Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Updated MKCC Proposal for Community Space

A meeting was arranged by Milton Keynes City Council on June 12th 2024 to update GHRA on the now completed feasibility study that was looking into how best to provide a long term space for residents.

A copy of the presentation is available below:

The proposal included the following key points:

  • Construction of two new classrooms at the Watling Way Centre
  • Reconfiguration of the Watling Way Centre hall to use as a dual purpose hall
  • Removal of stairs and ramp to the former Small Meeting Place
  • Replacement of the parapet wall on the balcony of the SMP with low-maintenance railings
  • New gate to the front of the former Arts Centre
  • New fencing to the rear of the former Arts Centre
  • Removal of the children’s play area adjacent to the former Arts Centre
  • Play area to be re-landscaped and converted into a community garden leased to either GHRA or SSTC (who in turn would have a service agreement with GHRA)
  • Short-Term use of the former Arts Centre by GHRA prior to the charities moving in

The decision to proceed with these proposals and move on to procurement and awarding the contract for the works is scheduled for the 9th of July.

These extracts from the presentation show the site before works began:

And how the site may look after all works are completed:

Have your say!

This will be a key talking point for this months residents meeting, if you want to have a say in how GHRA responds to these proposals come along to the school hall Thursday 20 June at 7pm.

GHRA Offer Council Alternative Plans For The Estate

Following the MK Councils poorly received proposal, as previously reported, Galley Hill Residents Association have put forward proposals they hope will be more acceptable to residents and other stakeholders. Here are the counter proposals in full.

A4-Layout_27599-proposal

We are asking residents to complete a second survey on how they would feel about these proposals at https://tinyurl.com/GHRA-Alternative . If you are a Galley Hil resident or an affected stakeholder then please fill the form ASAP.

GHRA And MK Council Negotiations Break Down

The ongoing discussions and negotiations between Galley Hill Residents Association and MK Council over the refurbished Community Building (Former Arts Centre) have been ended by the MKC. In an announcement which shocked the GHRA the Council ended negotiations recently. Further to this MKC have announced plans to change the usage of other community buildings and also to build on green space by the school and Watling Way pool.

GHRA are questioning the proposals alone seem to have any benefit for Galley Hill Residents. The Chair Of GHRA has released the following statement following a meeting with the committee, members of the church and local shop owner. The ward Councillors were also in attendance. TheChair statement s in PDF format below

Chairman-1

The GHRA committee has put together the following concise document to outline the MKC proposals along with their comments on each one.

Short-MKCC-Proposal-1

The GHRA are going to put out a survey soon as the MK Council have put a short time frame for a meeting to discuss the proposals at a Council meeting and GHRA want to be able to put forward conter proposal an residents concerns. See the poster below.

Feedback-Poster

Please look out for the survey online and give your feedback ASAP. Thanks

Stony Stratford Annual Town Meeting

Stony Stratford Annual Town Meeting is not a Town Council meeting, it is the annual meeting for the town and its electors where they get to come along and discuss anything they would like to. All residents from Fullers Slade, Galley Hill and Stony Stratford are invited to attend. It is held in the Spring each year – normally in March or April. The date of the next Town Meeting is Wednesday, 27th April 2022 at 7.30pm – please click here for further details. .  

All parishes hold an annual meeting for electors.  Annual meetings have taken place since 2001 in the parish of Stony Stratford which includes Fullers Slade, Galley Hill and Stony town.

The Agenda at meetings is usually as follows:

  •     Presentation of an annual Community Award to a person or people who have helped enhance the parish community.
  •     Accept minutes from previous year
  •     Electors receive the Annual Report of the Chair of Stony Stratford Town Council followed by a question and answer session.
  •     There is usually a presentation regarding a topic of local interest during the meeting.

Please remember that this is your meeting so come along and have your say. Ask questions and we’ll try to answer them.

Last year’s Annual Town Meeting was held on 10th March 2020. Please click here to view a copy of the draft minutes of the meeting.

GHRA Needs You

Plenty of people complain about speeding and ask why nothing is done about it, and now is the time for them to do something about it and engage in a community service. GHRA intend to set up a GHRA Community Speed Watch group.
We need someone new to volunteer as  group leader and volunteers to support him/her. There is a PDF full of information below, so take a look at what is involved and If interested parties could please contact committee@ghra.uk we can hopefully get something set up.

