From Our Local County Councillor
In last month's article I summarized part of the 2003/4 Report which I gave
to your Annual Parish Meeting. For reasons of space I left over the last part
which was mainly about Environment, Transport, Fire and Rescue and smaller
matters.
I'll now complete that record, starting with Environmental matters. The good news is that river water and air quality have been checked and found to be "good". Let's hope that continues to improve as more and more effort is put into reducing carbon dioxide emissions which have risen throughout the country in three out of the last four years.
For the last six months I have been serving on a small group of councillors looking into the effects of climate change. Our report is due out soon and I will tell you about some of our findings in future magazine articles. At this stage all that needs to be said is that our world climate is changing far faster than anyone foresaw just a few years ago.
Still on environmental matters, the county is facing long term problems related to where to put rubbish collected by the District Councils. Holes in the ground are rapidly filling despite heroic efforts to find new ones acceptable to those living nearby, and a great and successful effort to expand recycling. CambridgeshireÕs record on recycling is good, and we are aiming to reach Government imposed severe targets. Locally, our big challenge is what to do when Milton landfill is finished.
Last year's progress on roads cleared the way for the changes you will have noticed lately. The Fordham by-pass is now being constructed (finished next summer) and at last the missing cycleway link between the Swaffhams is nearing completion. I wish more cyclists would use our cycle paths and at the same time wear protective/reflective clothing.
Other changes completed last year or in view include the resurfacing of the "washboard" fen road from Swaffham Prior to Upware (caused by last year's hot summer weather). The Longmeadow to Swaffham Bulbeck road re-alignment, the new junction of Bell Road, Bottisham with the Al303, the new traffic calming measures on all three of Burwell's main roads should all help to reduce speed and hence accidents.
Road problems still unsolved include Reach/Prior railway bridge, the missing cycleway link from Anglesea Abbey to Quv roundabout and speeding along internal Burwell village roads of North Street and Toyse Lane. Park and Ride at Newmarket Road continues to flourish and has, along with the other circle of sites, reduced car congestion in Cambridge central area.
Lastly, our Fire and Rescue (CFR) service continues to protect us from fire and to pick up the pieces after road accidents. We get their services for a very small expense, as you will have noticed from the combined Council Tax demand where the CFR has now split away from the County and is independent like the Police. Big changes, consequent on the coming redevelopment plans at Huntingdon HQ and Cambridge Parkside do not seem to threaten our two local fire stations at Swaffham Bulbeck and Burwell. I hope they will be left alone for the present.