Talking of Central Motors and its "undesign" brief, the planning application has now been submitted and you can see it at Central Beds Planning Portal
Tuesday 30 July 2013
Double yellowing
So many cars and too few streets. That seems to be the problem. In residential streets it's too many cars parking but in high streets with local shops its too few, due to double yellow lines - so we are told. So the latest idea to encourage people to stay away from say, Kingston or Flitwick and shop locally is short term parking on the double yellows. The BBC reports
See BBC News for the full story including all the politics smoke and whistles. Cranfield PC reps will be meeting Central Beds' Cllr Nigel Young and senior planners over at Chicksands later next month to find out how the Central Motors design brief smuggled a school in. The big worry, obviously is traffic and parking given the tsunami-on-wheels nature of the school run these days. Cllr Young is portfolio lead for sustainable communities and ultimately takes responsibility for the Flitt Leys design (or undesign) brief. Full report asap.
Motorists could be allowed to park free of charge on double yellow lines for up to fifteen minutes under plans being considered to help boost High Streets.
Drivers in England could be given a "grace period" to pick up goods from shops or leave their cars in bays for longer without being fined.
While the Conservatives are keen on the idea, their Lib Dem coalition partners are understood to have reservations.
See BBC News for the full story including all the politics smoke and whistles. Cranfield PC reps will be meeting Central Beds' Cllr Nigel Young and senior planners over at Chicksands later next month to find out how the Central Motors design brief smuggled a school in. The big worry, obviously is traffic and parking given the tsunami-on-wheels nature of the school run these days. Cllr Young is portfolio lead for sustainable communities and ultimately takes responsibility for the Flitt Leys design (or undesign) brief. Full report asap.
Friday 26 July 2013
Top water pay on the rise
Water stays well below the horizon compared to the public focus on energy firms. But there is still reason to worry. Harlow's MP is asking some serious questions about top pay and water bills. From the BBC today
He believes leakages are also too high and says directors' pay and bonuses in some cases had more than doubled.
Water regulator Ofwat said it was "making changes" to keep bills down.
In research written by Mr Halfon called "Watergate - The Great Eastern Region Water Con", the MP analysed the results of Affinity Water, Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, Essex and Suffolk Water and Thames Water in the past five years.
The firms serve properties in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.
Water firms in East of England 'rip off' customers, claims MP
Mr Halfon has called for an investigation into how much water companies are charging
Water
company directors in the East of England have seen their pay soar as
customers faced inflation-busting hikes in bills, an MP's research has
claimed.
Robert Halfon, Conservative MP for Harlow, says water bills
and senior pay at five firms have risen since 2008, but some figures
have been disputed.He believes leakages are also too high and says directors' pay and bonuses in some cases had more than doubled.
Water regulator Ofwat said it was "making changes" to keep bills down.
In research written by Mr Halfon called "Watergate - The Great Eastern Region Water Con", the MP analysed the results of Affinity Water, Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, Essex and Suffolk Water and Thames Water in the past five years.
The firms serve properties in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.
Marston Hill post mortem
There is still a deafening silence from Amey about the "rogue" closure of Marston Hill two weeks ago, for roadworks.
If you didn't experience it directly, it continued after the normal 3.30 finish which allows school and rush-hour traffic to flow. This time it went on, it has been reported to me, til after 6.30 and there was a massive traffic queue into Salford and beyond heading for J13 and the A421.
In addition there were no signs down at the A421-Beancroft Road junction letting people know the road was closed much higher up. Nor were any diversion signs posted so if you didn't have local knowledge you were in big trouble.
So there were wasted journeys and tricky turn-rounds. Normally there is a TTRO (temporary traffic regulation order) which comes through to the PC for information but I cannot recall seeing one. That gives all the details and shows the conditions.
Cllr Sue Clark asked Amey, the CBC Highways contractor about this two weeks ago and answer came there none. She says she has now escalated the query to the portfolio lead (senior councillor) and senior officers and will share any feedback.
If you didn't experience it directly, it continued after the normal 3.30 finish which allows school and rush-hour traffic to flow. This time it went on, it has been reported to me, til after 6.30 and there was a massive traffic queue into Salford and beyond heading for J13 and the A421.
In addition there were no signs down at the A421-Beancroft Road junction letting people know the road was closed much higher up. Nor were any diversion signs posted so if you didn't have local knowledge you were in big trouble.
So there were wasted journeys and tricky turn-rounds. Normally there is a TTRO (temporary traffic regulation order) which comes through to the PC for information but I cannot recall seeing one. That gives all the details and shows the conditions.
