November 2014

4 / 24

4
Police presence in Buckden
The Buckden Village Plan that was published recently highlighted the concern that some residents felt about what
they perceived as a lack of police presence in Buckden. However, those who attended our Annual Parish Meet-
ing, and listened to the report given by PCSO Alan Newman, will have heard about the cuts in personnel which
have meant that our PCSO has a much larger geographical area to patrol and that police presence is, inevitably,
focused on areas of higher crime than Buckden.
Residents do not need to feel isolated from the police, though. One excellent way of keeping in touch with crime
patterns in our area, and of receiving information to prevent you being a victim of crime, including cyber-crime, is
to sign up to receive information from eCops, the on-line information service of the Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
To sign up, simply go to:
Parish Council Website
Can we also please remind residents that the Buckden Village Plan can be found on the Parish Council and
Roundabout websites, and that hard copies can be obtained from the Clerk and from the library.
We have received two documents relating to flooding from Cambridgeshire County Council which you can also
find on our website. These are Emergency flood response contacts and Riparian Owner factsheet (Yes, we had to
look it up as well. A riparian owner is someone with land adjoining, above or with a water course running through
it.)
Dogs
Dog fouling was also an issue for residents in the Village Plan. Whilst we appreciate that the vast majority of dog
owners do a first class job of clearing up after their pets, there are still instances of dog fouling in the village, par-
ticularly around the recreation field. Please clear up after your dog and remember that poop bags are available at
a very reasonable price from the Clerk.
We would also request that owners ensure that dogs are kept under control at all times. One of the Roundabout
deliverers was recently bitten on the arm by a dog in its owner’s garden and could have been more badly injured
had the owner not intervened. Please could dog owners also remember that the recreation field is also an area for
children to play, as well as for dogs to be exercised. My small grandchildren were recently terrified by a large dog,
off its lead, that kept running at us but that ‘only wanted to play’.
Parking in the High Street
Last month, we wrote about traffic safety near Buckden School. The other key area of traffic concern for residents
is the parking in the High Street, which causes significant congestion at times and difficulties for the bus to get
through. The Parish Council is proud of our busy and vibrant High Street, so different from many communities, but
would again appeal for considerate parking, that takes account of the single white lines, to ensure that traffic
keeps moving. This is particularly important while the three-way traffic light system is in operation.
Any questions or comments on this report can be addressed to the Parish Clerk John Chase, Clerk to Buckden
Parish Council, Buckden Village Hall, Burberry Road, Buckden PE19 5UY, Telephone (01480) 819407, Email
Do not forget our website at
The monthly meeting of the Parish Council, including a 15 minute Public Forum will be held on Tuesday
11th November 2014 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 11th and Tuesday 25th Novem-
ber starting 7pm. Agendas for the meetings are posted on the Parish Council notice boards not later than the
Saturday preceding the meeting