Mill Road traffic calming

Further information from CBC about Mill Road works and effect on buses:


I have been advised that the forthcoming work in Mill Road for week 13-17 August  is to be carried out using traffic lights.  However a road closure is planned to take place on 21,22,and 23 August at the junction of Mill Road, Crane way and Crawley Road between 9.00am and 3.30pm on each of the three days.  This will affect the Stagecoach 52, Grant Palmer 45 and Road Runner RR1.  During this closure the Stagecoach 52 and Road Runner RR1 will need to divert via Bedford Road.  The effect on the Grant Palmer 45 service will need to be discussed.  Notices for bus passengers will be put out at bus stops in advance of the closure. 

New No Waiting in Cranfield

CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL PROPOSES TO EXTEND THE EXISTING 

PROHIBITION OF WAITING ON HIGH STREET AND COURT ROAD, CRANFIELD 

Reason for proposals: The proposed Order is considered necessary on the grounds of promoting

road safety. The Prohibition of Waiting is being proposed in conjunction with a traffic calming 

scheme. This will involve footway widening which will narrow the road width and therefore will need 

to be kept clear of parked vehicles. Therefore, Central Bedfordshire Council proposes to make a 

Road Traffic Regulation Order as follows: 

Effect of the Order: 

To introduce No Waiting at Any Time (double yellow lines) on the following lengths of road 

in Cranfield:- 

1. High Street, north-west side from the property boundary of nos. 97 and 99 High Street in a 

north-easterly direction for a distance of approximately 14 metres. 

2. Court Road, north side from a point approximately 5 metres west of the east flank wall of 

property no. 128 High Street in an easterly direction for a distance of approximately 12 metres. 

Further Details of the proposal and plans may be examined during normal opening hours at 

Ampthill library, 1 Dunstable Street, Ampthill MK45 2NL or online at 

www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations.These details will be placed on deposit until 6 

weeks after the Order is made or until it is decided not to continue with the proposal. For more 

information, please contact Gary Baldwin, tel.0845 3656116 or by email 

gary.baldwin@amey.co.uk. 

Objections should be sent in writing to the Transportation Manager, Bedfordshire Highways, 

Woodlands Annex, Manton Lane, Bedford MK41 7NU or e-mail 

centralbedsconsultation@amey.co.uk stating the grounds on which they are made by 30th August 

2012. 

Order Title: if made will be “Central Bedfordshire Council (District of Mid Bedfordshire) (Civil 

Enforcement Area and Special Enforcement Area) (Waiting Restrictions and Street Parking 

Places) (Consolidation) Order 2008 (Variation No *) Order 201*. 

Traffic calming

Official notification about next week's road closure from Bedfordshire Highways:

Please be advised that the first road closure in Cranfield will be 7- 9^th August. This will be at the junction of Bedford Road/ Crane Way during off peak hours. All further closures will take place in the order stated in previous correspondence unless it is absolutely necessary to make a change in this respect.

I shall endeavour to send you all a weekly update on all closures. The closures are somewhat dictated to in terms of a programme by progress on site, therefore our initial programme is an estimate at present until the scheme starts in earnest over the next couple of weeks. It will be my weekly updates guided by our Supervisors experiences on site, which will provide the most accurate up to date information to you all going forward and I shall attempt to give you all the information I have as quickly as I have it.

The first closure of the 8^th – 10^th August will be happening (weather permitting) based on the protracted progress of works on site.

All bus companies have been made aware of the first road closure and they will continue to be included in my updates.

Cemetery

No water in the cemetery tap. Irritating if you wish to refresh the plants on a loved one's grave. We are on the case and apologies for the present difficulties.

Church clock

Church clock looking fast at the moment. What do you think? Amazingly we have been told that bad (wet) weather can affect it.

Update on the buses and traffic calming

CBC and Amey seem to be working hard to get  Stagecoach on track with the current road works. A CBC transport officer emailed:

"I have spoken this afternoon to the site engineer in charge of the current road works in Cranfield and there should not have been a problem this morning with the buses in Crane Way as the road has been open throughout the day except for the use of traffic lights.  Occasionally when traffic lights are in operation at a road works both can be put on red for a short period if the work requires it.  I am awaiting a response from Stagecoach to see if they can establish a reason why the driver may not have chosen to take his bus along Crane Way this morning.

"The bus companies that may be affected are Stagecoach, Grant Palmer and Road Runner by the road closures in Cranfield.  The two bus companies affected by the Crane Way road closure have been given a preview of the notice to be put up at bus stops for the general public together with information on the particular road closure."  

I also got a call from an Amey engineer to assure me there should be no reason this week why the buses do not go down Crane Way. He points out that next week the Crane Way-Bedford  Road junction will be closed 9.30 to 3.30 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (7,8 & 9 August). 

