Diamond Party on Facebook

Check out how plans for Cranfield's Diamond Jubilee Party in  the park is going on Facebook or email cranparty@gmail.com Still building to 5 June with fireworks, bands including the Muckabouts and ever popular Sounds Familiar.  

Agenda for parish council 2 may

Here is the agenda for the parish council committee meetings on Wednesday evening ( 8pm Holywell School)

1.     Planning Committee

1.1.   General Planning Matters

1.2.   Home Farm

1.3.   Neighbourhood Plan

1.4.   New Member applications

1.5.   Bus – changes in routes, timings etc.

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Items

2.     General Purposes Committee

2.1.   Litter, School and Tech Park

2.2.   Save the Carpenters Arms campaign

2.3.   Traffic Calming

2.4.   Budgens Pond

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Item

3.     Environment Committee

3.1.   Resurfacing of Recreation Ground Entrance

3.2.   Dog waste bins – quotes, siting

3.3.   Trees:

3.3.1.     Recreation Ground trees – species

3.3.2.     Annual tree maintenance – presentation of draft

3.3.3.     2^nd Phase tree work

3.4.   Play area maintenance-

3.5.   Toddler play equipment – S106 monies

3.6.   Bye-Laws

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Items

4.     Burial Grounds

4.1.   Baby Area – Cemetery

4.2.   Church Wall

4.3.   Trees

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Items

Changes to Central Bedfordshire's Executive

Cllr Nigel Young is the new lead member for Sustainable Communities - Strategic Planning and Economic Development, replacing Cranfield's Cllr Ken Matthews who becomes Deputy Chairman of the Council's Development Management Committee.


In Children's Services the two new Deputy Executive Members for Children's Services are Cllrs Amanda Dodwell and Sue Clark (also Cranfield). 


Commenting on his changes, Cllr James Jamieson said: "I would like to thank Ken for the knowledge, skill and commitment he has brought to the Executive and I am pleased that the Development Management Committee will now benefit from his considerable experience. "

Reopening of the village hall

Reopening ceremony for Cranfield Village Hall. Chair and treasurer Marjorie Cotton and Trevor Dimmock who did the bulk of the work are pictured. Marjorie Cotton writes in the latest Cranfield Express: "We were supported by the Parish Council and given grants by WREN and Central Beds for the essential repairs. The dry rot was eradicated and a damp proof course installed, thanks to a grant from “Grassroots”. 

"It was a slower process raising the money for the roof and other work. We were given another grant from WREN. This was backed up by grants from the Lottery, the Wixam tree Trust, Bernard Sunley, The Steel Trust and a generous donation in memory of Jeanette Nash. We pressed on with sales and coffee mornings but it has been the sale of the caretaker’s house which has given us the rest of the money for the whole project, with little in hand. We are grateful to all those who gave us donations and supported our fundraising events."

SAVE THE CARPS!!!

Further to a recent village petition which has collected in excess of 750 signatures an action 

group committee has been formed to try  and preserve The Carpenters Arms as a 

community village public house.

After years of under investment and a series of short term landlords Charles
Wells Pub Company has decided that the pub no longer fits their businessmodel, and have decided to close/sell The Carpenters Arms.

As a group we are looking into the option of purchasing the property & land
as a locally owned property company which would allow the pub to continue
trading as a tenanted freehold business.

A viability study is underway and a team of professional advisers are being
assembled to set up the private property company and produce a business
plan.

We are seeking indications from individuals, groups & businesses who would
consider buying shares in the property & land which would attract annual
dividend payments.

If you would like further details or to offer your assistance, services or support
in anyway please contact:
Dick Peake Acting Chairman “Save The Carps @ Cranfield”
Email : dick.peake@AperioDI.com
Mobile: 07800 792185
https://www.facebook.com/thecarpscranfield
www.cranfieldcarps.co.uk <http://www.cranfieldcarps.co.uk/>
www.cranfieldcarps.com <http://www.cranfieldcarps.com/>
(Websites are currently under development)

Charles Wells' community policy states: Our home town community in Bedford is important to us, and we want to protect it for future generations.  Similarly, the communities around each and every one of our pubs is precious to them and they play a crucial role in the fabric of that society. It's therefore important for us to show responsibilty for those around us.

http://www.charleswells.co.uk/home/about/social-responsibility/community-activity

Where were you?

Cranfield oral history buff Margaret Rooney is aiming to capture the moments from the past that people, still living remember. With the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in

Cranfield in mind she is co-ordinating the compilation of an oral history of the recollections of people who remember the events of 1952 and 1953. She is particularly interested in interviewing people who were living in Cranfield at that time.

