July 2017

Buckden Roundabout

July 2017

FROM YOUR COUNTY COUNCILLOR

We live in a time of such political uncertainty that I find myself wondering if what I write at the beginning of June to meet the

editorial deadline will still be valid by the end of June when you receive Roundabout! Anyway, here are a few items which

might be of interest to you.

In the June Roundabout I told you about the new political balance of the Cambridgeshire County Council. Since then we have

found out a bit more as to how the Council will function. The Conservative ruling group has taken all the significant decision-

making posts and re-designed the constitution so as to reduce the chance of different opinions being heard.

Since the May County election, we have had, as you will have noticed, a General Election which did not produce the outcome

Theresa May was expecting. So we now find ourselves facing the most difficult period of our recent history (negotiating a new

relationship with the EU) with a minority government forced to rely on 10 MPs from Northern Ireland.

All this will certainly affect the work of the County Council as we cannot foresee whether there will be a downturn or an im-

provement in the national economy. The grants from central government for local services were already going to be reduced

and we do not know if that will still happen, or be even worse (or better??).

By the time you read this the various new County Council committees will have started work. I will be on the Childrens and

Young People’s Committee (no surprise there, as former Hinchingbrooke pupils and parents will say).

I will try to keep you, and the parish council, informed about developments as they emerge. Of one thing we can be sure, it is

going to be difficult.

It is sometimes said that there is a Chinese curse ‘May you live in interesting times’. That may or may not be authentic but the

nearest related

Chinese expression

is "

寧為太平犬

，

莫做亂離人

" (

nìng wéi tàipíng quǎn, mò zuò luàn lí rén

), which is usually

translated as "Better to be a dog in a peaceful time, than to be a human in a chaotic (warring) period."

The coming period is certain to be chaotic! But we will do our best to ‘Keep Calm and Carry on’!

Peter Downes, County Councillor for the Brampton and Buckden division

FROM YOUR DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

NEW COMBINED AUTHORITY

You will all be aware that we now have a new Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. Its recently elected first

mayor has published an action plan that he intends to complete in his first 100 days. I am disappointed that the A1 and its relat-

ed traffic problems do not feature on his list and intend to press him on this issue. I hope to be in a good position to report to

you the actions or otherwise of the new mayor, James Palmer and his team because I have been elected as the independent

member of the Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

A1 AND BUCKDEN/OFFORD LEVEL CROSSING

Buckden and Southoe Parish Councils and I continue to press for a long term solution to the problems that we experience at the

level crossing. We also continue to urge Highways England to agree a plan to help the residents of Southoe and the construction

of a Buckden bypass. We believe that these could be achieved even if the decision for the update to the A1 from the M25 to

Brampton Hut is delayed. I shall press our re-elected Member of Parliament, Jonathan Djanogly for his support.

CONDITION OF PAVEMENTS

The condition of the pavements in Buckden is becoming increasingly bad and potentially dangerous. The maintenance of pave-

ments is the responsibility of the County Council. I hope that Peter Downes and I will be able to press the council for action.

LOCAL RIGHTS OF WAY

The maintenance of footpaths and other public ROW are also the responsibility of the County Council. I am Chairman of the

Ouse Valley Way Management Working Group and we have been disappointed at the condition of some sections of the OVW.

The recent weather has been ideal for the growth of most things green. I am assured that the first cut of the OVW will have

taken place by the time that you read this. The work is being carried out by a new contractor and I would appreciate any feed-

back that walkers can provide either to me or the Parish Council’s Footpath Co-ordinator, Melanie Storey.

Please do not hesitate to contact me about these issues or any others that you would like to discuss. I am available on 01480

810974 and terry.hayward@huntingdonshire.gov.uk

With best wishes

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

From Your Councillors