Community matters

Melbourn Short Story Group

The Melbourn Short Story Group starts up again on Tuesday the 6th of September at 10am. We meet every Tuesday in the Library Area of Melbourn Hub between 10-11am.

Each session is free with a donation to WaterAid welcomed. We read one Short Story per session. All are welcome, materials will be provided. For further information please e-mail Britta Heinemeyer, Group Co-ordinator. britta.heinemeyer@gmx.de

Neighbourhood Watch Scheme

Please could any street representatives of the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme that are still willing to be representatives pass their email addresses, name and telephone number to me, Maureen Townsend, as I would like to produce a list of names and streets to all concerned, so that if we have a problem in the village we can let our representatives know as soon as possible.

I have read in the newspaper that a new scheme has been started in Medcalfe Way, so if that person can help please do.

If I receive a good response I will arrange for a meeting so that we can all get together and swop information.

Maureen Townsend Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator – New Road, Melbourn. Tel: 01763 260959. email: maureentownsend1@aol.com

From the Parish Clerk – Sarah Adam

The planning inspectorate appeal for the 199 houses on the land to the east of New Road took place from 12th – 15th July 2016. Your District Councillors and resident members of the former Parish Council Committee responsible for the village’s fight against the new housing attended the entire appeal hearing. I’m informed that all the evidence and cross examination has been completed, site visits done and so now we wait. It could be as long as three months. Our District Councillors will inform us as soon as the decision comes in. Thank you to all the residents who gave their precious time so freely to help defend the village.

It won’t be a shock to some when I say I have received many complaints from residents about the grass cutting issues within the village. The reason for this is that the County and District Councils have reduced their grass cutting budgets and when they cut the grass, to compound the issue these cuts can be on different days or weeks AND they have different areas of land for which they are responsible! It’s a very difficult set-up and the various authorities are trying to change it. The Parish Council is going to try and take responsibility for the whole of Melbourn – but this will be dependent on grant funding from County and District Council and will obviously take some organising.

May I offer my congratulations to the Melbourn Fete Committee for organising such a fantastic event. We were fortunate to have good weather and the afternoon was enjoyed by all who attended and the ‘Music on the Moor’ event proved very popular in the evening. I’m sure all the people that helped with putting everything together (and taking it all down again) felt their hard work was well worth it.

I am sorry to report that there are still problems with dog faeces on the Recreation Ground and the Village College field despite new signs being erected around the site. Not only does it cause a problem for school children and other people that use the fields for sporting activities, but also for the responsible dog walkers who sadly get blamed for the actions of the irresponsible dog walkers.

199 houses East of New Road

The appeal for the housing development mentioned by the Clerk above has been approved. The development will include 199 new homes and 75-bed care home, new vehicular and pedestrian accesses from New Road, public open space and a landscape buffer.

We have been asked if the magazine will carry any information on the current situation with the parish council. Although the magazine is the obvious conduit for information about the village and the various groups including the parish council it would not be appropriate for the magazine to get involved in any political or controversial issues. If you would like further information, please contact the Clerk to the council Sarah Adam, Telephone: 01763 263303 ext. 3.

Something we have been asked about recently, is Jose’s position as a councillor. A number of resignations from the Parish Council were noticed by villagers in the May Parish Council minutes, including Jose’s and this may have caused some confusion. Val had stepped down from the Parish Council for personal reasons a short time previously. Both Val and Jose continue as your elected District Councillors dealing with matters such as local planning, housing, local highways, building regulations, environmental health and refuse collection etc. We both attend full Parish and Parish planning meetings as District Councillors, to offer advice or to give reports. We are therefore both still very much out there working hard for you and our village! A few updates New Road Development Proposal (199 Houses). At the time of reading this, we may already know the village’s fate regarding Endurance Estates’ application to build 199 houses and a 75 bed care home at New Road in Melbourn. The application was rejected last year by South Cambridgeshire District Council, following work on behalf of the village by the Melbourn Futures Committee. This decision was then appealed against by Endurance Estates. The appeal was heard over four days in July, attended daily by your District Councillors and the dedicated former members of the Futures committee. The potential development was first brought to the village’s attention by a local pressure group (MELHDAC) in 2013 and as District Councillors we organised an urgent community meeting, leading twice to a village wide public consultation showing that the village was overwhelmingly against the development.

Win or lose, Val and I would like to recognise those who could not have worked any harder alongside us on behalf of our village over the past three years, giving so generously of their time on top of their already busy lives. A special thank you goes to former parish councillors Julie Norman (chair) and John Regan and members of the public Mike Swann, Colin Connor and Clive Maggs – and of course their very understanding families.