CSW-NEWSLETTER-2021-pdf

Council Support Officer Vacancy At Stony Stratford Town Council

Job Vacancy at Stony Stratford Town Council

Job Role: Council Support Officer

Reports to: Clerk to the Council

Council: Stony Stratford Town Council

Start date: flexible

Working Hours: Part-time, 8 hours per week notionally Tuesday and Friday (office based/flexible)

Contract duration: New post, temporary six-month contract in the first instance until 30th May 2022

Salary: Spot Salary based on the NJC Payscales: LC1 Substantive Point 8 – £10.65 per hour

 Stony Stratford Town Council is recognised as one of the most forward-thinking younger Councils in the country, delivering an expanding portfolio of services to the population that it serves.  Applications are invited for this exciting and varied new position created for the Councils additional activities. It might suit someone who is at College or University interested in a career within the Public Sector.

Summary: monitoring Town Council assets and contracts. Customer services.  Financial and Planning administration, Assisting with monthly and annual events.  Support for the Town Clerk and Deputy Town Clerk on large projects.  Supporting the Deputy Town Clerk in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the Town Council. 

The successful candidate will have to need to demonstrate good practical, organisational and communication skills, be willing to work outside and some evenings plus undergo relevant training. 

A candidate pack (including the job description, person specification and application process) is available online here: https://www.stonystratford.gov.uk/news.

or from Stony Stratford Town Council, York House Centre, London Road, Stony Stratford MK11 1JQ (room 2.2). Tel: (01908) 566726 or email: office@stonystratford.gov.uk 

Closing date for applications is: 1 pm on Wednesday 8th December 2021

Interviews are likely to be held in the week commencing Monday 13th December 2021 during the daytime

GHRA Asked To Share Information on Rowans Transfer

‘We have been informed that Milton Keynes council is due to meet on 30th November 2021 and make a decision on whether the Rowans Day Nursery on Fullers Slade should be transferred to the Acorn Early Years foundation (an external early years provider).  If approved, it is envisaged that the transfer will be implemented by 1st April 2022.  Stony Stratford Town Council has written to MKC expressing its concern about the lack of consultation and the impact on working families. If you have any concerns about this impending decision, please contact School Organisation and Planning sufficiencyandaccess@milton-keynes.gov.uk ‘

Please make your thoughts known, as we know many of you use the nursery and this could have an impact on how it is run.

Litter Picking Resumed on Galley Hill

Galley Hill Residents Association along with the Stony Stratford Community Church have resumed the bi-monthly litter pick on Galley Hill. The rubbish collecting session on 14th November attracted several of the estates residents who helped collect several bags of litter to tidy our area.

Cleaning up Galley Hills litter

Thanks to those who attended and helped make our part of Milton Keynes a little tidier.

GHRA needs your help

Our local Councillor has been sent a request with reference to planting a tree (or trees) as outlined below. We need your help to designate an area where a tree could be planted in our area. So let’s hear your ideas for where we could plant a tree in Galley Hill. Comment below.

Tree funding and the Queens Platinum Jubilee

Thanks to the support from a number of Parish and Town Councils Milton Keynes Council has secured funding from the Forestry Commission’s Local Authorities Treescape Fund to plant 400 trees in Milton Keynes.

The funding supports the Queen’s Green Canopy, a tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 which invites people from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee” – The web site  contains lots of detail on how and where to plant trees and allows you to mark the tree on a canopy map of the UK.

We will be sourcing trees in three broad categories, small, medium, and large and can provide up to ten trees per Parish / Town Council. We cannot be specific regarding the exact species as stock and availability are subject to high demand. 

Along with the trees we will provide tree stakes, ties, and water bags to help the trees to establish. Hopefully a tree can be paired with a local resident or residents who can fill the watering bags, further guidance will be provided. 

The trees should be planted on public open space, either MKC or the Parish / Town Council land, the location of the planted trees will need to be supplied as it is a condition of the funding. To ensure the trees can reach their full potential they should be planted away from buildings, roads, lamp columns and other utilities.

Galley Hill Residents Association Gardening Club


A lot has been happening with our gardening club. We have been working with our little ones at school to plant a bed near the fence and make a sensory garden and maze. They’ve been hard at work helped by staff Lisa & Sue and GHGC member Sally 

Working hard to improve our local School St. Mary St. Giles
Pretty flowers along the school fence, with help from St, Mary St. Giles Pupils

GHGC members Peter & Genghis sorting out the front garden to make it a cottage garden and wildflower garden combined for our pollinators 

Helping the plants to get started with some fresh compost soil.

We’ve just started planting under the street signs with winter flowering plants and a lot of spring bulbs

Planting under the Creslow Court Sign
Planting under the street signs for the courts in Galley Hill (Cottesloe Court)

The plan is to plant under all our street signs and could I please ask if anyone is happy to help plant and also maintain the planting in their court to let me know. Thank you to GHRA for funding this and supporting us and SSIB for their support and encouragement. 
Thank you 
Anu