Making us more aware of dementia

Cranfield livewire Rina Persaud is on a mission to make us all more aware of those livijng in the community with dementia. Rina is a bit of a village activist but this project has been inspired by the sad death of her father from dementia. Read about her  in The Times and Citizen

 Find out about Dementia aware at http://dementiaaware.org/
see also http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/remembertheperson

Who pays for policing?

It's a year since we got PCCs - or Police and Crime Commissioners to give them their full and glorious title. Their conception was controversial, not many people voted  and as 12 month assessments roll out around the country, reports are mixed. Beds PCC Olly Martin has done good work stopping G4S private sector involvement in providing police services and opposing the sell off of our already efficient probation service.The police minister has also praised his work on diversity.

Another theme he repeats is that policing is not something that is simply done to you as a citizen but something you take responsibility for. This, of course, can lead us down the path of voluntary involvements in local policing, an idea that has had a  chequered history. Cranfield once had paid security officers and then for a year or so we paid for a "Cranfield" PCSO but police managers always made it clear we didn't manage this officer and the arrangement ended.

The latest  voluntary proposal does not involve boots, or loafers, or sandal or trainers on the ground but local parish councils contributing towards policing through the Beds Police Partnership Trust. This is a thin-ended wedge which I am wary of. The Trust runs the "Bobby Scheme"  which carries out security assessments on the home of elderly and vulnerable people. It's a worthwhile work and the Trust administrator says they carried out nearly 1200 visits last year and 20 village home security surgeries. 

Safe as houses? Security advice is always useful

That's great but they are asking for £250 a year from the PC as part of becoming a 'partner' in order to support it. Honestly I thought that was what the police precept (charge) was for and once we had paid that,  there would not be any add-ons.

We have written to the Trust asking if they would like to apply for a Section137 grant (which requires that they show they have helped people in the village). More news later.

Certainty on skateparks

The skatepark produced some interesting debate at last night's PC surgery. There is one thing for certain.

Whatever decision the PC comes to about its location, there will be people opposed to it. And even if we decide not to build one there will be opposition. So don't go on the PC and expect to be loved by everyone. 

The arguments and locations  are well known - old tennis courts (opposition from casual footballers and some residents)  Millennium Park (opposition from planners, it is understood, because it is on the edge of the village) and elsewhere in the Rec (former village meeting in 1990s said no more hard standing in the rec but this is not legally binding.)

Two potential users came along. They use Wootton skatepark at the moment so Millennium Park would surely be an improvement. So we need to make a decision, explain it to those who are not happy and  then implement it.

URGENT - VIA TWITTER

Central Beds Council ‏@letstalkcentral 21m

We’ve been advised there is a water outage in the following areas TODAY; Cranfield, Woburn Sands, Aspley Guise and (cont) http://tl.gd/n_1rrl28l

Green on Cranfield Campus

I don't know if any of these are open to the general public but there is obviously plenty of green activity going on, on the campus. Turbine opponents in Wood End will, I'm sure, be unimpressed by the 'tour of the turbine' listed below. But subject to the impact on local population, renewables are here to stay and Cranfield may well do some critical work on the technology and its development.

11-15 November is ‘Green Week’ at Cranfield campus - a chance to find out about the green-related activities being undertaken to help reduce our carbon footprint, and learn about some of the research Cranfield involved in which is having an impact on the environment and the world in which we live.
Each day is dedicated to a particular theme – energy and water, waste recycling and procurement, biodiversity and green champions. 

The week kicked off with ‘green transport day’ for those who have travelled into campus as a car share, by bus or on their bike.
Throughout the week there are exhibitions from environmental organisations and charities, a trip to our recycling centre, a tour of the new wind turbine, bird and bat box making activity, several interactive presentations and workshops as well as film events.
Don’t forget to check out the details of the lunchtime talks, daily exhibitions, tours and social events taking place throughout the week and book your seat so you don’t miss out: see the poster here and visit the university intranet for more details.

http://www.mycsa.org.uk/?p=4325 

The jungle rumbles on

Mid Beds MP Nadine Dorries has been forced to apologise after she failed to declare earnings from her "I'm a celebrity" Rumble in the Jungle last November, in Ozland. According to the Independent (see link below and a zillion other news outlets) 

"Ms Dorries had refused to declare the payment on the Register of Members' Interests because she claimed it was made to her company, Averbrook, rather than to her personally."  