Devolution. People in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have been asked for their views on the creation of a Combined Authority and directly elected mayor for the area, as part of a new devolution deal. Seven councils and the Greater Cambridge Peterborough Enterprise Partnership have joined together to ask Government for some powers, responsibilities and funding to be transferred from Central Government to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

This will no doubt bring about much debate concerning the prospect of more decisions on public services being made locally vs significant concerns about added layers of administration and increased costs for an elected mayor. The consultation for your views on the decision ended on 23rd August.

Celebrating Ages tea parties. To celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday, we organised along with host Melbourn Village College (MVC), an indoor street party for around 160 people ‘of age’ on 11th June.

The Celebrating Ages concept came about when Val and I were approached by Cambridgeshire County Council and Care Network and developed the regular tea party idea with MVC to offer benefits to older and younger residents. The first event in 2013 was incredibly successful. The students are fantastic and MVC staff, Lynn Gregory and Paul Belbin do a wonderful job with the catering and music, all well supported by MVC Principle Simon Holmes. Residents who came to the event are still commenting to Jose on how they enjoyed it.

We are regularly asked “when’s the next one?!” We can answer that with “late autumn” – we hope!

Councillor Surgeries. District Councillor Jose Hales and County Councillor Susan van de Ven hold a councillor surgery on the first Monday of every month between 2.30pm and 3.30pm at the Hub, 30, High St, Melbourn.

To contact us at anytime: for Jose Hales – 07703 262649 or Jose@josehales.me.uk or for Val Barrett – 07877 295878 or Val@valbarrett.co.uk

County Councillor Susan van de Ven

Oil Club for household heating oil

In case you are new to the village or didn’t know about the ‘Melbourn Division Oil Club’, as winter sets in I thought it would be useful to send this information around again:

A few years ago a bulk-buying club for household heating oil was set up for the Melbourn area villages. There is no joining fee and no requirement relating to frequency or volume of purchases. Anyone can sign up, and when you want to place an order you contact our bulk-buyer.

If you’d like to know more, I’ve put some background information on my website under ‘Oil Club.’ You can also contact our bulk buyer directly:

Jeremy Cole, Agricole Ltd, 29 The Maltings Cambourne, Cambridge, CB23 5FR, Jeremy@agricole.co.uk, www. agricole.co.uk.

Flooding, pavements and potholes

Serious property damage to the Black Horse Pub in Orchard Road Melbourn has taken place five times over the past two years, including June 23, following extreme rainfall. County Highways has at last implemented remedial measures under what can only be described as an emergency conditions.

We know that Highways officers want to do far more than they are able – not just in the realm of drainage, but all aspects of highways maintenance. They know as well as we do that pavements are broken and often very difficult to navigate; many roads are riddled with pot holes; and remedial drainage work is badly wanting in several key parts of the village.

Extreme austerity measures have depleted the county maintenance budgets to an irresponsible degree. Because central government has turned off the tap of revenue support of the county council, and because the county council itself has seen fit

to freeze its own council tax, public services are taking a beating. Nevertheless, any other flooding and drainage concerns, please do let me know so that I can help action. I’ve formally requested that key thoroughfare pavements in the village are upgraded to the good standard people rightfully expect.

From the Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership

Post-16 Education Transport provision

Central government withdrawal of financial support to local councils has resulted in the ending of post-16 education transport assistance. This means that subsidy from councils, which is not a legal requirement, is no longer be available. However, Govia Thameslink Railways has confirmed that the ‘Cambridgeshire Student Connect’ rail discount which I brokered with the train operating company in 2009, offering 50% off the adult fare (compared to 33% elsewhere in the country), will continue to be available in 2016-17. This is cheaper than the bus deal formerly offered by the council. It can be used on weekends and holidays and anywhere within Cambridgeshire, including the Greater Anglia route. All route details and qualifying state colleges are listed on the Great Northern website. There are some anomalies including provision for a couple of independent schools including Perse Boys/Girls and Kings Ely. It can be purchased only on line (not at Meldreth Station): www.www.thameslinkrailway.com/ tickets-and-fares/student-connect/ Any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Melbourn Community Edible Gardening

It is lovely to report that a small County Council grant (a disappearing species) won by our Community Rail Partnership for ‘Melbourn Community Edible Gardening’ has been such a success. This brings together Melbourn families and friends, and takes place on the premises of Melbourn Primary School every Monday afternoon. The idea is to discover the delights of growing food on one’s doorstep. Part of the grant means that a good quality polytunnel is on the way; this will serve as year-round, weatherproof space for teaching and learning. A team of dedicated green thumb volunteers from the Rail User Group has been in place to help out at the school from the beginning, so very many thanks to all concerned for making such a success of this venture – which we hope will carry on long-term.

Half-hourly off-peak trains on the way!

