Recycling Getting Easier: Blue Bins

This is the first time we've mentioned it on the Blog, but you may have seen it in Cambridge Matters or at the stand at Arbury Carnival.

The City Council is changing how we collect kerbside recycling to try and increase the amount we collect and hopefully make it easier for residents to recycle more.

The change is to drop the boxes and introduce a third blue wheelie bin. You may have seen the argument about the colour in the Cambridge News! Other cities have introduced similar schemes: I know Derby has a three bin system.

At this stage the City Council are keen to hear from people where the third bin may not be possible. On their website we have a list of places we know may be a problem. If you think there may be an issue where you live check the list and if you aren't on it get in touch with the council by email or through the website.

Where there isn't space we have a range of options that need to be discussed with residents.

Of course if your are worried you can also get in touch with one of the team: in this case it might be best to contact me.

Speed Survey: Northfield Avenue

At the last North Area Committee it was agreed that Northfield Avenue along with King's Hedges Road would be subject to a "speed survey" sometime in the near future. Once the survey has been completed we will have one whole weeks worth of traffic data for these two main roads which will enable us to put a much stronger case to the Conservative-controlled County Council for some form of speed reduction/ traffic calming in this area (as requested by numerous local residents).

Watch this space ...

PS. You can still sign the petition to have a 20mph speed limit on Northfield Avenue outside the school. The link is here. The more signatures the more weight we have with the County Council!

Planning applications on Garry Drive

There are two planning applications on the weekly list in Garry Drive.

At number 9 there is an application for "Erection of a two storey rear extension and a loft conversion with a dormer to the side of the property", and at number 11 a "First floor rear extension".

The reference numbers are 09/0608/FUL for number 9 and 09/0607/FUL for number 11.

More information is available from the City Council development control page, or in case of difficulty contact one of the team.

Coaches On Woodhead Drive

Good News! Since being elected last month I've been working to solve an issue raised during my campaign with coaches using Woodhead Drive as a drop off/collection point. The Cambridge Cycle Campaign raised a safety issue regarding the volume of traffic and the suitability of the road (as can be easily seen here) and the Coaches were also causing inconvenience to local residents.

As I said during my campaign the first point of call was to identify and contact the company organising the coaches. Fortunately with some help from Neale Upstone and a local resident the company was quickly identified. I've been in touch with them and they have agreed to stop using Woodhead Drive from the end of August. Unfortunately they can't stop immediately as booklets specifying this site have already been printed and sent out to Europe.

If there is something concerning you locally you don't have to wait until an election is due; we're here working for you all year round just let us know.

Another Ramsden Square application

The weekly list of planning applications is out, and for the first time in a while it has a King's Hedges application.

There is an application for a "single storey rear extenstion" at 5 Ramsden Square. The application is number 09/0549/FUL.

More information is available from the City Council development control website including how to see and comment on the plans.

North Area Committee next Thursday

The next North Area Committee will be on Thursday 2nd July.

Planning starts at 6.30pm, and one of the items is an application concerning the Rees Thomas site (and two others in other wards).

The main meeting starts at 7.30pm, and will include the open forum, which is a chance to ask questions or raise concerns with all the local Councillors in the north of the city. There is also some formal business to conduct:

• The police will be there with the latest safer neighbourhood report, which includes setting local priorities
• Their is a briefing on the new format for community development grants and discussion on these
• The environmental improvement projects programme will give us an update

I hope to see some of you at the meeting.

Police non-emergency contact number

First off: if you need the police in an emergency dial 999.

However Cambridgeshire Police have changed their non-emergency number in order to try and save people on some phone packages money. They have moved from an 0845 number to an 0345 number, which is meant to count as a local call on most packages.

The new number is 0345 456 456 4.

This has been sent out to Neighbourhood Watch members and ecops subscribers.

The old number (which was the same but for the start) will continue to work until April 2011.

To give anonymous information to Crimestoppers you can call free on 0800 555 111.

(If you do not wish to use a non-geographic number then follow this link, which will tell you the main Police switchboard number is 01480 456111.)

More guided busway construction congestion?

The good news is that it looks like the work on the junction at the Milton Road end of the busway is complete. Just a little bit of tidying up to do...

However as one bit of work is finished another will start.

The junction of King's Hedges Road and Histon Road will be subject to reduced traffic flow starting some time next week.

At the Guided Busway local liaison forum last the exact details were not made clear, but I was assured that there would be at least one lane in each direction at the junction.

Chesterton Community Association

For those at the Milton Road end of the ward I thought I'd make you aware of the meeting that should set up the Chesterton Community Association.

The meeting to formally set this up will be on Tuesday 23 June at St Andrew's Hall. The meeting starts at 7.45pm.

