Author: Elise Croft

The Hardwick Parish Council requests your feedback on proposed traffic calming and road safety improvements identified in a project feasibility study as part of a possible application for the Local Highway Improvement (LHI) Initiative.

You can read the feasibility study here.

In particular note the proposed “optimum solution”:

Installation of 4 sets of 2 bolt down rubber speed cushions at intervals not
exceeding 100m on Cambridge Road . Proposed locations from detailed design
but to include the area covered by the advisory 20mph wig wags school safety
zone with the first set south of the local shop to avoid issues related to on street
parking. Include required hump warning signs as (4 no) on Cambridge Rd, Limes
Rd and Egremont Rd.

Please indicate below if you are in favour of this proposal (YES, in favour; NO, against).

If you would prefer not to submit an answer online you may write to The Clerk:

Gail Stoehr (Mrs)
Clerk to Hardwick Parish Council
30 West Drive
Highfields Caldecote
Cambridge
CB23 7NY

Please note that this poll will close at midnight on 18th November 2019 to allow for analysis of results before the November parish council meeting.

Fly-tipping is the illegal disposal of waste. It can be anything from a bag of waste to a truckload. We have all seen abandoned items in the countryside, villages and towns. But leaving items by Household Recycling Centres, charity shops or by bins are all fly-tipping too. Around two thirds of fly-tips come from households, so it is crucially important that everyone understands their Duty of Care to avoid £400 fixed penalty notice or an unlimited fine.

Together with other partners in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Waste Partnership (RECAP), SCDC
have launched the S.C.R.A.P Fly-tipping campaign to help residents understand their responsibilities. Everyone should follow the S.C.R.A.P. code below to make the right choices when asking someone to remove unwanted items.

To help us deal with fly-tipping incidents efficiently, please report them to SCDC. Here’s how:

Online: www.scambs.gov.uk/environment/envirocrime
By phone: 03450 450 063

If you witness fly-tipping, call 999 to report a crime in action. Please do not put yourself in harm’s way.

When reporting fly-tipping, please note as many details as possible
• The exact location
• The size of the fly-tip
• The type of waste dumped
• The date and time you spotted or witnessed the fly-tip
• Photos of the fly-tip and fly-tippers if you have witnessed it
• The vehicle registration number and details
• The description of people involved
• The direction they were travelling

SCDC recently staged a mock fly-tip to raise awareness of the issue. You can watch their video and read their news release about this topic here.

SCDC have recently sent letters to all homes in the district to ask them to confirm the names of people who are eligible to register to vote. They need a response even if there are no changes to tell them about. Please follow the instructions on the letter to confirm the registration details for your household.

Below are South Cambridgeshire District Council proposals or reviews that are currently open for consultation or comment.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Local Transport Plan
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is asking people to share their thoughts on the first Local Transport Plan for the Combined Authority area. The plan sets out a long term vision for how transport will be used to respond to current and future challenges and opportunities in the area.

The deadline to respond is Friday 27 September. See www.tinyurl.com/CPCALTP for further details.

Review of Polling Districts, Places and Stations
SCDC are running a consultation asking for views on the current arrangements for polling districts and polling places in South Cambridgeshire. We are particularly keen to hear of any accessibility issues with our stations, so that we might improve access for residents where possible.

You can find all the information and submit any comments on the website here: www.scambs.gov.uk/elections/polling-district-review. The consultation is open until mid-August.

Comment on Greater Cambridge’s aspirations for greener new developments
SCDC have published proposals to help make new housing developments as green as possible. The draft guide to sustainable design and construction will, when adopted, give house-builders a clear steer on what is expected of them to reduce the environmental impact of developments. This includes setting out the need to minimise carbon emissions, flood risks, pollution and pressure on water sources. This is all aimed at helping to ensure any development enhances the natural environment, leaving it in a better condition than before it took place.

The consultation runs until Monday 23 September 2019. You can find out more and comment at
https://www.scambs.gov.uk/sustainable-design-and-construction-consultation

The Met Office has issued a level 3 hot weather warning across Cambridgeshire – lasting until Saturday (27 July) morning. Temperatures are predicted to remain over 30 degrees over the next few days, with warm and humid conditions expected to continue overnight.

Hot weather can be uncomfortable for most people. However for the old, very young and those with an ongoing health condition it can have very negative effect upon their health. There some key actions people can take to reduce the ill effects of very hot weather.

