Present. Joy Richardson, Hilary Roadley, Dom Bellamy, Irene Richards, Fabio Puddu, Paul Edwards, Chinnu Alexander, Jan Nanor
Apologies. Terry and Mavis Gardner, BrianWilliamson
Minutes of previous meeting
Accepted
Traffic and transport
DB. EWR invited to all parish councils along the proposed route to give their views on the rail line.Dom wrote to Brian Milne (Cambridgeshire County Councillor) reiterating the potential effect of EWR on Harston. BM will convey the information to the relevant departments in EWR.
The project is on hold currently while Labour deliberates on spending. (A TV documentary on 16th Sept highlighted the failures of HS2 and made many points relevant to EWR)
EWR is continuing to plan. They recently made a request to do a land survey of the recreation ground.
Vegetation on Church Street and other streets
IR asked Harston surgery to cut back the vegetation overhanging the pavement.
HPC contacted Bidwells, the agents for Jesus college, to request that a hedgerow further along Church Street is cut back. HPC will verify that Jesus college is responsible for this.
HPC understands that Highways is responsible for The Footpath at Button End. HPC is pursuing this.
Speed limits
HPC has requested a 20mph speed limit for Button End, Station Rd and Church St. CCC has delayed making the decision.
Closure of Station Rd level crossing.
The level crossing is closed to repair the dip in the road at the crossing.
Potholes and kerbside bollards
- Harston still has sizeable potholes.
- Several bollards in the Royston Rd area have been knocked over.
Residents are encouraged to keep reporting them to highways. Their website has an interactive map for logging them.
Website
FP continues to keep the website updated. He will upload the meeting minutes of HRG on to the website., and show Neighbourhood Plan events
Newsletter
Any submissions for the Harston village e-newsletter should go to Claire.
HR will send Neighbourhood Pan update.
Type in Harston Village e-newsletter to find it. Add your email address to receive your regular copy.
Neighbourhood Plan
A great deal of work has been done.
All comments on the Plan must be logged and responded to. About a quarter of submissions relate to EWR and they have been signposted on as it is outside the remit of the NP.
On 16th Sept the working group met with a South Cambs District Council representative and a consultant to ensure the NP policies are workable. The consultant will amend the plan. Proposals will go HPC. The aim is to submit the documents to SCDC in November, to be checked by relevant bodies. Hopefully, the NP will be finalised in 2025.
SCDC will help with required changes to maps. SCDC is taking NPs seriously and is helpful.
Trees. The NP has included a section on submitting landscaping schemes along with applications for planning permission.
The NP has also recorded all the trees with tree preservation orders and suggested which unregistered tree groups are important and need assessing for TPOs possibly.
Community activities
Harston and Newton Primary School gardening projects
Charlotte Clarke volunteered to liaise with the school and will follow up this term. The first proposed action is to work with the PTFA in sorting out the raised beds in the front of the school.
Greener Harston.
HR has been working on the flower beds around the war memorial. There is a working group to continue this on Saturday morning. All volunteers welcome.
The chain link fencing around part of the memorial needs a new concrete post. Also, the wooden posts around the edge need maintenance. They help deter lorries from going over the green. It is difficult to find tradesmen to do small jobs, so any suggestions are welcome. HR will draw plan of what’s needed.
Litter pick
Will be on Sunday 22nd Sept at 2-4pm. Meet at the pavilion. Tea and cake to follow
HR will collect key to pavilion. Volunteers will be allocated to areas of Harston to pick litter.
More information on harstonvillage.uk
Items for newsletter
Prime Brass is performing on 9th Nov in Harston parish church at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10, including refreshments. More information at www.hhnchurch
Harston History Group talk on Mon 18th Nov at 2.20 after Lunch Club in Harston village hall.
Harston History Group has displays at Better Brew Coffee Mornings at Harston village hall.
Better Brew Coffee Morning at Harston village hall on the first Saturday of every month at 10.30-12.30. As well as delicious coffee/tea and cake there is the Harston Bakers bread and cake stall and a Fairtrade food and craft stall. Christmas gifts now on sale!
Harston History Group is celebrating its 10th anniversary! Congratulations!
Litter pick on Sunday 22nd Sept, 2-4pm. Meet at the Pavilion. Equipment provided and tea and cake ready afterwards.
Community orchard
Has a good crop of apples.
Harston Parish Council
Planning and development
HPC objected to the development application at 11 Royston Road.
Mobile home at 22 Button End. No planning permission needed for mobile homes but this building isn’t mobile.
Asda development at the former Pemberton Arms. Application is on hold at present.
There is a trend for building high walls along the front boundaries of properties. The Neighbourhood Plan will have a section on landscaping in which walls/ fences /hedges will be required to be in keeping with Harston’s rural character.
Recreation ground
Many complaints about dogs off lead and fouling the areas where children play. HPC is working to get dog owners to be more responsible.
Plans being drawn up for the new pavilion.
Greener Harston.
Contractors will be asked to cut the green area at the end of London Road as necessary to maintain it as a wild area.
HPC has erected new signs at River Rhee.
Future of HRG
JR is moving so in the next few months we will discuss the future of HRG, explore possibilities and consider ways to involve more residents.
Date of next virtual meeting.
It will be on Zoom on 15th October at 8pm. Go to harstonvillage.uk for more information.