6
THIS DEVELOPMENT THREATENS YOUR BUCKDEN VILLAGE
Gladman Developments plan to build 180 houses off Lucks Lane, between Buckden and Stirtloe, seriously affect-
ing all Buckden villagers. Here’s why:
DO NOT DESPAIR, GLADMAN CAN AND HAS BEEN BEATEN. PLEASE WRITE
with your concerns before
20
th
June 2016 to Mr. Gavin Sylvester, Hunts DC, Pathfinder House, St. Mary’s Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3TN or
email him at:
mail@huntsdc.gov.uk
, or comment via the Hunts DC planning website. Please ensure you quote
reference 16/00576/OUT.
The Protect Buckden’s Future group - Email: protectbuckdensfuture@gmail.com
It is too large. It represents a 14% increase in
Buckden housing and a 20% increase in population
and vehicles.
A precedent will be set. If approved, there will be
no limit to future developments surrounding Buck-
den and other local villages.
The A1 roundabout is over capacity now. An esti-
mated 100 extra vehicles would queue at this dan-
gerous junction, backing up into Mayfield and
Church Street. Congestion, parking and road safe-
ty will present daily hazards to us all.
The Stirtloe Lane/A1 junction will become an acci-
dent black spot. The site’s motorists, avoiding the
roundabout, will use Stirtloe Lane attempting the
dash into fast flowing A1 traffic.
Access is via one small street, Lucks Lane. Around
350 extra vehicles must use this and Stirtloe Lane,
causing delays and pedestrian safety issues. The
lack of roadside footpaths will prevent safe country-
side access.
The Offord river/rail crossing will be dangerously
congested. An estimated 70 extra vehicles will use
this already congested Mill Road exit daily. The
worst case scenario is vehicles gridlocked on the
level crossing.
Buckden Primary Academy is almost full. Any
payments for expansion offered by the devel-
oper would go to Hunts or Cambs Councils to
be spent where and when they decide, not
ring-fenced for Buckden. Meantime, some of
our children may have to be educated else-
where.
Buckden Surgery is close to capacity. The
NHS calculates that 432 extra patients will
come from this development, the Surgery can
accommodate 175 extra patients. It is not
clear where the surplus patients would have
to travel to receive their health care.
Springs on the site present a flooding and
subsidence risk to existing and new housing.
The plan will build on and remove the natural
countryside buffer zone between Buckden
and Stirtloe, causing them to be joined to the
detriment of both.
This proposal contravenes the Hunts Local
Plan, Five-year Housing Plan and Buckden
Village Plan; and is unsustainable under the
National Planning Policy Framework.
Buckfest
, Buckden’s annual music festival now in its seventh year, has sold out in
record time. Less than one month after tickets went on sale, the Committee confirmed
that all 1750 tickets had been sold.
The festival, taking place on Saturday 16
th
July in the grounds of Buckden Village
Club, will be welcoming over 20 bands to perform on three stages and are pleased to
be supporting two local charities this year. After a hotly contested public vote in
March, The Elouise Keeling Asthma Trust and Little Miracles, St Neots were chosen
by the Buckfest audience as the festivals charity partners for 2016.
The Elouise Keeling Asthma Trust, founded by Karen Keeling after her daughter tragi-
cally died following an asthma attack, aims to reduce the unnecessary suffering of children with asthma, provide
training and raise awareness. The Trust has recently funded specific asthma training for a nurse at
Hinchingbrooke Hospital within the paediatric respiratory clinic. They are purchasing equipment for the clinic and
hope to fund training in schools.
Little Miracles, St Neots supports families that have children up to the age of
25 with additional needs, disabilities and life-limiting conditions. These chil-
dren need a place to play, laugh and create friendships – Little Miracles pro-
vides this whilst the families are able to access the advice, support and care
that they deserve. Little Miracles exists to reduce isolation and to ensure that
families, including parents, carers and siblings, get the support that they need
in order to support their families fully.
Those attending Buckfest will help raise funds for the charities through the
sale of event programmes, merchandise and by taking part in games and raf-
fles hosted by the charities. Profits from the event will also go towards sup-
porting Buckden Village Club, to ensure its ongoing availability for local community use.