If you know or work with these and any other vulnerable people who may be at risk of becoming unwell in high temperatures please check on them and take action to lessen the effects of the heat.

Here are some practical tips on how to stay cool and beat the heat:

• Shade or cover windows that are exposed to direct sunlight during the day, and open windows at night when the temperature has dropped.
• Drink plenty of water as sugary, alcoholic and caffeinated drinks, including tea and coffee, can make you more dehydrated.
• Make sure you take water with you if you are travelling or out and about.
• If you are working or going outdoors during the heatwave make sure you are protected with sun screen, and keep yourself hydrated by consuming plenty of water.
• Walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a hat, if you have to go out in the heat.
• Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children or animals.
• Try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm.
• Avoid physical exertion in the hottest parts of the day.
• Wear light, loose fitting cotton clothes.

Click here for more information

The Hardwick Village Plan highlighted concerns residents have about obstructed street lighting. The parish council is aiming to address any obstructions to lighting that is the responsibility of the parish council. However, most streets lights are the responsibility of the county council. The good news is that you can easily report any issues through their website and we warmly encourage you to do so; please do not assume someone has already reported it.

If you see a problem with a street light, road signs, pot holes, flooding, hedges and trees or any other highway issue you can report it by clicking here or searching for Cambridgeshire roadworks and faults.

If you have any issues with missed or lost bins, council tax or benefit issues, or environmental issues such as dog fouling, littering or abandoned vehicles they can be reported on by clicking here or searching for south cambs report it.

Don’t forget that the deadline for consultation on the Bourn Airfield Supplementary Planning Document is 29th July at 5pm. Click here to access the online consultation system or to download the consultation documents that can then be emailed or sent via post.

Some people have found it difficult to find where they can submit their comments online. You need to register and then click on the link for the SPD document. You can then submit your comments for each section (although you do not need to comment on all of them if you do not want to). Click here for an outline of what to do or see the image below.

As you will have noticed, the first properties at Meridian Fields (previously known as the Grace Crescent Development) have been completed and are available for sale. There will eventually be 98 properties built. 39 of these will be available as social housing and shared ownership with Hardwick residents having some priority.

The St Neots Road development for 155 properties on land between Hall Drive and Meridian Close will be delayed beyond what we were told to expect.  This
development programme was about a year behind Meridian Fields but that could now increase to two years (or even more). The developers have
obligations (“Section 106”) to contribute to village amenities and services e.g. our new community centre, play and recreation facilities. The delays in starting the St Neots Road development will mean corresponding delays to receipt of these Section 106 contributions. The Hardwick Community Centre Working Group and the Hardwick Parish Council will have to look at how this affects the plans for the timing of the new community centre by the Sports and Social Club. 

The delays in starting the St Neots Road development are for two main reasons. There has been a delay by the developer (Clarion Housing Association) in completing the land purchase as further surveys are required. In addition, the detailed planning application that was submitted late last year by Clarion was withdrawn in March this year as South Cambs District Council planners were seeking changes to the scheme before granting approval. Clarion are now working with the planners to draw up a scheme that will satisfy the Local Planning Authority. All the indications are that the development will eventually go ahead.

Steve Rose
Hardwick Parish Council

HPC Update
At the last PC meeting, representatives from Countryside properties presented the latest plans for the 3500 new homes in the Bourn Airfield development. You can see the plans on their website here.

There were a lot of questions around the impact on Hardwick, especially concerning the increased traffic along St Neots Road. Countryside confirmed that there were no plans to give the development its own access to the A428 and that no significant changes/upgrades were planned for the existing roads. Countryside were unable to provide any additional information on the data they had used to justify this decision. Members of the public who attended the presentation and the HPC were not reassured that the impact on the village had been taken into account and were concerned by the lack of transparency in the decision.

There’s still time to have your say.

Public meeting @ Hardwick Primary School – Thursday 18th July 7pm
The HPC will hold a public meeting on Thursday 18th July at 7pm in the Hardwick Primary School to ensure that the village is fully informed about the potential consequences and understand what can be done to ensure that our voice is heard.

SCDC Public Consultation
You can still submit comments to South Cambridgeshire District Council via the public consultation of the Bourn Airfield New Village Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). The draft Bourn Airfield New Village SPD provides additional details and guidance relating to comprehensive development and delivery of the new village. The consultation is for six weeks and begins at 9am on Monday 17 June until 5pm Monday 29 July 2019. Click here for details about how you can have your say.