Parish Council Response to Health Centre consultation

This will appear in full in Cranfield Express

Bedfordshire NHS consultation on proposed health centre for Cranfield

Cranfield Parish Council response

INTRODUCTION

The Parish Council’s priority is a first rate health centre delivering first class services to the population of Cranfield. The proposals, as they stand for consultation, represent a major, lost opportunity to create a significant facility. The Beds NHS document indicates, for the most part, a continuation of services with only the potential for a few others. Cranfield needs not only the expansion of current services but also their substantial enlargement.

SERVICES

These could include, for instance, lifestyle clinics dealing with smoking, diet, exercise and cardiac monitoring, mental health, physiotherapy, podiatry, prostate monitoring and urology. There should be space for visiting GPs from other surgeries (if they will come) and visiting consultants and well man/well women clinics. The minor injury clinic should have a walk-in facility.

The Parish Council particularly believes there is a demand for physiotherapy and chiropody in the village. Specialist clinics such as radiology, ENT, audiology, and speech therapy would also enhance local health outcomes.

All of the services listed in the consultation are vitally important, but the Parish Council seeks reassurance that same-day access to a GP, currently provided, will remain. There should also be Saturday morning facilities, even if nurse-led.

NON-HEALTH FACILITIES

The BNHS consultation states “the Cranfield Parish Plan has highlighted a number of community initiatives which could work in collaboration with the new health facility.”

It is not BNHS’s role to deliver on the parish plan. That should be the responsibility of the Parish Council and the people of Cranfield. The Parish Council believes the health centre should maximise health facilities. No one will object to a café or eco-centre but they definitely would if it reduces space for much needed expanded health services. The move from 137 High Street is designed to create more space and it would be ironic to lose it at the new centre to non-health activities. The Parish Council supports the other facilities, such as a public library, but located elsewhere in the village. We believe there will be parking congestion issues if other facilities are introduced on this site and this will exacerbate access to and from the High Street. Bus services are generally poor and this increases the need for adequate parking.

HEALTH-RELATED SERVICES

The consultation adds: “In addition, there could be the opportunity for NHS dental and pharmacist services to be located in the building as well.” Cranfield already has a successful pharmacy and dental facility. To include these in the building will again reduce capacity for new services.

THE BUILDING

The consultation says: “We would look to provide these services in a modern, spacious, building that is fit-for-purpose.” The Parish Council wants good access by all methods of transport and easy parking, wide pathways for mobility users and pushchairs. With limited parking for houses as well as the surgery, people will park half-on and half-off the pavements. Dropped kerbs and bobbled pavement area (indicators of places to cross) for visually disabled are also important.

The building should be well-designed for ease of movement, fit into the landscape, be environmentally friendly and made from high quality materials. Cranfield wants a building it can be proud of.

But the Parish Council shares local dismay at the artist’s impression of the new health centre. While it welcomes an innovative and interesting architectural design, the building must sit appropriately within the proposed setting, as well as being fit for purpose.

The phrase ‘Landmark building’ is of particular concern. Functionality is the key criteria. The Parish Council wants a bespoke building whose lay-out and materials are agreed in detail with the local community – not an off-the-peg design (‘landmark’ or not) already used elsewhere.

USERS’ GROUP

The Parish Council supports the creation of a users group, representative of the community as a whole.

LOCATION

The Parish Council supports Option 2, to build a new health centre on the Central Motors site.

CRANFIELD PARISH COUNCIL

AUGUST 2009

Special planning meeting 12 August

Notes from special meeting of the planning committee 12.8.09

(Subject to confirmation at the Parish Council in September)

PRESENT: Delise Ball, Roger Baker, Alan Bastable, Ken Matthews, Peter Meadows, Roy Phillips, Laurence Pollock, John Savill, Jo Stannage.

18 members of the public in attendance

Apologies: Don Allan, Phil Bates, Sue Clark, Alan Morris, Jill Milnthorpe, Rosie Davey-Hunt.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: Peter Meadows, Jo Stannage (both health centre proposal).

Mrs Ball, chairing, allowed 15 minutes for members of the public to speak. Issues raised included access to the Home Farm site and low cost housing. Mrs Ball stressed that in planning terms the accesses, via Lodge Road and High Street into the Goodman land area were set in stone. But the Parish Council was working with Persimmon to change this.

1. General planning matters

CB/09/05410/FULL

Create new ditches and pond facilities at land at Home Farm as an off-site surface water drainage scheme for the Home Farm development.

Decision: No objection but following conditions

1. That works are carried out within normal working hours to reduce disturbance and noise.

2. That vehicles do not access Lodge Road at any time and do not use Court Road until after school has opened (9.15 am) and not between between 3 pm and 4 pm (school closure and pick-up time).

