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Category Archives: Environment

Pat Fleet seat

The seat on the Pat Fleet memorial site is damaged but it has not been possible to find out who is responsible for its upkeep.

As it is a health and safety issue, the Parish Council has decided it will make the seat safe with a temporary repair, but without prejudice to future maintenance.

Unfortunately we find it is impossible to weld the damaged part but local contractor Site & Maintenance (John Pollard & Son) have advised they will carry out a temporary repair free of charge, in acknowledgement of the well-loved Miss Fleet, midwife in Histon & Impington until her tragic death in 1989

Thank you John and Simon!

 

Environment Committee meeting March 2018

The Council’s Environment Committee met on 13 March with a wide ranging agenda to consider.  Draft minutes can be seen here

Highlights of the meeting include:

Bus Shelters.  Following the installation of a viewing window in the bus shelter at School Hill, the Committee has arranged for a similar opening to be installed in the brick built bus shelter on Cottenham Road.  Feedback is good in that residents can now see the bus when it is coming!

There are also new notice boards in the bus shelter at School Hill – the one for community use is not locked and residents are free to display community notices – please feel free to take down out of date or non-community notices to make room

We intend to recycle one of the old notice boards by using it elsewhere in the villages

Poppies made from plastic bottles by members of the Village Society will be on display at the War Memorial in November – all part of the WW1 Commemorations

The update from Histon and Impington Community Orchard Project included news of groundworks to improve the surface at the entrance and around the benches.  Rubber matting, through which the grass will grow will be laid at the entrance and around the benches.  The Parish Council is contributing £500 to the cost of this.

Forthcoming Community Orchard events include a Grafting Workshop on Saturday 14 April, maintenance session on Sunday 29 April, the AGM on Monday 21 May and the Bird in the Hand Breakfast on Saturday 30 June.

 

Environment Committee meeting January 2018

The Council’s Environment Committee met on 30 January with a wide ranging agenda to consider.  Draft minutes can be seen here

Highlights of the meeting include:

  • New signs for The Green are on order to discourage feeding the ducks with bread
  • The Committee heard about imminent plans to select an artist from applicants for Public Art schemes in the villages
  • The local Sustainability Group updated the Council on a few dates for upcoming events in the village:
  • Saturday 24th February 10:30am, St Andrews Centre, Sustainability Brunch.  A chance to discuss the film Demain and existing and potential sustainability ideas in the village. Bring food to share, drinks provided.

Contact Ruth: mould001@hotmail.co.uk

Sustainable H&I Social.   The first of regular (4-6 weekly) gatherings to discuss ideas, make friends and evolve projects to improve our environmental well-being and more. Just turn up, please bring a drink and some nibbles. All welcome

  • Dan Mace, a representative from HICOP (Community Orchard) attended and gave a Histon & Impington Community Orchard Project update on a very enjoyable Wassail, with singing and toasting of the trees.  The orchard looked magical, lit by candlelight and a brazier.

On Sunday 4th March, there’ll be a pruning workshop – a chance for people to practice and learn how to prune fruit trees.  Meet at the Orchard 10a.m.

  • Please bring your own secateurs
  • Pruning will be under Phil Scott’s guidance.  Phil is a real expert on orchard craft and is a mine of information.
  • There will be a shared lunch at the St Audrey’s Centre.  Bring something to share.
  • In the afternoon we’ll be pruning the trees at Impington Village College – if you have a pruning saw or loppers these would be useful as these trees are much bigger!
  • The cost is £10.

HICOP will also be holding a grafting workshop in the Spring, at which people can learn to create new apple trees using traditional orchard skills.  Participants can keep the tree they graft to grow on in their garden.

 

Storm Fionn

We have received the following advice from UK Power Network:

You will have seen that a severe weather is again forecast for our region today.

As part of our preparation plans, UK Power Networks has organised for additional staff in our contact centre to help customers whose electricity supply might be affected by the predicted weather, and we have called up additional engineers to carry out repairs to overhead lines and poles as soon as the wind reduces to a speed at which it is safe to work.

We would be very grateful if you could share the information below with your local residents and constituents, so that they are aware of who to contact in the event their electricity is interrupted by the weather.

