feature

Promoting engineering as a career

High Street Drainage Improvement Scheme

You may be wondering what all the digging and mess around the High Street and Melbourn Village College has been all about? Well it’s a scheme to improve the drainage of the High Street and prevent the regular flooding which occurs every time there has been any rainfall of note.

The construction of the long awaited drainage improvement scheme between the High Street and the Moor started on 10th December 2012 and was completed at the end of January on programme. The scheme was commissioned by Melbourn Parish Council, with funding from Cambridgeshire County Council, to alleviate flooding on the High Street by increasing run-off capacity to the water outfall.

Atkins, who is the principal contractor for the scheme, also designed the route of the new 450mm diameter surface water drainage system. The drainage route runs from the High Street (opposite Vicarage Close) along the verge to the new housing development at the Old Police Station site. It then passes through the development site and into the grounds of Melbourn Village College and follows the boundary fence to the outfall in the existing ditch at the front of the college in The Moor.

As a result of partnership working between the Parish Council, the County Council and Atkins, it has been possible to significantly reduce the amount of congestion and cost of the scheme by taking advantage of the re-development of the Old Police Station site. Installing the new drainage system through the Old Police Station and around Melbourn Village College reduced the length of drainage work required compared to a route fully along the High Street and The Moor. In turn, this significantly reduced the amount of traffic congestion and general disruption to Melbourn residents by negating the need for road closures and diversions had the new system been routed solely on the public highway. This saved a potential five weeks of road closures on Melbourn High Street and three weeks of closure on The Moor. Village College School Visit

To raise awareness of the scheme, Atkins visited pupils in years 10 and 11 studying for a BTEC in Construction at the Melbourn Village College. The visit coincided with the completion of the construction phase at the end of January and consisted of a short presentation followed by a visit to the construction site so that the students could see in more detail some of the work and skills involved in delivering the draining scheme.

Livio Martelli, a highway engineer from Atkins’ design team in Cambridge, gave the classroom presentations on both the design and construction elements of the scheme. He explained the different phases of a project, the roles and responsibilities of those involved and the importance of maths and sciences in delivering the scheme. During the site visit, students were able to see the actual works and had a chance to ask Peter Nicholas, the drainage scheme supervisor, questions about the construction methods used. Both Peter and Livio highlighted the critical importance of health, safety and the environment in both the design and construction phase and discussed the role of civil engineers in improving the environment more generally.

The students showed great awareness with many expressing a keen interest in Highway Maintenance Apprenticeships which are offered by Atkins. Overall, it was a good learning opportunity for everyone involved which it is hoped can be repeated in the future.

Atkins made the school visit to promote engineering as a career under the STEMNET initiative (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network). STEMNET creates opportunities to inspire young people in science, technology, engineering and mathematics which not only enables them to develop their creativity, problem-solving and employability skills, but widens career choices and supports the UK economy’s future competitiveness. For more information, please contact: Rob Bayley, Atkins Business Development Manager, Highways & Transportation Telephone 01223 814173

scheme, South Cambs District Council (SCDC) has reduced the Tax base value for all homes in the SCDC district, in our case from £1966.01p per B and D property to £1825.08p per band D property. This has the net effect of reducing the ability to set the precept at the same level as has been set for the last two years by the Parish Council.

The precept for 2012/13 was £190,309 which levied a charge of £96.80 per month for 10 months for a Band D property. As a result of the Tax base changes, the collectable precept will now be £176,734 but the payment due by Council tax payers is still the £96.80 figure as described above.

This is a £13,575 drop in available funds that the Parish Council needs with which to continue delivering the services it provides to the community.

To fill this gap South Cambs District Council (SCDC) will receive funding from central government to make a once-only grant payment to Parish Councils (for Melbourn this will be £13,224) so that the Parish Council and District Councils can adjust to the new scheme. However it is understood that in line with government cuts, this grant will not be offered at the same level in 2014/15, leaving a potential large hole in the village finances.

The Parish Council has been working hard over the last two years to keep the precept at the £190,000 and the new Localised Council Tax Support Scheme has come as a particularly hard blow. For the Parish Council to protect the services it delivers and meet inflationary pressures, a 2.5% increase in Parish Council tax has been agreed and represents a 24p rise per-month for a Band D property, or £2.42 per year. This will however only provide £4400 and will still leave the precept short by £9175 in 2014/15 if no further Localised Council Tax Support Scheme grants are forthcoming next year.

