Harston Residents’ Group virtual meeting minutes 21.7.20
Present: Brian Williamson, Joy Richardson, Claire Cock-Starkey, Linda Churchman, Hilary Roadley, Peter Hayde, Gaynor Hayde, Becki Mason, Peter Griffin, Dom Bellamy, Jan Nanor, Tim Arnold, Graham Broughton, Margaret Greeves
Apologies: Myfanwy Lloyd
Communications: Congrats to Tim on latest newsletter. Tim raised need to share agenda on social media in advance of meetings.
Action: Claire to put agenda into a Google doc so it can be shared as a link online. Tim and Claire to coordinate and write next newsletter
Harston Lockdown Exhibition: Margaret Greeve leading on this. Trying to capture what life has been like in Harston during lockdown and discussing what we can learn from it. Pencilled in for Saturday 3rd October in the school hall with the intention to show photos, paintings, letters, memories alongside a better brew café. Hilary is also collecting memories of lockdown for the history website.
Postcards available for people to write their memories, thank yous or hopes for the future on. These can be dropped off at village shop.
Tim suggested large piece of paper at exhibition that people can draw or write their memories on. Also suggested local councillors be invited along. The programme will appear in the next village magazine.
Community Food Hub: Numbers attending rising on a weekly basis, lots of donations but need more fresh fruit and veg on a Wednesday. There’s going to be a write up about the initiative in the next District magazine. Want to share message that it is excess food that would otherwise go to food waste so anyone can come along and take some (and leave a donation if they wish).
Action: Tim suggest Becki make a video or write a blog so it can be shared more widely.
Harston Help and Warden Scheme: Both going well with new volunteers and new warden in place.
Greener Harston: Thanks to Becki Korb for producing bulb planting scheme and risk assessment. Peter asked if we needed permission from Highways to work on the verges – Dom will enquire/check. Peter says planting scheme needs further discussion as some of the small crocus might be hidden by daffodils.
Action: Discuss planting scheme at next meeting.
Traffic Island: Traffic island looks awful, can it go back on agenda for PC? Dom reports that Highways say it has to be tarmac. Everyone unhappy with it. Joy requests PC push back against this and say residents unhappy and goes against general wilding of traffic islands around the county. Brian suggest we ask developers of Vujon to sponsor and spruce up the island.
Gaynor suggests we write direct to Highways about this and express our views. Tim says why not make it an open letter so it can be shared on social media and with relevant groups.
Action: Joy to draft letter regarding traffic island and Tim to help with social media.
Vujon planning: Dom reported back on PC meeting on it. Three were in favour and two against. As a result they recommended approval with request that height of building be reviewed.
A number of HRG members listened to PC meeting and were very unhappy with how the issue was handled especially as chair seemed to suggest PC needed to curry favour with developers. Also that councillors talked about their personal views on the project rather than trying to represent the comments of the villagers they represent. Tim suggests a meeting between PC and HRG with an independent chair to feedback that it does not seem like PC are representing village voices.
Ultimately the Vujon planning has now been handed back to planning therefore no further comments can be made by residents.
East–West rail: Brian reports lots of conversations with other local villages e.g. Harlton and Haslingfield over the potential route as a huge area is under consideration. Dom said lots of the villages are banding together to try and create a preferred route but that this is not easy as lots of competing interests.
Action: Dom to keep HRG posted on developments and will seek opinions on any suggested routes.
Re-opening Harston station: Roger Hickford sent email requesting meeting on 5th August about potentially re-opening Harston Station. On the face of it seems like a good idea but East-West rail have stated they have no interest in reopening station so what is the agenda? Peter Hayde suggests a business case for a reopening would only really make sense alongside a huge amount of development so we should be wary.
Action: Tim, Jan, Brian and Peter Hayde to attend meeting.
Melbourn Greenway: Brian reports some plans showed a cycle path which would go through the village green and close left turns into the road running alongside the green. Questions raised over who owns the green. Hilary thinks it is the PC’s responsibility and suggests we seek to have it listed as a protected space.
Graham Broughton said he was not in favour of any layout which changed the road scheme around the green and all agreed.
Peter Hayde said the PC should make sure the GCP pays for the green if they want to cut through it.
Action: Hilary and Dom to keep an eye on this and see how protection for the green could be arranged.
London Road traffic proposal: New idea proposed to narrow London Road using water-filled barriers which would create extra space for cyclists and walkers and reduce speed limit to 30 mph. All agreed that speed limit needed to be reduced but that this plan was ugly and seemed like overkill.
Efforts have been ongoing to reduce speed limit on London Road but it has been refused. PC plans to use speed cameras to obtain data to show the problem needs addressing.
Action: Dom to feedback that HRG keen for speed limit to be reduced on London Road but not for water-filled barriers.
Memorial bench: Funding for a metal bench with sculpture of soldiers on has been secured via Community chest grant. Opinions sought on where it should be placed. Hilary suggested on verge in front of village hall. Gaynor thinks that’s too close to the road.
Newsletter: Things to include: Food hub, draft programme of Harston Lockdown exhibition, litter pick reminder, plea for more items for history website.
Next meeting: 18 August 2020