Cllr Sue Clark asked Amey, the CBC Highways contractor about this two weeks ago and answer came there none. She says she has now escalated the query to the portfolio lead (senior councillor) and senior officers and will share any feedback.
Thursday 25 July 2013
33.5 Phew wot a scorcha
A blog reader send the following temperature reading through for Cranfield last Sunday adding: "We have an Oregon system in the back garden and I believe it to be accurate, its in a location where it gets free air flow but is not directly hit by the sun. So eat your heart out Heathrow!"
When 'no' means 'no'
Well done, this Cranfield resident (see below, anonymised) who took a long overdue pop at Zenith windows for cold calling. They regularly pester us claiming they have done work here. We've been in our hobbit hole for 11 years and they have never done so, though a past resident might have used them. It's interesting that according to Cllr Adam Zerny - see tweet below - CBC is relaunching its no cold calling scheme. Much needed
To: customer.services@zenithhome.co.uk; enquiries@fensa.org.uk; initialenquiries@glazingombudsman.com; customerservices@jwdltd.co.uk
Cc: cranfieldpc@btconnect.com;
Subject: Cold calling from Zenith Windows.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am a resident of Cranfield, Bedfordshire. I regularly get cold calls from your salesman trying to get me to replace my facia boards and double glazing. There is nothing wrong with my facia boards and I have modern double glazing.
Cranfield is in a No cold calling zone and every entrance to the village has a sign stating that.
I have two signs on my door that state I do not want cold callers.
Your salesman turn up and blitz Cranfield streets in small groups every few months. They call on the same doors and harass the same people again and again.
Your website states, “The fact is, not all double-glazing companies are about hard selling salesmen”.
If you believe that statement how do you reconcile that with the fact that I live in a No cold calling zone and every few months your salesman cold call the same houses repeatedly choosing to ignore clear signs on peoples doors stating that they do not want cold callers?
I do not want your company to cold call on my door.
I believe that as the residents of Cranfield have elected to live in a No cold calling zone they also do not want your cold calls.
Please respect that by stopping your aggressive sales tactics.
Adam Zerny @adamzerny
To: customer.services@zenithhome.co.uk; enquiries@fensa.org.uk; initialenquiries@glazingombudsman.com; customerservices@jwdltd.co.uk
Cc: cranfieldpc@btconnect.com;
Subject: Cold calling from Zenith Windows.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am a resident of Cranfield, Bedfordshire. I regularly get cold calls from your salesman trying to get me to replace my facia boards and double glazing. There is nothing wrong with my facia boards and I have modern double glazing.
Cranfield is in a No cold calling zone and every entrance to the village has a sign stating that.
I have two signs on my door that state I do not want cold callers.
Your salesman turn up and blitz Cranfield streets in small groups every few months. They call on the same doors and harass the same people again and again.
Your website states, “The fact is, not all double-glazing companies are about hard selling salesmen”.
If you believe that statement how do you reconcile that with the fact that I live in a No cold calling zone and every few months your salesman cold call the same houses repeatedly choosing to ignore clear signs on peoples doors stating that they do not want cold callers?
I do not want your company to cold call on my door.
I believe that as the residents of Cranfield have elected to live in a No cold calling zone they also do not want your cold calls.
Please respect that by stopping your aggressive sales tactics.
Adam Zerny
Central Beds to relaunch
no-coldcalling scheme and seeking 'Community Champions'. Contact Jake
Ramphal on 0300 300 4780 if you're interested.
I wonder if we can find a "community champion" in Cranfield?
Keeping cool - great idea
Wind turbine application
The word is that an FCC wind turbine application is in the offing.
As far as I am aware they have still not supplied the PC with the raw sound data they promised us a long time ago (as opposed to the interpretation by their consultants). In the meantime to keep us going here is the consultation that MK Council is carrying out into the impact of wind turbines on local residents. The Parish Council has been invited to respond to this. It may offer some useful information and insights on how to mitigate the impact of turbines on residential areas.
Dear Sir or Madam
MILTON KEYNES DRAFT WIND TURBINES SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT AND EMERGING POLICY 2013
I am writing to inform you of a consultation on the Draft Wind Turbines Supplementary Planning Document and Emerging Policy 2013 (Wind Turbines SPD). The draft Wind Turbines SPD provides guidance for large scale wind turbine planning applications. The principal objective of the SPD is to offer protection of public safety from any unintended impacts of wind turbine developments. The draft SPD covers the whole of Milton Keynes Borough administrative area.
This SPD and Emerging Policy has been produced as a result of the judicial review of the 2012 Wind Turbines Supplementary Planning Document and Emerging Policy, held in February and March 2013.
