Welcome to the website of the
West Wycombe Parish Council
West Wycombe is a small village situated on the A40 three miles west of High Wycombe in the Chiltern Hills of Buckinghamshire and is the central point of the Civil Parish of West Wycombe. The Parish extends from Chapel Lane in the East to the boundary of Bradenham Parish on the A4010 and the boundary of Piddington Parish on the A40. It has a population of approxiately 1,300 adults plus children.
The Parish is a mix of urban and rural residential properties, working farms and local businesses. As you travel from High Wycombe to West Wycombe the Golden Ball of the church of St Lawrence and the Dashwood Mausoleum are visually impressive landmarks overlooking the parish and visually dominating the village and local landscape for miles.
Once you reach the Pedestal Roundabout on the A40 you can travel along the A4010 through the Chilterns towards Aylesbury or continue on the A40 through the village of West Wycombe and the fields owned by West Wycombe Estate towards either Stokenchurch and the M40 or the Chiltern village of Bledlow Ridge.
The historic village is largely owned by the National Trust and receives a large influx of tourists - being the site of West Wycombe Park, West Wycombe Caves, St Lawrence Church and the Mausoleum on top of West Wycombe Hill.
Although it is on the busy A40, the village centre retains much of its historical charm because it is mainly owned by the National Trust, and so has resisted modernisation.
West Wycombe Park, Hellfire Caves, Mausoleum and St Lawrence Church were all constructed in the mid-18th century by Sir Francis Dashwood, founder of the Dilettanti Society and co-founder of the notorious Hellfire Club.
The High Street has a number of 'old-fashioned' shops (in appearance at least), as well as three pubs, some small offices, a well-used Village Hall and St Paul's Church.
Just off the High Street is the village Combined School (ages 4–11).
If you are not a user of Facebook you can catch up with all our latest news by scrolling down to our Facebook feed further down this page.
Please scroll down the page to find the tabs to view the Accounts, Governance, Meetings, Planning and Services of West Wycombe Parish Council
Guidance on using the Outdoor Gym Equipment
Notice of Completion of Audit
Accounts may be examined by appointment between 8th Sept and 22nd Sept 2023
Notice to examine the audited accounts for the year ended 31st March 2023
High Street Footway Intrusion Feasibility Study
West Wycombe Parish Council has been seeking to address the issue of footway incursion by motor vehicles on the southern side of West Wycombe High Street. Transport for Buckinghamshire (TfB) have suggested three measures which they believe will address this issue, one of which is the implementation of a short stretch of double yellow lines on the north side of the High Street.
TfB have recommended a one-month trial parking suspension in the area identified, in order to monitor its effectiveness. The Parish Council has agreed to proceed with this; the stretch of road where parking will be suspended be reduced by approximately half for the latter two weeks of the trial.
Video data will be captured throughout the trial period, to enable TfB to assess the likely effectiveness of a permanent suspension of parking. TfB will present their findings to the Parish Council, who will then make a decision on how to proceed
The Parish Council recognises that residents and local businesses will not welcome any reduction in parking capacity; however, the issue we are trying to address is the safety of pedestrians.
West Wycombe High Street Pavement Incursion Report
The Parish Council was asked by local residents to look at ways of improving pedestrian safety as impatient drivers were often seen to mount and drive along the pavement . With a start delay caused by lockdown, the Parish Council instructed Transport for Bucks to carry out a feasibility study for which we would conrtibute 50% of the total cost of £6,000. Several onsite meetings with TfB officers and technicians were held prior to this taking place; this was to ensure they witnessed the issue for themselves but also understood the constraints. In early 2022 a trial was undertaken in order to produce suggestions, recommendations and a report for consideration.
We have now received the final report of that feasibility study and this can now be read below. We are also attaching the first document produced after our initial meetings as this clearly explains some of the issues which had to be considered.
The Parish Council accepts the report and is minded to pursue options 2,3 and 4 and we now have to look at funding and the consultation process.
Our aim is to improve the road safety of all pedestrianswhich was the original request.
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Fix My Street
Latest Reports
Defibrillators
West Wycombe has three defibrillators located at the Village Hall, the Pavilion in the Pedestal Playing Field and at the entrance to the Churchyard on West Wycombe Hill.
