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Category Archives: County Council

May Full Council

Following the new regulations published as part of the Coronavirus Act 2020 allowing parish councils to meet virtually, Histon & Impington Parish Council held its first Virtual Full Council meeting on Monday 18th May 2020, click here to view the minutes.  Normally at this time of year we would be looking at the committee memberships, Chair and Vice Chair positions for the coming year, but the new Act allows for this to be postponed until May 2021, and so all the current Committee memberships will remain the same for the coming year, and the Chairman (Denis Payne) and Vice Chair (Yvonne Murray) will also retain their positions . The meeting discussed various council matters; two items of note are mentioned below.

Following the government’s update on May 11th regarding the re-opening of outdoor sports facilities, a discussion took part about how the facilities at the Recreation Ground could be safely used in the current environment. From the options available, it was decided to allow a phased re-opening of the Hard Tennis Court, MUGA, Cricket Practice Net, Bowling Green and Croquet area to club members only. This has been subject to each club producing guidelines on how they will manage bookings and ensure a safe playing environment in line with Government procedures, and each club has reviewed and adapted their sporting governing body guidelines to suit the facilities provided at the Recreation Ground.  These were submitted to the council, reviewed and agreed, to ensure safety measures were adequate, and if at any time, any club or government guidance is not adhered to or staff do not feel safe, staff will close the courts at no notice. Please contact the relevant clubs if you are interested in using the facilities at the moment.

Cllr David Jenkins also provided an update on the Neighbourhood Plan. This is now awaiting a referendum when the document will be finalised and signed off, once this has been completed the plan will be held by SCDC and will then have material weight in regards to planning considerations. The Parish Council was unanimous in endorsing the plan, and recorded a vote of thanks to Cllr Jenkins and the team that had worked on the plan for the leadership and work undertaken to get it to this stage. Cllr Jenkins also thanked the Parish Council for the support and advice that had been received from members.

 

Parking permits for Covid-19 critical care workers

Parking enforcement in Cambridge City is currently planned to start again on 1st June.

Critical NHS staff and health and social care key workers can now apply for a digital parking permit to use when on duty or performing home visits during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, further information on how to apply can be found on the County Council using this link: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/parking-permits-and-fines/parking-permits-for-covid-19-critical-care-workers

 

 

Footpath Maintenance Rear of Manor Park

Works to repair weed growth damage to the footpath rear of Manor Park will take place from 17th – 19th February between 0730 and 1830. The work will take place under a footpath closure with a diversion route in place via Home Close. The section of footpath closed will start at Home Close continuing the entire length of path adjacent to Manor Field.

If you have any issues during the works, please email clerk@hisimp.net

 

Footpath Rear of Manor Park/Somerset Road – Works Update

Surface preparation and clearance works are now underway on the footpath rear of Manor Park. For safety reasons the path is now closed.  Please use the diversion route as shown on the map available to view here

Resurfacing works are due to commence on Tuesday 20th August scheduled for 5 days, the team will then move onto School Lane, Greenleas finishing off at Kingsway.

For the duration of the works access for residents will be maintained at all times, however we ask you to please be patient as there will likely be some delays whilst the area is made safe.

 

 

Station Road, Histon – Works Notification

Cambridgeshire County Council are now undertaking works to widen the pavement on Station Road between the Saffron Road junction and the Co-Op (odd number side only). This is a planning condition of the recent extension at Histon and Impington Junior School.

Work has been programmed from Thursday 25th July to last six weeks.

To enable these works to be completed in a safe and efficient manner this part of Station Road, from Saffron Road to the High Street, will be controlled by 24 hour traffic lights. The road will be closed entirely for up to three days from 28th August to allow associated works to the speed hump closest to the High Street.

If you have any questions or concerns whilst the contractor is on site, please contact Cambridgeshire County Council’s Highways Information Service on 0345 0455 212

 

Works Notification – Footpath Resurfacing

Cambridgeshire County Council will be closing a number of footpaths in Histon and Impington over a 9 day period from the 14th August – 27th August, 0730 – 1830, Monday to Friday.

As part of the 19/20 Local Highways Initiative process, Cambridgeshire County Council in conjunction with Histon & Impington Parish Council are making improvements to the following footpaths:

  • Rear of Manor Park (Home Close)
  • School Lane
  • Completion of Greenleas
  • Completion of Kingsway

Click here to view the plans

Please note the improvements are highlighted in purple on the plans, with the signed pedestrian/cyclist diversion route in red.

Residents directly affected by the closure will be notified by letter over the next few days.

 

Histon & Impington Guided Busway Works – Update

We have received the following update from the A14 Integrated Delivery Team:

As part of our work to upgrade the A14, we are widening the bridge over the guided busway near Histon. To progress this work safely, the busway route and cycle path under the bridge have been closed for the past week and a half to prepare for this by installing sheet piling. The widening work is planned to happen later this month and throughout the summer school holidays with a subsequent closure during August.

We were planning, to complete this phase of work by the end of the week and reopen the busway and cycle path but we have met an unexpected obstruction in the ground which means that the sheet piling is taking longer than anticipated to complete.

