West Chesterton Liberal Democrats

works on east road

Utility companies could be charged a daily fee for road closures while they carry out work across Cambridgeshire.

The idea has been put forward by Liberal Democrat Councillor Sarah Whitebread and would apply to companies laying new gas or water mains or carrying out similar work in the county.

Cllr Whitebread, who represents Cambridge’s Market Ward on Cambridgeshire County Council, claims the move could prevent lengthy closures such as the one which brought the city’s East Road to a virtual halt for weeks while new gas mains were laid.

She made her suggestion during Question Time at the county council meeting today (Tuesday, May 15) and it was agreed to look into such a scheme.

A similar idea, approved by the Department of Transport, will allow Transport for London to charge companies in the capital up to £2,500 a day for closing major roads. Companies will face lower charges if they carry out work outside of peak times.

“The county system at the moment has no incentive for speedy work, or to encourage work outside peak times” said Cllr Whitebread. “Given the frequency with which utilities companies need to carry out road works in Cambridge, I think a charging scheme of this type needs serious consideration.

“I also pushed the council to look at ways to encourage utility companies, when carrying out works, to keep roads open for cyclists. Often there is road space around the works that could be made available, but instead cyclists told to wait with cars or dismount and walk. In a city where so many people travel to school and work by bike, this clearly needs addressing.”

The county council’s Cabinet Member for Community Infrastructure, Tony Orgee, agreed to look into such a scheme.

Well-cared for verges add to the pleasure of street scapes and Cllr Damien Tunnacliffe is keen to see them maintained. Action is being taken to improve some verges on Carlton Way and Cllr Tunnacliffe would be pleased to hear from residents who have problems with verges being gouged out by car wheels or just neglected.

There are a number of flagstones that are a hazard as a result of tree roots pushing them up. Cllrs Damien Tunnacliffe and Kevin Wilkins (County) recently met a highways officer to discuss where the worst cases were and to agree a course of action. Having walked the length of Gilbert Road on both sides up to Carlton Way, it was agreed that the worst section goes from Courtney Way to Milton Road and so as a first step both sides of Gilbert Road between these two points will be relaid as necessary.
In addition the verges near where Milton Road Primary School used to be will be restored (they are at present covered in tarmac) and this will improve the aspect of that section of Gilbert Road.
Every effort is being made to keep the flagstones unless a tree root makes this impossible.

Cllr Damien Tunnacliffe is making sure that the trees promised for Highworth Avenue will be planted no later than the autumn.The County tree officers have been under a lot of work pressure and lack of availability of funds meant that the new trees were not put in earlier this year before the growing season.

The next North Area Committee will be at the Manor on Thursday 17th May.

The planning part of the meeting will start at 6.30; there are two applications on the agenda, neither of which is in West Chesterton, although the application for change of use of the Grove to a Sikh temple may be of interest.

The main meeting starts at 7.30 and the agenda is here. The main agenda items are:

• Community Development and Leisure grants
• Engagement with Young People
• Primary School places in North Cambridge
• Northern Corridor Area Transport plan
• Policing and Safer Neigbourhoods

And, of course, the usual open forum where you can ask questions.

The City Council has received a planning application for modifications to the listed buildings at the Roger Ascham site:

Renovation and repair to the external building fabric, including the creation of 3 new external doorways and revisions to the internal layout of the main and vocational buildings, associated external works including hard standing and fencing to the car park and easterly (sic) boundary.
Cambridgeshire County Council Ascham Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 2BD
Ref. No: 12/0499/LBC

For more details, see the City Council’s Public Access Planning system, using the reference number above.

Mike Pitt writes:

A big thank you to the electors of West Chesterton. It is a privilege to be elected to serve as your councillor on the City Council, and I am very grateful.

I am looking forward to working with Damien, Max and Kevin to help the residents of the ward. From talking to people on the doorstep during the campaign there is a lot to be getting on with.

I am stepping into huge shoes by following Ian Nimmo-Smith, and I’d like to thank him publicly for his support, help and advice. I am sure the residents of West Chesterton will miss him, but it is my job to make sure that we don’t miss him too much! He has done a huge amount in his 22 years on the Council.

Thank you once again.

Official result:

City Council now 21 Liberal Democrats; 19 Labour; 1 Conservative; 1 Independent.

Strawberry Fair is to launch a poetry slam competition for young people age 13 – 25 from across Cambridgeshire. The competition will be free to enter and prizes include a prime performance slot at the Fair and opportunities to be mentored by critically acclaimed poets.

If you write poetry, love poetry and want to share your poetry, then they would love to hear from you. You can use beatbox, rap, mc-ing, polyvocal or acapella, as well as poetry and spoken word.

All you need to do to enter is:

1. Go to www.strawberry-slam.org.uk
2. Follow the instructions to post a clip of yourself reading or reciting your poem.
3. Wait to hear whether you have been selected as one of 12 finalists to go through to compete in the Strawberry Slam final on Saturday 2 June.

Deadline for entries: Saturday 26 May 2012

The entries will be judged by five professional poets from London’s Point Blank Poets Collective and the 12 finalists will be announced on Tuesday 29 May. The final will be held in the brand new Strawberry Slam stage at the Fair on Saturday 2 June, 7 – 10pm. The Slam will be hosted by the formidable Hollie McNish (a former UK Slam Poetry Champion) and emcee Inja, with guest performances from renowned spoken word artists Bridget Minamore, Sabrina Mahfouz, Dean Atta and Deanna Rodger.

To find out more visit www.strawberry-slam.org.uk or get in touch with amy@strawberry-fair.org.uk