46-47 Village Views

UFFORD VILLAGE HALL

In 2019, the Trustees of Ufford Village Hall undertook a formal Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) of the Hall conducted by independent experts and then, under the chairmanship of Marian Browne, set about implementing the recommendations.

Thanks to a very generous grant from Augean Community Fund we have now installed, tested and commissioned a new fire detection, fire alarm and emergency light system. This fully complies with the recommendations of the FRA and brings the Hall right up to modern requirements. In addition – and thanks to the same Augean Community Fund grant – we have installed a new ceramic hob in the kitchen (thus further reducing the risk of fire) as well as electronic hand dryers in the toilets.

Separately we have implemented all the requirements to make the Hall Covid-compliant. So now, as soon as lockdown restrictions are eased, we very much look forward to being able to re-open our Village Hall to new users as well as welcoming back old friends.

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COUNCIL CORNER

NORTHBOROUGH

All of the village’s defibrillators are registered with the emergency services and they will direct you to the nearest available.

Mark Malcolm has lived in Northborough with his family for three years, is keen to contribute to village life and has already made a valuable contribution to the council’s work.

New Councillor Mark Malcolm Northborough Parish Council has been mindful for some time that a 3rd defibrillator is essential to provide adequate coverage for the whole village. After discussions about the best location, the new equipment has been purchased. At the time of writing we are about to install a new defibrillator, on Church Street, at the front of the school. Complementing the two already in place, at the shop on East Road, and at the Village Hall, every resident and visitor will now be within reasonable distance of a life-saving piece of equipment. A defibrillator is no replacement for basic first aid and the first thing to do in any emergency is to call 999. All of the village’s defibrillators are registered with the emergency services and they will direct you to the nearest available. The council was delighted at the turn of the year, to welcome a new parish councillor. Mark Malcolm has lived in Northborough with his family for three years, is keen to contribute to village life and has already made a valuable contribution to the council’s work. If you’d like to do the same, it is a really good time to become a councillor at Northborough, with lots of activity in the planning stages. Please contact the Clerk or any councillor to find out more.

NORTHBOROUGH PARISH COUNCIL

It is a really good time to become a councillor at Northborough, with lots of activity in the planning stages.

There is one councillor vacancy.

Chair John Dadge T: 01733 254145 / 07802 702908 E: john.dadge@northborough-pc.gov.uk Portfolio: Finance & Governance, Human Resources, Planning (Green Space, Burial Grounds)

Vice Chair Malcolm Spinks

Councillor Rob Chiva

Councillor Brian Spriggs

Councillor Elaine Mann

Councillor David Aldwinckle T: 01778 343585 / 07870 343562 E: malcolm.spinks@northborough-pc.gov.uk Portfolio: Human Resources, Burial Grounds, Amenities & Assets, Speedwatch

T: 01733 252823 E: robert.chiva@northborough-pc.gov.uk Portfolio: Planning, Environment, Green Space, Speedwatch

T: 01778 342502 Portfolio: Burial Grounds, Green Space, Human Resources

T: 01778 701036 E: elaine.mann@northborough-pc.gov.uk Portfolio: Community & Volunteering, Burial Grounds

T: 07872 676852 E: david.aldwinckle@northborough-pc.gov.uk Portfolio: Communications, Finance & Governance, Police Liaison

Councillor Stewart Curtis

Councillor Mark Malcolm T: 07894 568472 E: stewart.curtis@northborough-pc.gov.uk Portfolio: Amenities & Assets, Community & Volunteering, Environment

T: 07584 877793 E: mark.malcolm@northborough-pc.gov.uk

COUNCIL CORNER

CASTOR & AILSWORTH

Fiona Rowlands, Vice Chair CPC

Castor Parish Council met virtually again on 4 February and Councillors welcomed Nicola Warnock the Census Engagement Manager (Peterborough) who gave us a short presentation on the Census due to take place on 21 March. This will be the first digital Census which can be completed on line. CPC have publicised the event within the village and on the website.

