Neighbourhood Panels
Local action and improvement in your area
This April saw the latest round of Neighbourhood Panels in East Cambridgeshire,
where residents, Councillors and representatives from other organisations (such
as Sanctuary Hereward (Housing), the Office of Children and Young People's
Services, and Cambridgeshire Constabulary) have their say on the important
issues facing their communities, and set priorities for action.
The South Panel met on Tuesday 1st April at Ditton Lodge First School, Crockfords Park, Newmarket with 52 people present, and Councillor Carl Poole chairing the meeting.
Several issues were raised, including Youth Provision in the area, fly-tipping, speeding and consultation on proposed changes to airspace (NATS), but the priority issues for policing were identified as
- Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in Burwell
- Inconsiderate parking across the whole of the Panel's area which creates safety issues outside schools, churches and a College.
- In Swaffham Prior it is intended that there will be a multi-agency approach to the issue of fly-tipping and the encampments of travellers.
Councillor Peter Cresswell, Chairman of Community Services, said: "East Cambridgeshire District Council made a pioneering decision to extend Neighbourhood Panels across the district but they can only be successful if we all participate in them. It has often been said that we need to prove that we are more than a talking shop and happily I think our work is showing that already.
The Panels have made great strides in dealing with the issues that have been raised so far in our area. However, we need everyone's support to make a difference, which is why we would encourage anyone with an issue to come along to the relevant meeting and see how we can deal with it."
A Newsletter summarising the outcomes from the Panel meeting will be published in mid-May, together with an invitation to (even more) members of the public to come to the next meeting (in which we hope there will be increased public participation) is on
Monday, 1st July 7.0 - 9.0 pm at Bottisham Village College.
A revised Neighbourhood Panel webpage is now available in the A-Z section of the District Council's website www.eastcambs.gov.uk and you can receive more information directly from Alan Williams,
Neighbourhood Panel Coordinator
t: 01353 616349
e: Alan.Williams@eastcambs.gov.uk
Please let Alan know if there are other links which you would find useful from the webpage.