3. That a full ecological survey be carried out on the land to be crossed by the scheme.

4. That further trees be planted and other landscaping, including walkways, be put in round the stilling pond and lakes to improve the look of the area.

CB/09/05504

Reserved matters application for a house consisting of two flats at 187A High Street in front of the three fast food outlets.

Decision: To object on the grounds that the parking at the back together with the very limited parking for the fast food outlets will inevitably lead to excess parking on both the access road to the new development and the nearby part of the High Street. The Parish Council fears the planned new house will make it difficult to see the fast food outlets from the High Street and this will mean further applications for some form of signage.

CB/09/05541/FULL

Two storey side extension at 77 Bedford Road.

Decision: Not to object to the revised application.

CB/09/05615/FULL

Extension to the car park on land adjoining building 243 at the University to provide 85 new car parking spaces.

Decision: Not to object, as we welcome existing car parking spaces on the campus as we have commented in the past on parking problems there, but to ask that a biodiversity survey be carried out on the meadow in case any protected species may be disturbed in the construction of the new car parking area.

2. Home Farm development adoption

Members agreed IN Principle, to adopt the proposed green spaces and neaps and leaps at Home Farm as proposed by Woods Hardwick subject to the following provisos:

1. Colour and materials of play equipment at Parish council discretion

2. The provision of satisfactory commutation sum

3. Further discussion on relocating the pavilion

4. Provision of a suitable sum for the Parish Council to acquire its own public art

5. Further discussion on adoption of the community building

6. Seek guidance from RoSPA on risk assessment and safeguarding childen in relation to a pond on the land for adoption.

It was agreed to invite both Woods Hardwick and Persimmon to attend a parish council meeting or meetings in September.

3. GP Surgery

It was agreed on behalf of the Parish Council to merge submissions from Sue Clark and Laurence Pollock and emphasise:

1. Opposition to proposals for a library, café and other non-health functions as detrimental to the expansion of health facilities. The Parish Council would like to see the building purely for health purposes with other facilities such as a public library, elsewhere in the village.

2. Need for a users group representative of the community as a whole.

3. Need for a walk-in minor injury facility.

4. Need for adequate parking as bus services generally unsuitable.

5. Need for space for visiting GPs from other surgeries (if they will come) and visiting consultants

Summer catch-up

Wow - 22 July since the last post. Where has the summer gone? We have been to Orkney and to an Irish wedding and England my well have blown the Ashes. Scattered them I suppose. The footie season has started.

The headlines since then, in no particular order are:

• The church clock is working again.

• We are writing to Persimmon asking them to come and see us. I had a conversation with a representative which seemed to contradict a conversation the chair and I had a little earlier with another representative. Obviously we are very keen to sort out the misunderstanding.

• We have agreed BUT ONLY IN PRINCIPLE to adopt the green spaces, merrily described as NEAPS and LEAPS (neighbourhood play areas and local play areas) on the Home Farm development. But we are in discussion with Woods Hardwick (representatives of Persimmon) about moving the proposed pavilion nearer the community building and clarifying control of this.

• We have responded to the public consultation as a parish council on the proposed health centre. Basically they should be increasing the range of health services and not packing it full of business development centres and libraries and cafes. See next post.

•The lettering is almost all faded from the war memorial - just a year since we had it done to some acclaim. Currently chasing the contractor but I will be blogging obsessively about this.

• The public consultation on traffic calming proposals will not go ahead in September but October according to Amey.

• We held a special meeting in August to deal with the Home Farm adoption proposals, other planning matters and the health centre consultation. 18 members of the public attended and it was a good evening.

• There is on-going consultation about the BEAR and Covanta energy to waste (incinerator) proposals for the Vale.

Cranfield church clock

Still nothing from Smith of Derby about getting the clock going again. The village is timeless. As it were.

Waste disposal

We've had details about the next stage in the Energy to Waste proposals for the Vale. There are two candidates: BEaR and Covanta. Below is the latest  info, note the references to 'Boxborough':

Dear Councillors

 

The Bedfordshire Energy and Recycling Project has been set up to deliver a long term residual waste treatment contract for Central Bedfordshire, Bedford Borough and Luton Borough Councils. An alternative solution to landfill must be delivered to avoid increasing landfill taxes and potential fines for exceeding landfill allowance. 

 

Central Bedfordshire Council, on behalf of the Partnership authorities, have agreed to enter into a land option agreement on a site at Boxborough. The Partnership authorities intend to offer a parcel of land at the edge of Boxborough landfill to the waste industry for a waste treatment facility. The landfill site itself will continue to undergo full restoration as planned.

 

Following a detailed site selection process, Rookery South and Boxborough Landfill were identified as suitable locations for waste treatment facilities. Since this time, the BEaR Project team, on behalf of the Partnership, have been in negotiations with the landowners to secure option agreements to purchase both of the sites.