Local Plan 2011–2031

Consultation Issues and Options

www.scambs.gov.uk/content/south-cambridgeshire-local-plan The background

In the summer of 2012 South Cambridgeshire District Council sought the views of residents throughout the district on a wide range of issues and options. This consultation was to help create a new Local Plan on how the district should be developed over the next 20 years. In Melbourn three sites were identified that would hold approximately 120 houses. In late December 2012 two additional sites were introduced by planners offering space for an additional 270 houses. A further public consultation was held from the 7th January to 18th February, asking residents their views on these new sites.

The Village Plan

We have been very fortunate to have had such a comprehensive Village Plan, that was published in 2011 and formally approved by SCDC in January 2012. This identified additional housing as an area of importance to residents, although feedback from the questionnaire was conflicting.

There was a strong desire for more affordable housing for those people who wish to live locally or who work locally. (The MVP research identified 1000+ people who commute to Melbourn every day to work. Annual turnover for businesses in the village exceeds £250,000,000).

Of the 1,423 people that responded to the question ‘should there be initiatives to provide homes for local people?’ 64% agreed or strongly agreed. Only 12% disagreed with the remainder offering no opinion.

Conversely, many residents felt strongly that Melbourn should not grow further, as it is already one of the largest villages in South Cambridgeshire. 1,646 people responded to the statement ‘Melbourn should be allowed to grow beyond its present boundaries’. 68% either disagreed or strongly disagreed. 18% agreed with the statement.

Associated research shows that the negative views on new building are underpinned by the deterioration of the local infrastructure. Roads, traffic congestion, poor pavements, school buildings are part of this. There is the fear that, when adding significantly to village size, such issues will not be addressed and simply become worse.

Melbourn is known as a Minor Rural Centre which states that residential development and redevelopment up to an indicative maximum scheme size of 30 dwellings will be permitted within the village frameworks. Where development of a larger scale (9 to 30 dwellings) would place a material burden on the existing village services and facilities the District Council will use its powers under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to secure financial contributions at an appropriate level towards their development or improvement. The future

Views from the two consultations will be used to form a draft development plan that will take the district up to 2031. A further consultation will then take place in the summer 2013 on this draft plan. From this final consultation a proposal will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for public examination around January 2014

No further details are currently available, but the Parish Council will keep residents updated by means of the village website, the village notice board or Melbourn Magazine as we become aware. You can also keep up-to-date on South Cambs District Councils website, www.scambs.gov.uk/content/southcambridgeshire-local-plan. There is a wealth of ‘complicated’ information on their site.

Road Maintenance

The Parish Council are often asked about maintenance of roads and paths throughout the village and why they have been allowed to be become in such a bad state of repair.

It could be seen as the Council passing the buck when they say ‘It is not our responsibility’ and in part, the Council would be right in doing so. The highways and pavements throughout the village are historically the responsibility of the County Council Highways division, or as in the case of a number of areas in the village, the District Council. There are of course a

number of private or un-adopted roads in Melbourn and these come under the tenancy agreement of the property owner or housing associations.

However, the County Council have now agreed to set a budget of £90 million over four years, for road and path maintenance of the worst-affected roads and pavements throughout the County. With the possibility of monies becoming available to the village, the Parish Council have been in liaison with the County Council in respect of the condition of the roads and paths in Melbourn and a survey has been carried out by councillors in all parts of the village, utilising photographic evidence of the worst affected areas. The survey has been submitted to the County Council and we are currently waiting for a decision on which roads will be prioritised.

Although the Parish Council does not have statutory powers for pavements, it has however been working very closely with the County Council highways division, looking into two major problem paths within the village. Vicarage Walk, (which runs alongside Vicarage Close) and the path that runs along the back of the memorial are used by many of our older residents. The County Council will be improving these two paths in the near future, with a contribution towards costs from the Parish Council.

From the County Councillor

The spring issue of the magazine always comes with news of the county council’s proposed budget cuts that are having a growing impact on our community. However, Melbourn has proven to be a tenacious and creative place, and always moving forward in spite of hard times.

Pippins Children’s Centre: Going to press, we know that under budget consideration is the amalgamation of several children’s centres into one. The proposal is to cluster services for a large swathe of South Cambs into one, and for us this includes Melbourn, Bassingbourn, Comberton, Gamlingay and Cambourne – and most likely losing the service on our doorstep in Melbourn. This comes not very long after the party to celebrate the brand new Pippins premises adjacent to Melbourn Primary, and would fundamentally change the nature of what children’s centres have to offer.