Whatever.

I actually thought she was giving this money to charity or something as a way of demonstrating that she went to the jungle to promote her views  on abortion or something. I.e. not for the fee. Whatever.

She also says she doesn't claim any expenses now because she took umbrage at how the authorities investigated the expenses she did claim. Anyway, whatever.

For the record I have never voted  for Nad's party and those who know me, know I  never will. But I still can't understand why every time Mid Beds as a constituency is in the news usually Nad is waxing indignant  about being held to account for something. Or other. 


See the story in
The independent

When she was investigated for a breach of Parliamentary rules she accused the Commissioner for Standards of conducting a “witch hunt” against her and threatened to sue.

But today the House of Commons Standards Committee threw out her defence and concluded she had breached the MPs code of conduct through her “attitude to the Commissioner's inquiries”.

It ordered her to make a formal apology for behaviour to MPs and said she must publish the fees she received from ‘I’m a Celebrity’ and eight other media appearances in full.

Flitwick leisure goes big

CBC have announced a big expansion  of Flitwick Leisure Centre - the nearest facility to us.

They state:
 

Residents of Flitwick and the surrounding area could be benefiting from a new leisure centre, if the recommendation of Central Bedfordshire’s Executive Committee is approved this month.

Proposals to redevelop the centre on land beside the current site are part of the council’s Leisure Facilities Strategy, which was agreed in January.

Councillors heard that the existing centre in Flitwick is inefficient and can’t be expanded to meet the needs of future generations. A feasibility study has been carried out to explore how a new facility can be developed, on an affordable basis.

The proposal would see the football pitches next to the existing centre being relocated to Ampthill Road. This would free up the site on which the new leisure centre could be built. Only when the new centre is up and running would the present site be sold on to help finance the costs which are estimated to be £12m.


The recommended option for the centre includes: an eight lane, 25m swimming pool with separate variable base learner pool, four court sports hall, health and fitness station with around 120 stations, three workout studios, changing facilities, 2 squash courts, a crèche, café, soft play area, climbing wall and two outdoor 5-a-side pitches.
 

Wind farm programme gets government backing

The FCC Brogborough wind farm application is expected soon and the Stewartby one is being considered. See the following from the Daily Telegraph which says the wind farm programme is unabated. Earlier this week the Parish Council voted to oppose the Stewartby one one the grounds of "cumulative visual impact" and proximity to the proposed Kimberley STEM college (Wootton Plus).

Earlier this year I proposed that the PC oppose the FCC application unless a minimum distance of 2 Km was maintained between the turbines and the nearest residential property  while health issues were investigated.  But I am not convinced that visual impact is an objective enough basis for opposition.



New Green tax threat in energy bills 'deal'
Ed Davey, the Environment Secretary, says there will be no cap on wind farms, as he insists that Green levies must stay and might have to be paid through taxes

The country needed more wind turbines to play a “critical” role in supplying electricity to the National Grid in the decades ahead, Mr Davey said. 


New taxes to pay for environmental schemes are being considered as part of a deal to cut household energy bills, it can be disclosed.
The taxpayer would foot the bill for two of the “green” schemes, all of which are currently paid for through a levy on gas and electricity bills.
 
The major energy suppliers have repeatedly told ministers the levies are pushing up household bills — for which they and the Government have been severely criticised.
Senior Tories have held talks with the companies and believe they have secured agreement that if the largest levy, the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO), is removed, immediate cuts in prices of up to seven per cent would be announced.
A deal could be struck in time to be announced as early as next month, allowing an average saving of as much as £75 a household.

But Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary, said the green schemes had to stay — and signalled that they could be paid for through tax.
He told The Telegraph that he was happy to have a “debate” about how green energy policies were funded. He said: “We can maybe find there are other ways of paying for them. There may be ways and means.”
 
The move by the Lib Dems means that George Osborne will either have to raise taxes or find money to pay for the scheme, expected to cost £1.3 billion next year, from already under-pressure public funds through more cuts or borrowing.
In a significant intervention in the heated debate, Mr Davey also:
• Vetoed the Prime Minister’s own intention to review every green subsidy, saying that support for wind farms and other “renewable” energy systems would not be reconsidered;
• Refused to back down on support for wind farms, insisting that more onshore turbines would be “critical” for energy supplies;
• Said the wind farms, which have attracted huge opposition where they have been built or proposed, did not affect house prices;
• Attacked Right-wing Tories for “undermining consensus” on the environment;
• Said there has been “massive interest” in new licences for fracking and a review to be published on Monday will outline a revival in the North Sea oil industry.


For full article see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/10438528/New-Green-tax-threat-in-energy-bills-deal.html

Trouble at Mill

Clearly trouble at Mill (Field Close) due to the mix of residential and business. The CBC customer service report carries a complaint: "Speeding lorries on the small close that leads to local company, are putting children at risk as they U turn over the footway to get back out of the close. I have also passed this to Amey Road Safety team to see if they can assist too.

"Access to Mill Field Close is used by a variety of delivery vans/staff/trucks etc to a local company. An incident occurred last night that could have resulted in children getting hurt, due to the  continuous amount of deliveries. Could an health and safety assessment be carried out to ensure that our children our safe, Last night 01/10 a delivery van mounted the pavement and nearly caused an accident."

Highways response so far is : "Request logged by Transportation Team, to be investigated."


I'm sorry to labour this but is this a preview of Flitt Leys Close once the construction traffic starts going up and down? We had to stand sentinel over working practices at Home Farm particularly around weekend  and bank hol working and starting in the morning. Tipper trucks moving into the Close from the High Street  at 8.30 in the morning as the school procession is getting under way doesn't bear thinking about. Not to mention the sheer congestion. 

Land hoarding in Cranfield?

By the time Persimmon's tanks rolled on to Home Farm they were running out of time to implement the planning permission granted in the mid 2000s. If you don't do it in five years you are scuppered. Use it or lose it. Of course after an embryonic road system, some drains and two houses they packed up and went away again. So after several years of not much happening you wonder, where their planning permission stands?


Well Nick Boles, Housing Minister has been thinking along the same lines according to the Daily Telegraph. He points out that developers should not be hoarding land against some rise in house values.
I'm sure I could find plenty of other things to disagree on with Mr Boles but I think this is one where we could split the difference.

He said the Coalition had scrapped a temporary measure introduced by the previous Labour government "which allowed developers to roll forward their planning permissions" and added:

"This ending of the measure will increase the incentive for developers to start on site before permission expires."
The change was condemned by the Institute of Directors as an attempt to “undermine the ability of developers to complete projects”.

Well, we shall see.

Following the planning OK for Central Motors I firmly expect it to be finished and up and running before another Home Farm home goes up.


See the full story at Daily Telegraph

HULA open day and dogs who needs homes

Follow HULA on twitter and facebook and check out their open day tomorrow.   Find dogs needing rescued at http://www.hularescue.org/the-kennels.html



HULA Animal Rescue ‏@hularescue 7m

REMEMBER THIS Sunday Hula Winter Warmer Open Day 1pm to 3.30pm - Do come along purchase some great Christmas Presents & Stocking Fillers

• Reply
• Retweeted
• Favorite

• 3 Retweets
• 

3:49 AM - 9 Nov 13 · Details

 

 

 

 

Find out the real story...

We are in the middle of the very first national History Writing Month and Central Bedfordshire Council’s libraries are joining the Historical Writers’ Association and the Reading Agency to celebrate this landmark by holding an interesting programme.


