Mill Road dropped kerbs

I spoke to Alan Bastable about the Mill Road drop kerb debacle.  He told me parishioners would be getting a letter of apology from Amey and one of the management would be ringing the parishioner who made the original complaint. But at time of speaking (thursday evening) none of these things had happened. 

I also pressed him on Mike Manning's indication of a bill of around £1,000 - but only if parishioners signed up immediately. More if they didn't.  My personal view is that this is totally out of order. Alan said he was unable to take the financial issue forward so I think the PC should. A parishioner on the High St who had a DK put in a couple of years ago was charged £350  by CBC. 

Home farm stakeholder

I attended the stakeholder meeting on Thursday evening. 

The main headlines are:

Reserved matters have all been issued but some pre-commencement conditions are still outstanding. Persimmon are gearing up for a start. There has been no resolution between Denison and Persimmon. 

I checked that there is still the flexibility on a hall spec and Martin Wright confirmed this. He also insisted that the plans gave  an inaccurate view of how tall the building actually was. 

I queried how development could go ahead without clearance on access to Court Road. Hannah Pattinson said a Section 38 (with timetable) had to be in place but the access not actually constructed. I have to say this is an ambiguity  that needs probing.

S278 works: Paul Stone from Persimmon said he felt the roundabout issue could be resolved quickly. Following the resurfacing of Lodge Road an application would be made to do the roundabout. 

Persimmon were also probed on whether the new lay out for the access to Lodge Road was enforcing the No Left Turn requirement. There was no clear outcome on this. 

Dropped kerbs

I have been pursuing the issue of Amey strolling around Mill Road asking residents for a grand to pop a drop kerb in. None of the promised apologies yet for the peremptory way in which it was done and no confirmation of the bills - what size they will be etc. Anyway talked to another parishioner last night who had a  drop kerb put in 'by the council'  for £350 or thereabouts a couple of years ago.  So where is the £1000 coming  from?


Watch this space

Home Farm Stakeholder meeting tonight

Here are the minutes from the last meeting, the first for six months

Minutes of Meeting 8 : 24 March held at 6.30pm at Cranfield Methodist Church

In attendance: Martin Wright (MW), Lionel Cooper (LC),  Dr Majorie Cotton (MC) Jo Moore (JM), Hannah Pattinson (HP), Trevor Dimmock (TD),  Gerry O’Mara (GO), Lyn Davis (LD), Cllr Alan Bastable (AB) & Cllr Ken Matthews (KM).

		Action
1.	Apologies for Absence Janet Orchart Stephen Hobbs
2.	Minutes of Previous Meeting Agreed.
3.	Matters Arising Timetable of Works – It has been acknowledged that house foundations have appeared on site. However, Persimmon has agreed to cease works on site until all RM applications are approved. In relation to Rectory Road – MW confirmed that this will be tidied up, the stone will be removed, the works to the ponds completed and then Persimmon will make good and undertake the landscaping works. All road works are currently ceased as waiting for electrical cabling works to be undertaken. Community Building – MW agreed with the Parish Council to look at the design of the Community Building. This is likely to take 3 / 4 months. Currently looking at the height of the building in terms of creating a multi functional space and cost implications i.e. heating etc. Archaeology Update – Photographs circulated from CGMS	MW HP
4.	Submission of Reserved Matters Applications HP updated the group on the status of the various planning applications. Phase 1 residential –approved Phase 2 residential –approved Almshouses – approved Community Building –pending Pavilion – approved Landscaping – pending Outline renewal – pending S106
5.	Any Other Business Increasing concern has been raised in relation to lorry movements along Court Road and Lodge road, specifically in relation to mud & debris on the road, lack of road sweeping. MW agreed to instruct contractors that there should be no access down Court Road. MW confirmed that it was T & W Engineering on site. Once the house builders on site it is hoped that access will be taken off the High Street as terms are now agreed with the Charity Land. Concern was raised as to wheel washing and dust & dampening now the land was dry. MW has been asked to consider a Marshall on site as Lodge Road has become a particular issue, particularly in relation to verbal abuse from lorry drivers. In addition the verges have been damaged. MW to speak to contractors. In respect of Bus stops – the bus stop has been relocated slightly further away from the new roundabout. School Buses – it was suggested that the school buses could turn around adjacent to The Swan rather than using Lodge Road. It is anticipated that Safer Routes to School are looking to improve this situation. MW acknowledged that there is an issue over the Dennison Land. However, the S106 controls certain triggers which have to be met. Library – S106 secures £75,000 – CBC currently looking at not providing a new library on site but instead looking at providing the funding towards an offsite facility, potentially Hollywell School. Healthcare – the trigger in the S106 is 200 occupations. Money can only be spent in accordance with the S106 Legal Agreement. RSL Provider – MW confirmed that this has not either been finalised or tendered as yet but this exercise will be undertaken shortly. Expressions of interest have been received from BPHA, Guinness Trust, Aragon. Off Plan Sales – MW confirmed that this is likely to be available within 4 months. Show Homes should be ready in 20 weeks following commencement of development. Cycle Path – MW confirmed that Persimmon have commenced these works.	MW MW MW MW MW MW
7.	The meeting closed at 7.20 pm. Next Meeting – 19 May 2011 at Cranfield Methodist Church at 6pm