The consultation period runs an 8 week period until 5pm on Wednesday 11 September 2013. Any person may make representations on the draft SPD within this consultation period. The draft SPD may be amended prior to adoption, to take into account issues raised during this consultation period.
Comments can be made online through our Objective consultation system at http://miltonkeynes-consult.objective.co.uk/portal, where you can also save and print a copy of your comments for your own records.
You are already registered on our consultation portal, and your username is: cranfieldpc@btconnect.com . This account is registered to the email address to which this message has been sent, and you can ask for a password reminder through the system, by using the web address above. Responding online through the consultation portal helps us to deal with your representation efficiently and is more cost-effective for the Council.
If you are not able to respond using the consultation portal, representations can be made in one of the following ways:
By e-mail to: development.plans@milton-keynes.gov.uk to help us process your comments, we request that any comments sent to us by email attachment are in Word format.
The consultation documents can be viewed at: http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/planning-policy/displayarticle.asp?ID=84312 .
Paper copies of all documents can also be viewed in the Civic Offices, and in our libraries. Opening times of all the libraries are available at:
http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/library_services/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=67529.
Please note that any representations may be accompanied by a request to be notified, at a specified address, of the adoption of the SPD.
As far as I am aware they have still not supplied the PC with the raw sound data they promised us a long time ago (as opposed to the interpretation by their consultants). In the meantime to keep us going here is the consultation that MK Council is carrying out into the impact of wind turbines on local residents. The Parish Council has been invited to respond to this. It may offer some useful information and insights on how to mitigate the impact of turbines on residential areas.
Dear Sir or Madam
MILTON KEYNES DRAFT WIND TURBINES SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT AND EMERGING POLICY 2013
I am writing to inform you of a consultation on the Draft Wind Turbines Supplementary Planning Document and Emerging Policy 2013 (Wind Turbines SPD). The draft Wind Turbines SPD provides guidance for large scale wind turbine planning applications. The principal objective of the SPD is to offer protection of public safety from any unintended impacts of wind turbine developments. The draft SPD covers the whole of Milton Keynes Borough administrative area.
This SPD and Emerging Policy has been produced as a result of the judicial review of the 2012 Wind Turbines Supplementary Planning Document and Emerging Policy, held in February and March 2013.
The consultation period runs an 8 week period until 5pm on Wednesday 11 September 2013. Any person may make representations on the draft SPD within this consultation period. The draft SPD may be amended prior to adoption, to take into account issues raised during this consultation period.
Comments can be made online through our Objective consultation system at http://miltonkeynes-consult.objective.co.uk/portal, where you can also save and print a copy of your comments for your own records.
You are already registered on our consultation portal, and your username is: cranfieldpc@btconnect.com . This account is registered to the email address to which this message has been sent, and you can ask for a password reminder through the system, by using the web address above. Responding online through the consultation portal helps us to deal with your representation efficiently and is more cost-effective for the Council.
If you are not able to respond using the consultation portal, representations can be made in one of the following ways:
By e-mail to: development.plans@milton-keynes.gov.uk to help us process your comments, we request that any comments sent to us by email attachment are in Word format.
The consultation documents can be viewed at: http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/planning-policy/displayarticle.asp?ID=84312 .
Paper copies of all documents can also be viewed in the Civic Offices, and in our libraries. Opening times of all the libraries are available at:
http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/library_services/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=67529.
Please note that any representations may be accompanied by a request to be notified, at a specified address, of the adoption of the SPD.
Catching up with lost time
The church clock, which featured in Beds on Sunday on 14 July has been behaving erratically recently. Very erratically. It's only thanks to volunteer clock maintainer Gerry O'Mara that it keeps half decent time. But this month the variations have been beyond even his skill. Gerry reported: "Since last week, the clock has gone 20 minutes fast. It was fine for 12 hours or so and then it suddenly went 10 minutes fast in the space of about an hour."
Since then, our regular engineers, Smiths of Derby have been to check it out but the problem is still there. One senior member of the PC has said they are not going up the bell tower because of the giant spiders. I can't say I've clocked these beasties but maybe a couple of black widows are disturbing the delicate mechanism. Looks like Smiths will be coming back to help us catch up with lost time.
Since then, our regular engineers, Smiths of Derby have been to check it out but the problem is still there. One senior member of the PC has said they are not going up the bell tower because of the giant spiders. I can't say I've clocked these beasties but maybe a couple of black widows are disturbing the delicate mechanism. Looks like Smiths will be coming back to help us catch up with lost time.