Fault-Reporting
Please report pot holes, flooding, street lighting or path problems online or in an emergency call 01296 382416
Fly Tipping
Fly tipping polutes our landscape and is expensive to clear. Please report online or call 01296 480771
Planning
You can find all the latest planning applications in our Planning Section below which is updated every Monday.
Accounts
Regardless of size, The Localism Act (Transparency Code) requires Councils to publish their financial situation annually before 1st July, under the following headings:
2023/2024
2022/2023
AGAR (Post-Audit)
Notice of Exercise of Public Rights
AGAR (Pre-Audit)
2021/2022
Notice of Exercise of Public Rights
2020/2021
Notice of Exercise of Public Rights
2019/2020
Notice of Exercise of Public Rights
2018/2019
Governance
Various pieces of government legislation govern the way in which councils operate. Many of these documents require updating on an annual or as-required basis when the core legislation is updated or circumstances change within the council.
Governance and Policies
Anonymous Correspondence Policy
Burial Ground Rules, Regulations and Fees
Freedom of Information Act Inventory
Risk Assessment - Health and Safety
Risk Benefit Scheme - Pedestal Playground
Temporary Signage Application Form
General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
Document Retention and Records Policy
Plans and Projects
HS2 Petitioner Evidence for 17th November 2015 Hearing
Parish Plan Proposals - 2013/14
Pedestal Playing Field Inspection Report 2017
History of the HS2 Funds for our Parish
Meetings, Agenda and Minutes 2023
Meetings start at 8pm
Members of the public are invited to attend and there is a session at the beginning of each meeting where questions can be asked and statements made. We look forward to seeing you.
Agendas and Minutes for previous meetings can be found in the Archive
12th January - Agenda - Minutes
9th February - Agenda - Minutes
11th May - Annual Parish Council Meeting - Agenda - Minutes
11th May - Ordinary Meeting - Agenda - Minutes
25th May - Annual Parish Meeting - Agenda - Minutes
10th August - Agenda - Minutes
14th September - Agenda -
12th October
2nd November
14th December
Planning 2023
Older planning applications can be found in the Archive
23/06674/FUL
Moorcroft Park Farm Road High Wycombe
Householder application for construction of single storey detached garden room for use as office/leisure
23/06588/FUL
Park Farm Workshops Chapel Lane High Wycombe
Installation of fire breaks to timber frame, replacement WC facilities, installation of new ceiling to mess room and installation of CCTV cameras to external elevations
23/06326/LBC
Park Farm Workshops Chapel Lane High Wycombe
Listed building consent for installation of fire breaks to timber frame, replacement WC facilities, installation of new ceiling to mess room and installation of CCTV cameras to external elevations
23/06620/FUL
Wyeside Park Farm Road High Wycombe
Householder application to extend depth of first floor rear balconies
23/06551/FUL
46 Copperfields High Wycombe
Householder application for formation of habitable room in roofspace with rear dormer and side facing rooflight
23/06490/TPO
West Wycombe Conservation Area West Wycombe Park
Prune crown back to boundary x 2 Yew (T1 & T2) and x 1 Holly (T4) and fell as inappropriate species for location x 1 Horse Chestnut (T3)
23/06277/TPO
The Car Park Church Lane West Wycombe
Fell as unsuitable for location x 1 Sycamore (T1)
23/05689/LBC
The High Barn Bradenham Road West Wycombe
Listed building consent for fenestration alterations including insertion of 1 x rooflight to front & 3 x rooflights to rear (4 in total) and 2 x windows to rear elevation. Internal alterations including installation of kitchenette to ground floor, en-suite to first floor bedroom and general upgrade to electrics, plumbing, insulation and fire safety
23/05688/FUL
The High Barn Bradenham Road West Wycombe
Householder application for fenestration alterations including insertion of 1 x rooflight to front & 3 x rooflights to rear (4 in total) and 2 x windows to rear elevation. Internal alterations including installation of kitchenette to ground floor, en-suite to first floor bedroom and general upgrade to electrics, plumbing, insulation and fire safety
23/05602/CTREE
12 High Street West Wycombe
Fell to ground level and remove x 1 Ash Tree
23/05494/CTREE
The Car Park Church Lane West Wycombe
Fell x 1 twin stemmed Sycamore
23/05139/LBC
West Wycombe House West Wycombe Park West Wycombe
Listed building application for installation of five Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to the exterior of West Wycombe Park House and three cameras to buildings within the curtilage of the Main House
