FCC and Covanta

CBC Cllr Sue Clark has been working hard on wind farm and Covanta issues. A long way back we specifically asked for raw data from FCC's monitoring mast and were promnised this. We particularly want to see the sound readings which persuaded FCC (they say)  that two of the proposed turbines would not meet guidelines. How close would the other turbines be to those threshholds?

Report to the council's environment committee: 

CB/PCllr Sue Clark stated that she went to the landfill meeting. FCC have had two reorganisations. All needs to be reviewed again before a planning application for wind turbines can be put in. Cllr Clark stated that no responses have been given by Stuart Markham to requests for information. Footpaths on landfill sites should be finished and opened in 2 months. FCC are no longer pursuing application for the anaerobic digester – it has been withdrawn. 

The environmental permit (for Covanta) is about dead in the water as it must be given to the operator and as Covanta is selling it cannot go to them (be passed on). Cllr Clark has been invited by the inspector to review.  

Defibrillator location

The defib is back on following an offer from a local business in the centre of the village. Readers will recall that the village hall was first identified as a suitable site.

The new location is subject to the usual check for technical suitability but we are very grateful for the invitation. Dr Noel of Cranfield surgery is to attend a parish council meeting to, I believe, warn us about the dangers of defibs.

Tatty flyposting

People's views might vary but we have gone through a phase where there are all sorts of posters and notices pinned to our telegraph poles, bus shelters, lamp posts. Some of the affixers are rather slow to take  them down and they hang wet and limp for months after.

So the PC is just starting to remind people not to put stuff up freelance and remove anything they do put up, immediately the event is over or you have given up hope of finding the missing cat etc. And I suggest Slimming World stops treating Cranfield as a massive advertising hoarding (usualy happens in January wouldn't you know). At our meeting on Wednesday we agreed:

Fly posting.   

The clerk has written to Cranfield United Football Club to ask that posters are taken down promptly following an event and to remind the Club that permission should be sought for the placing of the posters. An acknowledgement has been received. Following reports from members that notices are being indiscriminately posted around the village, these include estate agent banners, posters on lampposts and banners on the railings near to the village green, the Clerk contacted CBC for advice on where notices are allowed to be posted.

It was RECOMMENDED that the Clerk writes again to all the organisations to remind them that flyposting is an offence. Amenity cleaner  to remove all fly posting.

Do we get to vote?

One of the ironies of the planning system is that local ward councilors are required not to express a view about a planning application before it comes to committee. If they are partisan, it means they will be held to have "prejudicial interest" and cannot vote. 

Obviously on big controversial applications some councillors find this a restriction. For instance, Cllr Alan Bastable has publicly criticised the Flitt Leys/Central Motors development   because of the inclusion  of a  school access in the design brief and concerns about congestion. This means he is unable to vote at the development control committee when it comes up.

I recognise the advantage of having your local councillor raising an issue which people are worried about - such as Flitt Leys/Central Motors  but I am also concerned that we do not have a voice at the crucial moment - when the votes are counted.

Turning Cranfield poppy red

The image is for 10,000 Flanders poppy seeds from Amazon. So we were startled to learn last night that the estimated cost, via the RBL, would be around £450 (for 300,000 seeds). Cranfield RBL would like to apply for a section 137 grant (see recent blog posting) to fund the scattering of poppy seeds in the run-up to next year's WWI centenary and we support this completely. But we hesitated to award the full £500 until we have seen why the poppies should cost so much and what would be the correct quantity. 

I have no doubt we will be supporting the costs but in making grants we also have to look at how a figure is arrived at. I am sure we can get it all sorted out before the next meeting of the grants committee and Cranfield will be a swathe of red next August.

Cranfield grand theft auto

Here are the crime figures for the last two months in Cranfield. With small numbers, a few incidents can lead to a big percentage bounce.  See the police advice down below. It makes sense to avoid temptation to opportunistic theft including burglary.

 

As you will see there has been an increase in burglaries for the past 2 months compared to the same 2 months last year.  One of the burglaries was an attempt where the offenders did not get in.  Two of the burglaries had a similar method whereby the offenders used brick at one and a rock at another to smash windows at the rear of the house to get in.  We would like to remind people to not leave items around the periphery of their properties that might be used by a burglar to gain access, for example loose bricks, ladders, spades and other implements that can be used.  All of the burglaries occurred at the rear of the properties.  During the other two burglaries the offenders got in through an insecure window at one property and by removing a pane of glass from a window at the other.  Cash, jewellery and a camera were the items that were taken during these burglaries.  As the darker nights are drawing in we would like to remind people to ‘Lock up, light up and be secure’.

