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Buckden Roundabout
October 2018
FROM YOUR DISTRICT COUNCILLOR
It was a surprisingly busy month with a number of meetings on planning, traffic and local issues.
1. Following requests from several householders in Morris Close about the state of the adjacent stream, I made a detailed site
visit. There was a long history of correspondence about ownership and responsibility for this area, with many conflicting an-
swers. As an HDC Councillor, I was luckily able to identify the appropriate department and bring the issue to their attention. As
a result, a contract has been issued for inspection and remedial work to rebuild the banks of the stream.
That said, several people who have told me that their street or location are at risk of flooding, the most recent being the area
bordering St Hughes Road and Silver Street so even if it’s only a rumour a decade ago, please let me know the location! There
are large ponds on all our proposed development sites.
2. I attended an inspection of the Common Farm Windfarm organised by Southoe Parish Council and confirm that there is un-
likely to be any annoyance as the site is at least ¼ mile from the nearest footpath and road, and even further from the next
farm. The access road to the A1 will not have frequent usage as it is for maintenance only.
3. As a member of the A1 Safety Group, I have had on-going discussions with Highways England with a much more positive tone.
So, there is now hope that some form of solution may emerge on the roundabout. I will be working on developing contact lists
of key stakeholders and influencers with the aim of raising Buckden’s position on the A1. Thanks also to our County Councillor
for supporting us on this issue.
4. I attended a meeting of local Parish Council Chairmen (Buckden, Southoe, Offords) which has recently formed to address is-
sues across our parishes. The level crossing, A1 access and Mill Road developments were all discussed which will help in formu-
lating a stronger local voice on these issues.
5. The “Keep Buckden a Village Group” has produced very valuable and detailed environmental and ecological studies. Given
the range of activities and accommodation in the immediate area, this group is keen to develop some form of simple Eco-
Tourism. Any views? The next meeting is in October, so if you have a view on this, please email me.
Hamish Masson (Cllr) Buckden Ward, Huntingdonshire District Council
Mob 07876 035941, hamish.masson@huntingdonshire.gov.uk
From Your Councillors
FROM YOUR COUNTY COUNCILLOR
The current phase of activity in the County Council is the preliminary discussion of options for next year’s budget. The officers
servicing the various committees put forward their ideas and these are then scrutinised by the councillors and eventually firm
proposals emerge. As the ruling group (Conservatives) have a majority on every committee and hold the posts of chairs and vice
-chair of all the committees, it is almost always their policies that are enshrined in the final budget proposals. That does not of
course inhibit the opposition groups (Liberal Democrats, Labour, Independents) from suggesting alternative ideas but realisti-
cally there is very little chance of them being adopted.
That said, it has to be recognised that the budget-setting task gets more difficult with every passing year as the available fund-
ing is reduced and the demands for services increase. You will have seen in the national press reports of county councils going
bust. That would be really serious because it could mean that those in the greatest need – children at risk or vulnerable adults –
might not get the services and support that, at the moment, they are statutorily entitled to. As far as I know at the time of
writing, this is not quite where we are in Cambridgeshire but we must be under no illusions that we might be heading in that
direction.
The more immediately pressing concern in Buckden are the housing proposals which have been widely discussed. It is the Dis-
trict Council that makes decisions on that, with advisory input from the County Council, particularly in relation to what we call
‘infrastructure’ i.e. roads, traffic safety, educational provision. At the same time, we (i.e. parish, district and county councillors)
are pressing on with trying to find improvements to our existing pressures at the junctions with the A1.
All these foreground concerns are playing out against the even more serious background of Brexit, the consequences of which
appear to change on almost daily basis. So, in various ways, this must be the most anxious period many of us can remember in
our lifetimes.
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
nd
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