Tuesday 23 July 2013
Read all about it
As a professional editor and journalist its always a bit odd being on the receiving end of media attention. I've done a lot of media training for voluntary and campaigning groups over the years but do I follow my own edicts? I though Rupert Marquand did a nice job but the last paragraph makes me sound a bit pompous (I know, I know, noises off). That's not really Richard's fault - it was just meant as background explaining how the PC and the Burial Ground Committee gets involved. I did make a strong point however that while we were concerned about the impact of the clock on an individual have to look at this from the village's point of view.That came through.
Hey ho, it is six year old story but always worth a reprise.
They also covered the village hall refurb and the lease of life that has given to community activity.
Saturday 20 July 2013
Women's business
Women do the biz. In Bedfordshire. Find out more on twitter
WiRE: Women in Rural Enterprise. Networking group for businesswomen in Bedfordshire. Meetings held last Weds of month, 7pm, White Horse pub, Southill
http://www.wireuk.org/Bedfordshire-network.html
WiRE: Women in Rural Enterprise. Networking group for businesswomen in Bedfordshire. Meetings held last Weds of month, 7pm, White Horse pub, Southill
http://www.wireuk.org/Bedfordshire-network.html
Walking in Bedfordshire
With a bit luck of luck we'll have cooler weather by the time the Bedford Walking Festival starts. See the website and a recent tweet from Ivel Valley Walkers. Meanwhile check out your boots and OS maps. And stay cool
@walkIVW: Only 6 weeks to go now until this years #Bedfordshire #Walking Festival. Must book my place on the RU4 challenge.
http://www.ivelvalleywalkers.co.uk
One of The Ramblers most active walking clubs in Bedfordshire, with around 300 members & over 150 walks a year. You'll be surprised what Bedfordshire can offer.
Thursday 18 July 2013
Cycling scientist
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/10183719/Its-an-exciting-time-for-the-UK-space-industry.html
Wow Cranfield village and uni's Stephen Hobbs quoted in Daily Telegraph predicting strong future for UK space industry. Steve's feet are in the pedals ( of his racing bike) but his head is way up in the stratosphere
Wow Cranfield village and uni's Stephen Hobbs quoted in Daily Telegraph predicting strong future for UK space industry. Steve's feet are in the pedals ( of his racing bike) but his head is way up in the stratosphere
Batty in Harrold Odelll
@northbedsonline: There's a bat walk (8.45pm) at Harrold-Odell Country Park tonight #bedford #bedfordshire
Crime figures for Cranfield
Here are the mist recent crime figures for Cranfield.
21/06/2013 - PARTRIDGE PIECE - ASSAULT OCCASIONING ACTUAL BODILY HARM (OAPA SECTION 47)
25/06/2013 - BUDGENS STORE - UNKNOWN OFFENDER/S HAS SMASHED THE DOOR LOCK TO GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND HAVE PROCEEDED TO TRY AND REMOVED THE STEREO SMASHING IT (THE IP BELIEVES IT WAS LEFT THERE BECAUSE THEY BROKE IT). THEY HAVE SEARCHED INSIDE THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AND REMOVED TWO CD'S AND A PAIR OF POLAROID SUNGLASSES. THE STEERING COLUMN HAS ALSO BEEN DAMAGED. THE UNKNOWN OFFENDER/S HAS THEN MADE OFF FROM THE LOCATION IN AN UNKNOWN DIRECTION VIA UNKNOWN MEANS.
25/06 – 26/06/2013 – LINCROFT - UNKNOWN OFFENDERS HAVE APPROACHED THE PROPERTY AND HAVE REMOVED THE FIVE STATED PLANT POTS WITH BUSHES INSIDE THEM. UNKNOWN OFFENDERS HAVE THEN LEFT THE LOCATION BY UNKNOWN MEANS, IN AN UNKNOWN DIRECTION.
03/07/2013 - BOURNE END - BURGLARY IN A BUILDING OTHER THAN A DWELLING - UNKNOWN OFFENDERS HAVE USED AN UNKNOWN IMPLEMENT BUT PROBABLY A CROWBAR DUE TO THE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THE DOOR AND THE MARKS THAT ARE LEFT ON THE FRAME. OFFENDERS HAVE STOLEN THE ITEMS AND HAVE LEFT BY UNKNOWN MEANS.