Anyone experiencing a power cut should:

  • Call 105 to report power cuts and damage to the electricity network, or 0800 3163 105 (from a corded phone or mobile phone if you have no power)
  • Visit www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk for the latest updates
  • Visit www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/powercut and type in their postcode to view our live power cut map
  • Tweet @ukpowernetworks to report a power cuts or to receive updates

We advise people to stay clear of power lines and report damaged power lines immediately by calling 105 free from either a landline or a mobile phone. If they see electricity lines that are down or causing significant risk to the public they should call 999.

We provide extra help to customers on our Priority Service Register during a power cut.  Households with older or disabled people, those with children under five, or where someone uses medical or mobility equipment that requires electricity as well as other reasons can join the register.  You can find out more information about our Priority Service on our website: ukpowernetworks.co.uk/priority.

If you would like to share information about preparing for the storm or the priority service register on social media you might like to use the following:

@UKPowerNetworks has extra staff on hand 24/7 to deal with the impact of #stormFionn

Call 105 to report a powercut and visit www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/powercut for the latest updates

Do you, or someone you know, need extra support during a power cut?

@UKPowerNetworks provides free services to vulnerable customers. Visit ukpowernetworks.co.uk/priority for more information #stormFionn

 

Christmas Tree Chipping – Saturday 6th January

As advertised in the HISIMP News Tates Treework will be offering a free Christmas Tree chipping service tomorrow, Saturday 6th January.

Any trees should be left by 2pm latest either on The Green (by the pump) or on the island at The Crescent/Villa Road.  Please make sure all decorations have been removed.

The chippings will be used as mulch for new hedge planting to be undertaken by the enviro.vols in the New Year.

Thanks to everyone that participates!

 

Storm Eleanor – Advice from UK Power Network

We have received the following advice from UK Power Network:

You may have seen that bad weather is on the way and we are likely to see high winds in some areas this evening through to tomorrow morning.

Our electricity network is built to be resilient but extreme weather can damage overhead power lines resulting in some customers losing their electricity supply.  Where this happens we work to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. We have organised for additional staff in our contact centre to help customers whose electricity supply might be affected by the predicted weather, and we have called-up additional engineers to carry out repairs to overhead lines and poles as soon as the wind reduces to a speed at which it is safe to work.

You will be able to find regular updates on our website www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk and social media @UKPowerNetworks throughout this period.

Anyone experiencing a power cut should:

  • Call 105 to report power cuts and damage to the electricity network, or 0800 3163 105 (from a corded phone or mobile phone if you have no power)
  • Visit www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk for the latest updates
  • Visit www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/powercut and type in their postcode to view our live power cut map
  • Tweet @ukpowernetworks to report a power cuts or to receive updates

We advise people to stay clear of power lines and report damaged power lines immediately by calling 105 free from both a landline or a mobile phone. If they see electricity lines that are down or causing significant risk to the public they should call 999.

We provide extra help to customers on our Priority Service Register during a power cut.  Households with older or disabled people, those with children under five, or where someone uses medical or mobility equipment that requires electricity as well as other reasons can join the register.  You can find out more information about our Priority Service on our website: ukpowernetworks.co.uk/priority.

If you would like to share information about preparing for the storm or the priority service register on social media you might like to use the following:

@UKPowerNetworks has extra staff on hand 24/7 to deal with the impact of #stormEleanor

Call 105 to report a powercut and visit www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/powercut for the latest updates

Do you, or someone you know, need extra support during a power cut? @UKPowerNetworks provides free services to vulnerable customers. Visit ukpowernetworks.co.uk/priority for more information #stormEleanor

Preparing for a power cut

Below is some additional advice:

  • Add 105 to the contacts on your mobile phone
  • Keep our Freephone 0800 3163 105 number handy
  • See www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/powercuts for useful videos and advice during a power cut.
  • Locate a torch, check it’s working and make sure you have spare batteries. Take care if using candles.
  • Charge up your mobile phone, and a rechargeable mobile ‘powerbank’ if you have one
  • Use a phone with a cord if you have one, cordless phones don’t work in a power cut
  • Keep fridges and freezers closed, with a blanket over as they will stay cold for many hours
  • Switch off all your electrical equipment, except one light which will let you know when the power comes back on
  • Remember the street lights may also be off so take care if you go out
  • Dress in warm clothes
  • Look out for vulnerable neighbours

 

 

News and Information from South Cambridgeshire District Council

Paper caddy recycling changes from 11 December

From 11 December, residents will no longer need to use paper caddies as part of their recycling routines. Instead, used paper should be placed directly into blue wheelie bins. It will still be recycled. Residents can keep their caddy following the change, and use it however they wish. Alternatively, the caddies can be recycled if taken to a household waste recycling centre. They should not be placed in wheelie bins. More information can be found by visiting www.scambs.gov.uk/recycling.

