July 2007 Archives
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Thieves strike while owner is asleep
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 1, 2007 10:13 AM
A black Jaguar convertible XKR and silver BMW 325i Estate have been stolen from a home in Knotty Green while the owner slept upstairs.
Between June 27-28 thieves entered a home in in Pitch Pond Close, Knotty Green, Beaconsfield, by forcing open a rear conservatory window and carried out a search of the downstairs whilst the occupants slept.
They then stole the cars using the keys discovered inside the house.
Contact PC Steven Westbrook at Amersham police quoting reference URN 184 of 28 June on 0845 8 505 505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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A new tunnel and a new store
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 2, 2007 11:41 AM
By Luke Cross
TESCO has finally confirmed that it intends to carry on building a tunnel and new superstore in Gerrards Cross.
The long-awaited decision by the supermarket giant comes two years after part of the tunnel over the Chiltern Railway line near Packhorse Road, which was being constructed to hold a new store in the centre of the village, came crashing down onto the track, nearly hitting two passenger trains on June 30, 2005.
Tesco is satisfied that it has come to a "safe and workable solution" and has revealed a conceptual design of how it intends to rebuild the tunnel, leaving the existing arches as they stand but building a new reinforced concrete arch over the top.
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How Tesco intends to do it
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 2, 2007 11:45 AM
How Tesco intends to do it:
Tesco will keep the existing tunnel framework and use a crane to add new units where the collapsed occurred.
These units will then be used as a cast for a new reinforced concrete arch, with concrete being poured over them.
While the original panels slotted together, the new arch will be seamless with a layer of extra support to bear the weight of the store and store foundations.
Concrete will be poured from east to west towards Packhorse Road Bridge, accompanied with fill material and water–proofing.
Once the tunnel is complete, a store should take 26 weeks. The store will be the original design but the foundations will be modified.
Tesco say they will also carry out several "road improvements" by December 2009.
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Network Rail wants more detail of Tesco design
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 2, 2007 11:49 AM
NETWORK Rail has stressed it will have to agree to more detailed designs before any works go ahead in Gerrards Cross.
Tesco has this week said it intends to resume work on the project and produced a conceptual design showing how the tunnel and store will move forward.
But the company also said it will need approval on technical details from Network Rail, which it hopes to have by September.
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Controversial plans passed
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 2, 2007 4:51 PM
By Greg Burns
SOME of the most controversial Beaconsfield planning applications of recent months on one of the town's busiest roads have been passed.
A South Bucks District Council (SBDC) meeting was held on Wednesday, June 20, where plans were approved which will now see 13 residential units comprising of two blocks of six flats and one cottage built on land at 141 Station Road.
Permission was also granted to build 14 apartments, associated parking, and construction of vehicular access at 44-46 Station Road.
Both of these developments had been objected to by Beaconsfield Town Council (BTC) over fears of overdevelopment, highway issues, insufficient parking and visual impact on the street scene.
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Vernon braves the rain for Fulmer Day
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 3, 2007 9:57 AM
TV and radio presenter Vernon Kay along with his wife Tess Daly and their daughter Phoebe helped brighten Fulmer Day which was so nearly ruined by appalling weather conditions.
The Village Hall provided respite from the rain in the form of tea and biscuits, while Vernon Kay helped MC Andrew Wood on stage to welcome visitors and wish them well.
Organiser Moira Ellis said: "When they were setting up in the morning it was raining but then it stopped at 1.30pm and thankfully held off.
"It was important to go ahead with it and give continuity to the tradition."
All the money raised from the event on Saturday, June 30, will be shared between a multiple sclerosis charity, an alzheimer's charity and a selection of local charities.
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Victim's disgust at British justice
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 3, 2007 9:58 AM
by Sarika Sharma
A WOMAN says she has been left shocked by British justice after her ex-husband burnt down her house.
Ms Shirley Cook, 57, of Cherry Tree Road, Holtspur returned from a weekend away to find her home gutted by fire on Saturday February 3.
Former husband Brian Cook, 59, from Colnbrook, Berkshire pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered at Aylesbury Crown Court on Tuesday, June 26 in relation to the incident. He was sentenced to two years and seven months in jail.