23/05138/LBC
Round House Chapel Lane High Wycombe
Listed building application for installation of a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) camera within the curtilage of the listed Rear Gates to West Wycombe Park
23/05137/LBC
The Lodge West Wycombe Park West Wycombe
Listed building application for installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) camera within the curtilage of the listed Front Gates to West Wycombe Park
23/05048/FUL
316 West Wycombe Road High Wycombe
Change of use of existing light industrial vehicle maintenance workshop (use class B2) to MOT and service centre (sui generis). Construction of single storey side extension (part retrospective)
22/08381/FUL
82 Chorley Road West Wycombe
Householder application for demolition of existing garage, existing single storey rear extension and lean to conservatory and the construction of two storey side extension and single storey front porch
22/08289/FUL
87 Bradenham Road West Wycombe
Householder application for construction of single storey front extension and part single, part two storey rear extension
Services
Allotments
The allotments, located in Chorley Road, were developed at the request of residents in 2009.
The Parish Council was only able to provide these thanks to the generosity of Sir Edward Dashwood who leased the land to the Council for this purpose.
There are currently 25 full and half sized plots.
There is always a short waiting list so if you are interested in taking an allotment you should make contact with the Parish Clerk to have your name added to the list.
For details of fees and the Tenancy Agreement please visit the Governance Section above and photographs in the Gallery
Burial Ground
The Burial Ground is located in the centre of the village behind St Paul's Church.
The Burial Ground and the field beyond, were leased to the Parish Council by Sir Francis Dashwood for the purpose in 1987 and the terms of the lease state "Interments in this burial ground are only allowed for residents of the Civil Parish of West Wycombe, since its inception in 1987 and whose name is on the Civil Electoral Roll.
Current burial fees together with rules and regulations can be found in the Governance Section above and photographs in the Gallery
A full list of interments can be found on our Interments Page
Defibrillators
The Parish Council have defibrilators installed in the porch of the Village Hall in the centre of the village, on the pavilion in the Pedestal Playing Field and at the top of the hill adjacent to St. Lawrence Church.
Grass Cutting
The Parish Council is responsible for cutting the grass in the Burial Ground, Allotments and Pedestal Playground. Currently, as part of their lease, Downley Dynamos are responsible for cutting the Pedestal Playing Field. There are other areas where the Parish Council is responsible and they are marked on the Grass Cutting Map produced by Buckinghamshire Council. All other areas of grass are the responsibility of Buckinghamshire Council
Pedestal Play Ground and Playing Field
Play In the 2008 Parish Plan questionnaire the residents of West Wycombe asked for a playground and the Parish Council put a three year plan in place.
Sir Edward Dashwood leased the Pedestal Playing Field to the Parish Council and money was raised through fete's and donations as well as a small increase in the Precept.
That three year plan was completed in 2012 and the children of West Wycombe now enjoy an entertaining and challeging play area
The West Wycombe Estate retains and is responsible for the Changing Rooms and the Parish Council has leased the open space to the Downley Dynamos on short term.
The facility has become so popular that it has been necessary to extend the small car park which, thanks to road works on the A40 and in liason with Buckinghamshire Council, has been covered with scalpings as have the allotment parking area.
Over the years a basketball/netball post was installed along with a table tennis table and in early 2023 a range of adult exercise equipment was added.
There are photographs of the playground in the Gallery
Outdoor Gym
The Outdoor Gym situated in the Pedestal Playing Field provides somewhere for local residents to enjoy the benefits to both physical and mental health of exercising in the open air, either individually or in the company of others; it is intended for use by adults of all ages and the range of equipment reflects this.
Anyone using the equipment must read the instructions first. Each piece of equipment is also labelled with instructions for use, and the manufacturers have created an app for Android devices that includes user and workout guides, available via Google Play and the App Store.