duly allowed to, with Chris Shaw taking his place on that committee. Could one of Chris’ first HR jobs be to find some new councillors?

The next meeting will be held on Monday 3rd February at 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.