 

Following Executive approval to sign the option agreement the BEaR project team, on behalf of the Partnership, will now be concluding negotiations ahead of the option being signed by both parties.

 

The BEaR Project team will encourage the waste industry to put forward solutions and all proposals will be considered. No final decisions will be made on which site will be used or what sort of facilities will be built until 2011.

 

If you would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. 

 

Kindest regards

 

Jenny Goddard

BEaR Communications Officer

Central Bedfordshire

Tel: 0300 300 6613

E Mail: jenny.goddard@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Outdoor gym

We have installed nearly £19,000 worth of open air gym equipment in Broad Green and the Recreation Ground to help villagers lead a healthy lifestyle. The equipment has been placed near to the children’s play areas so that families can use the park facilities together. As part of the promotion  we did a discreet photoshoot this morning. Peter, Jo and Jill were all great sports and gave it their best go. The full gallery will be in Cranfield Express next week. But above is an early peek of Peter Meadows  working hard on the 'cross-trainer'. 

Last night's parish council meeting

Quiet lane looks like its back on track. Central beds is making up the difference between the £4,000 set aside by Cranfield and the perceived cost of £10,000. We can now probe various other headaches/panics/obstructions. 

Amey reps outlined a variety of solutions to the traffic calming issues in the village. As previously discussed they include features at Mill Rd/High St junction, pelican crossings on the High Street and narrowing near the centre of the village/Court Road. There is also a proposal for a double roundabout at the Crane Way/Mill Road junction. This will all go on exhibition in the village in September for full consultation. 

The propaganda campaign about proposed 'Energy to waste' facilities (or incinerators if you prefer) is stepping up with exhibitions by Covanta  and a visit from BeAR project reps to the parish councils planned. 

No more meetings until September 2nd but I suspect there will be plenty going on.

Council meeting

Opportunity tonight for  a fuller discussion about the Quiet Lane issue and the mixed messages from Central Beds about how much it will cost. We are expecting James Gleave, the officer working on this to be present. 

Wednesday, 15^th  July 2009 at 7.00pm

 

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.                                                                               

PLANNING APPLICATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AT 7.50PM.  THERE WILL BE NO OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW THE PLANS DURING THE MEETING

 

7.00pm:  Debbie Pointon - Traffic Calming

 

MEETING OF THE FULL PARISH COUNCIL 8.00pm

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.     REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES

5.1.  General Purposes Committee (including the Safety Sub Committee)

5.2.  Burial Grounds Committee

5.3.  Environment Committee

5.4.  Planning Committee

6.     CORRESPONDENCE

7.     FINANCIAL MATTERS AND ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT

7.1.  S137 Grants:

7.1.1.     St Peter & St Pauls Church

7.1.2.     Colts FC

 

8.     REPORTS FROM CENTRAL BEDS COUNCILLORS (and any other representative)

9.     HIGHWAY MATTERS

Church Clock

The church clock's stopped. Time stands still in Cranfield.

We had a big power cut over the weekend in the southern end of the village (Shops closed etc) and this seems to upset the clock. Though it is, in fact, clockwork. The mysteries are beyond me.

I'll email to the clerk and alert Smith of Derby to have a look at it but first I'll contact the Court Road Clockman who just might be able to nudge it into action.

Not so Quiet Lane

I have to say I'm confused - this is the latest from Central Beds about the Quiet Lane.

We were told that a fully designated speed and/or weight restriction would cost several thousands of pounds more - not the concept of a QL itself. That was very clear. 

Hi All,

 

I just thought that i would send around an e-mail to clarify a few matters with regards to the Lodge Road Quiet Lane, from my notes of the meeting with the Parish Council on Wednesday 10th June.

 

At that meeting, a number of options for Lodge Road were discussed. These ranged from very simple solutions, to a full, legally-designated Quiet Lane. Those present at the meeting were informed that to go down the route of a fully, legally-designated Quiet Lane would be an expensive option, costing at least £10,000. As this was well outside the Parish Council's budget of £4,500, those present at the meeting agreed that going down a full, legally-designated Quiet Lane route would be impractical at this stage. It was therefore agreed the following package of measures would be delivered along Lodge Road:

• Entry and exit signage at either end of Lodge Road
• A review to minimise signage along Lodge Road where possible
• If possible, installing some 'Please drive carefully' and HGV advisory signs at either end of Lodge Road
• If possible, make all of Lodge Road a 30mph speed limit

In return for this, Central Bedfordshire Council would manage Lodge Road in a way that is consistent with a Quiet Lane, e.g. encouraging hedgerow growth. This committment would be made in writing. Simply, Central Bedfordshire Council would treat and manage Lodge Road as though it was a Quiet Lane, but Lodge Road would not be legally designated as such. This was agreed at the meeting on Wednesday 10th June.