There are three big author events over the month featuring the following writers:

12 November - AL Berridge and JD Davies, The Men who Fight – soldiers and warriors. Come along to Shefford library at 7pm. 

A L Berridge (right), author of the Chevalier and the Victorian Harry Ryder series, Berridge’s writing has been compared to that of Bernard Cornwell. 

J D Davies (above), winner of the Samual Pepys Prize in 2009 and author of non-fiction titles on the history of seventeenth century England.

19 November - Rose Melikan and Jane Thynne, Would you Trust this Woman? Women in the shadowy world of espionage. Come along to Toddington library at 7
Rose Melikan (above), Fellow of St Catharine’s College, Cambridge and author of a trilogy of novels set in the French Revolution featuring the redoubtable Mary Finch. Jane Thynne, who’s first novel features Clara Vine, an actress recruited as a British spy in Nazi Germany.

21 November - James Aitcheson and Michael Arnold, Warriors from 1066 to the Civil War. Come along to Flitwick library at 7pm.

James Aitcheson, (right) author of an action-packed trilogy following the fortunes of Tancred, a Norman knight, in the Battle of Hastings and its aftermath. Michael Arnold, creator of Captain Stryker, whose escapades during the civil war are the subject of four books so far.







Cllr Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Sustainable Communities (Services) said: “We’ve got a fantastic selection of authors lined up for the first national History Writing month. With Hilary Mantel’s works on Thomas Cromwell selling like hot-cakes, this is clearly a growing genre. To hear more from real-life history writers, visit our libraries website - www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/libraries - and call the relevant library to book. At £1.50 a ticket, it’s a great value night out.”

Launching History Writing Month Sandeep Mahal, of the Reading Agency said, “Libraries are brilliant at reaching and engaging audiences who share the Historical Writers Association's fascination with all things historical.”

For more information on these and other events, visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/libraries Tickets for all library events are £1.50. Simply contact the library to reserve your seats.

Service margins - OMG

Milton Keynes residents complaining about a pavement blocked by a lamp-post have been told by the council it is not a footpath, but a "service margin".

So says the BBC - see full story below. The poor English language has taken a mangling over the centuries, got up, dusted itself down and moved on. But the things local government can do to it make you want to cry. Like "street scene" for the neighbourhood. Meanwhile the language is the least of their problems for these residents.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-24863368

Thanks Hannah

Hannah Peake a stalwart of Remembrance Sunday this century  is, unfortunately, not able to attend the ceremony this year to play the Last Post and I understand she feels bad about it. 

She first played it in 2000 when she was 12, after a request was put out on behalf of the Royal British Legion to the schools to find out if there was anyone who could play the Last Post.  Hannah was volunteered by Holywell Middle School, even though she had never actually heard of the Last Post before! She is now 25 and has never missed a year since her first appearance, even though the family had to fetch her back from University in Cambridge for three years and then, when she moved to Peterborough to work, fetched her back from there for another there years. 

Cranfield has been lucky to have a bugler for the last 13 years and this year I am sure that, like me, many will miss the slow, haunting way that Hannah played the Last Post, with the echoes dying away at the end. But Hannah - please don't feel bad about it. You've given half your life to this service. You should be proud and we must all be very grateful.

Lord Lieutenants

OK, I don't do Lord Lieutenants etc though I know there is a strand of society that gets incredibly excited about it all. I don't even know if the LLs get a sword or wear funny hats like ambassadors. Despite all this deep seated prejudice, I'm putting out this CBC press release about the LL Helen Nellis (below) visiting Marston Gate because it's in Trouble's patch and it does tell us something about the varied business activity that takes place in the area.

Did we say something  about hats?

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Helen Nellis, has paid a visit to Prologis Park at Marston Gate as part of her role as business ambassador for Central Bedfordshire.

The Lord-Lieutenant visited Yusen Logistics, a global logistics company that offers both supply chain solutions and general logistics services, where she met with John Pursey, Business Unit Director and Steve Clark, Regional General Manager and other members of the team at Yusen Logistics.