The decision to withdraw the paper caddy service was taken at South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Cabinet meeting in September. The decision will save taxpayers money and simplify the recycling process for residents.

Because of this upcoming change, the District Council will not be delivering any new paper caddies. If they are lost or stolen before 11 December, residents can begin putting paper in their blue bin.

South Cambridgeshire Community Awards open 2 October

Nominate the people and organisations making an outstanding contribution in your village for a Community Award. Online nominations open Monday 2 October 2017 and close Friday 19 January 2018. The awards celebrate the massive contribution made by volunteers to our communities and will be presented at a celebration evening in the Chamber at South Cambridgeshire Hall, Cambourne on Thursday 8 March 2018

There are six Award categories:

  • Village Hero
  • Parish Councillors of the Year
  • Outstanding Youth Initiative
  • Outstanding Local Service/Amenity
  • Environment Award
  • Wellbeing Award

For more information and to make your nomination please go to www.scambs.gov.uk.community-awards

Working with Young People Event

Save the date – following last year’s successful event, we are again holding a Working with Young People networking and information event at Milton Country Park Visitor’s Centre. It will be on Tuesday 8 November from 5pm and 7pm. It is aimed at youth workers and parish councillors or anyone else either already involved in provision for young people, or interested in setting something up. Further information is available at www.scambs.gov.uk/content/working-young-people-networking-and-information-event

Please spread the word to others who might be interested. To book call 01954 713070 or email duty.communities@scambs.gov.uk with name, postal address, email address, phone number (optional) and role (parish councillor/youth worker/other

South Cambs Community Chest Grant

An additional £30,000 of funding has been made available via the Community Chest Grant Scheme to help voluntary and community groups, charities and parish councils wishing to improve the quality of life for residents in South Cambridgeshire. Applicants can apply for up to £1,000 for a variety of projects:

  • Improvements to Community Facilities (i.e. Village Halls/Pavilions/Play Area etc)
  • Repairs to Historic Buildings/Monuments/Memorials
  • The Tree and Hedge Planting Scheme
  • Equipment/Capital Purchase
  • Materials
  • Start-up costs (May include training of staff/volunteers, hall hire and other revenue costs)

Full details and guidance on eligibility and an online application can be found by visiting www.scambs.gov.uk/communitychest

 

The Environment Now – Application Deadline 27 October 2017

Aged 17 – 24?

Have you got the entrepreneurial drive and innovation to make a difference?

The National Youth Agency are delivering a new programme aimed at young people aged 17 – 24, funding unique digital ideas to improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, or increase recycling.  Through their partner 02 they are also offering mentoring, work experience and insight sessions with industry professionals.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available.  For information and to find out how to apply visit:

https://www.gothinkbig.co.uk/opportunities/the-environment-now-funding

For some brilliant projects already funded, see:

http://www.nya.org.uk/2017/01/first-grants-announced-green-tech-grant-programme-environment-now/

 

Weeding in The Community

Following the successful Road Adoption scheme that has over 100 members, a few of us have got together to weed and remove a build-up of leaves, debris etc. from our road gutters.

A small team met for the first time on Friday 25th August to tackle the build-up on The School approach road to the Junior School. This is an area that gets flooded at times due to fact that debris was stopping the water from reaching the road gullies.

We plan to meet periodically to tackle a particular area and it is planned to target New School Road on Friday 15th September. It is thought that an hour each time we meet is sufficient to tackle one particular area if there are enough volunteers.

We are seeking more volunteers and if you would like to join our friendly group, please contact me. If is good fun and very satisfying!

 

New website

INCREASING BIODIVERSITY IN THE VILLAGES

Tree across footpath behind Manor Park

Storm Eunice

Christmas Tree Chipping event Saturday 8th January 2021