10/07/2013 - TOWNSEND CLOSE - DOMESTIC DISPUTE/INCIDENT
16/07/2013 - HIGH STREET - COMMON ASSAULT
05/07/2013 - MILL RD - INF STATES THAT A GROUP OF YOUTHS HAVE MOVED ALL THE BOLLARDS AROUND THE ROAD WORKS ALONG THE LOC- ALL IC1 - 6 YOUTHS NO OTHER DESC ALL RUN OFF – NO CONES FOUND
21/06/2013 - PARTRIDGE PIECE - ASSAULT OCCASIONING ACTUAL BODILY HARM (OAPA SECTION 47)
25/06/2013 - BUDGENS STORE - UNKNOWN OFFENDER/S HAS SMASHED THE DOOR LOCK TO GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND HAVE PROCEEDED TO TRY AND REMOVED THE STEREO SMASHING IT (THE IP BELIEVES IT WAS LEFT THERE BECAUSE THEY BROKE IT). THEY HAVE SEARCHED INSIDE THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AND REMOVED TWO CD'S AND A PAIR OF POLAROID SUNGLASSES. THE STEERING COLUMN HAS ALSO BEEN DAMAGED. THE UNKNOWN OFFENDER/S HAS THEN MADE OFF FROM THE LOCATION IN AN UNKNOWN DIRECTION VIA UNKNOWN MEANS.
25/06 – 26/06/2013 – LINCROFT - UNKNOWN OFFENDERS HAVE APPROACHED THE PROPERTY AND HAVE REMOVED THE FIVE STATED PLANT POTS WITH BUSHES INSIDE THEM. UNKNOWN OFFENDERS HAVE THEN LEFT THE LOCATION BY UNKNOWN MEANS, IN AN UNKNOWN DIRECTION.
03/07/2013 - BOURNE END - BURGLARY IN A BUILDING OTHER THAN A DWELLING - UNKNOWN OFFENDERS HAVE USED AN UNKNOWN IMPLEMENT BUT PROBABLY A CROWBAR DUE TO THE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THE DOOR AND THE MARKS THAT ARE LEFT ON THE FRAME. OFFENDERS HAVE STOLEN THE ITEMS AND HAVE LEFT BY UNKNOWN MEANS.
10/07/2013 - TOWNSEND CLOSE - DOMESTIC DISPUTE/INCIDENT
16/07/2013 - HIGH STREET - COMMON ASSAULT
05/07/2013 - MILL RD - INF STATES THAT A GROUP OF YOUTHS HAVE MOVED ALL THE BOLLARDS AROUND THE ROAD WORKS ALONG THE LOC- ALL IC1 - 6 YOUTHS NO OTHER DESC ALL RUN OFF – NO CONES FOUND
Wednesday 17 July 2013
Flitt Leys
Big reminder - david Bowie from CBC traffic management is at Parish Council 7.30 in Holywell tonight to try to make rhyme or reason or both of the nightmare that is Flitt Leys parking
Monday 15 July 2013
Raise money for break through cancer
Every year the chair of the Council (CBC) nominates a chosen charity for which s/he raises funds. See Cllr Caroline Maudlin's appear for breakthrough cancer below and a forthcoming fundraising event.
From: Cllr Caroline Maudlin [mailto:Caroline.Maudlin@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk]
Sent: 11 July 2013 18:
Subject: 1st Sept Broom Quarry Sponsored Stroll in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer (my chosen charity)
Hello
As Chairman of the Council I am raising money this year for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and I just wanted to drop you quick email to tell you about my Sponsored Stroll on 1st September, from 12.30pm - hopefully you may be free to come along ...
Bring the whole family (dogs welcome) to join us for a BBQ lunch, before setting off on a wonderful afternoon sponsored stroll around Broom Quarry Lakes (up to 5 miles), followed by tea & cakes - all to raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. There is an added bonus that Shuttleworth has it's 50th Anniversary Pageant Air display taking place next to the lakes, so you can see some vintage aircraft flying by too!
To stroll it's £5 for Adults, under 16's free.
You need to register by emailing your name to: iwanttowalk2013@gmail.com or call 0300 3008544 to receive an application form.
Why not form a walking Group?
*Prize for most sponsorship money raised
Starting from:
Water Lane Farm, Upper Caldecote,
Biggleswade, Beds. SG18 9BU (It is in the Northill Ward)
BBQ & refreshments available from12.30 pm
Fingers crossed you will kindly pass this onto your friends :-)
Best wishes
Caroline
PS If you can't make it and would like to donate please do so at: www.virginmoneygiving.com/CarolinesChallenge
Central Bedfordshire Council reserve the right to monitor e-mails in accordance with the Telecommunications (Lawful Business Practice) (Interception of Communications) Regulations 2000.
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. Thank you
From: Cllr Caroline Maudlin [mailto:Caroline.Maudlin@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk]
Sent: 11 July 2013 18:
Subject: 1st Sept Broom Quarry Sponsored Stroll in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer (my chosen charity)
Hello
As Chairman of the Council I am raising money this year for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and I just wanted to drop you quick email to tell you about my Sponsored Stroll on 1st September, from 12.30pm - hopefully you may be free to come along ...