 

Some of you have probably heard of the figure of £10,000 being quoted for a Quiet Lane. This figure was a figure that i quoted at the Rural Transport Partnership Forum Meeting on Tuesday 7th July as a likely minimum cost for the delivery of a full, legally-designated Quiet Lane. This figure is not a revised quote for Lodge Road from us, but was a re-iteration of the costs of a full, legally-designated Quiet Lane which i gave at the meeting on Wednesday 10th June. The cost of the planned works at Lodge Road are still set to £4,500.

 

Apologies for the long e-mail, but i hope that this has clarified a few things. As always, if you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.

 

Kind regards,

 

James Gleave

Village Hall

Well done to everyone who organised the Cranfield Past and Present event yesterday at the Lower School in aid of the village hall. Specially Kathy and Marjorie. Fascinating event, although I got a bit cross eyed watching the lace making.  

Outdoor gym

We were alerted by a parishioner that the 'leg press' exercise machine in  the new 'outdoor gyms' in Broad Green and the Rec equipment is potentially dangerous to children who can lift it shoulder height and allow it to fall with a heavy hammer-like action. Roy Phillips and I have inspected it and agreed on  the hazard. 

As a purely interim measure we agreed that I would immobilise both pieces of equipment
(in Broad Green and the Rec) and put up notices explaining why and giving PC contact numbers.

The equipment can be quickly and easily reactivated when we have resolved this uncertainty.

In the meantime I tried out various pieces for the first time and they are quite simply brilliant. I'd recommend everyone to have a go.

Village Hall Fundraiser

I would urge everyone to get along to the Lower School for the Village Hall repair fundraiser tomorrow. Well done Marjorie C and her team for getting this event together at such short notice. And thanks to the Lower School for allowing their facilties to be made available. Its noon to 5 pm (if the illegal - but we'll ignore that - flyposted leaflet outside my house is anything to go by).

Brogborough landfill might have gone but the Vale is alive as ever with various plans for processing waste . There are two incinerator ('energy from waste') proposals - the home grown Bear project and Covanta's bigger scheme that will do Buckinghamshire's waste for them as well as our own. 

Now we have received the following from Northamptonshire-based company Infinis: 

"During the Marston Vale Landfill Community Liaison Meeting held at Stewartby Village Hall on 1^st July,  Infinis informed the committee that it is looking into re-using the Mirlees engines at Brogborough Landfill for Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR) generation on renewable biodiesel.   At the meeting it was explained that STOR generation is a scheme operated by the National Grid that allows them to balance the electricity system during periods of high demand. 

 

Since the meeting we have done further feasibility  work and have developed a project proposal.  As a result of the progress made, we were hoping to come and discuss the project in more detail with the Parish Council in order to gauge local views and allay any concerns that the Parish Council may have in relation to the proposed scheme.

 

To that end I would be grateful if you could advise us when would be a convenient time to meet the Parish Council.   We would be happy to fit in with one of the pre-arranged Parish Council meetings, possibly taking 30 minutes at the start of the meeting, or  at  a separate meeting if that is more desirable/convenient for the Council.

 

Infinis intends to begin drafting a planning application for the scheme.  Therefore discussing any issues with the Parish Council at the earliest opportunity would best allow us to make any changes to the application that may result from consultation with the Parish council.

 

I look forward to hearing from you with regards to prospective dates and times.  If you have any queries or would like to discuss anything further, please do not hesitate to contact me, my details are below."

At the moment (TBC) it looks like they are coming on September 2nd. 

(Not so) Quiet lane

Latest news has it that there is 'some confusion'. Let's hope that is it.

(Not so) Quiet lane

Can you believe it? Suggestions emerging from Central Beds that our quiet lane costs for Lodge Road may in fact be £10,000 not the approximate £4,000 we were told at then end of last year. Urgent enquiries going on at the moment. More soon. 

Exercising

The 'adult' exercise equipment is in, in Broad Green. There's already been some excited activity - positive as far as I can see. Now we have to get some parish councillors on it for a photo shoot. Well done Jo Stannage (committee chair) for putting this through. Any project like this seems to take an age because of bureacracy and red tape. 

Local development framework

We were told last week that at the enquiry in to the Central Beds Local Development Framework Cranfield University made a late proposal for Cranfield to re-designated as a 'Major Service Centre'. This could have meant anything from an extra 600 to 900 houses rather than the 150 to 250 which would be allocated as 'minor service centre' (current Central Beds designation).

We are currently debating days/events that should be marked by flying a flag from the village flagpole. There have been some highly imaginative suggestions including a parish councillor's birthday, the winter solstice and the clerk's poodles' birthdays (is that one or two?).  We are wide open to ideas.