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Sing to you grandparents
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 3, 2007 12:25 PM
Posted on Monday, July 2 at 11.16pm
On 2nd July at the Gerrards Cross Church of England School, Molly Dee from SongsConnect gave a fascinating talk about the importance of greatgrandchildren singing with their greatgrandparents. She told a true story about her work singing with those who have Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
She informed the children how those with dementia could not plan their day and were sad when they didn't know what to do next. However, those with dementia really enjoyed singing and could remember many old nursery rhymes and traditional songs.
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Showmen's future still unclear
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 3, 2007 12:49 PM
By Suzy Talbot
Despite a High Court case the future of travelling showmen in Holmer Green has been left uncertain.
Chiltern District Council was successful in its bid to secure an injunction against the showmen, requiring them to remove their caravans, vehicles and equipment of the site at Earl Howe Road.
But on Thursday, June 28 the judge delayed putting the injunction into effect until a decision has been made on a current planning appeal made by the group.
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Stretcher race to be held
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 4, 2007 10:26 AM
by Sean O'Hare
BEING the sophisticated town that it is, few have ever had to be stretchered out of a Beaconsfield pub.
That, however, is set to change, thanks to the revival of the Beaconsfield Stretcher Race by the town's Round Table.
The event was founded in 1978 by Gordon Kirby to raise funds for the St John's Ambulance and other local charities.
Billed as the world's fastest pub crawl, teams dress up in fancy dress and carry 'casualties' around the Old Town visiting pubs on the way and drinking half a pint at each stop.
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Friends pay tribute to Bruce
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 5, 2007 9:00 AM
By Suzy Talbot
FRIENDS have paid tribute to a fun loving, free spirit who died in a motorbike accident at the weekend.
Bruce Evans died on Friday, June 29 after a collision involving a tractor in Potter Row, Great Missenden.
Emergency services attended the scene and he was air lifted to Wexham Park Hospital but later died from his injuries.
Friends have told of the deep hole that will be left in many people’s lives following on from his death.
Please leave your message of condolence in the comments section below.
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Crowds heckle Tesco meeting
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 5, 2007 3:17 PM
by Sean O'Hare
A MEETING between Tesco and the people of Gerrards Cross turned into a raucous affair last night (July 4).
The tensions rose as the supermarket's apologies and plans for the future were met with derisive cheers and hoots of laughter by the 200 or so protesters that turned out.
For the first time since the Tesco tunnel collapsed above the station in 2005, senior directors from Tesco and its contractors came face to face with villagers to offer an explanation for the collapse and what their plans were for the future.
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Jack signs for Gretna
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 6, 2007 10:00 AM
A 16-year-old from Chalfont St Peter has earned the chance to make his dream of playing top professional football a reality by landing a contract with Scottish Premiership club Gretna.
Talented right back Jack Pattison has landed a mouth-watering contract that will give him a three-year scholarship followed by one year as a pro – and on the way he is likely to be groomed for the Scottish international youth side.
“I’m over the moon – it’s what I’ve been working for the whole of my footballing career,” said Jack, who has been thrown straight in at the deep end.
Having just left The Chalfonts Community College, he moved up to Scotland at the weekend and started training on Monday, July 2.
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583 speeders caught in four days
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 6, 2007 10:11 AM
by Sean O’Hare
seanohare@trinitysouth.co.uk
A NOTORIOUS speed camera caught 583 drivers in four days, generating approximately £35,000.
The offences were captured between December 7 and 11, 2006 by the Gravel Hill speed camera on the London Road between Chalfont St Giles and Chalfont St Peter.
The information was revealed in a police witness statement following a 69-year-old pharmacist’s refusal to pay after she was caught travelling at 36mph in the 30mph zone.
Elizabeth Hopkins, from Beaufort Close, Ealing, who will now have to appear in court, said: “I will lose my case but I think I’m fighting what is a dangerous precedent. Some 583 people were criminalised in four days for absolute nonsense, it is just a complete money-spinner."
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All in his Head: Sean O'Hare
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 6, 2007 2:20 PM
WHAT do you call a Frenchman in sandals? Felipe Feloppe.
