Page 32 - Phonebox Magazine May 2016

Olney Councillors Corner
Due to the election rules known as Purdah, this article is written by David Hosking and Peter Geary only. Keith McLean is seeking re- election to Milton Keynes Council on Thursday 5th May.
Sainsbury’s in Olney
A Sainsbury’s store in Olney was rst proposed nearly two years ago with a planning application being submitted to Milton Keynes Council (MKC) in September 2014. This application was recommended for approval by of cers of MKC and was considered at the February meeting of the Development Control Committee. The application was refused by the Committee for a number of reasons including the amount of car parking places.
Sainsbury’s has now re-submitted an application. The new application (reference number: 16/00858/FUL) is very similar to the initial application but has changed the layout of the service yard to incorporate some more car parking and limits the area for the non-grocery sales area within the store. If you have views either way on this planning application, then you have the opportunity to comment by writing to the Planning Of cer at MKC who is dealing with the case: Nicola Wheatcroft, Civic Of ces, 1 Saxon Gate East, Milton Keynes, MK9 3EJ, nicola.wheatcroft@milton-keynes.gov.uk
Alternatively, you may make your comment via the Planning Portal using the above reference number. Your comments need to reach the Planning Of cer by Wednesday 18th May. Due to Peter Geary’s family interest with the proposed development, all issues relating to this application have to be dealt with by Keith McLean and/or David Hosking.
Crime in Olney
After the article in the Daily Mail a few months ago the Olney area has seen a spike in burglaries. The number of incidents is still relatively low, compared to the average for the area and the country as a whole, but the increase is concerning and has seen Thames Valley Police increase the amount of patrols in the area. One person has been caught, convicted and sentenced to a spell in prison for some of the burglaries and the others are actively being investigated, with further arrests and convictions anticipated. In the meantime, residents should
32 Phonebox Magazine | May 2016
Cllr Peter Geary
Cllr David Hosking
check again that their property is secure and if you see anything suspicious then please report it to the police on the non-emergency line 101. If you see a crime in progress please immediately call 999. Thames Valley Police are always happy to provide advice to home owners and businesses on how to protect their property. As part of a process for doing this, Thames Valley Police will be holding two sessions locally. These will be at the Olney Centre between 2.00pm and 8.00pm on Thursday 5th May and also in Lavendon at the Pavilion on Saturday 14th May between 10.00am and 12 noon. Please do go along if you have any questions or concerns which you would like to raise with the Police.
The Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations
Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday was celebrated in a number of ways across the ward. Olney lit the beacon on Barn eld on the evening of 21st April, and beacons were also lit in Emberton and Moulsoe as well as in central Milton Keynes. The celebrations were started two days earlier by North Crawley who had purchased a new ag that was raised by the Mayor of Milton Keynes, Cllr Keith Mclean. On 21st April we were invited to a celebratory lunch at the Kitchener Centre by the staff and service users. As well as lunch they had musical entertainment supplied by a local singer which involved some dancing with staff and service users. Further celebrations and parties are planned for June in Ravenstone and North Crawley. Hopefully other parishes will be holding their own event; look out locally for details.
Elections
Election day is Thursday 5th May, when the whole of the Olney Ward will go to the polls. The elections are for the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley region, the councillor for the Olney Ward on Milton Keynes Council and in some areas parish councils. The parishes with contested elections are Clifton Reynes and Ravenstone. In Weston Underwood four people were nominated for ve places, in Olney twelve were nominated for fteen places and in Lavendon ve were nominated for eight places. In these parishes there will be no election but the parishes will be looking to ll the vacancies either by co-option or through by-election. If you are interested in standing in any area where there are vacancies, then either contact the parish clerk or email olneyward@milton-keynes.gov.uk we will be able to let you know how to apply.
Monthly surgeries on the rst Friday of each month
If you have any issues that you would like to discuss with us in person, then please come along to one of our monthly surgeries. These are run in the Olney Centre on the rst Friday of each month between 7.30pm and 8.30pm – appointments are not necessary. Alternatively, we can be contacted at other times by ‘phone or email – our details are as follows:
Peter Geary – 01234 714260 – peter.geary@milton-keynes.gov.uk David Hosking – 01234 241010 – david.hosking@milton-keynes.gov.uk