From our Local County Councillor
ALL CHANGE AT CAMBS COUNTY COUNCIL IN 2005
Having just been through the change of District boundaries before the recent District elections, the County is now to be treated in a similar fashion. Because of the massive increase in the County's population (4000 per year over 10 years), the Boundary Commission will probably agree to an increase of 9 members in the size of the County Council giving a total of 68.These members will each represent a slightly reduced number of electors than at present. For instance, my current Burwell / Bottisham Division includes over 8300 electors compared with 6600 when I was first elected in 1985.
What is now proposed in this area is to separate Burwell and Swaffhams (and Reach) District Ward, with 6100 electors from Bottisham and Lode 2200 electors. New Division has been suggested called Woodditton which would include the new District wards of Cheveley, Dullingham with Bottisham, containing 7500 electors.
The new Burwell Division makes good sense and I support it. I am not so sure about Woodditton which covers all the villages inside E.Cambs south of Newmarket, and is about 1500 electors larger in population. However, none of our parish councils have commented on these proposals yet. Meanwhile, I have verbally briefed them. Should they wish to, they will have a final chance to send in their views when the Boundary Commission responds in the late Autumn. Since the Commission will not allow Bottisham Ward to expand towards Quy because it would cross in to South Cambs District, there does not appear to be much room for manoeuvre.
AIR QUALITY
The County Council is now leading a review of air quality throughout the County, checking on levels of polluting gases such as sulphur, carbon and nitrogen dioxides. Cambridge City centre is the only area with undesirably high nitrogen dioxide caused by road transport, and that only in the bus station and nearby narrow streets area. Various ways of combating these gases should mean that we will meet the requirements of the Environment Act of 2000 within the next few years.
Within East Cambridgeshire the limits are being met and will be improved again when the Fordham Bypass is built (starting next Spring).
WEED CONTROL
Although there have been several paths and cycleways obstructed by the abnormally fast growth of weeds and bushes along the verges, the cutting contractor ought to have this under control by the time you read this. Apologies from Eastern Highways Division for any inconvenience. The Division says the growth comes all at once but the grass cutters can only do a few villages per day.
CYCLEWAY
The cycleway from Lode to Quy is a problem. There are two obvious choices : from Station Road along the old railway or along the B 1102. In the first case the landowner is reluctant to allow passage and in the second the road is too narrow to allow a cycleway when you get to Collier Road, Quy. We are working on it!