Old furniture and other bits and bobs

I'm hoping we will be discussing this on Wednesday  - subject to members' agreement.  How many times have you disposed of a household good that is serviceable but no longer needed and yet unsellable. The Preen challenge may be a local answer to that. It might even save a trip to a (ssssh) civic amenity site not in this local authority area...

The Preen Community Challenge was launched at Central Bedfordshire Council on Monday 12 March.  For those Parishes that did not have the opportunity to register,  they are extending the registration process until the end of April.  

The Preen Community Challenge –  generates community funding, reduces waste and helps local people in need.  Each town and parish will compete for a share of over £27,500 worth of prizes which can be used to support good causes or community ventures where you live.  Every town or parish that signs up will win something and there are big prizes for the best efforts.  Every community, however large or small, has an equal chance of winning the cash awards.  All you have to do is encourage your residents to take part. 

To join the Preen Community Challenge, please return your Parish/Town registration form, along with your feedback questionnaire and order form.  For further information, please contact Kathy Lewis on 07971 317757 email Kathy.lewis@preencic.org or visit www.reusematters.com.

Regards,

Jo Watts

Executive Assistant

Preen CIC

(ddi) 01767 319504

(t) 0844 99 343 99 (Head Office)

(m) 07791 293814

www.preencic.org

jo.watts@preencic.org

www.facebook.com/preencic

       

Village posties

They're a landmark in village life and like the picture they are out in all weathers reaching every home. I love e mail and social networking but I also send postcards and notelets to old friends (and deserving family members LOL). But a parishioner informs me that this could change because post bikes are being phased out.  In some cases - Cranfield perhaps, we will get the 4-wheel carts that are already around. But elsewhere there may be more van delivery. 

The parishioner writes:

My postman tells me that they have been told that the delivery of mail by bicycle is to end in the future. Whether this is just certain locations or if it is across the board, I don't know. He says that the plan is apparently to form the posties into teams of two - one driving the van, the other nipping on & off with the mail.

If thats the case, how Green is that then ? I think it is a retrograde step out of keeping with village lifestyle, possibly leading to a less personalised service than we have now.

Also I drive or should it be pedal a Pashley bike. Pashleys of Stratford-on-Avon are one of the last British makers of handbuilt bikes. I believe that they are heavily dependent upon the Royal Mail contract to keep them afloat. If this switch to motorised delivery is more widespread, then they could end up in trouble I suppose.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1262239/Royal-Mail-phases-postmens-bikes-health-safety-fears.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11234447
http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=5391

I guess its different if you are forced to use one for working & don't like it whereas thee & me use them because we enjoy doing so.

To comment either post a comment on the blog or email broadgreen68@btinternet.com I sometimes anonymise and post responses to blog postings

Is Crawley Road the village?

A parishioner wrote:

Dear Mr Pollock

 

With reference to your comment in the Cranfield Express and on the parish matters blog (see below)

 

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,

 

I was surprised to read that you are considering recommending Court Road and the village for a 20 mph speed limit. What about Crawley Road, is this not part of the village (although many comments raised concerning the traffic calming scheme lead me to believe differently). You mentioned on the blog that since the A421 has opened there is a lot less traffic, perhaps through the village but it certainly has not improved in Crawley Road, and the reason being it is a relief road taking traffic from the village. Can you inform me why Crawley Road has not been considered in this scheme or is it an oversight?

I have replied:
I was interested in your comment. I'm personally in favour of 20 mph everywhere in the village if its achievable. In the past such changes required 'traffic regulation orders' (TROs) , which were very expensive pieces of paperwork. I believe through sharing TROs with other villages we may be able to reduce the costs to a manageable level and therefore have more of a say about speed limits in our communities. 

We are particularly concerned about speeding in Court Road because of the closeness of the lower school. But I recognise the worries of people living in Crawley Road. 

I will pass your comments on to members of the Parish Council  and continue to report back on  speeding issues.  

