December / January 2003

COUNTY COUNCIL LETTER

 Mid October / November  2002

October

 A1303 NEWMARKET ROAD/BELL ROAD JUNCTION, BOTTISHAM

 A lot of local motorists use this hazardous junction and have been complaining about the changes made a little more than a year ago.

Soon after the red strip and double solid white lines were installed I arranged to monitor the junction with an officer from Shire Hall Transport. We both agreed that the system was not working as intended. Drivers were overtaking recklessly. Since then I have been chipping away at Shire Hall to get some improvement.

What has now been decided is that a pre-fab traffic island will be built on the A1303 at the junction with Bell Road. I cannot say precisely when this will be done, but I hope before the end of the financial year. Let us hope that this will meet our anxieties and possibly persuade impatient drivers to avoid stupid and illegal overtaking.

 PROPOSED DUPLICATE POWER LINE BURWELL TO HORNINGSEA

 24 Seven are submitting an application to double the supply of much needed extra power to Cambridge area involving a parallel power line across the Fens in our locality. Quy, Lode, Swaffhams and Reach dwellers dwellers and parish councils are worried about the effect on our landscape, farming and general amenities. I have written to 24 Seven mentioning these anxieties and asking if it is possible to substitute the existing pylons with larger stronger ones able to take twice the present cable load. I am also keeping in touch with a small group of interested villagers who are requesting adjustment to soften the effect on our Fen area.

 CAMBRIDGE CITIZENS PANEL

 For the last 3 or more years I have been a member of this panel. We have responded to long questionnaires regarding the County priorities and policies. This body is now being disbanded and the County will seek opinions by other means. Personally, I am quite sad as I Nought it was interesting and useful and I was able to reflect the views, I hope, of the people who live in this part of the County.

The results of the last survey were as follows:

 Library service  highly rated, demand for more hours, book stock needs improvement.

 Registration births, deaths , marriages  used by a quarter of Carobs. residents in the last 3 years  largely satisfied except for parking and opening hours for Ely office

One stop Council Services  preferred at Post Offices and libraries with computer/telephone link with someone on hand to help.

 Quality of Life a large majority very or fairly satisfied with loyal neighbourhood as a place to live. Two fifths complain about traffic noise, a quarter about aircraft noise and one fifth noisy neighbours.

 Safety cameras  wide spread acceptance. Women more pro camera than men.

 Bus and train services more using both than 2 years ago. Fewer complaints about bus frequency than before.

 Financial priorities most feel additional funding should be used to improve Services before reducing Council Tax. Emphasis on care for elderly, tackling youths offending and schools. These are mostly my views and I hope that, on the whole, you agree:

 NOVEMBER

 LIBRARIES

 At the time of writing County Members, particularly in rural areas, are becoming concerned about possible closures of up to ten lightly used libraries. There has been reference to this risk in the Cambridge Evening News and I have warned the two Parish Councils of Bottisham and Burwell that either might be involved.

 Over the years I have supported the library provision to our area. and I would leap to the defence of our library service should any threat to it arise, Your support would be most helpful.

 However, since 1982 there has been a continuous decline in book issues at Bottisham interrupted by a sudden surge when the new library opened in 1995/96. The school side is not directly affected.

 The reason why the situation might arise stems from the severe financial pressure suffered by Cambridgeshire. The administration has reached the conclusion that this could continue and in order to deliver an effective service cuts to the library service look inevitable

 I will keep you informed should there be any prospects that will affect either of the two libraries in our neighbourhood. In the meantime bear in mind the old saying "Use it or lose it".

 In the context of what I have just written, it is relevant to mention that the CEN report of the County Budget debate last February records "The Lib,Dems put forward an amendment to the budget to put more money into the county's cash strapped foster care, library and other services". I voted for it; regrettably, the amendment was voted down.

 FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

 As a member of the Fire and Rescue Service I have been distressed at the confrontation between the Fire Brigade Union and the Local Government Employers backed by the Government. As I write (mid November) there seems to be a stand off while the Bain Inquiry comes to some conclusion. Strikes are still possible. Let us hope common sense prevails.

 Locally, both Swaffham Bulbeck and Burwell stations are manned by part timers known as Retained Firefighters. The Fire Fighters Union has reassured us that the majority of retained fire appliances will still be operating in the event of a strike by the full time personnel. We can take it that this applies to our two respected and popular crews.

 POPULATION GROWTH

 You may be interested to learn that the population of East Cambs has risen by 35% to 73.000 in the last ten years. This is one of the main reasons for the rise in house building in all our communities even those villages designated as "infill only".

 May I wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas season.

 James Fitch

 STOP PRESS

I have just heard that Bottisham library (Community Part) is on the list of 10 libraries under threat of closure. I hope we can all rally round to put up a good defence against this absorb proposal. I am in discussions with the Warden, Parish Chairman & Others to put up a really strong defence.