June 2018

Buckden Roundabout

June 2018

FROM YOUR DISTRICT COUNCILLOR

This is my first column as your new District Councillor. I would like to thank everyone who put their trust in me and voted. I will

endeavour to earn that trust and work hard for all the residents of Buckden, Southoe, Diddington, Stirtloe and Midloe. I would

also like to thank, on behalf of all residents, Terry Hayward, for his long service as my predecessor. He leaves very big shoes for

me to fill.

I am keen to speak to residents to learn more about your concerns and how I can best work on your behalf. I have already had a

few calls from residents concerned about rubbish collection and the rise in heavy truck traffic through Buckden from the A14

roadworks. Living on the High Street in Buckden with my teenaged children, I am personally concerned about the rise in crime

in our village, albeit from modest levels. The congestion at the roundabout and improved access to the A1 continue to be uni-

versal concerns. Terry Hayward has worked hard on this latter issue and I will continue to work with him to improve access for

all villagers.

Annual Parish Council Meeting, 22

May 7 pm – James Palmer, Mayor of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined

Authority.

Our Mayor addressed the Parish Council last month, and I will summarise his thoughts in my next column.

The

Mayor has a large budget with the power to influence the future of our village, particularly in the areas of traffic management,

health and social care and other essential amenities. However, there are many demands on his budget and his strategic priori-

ties, and it is essential that we residents bring our needs to his attention. I will do what I can to facilitate that.

Local Activities

As the days lengthen and the weather dries out at long last, I encourage everyone to get out and enjoy all the

wonderful nature and sports activities our region offers. From my sitting room, I can see all the cyclists riding through the pe-

destrian tunnel and continuing their circuit from Grafham Water through the village and onwards. The Village Hall offers free

tennis courts and the Paxton Pits Nature reserve is organising several guided walks to learn more about our local fauna and flo-

ra. The famous Buckfest is also fast approaching on 14 July, although the event is, as always, completely sold out!

Transport

Those of you who commute daily to London like my wife will be aware that our train network underwent a significant

change from 20 May with an increased number of trains running from St Neots to Kings Cross and St Pancras. This is a very busy

route, and I know that many are dissatisfied with our transport service. The increased housing development in our area, while

very necessary, will put increased pressure on our transport infrastructure including parking at the train stations and bus access

to the station. Mayor James Palmer has stated that improving transport infrastructure is his priority to support economic

growth in our region. I feel strongly that improved transport is a key issue – including roads, bus transport and safe cycle lanes.

I encourage people to contact me to raise any issues, and I will also set up regular monthly surgeries in each of the villages.

More on this in the next issue of the Roundabout. I look forward to hearing from you.

All the best, Hamish Masson, District Councillor for Buckden, Stirtloe, Diddington, Southoe and Midloe

From Your Councillors

FROM YOUR COUNTY COUNCILLOR

The two main items the County Council has been tackling recently are:

The proposal to move CCC HQ from Cambridge to Alconbury Weald. This has now been agreed (by a majority vote, not

unanimous) and it is expected that the County Council will be re-located in 2020 or 2021. The aim is to save money on

the running of the Council by having fewer staff in a central building and more staff working from buildings dispersed

across the county. Selling or leasing Shire Hall, which enjoys a prominent position in Cambridge, would also raise money

for the County. Many concerns were expressed about accessibility of the new site and also about the wisdom of making

a major move of this kind when the future of local government hangs in the balance.

The serious deterioration of the roads, partly due to inadequate maintenance over many years and specifically arising

from the recent cold weather. To his credit, the Leader of the Council has apologised: ‘We could and should have done

better’. New equipment has been purchased and we are now promised a more rapid and more long-lasting repair pro-

gramme.

The shadow hanging over the Council is the shortage of money and the certainty of further cutbacks in future. Strenuous efforts

are being made to ‘transform’ the way services are being provided but the demand is increasing i.e. an increasing proportion of

young children with special needs and with domestic upheaval and increased longevity with the adult social care costs implicit

in that.

I am always happy to discuss any aspect of County business with whoever is keen to know more.

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