Half-hourly off-peak services will commence at Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton from 2018, with the roll-out of the Thameslink Service. The Rail User Group has been lobbying for this for many years. All trains will be eight-car and able to carry nearly 1500 passengers. At all three stations, Cambridge-bound platforms will be lengthened. On the London-bound platforms, there will be selective door opening. The Rail User Group meets next on September 20 and will be focusing on access issues at Meldreth Station. We have invited representatives of Meldreth and Melbourn Parish Councils to attend, so that we can forge ways of coordinating joint working. At the time of writing, venue to be confirmed – please get in touch and I’ll let you know. You can receive our agendas by email by writing to railusergroup@gmail.com or

Melbourn Hub offers a café with free Wi-Fi, a library access point and meeting rooms which can be used for leisure or business. We also offer a range of key community support services and aim to be a focus point for assistance and advice. Opening Hours Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm Saturday 9am to 3pm

30 High Street Melbourn SG8 6DZ Telephone 01763 263303 reception@melbournhub.com

The Hub is run by the community, for the community, it is a centre with a difference. It is yours.

Melbourn

Community Hall

Melbourn Community Hall is in the centre of the village behind All Saints Church If you would like to hire the hall contact Sandie Springall Telephone: 01763 223320 or email: hallbookings@live.co.uk

check out the latest on our website, kindly hosted by the Melbourn Village site: www.meldrethsheprethfoxtonrail.org.uk/

The Community Rail Partnership has published audits of our three stopping stations, which can be viewed on our website. The idea is to take stock of current facilities and prompt strategic thinking about their enhancement to meet growing demand. Meldreth Station car park is often full, the number and quality of cycle parking is poor, and there is no shelter on the Cambridge platform.

When Govia Thameslink Railway took over our service exactly two years ago, it announced that Meldreth Station would receive a shelter on the Cambridgebound platform, as well as enhanced cycle parking provision. Two years on, no progress, though we are doing our best to push.

Thank you to Melbourn Village College Duke of Edinburgh volunteers: without their help, the Meldreth Station planters would not have looked so glorious this summer. Thank you to the Luebcke and Walker Boys!

A10 pedestrian/cycleway project

Link connecting Melbourn Science Park and Frog End The Greater Cambridge City Deal agreed at its June meeting to fund a pedestrian/ cycle path connecting Dunsbridge Turnpike/Frog End Shepreth with Melbourn at the Science Park entrance. It is expected that construction work will commence around September. The path will be suitable for mobility scooters and will lead directly into the two garden centres and associated shops along Cambridge Road. Work is expected to start around September. Meanwhile, Melbourn Science Park owners plan to create a new dedicated cycle entrance to the site, saying that safe cycle provision will enable the site to increase its workforce, because car parking space is limited.

What is the City Deal? This is central government funding specifically for infrastructure in the high growth Greater Cambridge area, with a priority on enhancing sustainable transport provision. The new A10 network from Trumpington southward is moving ever closer to connecting up with Royston – the overall project being encouraged locally by the A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign. More information at a10corridorcycle.com.

A10 path maintenance

AstraZeneca, currently based at the Melbourn Science Park, has kindly agreed to provide supplementary maintenance to the A10 pedestrian/cycle network, over and above current arrangements by the council. The extra funding will allow additional verge cuts, cutting back of overhanging and side vegetation, herbicide treatment, etc. This is set out for a two-year trial period. Needless to say it is a huge shame that central government provides grants to build infrastructure but no revenue support to maintain it; the logical arrangement would be for a properly funded council to provide proper maintenance. Huge thanks to AstraZeneca for agreeing to step in. Please feel free to drop in at the Melbourn Hub on the first Monday of the month, 2:30-3:30, for our councillors’ advice surgery. Or just get in touch anytime. And if you would like to receive our monthly email newsletter, please drop me a line. Susan van de Ven, susanvandeven5@ gmail.com, www.susanvandeven.com, Telephone 07905325574.

Home-Start

Please support your local HomeStart scheme by attending one of our Bee Orchid – Ophrys apifera fundraising events, this is what we have planned over the coming months:

Friday 30th September – 11.00am – 1.00pm – Harvest Festival Flower Arranging Workshop to be held at Abington Piggots Village Hall – Tickets will be £12 to include all you need to make your arrangement. Materials will be provided for you but please bring sharp scissors and any small-leafed foliage. Tea, coffee and delicious homemade cakes will also be available.

Saturday 1st October – 7.00 for 7.30pm – Quiz Night with supper to be held at Meldreth Village Hall. This will be a fun quiz – teams of 6 are required but if you can’t get a full team, please do still join us and we can include you in another team. Tickets will be £12 each to include your supper and there will be a licensed bar and a raffle held at this event.

