COAM Re-Opens on 7 March and is Celebrating 50 Years of Living History
Chiltern Open Air Museum (COAM), in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, will re-open its gates for the 2026 season on Saturday 7 March, marking the start of a very special year as the Museum celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Founded in 1976, the Museum has spent five decades rescuing, preserving and re-erecting historic buildings, creating a unique 45-acre site where visitors can step back in time and experience history first-hand.
Throughout the season, you can see historical re-enactments bringing different periods of history to life. Traditional craft demonstrations displaying heritage skills such as blacksmithing, woodworking and textiles. Living history weekends with costumed interpreters across the site and family-friendly trails and hands-on activities.
Over the 4-day Easter weekend, Tudors: Life, Falconry and Folk event is taking place showing historic falconry flying demonstrations and Tudor living history. Explore the tools of the barber/surgeon, learn the craft of the basket maker and loom weaver, try on armour of the era with the man-at-arms and meet the “cunning man” skilled in the preserving of skins. You will also be able to see the Oxford Down lambs born at the museum and can take part in the sheep trail.
Visitors will be able to explore over 30 historic buildings, from Medieval barns, Victorian cottages and 1940s prefab set within beautiful Chiltern countryside.
The 2026 season runs from 7 March to late October, with special events scheduled throughout the spring and summer. Full details of events and opening times can be found at www.coam.org.uk.
Council approves balanced budget for coming financial year
Buckinghamshire Council has agreed a balanced budget for the coming year despite increasing financial challenges brought about by national government decisions which mean funds raised locally are being diverted away from Buckinghamshire to other local areas around the country.
The final budget was voted on by full council at a meeting today (Wednesday 25 February). It is a legal requirement for councils to put forward a balanced budget, but it has warned it is doing so under increasingly difficult national funding conditions. As a result of the government’s ‘Fair Funding Review’, Buckinghamshire is seeing a reduction in funding of £44.5m as the Government diverts resources away from the county to other geographical areas with higher modelled needs.
The council has made significant savings to run a balanced budget, totalling £116.8 million in its first five years of operation as a unitary authority. A further £70.5m of savings is expected to be delivered by the end of 2025/26. Additional savings totalling £109m have been identified over the next three years, to allow the council to keep investing in local services as well as providing the critical statutory support services such as social care.
This means that in order to set a balanced budget the total savings made since Buckinghamshire became a unitary authority in 2020 will total £296m, the equivalent of 67% of the council’s budget since 2020.
Some confirmation of some additional grants from the government has been received, however, these are ringfenced grants that can only be spent within certain areas and do not match the funding lost via the Fair Funding Review.
The basic rate of council tax in Buckinghamshire will rise by 2.99 per cent from 1 April 2026, and the Adult Social Care precept will increase by 2 per cent, meaning a total rise of 4.99 per cent, or an extra £1.86 per week for the average Band D home during 2026/27.
Connect to Work scheme launches to help residents secure good-quality employment
Buckinghamshire Council is delighted to announce the launch of the ‘Connect to Work’ scheme which is being delivered by Intuitive Thinking.
Connect to Work is a nationally funded scheme and will support residents with long-term health conditions, disabilities, or those facing complex barriers to employment (including carers, veterans, and ex-offenders), to find and sustain employment.
Working with Intuitive Thinking, which have many years’ experience in delivering supported employment programmes, means residents will be able to work with a dedicated employment specialist who will identify their skills, experience, wants and needs, and then tailor their work search accordingly.
The scheme not only supports people who are looking for work, but also those who are already employed and facing challenges due to a disability or health issue. This includes help to stay in work or to return after a period of ill-health. Support continues beyond starting a job, with ongoing coaching, training and advice to help residents remain in work and progress in their careers.
Register interest.
Council urges drivers to show respect for school crossing patrollers
Buckinghamshire Council is reminding motorists to respect the essential work carried out by the county’s school crossing patrollers as they help children and families reach school safely each day.
Often known as lollipop men and women, Buckinghamshire’s 60 patrollers are out in all weathers, morning and afternoon during term time, using their STOP signs to ensure safe passage across busy roads. While most drivers stop as required, a minority continue to display abusive or dangerous behaviour, putting both patrollers and pedestrians at risk.
