Enhancing life in Amersham and local villages the focus for the area’s Community Board

Amongst items on the agenda for the meeting of the Amersham Community Board on the evening of 18 February was a report on the progress of the town’s Chilterns Lifestyle Centre, together with updates from the Board’s working groups looking at local issues, and news of funding that the Board had provided to support local initiatives.

Presenting on behalf of developers BAM, project manager Bill O’Meara took the meeting through the progress with the construction of Amersham’s Chilterns Lifestyle Centre, with up-to-the-minute photographs of the building’s emerging interior. After the presentation, a local resident commended BAM on the consideration they had shown the neighbourhood during construction.

Once completed, the Chilterns Lifestyle Centre will be a major amenity for the town, comprising a sports and leisure complex, a community centre and library. Everyone Active, who will operate the complex once it opens, also gave an update on their plans.

The Board’s working groups were formed to tackle issues that had been identified as local priorities, including coronavirus, the environment, transport, and how to improve local amenities for young people, visitors, and those with dementia. Each of these reported to the meeting on their current work and objectives.

Three petitions were presented, all concerning local road safety and traffic control issues affecting Coleshill and the nearby A355, and these went forward to the transport working group for further investigation and liaison with other relevant bodies.

The Board also approved three new funding applications, including installation of CCTV in the Little Chalfont Nature Park to deter vandalism, and the development of two online programmes to support carers and young people as part of the Fitness Garden project. The Big Community Takeaway project, which started off in Chesham, was also granted funding to expand the services to provide hot meals on a weekly basis to people in the Amersham and Little Chalfont area.

Commenting on the meeting, Board Chairman Cllr Graham Harris said: “The Community Board is proving an excellent forum for local councillors and other community representatives to highlight issues of importance to our community in Amersham and surrounding villages. As a committee of Buckinghamshire Council, the Board is also in a position to instigate action on issues when necessary, helping to enhance the quality of life in our local area.”

To find out more about the Amersham Community Board and to watch a recording of the meeting, visit the Buckinghamshire Council website.