So far, although I emailed Stagecoach this morning,  I have not had a response from them. I have advised one parishioner who missed his bus this morning to catch the bus on Friday from Bedford road below Crane Way, just to be on the safe side.  

More missed buses

Another parishioner has written to me:


I waited myself for a 52 at 12-30  yesterday at Crane Way and it did not come. Last Fri I asked for information at Bedford bus station and was told they had no idea themselves what was happening, and despite my several attempts to get info put on the bus shelters this has not happened. What on earth do we have to do to get someone to take this seriously?


Answer from Parish Matters: "Not sure but we'll do our utmost"

Missing buses

Just emailed stage coach and CBC as follows:




"Four of our parishioners were waiting in Crane Way this morning for the 8.30   52 Bedford Bus  which went back via Bedford Road having gone up Crane Way.

Is anyone advising drivers about their route while the traffic calming works go on?"

Traffic calming works

Bourne End Road is closed off now for TC works. A parishioner reports that the Stagecoach bus driver yesterday would not go down Crane Way although that is clear at the moment. Hopefully s/he has been put right on that one. Stagecoach bus on Crane Way this morning.

Damming effect

We might stand at near 100m above sea level but Cranfield has its flood hot spots. This is from the latest CBC customer services bulletin with Amey's reply. 

XX-YY High Street   Cranfield: Dear Highways Department/Amey Contractors    This problem is related to a pair of sunken dropped kerb stones at XX High Street that promote the flooding of XX-YY in rainy weather.    Proposed Solution - raise the sunken kerb stones that have subsided.    However...    Last week Amey contractors raised part of the footpath and entrance to the drive of No XX with the addition of some tarmacadam to the existing footpath and drive entrance.  The result is that the water from the road still drains into No XX because the kerb stones were not raised to a suitable level and surface water is allowed to run over the kerb from the gutter into the properties.  Excess surface water now drains towards my own property No YY.  The damming effect of the new tarmac redirects the flow somewhat from the join at the junction of the grass verge and kerb.    

A site visit would easily confirm the diagnosis, proposed solution and show the wasted effort and resources to date (perhaps not entirely wasted but not addressing the main cause of the surface water run-off).    I look forward to hearing your views and your setting a date to raise the (minimum of) 2 kerb stones 15mm or so higher outside No XX.  I am also concerned that the soon to be introduced traffic calming might also have a detrimental effect too though I am not sure exactly where the road level is to be raised.   

Amey has replied:

thank you for the photos which seem to show the present low spot for water to flow over onto the path in extreme rainfall. Could you see if the gully in the layby was working? It is highly likely that in such weather conditions at the time, the rising water level would find the next low spot to flow over. There is also a very large area of paved area and footway that collects water as well, so it would be very difficult to prevent water building up on the path.   I will inspect the area again in rainfall.

Godiva in MK

Thanks to Pcllr Peter Meadows who has informed the Blog: " There is a large event, party and concert to celebrate Godiva Awakes at Campbell Park in Milton Keynes in the late afternoon and evening on 1st August- part of the Cultural Olympiad."

Godiva Awakes

1 August 2012
Venue: Campbell Park
Website 

www.imagineerproductions.co.uk

DOWNLOAD A FULL PROGRAMME HERE

Godiva walking through Coventry

Covanta consutation

Here are the dates for the Covanta consultation. 

Yes, that's 6 August for four weeks. The traditional British holiday period. Strange that. 

CB Cllr Sue Clark is working to get the date delayed or the period extended.

Alasdair FitzSimons-McKellar, PPC/COMAH regulatory officer

at the environment agency writes to parish councils:

"With regard to the message below, we will be going to the first stage of public consultation on the 6^th of August for a four week period. Copies of the applications will be held at the following places, Central Bedfordshire Council, Technology House, 239 Ampthill Road, Bedford, MK42 9BD and Environment Agency, The Public Register, Kingfisher House, Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough PE2 5ZR. 

"We are aware that these locations won’t be convenient for many people so I can make copies of the application available on CD for people who request them of me, also we intend to make a copy available at Stewartby Library (if they are happy to have a copy held there).

 

"We will be holding a drop in session on the 15^th August at Stewartby village hall for people to come and talk to us about the permitting process and our regulation, details to follow."

PREEN recycling

Provisionally PREEN community recyclers are due to come to Cranfield on Friday 7 Sept and Friday 5 Oct.Watch the blog for more details including  locations and how to request a bulky pick up.

cycling

Airfield circuit and Ball-Phillips loop on the bike this morning. Brilliant weather. Lungs have had a relaunch as I gave it an extra whack in honour of Wiggo. Mind, I'm well away from tackling the Col de Morte sort of thing in the Pyrrannees. 