Between the start of the 2021 school year and November 2024, there were 39 reported incidents involving drivers failing to stop or behaving inappropriately. These included four injury incidents, 29 near misses and several verbal abuse reports. Actual numbers are likely to be higher as many incidents go unreported. Since 1 December 2024 to 31 Jan 2026, there have been a further 8 reported incidents, all of which were near misses.
When patrollers do report issues to the police, witness evidence is often needed, so the council is urging parents and carers to come forward should they see unsafe behaviour.
School crossing patrollers have a legal right to stop traffic for anyone needing help to cross the road. They hold the same authority as police officers when displaying their STOP sign. Failing to stop is an offence that could lead to a £1,000 fine, three penalty points or even disqualification. Patrollers are encouraged to report any driver who refuses to stop.
Examples of problematic behaviour include drivers using abusive language, failing to stop even when the patroller is already in the road, swerving around patrollers, blocking pavements and parking irresponsibly - particularly on ‘School Keep Clear’ markings and bus stops.
Drivers are reminded to:
- Slow down when you see a patrol warning sign or flashing lights and be prepared to stop.
- Stop when the patroller displays the STOP sign.
- Be patient and do not move forward until instructed.
- Avoid parking on zig‑zag lines, bus stops or anywhere that obstructs the patroller’s view or movements.
Reporting incidents
To report any incidents involving School Crossing Patrollers, residents can contact:
Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe (West): Corinne Randall – 01296 383 432
Chiltern & South Bucks and Wycombe (East): Georgina Longley – 01494 586 639
We have a date that we want you to put in your calendars. 1-7 June will be Neighbourhood Watch Week – the theme this year will be “communi-tea”. Yes, you read that correctly, it’s a mixture of community and tea party, and who doesn’t love a tea party? Find out more about what we have planned here.
Highlights this month
- Our impact report shows the difference we’ve made across England and Wales
- Spotlight on Hawthorn and Rosegrove groups
- Watch our webinar on reducing violence against women and girls in our communities
- Our Chair Ian Bretman blogs on the plans shaping Neighbourhood Watch until 2030
Full Report Here
Buckinghamshire Libraries ‘Go All In’ for the National Year of Reading
From reading challenges to crime thrillers, libraries across Buckinghamshire are excited to ‘Go All In’ for the National Year of Reading.
Whether you’re interested in gaming, gardening or Georgian architecture, your library is the perfect place to explore it. Browse more online, meet others who share your passion, join a group, listen to an audiobook, chat to a librarian… or discover your next read. All for free, in your community.
Whatever you’re into, you’ll find the library is the perfect place to Go All In.
For younger readers
Some adults can be reluctant to register their under 5 years old children as library members for fear of incurring fines. In response to this, Buckinghamshire Libraries is introducing an overdue fines amnesty for pre-schoolers to get more of younger children joined up and encourage positive library use that can continue through childhood, adolescence, and beyond.
For younger readers, The Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge 2026: Read to the Beat returns in the summer and aims to encourage children to explore rhythm, storytelling, and sound through reading.
Visit Buckinghamshire Libraries event listings here for regular children’s activities such as Storytime and Bounce and Rhyme.
For adults
Take part in the new adult reading challenge Read 6 in 2026, whether you are looking to get back into reading or simply relish a challenge, follow the six reading goals this year.
Buckinghamshire Libraries will be hosting author events from acclaimed authors such as Simon Mason to Jasper Fforde, signup to their newsletter to hear more and book your tickets.
Peter Brazier, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture & Leisure, said:
“Reading opens doors to imagination, to opportunity and to lifelong learning. Yet we know that fewer people are making time for it. The National Year of Reading is a fantastic chance to change that. We’re proud to support this national campaign and to invite residents of all ages to go all in, explore our libraries and find something they truly enjoy reading.”
Why does reading matter?
Reading plays a powerful role in people’s lives at every age. It strengthens wellbeing, builds skills, and helps communities thrive. However increasingly fewer of us are making the time to read. The National Year of Reading 2026 is all about reversing this trend and inspiring people to read more.
