Hedges

A parishioner has been in  touch about the height of the Broad Green hedge and whether it exceeds the height agreed some years ago to ensure that the area is visible and therefore less open to vandalism and to dog owners who irresponsibly allow their dogs to foul the grass. I'm trying to track down the spec. 

From 60 years ago

Charming minutes recording the Parish Council's planning for the 1953 coronation. Ideas for us today or not?

 ?

Worrying letter in Cranfield Express

Disturbing letter in the Cranfield Express (just out) There are some really passionate people living in the village. Hope they have got their facts right...

There has been enough pressure on Cranfield’s old Rec and now we are saying enough is enough.  After the reports that the district council, Central Beds it is called, wanted to get some of the land for the school it was bad enough.

That was when some of us decided to set up Save Cranfield Rec Action Group (S.C.R.A.G.)

But then when we saw in the newspaper (not the Cranfield News)  about the Central Bedfordshire-Milton Keynes “Strategic Partnrship Long Term Program” we couldn’t quite believe. Its too much that Milton Keynes wants to build estates all over Salford and Cranfield. Now they want to treat us as a dumping ground for their garden furniture.

Central Beds counsellors say they don’t want to do a deal with Milton Keynes but now they say there must be “constructive dialoge’. But the report also said Milton Keynes are getting rid of their concrete cows because its been a bad image for the town and they want them to go somewhere. And Cranfield Rec is one place our local council has suggested could take them.  Well quite frankly if we get to that we might as well tear up the Cranfield sign in the green and plant a notice that says “Welcome to Milton Keynes Come and See the Cows.”

There is a massive cover up of this scandal. Of course our parish councillors have all taken to the long grass (plenty of that these days of course). Then we tried to get Central beds to tell us what was happening. We thought it might be environment  but then switchboard put us through to leisure and culture  but they thought it was planning. Finally planning they said it was the parish council’s responsibility. So here we are again.

Anyway I believe there is going to be something called a sight-visit this Sunday morning by councillors and other council planning types to the Rec to look it over and see where the cows go. We will be there for definite and other members of S.C.R.A.G. to save our Rec, say No to Milton Keynes and definitely say NO to COWS. Please join  us

April and George Fuller

Village Directory

I'm starting the 2012 village directory. If you want your organisation/activity to be represented please get in touch in the next two weeks.

Anyone who was included in the directory last year should alert me if details have changed. The Parish Council is combining  the annual report and the village directory so we hope to publish some time in the summer. 

Contact 07801 665961 

broadgreen68@btinternet.com

Cranfield, Marston and Lidlington parish council meet up

Cranfield and Marston Ward Parish Councils meeting 26 March 2012

Present

Iain Clapham (Lidlington)

Dee Blackmore  (L)


John Ludford (L)

Jean Peall (L)

Hugh Roberts (Marston Moretaine)

David Toland (MM)

Laurence Pollock

Lynn Lyman (clerk to Brogborough)

A) N Other 

Neighbourhood plans – Idea initiated by Marston Moretaine and MM Pcllr Hugh Roberts. Part of the localism agenda. There was some recognition that parish plans may have been misused by certain planners to cite they are on in tune with what the public want. We also have the new development framework looming. For more information visit

http://www.number10.gov.uk/take-part/your-neighbourhood/write-your-neighbourhood-plan/

Street lighting: useful comparison on tariffs and effectiveness of Amey.

Grounds maintenance: health and safety. Discussion about the impact of health and safety requirements on small scale amenity cleaning. Interest in joint grounds maintenance contracts but recognition that we are not all in synchronized.

Broadband: wait for BT or think about a community Wifi scheme? (Iain’s suggestion)

Other matters:

·      Exasperation at WRG spinning out landfill closure.

·      CIU club Brogborough. Flooded and sinking fast.

·      Any interest from Stewartby and Wootton in joining the liaison group?

There was agreement that the meeting was a good idea and we should consider further quarterly meetings.

Save the Recreation Ground

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/hands-off-our-land/9165904/Playing-fields-to-get-special-protection-from-housing-developments.html

Check this out from the Daily Telegraph. Govt planning madness threatened indiscriminate development and a danger to vital open spaces. Some sense seems to be breaking through.