Bring the whole family (dogs welcome) to join us for a BBQ lunch, before setting off on a wonderful afternoon sponsored stroll around Broom Quarry Lakes (up to 5 miles), followed by tea & cakes - all to raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. There is an added bonus that Shuttleworth has it's 50th Anniversary Pageant Air display taking place next to the lakes, so you can see some vintage aircraft flying by too!
To stroll it's £5 for Adults, under 16's free.
You need to register by emailing your name to: iwanttowalk2013@gmail.com or call 0300 3008544 to receive an application form.
Why not form a walking Group?
*Prize for most sponsorship money raised
Starting from:
Water Lane Farm, Upper Caldecote,
Biggleswade, Beds. SG18 9BU (It is in the Northill Ward)
BBQ & refreshments available from12.30 pm
Fingers crossed you will kindly pass this onto your friends :-)
Best wishes
Caroline
PS If you can't make it and would like to donate please do so at: www.virginmoneygiving.com/CarolinesChallenge
Central Bedfordshire Council reserve the right to monitor e-mails in accordance with the Telecommunications (Lawful Business Practice) (Interception of Communications) Regulations 2000.
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. Thank you
Friday 12 July 2013
Trouble in Cornwall
Trouble in Cranfield blogging as Trouble in Cornwall this week. Marston hill closure nothing compared with M5 closure due to overturned horsebox and loose horse. Lets just say we made it.
Total shambles
Absolute shambles on Marston Hill yesterday by all accounts. Not opened till near 7 pm, massive traffic jams through Salford and no diversion signs up. RGR besieged by drivers looking for directions. My apologies to anyone I advised it would be open at 3.30. Ridiculous. Amey, Highways? CBC, any answers?
Thursday 11 July 2013
What on earth?
Despite my confident expectations its been reported that Marston Hill was still closed at 5.30 tonight and there was a massive logjam to get thru Salford. Really bad show
Uni bus service vision
Huge gaps have appeared in Cranfield’s bus services in recent years as Central Beds and Milton Keynes council have pulled back financial support.
Now Cranfield University looks set to plug many of the
holes and go one step further with an innovative Flitwick service.
The University has been reviewing investment in its
traditional shuttle services for students between Bedford and Milton
Keynes.
It is planning to award a contract,
subject to final agreement, for the provision of a regular through bus service
between Milton Keynes and Bedford via Cranfield, to be used not just by staff and
students but by the public as well.
This would include buses from the centre of the village to
Bedford bus station and to Milton Keynes railway station before 7 am. There
would be hourly buses with the last bus from Bedford back to the village at
22.15 and from MK station at 22.55. The route includes Wootton and Upper
Shelton. All times are subject to final confirmation.
Saturday services will run hourly and late evening and the
Sunday service will be every 90 minutes finishing early evening.
An innovative service, Monday to Friday, will run one bus
early morning to Flitwick and one late afternoon back again, passing the
railway station. This would include Marston and Ampthill.
There would be a morning bus from Milton Keynes via Newport
Pagnell and North Crawley and one back again in the late afternoon.
Passes will be useable on all services, which would start
in early September.
The Parish Council was planning to write to the university
to express its appreciation.
Along with other parish councillors including Alan Morris I have been
involved with public transport issues for a number of years. It has been all
bad news as evening and Sunday buses disappeared, we lost our connection to
Wootton and Milton Keynes services were taken over by another company.
The
University has sought parish council engagement with its plans and listened to our
suggestion about a Flitwick service. As a regular user of rail from Flitwick I
have felt for years that there should be a commuter service. I hope the
University’s vision is vindicated with usage.
The freight train at platform 1 is...
From the most recent Lidlington Advertiser - something coming down the line. If fears that the levels crossing will be closed for longer then the scheme would need to include some bridgework.
Hot ticket event
Want to know what is happening with traffic management in Flitt Leys, Cranfield's sardine tin housing development?
CBC promised that they would take some action on the current congestion, parking rage, blocked accesses and all the rest - quite separate from the issue of access for the new school. Well this is in the in-tray, hopefully near the top, of David Bowie, Head of Traffic Management at CBC. The man himself will be coming to Parish Council next Wednesday at 7.30 pm to talk about the challenges and answer questions. Sounds like a hot ticket event.
PC is in Holywell School
CBC promised that they would take some action on the current congestion, parking rage, blocked accesses and all the rest - quite separate from the issue of access for the new school. Well this is in the in-tray, hopefully near the top, of David Bowie, Head of Traffic Management at CBC. The man himself will be coming to Parish Council next Wednesday at 7.30 pm to talk about the challenges and answer questions. Sounds like a hot ticket event.