You will also see that there has been an increase in vehicle crime compared to the same period last year.  All of these have been theft from motor vehicles.  Two of the thefts have been done by similar method whereby the offender has gotten into the vehicle by unknown means and without signs of forced entry.  Golfing equipment and power tools were removed.  The other thefts involved a battery being taken from a tractor, a rear window being smashed and a tool bag taken and a hole being drilled below the lock of another vehicle activating the central locking and taking tools and cash from the vehicle.  In light of this increase in thefts from vehicles we would like to remind people to not leave valuables in their cars and vans, even in the boot as thieves will access the boot as well as the rest of the car.
 

There's gold in them their sectiions

When you deal with local government there are a lot of "sections" which usually refer to a piece of legislation.   

Local voluntary groups can apply for so called "section-137" grants from the parish council and it is worth pursuing this local funding. It has to be  for a local organisation or at least one which includes Cranfield substantially in its activities, must have a constitution, elected officers and a set of accounts for the last year.  Then you need to fill in  the "what for" section of the application form and ideally attend the meeting of the PC which will make the decision, to talk about how you will use the money. This not us being officious, it's an opportunity for you to promote your organisation - and for us to educate ourselves about what you do. It's usually a fruitful exchange.

Timing is everything and applications (max £500 but don't just put that down as the default bid)  are considered by the finance and grants committee every three months. We've just had one so next will be the first Wed of December. Contact the clerk Rosie Davy Hunt now by emailing cranfieldpc@btconnect.com for a copy of the grant guidelines and an application form.

First gear for wannabe drivers in Central Beds

Teenage drivers? Does your blood run cold? Well maybe with early training and road familiarisation they could soon be knights of the highway. See the following opportunity

Sign up for last few places on teenage driving courses

Central Bedfordshire Council sent this bulletin at 09-09-2013 02:43 PM BST

Young drivers from across Central Bedfordshire and Luton will have the opportunity to take courses to improve their driving knowledge and skills as part of an initiative designed to reduce road casualties.  The last few places for MORE 16 and MORE Drive courses in September are up for grabs. They offer real-life experiences to help young drivers stay safer on the road. The courses are funded by Luton Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council, with delivery organised by Amey.  The courses run on 22 September. There are limited places left on the courses which are free and are allocated on a first come, first served basis to 16 to 24 year olds living in Central Bedfordshire and Luton. To sign up email roadsafety@amey.co.uk MORE 16 is aimed at 16 year-olds to provide their first experience of driving. Parents are encouraged to participate to receive advice on choosing a driving instructor and how to help their teens when practising. A high-speed passenger ride with a Millbrook pro-driver with competition history in motorsport such as rallying or racing is available to all parents that attend.  MORE Drive offers 17 to 24 year olds, who have already passed their driving test, the chance to drive on a skid pan and experience ABS braking systems, as well as practising emergency stops at speed to demonstrate varying stopping distances.  Five workshops, covering driving skills, maintenance, what to look for when buying a used car and distractions and safety, will be run by the local authorities, Bedfordshire Police and Three Shires Driving School.  Councillor Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Sustainable Communities, Services at Central Bedfordshire Council said: "The MORE 16 and MORE Drive courses are really, really popular and we have had great feedback from them. We’re committed to reducing accidents where young people are killed or seriously injured and this education focus is working well. If you want one of the last few places, sign up quickly!"  Alex Constantinides, Head of Engineering and Street Services at Luton Borough Council, said: "MORE 16 and MORE Drive are a great way for our young people to learn new skills and improve their driving ability. It would be wonderful if as many of our young drivers as possible could attend.

Flitt Leys emergency access fear

I wouldn't like to be sensationalist but could we see this happening in Flitt Leys in the future? Of course there will be no "other route".

BBC -11 September 2013 Last updated at 11:48

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Southend blocked fire engine prompts council warning

Warning letters about bad parking are to be sent to residents after a fire engine got stuck in an Essex street.

