Ros Hathorn, 76 Cambridge Road, Impington, Cambridge CB24 9NU Ros.Hathorn@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Tel: 07548 745197
CONTENTS: 20mph zones, OP Fiesta, UK power networks and city congestion, Childish politicking collapses the regions overarching transport strategy, waste 7 bins district councils may be the primary interface between residents and their waste but the County Council bears the primary responsibility, buses
Orchard Park Fiesta on the hottest day of the year
20mph zones I am pleased to report that both Orchard Park and Histon and Impington have been successful in their applications for 20mph zones. With a final decision on the road layout for the zone in Histon/Impington due in October.
Orchard Park summer Fiesta hit hard by ‘the hottest day of the year’ factor which probably led families to make the most of one of the few hot weekends of the year by leaving Orchard Park turnout at this annual event wasn’t as good as some years.
I was, however, able to have some great conversations with residents, who brought up busway issues and bus service issues. We also discussed other traffic issues across Orchard Park. I will report back to the community council in November on comments I collected.
City Congestion and UK Power networks Congestion is an ongoing issue in the city which is being exacerbated by UK power networks who faced with a choice between negotiating with landowners to run cabling for new developments through farmland or simply digging up the road (as they are within their legal rights to) choose the latter causing massive disruption and congestion to the city. The County Council highways team are already lobbying government on this but if you think it makes no sense to allow this level of disruption when there are alternatives please do write to our MP to express your concerns. It seems in a city growing at the rate Cambridge does these legislative issues need addressing to allow minimal disruption to local residents in a city where there are already many disruptive issues flowing from growth growth. The issues of electric cables getting from a to b is already causing all sorts of problems across the county except this issue to grow.
Childish politicking and the local travel plan the Combined Authority’s (Mayor’s) efforts to produce an updated Transport and Connectivity Plan (LTCP) for the county was brought to the Combined Authority board in September. Combined Authority officers had been lead to believe through careful work with board members after the previous draft was rejected that this version would be accepted, so it was a surprise when Cllr Fitzgerald (Conservative leader of Peterborough Council) said nothing during meeting before silently using his vote to veto the new plan. In response to this Mayor Johnson (Labour) withdrew discussion of and access to £200,000 of funding for initial works on an electric bus depot in Peterborough as the new bus depot was mentioned in the updated travel plan but not the older, current version.
Whilst the role of politicians is to scrutinise and sometimes reject papers it is quite simply a waste of everyone’s time and money to operate like Cllr Fitzgerald did. I believe in a politics which is about respect, a desire to try to work for better outcomes and an acceptance that different people have different views, and that through a careful process of discussion, conversation and compromise agreement can be reached. Cllr Fitzgerald’s behaviour was the direct opposite of this.
The 7 bins myth and other works of fiction entering the political environment This is a report and not a party political document, however, I object to operating within a field (politics) where those at the highest level have decided that the best way to fight an election is to simply make things up. I am not a member of the Labour party I do not speak for the Labour party but the claims that Labour are considering a meat tax are false and beneath the Prime Minister to make. Similarly there has never, again as claimed by our Prime Minister, been a proposal to have ‘7 waste bins’ in fact the truth of what is actually happening in Cambridgeshire in terms of waste demonstrates that the government aren’t interested in the detail of waste.
There are two sources of massive fall out from government behaviour in the county and district. Most of this goes unreported because it is an extremely sensitive commercial area so the vast majority of this work is confidential but some things are in the public realm. I sit on both RECAP the shared partnership for waste across the County and the Environment and Green Investment Committee at the County Council with responsibility for waste and have been heavily involved in this work.
The first issue is the BATc odour emissions works. Due to legislative changes this has basically lead to the shutting down of both the composting and the residual waste (landfill) operations at Waterbeach, (so only recycling continues at Waterbeach which is a district council contract). Those facilities are now being used as transfer stations before waste is taken for processing in other counties. This is extremely costly both financially and in terms of carbon. If you look at the County Council’s balance sheet published in committee papers you can see the financial cost to the taxpayer. There is no compromise to be had with DEFRA the responsible government department and it makes it a real issue for the County.
Simultaneously ‘weekly food waste collections’ are causing massive problems. There is evidence that weekly food waste collections are a very effective way to reduce food waste. The government committed to this as a national policy rolled out from 2025 where it agreed to cover the net costs per waste authority area to make this transition and then backtracked on that promise in Cambridgeshire. The financial risk for this sits with the County council.
Buses – Darren Roe MD of Stagecoach East (bus operating company here) wrote an excellent article in the Cambridge Independent articulating how significant the impact of congestion in Cambridge City Centre is on bus services. Congestion in the city means that buses can never run to time and if we are serious as a county about improving buses across the county this issue must be resolved.
Updates from Stagecoach’s David Boden show the 8A bus service from Orchard Park continues to grow in popularity and also that peak time travel seems to be being managed effectively. I haven’t heard anything to the contrary on this.
INFORMATION
| Report a Highways fault If you see a problem; blocked gully/ drain, pot hole or other Highways issue please report it using the tool below. https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/roads-and-pathways/roadworks-and-faults |
| Adult care assessment Call centre: 0345 045 5202 8am – 6pm Mon to Fri, 9am – 1pm Sat https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/adults/organising-care-and-support/care-needs-assessment Do get in touch with me directly if you have any problems, questions or concerns. |
| I’ve got a problem who do I contact? Organisational structure in Cambridgeshire is complicated, just ask the question. Email me, a District Councillor or the Parish Clerk we’ll all point you to the right person (or try to). |
| Climate Emergency the county council wants to hear your thoughts. What are your ideas? What have you done? What projects could do with some help? The County Council really wants to hear your ideas email climate@cambridgeshire.gov.uk . |
| Government Structure in Cambridgeshire detailing responsibilities |
| County Council; education, transport, highways, heritage, social care, libraries, trading standards, waste management, maintaining their estate. |
| District Council; council tax payments, household bin collections, housing and housing benefits, council leisure facilities, environmental health, residential planning, local emergency, community policing contact point. |
| Parish/ Community Council; looking after community buildings, open spaces, allotments, play areas, bus shelters, community projects. |
| Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) ‘The local delivery body for a City Deal with central Government worth up to £500 million over 15 years to deliver infrastructure (decarbonising transport), 44,000 new jobs, 33,500 new homes and 420 additional apprenticeships.’ Partnership between Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, University of Cambridge |
| The Combined Authority, Cambridge and Peterborough, our elected Mayor (CPCA) A board consisting of representatives from the District, City and County Councils and Peterborough Unitary Authority, headed by the Mayor. Responsible for – Business support, skills, housing, transport strategy-liaising with Department of Transport, environment, international, digital connectivity, resilience, research and strategy and new homes. |
| Police and Crime Commissioner, Cambridge and Peterborough To support and challenge the Chief Constable to provide effective and efficient policing services for the area. |
| Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority the governing body responsible for the fire and rescue service, made up of County Councillors and Peterborough City Councillors. |
hiopcouncillors 