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18 Phonebox Magazine | October 2024Newport Pagnell Mayor%u2019s UpdateNewport Pagnell Councillor CornerDates for your diaryCommunity Litter Pick %u2013 our next session will be on Saturday, 2nd November, meeting at 1pm at Hopton Grove Play Park to help litter pick in the Tickford end of the town. Please feel free to join us. Litter picking equipment provided. Councillor SurgeryOur fi nal surgery for the year will be on 26th October 2024, from 10 %u2013 11.30am at the Swan Revived Hotel, Newport Pagnell. The next date will be 25th January 2025.200 Club Winners August 1st prize Ms Winton, 2nd prize Mrs LeCount.You can contact the Focus team by emailing newportsouthlibdems@gmail.com or phoning 01908 216366. Follow us on Facebook %u2013 Newport Pagnell South Ward. Newport Pagnell South FOCUS Team, Cllrs Jane & Andy Carr, Tony OyakhireNewport Pagnell%u2019s Own PoemIt was our pleasure to sponsor a local poet to write a poem for Newport Pagnell. %u00a0 Seb Lewis-Old recited his poem, along with several pieces of his work, at an evening event at Annie%u2019s tea rooms, where he was joined by Tony and the City Mayor, Cllr Marie Bradburn.%u00a0 The event, aimed at being our contribution to the Culture and Literary Festival, was an almost sell-out and showcased Seb%u2019s talent along with Annie%u2019s cakes.%u00a0We look forward to the positive impact of other businesses in the town being able to host similar events in the future, as they were certainly well received.Seb%u2019s poem will be available shortly for all to enjoy. %u00a0 Increase in Local CrimeIt is noticeable that there is an increase in theft from cars and vans, along with thefts from homes.%u00a0 Jane and Andy%u2019s vehicle was recently broken into, along with a number of others on the same night, triggering concerns that even with good street lighting and local camera doorbells, theft is on the rise.%u00a0 We have therefore consulted with local Thames Valley Police representatives to see what we can do. They are asking for all local crime to be reported so TVP can look for patterns and hopefully make arrests. However, to do this we need a system to help us. We are therefore hosting local representatives from Neighbourhood Watch at our next surgery in October. Please come along to hear how we can help each other. Sad Passing of Cllr Robin Bradburn Cllr Robin Bradburn was an ex-resident of Newport Pagnell, having lived on Wolverton Road for a number of years. In more recent times he was a city councillor for Bradwell Ward and the Lib Dem Group Leader. His passing has been a huge loss to his family, friends and colleagues, including our ward team. We would like to pay tribute to his dedication and commitment to the city as a whole; we shall all miss him and would want to send our sincere best wishes to his wife, Marie, and his children, Kerrie (also a City Councillor) and Alan. In September, a voluntary group held Newport Pagnell%u2019s fi rst Cultural and Literary festival. Local Authors, Artists and performers from various cultural backgrounds came together and opened many people%u2019s eyes to other cultures. Several Mayors from other towns, the Mayor of Milton Keynes, the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire and our local MP also attended.The event had been advertised in the Phonebox and in the Town Council%u2019s %u201cTowntalk%u201d newsletter, each of which should be delivered to every home in town. It was promoted on a large banner and an A-board on the High Street and also on social media. However, many folks said they didn%u2019t know about the event happening. I want to really encourage readers to look at every issue of Towntalk (and Phonebox) and add local events to their diaries. For example, on Thursday 3rd October I%u2019m hosting a free musical night at the parish church of St Peter and St Paul%u2019s in aid of the Fire Fighters charity which is my mayoral cause this year. Although it%u2019s free, if you%u2019re able please bring cash to donate or visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/npmayor24 It is also Halloween on Thursday 31st October and in many parts of town if you have a pumpkin or other Halloween decoration on your front door/garden you can expect visits from %u201ctrick or treaters%u201d. At our house we%u2019ll have a pumpkin out and that means we%u2019ll spend about three hours constantly responding to knocks. We also have the following events coming up in November:*%u2002Firework display, Friday 3rd November *%u2002Remembrance Sunday, 10th November*%u2002 Christmas Light switch on Festival, Saturday 30th November.Whatever the season there is always something good happening in Newport Pagnell so I hope you can attend some of the above.In other news, we expect the contractors developing the Marsh End roundabout to restrict traffi c for many weeks from 14th October. That means left turn only from Willen Road in either direction and left or straight ahead only for those on Monks Way at that roundabout. At a public meeting in July, Milton Keynes City Council confi rmed they%u2019ll be watching the impact closely and will act if it causes unpredicted issues.As always, Phonebox readers with any comments about Newport Pagnell, can contact me at pauldayMK@outlook.com and can follow my Mayoral activity at %u201cPaul Day, Newport Pagnell%u201d (@PaulkDayMK) on Facebook.