Still staggered at family group cycling on Moulsoe Road yesterday. Mother and 2 children cycling the wrong way down this rather fast road. I assume they think its like walking, towards the traffic, for safety reasons. But it freaked me out as any moment I feared the youngsters would break out from behind the yellow lines. Not to be recommended. 

Bedford Community Boat

Message from the Bedford Community Boat Appeal.......

BEDFORD COMMUNITY BOAT APPEAL HITS ALMOST £90,000 - £30,000 NEEDED TO CLOSE THE GAP.

Anyone visiting the Bedford River Festival (July 21-22) couldn’t help being struck by the potential of the Great Ouse to be at the heart of a boating and tourist revival for the town and surrounding areas.

Perhaps visitors noticed some historical and picturesque narrowboats and wondered why they are so rarely seen along the river. All this could change when the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust (B&MK) adds new life to our local waterway heritage with the launch next year of a community boat.

This was first proposed in 2010 when teachers and other community groups enjoyed river trips along the Great Ouse towards Kempston provided by the B&MK. Since then almost £90,000 has been raised with donations or pledges from Bedfordshire businesses, local charities, Bedford College and individuals.

More details on the progress of the campaign, how to donate and how volunteers can get involved in all aspects of running trips on the new Bedford Community Boat, in the attached release.

 Claire Gathard

Project Officer, Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust

www.b-mkwaterway.org.uk

email: claire.gathard@canalrivertrust.org.uk

tel: 01908 302592

Godiva awakes

Tomorrow, Imagineer Productions' 21st Century Godiva will awake to a spectacular performance involving dancers, actors, aerialists, musicians and pyrotechnicians. 

On Sunday  carnivalists and 220 young people will process through Coventry in celebration at the unveiling of this Godiva for the modern age. 

From 30 July to  5 August, powered by 100 cyclists, Godiva (actually a double-decker bus sized puppet) will then journey to London to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

You can see it locally on Thursday 2 August when there could be  delays on the road between Woburn Sands and Streatley  as Godiva Awakes makes its way across the area.

Godiva Awakes is part of Artists Taking the Lead, a series of 12 public art commissions across the UK to celebrate the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, funded by Arts Council England.

.

Buses and traffic calming works

Transport officers at CBC say the road closures next week may affect the Stagecoach 52, Road Runner RR1 and RR2 bus services. No word on MK services.

They are advising that for the proposed closure period 8,9 and 10 August for Crane Way and 22,23,24 August for Mill Road, buses may need to divert along Bedford Road to the High Street.

They add: "The closure of the High Street from 19 - 22 September may preclude (stop) buses from passing through that part of Cranfield and buses may need to divert via Crawley Road.  Notices may be needed at bus stops in Bedford Road, the High Street, Mill Road and Crane Way advising passengers of the diversion."

Plans for traffic calming

Traffic calming work will be start next week. Amey says it is intended to complete each section before moving on to the next to minimise disruption with as much as possible being carried out during the summer holidays. 

It adds:"The programme will be monitored and should the need arise could possibly be altered to take account of any local or unforeseen issues that may arise."

Olympic celebration

St Peter and St Paul Church's bells joined in  the nationwide Olympic celebration this morning, led by Big Ben between 8.12 am and 8.15 pm. Its the first time Big Ben has rung out of schedule since George VI's funeral so a bit more upbeat this time. See link below




Well done the Cranfield Tower Team. Olymphomania is now in full swing in Cranfield. Roll on the synchronised pole vaulting.


Probably should have flown the union flag this morning but nobody thought about it. 

Big Ben striking

Home Farm

I have an unconfirmed report that Persimmon has had discussions with Central Bedfordshire Council about a modified Home Farm planning application that excludes the use of Denison land - which the community hall and school playing field would be built on and which offers access to the public walk way to Court Road. I have proposed that the parish council clerk contact CBC for elaboration/reassurances/denial 

University liaison meeting

Parish Council-Cranfield University liaison meeting tonight. We'll be checking/encouraging the campus to make students as aware as possible of the impending traffic calming upheaval. And the, at present, unknown impact on the buses, which many of them depend on.

In writing

I have just written to Central Beds as follows: "In your earlier email you reported that Persimmon pledged not to renew the current short term lease on the occupied Home Farm house and that you had asked for this promise not to reoccupy in writing. 

"Have you now received Persimmon's commitments in writing and is the house still occupied? If so, when will it be vacated?"

Re use PREEN

How often do you skip across the border to the Newport Pagnell tip ( AKA civic amenity site) and stand in awe of the mountains of STUFF we throw away. We are drowning in STUFF. Now I'm not in favour of hoarding either (as one or two of my family members will ruefully report) but there is a huge amount of waste.


