Harston Residents Group meeting on 19th Aug 2026
Present. HR, CA, JR, BW, GH, PG, RPG, TW (chair), JN, HG, CP, PA, ML, AM, AL, TG
Frequency of meetings was agreed as monthly, as there is a lot going on.
Minutes of AGM 5/6/26 accepted and action points reviewed. HRG committee set up. Business bank account renewed, Joy Richardson to be removed as a signatory.
1. Governance update.
CA is now a Keep Britain Tidy ambassador. Next litter pick on 27 September. CA has redone risk assessment. There is enough equipment. KBT will hopefully provide insurance which should be set up by end of August.
Insurance for Greener Harston and HRG, should be in place for Sept. We have a grant of £250 for insurance.
Action HR to follow up
2. National Emergency Briefing Screening. This film was initially to brief Parliament about the climate and nature emergency. Now restructured to go out nationally. Being shown around UK. 50 min film with facilitated discussion afterwards.
Action. CA to liaise with RD of VH to screen it in village hall for cinema evening. Likely to be in New Year.
3. Croquet lawn. Meldreth croquet club has enquired about installing their croquet lawn on Harston rec. All present agreed more information was needed so that residents could be meaningfully consulted before any decisions were made.
Summary of points:
The whole village should be informed and consulted. How? Should a PC questionnaire be publicised in newsletter, Harston village website etc?
More information is needed first about location, what is entailed and advantages and disadvantages for the village.
The orchard and meadow are protected wildlife sites. Their intrinsic value is important as unimproved grassland with wildlife and good biodiversity which provides valuable habitat. They should not be impacted by any development.
Croquet club would need to submit a planning application.
Biodiversity net gain? All present agreed there should be no loss of biodiversity if this went ahead.
This request would entail restricting the use of part of Harston’s recreation area to a particular group from another village and people against this.
Why is HPC considering the request? Is it compatible with the interests and needs of Harston residents?
Action. CA to email HPC on behalf of HRG with copy of minutes to say we support biodiversity and request more information re: which part of land is proposed and pros and cons before it is put to public consultation and before put in HRG newsletter
4. Greater Cambridge Local Plan is live till 25th Sept. The village map of Harston shows safeguarded areas as Queens Head and Brewboard, but doesn’t include all the facilities proposed in the Neighbourhood Plan. It is on HPC agenda. Big response needed from Harston residents.
Consultation presentations nearest to Harston are:
Whittlesford Memorial Hall, Mill Lane, CB22 4NE Tues 1 Sept 4-7.30pm
Melbourn Hub SG8 6DZ Mon 7 Sep 4.7.30pm
Action. dates in newsletter of GCLP consultation & venues.HR and anyone else can respond to inform GCLP of the other facilities not on map that are important to Harston.
5. EWR. Not much new info. Trenches were dug along London Road and Lt Shelford Rd. Equipment compound now located off London Road. Residents on Newton Hill will be affected for whole construction period…up to 8 years.
We need to ensure EWR makes good the environmental losses and footpaths.
EWR is replying to Harston Parish Council working group early in Sept.
Brian W is keeping residents informed at Betterbrew coffee mornings on 1st Saturday of the month.
HRG member queried how well represented Harston residents are on HPC working group.
Action: TW to ask HPC whether the views of Harston residents are sufficiently represented on the committees and consultation activities undertaken by HPC and how this is being achieved? HRG would be pleased if BW was involved in these discussions as he is the HRG focus for gathering information and for representing the views of HRG on EWR.
6. Church St TRO: Double Yellow Lines will now be included on the corner of Church Street as well as other traffic calming measures. Greater Cambridge Partnership is responsible as it’s part of Melbourn greenway.
More safe parking needed around Church Street.
The land opposite the surgery is S Cambs land and should be considered for parking ready for when the speed limit is reduced to 20mph. Proper design of this space needed. HPC is consulting with S Cambs.
rep in addition to HPC should ask S Cambs for 106 money to fund the design and create the car park with landscaping on the Footpath
7. Button End Wood update.
Village Green, Public Right of Way and Tree Protection Order applications have been submitted for Button End Wood. Forestry Commission came to look at the trees and assess loss and sent data to HQ for further action. Fines can be given for cutting down trees without permission. The space where trees were is now used for parking by the business. This is change of use so planning application needed.
Residents are now trying to secure access to it and safeguard it for community use. The land has been passed to custodianship of the Crown Estate. A legal entity could apply to take on the wood and communal land but Crown Estates would want appropriate payment for the land if sold. If a community-focused organisation wanted to buy it CE would sell for an appropriate community fee but if businesses bought it they would have to pay full market price. The companies at Button End vary in their response.
TW has already looking at first steps of forming and chairing a Community Interest company to buy and administer the land along with business representative and LDH and checking there is no overlap with all/other interested parties. Cost of buying land from Crown Estate estimated to be more than £10,000. Hope funding to buy the land would be raised by Harston residents. Buying of the land is also on HPC agenda.
Action: TW
8. AOB : Consideration of Planning Application Ref: 26/02857/FUL. Location: Land to rear of 145-149 High Street, Harston CB22 7QD. Proposal: Erection of 1no self/custom build dwelling, associated garage and access driveway.
Planning committee could be asked to consider the planning application with reference to the Neighbourhood Plan. Residents can send in written objections if they consider it’s out of keeping with local character of high Street North area – low density housing in 1 acre plots.
Planning meeting/responses by 5 Sept?
Action: TW & CA send letter from HRG (done)
Date of next meeting: Wed 23rd Sept. VH not available so venue to be arranged or held online.