February 2018

Buckden Roundabout

February 2018

FROM YOUR COUNTY COUNCILLOR

Within a few days of receiving this edition of the village magazine, you will probably be reading in the local press about the

outcome of the budget debate in Shire Hall on February 6

. If the Opposition groups (Liberal Democrats, Labour and Independ-

ents) are unable to convince at least a few Conservatives that their policies are misguided, the majority party will probably carry

out their intention of capping the council tax increase at 2% with all the consequences in terms of service reductions.

As proposals for service cuts come forward, I will have the unpleasant task of spelling out what this will mean in practical terms

for residents and parish councils.

Much is being said about cutting back office staff and reducing bureaucracy, yet the ruling group ignored the advice of an Inde-

pendent Remuneration Panel and voted for a package of councillor allowances which increase the bill by nearly £200,000. This

seems to me to be indefensible at a time when Children’s Centres are being reduced and social care packages being reduced or

charged for. If you want to see for yourself what is likely to happen, I suggest that you go to the Cambridgeshire County Council

website. There is a consultation about a proposal on increasing the charges to people for their social care:

https://

www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/adults-&-older-people/care-and-support/paying-for-care/fairer-contributions-policy-

consultation/

District Councillor Terry Hayward and I have been meeting with traffic engineers from Highways England to try to minimise the

effect on road safety of the forthcoming building of the wind farm between Southoe and Buckden. We are also trying to get

other minor improvements to the A1 pending the announcement of longer-term plans for re-routing it to the west of Perry

Road.

We also hope to have a positive outcome to the Parish Council’s bid to install a pedestrian crossing near the school to make it

safer for children and parents to cross the busy road near the Green.

I am liaising between the Buckden and Brampton parish councils to try to bring about the proposal for a safer crossing of the

Buckden Road as it enters Brampton. Parish councillor Amy Burbidge is working hard to get grants to cover the cost. And we are

hoping to have a joint Brampton/Buckden working party to clean up the cycle path past the landfill site.

If you wish to raise any local matters with me personally and would welcome a face-to-face conversation, I come to the Aragon

Room in the Village Hall at 7 p.m. on the evening of the parish council meeting, the 2

Tuesday in the month. At other times,

please ring me on 07765 833 486 or write to me at peter.downes@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Peter Downes, County Councillor for the Brampton and Buckden division

FROM YOUR DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

A1 UPDATE

Unfortunately the long awaited and much anticipated report on the future plans for the upgrade of the A1 ap-

pears to have been delayed. I shall continue to press for decisions and will ensure that the village is kept fully informed. Resi-

dents are warned that there will be single lane traffic on the northbound side of the A1 as it passes Southoe on weekdays be-

tween 1000 and 1430. This is due to the work on the new wind farm to the northwest of Southoe.

LOCAL DEMOCRACY

On 3

May there will be elections for all District, Town and Parish Councils. This is your chance to ensure

that we elect the best possible candidates to represent our views on what we believe is best for our village. It is also the oppor-

tunity for any resident who wants to be involved to stand for election. Buckden Parish Council has always been non-political and

it is this independence that ensures that all views are considered. If you are interested in becoming a Councillor and helping the

village and are not sure what it will involve I shall be very happy to explain.

CONDITION OF VILLAGE ROADS

The surface of many of our roads is in a very bad condition. The responsibility for these roads

rests with the County Council and I have asked our County Councillor to help us improve the situation.

TREES

I have written before about my concern for not just our trees but those in the County as a whole. The ‘prairie’ like condi-

tion of the area surrounding the new A14 is particularly concerning and I have asked that tree planting be started as each area is

completed rather than wait until the end of the whole scheme. The District Council is setting up a small Working Group, which

will involve at least one person with Tree Warden experience, to review the HDC Tree Strategy.

With all best wishes

Terry Hayward, District Councillor for Buckden, Stirtloe, Diddington, Southoe and Midloe.

If you have any queries about the above or would like to talk to me about any other matter please don’t hesitate to contact me

on either 01480 810974 or terry.hayward@huntingdonshire.gov.uk

From Your Councillors