Interestingly while builders were working at the Woodlands site they recently recovered Roman remains. Further investigation revealed these to be a small part of a Roman jaw bone and teeth, together with some parts of animal bone. There may be more to reveal at a later stage if weather permits.

For further information please contact our clerk John Haste clerk@castor-pc.gov.uk or visit castor-pc.gov.uk

Councillors are keen to review our Neighbourhood Plan in the spring, deciding on which policies to revisit this time around. Some readers may be aware a Care Home is being constructed on the Woodlands site off Splash Lane. The build has been very challenging for those involved taking into consideration the very wet winter and the Covid 19 restrictions the completion date has understandably been set back from April to July. The Woodlands site under normal circumstances is used by local football/cricket clubs and there are also plans afoot for a new Pavilion to be built on site. Interestingly while builders were working at the site they recently recovered Roman remains. Further investigation revealed these to be a small part of a Roman jaw bone and teeth, together with some parts of animal bone. There may be more to reveal at a later stage if weather permits. CPC are heavily invested in supporting the Langdyke Trust Nature Recovery plan and have plans to plant new hedgerows along with heritage tree planting around our parish land. It is also hoped to plant some attractive trees forming an avenue along the service road to the Woodlands site. Unfortunately again due to restrictions this work will now not take place until the Autumn of 2021 when we hope things might be getting back to normal! In the meantime we have purchased bat/bird boxes which will be erected within our village Allotment area where apple trees and a designated wildflower meadow is also planned within the scheme. Councillors were also delighted to support our local schoolchildren via the village charitable organization CASPRA and have donated money in order to purchase laptops to help with home schooling. Castor Parish Council have also donated to CAMSAR and MAGPAS both extremely worthwhile charities.

Most village councillors will appreciate the ongoing problems within their communities regarding speeding and of course litter. We as a council are committed to trying to solve these issues and with the help of PCC now have new speed limits within Castor and are purchasing a new up to date speed indicator device which we hope will deter those who abuse the limit! Regarding litter, under normal circumstances like most villages we invite villagers to litter pick followed by a pie and a pint in one of our pubs. However at the moment we are encouraging villagers to use our council equipment and collect litter as they take their daily walk. Hopefully by the time the next edition of the Tribune hits our letterboxes within the communities we will all be able to move around a little more freely within our villages.

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COUNCIL CORNER

BAINTON & ASHTON

Chairman

Susie Lucas 01780 740159 susie.hall34@gmail.com Responsible for: Parish Council Liaison Group, HR, New Projects

Councillors:

Anita Phillips 01780 749128 anita@ruizuk.co.uk Responsible for: HR, Planning, Way Warden / Good Neighbour Scheme Cliff Stanton 01780 749123 Cliffstanton@btinternet. com Responsible for: Police, Neighbourhood Watch, Speedwatch, Village Assets and Maintenance, Parish Council Liaison Group Pete Charlton 07850 657200 petecharlton@me.com Responsible for: Financial Overview, Data Protection Chris Womack 01780 740925 womackuk@gmail.com Responsible for: New Projects, Data Protection, Barnack Ward Group

Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer

Jenny Rice bainton.ashton.clerk@live.co.uk

COUNCIL CORNER GLINTON

Cllr John F W Holdich OBE

Peter and I have again taken up with Anglian Water the intolerable stress and sleepless nights suffered by residents of North Fen Road, caused by a breakdown in the pumping station. Okay, these things happen but not as often as it has been. We have had all the excuses over the years and it is now time to fix it instead of putting more houses on the system. SHOP LOCALLY. What would we have done during the lockdown without the Post Office and Nisa Store, and our wonderful Chemist.

Glinton Parish Council, in addition to its e-mail address clerk@glintonparishcouncil. org.uk, now has a dedicated telephone number 07591 834163.