As a result, the current phase of work needs to be extended for another two weeks and we will not be able to reopen the busway and cycle path next week as anticipated. Instead, we will now continue with this essential work as quickly as we safely can and hope to reopen the busway and cycle path by 30 August, which is earlier than originally planned for this phase.

The bus route going into Cambridge (southbound) between Histon and Orchard Park East is diverted during the closure. People travelling into Cambridge from Histon can board diverted services from the stop on Cambridge Road. More information is available on the Stagecoach and Whippet websites

Cambridgeshire County Council has a clearly signed diversion route for people using the guided busway cycle path during the bridge work, which takes people via Cambridge Road (Impington), B1049/A14 roundabout, Histon Road, Kings Hedges Road and back on the Orchard Park busway path.

 

June Full Council

Full Council was held on Monday 17 June

For draft minutes look here.

Items of note:

Clerk’s Retirement

Angela Young is retiring at the end of June after 25 years in post, and the Council took a few minutes to mark the occasion at her last Full Council meeting.   We are happy to confirm that Chelsea O’Brien who has been Deputy Clerk for some time, will be taking on the Clerk’s role from 1 July.

New Apprentice in the Office

We have a Business Administration apprentice starting at the Parish office at the beginning of July.  Amelia will become involved in as much of the Council’s work as possible during her time with us and should fit in very nicely with the current set up.  Please take time to call in and say hello if you are out and about near the offices on the recreation ground.

A14 Landscaping Group – plans for Tree Planting

The Action Group made a pitch for kick-start funding for a Green Gateway Tree Planting Project at the entrance to the villages.  The idea is to establish 4 acres of new woodland on land following the mass removal of trees along the A14 junction.  The Council were delighted to commit £3,000 to this project and look forward to hearing about its development and new of  further funding sources.  The Council congratulates the group, with this project being led by Dan Mace.

The next scheduled meeting of Full Council will be held on Monday 15th July at the Recreation Community Room, New Road, Impington.  Refreshments are available from 7 p.m.

ALL ARE WELCOME!

 

Roadworks update: how we’re coping …

For some weeks now the southbound B1049 approach to the A14 roundabout has been restricted to one lane after the lights by Cambridge Road. Inevitably this has reduced the capacity of the road at that point, traffic proceeds slowly along it and there have been and continue to be tailbacks. Rather surprisingly there have been few complaints, traffic has continued to flow and there has been little impact on the High Street.

We have been confident that these works will be completed this week after which the work starts to improve the Histon crossroads. These works will ‘open out’ the junction allowing for easier and safer north south right turns and will enable the installation of latest technology traffic lights which will be resequenced to make the pedestrian phase safer.

In order to do this job as quickly as possible Impington Lane will be closed at the junction and east west traffic diverted to use New Road and Water Lane. There will be temporary lights and because these will only need to handle three roads they should increase the capacity of the junction. The downside is that traffic from the east, which of course includes Impington residents, will need to use New Road and exiting from this onto the B1049 can be a challenge, especially if you want to turn right.

In order to address this the County Council will monitor exit from the junction and implement temporary lights control if that is appropriate.

Now back to reality. Firstly the existing work on the B1049 will overrun into next week. And after that the A14 people tell us that they plan to continue working in that area (to add another lane as already planned and to widen the cycle/footpath). That sounds like continuing misery but …

Firstly: we’re into school holidays next week which always means less traffic so the road will have time to adjust; and

Secondly: we’re told that before Easter a temporary toucan crossing will be installed at Cambridge Road to enable cyclists and pedestrians to cross and use the west side of the road so that the B1049 can revert to two lanes of traffic.

But: after Easter the A14 will need to reimplement one lane of traffic but will only do this outside peak time ie after 0930.

So what now?

There will continue to be some chaos but the Parish Council, the County Council and the A14 people will monitor developments and do what they can to tweak the system where possible to make it work better.

And finally what can people who are likely to be affected by all this do?

  • Maybe change their travel patterns: different times, different routes, bike or walk instead of car.
  • Be positive. When the lights are green and it’s safe to move do so. If possible keep the traffic moving
  • Obey the rules. Don’t be selfish, traffic lights, stop lines and box junctions are there for a purpose. Please observe them.

 

Work Notification – Station Road, Histon

Cambridgeshire Highways in conjunction with Histon & Impington Parish Council, will be making various improvements along Station Road (outside the Baptist Church) commencing Monday 11th March for roughly 10 days, Monday – Friday.  Access to properties will be maintained throughout the works.

The improvements include:

  • Marking the bus stops on both sides of the road
  • Repairing sections of kerbing
  • Upgrading footpaths
  • Double yellow lines at key crossing points
  • Relocation and refurbishment of the bus shelter

During these works traffic management will be in place, pedestrians may have to use the footpath on the opposite side of the road. Access to the bus shelter may also be prohibited during periods, depending on where the workforce is operating.

 

New website

INCREASING BIODIVERSITY IN THE VILLAGES

Tree across footpath behind Manor Park

Storm Eunice

Christmas Tree Chipping event Saturday 8th January 2021