In 2001, Aylesbury Town Council was firmly established.
We have served the community for 20 years in a number of ways to ensure that the town has a voice and that, in the responsibilities we have, we can do what is best for Aylesbury. We continue organising a whole host of fun-filled community events, expanded on our allotments, built and maintained invaluable connections with local businesses and communities plus much, much more.
A brief history
Aylesbury Town was awarded a Charter by Queen Mary in 1554 which allowed Aylesbury to have its own Burgher (or Mayor).
From 1835 to 1974, Aylesbury was a municipal borough. After this, District Councils were introduced, and many boroughs converted to Parishes and retained their own council.
The law at this time was that if the population concerned was more than one third of the District then there could not be a successor Parish. In this area, both Wycombe and Aylesbury fell foul of this rule and were both unable to become Parishes.
It was from this time that Aylesbury Vale District Council looked after the town’s allotments, cemetery and open spaces. This was paid for by the people of Aylesbury through a ‘special rate/special expenses’.
There was an Aylesbury Committee which had only advisory powers. Decisions about the town’s services were taken to District level. This committee was known as the Charter Trustees and continued to appoint a Mayor but the Mayoralty was abolished in 1975. This however was then brought back prior to Aylesbury Town Council forming.
Matters rested until a change of national government in 1997. Aylesbury was a member of the Association of Charter Trustee Towns and helped to remove the one third of the population qualification. If it wasn’t for this, the campaign for Aylesbury Town Council to be formed would not have been able to begin as legally the town wasn’t allowed to have one at that time.
During the 1990s, members of the community stood in Market Square most weekends until the required number of residents had signed the petition asking for a Town Council to be established. This campaign was led by Freda Roberts MBE. Some of the people who petitioned for a Town Council became Town Councillors and we still have one of them on the council who remembers the time before. Cllr Denise Summers who, along with other members of the Town Council, is still passionate about the work we do, the services we provide and our representation of the town. The petition was submitted to the Government and Aylesbury Town Council was created.
The Aylesbury Town Council then came into being following the local elections in May 2001. Cllr Raj Khan was the last Mayor of Aylesbury under the Charter of Trustees and the first Mayor of Aylesbury for Aylesbury Town Council.
Aylesbury Town Council timeline
2001-2021
2001
After dedicated campaigning, Aylesbury Town Council is formed following local elections.
2002
23 April 2002
We celebrate St George’s Day for the first time with a celebration fun day and Scout parade through town.
10 May 2002
Queen Elizabeth II visits Aylesbury as part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations. Cllr Raj Khan has the honour of escorting the Queen around the Town. An amazing day for everyone and the town centre was full of excited faces to catch a glimpse of Her Royal Highness.
3 June 2002
We celebrate the day of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in style. The Town Council tours the wards of Aylesbury on a bus, joins in with street parties and takes part in a live Mix96 broadcast. The Market Square is bustling with activities and is a fantastic occasion for all.
2003
We take over 500 allotment plots across six sites from Aylesbury Vale District Council. We have a vision that by 2007 we will have 700 plots to let. Currently, we look after seven sites and 708 plots.
2004
September 2004
To celebrate Aylesbury’s Charter Day, we host our first Tudor Fayre. The medieval event sees street theatre, traditional costumes and knowledgeable craft folk and ran in our town for 16 years.
2005
June 2005
Aylesbury in Bloom first launches and encourages residents to get involved with a variety of categories including Patio Garden, Formal Garden and Window Box. The free competition is open to all residents, schools and organisations in the Parish of Aylesbury.
July 2005
We hold our first ever Aylesbury on Sea event in Vale Park. This event has proved more and more popular year on year.
2006
May 2006
Our first issue of our quarterly magazine, Aylesbury Town Matters, is published. All 61 issues have been distributed to doorsteps within the Parish of Aylesbury and have been designed by local business, Blue Pepper Designs.
2007
April 2007
We take responsibility for Tring Road Cemetery from Aylesbury Vale District Council and make improvements. The cemetery is a beautiful haven steeped in history.
May 2007
We purchase 5 Church Street, in Aylesbury Old Town, which becomes our new Town Hall home and offices. We are still situated there 14 years later.
October 2007
Our Annual Allotment Awards begin and give our allotment holders a chance to shine. Judges spend three days across seven allotment sites looking at general appearance, composting and cleanliness of plots.
2008
Our Outdoor Maintenance Team is formed. The outdoor staff take on a number of improvements to the town including path clearing, hedge cutting, pollarding and lifting of trees.
April 2008
19-year-old Fred Clark sets off on 18 April to cycle from Aylesbury to our twinned town Bourg-en-Bresse. The 500-mile trip was worth it in the end after civic contact is established and the relationship is rekindled.
2009
We acquire Walton Pond after it was left in a state of neglect. Since then, our Outdoor Maintenance Team work hard to maintain it by removing unwanted weeds, clearing algae and cutting back reeds.
We introduce sports grants to our grants programme to support and encourage young people to fulfil their sporting potential.
