Harston Residents Group
Virtual Meeting held on 21/03/23
Present. J Richardson, B Williamson, H Roadley, B Korb, V Blocke, J Nanor, F Puddu, M Herzog, M Gardner. T Gardner, Chinnu Alexander
Apologies. C Cock-Starkey, P Hayde, G Hayde, M Greeves, R Phillippo
A warm welcome to Chinnu who has just joined HRG.
More volunteers are needed for HRG to attend the monthly meetings and/or help with actions such as Greener Harston and the Litter Pick.
Action. CCS to include in Newsletter
Traffic and transport
Potholes
Residents can use CCC website to report potholes. Go to Highways Fault and follow instructions from there.
Or Tel. 0345 0451212
If making a claim take a photo and use an object to show depth of hole.
CCC says the potholes should be repaired in next 12 weeks.
HPC raised issue of potholes with Maria King at last meeting.
Footpaths
HR is contacting Highways regarding the Neighbourhood Plan.
A footpath linking Newton-Harston via Station Road is a priority for active travel.
HR has had a favourable response as many people are already engaged. Hopefully, there’s a chance it will go ahead.
Consultations
None currently for South Cambs area.
Melbourn Greenway
Chris Harte is project manager. Plans have been submitted to Executive Board. CH will have another site meeting with us at Church Street after Executive Board meeting.
EWR
Announcement by EWR expected at end of May. It would be beneficial to have an area on the HRG website for ongoing information. FP said this is possible.
Communications
HRG Website
FB has found a way of moving to a new website.
FB will export current website by end of March. Neighbourhood Plan information can still be put on to old website till we’re ready to switch.
Thank you to Fabio for doing the work on this.
Parish magazine
It has been taken over by Harston and Hauxton PCs. Paru is now editor.
Many thanks to Jane Stringer for all her work as long-standing editor.
Contact details remain the same.
Neighbourhood Plan
18 people attended workshop led by consultant. She advised on what the plan can and can’t do.
Priority areas
- Affordable housing – no brownfield land so will need an Exception Site on green-belt to build affordable housing. Discussion would be needed with SCDC.
- Village Hub. Respondents wanted a village hub. This could be progressed by HPC in relation to developing the pavilion.
- Views of value. People are asked to take photos of views of the village that they value and send to Neighbourhood Plan. These will go into the Design Code and can be used in relation to planning applications.
Action. HR will send out info on taking and submitting photos
- Interconnecting footpath links. W Hurrell does not want to progress a connecting footpath across his land
Harston has a tight village framework to work within.
Greener Harston
Crocuses and daffs that the Greener Harston group planted are flowering eg. opposite Vujon, bus stop near school.
Whips planted opposite Vujon are in bud. One sign will be left on this area to tell people it’s a wildflower area.
The Green looks lovely with the daffodils on it.
Blacksmith who made village sign now works in wood. Cost of signs is very expensive.
Action. HR will arrange working group for War Memorial
Litter picking
Our thanks to Peter and Gaynor Hayde for organising the litter picking twice yearly for several years. They set up a good system. Chinnu has now taken over and Peter will help her get started. Children at the Primary school are also interested.
Next litter pick proposed for after Easter holidays. Chinnu will sort out dates. Chinnu suggested a litter picker station in the village so that people could use the litter pickers around the village and then replace them.
Action. Put advert in Parish Mag azine and on HPC website as well as HRG site.
Action. Chinnu will set up email on HRG site for contact and advertise on Harston Families Chat.
Date agreed: Sunday 14th May 2-4pm. Chinnu will provide cakes. Other cake makers also welcome.
Action. HR to send Chinnu all contact details and show her where the pickers and equipment are stored.
Coronation Celebration
The Big Help-Out
Watch out for information on this event! See HPC website
Clear up in the Community Orchard on morning of 8th May followed by Family Picnic with
Fun and Activities.
Contact sandy@harstonparishcouncil.gov.uk or charlotte@harstonparishcouncil.gov.uk for more information
Zero carbon
SCDC sent out info on a free community climate action course for getting to Net Zero. Villages are encouraged to have Net Zero champions to lead carbon reduction.
See https://cambridgecarbonfootprint.org/what-we-do/net-zero-now/
Trees and hedges
Some new trees were planted in Queens Close. No new initiatives on tree planting.
HR spoke to W Hurrell who said he thinned out trees on the footpath.
NP Design Code will focus on the trees to conserve in Harston.
Some trees have Tree Preservation Orders at Beech farm, where the new housing development will be.
Action. Ask HPC clerk for list of trees with TPOs.
Planning applications
Church Street – HPC has contacted surgery about parking. An orderly system of parking is needed.
Centenary Works – Button End
This was in Cambridge News.
Mr Willers, site owner, submitted 3 application options,
- Travellers site
- Industrial estate
- Housing.
The only active planning application is for Travellers Site.
Responses to the application can be made on SCDC Planning site.
Coop
No updates on planning application for this
Porsche/Aston Martin site
Porsche will demolish AM building and use area for parking when new building is finished.
Button End Beasts
Beki Korb and Vince Blocke, who have sustainably farmed land and reared rare-breed pigs and sheep at Button End for over 10 years, have been served Notice of Eviction by Bidwells on behalf of landowners Jesus College.
Some residents have emailed the bursar at Jesus College in support of Beki and Vince.
Cambridge Evening News doing an interview.
Beki and Vince are waiting for Jesus College to respond.
Contact information:
To show support for Beki and Vince to continue their tenancy, please contact the bursar at Jesus College at www.jesus.cam.ac.uk/contact/contact-form and choose the Bursars Office.
We encourage people to write to Jesus College
At this meeting, attendees cited occasions when Bidwells and Jesus College have failed to engage with Harston residents or respond to communication.
Harston Parish Council News
Nothing relevant to discuss.
AOB
Is there any indication that the HRG meetings will revert to being in-person?
The consensus was that zoom meetings were convenient for most people.
Suggested periodic social meetings at Brewboard or Queens Head. Date TBA.
Items for Newsletter
- Family Litter Pick 2-4pm on 14th May. Cake provided!
- Main points from NP
- Coronation Celebration reminder
- HPC actively pursuing solutions to parking on Church Street
- Potholes – contact details. Dangerous as cars are swerving to avoid potholes. Write to CCC to complain..
- Greener Harston. The group will continue on the last Saturday of the month. Tidying up and maintaining War Memorial
Jan Nanor