Gas fired power station presentation

Paul Taylor and colleagues have accepted Cranfield Parish Council's invitation to attend a PC meeting to give information relating to the gas fired power station at Rookery Pit.  Their environmental studies at will be completed by September, and they have agreed attend the Full Council meeting on 17th September at 7pm when the results of the studies will have been produced.  

The scoping report is available to read now – it can be found on their website – see below link.

http://www.millbrookpower.co.uk/key-documents/ 

The public consultation will probably be around October he says – the final decision coming from the Secretary of State.

Too many big words?

My eyes tend to glaze over when I hear the words "strategy", "vision", and "infrastructure", whether its the work place or the public place ( i.e. public decision making).  I won't say I took a world weary look at the CBC's invitation to comment on its "draft plan setting out a 20-year development vision" but maybe a deep breath would describe it better. Apart from any thing else how many times are consultations launched as we head into the July/August holiday period with schools out and many families away? Too many is the answer to that non-rhetorical question. 

For more info see:
http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKCBCC/bulletins/c14276 

CBC states: 


"The Development Strategy is a planning policy document that will play a huge part in shaping the future in Central Bedfordshire. It plans for the delivery of 31,000 new homes and 27,000 new jobs over a 20 year period from 2011.
It provides a development map for Central Bedfordshire identifying key housing, employment and environmental sites as well as highlighting key infrastructure improvements, plans for settlements and areas of Green Belt. The Strategy also sets out the key policies that will help determine planning applications.
 
"Running until Tuesday 26 August, there will be the opportunity for interested parties to comment on the document. Background information on the Strategy, a summary document and a questionnaire is available on our website. Copies of the documents are also available to view at council customer service centres and libraries"

Jason Longhurst, CBC Director of Regeneration and Business Support adds: 

“We are responding to the challenges of growth for our area by ensuring it is sustainable and in the right place at the right time. This Strategy is the culmination of extensive local assessments and studies and has been drawn up in consultation with local people, developers, investors and statutory bodies.

“This final round of public scrutiny is really important before it goes to the Planning Inspector. We need to show that it will meet the test of time – presenting a sustainable development vision for our market towns, villages and communities."

July Cranfield Parish Council meeting

The last parish council meeting before September will be held next wed 16 July at Holywell school library. It is an open meeting with some scope, agreed by the chair for a public contribution. If you have issues, or wish to raise a topic do come along. For past minutes go to http://cranfield.bedsparishes.gov.uk/files/

Wednesday, 16^th July 2014  at 8.00pm

BUSINESS TO BE DONE

 

^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.    Finance and Grants Committee [Extraordinary meeting]

6.2.    General Purposes Committee

6.3.    Burial Grounds Committee

6.4.    Environment Committee

6.5.    Planning Committee

6.5.1.    CBC Development Strategy

^7.            Financial matters and accounts for payment

^8.            Correspondence   

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

^10.        Highway matters

That tractor fire

From beds on Sunday online

FIREFIGHTERS battled a blaze in Marston Hill today (July 3) after a tractor caught fire.

The service received a call to the scene at 3:33pm.

Crews from Kempston and Broughton, in Buckinghamshire, were deployed to fight the flames.

Residents of Bedford reported seeing plumes of smoke rising up from the horizon in the direction of Marston Moretaine.

A spokesman for the fire service said the fire had been extinguished by 4:30pm.

Read more: http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News/BREAKING-Firefighters-battle-tractor-blaze-in-Marston-Hill-Bedfordshire-20140703160425.htm#ixzz36TWIhp8G

Latest news on the wind farm

http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News/Celebration-in-Cranfield-as-Central-Bedfordshire-Council-turns-down-application-for-wind-farm-20140703180010.htm 

Local media coverage of CENTRAL Beds' refusal of FCC 's wind farm application for Brogborough /Cranfield 

Missing kitties

Charlotte Richardson 2 July 12:35 MISSING: Our two male, neutered, microchipped cats have gone missing from Wood End, Cranfield. Please let me know if you have seen them wondering/know where they are!!:-( They are very much missed!!! Check it out on Cranfield Facebook. Page

Six strikes against Cranfield wind turbines

I wouldn't say it was an anti-climax but the odds seemed overwhelming against the "Cranborough" 6-windfarm planning application.

