Speeding/ Accidents on Northfield Avenue

First of all let me introduce myself, my name is Andy Pellew, I live locally and I'm campaigning to get some taffic calming measures implemented for Northfield Avenue - especially the stretch of road between King's Hedges Primary School, Red Hen House (part of the Red Hen Project), and The Ship. Many of us are aware of accidents or have witnessed speeding on this stretch of road and I believe it's important we do something before there is a serious incident.

Myself, Mike Pitt, and Neil McGovern have already begun speaking to local residents about this idea and I hope soon to start a petition to put before the council to make this road safer not only for local residents but for all users of this important road. Watch this space!

Augustus Close Street Lighting

After getting local complaints of a faulty streetlight leading to inadequate lighting in Augustus Close (just off Minerva Way) I reported it to the County Council, and the light has now been repaired by the Council:

If there are any lighting problems near you please let me know (click here) and I'll endevour to have those looked into as well (please be as specific as you can, as you can see the work will be done during the day so "a streetlight isn't working on Milton Road" isn't enough information for us to get it fixed, but "the streetlight outside of number 50" would be!).

You can also report lighting problems online, but if you don't hear back please get in touch and we will chase it for you!

Planning application in Arbury Court

The list of planning applications has one item in King's Hedges this week.

It is for a "Proposed development for the connection and layout of a new extractor system for a chinese takeaway to shop unit classified as (A5) use."

A quick translation from planning language, A5 use means "Hot Food Takeaways".

For more information on the application or to make comments contact Development Control at Cambridge City Council. They can be inspected in person at the City Homes North office, Milton Road Library or the Guildhall. More details are available on this.

In case of difficulty get in touch.

No fees for Higher Education

In the news is the request from many Universities for higher fees for students, meaning higher debt for graduates and putting off many students from studying.

At our spring conference the weekend before last the Liberal Democrats reaffirmed our commitment to scrapping tuition fees and providing realistic support for students.

Many students leave university with debts over £30,000. This does put off students from many backgrounds. Further the possibility of different fees for different universities could see some students choosing on price rather than on the correct course for them.

All Universities should be accessible by the brightest students not the richest.

The Gas Safety Register

Something that came up at the City Council's Housing committee is the big change coming up for gas safety in the UK. To save money, the government have decided that the old register (CORGI) is being replaced from April 1st this year.

In an attempt to help build awareness of this change I've put the new logo on the right.

If you need to get your gas boiler or gas cooker (or any other gas utility) serviced after April 1st look for this new logo, not the old CORGI shield.

For more information you can visit the Gas Safety Register website.

Update: Unfortunately the logo moved breaking the link. Check the Register Website for the Logo.

Planning Applications

There are a couple of planning applications in King's Hedges.

Firstly a single storey front extension in Haviland Way (reference number 09/0130/FUL).

Secondly an application by King's Hedges Primary to build a new cycle shelter (09/0133/FUL). In the interests of full disclosure I ought to mention that I am a governor at the school!

For more information on how to view and comment on the plans please go to the City Council Development Control page, or contact one of the team in the usual way.

North Area Committee coming soon

The next North Area Committee will be in a fortnight's time, on Thursday 19 March at the Manor Community School on Arbury Road. It starts at 6.30pm with the planning, and the main agenda starts at 7.30pm.

There are five planning applications relating to sites in East Hertford Street, Frenchs Road, Green End Road, Green Park and De Freville Avenue.

On the main agenda this time

1. Safer neighbourhoods: your chance to talk to the police about priorities and issues.
2. Public art: information on the scheme Miller Homes and Future Cities are proposing in the George Nuttal Close development.
3. Open Forum: a chance to ask any questions you may have of your local councillors.
4. An update on Environmental Improvement projects.
5. Community development and leisure grants.

Please do come along and watch or join in.

Unfortunately Stagecoach have had to pull out, but hopefully they will be along to the next meeting.

Government drag feet on Tenant Tax

Changes to the massive negative subsisy that takes about £3 million per year from Council Tenants in King's Hedges, and just under £12 million from Cambridge as a whole, have been delayed again.

The Labour Government have delayed consultation on changes to the scheme, which was due to start in November last year until the "autumn" of this year.

The scheme must be changed to be fairer to areas like King's Hedges.

Amng the possible reasons for delay is the fact that the Labour Government is now taking a higher cut of the subsidy money to spend elsewhere in Government. The subsidy is no longer used to subsidise housing and has just become a tenant tax. Combined with the centrally imposed rent increases it starts to feel like a sustained attack on a group that includes some of the most vulnerable in our community.

Mike Pitt, along with Cllr Smart, the Executive Councillor for Housing, and tenant reps has recently written to the Secretary of State on these issue. The Labour spokesman on these issues on the Council didn't sign the letter.

Comments on Gritting during cold spell

To ensure that all the lessons of the ice and snow during the recent cold snap are learned, the Liberal Democrat group on the County Council are surveying people's experiences across the County.

The deadline for this is a meeting on March 25 when the LibDem's will push the County for better planning, and better provision for cyclists and pedestrians.

To ensure that an accurate picture is available at the meeting the LibDem's want to hear your experience of the response to the snow and ice, positive or negative. You can contribute at a new website, or if you'd rather email or call one of the local LibDem team in the usual way.

