From our Reporter at the Parish Council Meeting
IT WAS A GREAT MEETING . IT HAD EVERYTHING. IT REPRESENTED THE GREAT TAPESTRY OF HUMAN RICHNESS.
But first let's deal with the Factual. Hazel Williams packed her report
with information. The Central Library in Cambridge is to open in May (they will
have to hurry because it still has the desolate appearance of one of the few
surviving buildings in Gaza); Park and Ride has hit the 4 million mark of
passengers though if you buy your ticket on the bus it is now going to cost 30
pence more than buying it from the ticket machine; CABs, which had had its
budget cut not so many months ago, is having increased funding as those losing
jobs and houses are being directed CAB's way; and it seems the CCC budget
discussions were endless and tortuous. In contrast we were told that when
Geoffrey attended his first budget meeting in 1974 it only took 45 minutes -
and Geoffrey admitted speaking several times. Room for thought there?
In Allen's report on ECDC affairs we were told that the Maltings will reopen in March, that the reduction in interest rates is losing ECDC one million pounds, and to save money all the reserves have been used to pay ofF the ECDC debt, making it a debt-free council. There had been a request from many motorists that there should be gritting on Heath Road Bulbeck as more and more drivers are using this route to avoid the traffic hold up at Quy. This Quy hold up is like one of those boils which are just fine unless you scratch it. The scratching in this case occurs every time you drive through Quy.
The person who perpetrated this horror ought to drive through it, and back, everyday with a feisty seventeen year old daughter as passenger. One can imagine the conversation. "Daddy, did you really do this?"; "Daddy did you ask the people in Quy?"; Daddy, I see another arrow sign has been knocked down"; "Daddy, are you proud of this?"; "Daddy, they look as they have been waiting for a very long time"; Daddy, how much did this cost?"; Daddy, do you think you have made a mistake?". And so on. Such a daily barrage would probably make him drive an alternative route. But would he recognize his error? All some of the people in Quy wanted was a 30mph restriction and this is what they (AND US) got.
In the general correspondence there were two letters from people living down the fen who had suffered a quite horrendous experience. And they came to the PC for help. Three PC members thought they would have to declare an interest because they lived in the area and may be affected. They even wondered if they should leave the room if there was a vote. Hazel Williams said this was only necessary if they had a "pecuniary"interest. Ho, Ho, why wasn't this pointed out when the PC was told a year ago that they had to declare all interests at the start of every meeting. Even though this is such a simple point the confusion has existed ever since it was introduced. Mind you it is not as bad as the total confusion about MPs'allowable expenses - let alone those of the Speaker. On the other hand Hazel's explanation regarding only pecuniary interests does leave a possible doubtful area. Suppose, during a discussion about traffic, someone on the PC advocated that the double yellow lines outside their house should be left but that those outside all the neighbours should be removed. Should any declaration of interest be invoked even though there is no pecuniary gain?
This very serious problem down the fen occurred because the Environment Agency has done a magnificent job in tidying so much of the area and making accessible the tops of the flood defence banks. Unfortunately one result is that motor bikes, cars, and 4x4s now have access and are beginning to use it even though it is designated as a footpath only. The vehicle involved in one of the very nasty reported incidents was a silver Isuzu Trooper 4x4, registration K116 CNB. So what can the PC do? Having already discussed it with CCC (who have no money for gates), the PC followed David Almond's advice and will be approaching the Environment Agency to erect one locked gate to prevent illegal vehicles passing through, and also kissing gates for walkers. Fortunately John Covill just happens to have four kissing gates in his garden (as one does) awaiting to be erected somewhere. The PC realised this would inconvenience horse riders (one of whom is our chairman) but considered it was undoubtedly the better of two evils. How impressive our PC was. They did what any PC should do - dealt with it immediately and efficiently.
The other lively discussion concerned the proposed sign at the top of Station Road pointing the way to the football ground. Burwell Tigers, like many other sane people, thought an additional small sign could be attached to the lamppost under the large Upware sign. Not a bit of it. It seems one has to have Upware and Football Ground on the same sign. I don't know the exact wording but Geoffrey read out this regulation with some approval. The PC decided to ask for the smaller size letters (there is a choice). Geoffrey however wanted them to be as large as permissible because he maintained that his friends and relatives are "stupid"and "daft". He said this not once but many times and regretted that so few of his friends were able to find there way to Upware. There was much hilarious banter and the new sign will be erected in due course with the £175 cost being shared.
The rest of the meeting went smoothly. The annual subscription for the Wildlife Trust came up for renewal and the PC wondered why they subscribed, and thought in future all subscription should be carefully reviewed. A case was made for renewing it and Eric hoped that the Wildlife Trust wasn't looking after pheasants and woodpigeons as all the tops of his forty leeks had been bitten off.
In her report Karen mentioned a letter concerning the state of the path down Station Road after the hedge had been trimmed. There had been no attempt to collect up the branches and thorns and it was impossible to walk on the pathway. Another letter complained about the condition of the hedge alongside the footpath at the back of the school. A letter will be sent to the one owner who is responsible for both hedges. The Chairman, our illegal litter specialist, noted that some rubbish had been dumped on the road to Reach and saw this as a continuing hazard. John Jordan wondered if the £80 spent on the Speed Watch Scheme would have been better spent on litter control. He has a point.