CONTACT

GLINTON PARISH COUNCIL

clerk@glintonparishcouncil.org.uk

07591 834163

www.glintonparishcouncil.org.uk

Cllr JFW Holdich OBE Chairman - 253078 Cllr RW Johnson Vice Chairman - 252743 Cllr DJ Batty - 252749 Cllr CB Bysshe - 253164 Cllr DJ Lane - 252593 Cllr Gerry Kirt - 252839 Cllr RW Randall - 253276 Cllr PD Skinner - 252591 Cllr E Spendelow - 252524 Cllr. Jeff Bell - 252395 Cllr. C J Wilde Mr J Haste - Clerk - 252833 I noted on Facebook how many of you have appreciated the church clock working again. Unfortunately, this may be only temporary, as it is in need of more extensive repairs, estimated at £3,000, money which the church does not have. So, if you feel able to make a donation, it would be appreciated. Please contact Veronica Smith, Church Warden. How about taking a more active role in the village? Those who do are, like me, getting older. We would if you are able, welcome you. How about getting involved in the Community Association and the development of the new village hall. Also, the Glinton Friendship Club which hopes to re-open in the summer, requires a secretary. If you are interested, please email me on john.holdich@peterborough. gov.uk. Following my appeal in the last issue of the Tribune, for an interested person to maintain the Rectory Lane cemetery, I am happy to announce that a village person has come forward and has been appointed. I am advised that the much awaited decision on the Larkfleet Planning Application should be made very shortly. December and January have been the wettest months since the 1860’s. We have two main Drainage Boards who look after our patch, North Level and the Welland and Deepings. Their staff have worked day and night since before Christmas and over Christmas, working over and above, keeping our feet dry. As I sit, in a voluntary capacity, on both Boards, I thank them on everyone's behalf. Good news: when launching with City Fibre, a city wide fibre network, I pressured them to come to our area, and I have constantly reminded them. Later last year they rang me to say that as we now had OpenReach, they would no longer be coming to Glinton. I showed my disappointment and they have reversed that decision, and work will start in March, hopefully with the first connections in July. If this is a success in Glinton, hopefully we can persuade them to extend to other villages. With so many people working from home, I don’t know if your connection is the same as mine, but it has been very unstable. This will give us options to rectify the situation. I, and Peter, have set up an online e-Petition in an attempt to get the Glinton Doctors Surgery re-opened. You should be able to access this through the Peterborough City Council Website Home page: type in petition, click the link ‘starting a petition’, then click the link ‘petitions’; then click the link ‘submit a petition’ or browse other petitions, and click the link ‘petition to reopen Glinton surgery’. Any problems with that, please e-mail me and I will put it in separately to the online petition.

GREEN SHOOTS AS GLINTON CHIROPRACTIC CENTRE RE-OPENS

Clinic upgraded during lockdown to deliver a better, safer service for local sufferers

Covid has been hard for many businesses – especially small independent businesses offering close-contact services. Greenacres Chiropractic Centre in Glinton is one such business. But rather than just close the door and wait for the green light to re-open, owner Bridget Bath used the time to revamp her entire clinic. From the forecourt to the furniture, Bridget worked to improve the look, feel and safety of the centre. Now, with Government and industry guidelines clearing Chiropractic services to remain open and all the improvements, Bridget has unlocked the doors and opened again. Offering such services to resolve spine and joint pain and stiffness, muscle and nerve pain, sports injuries, hypnotherapy and other hands-on procedures, makes client safety paramount for a Chiropractor like Bridget. Furthermore, her Centre is located next to the family home so added concerns of shielding her family meant Bridget needed to act so the Centre could re-open at some point. ‘My patient’s safety is fore most in my mind and by protecting them I also protect my family, whilst offering an essential healthcare service, especially to local businesses and self-employed trades’ says Bridget.’ I have felt like a ship at sea out of fuel, with no rudder and hated the feeling. There is only so much you can do for people via remote and online support’. Following the improvements and to mark the reopening, Bridget asked clients and fellow small business owners, Steve and Margaret Sleet of Greens Garage, Northborough to ceremoniously cut a ribbon to mark the occasion. ‘It’s great to have Bridget back in action as she helps us stay in tip top condition so we in turn can continuously offer our customers the best possible service’ said Margaret and Steve. ‘Much of what I did was helping self-employed people to stay mechanically functioning well, so that they too can remain operational encouraging those green shoots of business to blossom and thrive’ Bridget added. Greenacres Chiropractic Centre is back in fully operational capacity from 4th January. For more information and appointments call 01733 254239 or visit www.greenacreschiropractic.co.uk.