Getting in touch

If you want to discuss any content on the Blog you can get in touch with me at broadgreen68@btinternet.com tel 07801 665961.  The Parish Council meets on the first and third Wednesdays of every month usually at 8 pm.  


Laurence Pollock
8 Broad Green
Cranfield

Amey

The Parish Council has agreed to write to Amey to about their lack of responsiveness to public complaints. We are also writing to CBC asking for the guidelines that it issues to Amey relating to communication with the public. This relates to Amey’s footpath work in Mill Road and Crane Way when their policy on dropped kerbs produced complaints.

We will also request from Amey details of all work that is to be carried out in Cranfield in the next twelve months, press for repair of the kerbing and concrete edging on the grassed areas in the area of Crane Way and seek confirmation that the proposed traffic calming is, or should be, in the schedule of work planned for 2012-13.

Speed limits

The Parish Council being asked to consider 20 mph speed limits in the village. Definitely in Court Road, (because of the school) but maybe in the High Street as well. Comments invited (watch the blog).

Land purchase

The St Albans Diocesan Glebe Committee met at the start of February. We were informed that they were considering our request to buy land adjacent to the cemetery with a view to creating allotments and expanding the cemetery in the future. Since then we have been awaiting their reply.  Watch the blog.    

More housing?

Remember the LDF? The Local Development Framework gave us 135 homes at Central Motors and 21 at the High St-Lodge Road corner. Now we have a new ‘development strategy’ which must be completed by April 2014. If not developers can put in a punt to build anywhere. Meanwhile bids are once again being solicited from all the usual suspects. Watch that open space - very carefully.

Covanta

Sounds like Gilbert and Sullivan: All the petitions from town and parish councils against Covanta were deposited with Parliament last December but there were requests from Covanta and the Secretary of State (for Energy I believe therefore Ed Davey) that the petitions ‘be not heard’.  However the chairman of the House of Commons Ways and Means Committee and the chair of some House of Lords Committee will meet to decide whether the petitions go forward to a special committee to hear the substantive issues. We should know the result any day. 

traffic calming

There have been four objections to the proposed traffic calming scheme for Cranfield which is going before Central Beds Council. Two I understand were from people who were worried raised tables outside their drives (no, they wont)  and one from someone who wanted more traffic  (no, there won’t be). We are expecting it to go through and to be carried out in the 2012-13.

Olympic torch

http://www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay-map

Check out the route of the Olympic Torch this summer. No its not coming up from Bourne End, down the High St, along Lodge Road and out again. But it will be in Bedford on Sunday 8 July and in MK on Monday 9 July.

Get music making

Letter from Communities Secretary Eric Pickles appealing for community music groups to take part in a 'bandstand marathon'. Note the closing date of 1 April. 

Holywell 24 hour news

Holywell News Report


Check out Holywell Middle School's BBC news project - an interview about the Diamond Jubilee with village busybody and Parish Councillor Laurence Pollock. The Paxmans are tough interviewers

Parish Council surgery

Due to working commitments I didn't make it to the Parish Council surgery themed around children's needs. But I'm reliably told it was a well attended event with discussion about sport, the lower school and Acorn pre-school. Thanks to everyone for turning up and to Delise Ball and George Young for hosting the  event. 

Gas cylinders

I'm informed by a parishioner that the gas cylinders that were outside the perimeter fence of Home Farm have been removed. Eternal vigilance. 

It's finally arrived

 hose pipe ban

They have been promising it for a while now and Central Beds have finally confirmed a hose pipe ban. Its hard to imagine we have a drought in  the winter - you associate it with red hot summers and barbecues and the beach. But it is still chilly and misty - and dry.

Cranfield Diamond Jubilee planning

Jubilee planning meeting  8 March 2012.