* Do you remember the death of King George VI and the coronation of the Queen?

* What were you doing? Where were you living? Were you working or at school?

* What changes in the last 60 years have been good? What changes are not good?

This is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to a local history archive. If enough interest is shown there will be sufficient memories to publish your recollections in a Cranfield Jubilee publication.

To find out more, please phone her on 751079 or 07889 926437, or drop a note to her at home, 8 Broad Green.

Diamond Jubilee in Cranfield

Cranfield’s Party in the Park

Tuesday 5^th June, 5pm - 10pm,

Recreation Ground, High Street

Join neighbours, friends, relatives and fellow parishioners in painting the village red, white and blue to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Bring a picnic and enjoy an evening of live music, “Queen and Duke” competition and finishing with a spectacular aerial firework display by Alchemy Fireworks!

Further details to be confirmed…Watch this space!

Contact: cranparty@gmail.com

St George's Day in Cranfield

Thanks to Cranfield ATC for getting the flag up

Neighbourhood plans

These are a key part of the government's 'localism' agenda. It is meant to channel local frustration at top down development aimed only at meeting targets and to give communities a say in how development takes place. 


The DCLG (department of Communities and Local Government) said in its impact statement last year:

"Communities are often unable to ensure that development meets local needs and takes satisfactory account of the tensions between development and conservation, environmental quality and pressure on services. This flaw in the current system can lead to development taking place against the wishes of the community, being delayed by objections (at expense to both business and the local authority) or blocked, compromising housing and economic growth. "

There is a cost to drawing up a neighbourhood plan and to make it valid it must be endorsed by a local poll. So who knows if this is practical or not. They are red hot for it in Marston and Mrs Ball and I are going to find out more next Wednesday night at a presentation  there.  Not missing any Euro-footie so what's not to like  about an evening in Marston talking about planning?


see DCLG info for more information 

Acorn play group

I accepted an invitation  to visit Acorn play group this morning. They have a split site if ever there was one, parcelled out between the football club and the scout hut. The problems are the same as my last visit several years ago but it is amazing the spirit with which they give children a great start in difficult conditions.

Their main problem is they are not the sole occupants of these premises so they spend huge amounts of time opening up and packing up every day and children's artwork on walls is not necessarily safe. And not being together is also a problem and results in a loss of some sort.

My own children went there in the 1980s and 1990s and we have fond memories. But they are still struggling with these circumstances. 

Allotments

A parishioner came to the annual parish meeting enquiring about allotments. We regrettably had to inform  him that our offer to buy some glebe (Church of England) land for that purpose had been rejected. I pointed out that there were some vacancies in Marston and Lidlington allotments. 

Public Transport

The Parish Council has been very active in promoting public transport to and from Cranfield and was in  talks with Milton Keynes Council, Central Beds and the Uni about developing services that reflect local needs, last year.  But the first anyone in Cranfield knew about the imminent changes to MK services this week was new timetables going up on the bus stops.

A CBC councillor present at the meeting on Wednesday night said the authority didn't know about these.

But MK Council has emailed a member of the parish council saying Central Beds were 'leading' on the changes and had 'liaised' with us (and the uni). Well not us. We just read the new timetables and wonder. See Alan Morris's article in next week's Cranfield Express for more deets.

Lower School

The Lower School is now Cranfield Church of England Academy which is a lot to say (and write) so I'm sticking with lower school. Head teacher Jo Farbon attended the annual parish meeting and gave a really helpful presentation about the issues facing the school as our population looks set to expand by to 1000 or more thanks to Home Farm and Central Motors. Chair Delise Ball reminded the meeting that one option which is nowhere near the table, as a solution,  is the Recreation Ground.  Cranfield is stuffed with vacant land including glebe land and the best answer is a new lower school on some of that.
Mrs Ball also reminded the meeting that charity Fields in Trust which facilitated the covenant on the Rec Ground, blocking development, has been approached by Central Beds about finding a way round that. The emails helpfully found their way in our direction and we asked some questions. 

Parade Service at Cranfield Parish Church

Here's some more Jube stuff

All local Uniformed Organisations, Youth and Children’s Groups are invited to participate in a service of celebration on Sunday 3rd June at 10.30am to mark the Queens’ Diamond Jubilee. 

The Service will last about 45 minutes and will include the opportunity for banners and flags to be paraded, for well-known songs and hymns to be sung and prayers said for the Royal Family. While there will be no formal march down the High Street (as on Remembrance Sunday) it is expected that there will be room for at least some groups to gather at the recently refurbished Village Hall prior to coming over to the church with banners etc. 