Central Beds and Persimmon

Letter from Central beds in response to our enquiry about Persimmon activity on Home Farm

I write in response to your letter dated 1 August to Cllrs Matthews, Bastable and Clark in relation to the three points raised in respect of the strategic housing site known as Home Farm, Cranfield. Cllr Matthews forwarded the letter to me for comment and I would like to respond as follows:

·        At this time the application remains undetermined and as such the Council is continuing to consider its merits.  Should we find ourselves in a situation where Persimmon choose to appeal against non-determination then it is at this stage that a report will be produced for consideration by the Development Management Committee which will result in a resolution from the Council on what it would have done had it been entitled to determine the application.

·        It is not unlawful to undertake works without planning permission it only becomes an offence when an enforcement notice is served.  In this instance no enforcement notice was served because all works requiring planning permission ceased voluntarily on site and consequently it was not expedient to serve an enforcement notice.  To date the only works which have been undertaken relate to those works agreed in the context of the S278 Highways Agreement and these are not works included within the planning permission.  However, I would like to express gratitude to both Cranfield Parish Council and local residents for providing us with accurate information in such a timely fashion as this enabled this Council to reach a mutual agreement with Persimmon to cease works on site.

·      As you may appreciate land ownership is not a prerequisite for securing all the necessary consents to fulfil the requirements of a planning permission.  The Section 106 and conditions on the planning permission will enable the Council to ensure that the development is implemented in accordance with these approvals and negotiations between third parties to acquire land necessary to fulfil these obligations is not a matter which the Council would become party to. 

Hannah Pattinson

Principal Planning Officer

Wootton bus chaos

Reports are now coming in about the cancellation of a special bus service for sixth formers from Wootton to Cranfield. With all the chaos caused by cutting the Sunday bus service (big thank you Central Beds) and the Wootton to Cranfield route (big thank you Stagecoach) I didnt see this one coming. Actually I dont think anyone did until the students were waiting for their bus on the first day back and there was nothing there. 

Rina Persaud and I did a slot on 3 Counties radio with Roberto Peroni and tried to make sense of what was going on .I can tell you it wasn't easy.

More feedback on the buses over the next day or two. There's the first parish council  tonight after the summer and we are hoping to hear from a parishioner who was asked by Central Beds for £1000 to do a drop kerb otherwise they were going to stop long standing vehicle access into her drive when they resurfaced the footpath. (see previous post).

I understand Cllr Richard Turpin from  Central Beds is unable to attend due to having urgent business with a number of stagecoaches on the Great North Road.

Can you believe it?

Imagine some road maintenance folk turn up all hi vis and JCBs to repair your footpath. It's a bit noisy and a bit messy but hey, life goes on.


Then a couple of days in, an operative says 'you'll need a drop kerb there'. 


That's because they are raising the footpath 4 inches. Its been almost flush with the road and the householder has been driving in and out of their drive since, well, forever.


So Mr LongTerm Resident rings up Central Beds and the next morning there's a guy round with paperwork saying yes, you need a dropped kerb otherwise your vehicle access won't be legal.  


Well, that's really nice thanks, gulp, and how much will the work cost - are we talking hundreds of pounds? 


Well, actually nearer a £1,000. No notice, no sorry, just sign here. And if you don't it will cost you more to do it later (that's because we are kindly waiving the inspection fee). 


So does a drop kerb when the construction crew are already on site really cost £1,000? Or is someone having a laugh?  


It's happening in Cranfield as I write this.  Coming up at parish council next Wednesday. 


Contact Laurence Pollock
on 07801 665961
broadgreen68@btinternet.com for more info