The Southend crew was on its way to a flat fire in Cluny Square when double parked vehicles blocked its way.

The fire engine had to reverse off and find another route to the fire, reported in the early hours of Sunday.

The fire service raised the issue with Southend Borough Council, which is writing to people in the area about the episode.

A woman had suffered the effects of breathing in smoke during the fire.

Cheryl Hindle-Terry, of the council, said: "We will be asking them to park considerately in the Cluny Square area to avoid the need for parking restrictions to be proposed in future."

Parish Council 18 September - Holywell

Parish council meeting next week. I'm hoping by then we'll have a report back on the Marston Hill Closure in July. Please note the speaker on the development of 1/2 the High St. At the speed Persimmon are going this will be up and running long before Home Farm is finished. Also there will be further debate about the defib disaster. We thought it was going on the village hall wall but now it isn't.

-->

Wednesday, 18^th September 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

7.00 -  Jason Leonard, Woods Hardwick; 1 – 2 High Street.

 

^1.            To receive apologies for absence  

^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

6.1.1.    Defibrillator

6.2.    Burial Grounds Committee

6.3.    Environment Committee

6.4.    Planning Committee

6.5.    Finance & Grants Committee

^7.            Financial matters and accounts for payment

7.1.    S137 Grant - RBL

^8.            Correspondence

^9.            Reports from unitary councillors (and any other representative)

^10.        Highway matters

Moulsoe Road Closure

Cranfield - twinned with Holdup, Austria and Conesville, Montana

Will it really take four months to build the new footpath/cycleway to the uni? That's the message from the TTRO (temporary traffic regulation order to give it its full, inglorious title). See below. BTW still, yes still, waiting for some decent explanation for the Great Marston Hill Closure in July which plunged afternoon traffic into gridlock.

Proposed Temporary Road Closure – C75 Moulsoe Road, Cranfield

I have a request for a Temporary Road Closure at the above location to enable footway works to be carried out in safety. Details are listed in the schedule below and having assessed the application I am satisfied the request is justified.

The alternative route for this closure is as in the details below and will be signed accordingly. The restrictions are to be in operation only when the necessary signs are erected on site. The  Legal  Order will be made  to  cover a  four month  period. Access may be allowed from  time to time  according  to local  signing.

If you have any observations you wish to make I would be grateful if you could let me know as soon as possible.

Gareth Hughes. Network Co-ordinator

……………………………………………………………………………………

Moulsoe Road, Cranfield

Application from: Amey for CBC – 03003008049 – Adrian Clothier

Reason: Footway Works

Length affected:From C70 High Street to Bowstring Link

Date: The closure is expected to take place from Monday 2 September to Sunday 24 November 2013, between the hours of 0800 and 1800.  

Alternative Route: From junction with High Street proceed along Cranfield Road and continue to the junction with Bowstring Link, turn right and continue to the roundabout with University Way roundabout, take 3rd exit to reach site and vice versa.

NB. The applicant will be responsible for taking down all Central Bedfordshire Council public notices immediately after the works requiring the Order have been completed.

Remembrance Sunday preparations

Got an extra layer on? Brown leaves piling up in the drive? First hints of halloween merchandise around? Yes that means autumn, and the season also includes the Remembrance Sunday event organised by Cranfield Royal British Legion. See RBL planning for this event on 10 November below.

We have now started planning the above event, so please find dates and times for your dairy.

Assemble at the Cross Keys Public house at 1015am.

Form up and march off at 1045am under the direction of the Parade Marshall

Union Standard Bearer.

RBL Standard Bearer.

Arrive at the Memorial and dress into position by 1055am

The parade Marshall will organise all organisations into position at the Memorial before handing over to the Senior uniformed officer on parade.

The Wreath laying ceremony at the memorial.

The Rector will conduct the prayers

The Chairman of the Royal British Legion will read the Exhortation and the Roll of Honour.

The Parade Marshall will call the organisation and the name of the person laying the tribute.

The Rector will say a final prayer.

The Senior uniformed officer will call the parade to attention and march the parade to church.

After the church service it is hoped the ACF and ATC will place poppies on the war graves in the old Cemetery  and place a tribute of honour on the graves of all RBL members that have died since the branch was reformed in 1997.

All organisations will return to home stations under the direction of their own staff.

