Parish Council

28 Station Road Melbourn Cambs SG8 6DX Telephone 262494 e-mail: parishclerk@melbournpc.co.uk

Chairman Donald Mowatt 23, High Street SG8 6AL 268388 Vice-Chairman Maureen Townsend 32 New Road SG8 6ER 260959 Clerk & Office Avril Mellor, 28 Station Road, SG8 6DX 262494

E-mail parishclerk@melbournpc.co.uk

Website www.melbourncambridge.co.uk Councillors Val Barratt 2 Station Road SG8 6DX 261227 Irene Bloomfield 78 Russet Way SG8 6HF 222558 Colin Charter 58 Bramley Avenue SG8 6HG 262278 Janice Guest 1 Mortlock Street SG8 6DB 260894 Rosemary Gatward 94 High Street SG8 6AL 261225 Dean Hardingham 1 Portway SG8 6EU 232757 Michael Linette 11, Chapel Lane 262534 Donald Mowatt 23 High Street SG8 6AL 268388 Clive Purbrook Glebe House High Street SG8 6DZ 260899 Andy Qulina 77 Orchard Road SG8 6BB Jocelyn Robson 91 High Street Mike Sherwen 3 Hale Close SG8 6ET 260070 Christopher Stead 70 Russet Way 260743 pm Maureen Townsend 32 New Road SG8 6BY 260959 Richard Wakerley 32 Chalkhill Barrow SG8 6EQ 262247 Employees Handyman and Caretaker Peter Andrews 243312

Emergency mobile. 07778-682245 Village Ranger Keith Rudge, 4 Dolphin La, SG8 6AF 221212 Internal Auditor Peter Chilvers, 68A High Street, SG8 6AJ 260742 County Councillor David Charles McCraith 104 North End, Bassingbourn D-Rmccraith@supanet.com (send agenda by e-mail) County Hall 01223-833555 District Councillors Janice Guest, 1 Mortlock Street, SG8 6DB 260894 Val Barrett, 2 Station Road 261227 South Cambs M.P. Andrew Lansley 01954 212707 South Cambs M.E.P. Robert Sturdy 01954 211790 The Parish Office at 28 Station Road, is entered by the door at the front of the building directly opposite Sheene Mill. The Parish Office is now open on Mondays from 9 am to 1 pm, on Tuesdays from 2 pm from 4 pm, and on Thursday from 9 am to 1 pm. The office is not normally open on Wednesdays or Fridays. As the Clerk is sometimes out on Parish business it is better to ring 262494 to ensure that she is in the office. Meetings of the Planning Committee are normally held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month commencing at 7.15 pm. Council Meetings are normally held on the fourth Monday of each month at 7.15 pm at Vicarage Close Community Centre.

The Press Royston & Buntingford Mercury

Tom Ship, Media Centre 40 Ware Road,

Hertford, SG13 7HU 01992 526639 Royston Crow Heath House, Princes Mews,

Royston, SG8 6RT 245241 Fax 242231 Cambridge News David Williams, 3 Melbourn Street,

Royston, SG8 7BP 249144 Fax 244502 BBC Radio Cambridge

Reception 01223 259696

Newsroom 01223 358510

From the Parish Clerk – Avril Mellor

I hope you had a nice relaxing summer break and are now looking forward to the beautiful colours of the autumn foliage. A new hand-carved oak village notice-board has been ordered to replace the one which was blown done and then found to be so damaged it was not possible to re-erect it. There is also a hand-carved oak notice-board waiting to be erected inside the gateway to New Road Cemetery. When the proposed lychgate has been purchased this notice board will in placed within it. The wall to All Saint’s Churchyard has been damaged by tree roots and recently became unsafe. As a result the tree has had to be removed and the wall rebuilt. Maintenance of closed churchyards falls to local authorities and in this respect Melbourn is no exception so the cost of this work has to be met by the Council. The Council is also responsible for the upkeep of both Orchard Road and New Road Cemeteries.

I was privileged to be invited to the opening of Moorlands Court on Friday 18th July where I witnessed Andrew Lansley, CBE MP cut the ribbon and Mr Hugh Duberly CBE, Lord-Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire plant a tree with help from one of the care assistants. I was given a tour of part of the building by District Councillor Guest and I was most impressed by the high quality, not only of the building itself but also of the fixtures and fittings. We were treated to a delicious afternoon tea and students from the Village College did a very professional job of providing the back ground music. I missed the village fete this year as I was on holiday but I understand that it was once again a very good day with something on offer for all ages. I would like to congratulate the Fete committee on organising another successful event.