2011
March 2011
We join the social media world to engage with residents and push our work out to the community. We now have over 13,000 followers across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
2012
June 2012
Street party entertainment is offered to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee for those organising a celebratory event down their road. A balloon modeller, magicians, jugglers, face painters and even a visit from the Town Mayor was on offer – all free of charge.
July 2012
The Olympic Torch passes through Market Square just before lunchtime on 8 July 2012 as part of its 70-day relay across Britain. During the morning there are street entertainers and musicians who made the occasion feel even more special.
August 2012
A big screen is put up in Market Square for residents to gather and watch the Paralympic Flame Festival which includes entertainment and a light show.
2013
June 2013
Our ties with our twin town, Bourg-en-Bresse, grows stronger after a visit from 40 French children from Notre Dame School. They visit Turnfurlong School as part of their exchange programme and are also welcomed through the Town Hall doors to meet the Town Mayor and Town Clerk.
September 2013
Aylesbury Town Council and the Aylesbury Society relaunches the Aylesbury Heritage Walk. The walk is a fascinating self-guided walk which gives a fantastic insight into Aylesbury’s architectural history which spans many centuries. This booklet is available at Bucks County Museum and at the Town Hall.
2014
May 2014
Emmerson Boyce and David Stopps are awarded titles of Honorary Freeman of the Parish of Aylesbury. Mr Stopps has been responsible for Friars Music Club for many years. Mr Boyce led Wigan Football Club to a remarkable victory beating Manchester City in the FA Cup Final in 2013.
August 2014
Guillaume Lacroix (Mayor delegated to Culture and the International Relations), Gérard Lora-Tonet and Martine Desbenoit (Municipal Councillor) and Marie Vincent from our twin town of Bourg-en-Bresse enjoy their visit to Aylesbury and strengthening the Aylesbury Twinning Association relationship.
2015
March 2015
We make our quarterly Town Council magazine, Aylesbury Town Matters, accessible in audio format for the first time thanks to our partnership with Aylesbury Talking Newspapers Association.
April 2015
Our Outdoor Maintenance Team takes on a number of services such as weeding, tree works, sign cleaning and grass cutting under the Bucks County Council Devolved Services Agreement. We continue with this work and carry out work for several neighbouring Parish Councils.
2015
June 2015
The first Soapbox Derby takes place on Sunday 21 June 2015. A much-loved family event held on Father’s Day each year and held in White Hill Park. Competitors work together with friends and family to create their very own gravity powered soapboxes.
August 2015
Hobble on the Cobbles – an event which began in the 70s – and Proms in the Parkamalgamate to create a live music family festival extravaganza – Parklife Weekend. This event attracts 7,000 people in 2015. Fast forward to Parklife’s 2019 event and Live in the Park and Proms in the Park attracts 17,000 people.
2016
We introduce wellbeing grants to our grants programme. The grant funding is to help and support the social and emotional wellbeing needs within our Town’s diverse communities.
May 2016
Freda Roberts MBE is awarded the title of Honorary Freewoman of the Parish of Aylesbury. Freda has been Mayor of Aylesbury three times and led the campaign for Aylesbury Town Council to have its own Town Council. England footballer Ellen White is also awarded the title of Honorary Freewoman of the Parish of Aylesbury.
August 2016
Aylesbury Town Council take over the Jonathan Page Play Centre from Aylesbury Vale District Council and provide an after-school club and holiday playschemes for children. Jonathan Page worked as a playworker at Manor House Hospital working with children with special needs. We’re delighted to provide this valuable service to our community, which achieved an Ofsted “Outstanding” rating in 2018.
2016
September 2016
Alongside the British Paralympic Association, Aylesbury Vale District Council and Wheelpower, we organise the Heritage Flame Ceremony marking Aylesbury’s unique role as the birthplace of the Paralympic movement. The Heritage Flame is ignited for the second time, starting its own journey to Brazil to help begin the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. 1,500 people joined us including Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE and Kelly Gallagher MBE who take centre stage. The event was followed by the ParalympicGB Carnival at Stoke Mandeville stadium.
December 2016
Aylesbury Youth Town Council is created for young people from the ages of 15 -18 years. As of today, the Youth Town Council is made up of 10 inspiring individuals who want to make a difference within our town.
2017
May 2017
We appoint an officer to specifically promote dementia awareness. The Aylesbury Dementia Alliance is formed. Members of the alliance are instrumental in changing the way their group or organisation operate to ensure it was a dementia-friendly space. Now known as Dementia Friendly Aylesbury, our Dementia Champion has created over 2,500 Dementia Friends since its launch.
August 2017
We receive the first ever Fair4All Event award by Buckinghamshire Disability Service in recognition of the efforts made to ensure our events are as accessible as possible.
2019
December 2019
The Outdoor Maintenance Team take responsibility, in partnership with Buckinghamshire Council, for deploying the flood defence equipment at the Willows Estate, working with Bucks Council officers and members of the local community and volunteers. We are responsible for the storage of the equipment and its maintenance.