On Saturday 9 November at 10am  we will meet at the memorial to run through the parade positions and the laying of the wreaths.

Anyone wishing to order a wreath or tribute from the Royal British Legion Branch please contact Captain Jill Milnthorpe on 01234 752404.

If you know who will be laying your wreath or tribute can you please inform Jill, this is in order their name may be called at the wreath-laying Ceremony.

Should you have any question or requests  please contact the Chairman on 07767086310 or 

Email John Seamark

Uni bus is Go!!

The new UNO university promoted bus service is up and running from today. 

 It includes an early morning service to Flitwick station and one back in the late afternoon. There are also late evening buses back from Milton Keynes and Bedford. 

Hard copy timetables with fares etc are in production I understand but the links below will take you through to the UNO website timetables. The Parish Council has had lengthy discussion with the University about these plans but all credit is due to the University authorities for launching this. It replaces the pilot Souls 61 and 62 service. More news and reaction soon...



Bedford to Mk via Cranfield
http://www.unobus.info/service.shtml?serviceid=1997

Flitwick to Cranfield
http://www.unobus.info/service.shtml?serviceid=1998

ello, ello, ello

They say policemen look younger as you get older and that includes chief constables. But they have also morphed from the men with pencil thinmoustaches  of a generation ago into the new breed of bright, super-energetic, change-it-around head teacher types. 

Colette Paul, Bedfordshire's new chief constable is a great example of the new breed. She did her stuff at Bedfordshire Councils Planning Consortium Meeting in Flitwick last night for reps from town and parish councils. Very attentive to questions and ready to engage she made a good impression and we are grateful for her time. As we all dispersed after 9 pm I learned she had a 7.30 meeting in Luton the following morning and it would appear there is no chauffeur. It's a demanding job whatever the postholder.

Sometimes, of course, these encounters are interesting for what the keynote speaker doesn't say. The new chief's CV includes years with CID in the Met and deputy CC of heavily industrialised (or post-industrialised)  south Wales - tough neighbourhoods with racial and social tensions and, specially in London, major organised crime.

So, she might have said: "All your stuff about youths and graffiti and bobbies on the beat. You don't know you're living in mid-Bedfordshire. In London we have stabbings, huge drug deals, terrorism and radical clerics to sort out." Though she would have had to acknowledge EDL in Luton.

She might also have added: "Society has given the police a lot less money and you don't get what you don't pay for - a bit like Easyjet and M&S."

But of course Ms Paul didn't say either of those things though I'm sure she would love to.

From the Cranfield angle, chairwoman Delise Ball raised the CBC idea that cars will be banned from pavements and local parish councillors would then serve warning notices to offenders for a number of months  before CBC would intervene. Would the chief be happy to do this herself as it sounded a bit dodgy?  She said she would, and in a private capacity, not just as a police officer. Well, with that determination and grit maybe she can help us out on a Friday night at Flitt Leys. We'll need all the help we can get.

Methodist Church changing faces

News hot off the press is that Caroline Weaver has  moved on as Methodist minister in the village and has been replaced by Graham Claydon-Knights, who  previously worked in  Essex. Here's an early heads up on the new minister from his (former) local newsletter. Ignore the Flitwick bit...

Slow down when you get to Cranfield

At Parish Council last night we backed the proposed 50 mph limit on Moulsoe Road and the entrance to Cranfield at windsock corner. See notice below. However at George Young's suggestion we have asked for the 112 metres south west of the junction stretch to be extended to 250 metres to allow for the bend.

CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL PROPOSES TO INTRODUCE A 50MPH SPEED LIMIT IN MOULSOE ROAD AND HIGH STREET/CRANFIELD ROAD, CRANFIELD

Effect of the Order:
To introduce a 50mph Speed Limit on the following lengths of road in Cranfield:

Moulsoe Road, from a point approximately 142 metres east of its junction with University Way extending in an easterly direction to its junction with High Street/Cranfield Road.

High Street/Cranfield Road, from a point approximately 112 metres south-west of its junction with Moulsoe Road extending in a north-easterly direction to a point approximately 172 metres north- east of that junction.

Is King Prawn Chinese Style blocking your drive?