To comment on anything in Parish Matters leave a post or email me at broadgreen68@btinternet.com

New village hall

The newly refurbished village hall is going to be open to the public on Wednesday 18^thApril between 9am and 7.30pm. The Village Hall Management Committee invite villagers  to come and see the hall then or at the coffee morning on Saturday, April 21^st between 10am and 12noon. There is no need to reply but, if you are unable to attend any of these occasions and would like to be shown round, please contact:

Marjorie Cotton 01234 750 025 email marjorie.cotton@btinternet.com
Above is an artist's impression of the hall in 2003

Annual Parish Meeting

This is the agenda for the annual parish meeting next Wednesday in Holywell School. It is your chance to raise any issue you want about the parish council's responsibility for our village - litter, grass cutting, the cemetery, planning and tree maintenance. Come as an individual or a as representative of a local organisation.  

HOLYWELL MIDDLE SCHOOL

RED LION CLOSE

ON WEDNESDAY

18^th April 2011 AT 7.00 PM

Under the Chairmanship of PCllr Mrs D Ball

Chairman of the Parish Council

The Parish Meeting may by law discuss all parish affairs and pass resolutions about them.  The following matters have so far been placed on the agenda:

1.    To receive apologies for absence

2.    To confirm the Minutes of the last Meeting

3.    To receive the report from the Chairman

4.    To receive reports from other local representatives

5.    To receive the annual accounts of local charities.

6.    Any other business

7.    Time and date of next meeting

Home Farm blog

Home farm blog
Check out Cranfield's dedicated Home Farm blog for latest developments, news and technical issues. 

Central Beds and the Easter Bunnies

Central Beds offices will shut over the Easter period - from today until Tuesday, 10 April.





There is information on its website about the hosepipe ban which began today. You can also find out about bin collections and Household Waste Recycling Centres. 

Or, you may want to add school term and holiday dates to the diary for the coming few months.
You can follow CBC on  Twitter or find out what they are up to on Facebook. If you do find out let the Parish Council know.  Mrs Ball and I have been trying to find out for years! LOL.

Home farm stakeholder

At the stakeholder meeting last night Persimmon confirmed their first occupation – the 'show home' at the entrance to Home Farm.  They have not fulfilled the requirement to provide an access to Court Road because they have not reached agreement with the relevant landowner (Denison). They are therefore in breach of their planning  consent. We are now relying on Central Beds to bring enforcement proceedings. 

Cranfield Parish Council meeting 4 April

Wednesday 4^th April 2012 at 8.00pm Holywell school

All members of the Committees are hereby summoned to attend for the purpose of considering and recommending upon the business to be transacted at the meetings as set out hereunder.

BUSINESS TO BE DONE

7.45pm – Viewing of planning applications.

In attendance:  Shirley Brown (Trees)

To receive apologies for absence:  CB/PCllrs: 

To receive declarations for Members in relation to: (a) Personal Interest or (b)   Prejudicial Interest in any Agenda item.

1.     Planning Committee

1.1.   General Planning Matters

1.2.   Home Farm

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Items

2.     General Purposes Committee

2.1.   Crane Way – Amey

2.2.   Village Hall – venue for PC meetings

2.3.   Portable toilets

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Item

3.     Environment Committee

3.1.   Resurfacing of Recreation Ground Entrance

3.2.   Waste bins

3.3.   Recreation Ground trees – species

3.4.   Annual tree maintenance – presentation of draft

3.5.   Play area maintenance-

3.6.   Toddler play equipment – S106 monies

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Items

4.     Burial Grounds

4.1.   Baby Area – Cemetery

4.2.   Land Purchase

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Items

5.     Finance & Grants Committee – extraordinary meeting

5.1.   Jubilee celebrations – provision of budgeted funds

5.2.   S145 Funding – Jubilee Celebrations

Reports - Correspondence - Agenda Item

Amey protocol

Amey have been a bit of a nuisance  turning up at parishioners' doors demanding a grand for their 'drop' kerb (which they thought they always had) and ignoring our letters. So I'm proposing a protocol to govern their work in  the parish which will be considered on Wed evening.