Unable to say no to a free holiday for the 25th year running, I spent the last two weeks with my parents, sister and aunt in a caravan in the Vendee region of France. It rained everyday and I smoked 10 finger-length Vasco de Gama cigars and one Cuban. But didn't inhale.
Arriving at our campsite in St-Hilaire-de-Riez, a small village 250 miles south-west of Calais on the Atlantic coast, we were greeted, as is the custom, by our campsite courier. This particular courier was called Sophie, or Front-of-house Sophie, as I preferred.
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Armed robbery at petrol station
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 9, 2007 12:43 PM
An armed robbery took place at the Esso petrol station in Amersham Road, Hazlemere, on Thursday, July 5.
At about 10.40pm, a white man wearing a dark hooded coat went into the petrol station, approached the counter and pointed a handgun at the cashier.
The cashier handed him some cash, which the robber put in a white plastic carrier bag. He then made off on foot towards Holmer Green Road.
DC Robert Havelock said: “The cashier handed the money to the robber in a distinctive plastic canisters which are blue and have a yellow cap. They are 2 inches wide in diameter and about five inches long.”
Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area at the time should contact DC Robert Havelock at High Wycombe Police Station on 0845 8 505 505.
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New owners at The Poachers
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 9, 2007 5:05 PM
THE POACHERS public house is now under new management following its acquisition by Mike Wilder who now lives above the pub.
Originally from Milton Keynes, Mr Wilder has so far spent £15,000 on the Chalfont St Peter pub's revamp, which includes new leather sofas and reconditioned pool tables.
Taking over on Wednesday, July 4, Mr Wilder said: "We were looking at a number of pubs in the bottom half of the country and this one had by the most potential and was in the nicest area.
"We now do cocktails and run special offers, as well as having a disco every Saturday from 8pm.
"I can't believe how welcoming everyone has been since we arrived."
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Come and have your say
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 10, 2007 4:15 PM
by Greg Burns
PEOPLE in Beaconsfield are being urged to voice the opinions or concerns that they have over issues in the town when a new mobile beat surgery begins operation next week.
The Beaconsfield Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) together with Thames Valley Police (TVP) are launching their new mobile office where they will hold the surgeries in different parts of the town every week until October this year.
The move comes as part of a concerted effort by the NAG to try and respond to resident concerns over youth disorder in the town with the campaign being launched at Chesterton Green on Monday July 16 from 10am-2pm and at Hyde Green on Wednesday, July 18 from 10am-2pm.
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Donate to help UK flood victims
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 11, 2007 4:39 PM
Posted by Mary Phillips on Tuesday, July 10 at11.22pm
Churches Together in Chalfont St Giles are encouraging villagers to spare a thought (and a financial gift) to those in desperate need as a result of recent flooding in the north of England.
If you would like to make a gift please attend any church service on Sunday 15th July, or contact Rev Tim Stacey from the Parish Church, Rev Preben Andersen from Deanway United Church or Rev Ian Thorpe from The Rock. Thank you.
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Bungling raiders target Fake It
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 11, 2007 5:24 PM
by Sean O'Hare
ARMED raiders smashed their way into a hairdressers in a botched robbery attempt in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
At least five hooded thieves pulled up alongside Fake It, the hair salon in Market Place, Chalfont St Peter at approximately 4am before smashing the shop's reinforced glass window.
The £1,400 plasma television, recently installed as part of the shop's £100,000 refurbishment was stripped from the wall but then dropped by the bungling thieves who left it broken on the shop's floor.
Attempts at breaking into the till were foiled by a computerised security system which requires a password before opening.
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St Joseph’s are best from 200 schools
Posted by Julie Voyce on July 12, 2007 5:06 PM
CHILDREN from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School regained the Year Six Games county title on Tuesday when they won it for the third time.
To reach the Bucks final at the Wye Valley School, Bourne End, they had already won the area title at The Chalfonts Community College in June, followed by the district title at Beaconsfield High School a week later.
Playing a total of seven sports, the Chalfont St Peter school’s team of 40 won the netball, cricket and table tennis competitions outright. They were second in the tag rugby and hockey and third in the tennis and football.
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