The scheme to improve the B1049/A14 junction for cyclists and pedestrians is taking another step towards implementation. Detailed modelling of a proposal to install Toucan crossings on all crossing points has demonstrated the feasibility of the scheme and it can now go to consultation.

Concern had been expressed about the possible impact on queues and capacity so the CCC Traffic Signals Team has completed a 'Linsig model' to see what would happen based upon actual traffic flows. This work has revealed that there would be no negative impact on either queue lengths or the capacity of the interchange except in the instance where traffic has to bypass the A14 below the interchange and hence go 'up and over' it; in this rare instance the police will be able to manually turn off the crossings as an option. 

Consultation events will take place:

Tuesday 10th July, 4-7pm at Histon and Impington Pavilion

Wednesday 18th July, 5-8pm at Orchard Park Community Centre

Sue says: 'This is a welcome development. The CCC Traffic Signals Team has done excellent work both to design the scheme and to test it. When it is implemented it will make the route into Cambridge from our cillages safer for cyclists and pedestrians.'

Click on the icon below for a pdf of the scheme.

Our county councillors’ monthly report for March 2012 is now available on-line. Click on the icon below.

Our county councillors’ monthly report for January 2012 is now available on-line. Click on the icon below.

At a recent meeting County Council officers outlined plans to improve the B1049/A14 junction for pedestrians and cyclists. There will probably also be an improvement for south bound road users.

People who use the junction today are well aware of its problems. There's no protection for pestrians or cyclsts as they cross either down slip road and there's inadequate capacity for traffic approaching it southwards along the B1049.

But with the aid of section 106 money from the Orchard Park development the officers have developed an elegant and pragmatic way to give the pedestrians and cyclists the protection which they need and, at the same time, to make it easier for southbound traffic.

The officers presented their ideas to a meeting with parish and community council reps from Histon, Impington and Orchard Park, County Councillors and representation from the Cambridge Cycling Campaign. Their ideas were well received and will now go formally to the councils after which there will be a period of consultation before final sign off and implementation in the next few months.

Sue says: 'This is more good news not just for Histon and Impington cyclists but also those from Cottenham and for people from Orchard Park and the City who go to Histon and Impington for education and employment.'

Click on the icon below for a copy of the drawings related to the proposal.

Members of the public are being asked by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority if they would support a council tax rise of 2.5 per cent from April 2012.

The proposed raise would mean an average Band D property would pay an extra £1.44 a year - just a little more than a loaf of bread.

The extra money raised from the council tax increase is needed to meet inflationary pressures and allow for essential investment in Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service's (CFRS) operational equipment over the year.

If the money cannot be raised through a council tax increase, the fire authority will be forced to take a one-off Government grant of approximately £400,000, which the Government has offered in exchange for fire authorities freezing council tax over this period (2012/13).

However, this is not quite as clear cut as it sounds. As the Government grant is a one-off payment and will not feature as part of the ongoing base budget, it will mean that come 2013/14, the fire authority will have two options:

1. Increase the council tax by a significant amount, over and above inflationary pressures. This will be to cover 2012/13 and also an increase for 2013/14.

Or, if the Government caps a rise on council tax and only allows a certain percentage increase:

2. Add the deficit to the budget cuts that CFRS already face (£4.2 million to £6 million) which could contribute to the loss of more jobs and more resources, such as retained fire engines.

Sue says: 'it's important that we set the increase at a sufficient level to fund the resources which we need. I'm sure most people would be willing to pay a modest amount extra in their council tax to ensure that our fire service can do its job properly'.

Members of the public have until January 25 to make their views known by emailing the fire service or by sending a comment by post to Matthew Warren, Director of Resources, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, Hinchingbrooke Cottage, Brampton Road, Huntingdon. Cambridgeshire. PE29 2NA.

The fire authority will make a final decision on February 23, once comments have been made.

Our county councillors’ monthly report for November 2011 is now available on-line. Click on the icon below.

