Minutes 18.6.24

Present. J Richardson, B Williamson, R Pearce Gould, F Puddu, D Bellamy, I Richards,

P Edwards, G Hayde, C Alexander, J Nanor

Apologies. None

Welcome to Paul Edwards on his first attendance at HRG.

Traffic and transport

EWR

No new information re EWR till after the general election.

At the last drop-in event at Comberton, EWR confirmed that the Statutory Consultation would include Drop-in events. HRG Transport Group wrote to EWR requesting a Drop-in event at Harston, due to the potential impact on the village. EWR said they will consider Harston as a venue.

HRG and Harston Parish Council have formed a joint EWR working group.

More people with appropriate skills are needed to join the working group.

An appeal for help will be put in the newsletter. Or anyone who is interested in joining the working group, please email harstonresidents@gmail.com

When the date for the 1st stage of the statutory consultation is set information will need to be sent out to residents.

We have made a Freedom of Information request regarding the Harston-Barrington footpath and whether EWR did a survey. A similar request was made for the Drift.

Residents are receiving requests from EWR to do surveys on land off Royston Road.

The EWR Working Group is requesting help from anyone with IT skills, communication and social media skills, producing brochures, etc. If you are interested, please contact HRG on the email address above.

Buses

A2B have taken over the 26 Royston to Cambridge bus route. The timetable doesn’t show it going through Harston, but the new route is along London Road, through Hauxton, Little Shelford, Foxton, and along Harston High street.

Action. BW to try to contact A2B

Action. DB has asked Maria King for assistance to sort this out. And to find out who is responsible for the route timetables.

Action. JN to add timetable to the Minutes.

Greenways and Church St

Harston Parish Council has applied for 20mph zones on Church St, Button End and Station Road.

Overgrown hedgerows

Residents are responsible for hedgerows overhanging footpaths. Highways is responsible for hedgerows not in gardens.

Action. GH will email parish clerk re overhanging hedges and requesting residents cut them back.

Pavements

The pavements near the surgery are uneven and a hazard to walk on

Action. BW to contact SCDC, Highways and Maria King.

Website

FB is keeping the website up to date.

Neighbourhood Plan

The Survey closed on 11th June. 110 responses. Comments are now being analysed and data will be presented. Respondents agreed with the majority of statements in the survey.

There was a discussion about how many residents of a single household could complete the survey. It appears not all household members could complete it as only one paper copy was delivered per household, although an additional survey was available online.

Community activities

HRG received a letter from the Head of the primary school, expressing appreciation of the work of the Greener Harston group and requesting advice and guidance for 3 projects in school

  1. Wildflower meadow.
  2. Flower beds in front of school need to be cleared out and advice on what to plant and plant donations from gardeners.
  3. Gardening club after school.

HRG members’ comments included:

  • Have pupils’ parents been asked?
  • Opportunity for older Harston residents to work together with students.
  • Junior Greener Harston group?
  • CA is willing to help a volunteer.
  • GH suggested school approaches Philimores or Scotsdales for guidance on gardening, in return for some publicity.

Action. Put an item in the Newsletter asking for anyone interested in supporting this initiative to email the Head at head@harstonnewton.cambs.sch.uk

Litter pick Next date 22nd Sept 2-4pm.

BW, IR and JR volunteered to help CA.

Summer Family Fun Day at Harston Parish Church on 13th July, 2-5pm. Lots of fun activities.

Planning

Asda has submitted a Licensing application for the Pemberton Arms. Planning application approved. Notice now on premises.

Licensing application is for 6am-11pm. Application is on the Planning Portal. It will be discussed at next parish council meeting.

Land towards end of Royston Rd now sold.

Updates from HPC

None

AOB

For anyone with complaints about paths and pavements in Harston, the

HPC website has information and there’s an interactive map for reporting issues.

Footpath to Newton is on the active travel list.

PE thanked the group for an interesting meeting.

Deadline for items for magazine is 12th July

Next meeting will be on 16th July