A1307 Spittals to Fenstanton Biodiversity Improvements

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National Highways have advised that they plan to carry out work to improve the biodiversity at 12 sites along the A1307 between Spittals Interchange and Fenstanton. The sites are currently in a poor condition and require improvement to help them thrive. This will include rotovating the sites and planting new greenery to mature and grow over the coming months.

They plan to complete the work overnight on weeknights between 8pm and 6am, weather conditions permitting.

Details of the closures can be found in the table below:

Dates Closure Diversion
Monday 9 January and Tuesday 10 January (2 nights) J25 Hemingford Abbots – Westbound lane 1 on the approach to J25, eastbound exit slip road and westbound entry slip road Traffic will be diverted along the A1307 to Godmanchester interchange, turn around and re-join the eastbound carriageway and exit at New Road for Hemingford Abbots.

For traffic coming from local roads (New Road, Rideaway) intending to join A1307 Westbound, the diversion goes through Junction 26, turn around and re-join the westbound carriageway, followed yellow diverted traffic signs.
Wednesday 11 January (1 night) J26 St Ives – Eastbound lane 1 on the approach to J26, eastbound exit slip Eastbound traffic will be diverted via St Ives Road, re-join the A1307 westbound to
Thursday 12 January and Friday 13 January (2 nights)

Monday 16 January to Wednesday 18 January (3 nights)

 J26 St Ives – Westbound lane 1 on the approach to J26, Westbound exit slip road and Westbound entry slip road Westbound traffic will be diverted along the A1307 to A14 Swavesey Northern Roundabout, turn around and re-join the A1307 to use the westbound J26 exit slip road.
Monday 23 January to Thursday 26 January (4 nights) J27 Fenstanton – Westbound lane 1 on the approach to J27, westbound exit slip road and eastbound entry slip road For access to Fenstanton, westbound traffic will be diverted along the A1307 to J26, turn around and re-join the A1307 to exit from the eastbound slip road.

To travel westbound from Fenstanton, traffic will be diverted along the A1307 to Swavesey Northern Roundabout, turn around and re-join the A1307 westbound.

How to find out more

Further information on this work including maps of the diversion routes can be found on their website here https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/east/east-road-maintenance-work/

To find out more about road improvements we’re carrying out across the East of England, please visit their website at https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-work/east/.

If you would like more information, please contact them on 0300 123 5000, or by email at .

 

East West Rail Newsletter

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Newsletter received from East West Rail:

Welcome to the final newsletter of the year, where you’ll find the latest news from across East West Rail (EWR). I know many of you have been waiting for an update on EWR, so following the positive news in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, I wanted to provide an update in the introduction to this edition as to where we are, what we know, and when to expect further news.

The whole EWR team has worked hard this year reviewing the consultation responses and refining our proposals to take account of all the useful feedback we have received. We have also been focused on setting out the case for EWR to inform Government decisions on the project.

Therefore, I was delighted in November when the Chancellor made clear in his Autumn Statement the Government’s commitment to EWR and stressed again how important this project is to local communities, and to help develop long term growth for the whole of the country.

The statement gave us the green light to move forward – so we are in the process of finalising our recommendations for consideration by Government in the early part of 2023. Once that’s happened, we will then be able to respond formally to the consultation and update local communities on the route choice. I don’t have a confirmed date for that publication yet, but as soon I do I will let you know.

I do recognise that people have been waiting a long time, and when I joined EWR Co in April I expected to publish an update on the project quickly. However, given the changes in Government over the past 6 months, I hope you will appreciate that progress hasn’t been entirely within my control.

I completely understand the importance of certainty. The Chancellor’s commitment was great news for the businesses who needed certainty about EWR so they can crack on with their long term investment plans. It was also good news for the local authorities who see EWR as integral to delivering on local ambitions – as well as for the 71% of local people between Oxford and Cambridge who think a new east-west public transport link is a good idea.

But for those people I’ve spoken to whose homes could be impacted by the railway, I know that certainty about the route choice is also critical, and the whole team here is focused on bringing that certainty as quickly as possible. My personal pledge as we close out the year is to work with Government and the team to publish an update as soon as possible.

Huntingdon Constabulary Community Meetings

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Below are links to the forthcoming community meetings for 2023 which you are welcome to register to attend.

 

Survey – https://bit.ly/3Wx8krJ

Meetings –

14 March

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/huntingdon-community-engagement-meeting-march-2023-tickets-492260021977

13 June

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/huntingdon-community-engagement-meeting-june-2023-tickets-492260804317

12 September

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/huntingdon-community-engagement-meeting-september-2023-tickets-492262258667

12 December

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/huntingdon-community-engagement-meeting-december-2023-tickets-492262409117

Alternative Fuels Consultation

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The Combined Authority has launched a consultation on a strategy to speed up the switch to electric, hydrogen and other renewable fuelled vehicles in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

They are inviting the public to have their say on a new Alternative Fuels Strategy (AFS) before it is finalised. The AFS aims to help tackle climate change and air pollution by helping Cambridgeshire and Peterborough switch away from petrol and diesel vehicles. The strategy includes alternative fuelled cars, buses, lorries and rail.