Present Amanda Buckmaster, Marjorie Cotton, Claire Jenkins, Laura Moore, Mark Phillips, Laurence Pollock

Apologies: Roger Baker, Gill Stephenson

Other contacts:  Jane Backhouse, Carol Tyrrel, Michelle Gedney,  Alison Nelson,  Cathryn Waters,  Margaret Rooney, Jonathon Billington

Looking ahead:

It is half term so many people could be away. We need to recognise other events in June and July  – eg Cranfield Lwr School fete 23 June themed as “Jubilee-Olympics” and the Colts event on Saturday 2 June. Do we have to think about and recognise events marking the Jubilee stretching over June and July and possibly linking in with Olympics?

Resources

·       Lwr School PTFA – access to free banner printing – explore

·       The Village Hall will be available for events and MC encouraged people to enquire about availability.

·       Display boards – MC reports that BRCC have some available.

·       Bands – for Tuesday. MP has contacts for bands and practical knowledge about he possibilities.

·       Aiming to publish a map and timetable in June Cranfield Express, going out Friday 1 June.

Possible events

·       A family “picnic in the park” (Rec) on the Tuesday evening, concluding with a firework display – needs power supply, toilets, firework provision and usual health and safety implication explored. Maybe a projector and large screen to show a recording of Monday night Buckingham Palace concert on Tuesday night? And video of Coronation in 1953.

·       Check out university involvement – events, shared events with village - support for students to come to the village?

·       Proposal for Lower School children to create special decorations for the church reflecting the jubilee.

·       Guides – dressing up as the queen- would Wootton students make a throne for us? Fifties house and lifestyle exhibition – Either in the village hall or tent

Planned events

·       Church of St Peter and St Paul. There will be a Jubilee service on the Sunday 3 June for uniformed organisations and ecumenical songs of praise on the Sunday evening. On the Tuesday (5 June) the church will be open on a drop-in basis serving tea and coffee and playing organ, cello and violin music.

·        

Where and when

·       Aiming to publish a map and timetable in June Cranfield Express, going out Friday 1 June. Publish early details in the May edition. Ensure residents are aware of plans for the recreation ground.

ACTIONS – in particular priority

Music/bands/logistics – possibilities (MP)

Access to banner printing  (LM)

Village Hall facilities including exhibition boards (MC)

Throne for Cranfield “Queen” (CJ)

Uni involvement. Parish Council support for fireworks, booking portaloos, health and safety in the park, power supply (LP)

Power supply from schools (CJ, LM, MP)

Verges

I've been round the design ated route and there is some work but it loooks like the kitchen after you have asked your teenage son to 'tidy up'. Is this the best they can manage? 

Holywell TV interviewers

I've done just done two video interviews as a Cranfield Parish Councillor with Holywell pupils for a national BBC-based project on reporting  local news and opinion. There are some budding Paxmans around including one who asked me a question that wasn't on the list helpfully provided in advance. I.e Have you ever done any vandalism?

Like all, politicians I denied everything and I am sure I will be vindicated by history (as George Bush and Tony Blair used to say).

This will be on the BBC schools section and Holywell website next week. And on my blog of course. Watch those spaces.

Linear landfill

"Linear Landfill". Great expression for our roadsides that are vergin' on midden heap status. Not mine. 


A parishioner (fellow chainman) writes: 


"I saw the contractor clearing the verge at about 08:30 yesterday or Monday morning near the end of the runway on the road to Moulsoe - even said hello to him. So very well done - it causes me more 'disgusted of Tunbridge Wells' moments than almost anything else as a cyclist riding past these 'linear landfills'.

 

"That said, the worst is Bourne End Road -  and Astwood Road past Newlands Farm is pretty awful, too. I don't think they've been done anytime in the last decade - would it be the same if we were in MK ? And there appears to be a car hire fleet's worth of tyres on the verge of the road from Wharley End. Since I've last been along both these roads (Friday), they may well have been done. If not, do request that Cllrs Clark and Matthews try to get ALL the roads round here done - and happy that you're relaying a message from me.

 

"Keep up the good work."

 

I've had another email from CBC:

"Our T force was out  there on Wednesday and Thursday this week. There will be a grab lorry out there on monday next week to remove tyres."

So far so good. Cllr Matthews has not replied to my earlier email or, to my knowledge, a prompt from the parish council clerk.