From our Reporter at the Parish Council Meeting
SALE OF THE CENTURY
LITTLE DID I KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT as I made my way to the Village Hall,
innocently pondering the great mysteries of the universe - why some blondes dye
their roots dark and some brunettes dye their roots grey? I'm truly
flummoxed by that one. It's like asking yourself "WhatÕs a cat
for?"
However, the playing field is now off our hands, and it's habit forming. Work starts today on repairs to the Pound, or Cage. (My caption for last month's picture of the FOR SALE sign there was "It's only a Pound". Editors know better [of course, Eds], but I digress). The contents of the Pound have been removed for the duration of the works:
- Fire engine 1 no. used
- Lamps 4 no. used
- Stand pipe 1 no. used
- no illegal immigrants - (but it's an idea)
I discovered the fire engine myself a couple of years ago while removing nature's attempt to "green" the Pound roof and finding roof repair work necessary. I suggested then that this little treasure should perhaps be displayed at village community events, but nothing was forthcoming. It has, however, now forthcome with the unanimous decision (apart from Eric Day's objecting right arm) to loan the machine to the Burwell Museum, recoverable whenever we have need or secure and dry conditions to keep it safely preserved. Eric told how the engine was commissioned to fight the Jerries during WW2, and removed to Newmarket, then dumped on a tip in Kennet, from where a stalwart hero rescued it for posterity. For those in ignorance, the engine is hand pumped and hand drawn on 4 wheels. Though it's sad that it should leave the Parish, other possible locations here would leave this valuable piece of our heritage vulnerable to rot or to undesirable attention. So far, no argument, but then a collective fever of disposal seemed to grip the gathering; you will probably see elsewhere in our esteemed journal invitations to tender for "patio" lamps and an "architectural" feature, the water stand pipe allegedly removed without the proper consents from the playground area. Take the lamps, but I implore you to ignore the stand pipe. As sole bidder I can then afford to donate it back to the PC with inviolable responsibility for its welfare, in perpetuity. Fortunately, our redundant church is in the hands of others, and nobody proposed ripping up the water stand pipes remaining in place along our streets. I fear, though, for a reconditioned Pound, and a nice new oak barrier in Coopers Lane. Just when my pulse had returned to something like normal, HH disclosed that he still had the old Parish safe and, if no-one else would house the beast, perhaps it could go to Solapark?
When you hit your thumb with a hammer, do you involuntarily say
"Poo!"? This word came up in the same sentence as "dogs"
and "footpaths". There's too much of it in the wrong place, and
shouldn't we start to prosecute those responsible? Of course we should,
especially if they also have boundary hedges obstructing a footpath. They then
annoy us in two different ways, and we know that polite reminders are not worth
the soft and gentle paper they're written on. That would be better employed
removing the stuff fouling the footpath. Oh, yes. "POO BAGS" can be
got for free from the Parish Clerk, as if she had nothing better to do than
hand them out. What about public dispensers or, better still, community service
clean-up duties, for the discourteous who fail to practice responsibility and
consideration for others?
There was other news, but it doesn't compare. The playing field entrance defences in Station Road will have been strengthened long before you read this because the Tigers' lawyers are still sleeping off Christmas excesses. There were red faces when it appeared that the various plans showing the PC ownership of Coopers Green all disagreed with each other, and also with the situation on the ground. The PC will now register all of its property (accurately) with the Land Registry, and so should you, really. Only new-ish properties and those recently changing hands tend to be properly registered.
Cllr Williams confirmed that Council Tax will rise 5% and there will be cuts on top - sounds like a no.5 to me. The Burwell Library is open, and it's a joy. There is free advice for those entitled to benefits, even for those of the older generation who feel they do not deserve it (Oh yes you do. Ask!) 1.6m people use the Cambridge Park & Ride, up 20% on last year, a great success soon, perhaps, to be emulated in Newmarket. Foolish talk about a new town at Six Mile Bottom (or 10km Bottom as EU regulations might have it) is just foolish talk. A large PFI contract for waste disposal/recycling will soon be awarded. Hopefully, the winner's performance will not be rubbish. CCC is the best performing recycling county in the UK. Thanks for doing your bit, though the temporary closure of the Depot Road facility has resulted in more dumping on the Fen, rubbish of a nature suggesting builders who are permanent local residents, not mobile transients whom it is easier to target. The new cycle route through S Bulbeck will follow the bend behind the hedge for improved safety Ðpedestrians keep off!
Cllr. Alderson spoke of fluorescent markers at the site of the rogue pylon and of hopes that the STOP sign in Station Road will soon once more be upright so you won't get a crick in the neck reading it on its side in the gutter. Action to remove illegal campers causing nuisance on highway verges and on droves will now become both quicker and more robust. We shall not appear a soft touch in future. Powers will be reviewed to take account of ancillary nuisances arising from licensed activities. Our local bobby will be invited to make occasional appearances at PC meetings when he is able to do so - no pressure.
Quite harsh things were said about the National Trust, in the context of their expansion plans for Swaffham Fen, so keep your eyes open for the gating of byways on the sly.
NT deny that they have plans for further expansion (beyond Moscow). Lastly, we read a letter about bus drivers abusing elderly ladies wanting to get off in Rogers Road. This will be sent to whatever the bus company is currently called. I would like this sorted out before I get my bus pass next year, please.
The prize for spotting last month's deliberate error goes to James Willmott. Thank you, James (but wasn't 6 metres wide dramatic?) And no-one else queried it, so it's all about perception or, possibly, ignorance of the metric system.