A view from a local resident, not HRG view:
”Once again the Parish Council is pushing its idea of destroying part of our wildlife meadow with a croquet lawn for the Meldreth club. In it’sagenda for the 6 Aug council meeting ‘To consider the request to use surplus area in the Meadow area for croquet’. In the minutes of that meeting ‘A questionnaire would be prepared and circulated via the October/November Village News’.
Firstly, how can a wildlife meadow have surplus area? Secondly, there was no questionnaire in the Village News. There was one paragraphoffering the prospect of more croquet taster sessions. The PCs attemptto try to persuade you to support their idea by providing a bit of fun. But what was missing was any information which would enable residents to make a considered decision on the idea. It didn’t mention:
1) where the lawn would go. Unless the PC are going to abandon the newly created junior football pitches, rip up trees planted in recent years or do away with some fitness and play equipment, the only place the lawn would fit is on the wildlife meadow, hence the agenda item referred to above. Ignore their statement in the magazine about possible sites being considered.
2) the meadow has been designated as a County Wildlife Site as it has a range of grass types needed to support insects which pollinate the orchard trees and support species up the food chain.
3) an area of 30 x 40 metres is required.
4) the area would be fenced off.
5) the croquet season is Apr – Sept so for 6 months this area is unused by anyone.
6) the lawn can be watered by hosepipe even when a ban is in force.www.oxfordcroquet.com says in hot summers
croquet lawns require up to 25litres/sq.m of water per week. Cambridge Water says the average 4-person house
uses 3500litres per week. So this lawn will require the equivalent of 8.5 houses water usage. Given the summer we
have just had and the summers forecast to come, how can any organisation that has any regard for the environment
even be considering this project?
7) Meldreth Croquet Club currently uses weedkillers and fertilisers, things that have never been applied to this area.
8) Meldreth Croquet Club is a private club currently charging membership at £80 a year.
9) Meldreth Croquet Club expects to use the pavilion facilities, parking spaces, etc, which may clash with existing users.
10) Meldreth Croquet Club currently has a large wooden shed to store equipment. Will they want the same?
11) Meldreth Croquet Club has a membership limit so how many Harstonites will be allowed to join?
12) Melbourn U3A and Royston U3A currently use the lawn 2 mornings a week so this is a facility for more non-Harston people unless you join these organisations and then pay £4 a session.”
If you haven’t received a flyer about this through your letter box, you can see a copy, together with a letter from the Wildlife Trust, at https://harstonvillage.uk/newsupdates/
Please make your views known to the Parish Council at clerk@harstonparishcouncil.gov.uk and we would like you to copy us in at harstonresidents@gmail.com
