Air ambulance service helps deliver vaccines
Little Marlow: Opposition to plan for land in country park
ALL AREAS: Thames Valley Air Ambulance (TVAA) staff have been helping to deliver vaccines in the area.
Staff at the charity have volunteered their time to help with inoculations in the community, as well as helping in non-clinical roles.
The majority of the charity’s front-line workers have also now had their first jab. All of its paramedics, dispatch assistants and operations support staff have received their first dose, and 90 per cent of TVAA’s doctors have also been vaccinated.
Simon Wetenhall, Thames Valley Air Ambulance senior critical care paramedic said: “After such a tough year, the amazing progress of the UK’s COVID vaccination rollout has been a shot of good news amongst the gloom.
“For some people, the trip to get vaccinated may be the first time they have left their home in months.
“When people arrive for their vaccination, they tell you how much it means to them. For many, it is a sign that they might be able to see their children or grandchildren again soon.
“It is a light at the end of the tunnel.”
‘The benefits of an outdoor nursery are huge and with COVID, parents want this option more than ever’
BRAY: A forest preschool in Bray is fighting to remain open by filing a second retrospective planning application.
Little Muddy Me, in Monkey Island Lane, has launched a retrospective planning application to change the use of land from an outdoor leisure area to an outdoor preschool.
If the application is successful, it will allow the preschool to retain the structures it has already built for this purpose, including fencing, seating and toilets.
Planning permission was sought last March for a change of use but it was withdrawn by the preschool. Had the application progressed to determination, officers ‘would have been minded to recommend refusal’ because of its effect on the greenbelt.
Officers felt that the proposed change of use would generate more frequent activity on the site, and the visibility of structures from outside the site ‘would cause harm to the openness of the greenbelt spatially [and] visually.’
A total of 20 letters of support for the new application have been submitted to the Royal Borough.
Many of these are from parents whose children have been enjoying Little Muddy Me and its unusual opportunity for learning in nature at preschool level.
Bray Parish Council ward councillors also recommended the application for approval.
Victoria Egarr, who owns Little Muddy Me, said that the community have been ‘very supportive’ and Little Muddy me has been ‘inundated’ with enquiries.
“We are worried and concerned that we won’t get planning and will need to close down,” she said.
“This would be devastating, it’s an amazing environment and the children are thriving.
“The benefits of an outdoor nursery are huge and with COVID, parents want this option for their children more than ever.”
More than 50 residents have objected to a planning application for a battery energy storage facility to be installed on greenbelt near Little
Marlow.
The development will consist of five buildings including two battery containers in Little
Marlow Lakes Country Park, Heathrow Airport. off Coldmoorholme Lane. But Jason Downes, chairman
The containers are about 45ft of the Little Marlow Residents long, which residents feel will Association, said: be a blot on the landscape. “To my mind this is a
“These will be clearly visible complete red herring, it is incredibly from the lane and from nearby spurious. Heathrow AONBs (areas of outstanding has no requirement for this natural beauty),” said resident facility, as it generates its own Sam Kershaw. “It represents power on-site.” yet another assault on the Little Marlow Parish council greenbelt in this area.” has recommended the
The developer has speculated proposal for rejection, as well that the batteries could as a previous set of withdrawn support renewable energy plans for seven battery storage supply and provide power for units on the site.
Valerie Brownridge, chair of the parish council, said that not enough had changed between the two applications, except the Heathrow justification.
“Whether it’s seven battery storage units or two, inappropriate development of the greenbelt is inappropriate development of the greenbelt,” she said.
Joy Morrissey, MP for Beaconsfield, has asked that the proposed development be referred to the planning committee for full consideration.
“The site in question is not only in the greenbelt but actually part of a country park. In my view, this alone makes the site wholly inappropriate, we must protect our green spaces wherever we can,” she said.
A spokeswoman for Buckinghamshire County Council said:
“All objections are being taken into consideration. It is likely to go to the planning
committee for a decision but it is unlikely to go to committee until April.”
A spokesperson for the applicant, Envirotech Energy Solutions, said:
“Whilst we are not suggesting that our project could provide any sort of standalone electricity supply to Heathrow Airport, it is not inconceivable that the combined resource of existing and proposed battery storage installations across the network could be employed
in future system shortages or supply events.
“The Coldmoorholme Lane substation has been selected as the connection point for our proposals for a 7.2MW battery storage facility, as it is the only substation that can currently offer the capacity we require to deliver such energy benefits in this area.”
To see the planning application, visit the planning portal for the Wycombe Area and enter reference 20/08321/FUL.
A project aiming to help combat loneliness and strengthen links between older and younger generations has received funding.
The Beeches Community Board funding for the Pen-Pal project was granted at a meeting on Wednesday, February 17.
Subgroups tasked with seeking ways to support older and vulnerable people, as well as youngsters, recommended the project for funding from the board.
The project, which is a collaboration between Burnham Resilience CIO, Burnham Health Promotion Trust (BHPT), St Peter’s CofE Primary School and elderly residents in Burnham, looks
to encourage older and younger generations to write letters or send puzzles to one another on a regular basis.
The funding will cover costs of envelopes, writing paper and postage for 30 older people and 30 children.
It is currently a pilot project in Burnham, but if it is successful organisers are hoping to roll it out in other parishes and schools and linking with BHPT’s established Burnham
Intergenerational Programme.
Cllr David Anthony, chair of the Beeches Community Board, said: “This wonderful project will help to bridge the gap between younger and older residents.
“Like many of the best ideas, it’s a simple but effective way to make a world of difference to those involved.
“I’m looking forward to hearing how the project progresses in its aim to improve the lives of two groups most affected by the pandemic.”
Paula Prince from Burnham Resilience CIO, co-founder of the project, said: “We’re delighted that the community board is supporting our project, which will potentially make such a difference to everyone involved, in a safe way during the current
COVID-19 restrictions which are affecting us all so much.”
She added: “With loneliness being such a huge problem, which has been highlighted due to the pandemic, this project will, hopefully, help in a small way to combat this problem.
“It’s also good for the young people who may not have been able to have a close relationship with their grandparents or may have lost grandparents due to COVID.
“Children can learn so much from the elderly and vice versa. Anything that can strengthen these ties is a good thing.
“It is hoped that this project will become part of the very successful Intergenerational Project run by BHPT and go on to benefit many elderly residents and children.”