There was opposition from the Airfield, from the Forest Centre, professional planners and of course the Cranfield groundswell mobilised by ACT. The council received 368 letters of objection.

The final vote at Development Management Committee in Central Beds Council this morning (see above) was nine against and one for. There was an abstention hanging around somewhere.

The planning officers stated : "The (proposal) is considered to have a detrimental impact on the landscape character of the area, residential visual and noise amenity and visual amenity from recreational areas within the Vale. The harm would outweigh the benefits of harnessing wind power." The recommended refusal on six grounds including siting and scale; impact on historic environment; lack of information and conflict with national and CBC policies.

The officers specifically criticised FCC for not supplying information needed to assess the application against some of these policies. Given that no rep from FCC turned up to speak in favour the company displayed a cavalier attitude.

There were individual statements to the committee from Cranfield's Cllr Sue Clark, Cllr Alan Bastable, Parish Cllr Roger Baker, chair of the PC planning committee and Peter Gardner of ACT (Against Cranfield Turbines). Cranfield's Cllr Ken Matthews chaired the committee.

Cranfield Express Email

Peter Hinson from Cranfield Express has had some temporary diffs with his emails and writes:
 

"Please note peter@cranfieldexpress.co.uk or any of the cranfieldexpress.co.uk addresses will bounce back un-received.
The problem will hopefully be resolved but in the meantime please use peter.hinson@primex.co.uk to contact Cranfield Express"

Super fast?

There has been speculation about broadband speeds on the Cranfield Cyber Fields recently so here is the latest from CBC. 

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. The roll out of superfast fibre broadband to thousands more homes and businesses across Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes is now underway The three councils are working with BT and Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) to build on the private sector’s roll-out to extend the availability of fibre broadband to around 91 per cent of homes and businesses by spring 2016 as part of the ‘Central Superfast’ project. The rollout will see fibre broadband made available to more than 35,000 homes and businesses in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes by spring 2016. In addition, the project aims to ensure broadband speeds of 2 megabits per second and above are made available to all homes and businesses that would otherwise still be getting slower speeds.  The first superfast broadband cabinets enabled as part of the project are being unveiled in the local areas and will provide local residents and businesses with access to high speed fibre broadband fast enough to download music in seconds and stream TV shows and films. The first location in Central Bedfordshire is in Stanford. The installation has been welcomed by Cllr Richard Wenham, Deputy Executive Member for Corporate Resources at Central Bedfordshire Council. He said: “Access to high-speed internet has never been more important, whether you are a small business wishing to build your company, a student taking advantage of online learning resources, an elderly person living on their own or a family making use of online shopping and entertainment or just keeping in touch with friends and family. "In today’s rapidly-moving world, fast and sophisticated communications are absolutely vital. This is the beginning of an extensive programme to deliver better infrastructure across Central Bedfordshire and we are working hard with our partners to extend broadband coverage as far as possible” Annette Thorpe, BT’s regional partnership director for the East of England, said: “We have been working hard to get us to this important milestone. This is an exciting time for Central Superfast and the beginning of a journey that will see the communications landscape completely transformed. “This project will boost the local economy and help to create and protect local jobs. It will be of enormous benefit to local businesses which can use the faster speeds to improve their competitiveness both within the UK and abroad.” This high-speed network is available on an open, wholesale basis to all communication providers, therefore offering households and businesses the benefit of real choice from a highly competitive market. For more information on broadband, please visit the broadband pages on our website. Keep in touch Don't forget, that you can also follow us on Twitter, find us on Facebook and watch our latest videos on YouTube.  Questions for Central Bedfordshire Council? Contact us Subscriber services: Manage Preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Delete Profile  |  Help |  Unsubscribe All     This email was sent to Broadgreen68@btinternet.com using GovDelivery, on behalf of: Central Bedfordshire Council · Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5TQ · 0300 300 8301

Vital garden help

 

One of the biggest wrenches  for an older person giving up a family home because it is too much work is losing the garden. If only someone could do the heavy lifting! There is help at hand, however, from Age UK which CBC's Central Bedfordshire Together's ezine has drawn our attention to.