Here's the first draft

1. 1.    CBC/Amey will send CPC a schedule of work for the coming year drawing the CPC’s attention to projects in Cranfield.
2. 2.      Throughout the financial year Amey and/or CBC will inform CPC of any imminent work in the parish specifying the nature of the work and the likely duration.
3. 3.     The communication will inform the parish council of any impact on parishioners and the local infrastructure.
4. 4.     Amey will specify charges that would be applicable should alterations be required outside individual properties.Amey will respond promptly to enquiries from CPC about work scheduled or being carried out.
5. 
   

Lidlington 'Summit'

More in depth feedback from the Lidlington 'Summit' last week.

Marston Vale Parish Liaison Group

Synopsis of meeting held Monday 26 March 2012

Present:

Dee Blackmore, Iain Clapham, John Ludford, Lyn Lyman,

Jean Peall, Andrew Penn, Laurence Pollock, Hugh Roberts,

David Toland

1 Lighting

Most Parishes still have some responsibilities for Street

Lighting. Lidlington is just above the 14MW threshold so is on

an expensive rate. Marston has only 9 lights but is looking to

Amey. Andy Muskett suggested as a possible supplier of service.

2 Grass Cutting

Many parishes using Warners – prices are competitve. Possiblity of grouping discount?

3 Litter Picking

Smaller Parishes – Cllrs are doing it themselves. Cranfield use

an Individual/Contractor. Lidlington looking for a solution to

the now onerous "Employment trap" - work cannot be carried out as low key spare time job due to health and safety/risk mamagement etc.

4 Dog Mess

Problem rising in all Parishes. There seems to be a void in the

market to provide clearing of this now “Hazardous Waste”

5 106 agreements

Central Beds still failing to properly involve PCs, we need to

break down their misguided “Nanny knows best” approach.

Experience shows they have no idea what our local communities

want instead imposing what we DO NOT WANT!

6 Highways

Some discussion on best contacts. Some PCs get things done for

them which others are told are verboten under Health & Safety (or

other current excuses)

7 Faster Broadband

The joint meeting at Cranfield was very useful. Consensus that

Marston Vale is very poorly serviced by BT and radical

alternatives are needed. Paper surveys would be useful.

7 Church Authorities

Universal agreement that they are unresponsive to local need.

Have become totally remote and non-co-operative.

8 Neighbourhood Plans

David & Hugh Marston councillors are attending training. Some scepticism re amount

of effort vs potential rewards. Marston proceeding but may cooperate

with adjoining PCs.

9 Rights of Way

Broad agreement that much can be done to improve ROW network

between parishes and collaboration ( eg A421 review) would be

most useful.

10 Future Meetings

Agreed to hold next liaison at Cranfield's refurbished Village

Hall early July? Date to be confirmed. Cranfield to Chair?

Invites to Parishes adjoing the Cranfield and Marston Ward ?

Note: Cranfield PC will discuss this proposal at its meeting on Wednesday 

Litter issues

I have carried out a windscreen (from the car) inspection of Bourne End Road and Astwood Road down to the local authority boundary, Crawley Road, College Road, Shire Lane, Moulsoe Road from the junction with Shire Lane to windsock corner and WSC to Lodge Road.

Following last month’s engagement with CBC there was genuine improvement on the verges. Some ditches however are in a poor state. The last time I checked the deep ditch beside the football club it had quite a lot of debris.  Bourne End Road has been reported as litter strewn. It could do with a pick but its not as bad as the original four roads tackled by ‘T’ Force.

The worst offender currently is Shire Lane, which has areas of accumulated rubbish.  I will recommend that we approach CBC environmental management for another ‘pick’.

I also think we should write to the university and Nissan/Trafficmaster about evidence that a lot of rubbish – bottles, cans and food wrapping is thrown from cars on the roads leading to the campus and the tech park. This would be a polite request that they periodically remind staff/students that littering our roads is a pretty anti-social way to behave.

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.