Tories Won't Face Residents

For the second time one of the Conservative County Councillor's responsible for decisions that affect King's Hedges has refused to attend meetings open to the public in Cambridge.

The County Cabinet member for transport, Tory Matt Bradney and aleading officer have turned down the opportunity to answer questionsat the city's North Area Committee on March 19.

In part this is because they would have been challenged by residents on the decision not to allowthe bus to stop on Histon Road and Milton Road so that "it canprovide a fast reliable service with only limited stops" forpassengers living along the A14 corridor.

The only option for residents is to ask Councillor's to take questions to the closed County meetings.

This follows Tory Martin Curtis' refusal to answer questions on cuts to provision for vulnerable children in Cambridge.

Planning application in Turpyn Court

There is an application for a "single storey rear extension" in Turpyn Court. The application reference number is 08/1476/FUL.

As ever more details can be obtained from development control at the City Council.

North Area Committee this week

On Thursday this week (22 January) is the next North Area Committee at the Manor School on Arbury Road.

Apparently we are in a different room so if you wish to attend look out for signs.

Planning is at 6.30pm with applications in Milton Road, Hertford St and Ramsden Square.

The main meeting starts at 7.30pm with the Open Forum (your chance to ask questions of local councillors) and an item on Environmental Improvements.

Unfortunately Tory County Cllr Martin Curtis has turned down his invitation to speak to justify the cuts to many Children's services in Cambridge. He will be asked again!

Do come along if you can make it!

Hawkins Road improvements

City Homes are about to start consultation on works to improve the Hawkins Road area, including Wilson, Atkins and Larkin.

If you live in the Hawks area then please use the consulation to let City Homes know your view on the proposed works.

The results of consultations are very important: proposed changes to recycling in Nuns Way were changed recently following a big response to consultation and the work of your local LibDem City Councillors.

The improvements are part of the Cambridge Standard Improvement Programme of the City Council which aims to raise the standard of the City's Council House stock. Whilst we're on the topic I must mention (again!) the superb inspection result. I have been told that the report is the best given to a council who retain their stock!

Street name plates

Just a quick note about street name plates. I've noticed that the signs for Apthorpe Way and Albemarle have been fixed. I didn't notice exactly when.

I've now reported the Woodhouse Way sign which has lost a D and one of the Beales Way plates, which has just gone!

If you spot a missing or damaged street plate, get in touch with us or email snp@cambridge.gov.uk directly.

Guided busway meeting Thursday

The next meeting of the County Council's "Guided Busway Local Liaison Forum - Oakington to Cambridge" will be on Thursday at the Meadows Community Centre.

The meeting starts at 7pm. If you wish to attend please contact Neil McGovern or myself in the usual way: the County rules do not allow members of the public but we believe guests of Councillors are allowed.

Burglary

At the last NAC we made burglary a local police priority due to the worrying rise in burglaries.

If you see anyone acting suspiciously please do report it to the police on 0845 456 456 4. Use 999 if you think a crime is happening! The police need this information to build up pictures even if it isn't enough to catch a burglar on its own.

The main reason for this post is that in the December Neighbourhood Watch newsletter the police mention something called Smart Water, which they say is "a fantastic way of marking your property and making it less desirable to burglars and thieves, etc. It is virtually invisible to the naked eye, can be applied to just about anything and once applied is practically impossible to remove."

If you are interested go to the SmartWater website for more details.

There will be more on what the police have done later.

Planning applications

There is one application in King's Hedges to mention: A single storey front extension to 102 Crowland Way (08/1656/FUL)

As ever more details can be obtained from development control at the City Council.

Dog fouling

I have had a number of complaints about Dog Fouling issues over the last year.

If there is a problem StreetScene will clean it up. Contact them on 01223 457000 or via the web form.

The City's dog warden team deal with the criminal side for the City Council. They can be contacted in office hours on 01223 457898. Be prepared to leave a message as they are often out and about in the City!

They do need information however: if you know the type of dog, the time it happens or (better yet) the owner then they can act more easily. You can also report it to the Police on 08454 564564.

If you'd rather do it via one of us then get in touch in the usual way.

Road works on Northfield Avenue

The Cambridge Water Company have written to local Councillors to warn us of long term road works on Northfield Avenue.

The letter informs us that the work will begin in January and run for about 18 weeks (which is until the middle of May).

The work, to renew the mains water supply, will eventually involve Northfield from the turn into Cameron Road as far as King's Hedges Road.

They say that any interruption to water supply will be "kept to a minimum" and that you should get advance warning. If you have any concerns you can contact Cambridge Water on 01223 706050 or get in touch with us and we will see if we can help.

Roman Courts update

I hope everyone had a happy Christmas and that the new year has started well.

A quick update on Roman Courts: A proposal is probably coming to January's Housing Management Board meeting proposing that the courts be let to a company who run nursing homes (or provide staff to such properties).

This lease would run whilst a long term decision is made for the site. Obviously this hasn't been approved by committee yet and could change. The plan for the company is to use it as accomodation and training provision for staff who they would bus to and from their places of work.

The long term plan is still being discussed.

Watch this space for an update.