The picture shows the construction of Flitt Leys Close in 2009. The hot food takeaways can be seen on the left and in the left foreground the site of the derelict filling station, an eyesore which the landowner did nothing about. After Flitt Leys Close was built there was another application to build the two houses now in the left foreground with parking behind.  That added to parking pressure in the Close. We wanted rid of that petrol station but my god the present days residents are paying for it.

Half a dozen exasperated residents attended last night's parish council meeting to report a situation  going from bad to worse. The takeaway parking is extending further up the Close and many patrons casually block exits for residents. The sit-in facility for Blue Indiya now adds to the duration  of visitor parking.

The chair Delise ball confirmed that highways boss Cllr Brian Spurr would attend a site meeting this week or next to see just what it is like - particularly on a Friday night. 

This is now...without the 135 homes earmarked for the site further on up, without a school for 150 children and without the planned health centre.

East west railway line

This could be a bit of a shock for everyone used to sleepy old Bedford Bletchley railway line! Specially for Ridgmont. 

on track for Central Bedfordshire following Executive’s £5m proposal

 

Executive Councillors have recommended that Central Bedfordshire Council pledge £5.18m in support of the East West Rail Scheme.

The proposed East West Rail Western Section, which would run from Bedford to Oxford and Reading, would have one stop in Central Bedfordshire – and councillors recommended that this should be at Ridgmont.

Draft plans for the new line list Lidlington as the single stop in Central Bedfordshire. However, councillors put forward their support for a Ridgmont stop instead, on the grounds that this station has greater potential to develop as a transport interchange. It would also encourage rail travel to the nearby Marston Gate Business Park and the planned new Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre. 

Cllr Nigel Young, Executive Member for Sustainable Communities (Strategic Planning and Economic Development), said: “We are excited about the prospect of the East West Rail Western Section linking this part of Central Bedfordshire to major towns and cities like Oxford, Bedford and Milton Keynes by rail. The planned service improvements will encourage more people to take the train, and will bring significant economic benefits to Central Bedfordshire by encouraging more businesses to start up and grow in our area. Today’s recommendation shows the Government that Central Bedfordshire is determined to support projects that stimulate growth. 

“The Executive has made it very clear that it would prefer for the new Bedford to Oxford service to stop at Ridgmont station. I look forward to working with other authorities within the East West Rail Consortium, Network Rail, and the Department for Transport to achieve this.” 

For more information about the East West Rail project, please visit http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/
ENDS

 

So when were we asked?

CBC have responded to our point about consultation over a school being located on the proposed central motors site,  which we discussed at the meeting at Chicksands last week. See the response below. From the last paragraph you will note there is a gap in the paper trail:

"I understand that some further information has been requested. I understand that this request relates to any documentation which identifies when Central Bedfordshire Council have consulted Cranfield Parish Council and the responses from the Parish Council to Central Bedfordshire Council following these consultations. I have attached the relevant material which includes:

 

Responses

- Issues and Options Consultation responses

- Site Allocations DPD Pre-submission Consultation Response

- Site Allocations DPD Technical Document Consultation Response 

 

Consultations

- LDF Newsletters

- Consultation Letters including:

        - Site Allocations Pre-submission Consultation Letter

        - Site Allocations Updated Technical Document Consultation Letter

        - Site Allocations Examination Programme

        - Site Allocations Table of Changes Letter

        - Invitation to Examination Pre-Hearing Meeting

- Development Brief consultation and public exhibition letter. (Please note this is a template as the consultation was conducted by the agent - DLA Town Planning)

 

Unfortunately, as the initial Site Allocation Issues and Options Consultation was conducted by an external consultation group (known as Vision Twentyone), we do not have the specific letters sent out as part of the consultation exercise. I can confirm that any Parish Council in Central Bedfordshire would have been considered a Statutory Consultee and would have been consulted. Please note I have attached an Excel spreadsheet showing Vision Twentyone's contact spreadsheet which identifies the contact details used when contacting Cranfield Parish Council during this process."

Stretch your legs

     
Get walking - getting healthy at the Fiorest centre

Weds Sept 4, 11, 18, 25 - Health Walks 10.30

Free, no need to book. Most walks start at Reception but some elsewhere – see notice board to confirm.

Venue: The Forest Centre, Marston Vale Millennium Country Park, Station Road, Marston Moretaine, Bedford
Phone: 01234 767037
Email: info@marstonvale.org Website: The Forest of Marston Vale