January 2022

5 Buckden Roundabout January 2022 From your councillors From Your District Councillor At a recent HDC Council Meeting a plan was adopted, setting out the Environmental Principles that would be used for 2040 Emission targets. But much more interesting than these semi - legal statements was a supporting document on “ How Nature and Biodiversity is supported in Huntingdonshire ”. Again, a long and complex document, but I have tried to capture the key facts. The recent completion of the Valley Restoration Project is a perfect example of how HDC supports Nature over the very long term, but until I read and summarised all these docu- ments, I had not realised the scale of the work HDC does on our behalf, or the relationship to other key plans and policies like the provision of Open - Air Socialising Space, now recog- nised since Covid as essential for mental health in the commu- nity. And in hindsight why Buckden got all that very generous CIL Grant from HDC! Open Spaces Huntingdonshire has a long record of protecting and maintain- ing a broad spectrum of open spaces, waterways and country- side. For example, there are 1,534 hectares of Green Space and 42.8 hectares of woodland comprising: ” Woodland ”, “ Pocket Woodland ”, and “ Shelter Belts ”. All in all, HDC manages 9,000 individual trees which in area is equivalent to five and a half Wembley Stadiums! HDC Covid 19 Impact Statement Another very long but very interesting HDC document is their evaluation of their response to Covid 19. This has shown how open space for exercise and socialising helps with mental health. HDC has always had a core strategy and objective the “ Healthy Open Spaces Strategy ” but has recently improved this by increasing the number and capacity of litter bins on all their key sites and more importantly, improving access especially for wheelchair, pram and EV access. In tandem with this there is a program of “ Pictorial Meadow Planting ”, planting flowers and shrubs which support bees and other pollinators under the “ Bees Needs ” national scheme. 100m2 of wildflower seed has been given to local residents to help with this. 2020 Tree Strategy This improves local tree management on bio security, canopy management and subsidence. There is a minimum ratio of 2:1 for tree replacement and in 2020/2021 1,500 new trees were planted in Hinchingbrooke and Priory Parks. (Continued on page 8) From Your County Councillor Christmas has gone and New year is here again. Time seems to be accelerating. I wonder how many people are experienc- ing this rapid passing of time. Much has happened during the past 12 months and I have been working behind the scenes to try to make our parishes a better place to live and work. Flooding in Buckden has been an ongoing issue throughout the year with freak storms and torrential downpours. With the recent COP 26 we are very aware that global warming is having an effect in Buckden. Flash flooding that was the exception and is now becoming the norm occurring on an altogether too often basis. One that we could well do without. I am aware that some residents have sleepless nights when there is a heavy rain forecast for the area. Plans are being drawn up to begin to alleviate this situation and extra pressures are being placed on design and delivery contractors to get on with things. Things do take time, but I am not happy having to wait for someone else to do something when budgets are in place and schemes should be underway. It is not as if this is something new. It has been going on for a long time and residents whilst being stoic and determined are getting frustrated with this inertia. All this is no consolation for all the residents who have been affected for so long. It will be useful to see if we can ar- range a meeting of all parties involved and residents to see if we can exercise even more pressure to get things done. Sad to say you are not alone, flooding is affecting more and more communities, not least The Offords, Brampton and Grafham. Some consolation therefore that the full County Council meeting in November passed a motion to carry out a full re- view of surface flooding throughout Cambridgeshire. I will keep watching this space. As I write this, the latest Covid 19 variant, Omicron is with us and further constraints have just been announced. Many of us are Covid fatigued and looking forwards to a New Year free from restrictions. We are if nothing, stoic and resigned to the fact that the Pandemic is not yet over. What will the ‘ New Norm ’ look like? Who knows? At some time in the future Covid will become endemic, just like influenza and I am con- vinced that we will deal with an endemic covid, Delta or Omi- cron variant as we have for so many years with influenza. Our communities are very resilient and I have been impressed by Buckden Parish Council ’ s professional approach and achievements in support of village life. I am considering hold- ing a regular residents surgery every other month and will be launching in early spring, subject to support for this initiative. Personally, I can see benefits of being able to speak with some- one rather than endless emails, often cc ’ d to all and sundry. Speaking with someone I believe can achieve far more far quicker. Verbal communication also takes away elements of misinterpretation and unintended nuance. Communication is key to getting things done and I have over the past few months been working quietly trying to make a difference. I will be the first to admit that I haven ’ t always been successful, but at least I have been trying. I take this opportunity to wish everyone a healthy and peaceful 2022 and hope we can all work closely together to make 2022 a year to remember for all the right reasons and take us for- wards to the New Norm. Ken Billington, County Councillor