Community Fundraising: With so little wriggle room in the county budget, campaigning groups play an increasingly important role in finding funding for community projects. A free workshop, ‘Fundraising for Your Community’, is taking place on 12 March, 1-4, at the Gamlingay Eco Hub. This is specifically designed to help small community groups find funding for local projects that benefit children and young people, and there will be practical help on the day to address individual needs for any projects that anyone wants to bring along to nurture.

Street lighting: The street lighting work which has been dominating the winter months is part of the county council’s 25-year contract with Balfour Beatty to replace and reduce by about 11% the entire stock in order to run lighting more efficiently and cheaply. The idea is that everyone should have received helpful communication from Balfour Beatty through their letter box before work in their neighbourhood started, explaining what the project is about and offering contact details for queries. Much of the work has gone smoothly, but we know that there have also been a number of problems. Parish and district councillors and I have been in constant contact with Balfour Beatty, and also the County Council in their oversight role, to help ensure that these are properly addressed.

Infrastructure and Local Plan proposals: ‘Where is the Melbourn Village Plan?’ I heard someone ask at the public consultation event on January 14th. In the age of ‘localism’ there is a decidedly disjointed quality in the way long-term planning is handled. While the Local Plan and its proposal for 270 extra homes in Melbourn is district council, not county council-led, any rapid and large increase in population demands supporting infrastructure and there are big questions to be addressed about funding gaps for transport, roads and schools.

A10 Corridor Cycle Campaign

A brilliant start to the A10 Corridor Cycle Campaign took place January 29th, when in the bleakest week of the year, the biggest group I’d ever seen turn out for a new idea came storming in, sleeves rolled up and raring to go. Holding the meeting in the dead of winter may have turned out keenest of all. Virtually every village between Royston and Cambridge was represented, whether through attending the meeting or writing in to volunteer and be involved.

An overwhelming demand for safe cycling between Melbourn and Royston was immediately apparent, most notably for essential transport to work – cycling being the cheapest form of transport other than walking – but also for shopping, appointments and leisure. Such a very short distance between the two makes it a compelling case. A strong contingent of Royston-based people attended the meeting and will be lobbying their councillors and officers to tackle shared problems from the Hertfordshire angle.

Similarly, there was strong interest in the journey north toward Cambridge. The group will be investigating prospects for an off-road path to bypass Harston and applying pressure on the Trumpington Meadows developer to speed up the expected link between Trumpington Park and Ride and Hauxton, via a farm bridge over the M11 and avoiding the M11 roundabout. This is already approved but very slow in coming. The main body of the A10 off-road path itself obviously needs serious work, and there are many smaller projects to be explored and supported in and between our villages.

Underlying the overall project is awareness that combinations of cycles, vehicles and pedestrians sharing the same space are problematic – and so we need to find ways of separating them.

The trick will be to anticipate opportunities for central government funding, which are much less likely to filter down to us without the backing a strong local campaigning group. The county council’s forthcoming transport strategy for the Greater Cambridge area, including all of South Cambs, will have a very strong focus on cycling infrastructure, but it is the areas closer to Cambridge which are currently in the strongest position to tap into funding – and we need to get into the fray.

The Dolphin - a welcoming pub worth taking a detour for…

DOLPHIN High Street, Melbourn

The Country Pub is a singularly English phenomenon, a well stocked bar, ale from the hand-pump, wholesome, hearty food are the hallmarks of a great country pub. The Dolphin, nestled in the pretty village of Melbourn, offers all of these plus a warm friendly welcome. Refurbishment only a short time ago, business is brisk with new managers at the helm making the Dolphin one of the best hostelries in the area. An all new ‘Flamegrill’ menu is due to be launched in the early spring, featuring an array of classic pub dishes, including juicy steaks, flame-grill burgers, oak smoked belly pork and much, much more! Sunday lunch is our specialty, succulent roasts with fresh seasonal vegetables, why not treat the family and leave the washing up to us! Food is available all day every day from 12 noon until 9pm Monday – Sunday. With warmer weather just around the corner, the Dolphin is the ideal place to relax following a country walk. Enjoy a pint of real ale, a glass of something sparkling or a hot cup of coffee! With ample parking and a large well kept garden, there really is something for everyone at the Dolphin.

THE DOLPHIN 105, High Street, Melbourn, SG8 6AP Telephone: 01763 226004 • Email: 4199@greeneking.co.uk

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