It would be very helpful if those groups hoping to join in this special service would let the Rector know and perhaps closer to the time give an indication of numbers expected. 

In addition if there is any particular message or display that any group may wish to make towards the service then we would be glad to hear. 

With Every Blessing Hugh Symes-Thompson, Rector 

revhugh@symes-thom.freeserve.co.uk Tel 01234 750214 

Land for allotments

We wrote to the Diocese of St Albans last year about buying glebe land at the Spinney for allotments and ultimately a cemetery extension. They have replied:

CRANFIELD – REQUEST TO PURCHASE GLEBE LAND

I am very sorry that, by oversight, I have failed to write to you earlier about the request from your council to purchase some glebe land to serve as an extension to the existing burial ground.

The Glebe Committee gave very careful consideration to this request when it met on 1 February.  It was decided that the council’s request could not be accepted.

I am sorry to have to send a disappointing reply.

Cranfest 7 July

CRANFEST 2012 The music festival at Cranfield United Football Club on 7th July

Description

Running from 1pm till 9pm, CRANFEST 2012 features a number of fantastic bands who will be performing throught the day together with food stalls and entertainment.

Tickets £5 available from May 7th. FIND IT ON FACEBOOK OR CONTACT TREVOR DOVE.

Sounds a great evening

Expect the unexpected

Minutes from a year ago always seem absolutely aeons ago. Here are the mins from last year's parish meeting - slightly pruned.

At the Baptist Church, Bedford Road, Cranfield

Present:                   PCllr Mrs D Ball (Chairman of the Parish Council)                 

In attendance:                   Mrs R J Davey-Hunt [clerk], 7 members of the public, 7 parish councillors

PCllr Mrs D Ball welcomed all present and gave details of the statutory obligations for holding the meeting once in each year.

Chairman’s Report:   PCllr Mrs Delise Ball reported as follows:

Written report:

Welcome to the 2010-2011 Annual Parish Meeting.

I am sure that wasn’t what you had expected?  Did you expect to come and hear a boring report on the year’s achievements of the Parish Council, well that is coming but first I just wanted to talk about EXPECTATIONS.

What is it that the villagers EXPECT of us, the council?

I think that we can safely say that they expect the village to function and allow them to live happily without anything that adversely affects their day to day life.  They like the verges cut, lights lit and all the necessary and often mundane aspects of their village life to just happen.  If there is something ‘not as they would like it to be’ they expect to be able to contact someone on the council and to have that person address their concerns.  Sadly it is usually the things that they ‘don’t like’ not the things that they do that we get to hear about, although there have, over the past year been a couple of occasions where a parishioner has thanked the council for their hard work.  When that does happen it really does make us feel valued.

Councillors and EXPECTATION

I think that many people come onto the council expecting to ‘change the world over night’ and can often become disheartened and frustrated when it doesn’t happen.  We do make differences and these can be dramatic BUT they do take time.  Often because of red tape, far longer than even we would expect and it’s because of this that we have to keep battling away and keep focussed on out aims.  We must not be doing it for any glory or thanks because they are very thin on the ground but rather in a spirit of community and the belief in the fact that we can make a real difference.  We should expect to attend long meetings and often ones where we go over and over the same thin till we get ‘just the right mix’ to make it work.  We should expect to have disagreements in debate after all this is democracy (even I don’t get my own way all the time) but we should know that this team will always pull together and remain as one in our representation of the village.

Now to look at some expectations we have achieved and others we aim to do next council term.

Finance and Grants have set next year’s precept at the same level as the present one which is, because of the increases in the number of houses in Cranfield, in effect a decrease in real terms.  Something, I believe is this current economic climate that villagers would want us to achieve but if at all possible without a decrease in standards.

This committee continues to assess and recommend grants to local organisations St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Cranfield Colts and the Village Hall to mention a few.

The Planning Committee continues to deal with the day to day planning applications which require someone to go and look at each site and report back to the other members in order that a recommendation can be agreed.  One of the most time consuming and repetitive jobs this committee undertakes but such an important one for the development of the village and the safeguarding of our immediate home environment from overbearing and intrusive surrounding buildings.

This committee continues to work with Persimmon in softening the impact of the development of Home Farm.  Additionally this year there has been the coalition of 15 town and parish councils, spearheaded by ourselves to oppose the Covanta incinerator proposal.  This I am sure will feature highly in the next year’s activity and further on into future years when yet another ‘negative development’ will be thrown at us.

