Chair's Chatter

Welcome to the summer edition of the Village News! I hope you're all making the most of the wall-to-wall sunshine on offer in our corner of the world.

It's been a lovely few months in the village. Our Summer Solstice event saw a good crowd gather for sun salutations and a firepit under a clear evening sky - always a lovely way to kick off the season. Hot on its heels came this year's Safari Supper, which was at least as much fun as last year's. Starting with aperitifs and canapes for around 40 in the Memorial Hall, the evening wound its way through main courses hosted around the village before returning to the Memorial Hall for desserts and digestifs. Thank you to everyone who opened their homes and kitchens, to Chris Bushnell for the home-smoked salmon, the canape team for some spectacular starters and to Trish for taking the lead on this fabulous event.

And then there was the football..! The Potters Arms did a great job of providing big screens, Nepalese bites and a barbecue and the perfect setting for the trials and tribulations of the World Cup. It was great while it lasted although the late night/early hours of the morning matches were difficult to sustain… The good news is the summer menu has now been launched and there’s even more delicious Nepalese food on offer - we’re looking forward to sampling our way through it.

Our monthly community lunches are now taking a well-earned break over the summer after June’s gazpacho - we'll be back in the autumn, so keep an eye out for the date of our first one back.

Looking ahead, all eyes are now on the Show and Produce Show on September 5th. As ever, it's a huge team effort to get the marquee up and the day running smoothly, and there's plenty you can do to help make it a success:

• Raffle and tombola prizes - if you have anything you could donate (new or nearly-new items, vouchers, bottles, treats), please get in touch with Sally Adams or Mads Bushnell to arrange drop-off.

• Young stallholders - if your children fancy running their own stall on the day (baking, crafts, games, etc), we'd love to hear from them. Contact Trish Bray to book a pitch.

• Tent erectors and barbecue - if you’d like to help us with the set-up or on the day, please get in touch with Chris Stoneman who will arrange for you to be added to the tent erectors’ WhatsApp group.

  
  

As always, there's a warm welcome for anyone who'd like to lend a hand with the wider planning too - many hands make light work, and it's a lovely way to get to know your neighbours.

As you will no doubt be aware, a couple of planning applications have gone in to Bucks Council regarding the Plough and the land behind Fagnall Farm. The Plough application is for change of use from a public house to a single private dwelling. This has prompted a number of objections from residents, who have pointed out that The Plough and The Potters Arms have long served different roles in the village, question the strength of the marketing and viability evidence submitted in support of the application and ask about the pub's status as a heritage asset recognised in Penn Parish's Neighbourhood Plan (it is currently neither ‘listed’ nor an Asset of Community Value). If you'd like to view the application or submit your own comments, you can do so via Buckinghamshire Council's planning portal - the official deadline has passed but as the application has been called in to committee there is still time. The application is here: https://publicaccess.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TE54X8ESHP800

Penn Estate have then submitted an application for change of use of land to the rear of Fagnall Farm, proposed as the new location for Priestlands Dogs training and exercise field. There is strong feeling both for and against this application and so we would encourage you to review the documents supplied and submit your comments accordingly. Again, the official deadline has passed but comments will still be reviewed up to the decision date. You can find the application here: https://publicaccess.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TE8U9LESI0T00

For both of these and any other local applications, please note that PPC no longer has access to comments submitted via Bucks Council's online portal, so if you'd like your comments to be seen by the parish committee too, please forward the confirmation email you receive from Bucks Planning on to clerk@pennparishcouncil.gov.uk.

We'll keep residents updated as both applications' progress.

Do keep an eye out on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/winchmorehillra] or our village WhatsApp group [https://chat.whatsapp.com/FWvAEy6FTbCKkUc1QfNRDE] for details on all upcoming activities and village matters and get in touch if you have anything you’d like us to report.

See you at the Show!

Lisa