Harston Residents Group Virtual Meeting
Held on 17th October 2023 at 20.00
Present. J Richardson. B Williamson, I Richards, H Roadley, T Gardner, M Gardner, F Puddu
Apologies. M Greaves
Minutes of previous meeting. Accepted.
Traffic and Transport
EWR
EWR’s preferred route is along the eastern and southern side of Harston. It will then run close to Hauxton and The Shelfords, and into Cambridge along the route of the existing railway line. See map.
The map shows an Online and Offline section.:
- Online section is where the new and existing rail lines join by a points system and then run parallel as 4 lines past Harston woods. New rail bridge needed at London Rd.
- Offline route is a Grade Separation, which is under/over flyover where part of the line runs above the existing Cambridge to Kings Cross line.
Offline version involves closing Station Rd level crossing and building a new road to join London Road between the old and new rail lines.
EWR said they will replace the existing level crossing with new pedestrian access across the rail line. With the offline option the rail line would go very close to new annexe of house nearest to the line on Station Rd. AECOM (which is supporting work on the Neighbourhood Plan) confirmed there’s a compulsory purchase order west of rail line opposite Tanner and Hall site. Online option, is there potential for a bridge over the level crossing in Station Rd?
The Level Crossings at Station Rd, Harston and Church Rd, Hauxton will be closed.
EWR said they would build 2 new roads for accessibility when the level crossings close. (See map). HRG considers Harston residents need a footpath and cycle path alongside the new roads.
Mitigation
EWR should offer mitigation for the negative impacts of constructing the rail line.
(Developers of HS2 offered bat boxes and ‘improvement’ of the remaining land after the diggers had finished. assets.hs2.org.uk )
Harston residents will need to ensure mitigation is fair and proportionate.
As a precursor we considered the following:
- What is the potential impact likely to be?
We looked at the map. Attached.
- What do we consider mitigation should include?
We discussed noise, cycleways, footpaths, air pollution, wear and tear on roads, trees and landscaping, cycle path from Station Rd to Newton.
No prospect of building a new Harston station.
We want the railway to go under A10 south of Harston.
- How do we encourage Harston residents to get involved?
- Does R Pearce Gould (Cambridge Approaches) have access model and info?
- Use HRG website and table at Betterbrew to inform community and record opinions.
Action.
- JN to liaise with Betterbrew for 2nd December.
- IR and FP to assist with HRG website.
- Info in Parish mag
- Survey for residents?
What about the problems that will occur during construction?
EWR says lorries will only access site via A10.
More info needed re lorries etc accessing site.
Communication with nearby villages. Do we need more communication with The Shelfords and Hauxton?
Shelford has own EWR group and is aware of the potential impact.
The question was raised of whether we should pause discussion this until we have more detail from EWR. Opinion was divided but there was concern that it would be too late to express our views if we waited till the statutory consultation.
BW contacted EWR, who confirm that residents’ opinions will be sought at the Statutory Consultation taking place in the first half of 2024.
Action. HRG will ask Harston residents about their priorities for mitigation.
Church Street
BW, JN and Dom Bellamy met Kerry Allen (Senior Project Manager, GCP) on Harston Green to look at the traffic problems on Church Street.
KA said the cycle path across fields to Haslingfield Greenway won’t go ahead, due to funding shortfall.
.
Kerry said they will install speed humps, raised table opposite surgery and 20mph limit. We asked for 20mph along Button End too.
The cycleway crossing at Church St towards Royston will be made safer.
IR- will residents be consulted about speedbumps on Church St?
Communications
Thank you to FB for the work he has done on HRG website.
FB will send JN new link to access website. Editing rights for JN and HR for uploading material.
Action. Meeting with FB for tutorial on a weekend. JR to progress.
We need to have bigger presence in the parish magazine to encourage people to join HRG.
Newsletter
Please send information and items to C Cock-Starkey.
Neighbourhood Plan
Design code. 8 character areas are identified so any new development should complement the character area it’s in:
- Integrated development with historical architecture
- Contribution to rural village character and lifestyle
- Protecting and enhancing landscape setting.
Sensitive areas. Will indicate where we want to protect in the landscape.
Supplementary documents to the NP
Design guidance and codes: will be with regard to:
- Local architecture
- Rural village
- Landscape design
- Sustainability
Timescale: Daft NP to be submitted to SCDC at end of year.
Amendents in new year.
Plan is for publicity at end of March to go to residents.
Community activities
Greener Harston… tidying up areas of village and maintaining war memorial.
In next parish mag HRG will invite people to opt into specific activities, eg gardening.
Litter pick on 24th Sept
Went very well. Enthusiastic local families came. V pleasant event.
Posters advertising litter pick need to have bigger writing. Do we need bigger roadside signs?
People are also encouraged to litter pick while out walking.
Christmas events
Events on at parish church. See parish magazine.
Village hall centenary celebrations
Events on weekend of 3/4th Nov. Fliers around village and info on village hall website.
Planning developments
No new applications
Liaison with Parish Council
External works are pending on level crossing at Station Rd.
Road closed on Mon 23rd Oct to Tues 7th Nov
AOB
Potholes on level crossing at Station Rd. Individuals should report potholes.
Next meeting: Tuesday 21st Nov. at 8pm.
Jan Nanor