Visit 

http://www.centraltogether.org.uk/news/2014/03/19/over-50-and-need-a-gardener-age-uk-bedfordshire-can-help/

Tricky crossings

Crossing? Don't cross me

One of the trickiest points in Cranfield's whole traffic management system and its long delayed traffic calming was the Coop Junction. Even when the scheme was competed there were still worries about pedestrian access, especially for older people, coming over from Portnall Place. A proposal for a proper "zebra" crossing has been the inevitable outcome and this is now going through its various hoops -  or stripes as it were.

Graham Taylor of  Amey's Consulting, Rail and Strategic Highways is investigating the request from Central Bedfordshire
Council (CBC) to implement a raised zebra crossing in Mill Road at Portnall Place.   He says a site survey and initial layout design has been carried out  to install the raised zebra crossing between Portnall Place and the Co-op supermarket.   

If approved by the Parish Council the next stage would be  a notice in the local newspaper (presumably Cran X)  stating that  Central Bedfordshire Council intends to install a raised zebra crossing.   If there are objections at this point the scheme will be referred to the CBC Traffic Management Committee.

Could I what?

Well, could you foster? 

It might sound like a huge ask but there are around 50,000 foster carers in the UK looking after 60,000 children. It's not all full time as many do weekend respite, some do specialist support for children with disabilities and many combine it with a day job in the household. Fostering services will work as closely as possible to help you fit this role around your life and that of existing family members. See the full deal from Central Beds at fostering for Central beds  or call 0300 300 8181

Ordinary people wanted for extraordinary role…

A message from the Adoption and Fostering Team at Central Bedfordshire Council…

‘Chloe and Daniel are in their mid twenties. They have their own young family, yet made the exceptional decision to provide
short term foster care for children who are unable to be with their own families.
We asked Chloe what it was like to be a Foster Carer in Central Bedfordshire, and also what their friends thought about about them choosing to take on this incredible role.
How long have you been fostering?
We have been a fostering family for nearly two years, and hope to
be for many more years to come.
Why did you  choose to become foster carers?
We felt we could help children and babies from difficult circumstances. We wanted to give them a warm and loving family environment, and give them the right positive attitude and value towards their future.
What’s the best thing about being a foster carer?
Watching the child become more confident. Also the positive impact it has had on our own children who are 3 and 5 years old. They understand our  role and have flourished from having a foster brother or sister.
What is the biggest challenge?
The most challenging thing is settling the foster child into their  new fostering family, and of course the letting go aspect at the end is very difficult too. We try to reflect on this with all the great achievements we have made with the child. Working with birth families can be challenging but also very, very rewarding.

The back of nowhere

 We're stuck out in the back of nowhere and many people are dependent on lifts and community transport with various degrees of organisation. This training from a Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity (BRCC) could well enhance your ability to meet this need.

Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity (BRCC) offers a range of training for both minibus and car drivers (paid or voluntary), as well as passenger assistants, including:

-  MiDAS (Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme) tuition, providing improved driving skills and vehicle size awareness for larger minibuses (up to 16 passenger seats)
-  MiDAS Accessibility module, providing skills in carrying and securing those in wheelchairs
-  MiDAS driving tuition and accessibility module for smaller vehicles (up to 8 passenger seats)
-  PATS (Passenger Assistant Training Scheme), providing training and information in the care of passengers, particularly those with mobility difficulties.
Courses are generally held locally, and successful completion will result in a certificate valid for four years, as well as increased driving, passenger handling and customer awareness skills.

Want to find out more?

Contact Neville Jephcote, Community Transport Manager on 
01234 345327
Email nevillej@bedsrcc.org.uk

CPRE summer walk

This is a bit off our beaten track but may appeal to some Crannies 

From: CPRE Bedfordshire <info@cprebeds.org.uk>
Reply-To: Nicola Scholfield <nicola.scholfield@cprebeds.org.uk>
Date: Monday, 23 June 2014 12:37
To: CPRE Bedfordshire <info@cprebeds.org.uk>
Subject: CPRE Summer's walk - Sundon Hills - Thurs 3rd July 6.45pm



Hello,

Please join us on our summer's evening walk around the lovely Sundon Hills on Thursday 3rd July at 6.45pm.