Stay connected
Subscribe to Buckinghamshire Libraries Newsletter
Browse libraries events
Visit goallin.org for more information and for schools and early years programme:
More information on Go All In – National Year of Reading in Buckinghamshire visit here.
NW Rogue Trader today and TikTok - be aware
This is a message from Val McPherson Area Neighbourhood Watch Representative and Administrator for South Bucks and Chilterns
I have been given this information via a resident in Princes Risborough, but as you know they move from area to area.
An Irish man knocked a resident's door this morning in Princes Risborough trying to get the resident to have their blocked paving cleaned.
The resident said No, but he carried on saying it would be £400+ but he could do it for just over £200.
He is driving a very dirty white car and the back windscreen is smashed and taped with plastic, which made the resident wary in the first place before he started his conversation.
It is white car Reg No: DS18 YNR. and has been reported into the police under Ref number 633. If he calls at your door please do not engage and report .
Tik Toc - Parents be aware please although not in our area.
I received this message from a colleague from South Bucks area who said this was happening just over their border in the Hillingdon Area. As you all know incidences can happen elsewhere and I thought it was important to share.
A parent had been made aware of a TikTok “craze” involving pupils from Hillingdon Schools based in the South of the borough which is encouraging pupils to go and fight pupils from other schools? It then awards points on various things and encourages participants to upload videos. This craze needs to be stamped out quickly, as it is a dangerous “game” they are playing. The schools and police in that area are aware and if you see any reports or posts on Tic Tok or other social media platforms please report it .
Road Safety Data
We would now like to share our next Quarterly reports of road safety statistics with you. This is Quarter 3, July - Sept 2025
We prioritise enforcement and education for drink and drug driving, the non wearing of seatbelts, excessive speed and driving whilst distracted.
We create reports on a quarterly basis to share with our policing teams and partner agencies.
We are sharing the reports with you as you have expressed via Thames Valley Alerts that you are interested or concerned with Road Safety and speeding.
Community Speedwatch is an educational scheme run by our local volunteers.
The figures for the Mobile Camera enforcement are from our dedicated Safer roads police staff and the Fixed penalty notices are from any Officer on patrol dealing with a motorist.
Link to the reports for the Buckinghamshire area
Please also share with your friends and family and other community members.
Bierton Crematorium is also hosting this event at the same times.
95,000 new homes target in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire Council is advancing work on a new Local Plan that will provide a framework for how the county grows and develops over the next twenty years.
The emerging plan, a legal requirement – which must demonstrate how Buckinghamshire can accommodate 95,000 new homes to meet Government targets - will set out how it meets future needs for housing, the economy, community facilities and essential infrastructure, while also protecting the county’s precious natural and historic environment.
To date, over 1,300 residents and stakeholders have taken part in the plan‑making process through formal consultation, and a detailed technical assessment of potential development sites has been completed. Of the 1,400 sites identified across Buckinghamshire, approximately 400 are now being published for further engagement and assessment. This next stage of work involves assessing the availability, suitability and viability of these sites with landowners and infrastructure providers.
No decisions on site allocations will be made until this full technical assessment has been completed.
The Council will publish the draft Local Plan this summer for further public consultation. Residents, landowners, infrastructure providers and other partners who would like to provide input in this part of the plan-making process can participate in the council’s site survey before 11.59pm on 16 March 2026.
Council launches consultation on Local Transport Plan 5
Buckinghamshire Council is inviting residents, businesses and visitors to take part in a public consultation on the draft Local Transport Plan 5 (LTP5), running from 16 February to 30 March 2026.
LTP5 sets out how the council aims to make travelling around Buckinghamshire easier, safer and more accessible, while improving travel choices for all. The plan looks ahead to 2045 and will guide how transport improvements are planned, funded and delivered across local communities, the road network and public transport over the next 20 years.
The draft plan brings together 31 policies across nine themes, focused on connecting the economy, reducing transport emissions and creating high‑quality places. These policies are intended to steer future investment and day‑to‑day decisions that affect town centres, villages and local high streets.
Alongside the draft LTP5, the council is also seeking views on the draft Freight and Logistics Strategy, which looks at practical ways to manage goods and deliveries so that streets work well for residents, businesses and the environment.