Around 140 people work in the Yusen Logistics building in Marston Gate, which handles contracts for Discovery Foods, SpecSavers and Denso as well as for pharmaceutical companies such as Glaxo Smith Kline.

The Lord-Lieutenant met different managers for each contract and toured the warehouse operations. Speaking after the tour, she said: “I was really pleased to be able to tour the operations and speak to staff at every level. I am delighted that Bedfordshire attracts exciting international growing businesses such as Prologis. This is a great place to do business with excellent geographical access as well as having a local skilled workforce.”

Prologis Park, Marston Gate has regenerated the former Ridgmont Brickworks site to create a 1.3 million square foot industrial/distribution park. The park is fully let to occupiers such as Yusen Logistics, Amazon, Wolseley and Furniture Village, and has brought around 2,000 jobs to the local area.

Seeking to build on the success of the initial development, Prologis has gained planning permission for a second phase on an adjoining site, which will accommodate a building of up to 426,000 square feet.

Ashy aftermath

A parishioner reports:

This morning (3 November) we found that cars, windows & most outdoor surfaces facing south-west were covered in white ash which smells like wood-ash (see pic). Because of the strong wind, objects directly in its path seemed to be covered more densely than those sheltered by hedges for example. Lord knows where it came from, as most organised firework displays no longer feature a bonfire. Might well have travelled miles. A real pain to remove as it doesn't hose off easily, where it has stuck to last nights dew or rain. I don't think this came from Australia though!

Microchips with everything

The Dogs Trust has got in  touch about a big chipping campaign in the run up to April 2016 when all dogs will have to be microchipped. 

The Trust has "roaming chipping teams" who will be offering free microchipping across the UK.

The Trust writes: "We are currently looking to book in events for the rest of the year and next. We can join in with any events that you already have running and we can run our own. We are happy to work outside in estates or open areas as we have a gazebo we can set up. We will also work in community halls/centres or anywhere available.

"We will be advertising each event in local papers to ensure we get the maximum turnout, but any help from you to make sure that the whole community hears about the event will be greatly appreciated. We want to reach as many dogs and people as possible that would normally not have the opportunity to have this service.

"If you would be interested in holding an event in your community then please don’t hesitate to contact me to talk about dates and times."

 
Contact faye.holliday@dogstrust.org.uk
or visit http://www.dogstrust.org.uk
Tel 020 7837 0006

MPs often state that one of the biggest and most enduring themes in their constituency correspondence is around cats and dogs

A brief history of time (in Cranfield)

The gubbins - inside the clock tower

All being well the the church clock will strike 11 at 11 am on Sunday for the Remembrance Day event. This is all down to Gerry O'Mara who has taken personal and entirely voluntary interest in keeping the village to time for the last 18 months. There is a dodgy spring which needs repair and Smith of Derby who do all our work on the clock cannot finish it by Sunday.
 
The spring, therefore, will be left in place until after the 11th November. And Gerry will adjust the clock on the 10th November (Sunday morning) so that the chimes are on time for the Remembrance Day service. Sounds like a solution and  thanks again to Gerry. Please note that when the spring does go off (to be copied and replaced) we will be without chimes for a week or so.

Lose lose in Flitt leys Close

The Central Motors application for 135 houses accessed via a back passage called Flitt Leys Close was passed by CBC development control yesterday. The committee split roughly 2 to 1. 

Roger Baker spoke on behalf of the Parish Council to oppose it on the basis of poor access. Roger told last night's Parish council meeting that the discussion went on for over an hour. Officers had promised a plan to solve all the problems (present and future hopefully). Parish Council chair Delise Ball said the officers' view was that the parish council and residents couldn't decide what they wanted.

She added: "We told them to do what is necessary and we will go with it" and said that sustainable communities executive lead Cllr Nigel Young had promised to liaise with the PC over alternative accesses especially for the school. 

I won't hold my breath.

