Harston Residents Group
AGM virtual meeting 20th June 3023
Present. J Richardson, D Bellamy, F Puddu, H Roadley, C Alexander, I Richards B Williamson,
J Nanor
Apologies. B Korb, C Cock-Starkey
Minutes of last meeting. Accepted
Constitution JR – shared constitution on screen. Revised constitution accepted.
Posts agreed:
Chair. Joy Richardson
Secretary. Jan Nanor
Newsletter. Claire Cock-Starkey
Treasurer. Post vacant. Chinnu Alexander offered to do it. Accepted.
New Treasurer is Chinnu Alexander.
Traffic and transport
BW and JN would like more members to join transport group. JR suggested looking at this in September. NB. IR offered to join Transport Group. Offer accepted.
EWR. Harston Parish Council compiled 10 questions to ask EWR at the Public Information event on 26th June 2-8pm. Questions on flier to go to every household. They have also been sent to EWR as questions we’d like answers to. Flier has 3 email addresses for opinions etc. Meetings being held in other villages too.
None of the issues raised in the 2020 consultation have been addressed. Possibility of tunnelling through Chapel Hill. Rail line has to be elevated to cross roads and rivers. Nothing has been confirmed re heights etc of embankments. Powering of trains – no firm information.
Freight. 4 trains per day using that link. EWR is providing freight information only as it is directly related to EWR. Embankments and viaducts. EWR intends to reduce height on 50% of route. No detail as yet.
Statutory consultation planned for first half of 2024.
Overguage rail at Station Road. DB asked about the new rail line here and the closure of Station Road (and effect of blocking access to Newton) at a meeting at the junction.
No action arising from this meeting. No info of intention for junction at Station Rd. The questions need to be asked again on 26th. Connection on to Kings Cross line not known yet.
Neighbourhood Plan. We can ask about impact of the rail line in the NP.
Business plan still not published. Whole focus is on Cambridge Biomedical Campus and transport to and from it.
EWR’s Projections of work and housing development don’t match Cambridge County Council’s.
House selling… there’s a scheme for compensation for loss of value.
Action. As many people as possible are encouraged attend and speak to EWR reps on 26th, particularly at 6-7pm
Cambridge Approaches will be staging opposition at the Public Information event.
Action. Information re EWR to go into newsletter.
SW P&R at Hauxton. Is going through Planning.
Greenways. No new information on Greenways. BW sent 4 emails asking for updates. The company proposing development of old chemical works at Hauxton is offering to build a Greenway where GCP said it wasn’t possible.
Congestion charge. Being reviewed again. Meeting GCP and Executive Committee coming up. 58% of residents were against the charge in its present form. Congestion Charge is intended to fund buses so nothing about bus services till congestion charge resolved.
Church Street. HPC looked at 20mph limit on Station Road near school. It’s needed on Church St too.
New website. HR sent FP email with updates for website. Next step will be to transfer to new website and do all new work on that.
FP checked prices and suggests basic level is adequate. No extras needed. We will need to register the domain. Ruby level suggested, which includes domain name. There is a discount offer currently. HPC has agreed to pay for the website.
- Sign up with Crystal.
- New website address to run alongside the old one till Sept when it expires.
- Committee needed to look at website Irene R and others to look at how to make the most of it.
- HPC to pay for website. Clerk can put transaction on list for approval if it’s within next 10 days.
- FB to contact DB
Neighbourhood Plan.
HR and group had meeting and walk round village with AECON. Need to check everything is included in the plan for the village.
Tree Preservation Order. There is a map of the protected trees. Adrian Sergent is new tree man.
Character areas have already been identified. People are working on different aspects, eg Biodiversity.
Landscape character survey for Harston can only be added to the Cambs landscape character assessment.
Grants ended in March 2023 and no new funding so far. GH suggested contacting A Browne re current lack of funding. HR aiming for a day in July to look at the character areas – evidence based but also what residents value. Residents’ views on this could be used re EWR,
Action. HR to email CCS with information to go into newsletter.
27th June next NP meeting.
Activities
Litter pick All welcome. Date for next LP is 10th Sept. 2-4pm. Offers of cake and help – contact harstonlitterpick@hotmail. Advert to go into village mag.
Action. CA to do new advert with date and send to JR. Will also advertise at the school. CA to contact Scouts.
Greener Harston. Wild flowers are growing in the area at end of London Rd. Plants will be left in if they are growing well. War Memorial will need to be maintained monthly. Plants have settled in well.
24th June at meet at war memorial for weeding and lawn edging.
Need to decide on any bulb planting around village. Area at Sygentia has Ragwort growing which is very toxic. Walkway from community orchard to be discussed.
Planning application
New application for 167 High Street to demolish house and replace with sustainable house in Gothic design.
AOB. None
Date of next meeting. 3rd September 2023. Newsletter will continue through summer.