Harston Residents Group
Minutes of Virtual Meeting on 17th Jan 2023
Present. Claire Cock-Starkey, Brian Williamson, Peter Hayde, Mareike Herzog, Fabio Puddu, Hilary Roadley, Jan Nanor
Apologies. Joy Richardson, Irene Richards, Christine Heath, Julie Seekings
Traffic and transport
Addition to agenda – Potholes
People’s cars have been damaged by potholes on Church Street. Highways is responsible for repairing them. To exert pressure on Highways to get them fixed:
· Keep logging the incidents on the Highways website, link here: https://highwaysreporting.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/
· Take photos of the potholes to upload with the complaint.
· Include a photo that includes a drink bottle to show the depth of the pothole.
· Report every incident
Recent repairs to the roads are poor quality, eg. on the A10 near the 5G phone mast.
Action. Claire C-S will include a link to the Highways website.
Transport Consultations
No updates or new consultations.
Foxton Travel Hub
Still with Planning
Melbourn Greenway
No new information. BW contacted GCP but has had no response yet.
Mr Hurrell, landowner, has been contacted about the greenway. He was told there is funding to build it. GCP originally said they would not use a hard surface, such as tarmac, however, GH was told that a hard surface is necessary to provide access for ambulances. This has not been mentioned previously, and residents have said they do not want a tarmac surface across farmland.
EWR
No new information. It still has to go to Planning. (The best source of information is the Cambridge Approaches website.)
Communications
Website migration.
FP said HRG can continue to update the current items and he can migrate the rest of the HRG website. The old website renews in September so there is time to migrate all the content.
Action. Finalise this with Joy Richardson, then put a freeze on new material.
The new site will cost less, HRG will check that Harston Parish Council will maintain funding.
Newsletter
CC-S wants to stand back from producing the Newsletter in March.
More volunteers are needed to take on the newsletter.
Community engagement
More people are needed to be actively involved the Residents Group, including regular activities such as the Litter Pick, Greener Harston and the Newsletter and one-off events.
HR suggested that information was produced about events and activities to encourage more volunteers.
Action. Descriptions requested for the next newsletter.
Environment
Neighbourhood Plan
Survey – there will be a trial download of data next week. There has been a good response to the survey so far.
February – the analysed data will be presented.
Aecon to produce Draft Housing Needs Assessment by end of February.
March – workshop in the village hall on the data captured so far. It will be led by a consultant, and the structure of the Neighbourhood Plan will start to be formulated.
Work will then progress to Design Code, Landscape Character Assessment, Green Spaces and Built Environment.
Community Activities.
Greener Harston
Activities will start again in spring, except for the war memorial which will be maintained.
Litter Pick
A request for volunteers will go into the next newsletter. More volunteers are needed for the next Litter Pick in March, including someone to coordinate it. PH will explain the process to new volunteers.
Pavilion
The meeting about developing the pavilion was well attended. Harston Parish Council has put questions about the pavilion in the Neighbourhood Plan to obtain residents’ views.
Planning
161 High Street has submitted a planning application for 3 holiday lets on site.
Liaison with Harston Parish Council
See previous items above.
AOB
King Charles’ coronation
Action. If South Cambs District Council offers funding to commemorate the coronation HRG will make an application to fund seating on the recreation ground.
Harston History Group
A talk on Life in the 1950’s will be on Monday 23rd January at 2.15 in the Village Hall. Tea/coffee to be provided.
Harston Open Gardens
This will take place on the weekend of 10/11th June.
New gardens very welcome. Contact Jan Nanor for more information. janetnanor@gmail.com
Neighbourhood Plan Workshop
This will be in March. All residents are invited. More information to follow.
Date of next meeting 21/2/23 at 8pm.
A zoom link will be sent out on the day.
Please email Harston Residents Group with any items you would like included on the next agenda.
Jan Nanor