The AFS will also support the cleaner growth of the economy and jobs.

Areas the strategy will cover includes:

  • Increasing the amount of electric vehicle (EV) charging points.
  • Encouraging people to choose an alternative fuelled vehicle (AFV) like an electric car.
  • Complement existing work to encourage people to walk, cycle or take public transport as the first choice for journeys, as a way to significantly cut emissions.

It will form a sub-strategy to the Combined Authority’s developing Local Transport and Connectivity Plan, which is planned for adoption in early 2023 as Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s statutory transport plan.

The consultation runs for six weeks and you have until end of day on 21st December 2022 to return your feedback via a short, simple survey.

To find out more, visit our consultation website where you can also fill in the survey.

Hard copies of the consultation materials are available on request. Email   or call 01480 277180. These contact details can also be used to ask questions.

A428 Update

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Message from National Highways:

We are disappointed to let you know that we won’t be starting construction on the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet scheme this month like we had initially planned.
Planning permission (called a Development Consent Order) was granted by the Secretary of State back in August 2022 and we have been busy preparing for construction.

However Transport Action Network (TAN) submitted an application to the High Court for permission for a judicial review of the Secretary of State’s decision to grant the A428 Development Consent Order. They are challenging the Secretary of State’s decision on the grounds of biodiversity, need for the scheme and climate change.

We were hoping a decision on the application could be made before the end of the year but the decision is now looking as though it will happen early 2023, because of this we have had to delay the start of construction.

As this is an ongoing legal case we can’t provide any further information. However, we are continuing to assess the impact and will provide you with further updates as quickly as possible.

The A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvements are very much wanted by local people, commuters and businesses.

We are continuing our surveys of land, water, ecology and finalising the design of junctions and bridges to minimise impact when we start building the road.

Our plans will help transform the region, improving journeys between Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge by bringing communities together and supporting long-term regional growth.

Combined Authority is asking the Public to have their say on the medium term financial plan

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CAMBRIDGESHIRE & Peterborough Combined Authority are asking members of the public and stakeholders to have their say on its draft Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP covering 2023-2027) in a consultation which will run until 13th January 2023.
 The MTFP sets out how The Combined Authority’s strategy and priority projects, including in transport, housing, skills and business support can be sustainably funded.

The Combined Authority cannot achieve the scale of its ambition with its resources alone and so will seek to work collaboratively with its constituent council partners, the Government, and local businesses to leverage other funding sources and ensure that the maximum impact, and value for money, can be delivered from the resources devolved to the area.

Last year the Combined Authority successfully worked with partners to secure an additional c.£20million for the region. This has funded work like Skills Bootcamps to support people taking the next step in their career and help local businesses grow.

Members of the public will be able to have their say on the Combined Authority’s strategic priorities which will drive decision making until 2025. Those strategic priorities are:

  • Achieving Good Growth

The Combined Authority will make investments to ensure that the economy of the area continues to grow.

Focusing on increasing the value of the economy more equitably across our region increasing productivity, innovation and attracting more businesses to deliver higher wages and sustainable employment. Investment will be targeted towards those areas that need it most such as parts of the Fens, Peterborough, and Market Towns.

  • Increased Connectivity

The Combined Authority will work to make it easier to move around the region or to work or do business online.

Delivering a sustainable, modern, resilient, integrated, and affordable transport system for the people and businesses of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Investing in digital connectivity so more people and businesses can benefit from technology.

  • Ambitious Skills and Employment Opportunities

The Combined Authority will work to create an inclusive and world-class local skills system.

It will raise ambitions and match the needs of employers, learners and communities to enable a successful, globally competitive economy; offering high-skilled, well-paid and good quality jobs to deliver increased productivity and prosperity for our communities.

  • Enabling Resilient Communities

The Combined Authority will make a range of investments to tackle future climate change as well as supporting communities to adapt.

It will address the decline in biodiversity and enable communities to respond to financial and social crises, looking to extend cultural opportunities for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to be a great place to live and work.

As reported to the Combined Authority Board on 30th November, £3.5million needs to be found in 2023 to help keep Combined Authority-supported bus routes going

In October of this year, Stagecoach East withdrew from 18 services and reduced a further 5 bus routes citing that declining bus travel compounded by the pandemic made these routes financially unsustainable. This led to an outpouring from the public, councillors and MPs who advocated that these services are vital to getting so many residents to school and work. Moreover, bus services provide a positive impact for residents who are not frequent bus users; for every £1 invested in local bus priority measures can deliver up to £7 of net economic benefit.

The Combined Authority stepped up to fund bus service provision on the cancelled routes until April 2023, to the tune of £1.25million. If these services are to continue, they need to be paid for.

The MTFP consultation includes an opportunity for the public to feedback on how they want their bus services to be funded, including whether they would support a Mayoral Precept as well as other options.

