From Our Reporter at the Parish Council Meeting
No mention of photographs of serving councillors at this meeting, but the
Editors seem fairly determined about this (Absolutely. Eds). One step at a
time...
Allen Alderson reported that ECDC staff would prefer new offices in Ely Business Park where there would be enough car parking; the site selection process goes on. ECDC is too small for hot desking Ðand his explanation of the term was less interesting than you might think. There are bad hare days in Swaffham Bulbeck as the coursers return. Should the yellow signs display the crossed scissors and comb? A rash of Travellers has broken out again. Nothing new there, then.
James Finch explained why CCC withdrew objection to the new cross-Fen power line - for single masts to carry both existing and proposed lines, they would have to be about 20 metres high. To give you some idea, that's nearly as tall as the sign posts along the new cycle paths (my comparison, not James'). A pedestrian crossing will soon be made opposite the Burwell PO, for young mothers with prams and other very brave people. Bottisham VC came through their Ofsted inspection with merit. Just part of the Soham By-pass will open in March 2005. So, quite a long tailback before the remainder is complete?
The missing village sign at the south end on the B1102 will be replaced by a plastic variety with no scrap value. Personally, I don't care what material they use for a new sign on Station Road to indicate the direction of Upware. Just do it! There are non-English speaking lorry drivers wandering around lost in local lanes all the time. A silver birch (betula pendula, or jaquemontii?) will replace the pollarded chestnut in the VH car park, which my gardening consultant thinks would recover, if just left in peace. The SP Award for Merit should be awarded at the Village Assembly, where everyone can celebrate our heroes' glory. Please just drink the champagne. Don't spray it over anyone dressed in colourful toddler suits and baseball caps. Talking of which - there are unconfirmed rumours that the World Land Speed Record has been broken on Heath Road. With further attempts continuing here, as elsewhere in the village, it is deemed prudent to construct passing places.
The Zion Baptist Chapel still faces an uncertain future. Is it on the open market? If not, why not? Are trustees required to obtain the best price? The PC were informed of developments involving a charity whose proposed uses for the chapel stop just short of pop festivals. Neighbours allege that the charity has been economical with the truth about access and car parking in their fund-raising literature. The assertion by someone that charities do not need permission for a change of use is certainly new to me. Clearly, this ain't going to happen, so let's encourage a more sensible option, like a wine bar, or something. Conversion to housing would be nice, but formal notices must precede PC comment.
Uncertain futures are all the rage, and another proposal from the (ever changing) owners of Dencora Field was met with outraged indignation. The usual proposal with some modifications did not fool our stalwart guardians. This time, the owners offer us the top half for a forest, if they can build an ill-defined mixture of social and private housing on the rest, with access from Rogers Road, and a heavily screened Lower End frontage. I don't think they will like the reply.
Even more uncertainty at The Old Forge, where it is proposed to screen the yard from public view behind a new wall as high as a cycle path sign. Some thought that a perpetual covenant exists permitting public access to the forge, once repaired partly by public subscription. It seems that there may also be vehicular access problems as proposed - possibly reversing blind into the path of a bus travelling along High Street at only slightly more than 30mph. Clearly, this ain't going to happen either. Oh, I don't know. Watch this space.
The usual two unfilled vacancies remain.