The Liberal Democrat’s Pupil Premium provides schools with extra money to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
This will help whole classes move forward faster together.
In our area all our schools have benefitted this year and will be getting even more next year:
Monkston Primary School £33,019
Kents Hill School £16,198
Walton High £127,092
Oakgrove School £147,028
Don’t forget that the Lib Dems in government have just announced free hot school meals for the under 7s.
Good News! Vanessa McPake reports that getting a dog bin in Simpson Road, on the corner of the footpath leading to Caldecotte Lake,
is a step nearer, paid for by the parish council.
Photo: flashback Vanessa McPake with some of the mess dumped there!
There have been a number of burglaries and thefts from cars over the past few months in our area. The police are doing their best to catch the gang responsible and have been giving out advice to residents including:
Don’t forget you can ring your neighbourhood police team on 101 for advice on how to keep safe. And you can get local crime alerts by signing up to www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk
Sadly, some young hooligans have destroyed four of the seven trees next to Heronsbrook Meeting Place. This land is owned by the Parks Trust who will replace the trees in the spring. Vanessa McPake has had discussions with the police and the Parks Trust. They are both keeping an eye on the area. The police say if you spot anyone causing damage please report it straight away by ringing 101.
Subhan Shafiq and Vanessa McPake at the site next to Heronsbrook Meeting Place with the broken trees and the police notice.
After months of problems, ignored by MK Council, some greenery is finally being cut back. Please let us know if any areas have been missed.
Jenni and Subhan in the middle of the roundabout in Monkston Park. All the weeds have now been cut back.
Vanessa McPake got the overhanging tree in Frithwood Crescent, Kents Hill, cut back to stop residents being hit by branches.
Cllr. Subhan Shafiq reported the broken wooden fencing along Lichfield Down, Walnut Tree and thanks to pressure from the Lib Dem Focus team it is now fixed at the key junction with Hockliffe Brae.
Vanessa McPake has also reported the other stretch of broken fencing along Lichfield Down, near the shop and the school and been told it too will shortly be fixed, once parts arrive.
Subhan Shafiq and Vanessa McPake with the workmen on Lichfield Down
Well done to Kents Hill & Monkston Parish Council for keeping children busy this summer. Activities run until August 30th, so go along and beat the end-of-holidays blues!
Play Sessions for ages 4-14
(children under 8 should be accompanied by an adult):
Monkston Green:
Monday 10-12.30 (NOT Bank Holiday Monday)
Friday 2-4.30 pm
Monkston Park Green:
Tuesdays 2-4.30 pm
Kents Hill Park
Wednesdays 2-4.30 pm
Youth Club
For older children and teenagers the Youth Club at Monkston Pavilion on Tuesday evenings has now split into two:
7.00-8.30 pm for years 6 – 8
8.30 – 10 pm for years 9-11
Details on their website at www.kentshill-monkston-pc-org.uk – play schemes are under News and the Youth Club is under Youth Matters
“These sessions are really popular. Check them out for your own children and teenagers” says Parish Councillor Jenni Ferrans.
Cllr Subhan Shafiq and Vanessa McPake at the self-build site on Walton Park
The developer of the Chase Avenue/Limbaud Close site has been announced. There will only be 5 large self-build homes on the site. The Lib Dem Focus team has demanded a full public consultation so residents can have their say on traffic and landscape issues.
MK Council is consulting on the future of the land around the A421 on the eastern edge of Milton Keynes, including Church Farm.
Developments are decided in three stages, with consultation at each stage, and it’s important to understand that what is decided at each stage can’t normally be changed later:
Stage 1 – this one – the brief. This stage will set what is included in this development, eg. whether a main road or a community facility is there or not. That much will be fixed now. If you do want to comment at this level, the time to do it is now!
They’ll also give an outline of their intended layout, so that you can influence their thoughts before they draw up the final outline plan for stage 2.
Stage 2: Outline Plan – typically this sets the access roads and the basic layout of what goes where. It’s often accompanied by a “design code” which sets the look and feel of the development.
Stage 3: Detailed plans of each part – this sets the fine details of what goes where and the detailed design.
There will be exhibitions for you to see the Stage 1 brief and make comments on:
Wednesday 4 September, 5.30pm-7.30pm
At: Wavendon Community Centre, Walton Road, Wavendon
Thursday 12 September, 5.00pm-7.30pm
At: The Memorial Hall, High Street, Woburn Sands
Saturday 14th September, 2.00pm-4.00pm
At: Wavendon Gate Pavilion, Isaacson Drive, Wavendon Gate, MK7 7RZ
There are also copies in libraries and on MK Council’s website under Planning Policy.
Cllr Jenni Ferrans checks the proposals for the new development along the A421.
Residents of Walton Grange have been telling the Lib Dem Focus team about the problem of not being able to register with the local Walnut Tree GPs. They are being referred to GPs two buses and a long walk away!
Jenni Ferrans and Vanessa McPake have met with NHS England and with the Health Centre. They reminded NHS England that money was available from building Walton Grange to expand health services. They are all going away to have meetings and think about it!
The Lib Dems think this is a poor show, they should have sorted out how the local GPs could take on local Walton Grange residents before the houses were even built! They have had years to sort this out! The Focus team will keep you posted.
Cllr Jenni Ferrans and Vanessa McPake outside Walnut Tree surgery