Consultation feedback will help the council balance priorities such as road safety and maintenance, bus and rail connectivity, walking, wheeling and cycling, and the way town and village centres are designed to support local communities and businesses. Responses will also be fed into the plan‑making process for the Local Plan for Buckinghamshire, currently expected to reach Regulation 19 consultation in July 2026.
How to take part
Read the draft documents and complete the online survey here.
Email: transportstrategy@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
Write to: Draft LTP5 consultation, Transport Strategy, Buckinghamshire Council, Walton Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UA
The consultation closes at 11:59pm on 30 March 2026.
Feedback will be used to update LTP5 and the Freight and Logistics Strategy. The amended documents and supporting evidence are scheduled to be submitted to the Council’s Cabinet for adoption in summer 2026.
This is a message from Val McPherson Area Neighbourhood Watch Representative and Administrator for South Bucks and Chilterns.
Many of our volunteers who have started Neighbourhood Watch schemes want to live, work and encourage a safer and stronger neighbourhood.
Setting up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme where you live can make a big difference. It is a visible step forward to building a safer community bringing neighbours and residents together with the clear message that crime and anti-social behaviour is not welcome here.
Running a Watch scheme is not a major commitment, as it takes about a couple of hours a month. A scheme can be as small as 5 houses, or cover a Road/Street/Drive of 20 to 50 houses, or a block of flats or it can be a larger area covering a hamlet, or even extend into a village or small town.
One to one advice and guidance is given to all volunteers as well as providing free NW stickers, NW street signs and crime prevention information.
So come on and join making it safer for you, your home, family and local community
Please follow these steps:
- Go to www.ourwatch.org.uk and sign up
- Click on the tab “Find my local NW” and do the postcode search to either join a local scheme or set a scheme up yourself.
- If no local scheme visible where you live simply scroll down and map your road. Submit to apply to set up the new scheme and I will be in touch.
- Or if you prefer you can contact me first to discuss by emailing valpranddnhwatch@aol.com
I look forward to hearing from you.
We are a fully independent charity that needs to raise every penny we spend. We are based in Rickmansworth, Herts and have a large showroom with parking.
9 Lives has three aims.
Firstly we want to help the less wealthy in our community. We run what we call a referral scheme. This cost the customer nothing. All we need to do is see evidence of a MEANS tested benefits that the customer received, once we see that the customer is signed up to join this scheme. Once joined we offer members of the scheme 50% off our white ticket items. These items are normally essential furniture, clothing and electrics. The scheme lasts a full year and there is no restriction on the amount of times it is used. If the customer is still on MEANS tested benefits after a year the scheme can be renewed.
Our second aim is to help adults that may have minor mental health issues and /or learning difficulties. We do this by offering a free 8 week upcycling workshop at our onsite workroom. The course is one day per week and as I say goes on for 8 weeks. We teach the students all aspects of upcycling and the course not only offers a chance for the students to learn something new but it also promotes confidence and social skills.
The upcycling course leads onto our third and final aim. We are passionate about sustainability and the environment . We are trying to reduce landfill in our community. The workshop is not only used for courses but we also have a large team of volunteers who change pieces of furniture from something that was destined to the dump to a piece of furniture which would are proud to have in your home.
We do offer collections free of charge for furniture to be donated and also a delivery service which we do charge for.
Our store takes everything you would expect to find in a charity shop along with a large array of furniture.
See our website here or visit 25 Wharf Lane, Rickmansworth, WD3 1HA
Which benefits are means tested?
Depending on your income and how much capital you have, you
may be entitled to means-tested benefits. The means-tested
benefits are:
· Cold Weather Payment
· Council Tax Support
· Housing Benefit
· Income Support
· Pension Credit
· Universal Credit
Which benefits aren't means tested?
You may be entitled to non-means-tested benefits. In general, these
are benefits that don't depend on your income or capital. Below is a
list of non-means-tested benefits:
· Attendance Allowance
· Bereavement Support Payment
· Carer's Allowance
· Disability Living Allowance
· New style Employment and Support Allowance
· Personal Independence Payment
· State Pension
** Above according to CAB website, summer 2023 **
We’ve conducted over 5700 police patrols in Thames Valley this Winter
This winter, the Home Office tasked all police forces to carry out a two month period of activity starting 1 December 2025, aimed at tackling crime and antisocial behaviour in town and city centres.
