Your County Councillor

COUNTY COUNCIL LETTER

 Mid August / September  2001

At this time of the year the County Council bursts into activity on outside matters such as roads, paths and bridleways.

As your readers are aware the long awaited cycle path between Lode and Swaffham Bulbeck has been as long in pregnancy as a baby elephant: However, at the end of last month at the joint County and District Transport Committee the final money sanction was granted. The cost of the Lode-Bulbeck scheme is a total of £160.000. This is not out of the way because high standard cycle paths these days cost about £100.000 per kilometre. If a properly constructed path costs this much we have a right to expect that it will stay in good condition for a lot longer than the cheaper paths like Bottisham to Lode or Quy to Bottisham, where weeds come through and damage the surface.

The construction. of the path will start shortly, probably to coincide with the building of the paths between Airport Way to Quy and Quy to Bell Road, Bottisham. This should be in the Autumn. At the same time the Quy/A1303 junction will be sorted and controlled by traffic signals. The extension of the "Fen Edge path" from Swaffham Bulbeck to Swaffham Prior will now become a high priority in a year or two to tie in with Sustrans' plans for the whole UK network.

There will be an improvement to the safety of road traffic at the triangle in Bottisham. In an attempt to stop parking and unwise filtering in to High Street at the junction of Tunbridge Lane with High Street/Lode Road, the Highways Department will build out the pavement over the existing hatched area and put in a new kerb protected by oak timber posts. In addition a new drop crossing point for pedestrians connecting the pavement between the Butcher's and Arnold's houses and the post office on the other side will make it safer for everyone trying to cross - including my grandchildren: As Mrs Butcher knows, it has taken ages to get this junction made less dangerous.

August is normally a quiet holiday month from the Council view point, I hope everyone who could get away had just such a rewarding holiday.

However, back here the last few weeks have been dominated by a bad outbreak of the modern disease of "CONSULTATION”

Backed by the Government, Cambridgeshire Health Authority is hurrying through consultations on the future organisation of health services within the County. The main purpose of this round of discussions (120 meetings are planned in Cambs.) is to get support for the Health Authority's (HA) plans for the abolition of the three Primary Care Groups PCG)_ and their replacement by Primary Care Trusts (PCT).

The Trusts will be free-standing and retain all the responsibilities of the Groups but in addition have greater freedom through being able to directly employ staff for community health services;

Lifespan is to be closed down; streamline primary and community services own premises (and land); combine budgets

At a typical meeting in Burwell (23 August) the proposals were outlined by various members and officials of the HA and PC Gs. They came with a recommendation as follows:

1) Create Cambridge City PC Trust

2) " South Cambridgeshire PC Trust

3) " Combined East Cambridgeshire and Fenland Trust

The other options were for 3 individual PCTs for Cambridge, S.Cambs and East Cambs., or for 2 Cambridge City PCT and a combined South and East Cambs. Trust

The Burwell meeting was universally hostile to the recommendation that East Cambs. and Fenland should be joined in a single trust. I sensed a considerable indignation that the proposal should be discussed in a holiday month at an awkward time, and there was mounting hostility to the idea of merging with Fenland, mainly because an East Cambs. trust on its own would be too small. The general view in which I concur is that this should be a case of "small is beautiful".

The united view of the people present was:

1) Allow the change of the East. Cambs. PGC to a Trust

2) Preferably no merger with Fenland on grounds of incompatibility, access, existing links elsewhere and many others.

If forced, reluctantly agree to a merger with South Cambs PCG to form a united East & South Cambs. Trust.

Express your own views by 10th October or enquire for more details from

Alan Burns, Chief Executive
Cambridgeshire H.A.
FREEPOST ANG 9329
HUNTINGDON
PE29 6BR
Tel. 01480 - 398508

The CHA will consider responses and agree recommendations to the NHS Executive on 17 October, in Huntingdon HQ at l pm. (open to public).

The Trusts are expected to become operational 1 April 2002 an appropriate day perhaps.

James Fitch

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