Since the terrible fire earlier this year Cottenham residents have been hoping that a new, improved Co-op would be opening in their village as soon as possible. And thanks to frantic work all round it looks like it will be open before Xmas.

The store itself is in a difficult (on the bend in the middle of the village) but convenient (in the middle of the village and across the road from the Community Centre) position and people have been concerned that the rebuilding addresses the defficiences of the old building. At the same time of course people want their Co-op open and the company istelf would like to resume trading.

Sue, along with district councillor Lynda Harford and other councillors, has been active in liaising with people who live nearby and with the County Council and is pleased with the speed of the rebuilding.

Sue said: 'Cottenham is a thriving community. It has good local shops and that's good for people with limited mobility. They complement the other features which characterise a sustainable community and that's good for the environment as well. The Co-op management have engaged constructively with us and I'm delighted that the store will be open again this month.'

The B1049 at the top end of Cottenham has been deteriorating for some time and last year's patchwork mend was only a short term fix. Now the heavy machinery has arrived and we are seeing a much needed and 'proper' fix.

There is inevitable inconvenience to road users and to local residents but it's the price we have to pay for keeping our roads in good condition. Bad roads are noisy and damage the vehicles that use them so it's in just about everybody's interests to maintain their condition.

Cambridgeshires roads are not in good shape as the Tory County Council has robbed highways' budgets to cover deficits in other parts of the council. Lib Dems have consistently put money back in via their alternative budgets because they understand the impact that poor roads have on the economy of the county.

Sue said: 'I'm pleased to see this work being done. Officers at the council always listen when we tell them of problems; they just can't do everything because of the constraints within which they operate.'

Sue has joined fellow Lib Dem county councillor Ian Manning to sponsor a motion calling for a timetable at the County Council which is more friendly to people with full time jobs and/or child care issues.

In a bid to attract a diverse range of people to stand for election to Cambridgeshire County Council they are calling for some meetings to be held in the evenings. 

They want to see a shift away from meetings being held exclusively in the daytime which are often difficult to attend for those in full-time work. And they believe holding some in the early evening would give more people the chance to stand for election as councillors.

The motion calling for support for the idea will be proposed to Cambridgeshire County Council members on December 7 by Councillor Ian Manning, who represents East Chesterton in Cambridge and seconded by Sue.

It calls for two of the full council meetings and 25 per cent of each of the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings to be held outside standard working hours which are defined as 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

And it says councillors should be given the opportunity to take part in training outside standard working hours.

Cllr Manning said: “At the moment, it can be extremely difficult for anyone with a full-time job or other daytime responsibilities to commit to attending meetings during the day. I have to take unpaid leave on occasion from my job to do so.

“This means that we can only attract those people who don’t have to work full-time or have commitments that are extremely flexible. By switching some meetings to the evening I think we will be able to attract a wider range of people and our councillors will be a better reflection of society generally.”

Sue said: “Many of our present councillors run their own businesses or have part-time jobs or flexible commitments allowing them to work round council business. But this is not the norm for the majority of working people. How can working people be expected to participate if the first step is to take the day off work?

“We want to encourage people from all ages and all backgrounds who have an interest in representing their communities to stand for election and that is not going to happen unless we hold our meetings at a time when they are able to attend.”

Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrat Leader, Kilian Bourke said: "We fully accept the importance of attracting a wider range of people to stand to be councillors, but felt that the Conservative proposal to give councillors a 25 per cent pay rise was totally inappropriate at this time.

“We feel that the same could be achieved by shifting some of our daytime meetings to the evenings.  That is why we are putting forward this proposal and I hope the Conservatives will support it."

Following its consulation earlier this year David Wilson Homes has modified its plans for a development at the corner of Long Drove and Beach Road. It is preparing a planning application to go to South Cambs. Click on the icon below to see a summary of their latest plans.

There's plenty of time for members of the public to support or object to the plans. They will be publicised amd it is important that anyone who has an opinion makes it known.