From our Reporter at the Parish Council Meeting
Swaffham Prior, count your blessings: two, this month!
It was noted that groups of Travellers are again encamped down Whiteway Drove
on the fen. They, and their horses, often cause problems. A particular family
of Travellers, now served with an eviction-order, is permanently excluded; it
may not return to any place within the Parish. A foal of a Traveller's mare
is suffering from Strangles: a disease which is highly infectious and
disabling, but not fatal. All villages of east Cambridgeshire have to take
horses and their diseases seriously, because of the proximity of Newmarket
bloodstock and stud farms.
It was noted that the CCC has placed an order for the Cooper's Lane Barrier work with a contractor and it is hoped that the work will be carried out shortly. This item has been on our Agenda for months. [What a triumph when we are able to write beside CLB "Completion of Works"].
A problem has arisen with over-long grass, on the road-corners at the top of Rogers Road: visibility for drivers coming up the hill and turning into the main road at the top; traffic along the main road is invisible. However, this in not a matter for the P.C.: this area is outside the sphere of reference of the grass-cutters whom we employ on contract. This is a matter for the CCC, and Councillor Williams is taking up the matter.
It happens that several speakers on the P.C. have rather quiet voices - notably the ECDC representative: almost inaudible to those seated more than 2 places away. I found that during much of the meeting there was a continuous background murmur, with now and then something (usually the name of a sum of money) coming out loud and clear, but of course without any context. For me, the meeting sounded like "mutter-murmur, - whisper, - mutter-mutter THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY TWO POUNDS murmur-mutter-mutter...." And I was left wondering whether £342 was the sum that the Parish council was going to have to pay, for the removal of the tree on the allotments; or the sum that somebody-else would be providing for the erection of a pavilion portacabin on the recreation ground. Baffling.
One notably pleasing item was the good report given to our children's playground by the Annual Inspectors for RoSPA. However there have been complaints that the seats of the swings are dirty. Sandra Glynn has kindly undertaken to clean the swings
One pleasing item is that the Burwell Tigers, who are about to make use of our recreation-ground, are organising standard portacabins to be placed there, for changing rooms and so on; and have agreed that they will be responsible for their upkeep. Thus we get an improvement of our village's amenities at no cost to ourselves, and can only say "Thank you Very Much", to the Burwell Tigers.
Another highly satisfactory item came up, when our patient and efficient Clerk told us that the job had become too much for her, because she had to do the accounts - money-matters - balance-sheet, as well as the secretarial business of the Parish. If somebody would take the money matters off her hands, she was prepared to do all the rest of the work. Mr. S. Kent-Phillips to everyone's delight agreed to take on the money matters/accounts; so danger of loosing our excellent Clerk, owing to overwork, was averted.
It was noted (during AOB) that part of Station Road, a low-lying area, often develops a flood during heavy rain: the pipe taking surface water away becomes blocked. The pipe involved has been "jetted-out" , but encroaching tree-roots are adding to the problem; some trees are to be removed.
Then, what about the tree on the allotments, anyway? The job of removing it is going out to tender.
So life in Swaffham Prior is not all bad. Progress is being made because
- We will soon have a changing-room-pavilion; and
- We do now have a Treasurer as well as a Clerk.
Two cheers.