If you are interested get in touch with one of the team and we'll put you in touch with the steering group, or you can come along on the night.

One small bit of housekeeping: I have moved across the postings from the old News blog. Hopefully this won't cause any issues (my RSS reader seemed to cope). If it did please accept my apologies!

Arbury Court planning application

An application has been received for "New shopfront to existing shop and electrical remote controlled roller shutter" at 42 Arbury Court (the fish and chip shop).

As usual more information can be found by contacting development control at the city council, either online, or via the helpdesk on 457000 or by looking at the plans in the City Homes North office (see this webpage for opening times)

Tree works application

There is a major tree work application at 31 Woodhead Drive to "fell and remove ... Various trees (Maple x3, Birch x1 and Alder x2)". If you are interested in this get in touch with us (usual way) or the Arboricultural Officers at the city council.

The deadline for comments or more information is 19 June 2009.

The tree people have a section of the city council website including contact information. In case of any difficulty get in touch with us!

Arbury Carnival this weekend

Just a reminder that the Arbury Carnival is this Saturday (13 June) on the town green next to the Community Centre on Campkin Road.


It starts at 11am and more information can be found at the Carnival Website. Our new Councillor will be busy as he is one of the organisers.


The LibDems will have a second hand book stall, so come and say hello. Thanks to Rhodri for organising this!

Also coming up soon is the first Chesterton Festival on July 4th. More details when we have them.

The pully closed temporarily

It is with regret that I have to post that the paddling at Kings Hedges Pool or "The Pulley" as it is locally know will be closed over the weekend and not open until Tuesday 9th due to vandalism in the area.

We have had heavy paint damage around the play area with paint being thrown over everything including the play equipment and the paddling pool surfaces. City Services anti graffiti teams are currently onsite removing as much of the paint as they can.

SLM, who manage the pool, have reported that due to the amount of paint damage and the removal process they will have to repaint the whole pool again before opening, which they will do ASAP. We need to allow time for the chlorinated rubberised paint to cure properly before filling, so the pool will be filled and operational again on Tuesday 9th.

Andy Pellew elected as 4th LibDem Councillor in King's Hedges

Somewhat later than I hoped here are the results for the County election:

1. Andy Pellew (Liberal Democrat 751)
2. Liz Hughes (Labour 500)
   
3. Matthew Adams (Con 439)
4. James Youd (Green 228)

Thank you to everyone who supported Andy! He will make an excellent hard working local councillor.

I've updated the page subtly... can anyone spot how?

Thank you to those who voted... result to follow

A big thank you to the large number of you who voted yesterday, and also to everyone we spoke to over the last few weeks (and indeed all year!) in the run up to the election.

This year the count is taking place today (Friday) rather than overnight, which means we don't have a result yet!

I'll post the result when it comes in, but it is likely to appear first either at the City Council site or on the Cambridge Election archives.

Update: still no results but actually the County Council are publishing the results when they come in.

Today is polling day!

Good morning!

Today is polling day and this is a reminder to go out and vote for a hard working member of the local Lib Dem team: Andy Pellew.

Three reasons to vote for Andy:
1. Andy is the only local resident who can beat Labour here
2. The local team work all year round
3. Electing more Lib Dem councillors will send Gordon Brown a clear message

Have a look at our archives for a small selection of our work.

Remember: elections here are often very close!

Thanks.

Campkin Road pavement

I've just heard back from the County Council highways that they will inspect and then hopefully fix a major piece of damage to the footpath on Campkin Road. Picture to follow later!

Please report any damage to pavements to the County Council and if they don't get back to you let us know of the issue and we'll chase.

In the County Council elections on Thursday (June 4) remember that the Conservative run County Council has squeezed funding from repairing the roads and vote for an active local councillor who will work for King's Hedges: Andy Pellew!

Planning application: Ramsden Square

One planning application to report in the ward.

There is a new application to develop 140 Ramsden Square a two story front and side extention.

The application reference is 09/0421/FUL. More details from the City Council development control website, including how to see the plans and how to comment

City tree works consultation

The processes involved in tree works in public spaces are being reviewed by the City Council and they are keen to get the public's view.

Details of the draft proposal, and information on how to comment, is now available online.

Trees are one important part of what makes Cambridge such a nice place to live, so if you are worried about the trees please have a look at the proposal and let us (and the City Council) know about any concerns.

Planning application on Rees Thomas site

There is an application for "Construction of an external plant compound to include an electrical sub-station, two air conditioning condensers and four air source heat pumps" on the Rees Thomas site off Hawkins Road and Downham's Lane.

If you are interested in this application the reference number is 09/0358/FUL and more details can be found from the planning department of the City Council.