PC is in Holywell School
Wednesday, 17th July 2013 at 8.00pm
All members of the Council are hereby summoned to
attend for the purpose of resolving upon the business to be transacted at the
meeting/s as set out hereunder.
BUSINESS TO BE DONE
7.30 David
Bowie: Parking - Flitt Leys Close
1.
To
receive apologies for absence PCllrs L Pollock
2.
To
receive declarations of personal and/or prejudicial interests in any matter
3.
To
confirm the minutes of the last meeting[s] [copy herewith]
4.
Clerks
Report
5.
Health
& Safety
6.
Reports from Committees
6.1. General Purposes Committee
6.2. Burial Grounds Committee
6.3. Environment Committee
6.4. Planning Committee
7.
Financial
matters and accounts for payment
8.
Correspondence
9.
Reports
from unitary councillors (and any other representative)
10.
Highway
matters
Nice work
The latest Highways customer service bulletin is interesting. The issue of insensitive motorists plonking their vehicles in the middle of the 'island' at the Coop is surfacing.
An entry in the bulletin states:
"Customer has called to say that there has been a newly surfaced section of island in which vehicles have started to park on and cause obstruction for pedestrians with push chairs, wheelchairs and members of the public with mobility scooters. Have advised if the drivers are parking dangerously then the police should be informed to visit and ticket. But customer has asked can we inspect and is there any we can do to restrict people from parking here, i.e. Bollards."
The inspector's notes state:
"Area needs to be assessed for parking issue and if bollards would be appropriate."
I'm not the only person in the village to look on aghast at drivers who have just regarded this area of footpath as a handy place to leave their car.
VXOs. What are these? Vehicle crossovers in highways vocabulary and dropped kerbs in plain English which is normally the first language in Cranfield. The service bulletin reveals a rich harvest of VXO - paid for by the householder - orders as part of the recent footpath works. Ironically they all already had dropped kerbs until someone told them they didn't. Nice work for Amey.
An entry in the bulletin states:
"Customer has called to say that there has been a newly surfaced section of island in which vehicles have started to park on and cause obstruction for pedestrians with push chairs, wheelchairs and members of the public with mobility scooters. Have advised if the drivers are parking dangerously then the police should be informed to visit and ticket. But customer has asked can we inspect and is there any we can do to restrict people from parking here, i.e. Bollards."
The inspector's notes state:
"Area needs to be assessed for parking issue and if bollards would be appropriate."
I'm not the only person in the village to look on aghast at drivers who have just regarded this area of footpath as a handy place to leave their car.
VXOs. What are these? Vehicle crossovers in highways vocabulary and dropped kerbs in plain English which is normally the first language in Cranfield. The service bulletin reveals a rich harvest of VXO - paid for by the householder - orders as part of the recent footpath works. Ironically they all already had dropped kerbs until someone told them they didn't. Nice work for Amey.
Tuesday 9 July 2013
"Marston" Hill closure this thursday
Update from Amey on the Marston Hill closure.
While I'm at at it I'll have one of intermittent rants about "Marston" Hill. What on earth? It's all within the Parish of Cranfield. Our hill, someone else's name.
Dear Cllr Pollock
The scheduled date for the Marston Hill work has now been changed to Thursday 11th July.
Kind regards
Geoff Parrott
Structural Maintenance Supervisor
Woodlands Annex
Manton Lane
Bedford
MK41 7NU
Email: Geoff.parrott@amey.co.uk
Office: 0845 365 6224
Mobile: 07725 445 608
While I'm at at it I'll have one of intermittent rants about "Marston" Hill. What on earth? It's all within the Parish of Cranfield. Our hill, someone else's name.
Dear Cllr Pollock
The scheduled date for the Marston Hill work has now been changed to Thursday 11th July.
Kind regards
Geoff Parrott
Structural Maintenance Supervisor
Woodlands Annex
Manton Lane
Bedford
MK41 7NU
Email: Geoff.parrott@amey.co.uk
Office: 0845 365 6224
Mobile: 07725 445 608
Thursday 4 July 2013
Marston Hill
Helpful feedback from Amey on Marston Hill closure
"The date for the treatment of Marston Hill will be largely dependent on the progress made over this coming weekend. The current forecast is for Marston Hill to take place
Wed 10th, and the likelihood of it happening earlier is remote. The works should not commence until 09:00 at the earliest, to allow the majority of peak time traffic to avoid any disruption.
"I will update you as and when I receive any relevant programme updates."