District Councillor Janice Guest

Since writing in the Melbourn Magazine last, we have had a local election and I am pleased to have Mrs Val Barrett with me as the second District Councillor for the Melbourn Ward. Val and the Melbourn team worked extremely hard at election time and it was a very worthy outcome - my congratulations to Val.

As you are no doubt aware, following the May election the Conservative group hold the majority on South Cambs District Council and the new Cabinet has been formed and all newly elected members have been selected to serve on various committees. I serve on Planning, Corporate Governance and Licensing; in addition I attend the meetings of 2 other local organisations on behalf of South Cambs, who have received funding from them. Following these meeting I am then expected to report back to full Council.

One of the major concerns of the Council at the present time is the possibility of the housing stock transfer because it has to be made clear to all tenants that this is still under consideration and all tenants will be fully consulted before any decision

is made. With regard to housing, funding from the Housing Corporation has been secured to help provide affordable homes in this area over the next few years. This is of course a long-term investment and one that is greatly needed.

At the time of writing, the Hanley Grange Eco Town development has been on the minds of many people in this area. This is a development, which has received a lot of publicity and considerable opposition from the local authorities, and I understand it’s future is uncertain. There are many issues which would make this development undesirable, specifically the loss of green and open areas and the lack of infrastructure to support a development of this size. On the other hand the Northstowe development will in time provide a lot of new homes and I think that the government should support that development and help to enhance the Eco values of Northstowe. The issues regarding climate change and enhancing the environment is very important to everyone and the Council take this very seriously.

It is pleasing to see that the plastic recycling bins in the car park are being well used and the contractors responsible for the empting of them are doing so on a regular basis. The Council is still on schedule to start the kerbside plastic collection in the autumn and this will help to continue making our village a good place to live.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or Val should you have any matter of local concern which you feel may be able to help with.

FARM SHOP OPEN FOR THE NEW SEASON

NOW SELLING VICTORIA PLUMS SEASONAL, LOCALLY GROWN, ORCHARD FRUIT PLUMS, APPLES, PEARS. ALSO OUR OWN FARM PRESSED APPLE JUICE, CIDER AND HOMEMADE JAMS.

FARM SHOP OPEN THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 9.00a.m. – 6.00p.m. JULY – FEBRUARY

25 Whitecroft Rd, Meldreth, Royston, Herts SG8 6LZ 01763 262964 • 01763 262906 • 07770 461685

BRIDGE THE GAP

4.5 MILE CHARITY WALK AROUND THE COLLEGES

Sign up now for the annual Bridge the Gap Charity Walk! Taking place on Sunday 14th September and one of the most popular charity walks in the region, Bridge the Gap is a lovely opportunity to see the sites of Cambridge and its colleges. And at just 4.5 miles, it’s something the whole family can enjoy together. This year sees the introduction of many new features including some fantastic entertainment on Jesus Green and along the route.

To make sure you don’t miss out, download an entry form from www.bridgethegapwalk.org or call 01223 723 115. Registration costs £8 in advance (£14 on the day) for adults; entry is free for children under 16.

The walk starts at 9.30 a.m. from Jesus Green.

District Councillor Val Barrett

Since joining Janice on the District Council on 1st May, life has been fairly hectic. I have been attending training days on Licensing and Scrutiny which are the two Committees I am on. Finding one’s way round the building at Cambourne is a feat in itself, but I’m gradually catching on as to who’s who and where they are to be found. Besides the two Committees, a fair amount of time is spent answering emails from residents, then contacting the Officers concerned. Of course, my duties with Janice include Great and Little Chishill and Heydon so we attend all Parish Meetings along with those at Melbourn. Sometimes, District Council Meetings are on the same day/ evening, so it can be tricky getting from place to place. Four Meetings in one day occurs on a fairly regular basis.

As it has only been two months, I am still on a learning curve, but so far, I have been able to respond to all telephone calls and emails with mostly positive outcomes and am happy to be contacted at any time.

This morning on the motorway, I looked over to my right and there was a woman in a brand new Jaguar doing at least 90mph with her face up next to her rear view mirror putting on her eyeliner. I looked away for a couple seconds! When I looked back she was halfway over in my lane, still working on that makeup. As a man, I don’t scare easily, but she scared me so much, I dropped my electric shaver, which knocked the meat pie out of my other hand. In all the confusion of trying to straighten out the car using my knees against the steering wheel, it knocked my mobile phone away from my ear which fell into the coffee between my legs, splashed, and burned my nether regions. It ruined the darn phone, soaked my trousers and disconnected an important call. Darn women drivers!!