From our Reporter at the Parish Council Meeting
BEFORE THE MEETING BEGAN, Geoffrey Woollard confessed to feeling a little
overwhelmed with Ivy especially after a dream in which he became encircled with
the stuff. Other members assured him that it was probably true as it had been
reported in the previous month's Crier. One or two as usual doubted the
veracity of the press.
After Apologies and Declaration of Interests came "Public Participation" during which any villager can raise questions or make comments, and be given the views of the PC, ECDC and CCC representatives. This occurs right at the beginning of the meeting for the convenience of the public, and it is to be hoped that more will take advantage of the opportunity. If you have a grouse or question this is the time to raise them.
David Brown presented his report and listed the range of committees on which he has been appointed. One must really admire the amount of time our district and county councillors spend on our behalf. Geoffrey asked David whether it is true that when the CCC has land to sell it is "obliged to get the best possible price" .
Reference was made to the 1979 Act which specified that initially any CCC land should be offered to the local PC and to environmental groups.. This was a prelude to Geoffrey raising the question of the CCC 24 acres of farmland in Reach which has just become vacant as the tenancy has come to an end. Geoffrey feared that it is being sold to the National Trust without any other option being considered. He was still incensed about the sale of the 103 acres of Hurdle Hall to the National Trust at what he considered to be the knock down price of £300,000 rather than the £600,000 he reckoned could have been gained on the open market.
Peter asked why the 24 acres had to be sold at the end of the tenancy. John Covill explained that it was an isolated piece of land which CCC wanted to be rid of. But it is adjacent to Reach and it is not immediately close to Wicken Fen. Geoffrey suggested that people in Reach might well pay Paddock Prices for part of it, and there were also three local farmers interested. Allen reported that at the last Reach PC meeting 35 people attended and 70% wanted part of the land for community use. Sandra attempted to speak but Geoffrey refused to give way and finished his argument about the need to go on to the open market with sealed bids. Having finished he apologised to Sandra and stood down. This was all very civilised and polite just like Parliamentary Question Time under the Coalition Government. Sandra said that having sealed bids could lead to "undesirables" obtaining the land. Not at all, said Geoffrey, you vet the sealed bids and throw out the undesirables.
Really!, I thought. Is that how it works? It reminded me of my time in the early sixties working in an antiquarian bookshop in St Pancras when more people voted and politics was more volatile. One of our regular customers was a very respectable and senior council officer. I asked about the possibility of a British Communist being elected. He looked me in the eye and said it wouldn't happen. I repeated my question and said that if he got the most votes he would have to be elected. Again he looked me in the eye and said "He would never get most votes. It would not be allowed to happen." I was young and did not know whether to be shocked or comforted by the defence of our democracy.
We all know Geoffrey has a bee amongst the Ivy in his bonnet about the Wicken Vision but he does have a point when he asks where all the money comes from and whether local views are being ignored. I fear that -with CCC, South Cambs, ECDC, Cambridge City, Natural England, EEDA, Greater Cambridge Partnership, Europe, Cambridge Horizons, Environment Agency, Sustrans, Communities and Local Government, Vividor Credits, Esmée Fairburn, Tubney, and the Heritage Lottery Fund supporting the NT -that with all this support Geoffrey is indeed a David against a mighty Goliath.
Whether you agree with Geoffrey or not he does have a point about the Reach 24 acres. The map below illustrates the threat to both Reach and Burwell. Nothing more graphically shows how the Wicken Vision wants to come up to the very doors of these villages.
After this the PC settled down to a range of local business. Ely news, travellers, garbage, cemetery water cut off by the contractors who are revamping St. Cyriac's, bumps in Rogers Road pavement (I've often asked the question but no-one has ever said who Roger was), BT to maintain our phone box as it's under a conservation order, application to Minor Highway Improvements for repair of footpath down Station Road, and a handrail requirement in the Beeches.
There was a planning application for a complete restoration of the extraordinary and wonderful barn at the rear of Old Barn House. Because it is Grade 2A listed it needs to be restored exactly as the original. There was much speculation about its original use and eventually it was decided that it was possibly an eel smokery. More information is required. The other wonderful barn which used to adjoin Old Barn House before its collapse was only Grade 2B listed and therefore had only to be a little like the original. Steve explained this to the meeting. I'm not sure how many people appreciate the distinction between Grade 2A and Grade 2B listed buildings. This particular barn is also historically important because legend has it that this was where the Charities distributed free potatoes to those in need during the 1950s. The Dog Doo Doo Bins have yet to arrive though I doubt if these will help the problem of some dog owners not picking up Doo Doos. Meantime I hear that dog owners are keeping their heads down with some authorities banning dogs from parks and insisting on short leads only. In a small village like this surely it is possible to find and discourage the culprits without becoming hysterical and over the top and involved in greater expense. If that is the only problem of this community we are lucky.But at least the disabled are now being looked after as their numbers have risen so much that the Village Hall Committee has ask for two "Disabled Parking Signs" .