Christmas lights switch on
Congratulations and thanks to Buckden4Business, and all their many helpers, for organising such a fantastic cele-
bration for the Christmas Lights Switch on. Once again, we were blessed with super weather and it was great to see
the High Street packed with residents and their friends and families really getting into the Christmas spirit.
Thank you also to those residents and business proprietors in the High Street, and to Mr and Mrs Taylor at Hunts
End, who allow the Parish Council to hang our lights from their buildings and, in some cases, even pay for the elec-
tricity.
Well done to all those nominated as ‘unsung heroes’ and particularly to the winners who turned on the lights, Gerald
Carpenter and his grandson, Harry O’Driscoll.
Village Hall Trust funding
Buckden Parish Council and Buckden Village Hall Trust would like to clarify the article on funding of the hall that
appeared in the November edition.
The Parish Council has supported the VHT over the last 5 years with an annual grant of approximately £5000 for
upkeep of the playing field and gave a grant earlier this year of approximately £4000 towards refurbishment of the
children’s play area. However, the hall itself is currently self-funded and trustees and staff are working extremely
hard to maximise income and to drive down costs.
The Parish Council applaud the work of the present trustees in stabilising the finances of the VHT in difficult times
and encourage all residents to use and support this exceptional facility that we are so fortunate to have in our com-
munity.
Proposed tolling of the new A14
The Parish Council is pleased to note that common sense has prevailed and that it has been decided NOT to toll
the proposed new A14. This decision will meet some of the concerns expressed by the Council to the Highways
Agency and to our Member of Parliament. We now hope that this common sense will continue and the viaduct over
the Brampton Road in Huntingdon retained. Not only would this increase the free flow of traffic but save £300million,
the equivalent of 10 years tolling revenue.
And A1 issues…
The Parish Council continue promote a by-pass for Buckden as a long-term solution to the problems associated
with the roundabout and we do this partly through our membership of the A1 Safety Group, where we meet regu-
larly with representatives from the Highways Agency. Earlier this year, the WI ran a vigorous campaign to have im-
provements made at the roundabout, which brought a great deal of publicity. The Parish Council encourages all
residents to keep up the pressure because communities that continue to raise issues seem to get results.
Please remember that issues and problems can be raised directly with the Highways Agency by e-mail at
ha_info@highways.gsi.gov.uk
or by telephone at: 0300 123 5000.
Any questions or comments on this report can be addressed to the Parish Clerk John Chase, Clerk to Buckden Par-
ish Council, Buckden Village Hall, Burberry Road, Buckden PE19 5UY, Telephone (01480) 819407, Email
clerk@buckdenparishcouncil.org.uk
Do not forget our website at
www.buckdenparishcouncil.org.uk
There will be a
Parish Council Meeting, including a 15 minute Public Forum on Tuesday 10
th
De-
cember starting at 7.30pm
in the Village Hall. Members of the public are welcome to attend and raise
any Buckden related issues..
If required, the
Parish Council’s Planning Committee
will meet on
Tuesday 10
th
December
starting
7pm. Agendas for the meetings are posted on the Parish Council notice boards not later than the Sat-
urday preceding the meeting.
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