From our Reporter at the Parish Council Meeting
A lonely view from the back - the Reduced Parish Council Meeting of 11th September 2003.
Why reduced? Because there was only just a quorum with four members, plus
Clerk, Cllr. Fitch and a crowded public gallery of one. Unusually, after Cllr.
Fitch had done his bit and left, there was not a whisker to be seen.
Cllr. Finch spoke of the Travellers on Whiteway Drove, tidier than most, but several tethered horses are eating some of the 118 young trees planted there. Measures to protect such areas from intrusion could present an early challenge for a new Travellers Liaison Officer starting on 01 October. The white lines on footpaths and roads identify areas for attention from a Rapid Response Gang, doing repairs at short notice, also removing illegal signs from verges and traffic signs, etc. Hopefully, our temporary notices for local events will not suffer the same fate.
There will be a new by-pass south of Ely in 6/7 years time, to avoid hold ups at the rail bridge. The Fordham by-pass really will start soon, including subways, etc for wildlife like snakes and lizards, and some archeological works. Route 51 cycleway from Fordham to Soham is getting there. The Exning, Burwell, Lode, Bottisham cycleway will be done by 2005. Pot holes between Burwell and Quy are being filled in. But, this month the prize goes to the Upware road for an unprecedented switchback ride thanks to the effects of the very dry summer on trees. It's the ride of a lifetime - Alton Towers, eat your heart out. There's a tree next to every dip. No one suggested removing the trees, but it may come to mind. Why not flatten the road by planting more trees, like Napoleon? Then we get more shade, more wildlife, some redress for decades of hedge removal, and alleged erosion of Drove widths (a single, uncorroborated source). While there were no permanent exclusions from CCC schools this year, remember that ASBOs* are available to combat stupid, anti-social behaviour by the irresponsible and immature (of all ages? - see next). Do not hesitate to contact the police to get nuisances affecting you and your neighbours stopped.
The SPEEDWATCH results were alarming if not surprising. Mill Hill naturally suffers most - one criminal example of 80mph, but 56mph in the narrow, twisting High Street is beyond belief. The Rogers Road record was 57mph, with 65mph in Lower End. Would an "old folks" warning sign here affect such idiocy? Sadly, about 85% of all traffic through the village exceeds 30mph. In Brittany, there are relatively inexpensive obstructing kerbs to slow down urban traffic, so why not here? You don't need euros. First though, a protected crossing for school children and others, near Fairview Grove on Mill Hill is an urgent necessity - cost £30k. The status of the interactive signs needs clarification.
Completion of the streetlight changes by the church gates are delayed for want of an EEB licensed contractor to tackle such small works. Sadly, it is not something we can do for ourselves. Our clerk finds that the job has increased in scope and quantity since she started, due to increasing legislation and controls. 25% of the others around the table volunteered to take over the budgetary planning for some light reading. A tour of the Parish confirmed the popularity of the Recreation Ground, lots of rabbits - "Exterminate. Exterminate" - and a few Scouts. The ground is now nearly ready to return to its intended purpose. More Travellers on Headlake Drove, and straw bales at the end of Heath Road to stop hare coursers got mentions, and so did another example of fly tipping along Barston Drove. This is another example of some contractor dumping building rubbish - grey, concrete roofing slates and bits of asbestos board - probably not the usual Travelling suspects, but a neighbour. The last lot of rubbish was the remains of a bathroom (with wallpaper!). A barn at Blinkers Hill Farm still has to comply with a tree planting condition about 20 years old (a single uncorroborated source) - an example of cocking a snook at authority worthy of an ASBO. Had trees been planted then, they would now be mature. Hedge trimming at the VH could be a fun evening for volunteers, especially if it ends in the Rosy Cat. And I am instructed to say here that the hole in the VH grass was filled in before noon the following day, so no one needs to look into it (not my joke, honest). Some important matters were deferred for consideration by a more representative and hirsute meeting - next month perhaps - Quality qualification for the PC, and ECDC Parish Forum.
It's a bit thin this month, but there's not much I can do except make it up and pad it out, and there's quite enough of that already. Although, again straying from my brief a bit, I could mention that the Festival of Colour and Sound (SPAMFEST) was very enjoyable, especially last night's panto' (the West Gallery Quire), the best kept secret in the village. I cannot understand why, well attended though it was, it was not even better supported, nor why the crowds at the Handel Oratorio on Saturday night then missed the fun-packed post mortem in our favourite pub (clue: member of a blushing pride (3,4)).
* ASBO - Anti-Social Behaviour Order.