Swaffham Prior Village Assembly 2005
Where were we all??
27% was the decrease in numbers of attendees, 16 heads counted (2% of the village) down from 22 heads (2.75%) in 2004 and 25 (3%) in 2003. When complaining about some village matter, do people stop and think whether they took up this annual opportunity to say their bit? Inevitably, circumstances sometimes conspire to make it difficult, but - every year?
Hazel Williams introduced herself as our new CCC councillor. She sounds very busy, but if you want something done... Her election must have been due to more than photographs that did not cut her off at the knees, nor have pipes and posts growing out of her head. James Fitch reported on matters which he dealt with last year - a modest annual Council Tax increase from an "excellent" audit-rated county management for our area - Burwell, Swaffhams and Reach. Our local bobby failed to show, probably because he was busy elsewhere. We don't have serious problems here but we remain vigilant about hare coursing, if not about hair dressing courses.
Allen Alderson took up the baton with good news that the cinema at Ely Maltings has doubled in popularity. Perhaps we should all give it a try. A decision on the ECDC new offices at Angel Drove gained wide support because it should avoid the sort of costs that SCDC have found in Cambourne. Ours will be self-financing, allegedly. It will also support a Park & Ride into Ely to counter difficult parking conditions, where other moves are now afoot to avoid too much use of feet. We shall have a new Local Development Framework in 2007 to replace the Local Plan 2003 so, if you are unhappy about planning matters, write to get them considered before they get set in concrete. Affordable housing gets an investment of £60 million from 2004 to 2006, with 150 units a year from 2005. Sadly, we have no suitable land here.
The bus stop, a local landmark and one of the jewels in the SP crown, is under threat. The roof is failing. There was talk of replacing this imaginative and sensitive building with a pitched roof! Before you know it, they'll stop inappropriate UPVC replacement windows in the Conservation Area, or screen off the electricity substation at the focal point. Where will the village character be then?
Village Hall bookings have also doubled over recent months, a growing testament to the foresight and effort of all those involved in its transformation. The patronage of so many visitors from surrounding areas confirms our good fortune with this increasingly popular facility.
Our School is also doing fantastically well, its success supported by a number of fund-raising enterprises (please keep your Tesco vouchers coming).
Our Youth Club has less happy news where, in need of some TLC are both building and management. Jill and Alan Badcock really cannot be expected to go on with a load they have carried for 16 years but the club will wither and die without them. With no outlet for youthful energy our children and grandchildren will be accused of hanging around looking for trouble, hooded or not, when they are just looking around for something to do. New blood is needed. The younger 17 scouts and 10 cubs are more lively, with lots to do. Could some connection be made?
John Covill, our new chairman, was able to advertise progress, like the Beeches wall repair (done), the new lamp at the church gate (sort of done and soon to get power) and the ever imminent Coopers Lane barrier replacement (not done, and currently less than a mini Cooper barrier as the appointed contractor is not that fast). Dumped asbestos will shortly be collected and disposed of, though not that in Dencora Field where, at least, at last, the police now have powers to stop selfish nuisances. As usual, we have visiting travellers on the fen, some families welcome and, those who habitually leave a mess behind them, some not. There remains fly tipping on the fen to be disposed of, and the proximity of this subject matter should in no way be interpreted as connecting with the preceding. Not everyone who dumps rubbish in the countryside lives in a caravan. That's like saying no-one who lives here ever speeds through the village, and you know that's not true.