The Parish Council has registered Cranfield with PREEN.


They describe themselves as follows:

PREEN is a social enterprise - a business that runs for the benefit of the community and fulfils a social purpose.


We do a number of things but our main project is the Furniture Bank, a community reuse service that provides training, reduces waste and most importantly, supplies low cost furniture and appliances to vulnerable disadvantaged people in Bedfordshire. 


To pay for this work we run 2 community reuse shops in Biggleswade and Dunstable which are open to the public. They’ve been described as ‘Aladdin’s Caves’ and stock all kinds of 2nd hand goods.  


info@preencic.org  01767 600332






PREEN also take away and repair all those household goods that end up in the tip because no one repairs that sort of stuff anymore.  


The Parish Council is identifying dates in September when PREEN will come to the village and pick up smaller household goods that are now 'broken' or damaged from a  central location  and take away suitable furniture from individual pre-notified addresses. The PC will be publishing these dates in the September Cranfield Express and I will also flag them up on the blog.

Central Motors School

DLA planning attended the parish council last week to outline the very broad brush proposals for 135 houses at the old Central Motors site. This includes space for a new lower school. Obviously a lot of attention focused on the school provision, which from its size looks as if it is meant to be additional to the existing school, not a replacement. The answers to most of these questions will come from Central Beds Council. 

On going maintenance

The latest from the customer service bulletin. Items 2 ands 3 reflect recent flooding in the area.

The road surface and the pavements in Coronation Road are in a very poor state with several small potholes and the surfaces dissolving in places. The grass verges are being badly churned up by the number of vehicles parking over them. PC request for this road and path to be assessed for rebuilding.

Crawley Road URN 298/110612  Flooding water above the low pavement........  File created at 11/06/2012 19:01    27 sand bags have put at locus. Call out crew to attend to location, put out sandbags to divert water away from houses

Folly Farm Storm Drains - flooding - Blocked - Weir Gully found at location -crew contacted duty engineer contacted for advice - crew advised responsibility off local pumping station and therefore unable to assist - property owner advised. Call out crew to attend to location, report of flooding

Crawley road is regularly threatened with localised flooding. CBC and developers were warned several years back that increased development would make this more likely

Flags

Matt Dolton wrote to the Parish Council to advise that the Union Flag was raised for Armed Forces Day and he has asked if it is possible for the Council to provide an actual Armed Forces Day flag for next year. This has been agreed

It was also decided that the current Diamond and 2002 Golden Jubilee flags should be framed and hung in the Village Hall subject to Village Hall Management Committee approval.  Now, who’s got that 2002 flag?

Niceties of housing allocation

There is no change for Cranfield, under the new local development framework (135 at Central Motors and 20 at Lodge Road) . According to CB councillor Ken Matthews, however, an allocation of 1700 houses has been kept back so that the Neighborhood Plans can be accommodated. 

It appears that if the neighbourhood plans do not absorb these additional houses then another site allocation process will be needed.

On (or off) the buses

Reaction from CBC about the impact of traffic calming building works starting next week on bus services. A CBC official writes [the blog's annotations in bold]: 

"I am trying to obtain full details of the proposed traffic calming scheme.  [on the parish matters blog, from CPC or from Amey] 

As soon as I obtain them, I will be able to consult the bus companies.   [as quick as you like]

At the moment, my basic understanding is that the scheme consists of three junction improvements (speed tables), which are unlikely to affect local bus services.  [probably]

However, there will be road closures and diversions arising from the road works and bus services will have to be diverted when these take place.  [all true]

We shall ensure that any bus service diversions are advertised at affected bus stops in a timely manner. [excellent]

I shall endeavour to notify you of any developments. [we are truly blessed]

Parish Council meeting tonight

Meeting 8.00pm - Holywell (possibly earlier if  DLA town planning  attend)

^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

6.2.    Burial Grounds Committee

6.3.    Environment Committee

6.3.1.    S106 monies – deadline for submission of application form 27^th July 2012

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

Central Motors development

DLA Town Planning Ltd has written to the Parish Council: "As part of the pre-application process, we have identified the Parish Council as a key stake-holder in the process for assessing an application on (the Central Motors)site.   We have a Planning Performance Agreement with Central Bedfordshire Council and within this document we are required to make a presentation to your committee to brief members of the proposed development.   As you aware this site is allocated in the Local Plan for residential development and the provision of a possible new school.  I understand that you hold meetings on a regular basis and to this end I would be grateful if we could come to your next available meeting which may be on the 18^th July 2012 I believe?"

They have been invited to attend tonight.