It will be led by local experts who will be talking about the chalk downlands and the future for the area, as we take in the striking views of the surrounding countryside from one of the highest points in Bedfordshire. There should be many flowers, grasses and butterflies in full splendour this time of year.

Start/finish point - Sundon Hills Country Park car park (on the road between Harlington and Upper Sundon).

Free for CPRE members, £3 for non-members. To book or for more details contact 01234 353331 orinfo@cprebeds.org.uk.

Hope to see you there!

Nicola

Contact number on the evening of the walk - 07903 111873
--





--
Campaign to Protect Rural England
Bedfordshire Branch
5 Grove Place
BEDFORD
MK40 3JJ

Tel./Fax 01234 353331
Email: info@cprebeds.org.uk
Website: www.cprebeds.org.ukRegistered Charity Number 1023435

Deliver Cranfield Express?

Volunteers required in Wharley End to help with distribution of Cranfield Express

 

Cranfield Express is a community paper, delivered free of charge by unpaid volunteers. We are in need of more volunteers to help with distribution at Wharley End. If you are able to give 30 minutes a month to deliver locally, please contact Margaret:

•

07889 926437

•

margaret.rooney3@btinternet.com

 

 

Cranfield Parish Council 18 June 2014

Wednesday, 18th June 2014 at 8.00pm
at Holywell School, Red Lion Close

AGENDA





1. To receive apologies for absence. PCllr P Meadows

2. To receive declarations of personal and/or prejudicial interests in any matter

3. To confirm the minutes of the last meeting[s]

4. Clerk's Report

5. Health & Safety

 

6. Reports from Committees

6.1. Finance and Grants Committee [Extraordinary meeting]

6.2. General Purposes Committee

6.3. Burial Grounds Committee

    6.3.1. Allotments and cemeteries questionnaire
6.4. Environment Committee

6.5. Planning Committee

    6.5.1. Housing for the elderly consultation




7. Financial matters and accounts for payment

8. Correspondence

9. Reports from unitary councillors (and any other representatives)

10. Highway matters

Housing for older people

Portnall Place, Mill Road

CBC is raising the issue about housing for older people in rural areas. This is absolutely right as the country's housing stock depletes and we do not keep up with the house building programme of the 1950s. Cranfield has first class provision, run by Aragon in Mill Road (above) but what's next? 

There's supposed to be more homes for older people on the Home Farm development, when that's built, but we are't holding our breaths. The Alms Houses, Goodman for instance, are still around but the Hartwell houses (see below) were no longer fit for purpose and have been sold to finance future housing for older people.

Hartwell almshouses - pretty but needing work

CBC wants comments on it newly adopted  Housing Allocations Policy to be implemented in the autumn. This asks that consideration be given  to older/retired people in rural areas, who may wish to downsize to a smaller property but remain in the area. The consultation runs between 2nd June and 30th June 2014. Personal and Parish Council views are invited. Responses via the Central Bedfordshire Council website: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations This will be considered at Full Council tomorrow evening (18 June)

Turbine protest in Cranfield

The protest against proposed wind turbines on the old Brogborough landfill is site is scheduled for Saturday 21 June at 10.30. Get up to date with Against Cranfield Turbines (ACT) facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/cranfieldagainstwindturbines/

busy busy busy

Our local Central Beds ward - everything from Cranfield and Salford to Brogborough, Marston, Lidlington and Ridgmont has three councillors - all of them from Cranners. But what do they do when they get to CBC Towers near Shefford?
 
Here's the current set-up, agreed at the council's recent Annual meeting 

Sue Clark was appointed Deputy Executive Member for Children’s Services, and a member of the Development Management Committee. 


 
Alan Bastable was appointed Vice Chair of the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Ken Matthews was appointed Vice Chair of the Development Management Committee, General Purposes Committee, and the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

When will the bus be here?

Encouraging bus news was recently reported by Cranfield Cllr Ken Matthews : CBC budgeted for improvement to bus stops. The main bus stop at the university will be installed with "real-time" display ie an electronic message board telling you how far away the next bus is. There will be a further bus stop installed on University Way at Wharley End. Great news and now we need the same on the Village High Street.

and visit http://www.lutonsfc.ac.uk/News/Pages/Realtimedisplaywillhelpstudentscatchthebus.aspx
for a further explanation.