Named the Winter of Action, we focused on three key priority areas:
- Retail crime – tackling theft, abuse of retail workers and organised criminality, with a clear focus on prolific offenders and partnership with retailers
- Street crime and antisocial behaviour – maintaining visible patrols and public confidence, using enforcement and prevention to address persistent issues
- Night-time economy safety and VAWG – tackling alcohol-related disorder, spiking and violence against women and girls
Across 30 hotspot policing areas, we made 266 arrests for offences including shoplifting, robbery and theft from a person.
The Winter of Action also resulted in 87 positive outcomes for retail crime and 23 positive outcomes for antisocial behaviour, achieved through a combination of charges, out of court disposals and community resolutions. More than 5700 hotspot patrols were carried out, including proactive e‑scooter operations, antisocial behaviour patrols and highly visible reassurance policing.
Alongside enforcement activity, teams carried out 2757 community and business engagements, providing crime prevention advice and offering direct support to victims and local retailers.
And while the Winter of Action has now concluded, we want to reassure you that our commitment to protecting your communities and delivering effective, community‑focused policing remains.
Did You Serve as a Special Constable Before 2000? We’d Love to Hear From You
Did you serve as a Special Constable before the year 2000, or do you know someone that did?
We’re looking to uncover and shine a light on the remarkable stories from the history of the Special Constabulary at Thames Valley Police, and we’d really value your help.
If you were a Special before 2000 and would be happy to share your experiences, we’d love to hear from you. Please reply to this email with your contact details and the years you served, and a member of our team will get in touch for a chat.
In the meantime, you can read stories from some of our current Specials at tvpcareers.co.uk
I am sharing this information because as you are all aware opportunists jump from area to area but often change their approach depending on the areas visited.
Please be aware that a large white Ford Transit van Reg No: 12W 360 has been doing the rounds in Longwick Approximately 15:30-15:40 on 4 February. It has also been seen in Monks Risborough which is also part of the Princes Risborough & District Area and other parts of South Buckinghamshire.
Two men jumped out with hi-vis bright orange trousers on, flung the back doors open and started to pressure wash a neighbours driveway without their permission!! You could see the massive tank of water in the back of the van.
Description of the Van: It white but has blue writing on the side reads Unit 8 and the pictures on the side are photos of driveways and bungalow roofs plus various cleaning products . They have long roof ladders on top of their van.
This incident has been reported to the police and the incident reference number is: 1385, so if seen this van again please give this reference number into the police.
In Prestwood a similar incident occurred where a man in his early 20's with an Irish accent asked this resident if she needed her driveway jet washed as he was doing her neighbours two doors up. She knew this was untrue as they were at work. She declined.
He then reversed down the road to an older neighbours drive and gave her a free sample , but again she did not ask for her driveway to be washed. The neighbour stopped him and he offered to give the older resident a leaflet with prices on. He then drove off . This time it was a smaller white van with a number plate IL 04-0-24552.
Please do not engage with these opportunists who call unexpectedly with a special offer as these rogue traders often increase their prices once the job is completed.
Food waste recycling expanding to flats in the south of Buckinghamshire
Residents living in flats with communal bin collections across the south of Buckinghamshire are being asked to look out for new kitchen caddies arriving during February and March, as Buckinghamshire Council continues the roll‑out of separate food waste recycling collections.
In Buckinghamshire, around a third of the rubbish in our general waste bins is food, which could have been recycled. Recycled food waste is taken to an anaerobic digestion facility, where it is turned into renewable energy and fertiliser, helping reduce waste disposal costs, saving money for essential council services, and supporting the council’s climate and sustainability commitments.
Each eligible flat will receive a free 7-litre kitchen caddy, a roll of liners and an information leaflet, while 140-litre brown communal food waste bins will be installed in bin stores and emptied weekly. The expansion follows a successful introduction across the north of Buckinghamshire and will ensure more households can recycle food waste.