In the Burial Ground Committee one of the most successful achievements for me has been the facility now for people to have commemorative plaques put up in our memorial arch in the Garden of Memory.  Something asked for a long time ago by a previous parish councillor who is sadly no longer with us, but who I am sure would have approved.

As with most committees there will be times when things don’t go to plan and the war memorial has to be one of the most frustrating.  We are now about to have our third re lettering as each previous one has failed.  This is to be an interim measure while we decide on a permanent solution in the very near future.

General Purposes has this term produced a second edition, updated village directory which was delivered to all homes in the Village.  They have continued with the cultivation of bus shelters and these have been received as a welcome haven from Cranfield’s cold windy winters.  This committee is helping the Council to be seen and know within the community and has instigated a Village Photographic competition which will be held in partnership with the local schools.  All this in addition to the day to day lighting and street furniture issues that are continually on-going. 

Now you have all expected me to identify Chair and Vice Chair of each committee as I went along – I didn’t.  So as not to disappoint you I intend to include them in this next part. 

This Council does expect all its councillors to have an opinion on all areas of our remit, which hopefully is also influenced by their understanding of what our parishioners want.  Without each and every one of them there would be something of a dictatorship.  This way there is active discussion and debate and I hope a real well thought out result – so thank you to each and every one of you.

John Savill my Vice Chair, Chair of Finance and Grants and of Environment

Laurence Pollock, Chair of Burial, Vice Chair of Finance

Alan Morris, Chair of General Purposes

Sue Clark, Chair of Planning

Jill Brocklebank – a new councillor this year who stepped up when we needed her to and took the vice chairmanship of General Purposes

Peter Meadows, Vice Chair of Burial and Planning

Roy Phillips

Roger Baker

Alan Bastable and Ken Matthews - thank you both in your role as parish councillors as well as Central Beds councillors.

Jo Stannage, and finally Bruce Kitchener.

Thanks also to our contractors – In Trim Garden and Grounds Maintenance.

To Rosie, our long suffering Clerk a big thank you for all you do to keep us on the straight and narrow.

Thank you to each and every one of you for ensuring that this village gets what if EXPECTS.

BUT one final thing…… in council as in life….EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.

My own comment - mirroring Delise's Tales of the Unexpected.  I always liked MacMillan's comment when he was asked what was the most difficult bit of being prime minister. After a moment or so he replied: 'Events, dear boy, events.' Same with the Parish Council I'd say. 

Central Bedfordshire Council Diamond Jubilee Party arrangements

CBC has made a traffic order covering the whole area which means
that any charges that would normally incur for road closures have been
waived. The council also has lots of help and advice available to make
parties go with a swing.


Street party organisers should inform the council as soon as possible which
roads they would like closed and for how long by completing an application
form and returning it before 1 May. Forms are available at
www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/jubilee. This site also contains advice and
information for residents planning a celebration and useful links to other
Diamond Jubilee websites.

A series of road shows have already taken place across the area for event
organisers to discuss their proposed events and get free advice and guidance
on organising and running them safely. For further information contact the
Central Bedfordshire Safety Advisory Group (SAG) who can review and offer
advice on safety arrangements, email SAG@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Organisers should be aware that if their event is to include a large number
of people or activities and entertainments that involve using equipment e.g.
bouncy castles that they may need public liability insurance. The council
can arrange this for a small fee. Email insurance@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
or call 0300 300 8129.

The Council is supporting The Big Jubilee Lunch on Sunday 3rd June which
aims to get as many people as possible across the UK to get together with
their neighbours for a few hours of community food and fun. For more
information visit www.thebiglunch.com


For more info about Cranfield Parish Council or to comment on or query any postings email broadgreen68@btinternet.com or tel 07801 665961 

Signs (and wonders)

The direction signs at the junction of Moulsoe Road/Salford Road have been skew whiff forever and every time I drive past I make a mental note to alert clerk/highways. Then I forget. So, this time, I've alerted the clerk and we'll keep a check on  the customer service bulletin to see what's happening. We also don't have the Cranfield sign at the entrance to the village on the south side. What's that all about? Another chase due. 

Footpath problems

Complaint to Highways

‘The pavement outside number 34 Mill Road  where building work has been going on for several weeks is in a terrible condition.’  I would be grateful if you would consider repairs once the work is finished.'

Highways respond:

'The builder has accepted they have undermined the path and they will make it safe, we will reinspect and patch as needed when the builders work is completed'.