As we count down to reopening, it's hard to believe just how much has been achieved in such a short space of time.

When work began, there was plenty to do. Rooms needed clearing, furniture needed repairing, walls needed repainting and the gardens needed bringing back to life. Since then, The Crown has undergone a remarkable transformation, thanks to the dedication of an incredible team of volunteers from across the village.

Over the past few months, volunteers have given many of hours of their time to prepare the pub for its next chapter. They have cleared years of accumulated clutter, repainted walls, refreshed the décor, reupholstered furniture, and restored outdoor spaces that will welcome visitors from the moment they arrive.

While the physical transformation is clear to see, what makes it even more special is the spirit behind it. We are overwhelmed by the enthusiasm, generosity and pride of people who wanted to see their local pub thrive once again and are happy to put in the hours to support it. 

The reopening of The Crown is the result of a community coming together with a shared vision and a willingness to roll up their sleeves to make it happen. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered their time, skills and energy. Your hard work has helped create a welcoming space that the whole village can be proud of.

This really is your community pub, and we can't wait to welcome everyone through the doors very soon.

All the data from the online and paper responses to the community questionnaire have now been collated.  The Management Committee is reviewing and using it to inform decisions about the pub decor, opening hours, menu and drinks and possible new ways to use the pub space.

One of the overwhelming messages of the questionnaire was to keep the Crown’s character, but to make it a lighter, open and more welcoming space and address the pinch point at the entrance.

Before any interior changes could be addressed a mass clear out of broken or old furniture took place.  All the glassware and crockery were also streamlined before a sweep through and clear-up was necessary – enter the skip!  All remaining items have been stored until reopening, or to be spruced up.

A full assessment of what was left, what needed to be replaced and the overall interior and exterior design was then looked at.  A colour scheme and design have now been agreed by the Management Committee and different volunteers within the village have sprung into enthusiastic action, and everyone contributing is helping to bring the heart back to this much loved historic, local pub.

We have talented volunteers lightening the wooden beams and painters adding colourful but lighter tones to the walls and woodwork.  Seating that survived the cull are being reupholstered in people’s garages; blinds and curtains are being measured and cut out on dining room tables; and the remaining planters and hanging baskets are already adding a splash of summer colour.

None of these jobs are quick, but with the overwhelming number of people volunteering, we are making good progress.

The Management Committee have met on numerous occasions to date, and as progress on the fabric on the building develops we are turning our attention to food and drink and opening hours.

Again, you have been crystal clear in your opinions here too!  The Management Committee wishes to thank everyone involved so far.  We will endeavour to keep you informed as regularly as we can as things progress here in Village Voice, on Facebook, WhatsApp, on www.cuddington.com and www.villagebluesky until we can access to the Crown website and socials on completion.

Thank you, The Crown Management Committee

The £650,000 Fundraising Target Has Been Reached

This means we can press on with buying our village pub (back) for the Cuddington community.

To date, over 200 pledges have been received, amounting to over £650,000.  This means we have achieved our goal in just six weeks which is a truly remarkable accomplishment.  It is amazing to have such a large network of people ready to help Abi and her team drive The Crown forward.

Legal proceedings are underway, the Community Benefit Society has been established, and advanced assurance for tax relief has been submitted to HMRC.

Management Committee
The management committee met before Easter to discuss the purchase, look over the needs of the building, what is required to re-open our local and how The Crown can be at the heart of our community and a commercial success.

Your Voice
We will shortly be sharing a questionnaire with you all to find out more about what you want from our community pub.  The Crown needs to be the place we all want to go – where everybody knows your name...  We want your thoughts and ideas to shape The Crown’s future.  Please look out for it.

Thank you to everyone who has pledge their money, expertise and time so far.

The Management Committee

Buckinghamshire Council has published its draft site allocation from its earlier Call for Sites.  An informal engagement on 400 potential sites is now invited from landowners and agents, town and parish councils, developers and infrastructure providers. However, since publication of this article in Village Voice, the Parish Council has learnt that Parishioners are also able to submit comments using the Online Survey here.  The survey closes on 16th March 2026.  If you wish to share your views with the Parish Council please email clerk@cuddington-bucks-pc.gov.uk (by Wednesday 11th March).

For Cuddington, the two sites are Dadbrook Farm (Ref 216), put forward for 72 homes, and a Haddenham site beside the A418/Churchway (Ref 294).

The Parish Council will be responding to the consultation stressing that any development at Dadbrook should prioritise the existing brownfield farm buildings rather than expanding into greenfield areas. The PC’s response will also include the delivery of the Dadbrook footpath, the safety of the A418 junction and the infrastructure constraints specifically highways, schools and drainage.

For Haddenham site the main concerns are safe access onto the A418, the risk of visual or physical coalescence with Cuddington (as the gateway to Haddenham, a green buffer will be requested) and the infrastructure constraints specifically highways, schools and drainage. The Draft Local Plan with proposed suitable sites is expected in the summer and will include a formal consultation when residents can make their views known.

Please read more here:

https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/local-planning/buckinghamshire-local-plan/

Please view the interactive map here:

Local Plan for Buckinghamshire sites survey - Your Voice Bucks - Citizen Space

Cuddington Neighbourhood Plan

The current Cuddington Neighbourhood Plan (CNP) remains in force until 2027 but ideally should be reviewed after 5 years, i.e. April 2027. The benefits of undertaking a review include updating the CNP with the emerging Buckinghamshire Local Plan, addressing any gaps in the existing Plan, and securing protection against speculative development. The Parish Council has agreed to review this when the next major review of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is published (expected summer 2026).  The Draft of this new NPPF includes specific provision for Neighbourhood Plans.

HGV Control – Waddesdon Freight Strategy

HGV traffic through the village roads is at a record high and is causing damaged roads, eroded verges, increased potholes, and safety concerns.  The Parish Council requested an update from the Senior Transport Strategy Officer (Freight) at Buckinghamshire Council on the progress of the much-awaited Waddesdon Freight Strategey, which is summarised here:

The Waddesdon Freight Strategy was paused while the Ivinghoe Freight Zone pilot was completed.  The pilot was not as successful as hoped, because enforcement of the restriction could not be implemented.  Buckinghamshire Council now plans to use powers (under Part VI of the Traffic Management Act 2004 – commonly called Moving Traffic Enforcement) and hopes to include this in the next cabinet submission, after which there would be a public consultation.

In the meantime, officers agree it sensible to consider more local, targeted measures rather than waiting for the full enforcement outcome from Ivinghoe.  They will work with local members from the Waddesdon area to identify potential intervention sites, assess how HGV movements might be displaced, and scope likely impacts.  Buckinghamshire Council is also looking to introduce a new version of the council’s freight strategy.  This will incorporate a need a default use of Construction Traffic Management Plans for new developments of significance.  This will identify routings for construction vehicles avoiding villages and sticking to more appropriate A and B class routes.

Work has started on identifying potential sites and understanding impacts on HGV flows and they will be looking to bring options to parish councils as soon as they can.

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