Harston Residents Group meeting – 15/11/22
Present. J Richardson (Chair), B Williamson, P Hayde, G Hayde, E Hull, H Roadley, F Puddu, M Herzog, J Nanor
Apologies. C Cock-Starkey, I Richards, B Korb, V Blocke, P Naik
Traffic and transport
New 26, bus service, every 2 hours. Bus stops and fare prices remain the same. Service only guaranteed till spring 2023. Estimated timetable for Harston to go into next newsletter and parish magazine.
centrebus.info – website
Stops at The Green, Neptune, BP garage and opposite The Pastures.
Route includes Fowlmere.
£7.60 standard return.
Action. Timetable to be sent to HR to circulate.
Consultations
BW and PH attended Making Connections event in Trumpington on 15th Nov. Information about congestion charge and increased bus services. Aim is that buses run every 10 minutes in Cambridge. Would this cause logistical problems?
East Anglia Alternative Fuel Strategy consultation ends on 21st Dec. Strategy aims to help
vehicles switch to alternatives to fossil fuels.
E-Scooters. Cambridgeshire Constabulary has issued advice about E-scooters. It’s illegal to ride them on roads and footpaths. They’re only legal in the designated trial area in Cambridge.
Action. BW to send information from Cambs Constabulary about E-scooters.
Footpath to Newton. No new information. It may be included in active travel consultations.
Harston traffic issues.
No further information about Church Street or 20mph zone near school.
Melbourn Greenway proposed route crosses the most congested part of Church Street near the surgery.
Issues affecting Harston. Harston residents should complete surveys to influence outcomes. The consensus was that the Transport Group provides an overview and highlights priorities.
Additional group members are invited to join the Transport Group.
Perseverance is needed with issues as it takes a long time for them to be addressed
Communication
Website. CCS and JR looking at alternative options to Squarespace. About 400 pages on HRG website and costly to migrate. We have till sept 2023 to decide what to do. This also relates to Neighbourhood Plan. Website is used by residents, more expertise and support needed to make it fit for purpose and maintain it.
GH: Would like to move to different website provider as Squarespace is inflexible and very difficult to contact. Will resign from group and as treasurer if we continue with Squarespace
HR: Huge task to change site re NP. I Attenborough working on NP site.
JR: We will continue with Squarespace and make the best of it for now. Thanked GH for her for her contribution to HRG.
PH: the longer info is on Squarespace the harder and more costly it will be to move.
HR: who could migrate content from Squarespace to another website? Would A Oatley, who set it up, be able to help with making changes?
Action. JR to contact him and contact John re payment
HRG website
Orwell has an integrated email, newsletter and website.
CCS wants to step down from newsletter in March, so replacement needed.
On Harston village website there’s button to click to join list for newsletter.
HR suggested promoting website on parish mag to raise awareness so that people can sign up and ask for volunteers to take over newsletter.
Action JR to ask HPC chair if they could host HRG zoom for January and February.
Neighbourhood Plan
Shortened questionnaire. Need to put it online. Questionnaires need to be out ready for completion in January 23
Grant application submitted, awaiting outcome.
Workshop at end of March with planning consultant. All needs to be done by end of March….funding constraints
Fliers to go out at end of Dec. re questionnaires. Need volunteers to distribute fliers and questionnaires
Zoom meeting with ACON on 14th Nov. ACON provide support to do housing need assessment. Desk top survey using information from government departments etc. Hopefully done in time for workshop towards end of March.
The questionnaire is follow up from previous Harston consultation day.
Greener Harston
Beki, Russel, Joy and Paru planted bulbs at end of London Rd.
Also did some work around the war memorial.
Clearing vegetation from Church St into Haslington Rd to be arranged.
Litter pick
Done in March and Sept.
PH is stepping down. PH will explain the process to anyone taking it on.
Action. Put item in newsletter – volunteers needed to organise litter picks. Also by personal contact.
Smarten up Harston – make a list of unnecessary signage
Action. Put invitation in newsletter for residents to join group on a walk around the village, with contact details. harstonresidents@gmail.com
Pavilion Meeting at the pavilion next month re improvements to it. Needs to be advertised in newsletter.
Planning developments
Renewed application for dwelling at Pightle Close.
Newton has submitted an application for affordable housing.
Pemberton Arms. No new information.
Porsche have applied for change of location of equipment
AOB
It’s sad that GH has stood down because of problems with payment method and migration of content of HRG website. She has made a valuable and sustained contribution to HRG in many ways, which is of great benefit to the village.
Action. JR to pursue changing websites. Will contact Alistair Oatley and explore options
Action. FP to look at the website. JR to send him log-in details.
Newsletter Items
· Protest march about congestion charge happening soon
· If anyone is interested in running the Newsletter, contact HRG website. Support will be given to get started.
Date of next meeting: 20th Dec. Social and short business meeting.
Jan Nanor