Tuesday 8th November – Fashion Show at Esse Retail and Therapy, Melbourn, please arrive from 7.30pm, the fashion show starts at 8.00pm – Parking is available at Esse and at Sheen Mill, opposite. Tickets are £12, which includes a glass of wine or a soft drink. We will also be holding a raffle during the evening. Please come along with your friends for a fun ‘girl’s night out’ and you might even feel like buying a few Christmas presents!

Thursday 17th November – Sing a long Grease – at Royston Picture Palace (during the evening) – not to be missed, a chance to come along with your friends, dress up (optional) and enjoy singing and dancing along to Grease. There will be a licensed bar and a raffle

will be held during the evening. It should be great fun – so don’t miss out !

There are many ways you can support Home-Start, here are a few other ideas:

Become a member of our Fundraising Events Committee – This committee, chaired by a Trustee, plan and organise our programme of events. Volunteers on this fun and lively committee are always needed to attend meetings and organise and take part in the events.

Snowflake Tea Parties – would you like to host a tea party with your family and friends from your office, playgroup, school, book club etc.? We will supply you with a 'tea bag' fundraising pack with ideas and recipes for all you need to host an event.

Do you shop online?

If you do, please consider using easyfundraising.org.uk – Register your details on www.easyfundraising.org.uk and choose Home-Start Royston and South Cambridgeshire up as your charity. Then when you want to search you sign into easyfundraising first, then click on your chosen retailer, decide on your product and, at no extra cost to you, we will automatically receive a percentage of your spend.

Please remember easyfundraising when you are shopping on-line, and spread the word … tell all your friends and family. If you recruit new supporters HomeStart will get even more!

Get Smart for Home-Start – This is a really tasty and easy way to support us. All you need to do is buy a tube of smarties, enjoy eating them and then together as a family or with friends fill the tube with 20p pieces. Once your tube is full please send a cheque made out to Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire to the address below, pop into our office in Meldreth or you can pay your money directly into our account – HSBC – sort code 40-39-22, account number 71363379 using the reference smartie.

Are you celebrating a special birthday or anniversary soon and don’t really need any gifts ? – why not ask your family and friends to make a donation to Home-Start instead.

Come along and find out more about the work of your local Home-Start scheme by attending our AGM – this will be held at 8.00pm on Wednesday 7th September at The Hub, Melbourn. Refreshments will be available from 7.30pm. We would love to see you there.

If you would like further information about any of these events or activities please contact us at our office – Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire, Unit 6, Valley Farm, Station Road, Meldreth, Herts, SG8 6JP, by calling us on 01763 262262, email us on admin@hsrsc.org.uk or see our website www.hsrsc.org.uk. You can also catch up with us on Facebook.

We are always very grateful for the support we receive from our local community and so if you can take part in only one of the above, this will make a real different to local families. Thank you.

Relate Cambridge

Why not focus on your relationships this autumn… The approach of any new season – in this case autumn – is always a good time to take stock, especially when it comes to relationships. The benefit to your relationships - from taking just a little time out to think about what you appreciate or what is not working - is well worth the extra effort.

Here are a few top tips from Relate Cambridge to keep you going this autumn … • Relationship skills – such as good listening – are well worth investing in and are one of the best ways to lay a good foundation for our relationships • However, our relationships will also thrive when we deliver small acts of kindness or gestures, to show how much we care about – not only our partners – but also family members and friends • Every so often, it’s good to take stock to work out the things in our lives that drain our emotional energy, so that we have more to give to those who matter to us. If we can see that we are running low on feel good factor, there is then the opportunity to look at how we can recharge our emotional batteries

For anyone who is struggling with relationship issues or who would just like to brush up on their relationship skills, please get in touch and come along to see us at our outpost in Melbourn.

To find out more or make a booking please ring 01302 347712

Relate Cambridge offers information, advice and counselling for all stages of your relationships at our outpost in Melbourn.

The sessions are held in the small meeting room at Melbourn hub on Wednesday each week. Appointment times are: 10:30; 11:45; 13:00

For more information or to book an appointment, contact Relate Cambridge on 01223 357424 Mon-Thur 8am-10pm, Fri 8 am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm (confidential answerphone at all other times) or visit www.relatecambridge.org.uk

Men’s Breakfast – Dean’s Farm

A pleasant Saturday morning was spent on 18th June when the Men’s Group met at Dean’s Farm in Fowlmere for a barbecuestyle breakfast inside Tony Dean’s big green barn. There was a good turnout of Foxton’s men, plus several ladies and a dog called Bruno, who made short work of the leftovers!

A presentation on the ‘Wild-flowers of Chalk Grasslands’ was given by Trevor James, formerly of the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust, who now manages a nature reserve at Ashwell. This corner of our county boundary runs alongside Hertfordshire and the Chiltern Hills up around Barkway and The Chishills, beneath which many of the chalk springs that run through our neck of the woods