Present. J Richardson, H Roadley, B Williamson, C Alexander, I Richards, F Puddu, R Pearce Gould, J Nanor
Apologies for absence. None
Review of minutes from last meeting. Accepted.
Traffic and transport.
Update from EWR Village Meeting on 14th Jan.
It was well attended. Many concerns highlighted including destruction of farmland from the rail line and from constructing new roads, severing connections between villages, increased traffic around Harston, access to schools, GP surgeries and shops. Visual impact of high embankment. Air and noise pollution, the trains will be diesel.
Suggested actions following on from the event:
- Write to MP, Anthony Browne re above.
- Contact Jane Palmer, Chair of Hauxton PC to offer to bring our EWR display to any of their events.
- Encourage younger residents to get involved…any suggestions for how to do it?
- Ask Dom (Chair of Harston PC) if summary of 14th event written by Hauxton resident can be circulated.
- Ask senior representatives from EWR to walk the line to see the effects.
- Keep monitoring and gathering info as it comes out.
- Ask Dom for copy of questions from HPC. List of questions from HRG and HPC are similar.
- RPG suggests a meeting with transport team at CCC re traffic on A10 and generally in Harston.
- RPG suggested creating a formal HPC/HRG working group.
- Look at minutes of meetings regarding views on freight in Cambridge and surrounding areas. Info on meetings is on EWR website.
- Write to Brian Mills or Maria King highlighting concerns.
- EWR local representative group meeting is on 26th Feb. Info will be out in March. Minutes are archived.
RPG is representative and reports back to HPC. Mins of meetings are on HPC website.
Take away points from meeting:
- There is a stronger case for considering the Northern approach, including cost.
- EWR has little idea of the impact of the line on individuals and communities in Harston and around the route from Cambourne to Cambridge.
- EWR said public will be involved in the statutory consultation.
BW, JN and IR went to January Betterbrew coffee morning with a display on how EWR says it may build the line at Harston. Public Consultation coming before June, all can respond.
Melburn Greenway. GCP gave update on Greenways but no reference to Melbourn Greenway that we are part of. BW wrote to Kerry Allen. She said the selected Greenway early works have been chosen as they are quick to complete and within village boundaries. Harston falls outside these criteria. Harston Greenway scheduled for 2025. GCP looking at the design. Harston can be prioritised. Part of Haslingfield Greenway will run from river bridge at Haslingfied and emerge at Hauxton gap to cross the Northern part of Harston. FB has map. Greenway from London Road lights to Hauxton will be upgraded. The cross fields greenway section from Harston won’t be built. Greenway will continue along A10. Junction at Queens Head will be upgraded.
Fence alongside ditch on A10 is falling down. BW has contacted SCDC as it is a safety concern.
Traffic calming on Church St. GCP considering speed bumps and 20mph speed limit.
Communications
Website. FB will give more training on managing the village website.. What’s On page is live and shows current events with dates and times. Separate EWR menu item. Thank you to FB for his continuing work on the website.
Neighbourhood Plan.
HR meeting planning consultant. Tight deadline for submitting finished documents. Concise summary booklet needed by end of March or funding will be lost. HR very keen to use the funding. Minimum of 6 weeks for booklets to be delivered and residents to respond in early March. Responses will be analysed in June/July. The documents then go to SCDC. Housing survey has delayed submission of housing documents. NPs are changing later this year so aim is to complete NP this year.Offers of help with parts of the NP are always welcome. Contact H Roadley via Harston Residents Group website.
Community activities
Greener Harston. HR suggests clearing up around the felled tree by the bus stop.
Litter. Litter is a problem in Harston. Thank You to people who collect litter when going for a walk. It makes a big difference! Next litter pick is in March.
In Conversation events held monthly in Harston Parish Church. Open to everyone.
Planning development and HPC updates
New application for 4 commercial units at Centenary Works, Button End. There is also an application for 4 houses on same site.
Parking at Porsche site. Parking in adjacent roads. AM showroom not yet demolished and this is the planned parking space.
Future of HRG
JR feedback on future timing and format of HRG meetings. We need younger residents to become involved in HRG. CA suggested increasing remote engagement eg. online surveys. Bike maintenance and marking event suggested to engage young people. Action. Think about suggestions for community activities for widening village participation.
AOB. None
Items for Newsletter:
- Invite residents to join HRG virtual Meetings on 3rd Tuesday of the month at 8pm.
- Thank you to residents who pick up litter. Next community litter pick will be on 28 April.
- Monthly In Conversation events at Harston Parish Church. More information from the church website or parish magazine.
- Betterbrew coffee morning on the 1st Saturday of the month in the Village Hall, 10.30-12.30. Coffee/tea and cake, Fairtrade food and gifts for sale and Harston Bakers stall. All welcome.
- Neighbourhood Plan residents’ survey to be delivered to all households in early March. This is your chance to help shape the future for Harston!
We are sad to report that Peter Hayde passed away at Christmas. He was a long-standing and active member who generously contributed his time and knowledge to Harston Residents Group and the village. We would like to record our appreciation for all he did. We send our condolences to Gaynor and his family.
Next meeting. 20th February at 8pm.