The difficulties emerged a year ago when CBC revealed that the development brief for the site included a school, something which we have never been consulted on.  After years of pathetic education expansion earmarked for Home Farm (the playing field)  an equally inaccessible location had been identified and CBC was driving it through.

Simultaneous to this were the continuing problems for residents in the existing Flitt Leys Close caused by the hot food outlets and parking by users. 

It's what might be called a lose-lose situation.

Go ahead for Central Motors?

See item 6  on the agenda for development managment committee (i.e.planning)  next Wednesday at CBC. Central Motors, the big one.This is for 135 houses beyond Flitt Leys Close but the design brief allows for access to a new school as well and the road would also provide access to a new health centre. Meanwhile the road is congested already thanks to the hot food takeaway customers who park any old way.  CBC did not consult on the location of the school and they cannot find the paperwork which confirms we were asked and didn't object. Interesting.

Check the agenda at Central Beds Planning

School parking rage. The future?

From Luton Today, today! There have been tentative fears expressed about the possibility iof 'parking rage' in Flitt Leys given the current pressures but what will it be like when the school run is in full swing, several years down the line? See this.


Parents and pupils were “shocked” when a fight broke out at the end of the school day outside Denbigh Primary School on Friday.
A group of about eight people were involved in the brawl in Denbigh Road at abot 3.15pm.
It is thought the fight started after two men were involved in a parking dispute as pupils were leaving the school.
More people became involved in the argument and started fighting and it is believed some parents filmed the disorder on their mobile phones.
PC Nick Foster said: “At this stage no one appears to have been seriously injured during the incident but it was a shock for parents and pupils to witness. Four people have been arrested in connection with this investigation but we need further information from the public. We believe some of the parents may have recorded the incident on their mobile telephones and I would ask these people to contact us as their footage may help identify those involved.
Anyone with information relating to this incident can contact PC Foster, in confidence, on 01582 394191, or Bedfordshire Police, on 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/local/brawl-outside-primary-school-1-5636291 

Tales of Crawley Road

The other Crawley Road Closure...We might as well brace ourselves, this is going to be a tricky period up and down Crawley Road.

Anglian Water is proposing to carry out improvements to its foul water network on Crawley Road in Cranford to reduce the risk of flooding to local properties. The £255,000 scheme includes proving a storm overflow from Crawley Road and a storage sewer in the adjacent private field. Construction work is due to start next week (w/c 4^th November). The majority of this work will be in private land however, it will be necessary to close the road in order to connect to the existing sewerage system. The road closure will start on Wednesday 27^th November 2013 and last for 1 week.

As part of these works the following road closure is anticipated: Crawley Road from outside no. 44 Crawley Road to 50m south of the Pumping Station. The alternative route for vehicles will be signed via Crawley Road– Astwood Road – Bourne-End Road – Broad Green – Crawley Road and vice versa. This will prevent through traffic. Pedestrian access to properties will be maintained at all times.

Anglian Water and its contractor, Barhale Construction, are working closely with Bedfordshire Council and every effort will be made to minimise the disruption to the public.

If you have any queries or would like further information please phone me (number below) or use the following numbers:

·         Terry Warry (Site Manager Barhale) (7am – 6pm) 07903 818892

·         Anglian Water Customer Services (24 hr) 08457 145 145

 

Round the houses again

Right, here's the latest warning about closures on Crawley Road. Watch out,  it will close the College Road/Crawley Road and Bourne End Road/Crawley Road junctions. It looks like Newport Pagnell will not be accessible (unless you go via Moulsoe and the A509 or the A422

Road:                          Crawley Road, Cranfield

Application from:     Amey for CBC – Silv Chelaru – 0300 3008049

Reason:                      Resurfacing

Length affected:     From Cranfield FC to county boundary (Closure includes road to Bourne End and Cranfield University – both junctions will be closed at the same time)

    

      

Date: The closures are expected to be in operation on Saturday 30^th November & Saturday 7^th December 2013 between the hours of 0800hrs and 1800hrs.