Marston Hill
Email to Amey
"Locals have noticed the sign on Marston Hill Cranfield saying it would be closed for a day sometime in the next few weeks. is there any chance you could be a bit more specific?
Access to Cranfield via Salford is a nightmare! (No disrespect to Salford of course)"
"Locals have noticed the sign on Marston Hill Cranfield saying it would be closed for a day sometime in the next few weeks. is there any chance you could be a bit more specific?
Access to Cranfield via Salford is a nightmare! (No disrespect to Salford of course)"
Respectable skatepark seeks home
Great turnout of young skateboarders at parish council last night to hear Groundwork Luton and Bedfordshire, potential project managers for our skatepark scheme, give their presentation. Now before any itsy bitsy details let me just state that the PC is very committed to seeing a skatepark in the village. There has been a strong, well articulated desire for this from a sizeable body of young people who have repeatedly turned up at our dead boring meetings.
There are still plenty of hoops including bidding for funding from Sport England and drawing up a detailed specification. Obviously siting is another decision which had been resolved, almost, by a proposal to put the park on the old tennis courts in the rec. However some casual footballers have come forward to say this is one of the few areas of hardstanding on which they can kick a ball around.
Therefore...
The Environment Committee (subject to confirmation by the full parish council on 17 July) has proposed to draw up a shortlist of possible locations. These include elsewhere in the Rec, Broad Green, the Millennium Park and any site the uni thinks might be suitable. As they always say in the corridors of power - no final decision has been taken yet.
Who are they?
Groundwork Luton and Bedfordshire has over seven years of experience delivering projects that use the environment as a catalyst for building a more sustainable future. Last year alone they delivered 200 projects across, Luton and Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and beyond, helping improve the quality of people's lives, their prospects and potential and the places where they live, work and play. Find them on facebook and twitter and check them out at Groundwork
There are still plenty of hoops including bidding for funding from Sport England and drawing up a detailed specification. Obviously siting is another decision which had been resolved, almost, by a proposal to put the park on the old tennis courts in the rec. However some casual footballers have come forward to say this is one of the few areas of hardstanding on which they can kick a ball around.
Therefore...
The Environment Committee (subject to confirmation by the full parish council on 17 July) has proposed to draw up a shortlist of possible locations. These include elsewhere in the Rec, Broad Green, the Millennium Park and any site the uni thinks might be suitable. As they always say in the corridors of power - no final decision has been taken yet.
Who are they?
Groundwork Luton and Bedfordshire has over seven years of experience delivering projects that use the environment as a catalyst for building a more sustainable future. Last year alone they delivered 200 projects across, Luton and Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and beyond, helping improve the quality of people's lives, their prospects and potential and the places where they live, work and play. Find them on facebook and twitter and check them out at Groundwork
Wednesday 3 July 2013
Level crossing news
@LondonMidland: #MarstonVale line - Faulty level crossing between Millbrook & Lidlington, services to/from #Bedford face c.10 min delays, apologies.
And while we're at it - Millbrook level crossing and station road closed this weekend so watch out. If you go thru Lidlington there's that nasty T junction in the A507 with a blind hill just to the right
And while we're at it - Millbrook level crossing and station road closed this weekend so watch out. If you go thru Lidlington there's that nasty T junction in the A507 with a blind hill just to the right
Cranfield Parish Council tonight
Committees - Cranfield Parish Council Wednesday
3 July at 7.30 pm
Before our committees meetings this evening we have two speakers. Peter Christmas from Groundwork Luton will talk about the practicalities of installing a skateboard rink and Judith Evans from the Living Churchyards scheme will be outlining how a wildflower area in the Churchyard would work.
BUSINESS TO BE DONE
In attendance:
To receive apologies for absence: CB/PCllrs:
P
Meadows
To receive declarations for
Members in relation to: (a) Personal Interest or (b) Prejudicial Interest in any Agenda item.
7.30pm – Peter Christmas – Ground Work
Luton.
8.00pm – Judith Evans - Living Churchyards Scheme
1.
General Purposes Committee
1.1.
Village Pump
1.2.
Defibrillator
1.3.
Illegal/inappropriate signage in the village
1.4.
Siting of pedestrian crossing
1.5.
Bus services
Reports -
Correspondence - Agenda Items
2.
Environment Committee
2.1. Cranfield British Legion – sowing of poppy seeds.
2.2. Skate Park
2.3. Lincroft Hedge
2.4. Planting of trees in the village
2.5. Improvement of Memorial Green
2.6. Gate – Broad Green Play Area
Reports -
Correspondence - Agenda Items
3.
Burial Grounds
3.1. Wild flower area – churchyard
3.2. Wild flower area – cemetery
Baby burial are
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