HOUSING TARGET REVISION

A brief update on the piece I wrote in the Nov/Dec 20 issue regarding the Government’s intended planning policy changes.

Cllr Peter Hiller, Glinton and Castor Ward Mine and I’m sure many other contributions to the consultation appear to have hit home! One of my primary concerns about what was being proposed was the impact of the new algorithmbased formula for calculating Peterborough’s Housing Need Assessment. This new method would have hiked our annual target by 38% to an unachievable level, even though we are consistently a high-performing authority for the delivery of new homes. The government has now accepted our concerns and stated: ‘Having taken the responses into account, we have decided the most appropriate approach is to retain the standard method in its current form. However, in order to meet our principles of delivering more homes on brownfield land we will apply a 35 per cent uplift to …the standard method to Greater London and to the local authorities which contain the largest proportion of the other 19 most populated cities and urban centres in England’ Peterborough is 31st highest city/urban centre in terms of population. As PCC Cabinet member for strategic planning I’ve maintained throughout this process that algorithms and formulas can never be a substitute for local knowledge and decisionmaking by councils and communities who know their areas best and I welcome this revision from government. Councils are in the best position to determine local housing need, instead of this being prescribed centrally.

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ADJUSTING TO THE BRAVE NEW WORLD

Fergus Black, of John Clare School, talks about his experience teaching music online over the past year

In my experience, online is actually better for two kinds of students: the shy and the forgetful. The shy are sometimes more comfortable with a camera than a person, and the forgetful don’t usually forget to bring their books (or themselves) to online lessons.

www.fergusblack.com contact@fergusblack.com 07843 058994

I am not a luddite, but I don’t have any Social Media presence, and until a year ago, like so many people, I hadn’t ever attended a Zoom meeting. But, necessity is the mother of invention … I was working as a musician - part teacher, part conductor, part performer. Some of the performing has continued (unpaid) on YouTube and online, but the teaching I have so far, largely managed to rescue.

I was teaching piano and singing at John Clare PS in Helpston and at Bourne Grammar and privately. When the coronavirus struck, it evaporated. Schools were understandably reluctant to have visiting music teachers in school. So I jumped in to lessons online with Zoom. You may be sceptical about how this works for music lessons. I know I was before I started.

The first thing to say is that online music lessons need a decent internet connection at both ends: so Helpston, for example, with its super-fast broadband is a dream, almost like being in the room with the student. Elsewhere, I have been impressed that some families have made a great effort, including upping their broadband package, or working logically on marginal gains, which together added up to a big improvement. Some families don't have a good internet connection, and others apparently don't have a printer. Or indeed, for one family whose child had been having weekly piano lessons in school, a piano. In my experience, online is actually better for two kinds of students: the shy and the forgetful. The shy are sometimes more comfortable with a camera than a person, and the forgetful don’t usually forget to bring their books (or themselves) to online lessons. Also, I have some private students in Werrington who were travelling long distances to me for lessons: several from Stamford, one from March. In the past I have had students from Stilton and Boston. The value added by face-toface contact has to be greater than the cost of an hour’s travel, and waiting at the level crossing! The other major plus is that most students have practised more – I guess they had little else to do, since the chess club, rugby and netball have all stopped. “What can I do? I know, I’ll practise the piano!”. Also, I have better contact with parents for school learners. That three-way communication helps all of us enormously. Some things are lost, of course – it is hard to hear the finer details of performance over the internet. Zoom doesn’t convey long sounds well, so it can be hard to tell if students really are holding the long note; and it doesn’t do loud and quiet very well. It is the penalty or using meeting software that boosts the volume of people speaking quietly in a meeting, and shushes the loud ones.

So, I have learned to ask students to send me a recording of themselves. Since a recording is a kind of performance, I hope it encourages the student to play it well without stopping and starting, and I get much more detail in a recording. And for me, I find that lessons and preparation take much longer. You can't ‘wing’ it. Not that I ever do or did, of course!