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October 2024 | Phonebox Magazine 17September 2024developer from selling any more houses until they have delivered their legal requirement and done what they should, said Jim Cooper. In theory you could have done that, said Peter, but you try and fi nd any court in the land to uphold it %u2013 they would say, %u2018Yes you should have done it, but we are not going to stop anyone walking into their new house because of this technicality%u2019. Developers know that, and they push back. We should not allow developers to ride coach and horses through legislation, Colin Rodden waded in. Sure, said Peter, but someone needs to enforce that agreement. Can they be fi ned if they do not do what they should, asked Dan Rowland. That is not a system that is currently in place, returned Peter.The Mayor brought up the matter of road safety as part of her Ward Councillor%u2019s report. There has been increased parking offi cer presence in Olney recently. Calming measures had been installed on Yardley Road near the Middle School, and 20mph zones had been introduced on Yardley Road and Foxhill. Weston Road, the next thoroughfare is coming up for similar consideration %u2018subject to community support%u2019. Parking is also a problem near the school, and a plan to increase double yellow lines there is being considered.A new sensor has been installed at the so-called One Stop crossing, which will collect data for the next two months. If it shows any near-misses, we will be on track to get the %u2018Stop Means Stop traffi c lights%u2019 said the Mayor.David Chennells has a startling piece of information up his sleeve and chose now to reveal it: the 20mph speed signs near the school were only showing in one direction. Cue stunned silence around the table. One direction? Where do you mean, asked an incredulous Mayor. Moore%u2019s Hill said David. It%u2019s 20mph going towards Yardley Hastings, but it%u2019s 30mph coming the other way. There are no signs on the approach to the roundabout coming down from the industrial site. The fi rst three times I went along the road I thought I had gone blind, he joked, but I realised they had forgotten to put the signs up. The Mayor was clearly shocked by that revelation and agreed to point out the oversight to the local roads inspector.Councillors who represent at external meetingsHas anyone been to any meetings? asked the Mayor and sat waiting for a response. Well, you have, said the Clerk to guff aws of laughter. The Mayor had forgotten that she and the Clerk had been to the Kitchener Centre to see its refreshed garden and interiors. Chris Tennant and Jim Cooper represented the council at MK Council%u2019s %u2018Plan MK 2050%u2019 presentation. And Chris Shaw was in attendance when MKCC came to the Olney Centre to speak to residents about the plans, said the Clerk. I was at that meeting too, said Jim Cooper, despondent at being forgotten. Oh, I didn%u2019t see you, sorry Jim, said the Clerk.Deirdre Bethune attended a user group meeting at Emberton Park while Mary Prosser and the Clerk went to the final Amazing Grace AG250 anniversary concert at St Peter and St Paul Church.River water pollutionThe Mayor said that, sadly, water levels had been dropping, which means there is less dilution in the river, so there is a rise in pollution in the water. Levels are growing because of the runoff or leakage from fertilised soil, she added. Excess weed growth and algae contribute to the problem, she said. But due to the fantastic work that has been carried out by the Olney and Clifton Fishing Association, she said, for the fi rst time in many years the riverbanks at the Goosey Bridge had been cleared of weed. It%u2019s nice to walk around and see that, and it means there is half a mile of bank cleared for the anglers, she explained. She confi rmed that MKCC and the Environment Agency will continue to help with funding for ongoing research and monitoring of water quality.David Tyler said that cows that live in fi elds close to the river are allowed to go into the water where they defecate. We should contact farmers to remind them of their legal obligations to keep the animals a certain distance away, he added. The Mayor agreed that they should do that. I%u2019m not sure that%u2019s our responsibility, interjected the Clerk, but we can report that to the Environment Agency, she added.Update on recreation groundsI don%u2019t really have an update on the Rec, said the Clerk. We%u2019ve had a couple of bad days with parking problems and litter problems but really there is not a great deal more that we can do, and the security patrols are still in place. We have this on the agenda as a monthly item, she added with a shrug of the shoulders, but to be honest I don%u2019t think we have anything to say. Shall we take it off ? That suggestion was agreed by everyone and it was also agreed that residents should continue to report any issues down at the Rec through the correct channels.The community building there (also known as the ex-football club) now has a planning application for proposed extension work. We just need to wait for that, and then we can get on with it, said the Clerk. Well, we can do once we%u2019ve got some%u2026 she seemed to hesitate as if trying to fi nd the right word. Money? chipped in Ian Stokes helpfully. Yes, money, said the Clerk, but we have to get some quotes in fi rst.Data from SIDSDeputy Clerk Rob Mungham had the data from the town%u2019s SIDS (speed indicator devices) and was pleased to report that June%u2019s average speed along Aspreys was 25mph and on Driftway it was 22mph. In July average speeds along the High Street were between 21mph and 24mph depending which end you were at, and on Yardley Road the average was 21mph. The two SID detectors would now be moved to Weston Road for two months, he reported.MiscellaneousA new Walk and Talk initiative has been launched from the Olney Centre, the council has agreed to support the VE 80th Anniversary celebration, and the Clerk reported that the Town Clock has now been refaced and would be reinstalled in its former glory at the new Cobbs Garden Dental Practice, which had previously been the NatWest Bank and DCa Architects building. The council thanked Garrard and Allen Solicitors for paying for the clock work. The OTC website has a new directory on it showing local services and businesses as well as volunteering and social groups.Is there anything else? Asked the Mayor, or will I close the meeting. %u201cWhat about AOB (any other business)?%u201d asked fresher Chennells with the charming naivety of a fi rst-year student trying to make friends at uni. %u201cNo, we don%u2019t do AOB,%u201d said everyone, in unison, around the table.Oh, sorry, said the crestfallen rookie.The next meeting will be held on Monday 7th October 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.THE HANGOUT HUB OFFICIAL OPENING AT OLNEY CENTRE: SEE PAGE 56