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough devolution deal allows the Mayor to raise a ‘Mayoral precept’ from every household in the region to fund activities for mayoral functions such as transport. The Precept is the amount Cambridgeshire and Peterborough council tax payers contribute towards the Combined Authority within their council tax bill.

Deputy Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Cllr Anna Smith, said: “The Combined Authority fully understands that many people are feeling the effects of the cost-of-living crisis. Similarly, public services are facing difficulties in balancing service demands, inflation and rising costs. It’s a tough financial landscape that is compounded by historical underfunding in our region.

“Sadly Government spends only £16 per head on public transport in the East of England as opposed to £32 per head in Yorkshire and Humber or £36 per head in East Midlands.

“The public response to this consultation will be discussed at a Combined Authority board meeting on 25th January 2023. Please take this opportunity to tell us what you think of this financial plan.”

The consultation can be accessed here.

Survey closes 13th January 2023 at 5PM.

Hard copies of the MTFP consultation materials and survey form are available on request. For this, or other questions, please call 01480 277180 or email . ​

Watercourse Guidance

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Cambridgeshire County Council has prepared guidance documents for county residents to inform them about their rights and responsibilities in maintaining watercourses. The objectives are to provide detailed information on rights and responsibilities for maintenance, guidance on watercourses, and how to reinstate a piped or culverted watercourse.

The Watercourse Guidance covers everything that can affect watercourse maintenance, from birds and bats to hedges, highways, and ancient monuments. There are eight documents available on the website: Watercourse guidance – Cambridgeshire County Council

 

PR0864 – Proposed 30mph Speed Limit on The Green and Hilton Road, Hilton.

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Hilton Parish Council’s bid for a reduction in the speed limit across the Green from 40mph to 30mph has reached the formal consultation stage.

This scheme involves changing the signs and potentially a painted “30” roundel on the road where the first 40mph sign is, just round the corner from Hampden House on the way to Hilton End Farm. The Council has declined to install roundels across the Green and has not considered installing speed reduction measures across the Green, as it would spoil our fabulous village asset.

Hilton Parish Council would like to encourage all parishioners to respond in support of this application. Details of how to respond are below:

Cambridgeshire County Council (The Green and Hilton Road, Hilton) (30mph Speed Limit) Order 202-

Cambridgeshire County Council proposes to make an Order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and all other enabling powers. The effect of this Order will be to reduce the existing 40mph speed limit to 30mph on The Green (two sections) and Hilton Road, Hilton. For further details of the above proposals, including a drawing showing the specific lengths of road subject to this proposal, please visit our permanent traffic regulation orders page and select PR0864. To request copies of documents please telephone 0345 045 5212 or use the e-mail address below. Objections to the above proposals, stating the grounds on which they are made, or any other comments must be sent in writing to the undersigned or by email to by 21st December 2022 quoting reference PR0864. Comments received will be used as part of our consultation process and may be published, but will be anonymised, in any reports.
Steve Cox, Executive Director, Place and Sustainability, c/o Policy and Regulation, Box No.D8E, Huntingdon Highways Depot, Stanton Way, Huntingdon PE29 6PY

Cricket Pavilion Refurbishment

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Hilton Parish Council has agreed the specifications for the refurbishment of Hilton Cricket Pavilion, which has now been published on Contracts Finder. The specifications for the refurbishment are below:

Specification 1
Fit glazed windows to the front – Hardwood flush casement
Insulate loft area – 250mm mineral wool
Insulate external walls – Method to be agreed
Remove internal walls and build stud walls to new layout-TBC
Strip wood T&G, baton & dryline with plasterboard and skim throughout
Plasterboard and skim ceilings
Replace plumbing
Add central heating system (Air source heat pump)
Make good septic tank if necessary
Replace WC (x2), remove shower, WC to suit disabled requirements
Replace electrics, rewire throughout, new consumer unit
Replace lighting – Ceiling spots and wall lights
New external lighting on PIR sensors
Replace kitchenette
Replace external doors and frames – Hardwood ledged
New disability access to west wall
Decorate throughout
Replace flooring – engineered wood boards
Replace missing roof tiles
Fit new protective window lattice screens
Fit retractable dividers to changing room and kitchenette
Fit new external lighting

Specification 2
All the above plus:
Baton and shiplap board external surfaces in larch or oak
Replace six brick peers with cast aluminium posts
Place rainwater goods with galvanised steel

The plans for the current and refurbished pavilion are below:

22-23-172. HPC18003-01 Plan Existing

22-23-172. Pavilion-Plan View-02

If you would like any further information, or would like to quote for this work, please contact the Clerk – or 830605.

Thermal Imaging Camera

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The Parish Council received a suggestion that it could organise a thermal imaging camera to assist parishioners in identifying areas of their home where there is heat loss. If there is sufficient interest, the Parish Council will organise a co-operative project for parishioners to hire a camera, at the parishioners’ shared cost. If you would like to be involved in this project please contact the Clerk – or 830605.