From our Local County Councillor
EDUCATION
Summer holidays and exam results always co-incide. This year's Bottisham Village College GCSE record was excellent - the second best ever, with two thirds of pupils passing with 5 grades or more A (star) to C. The BVC's in depth education shows up with a nearly complete sweep for the A(star) to G grade. Congratulations to the pupils, parents and staff concerned. The future also must be bright after the best SAT's results ever at the lower level.
That was the good news; the Cambs Director of Education has just reported that shortage of money is expected to cause problems this year as usual. To do all that the Government would like - the usual direct school obligations but also expanding nursery and youth service and reducing teachers' workloads - would force us to spend 10% more. Cambridgeshire has not got this large sum so it is lobbying the Government to be a good deal more realistic in its grant award in December for the year 2004/5.
ENVIRONMENT
The latest Assessment of Air Quality in the county came to my Environment Development Group just after my last magazine report. Fortunately, the news is fairly good in that all air quality objectives were likely to be met except, locally, in parts of Cambridge, e.g. Drummer Street.
Extra monitoring equipment will be added to existing A14 installations. Nitrogen dioxide levels are still higher than desired in the City and will remain so till 2010. The County Council will do what it can to restrict inessential traffic which is a major contributor. Park & Ride has helped already. There are some temporary problems with Sulphur dioxide but these will be eliminated as old fashioned boilers are replaced.
On the roads subject most people will, I expect, appreciate the installation of lights at the Bell Road, Bottisham / A1303 junction. After seeing how this affects drivers' behaviours a bollard will probably be installed in such a position that it will dissuade drivers from overtaking vehicles slowing to turn left into Bell Road.
The bend between Longmeadow and Swaffham Bulbeck (B1102) has now been reconstructed to reduce the incidence of accidents. Reports so far indicate locals consider it is an improvement. That said, I understand there are some idiots who are trying to see how fast they can drive round it! The slab wall built on the Swaffham Bulbeck Park End part of the High Street will improve the footway for walkers. The main point of the change is to prevent slumping of the field edge and to push back vegetation encroachment. Not beautiful but practical.
Tidying up the awful mess from unofficial rubbish dumping in Heath Road, Burwell, has been achieved with the help of East Cambs. District Council. I support the idea of a restrictive "bund" on the bend.
Lastly, we now have a 2-man gang of rapid road menders in East Cambs. to fill pot holes, cut back overgrowing vegetation and take down illegal signs. I hope the system works better than hitherto.