September 2018

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5 Buckden Roundabout
September 2018
FROM YOUR DISTRICT COUNCILLOR
Planning Issues: Housing development, planning and the impact of strategic investment continue to be the main topics occupy-
ing both residents and the Council. The Huntingdonshire Plan 2036 is currently undergoing a process of ratification, with the
initial evaluation taking place from 16 July. I attended several sessions and was able to make initial contact with a range of De-
velopers active in the area. As with the Lucks Lane Enquiry last year, matters revolved around legal arguments and the statistical
basis of decisions taken by HDC over the past 4 years when the 2036 plan was being developed. The consensus was that the
HDC plan had been relatively well received by the Inspector, and there was optimism that the enquiry could be completed
quickly. Further meetings take place on 10, 17, and 25 September when Buckden Parish Council will be making representations
to the Inspector. Once ratified the 2036 Plan will then form the future planning structure, which will give the HDC more scope
to influence planning events.
There is funding available from the Combined Authority for Housing and Infrastructure, especially when there was an alignment
and common interest with regional objectives. This could be some form of post 18 education, especially as Buckden has so many
conference and leisure resources.
Transport : I am working with Highways England and the County Council to find a solution to the roundabout congestion and
hope to be able to implement a trial solution in the coming months. More news on this soon. On the issue of the Offord Rail
Crossing, Network Rail continues to resist any moves either to close the crossing, or to improve it, which was also confirmed by
recent work by the Parish Council. So we will probably have to work in this framework for the next two Network Rail budget
periods, effectively 10 years.
Local: I met with several members of the Buckden Marina Trust and will be following up to see how the Marina community can
be supported by various HDC resources and improve integration with Buckden. I am keen to try and get camera controlled lights
onto the bridge to improve traffic flow; the same type of system that works so well on the Brampton A1 underpass. The Ouse
Valley Way remains an issue for walkers, and I will be going to a conference on this in early September.
Hamish Masson (Cllr) Buckden Ward, Huntingdonshire District Council
Mob 07876 035941, hamish.masson@huntingdonshire.gov.uk
From Your Councillors
FROM YOUR COUNTY COUNCILLOR
The very big attendance at the August parish council meeting is a clear indicator of the strength of concern about the cumula-
tive impact on the village of the various outline housing proposals. The Parish Council chairman’s response to the District Coun-
cil met with the approval of the meeting, strengthened by several useful contributions from residents.
The next few weeks and months are going to be crucial as we seek, together, to make sure that any growth in the village is sus-
tainable and enhances quality of life. As your County Councillor, I will be keeping a particularly close eye on two aspects:
a) the effect of new developments on road traffic and safety
b) the long-term implications for school places, both within the village at primary and pre-school level and also, some years
ahead, at Hinchingbrooke School.
All this has to be taken into consideration alongside housing growth in Brampton, Godmanchester and Huntingdon. I recognise
that all this is unsettling and very challenging but I will do what I can to keep a clear eye on the key factors.
The bottom line is that there is a serious housing shortage in the country and in this area with over 3,000 families on the local
housing list. Domestic instability is a strong contributory factor in several social problems, not least for young children, so it is in
everybody’s best interests that solutions are found. But these solutions must respect the structure and fabric of our towns and
villages as far as is humanly possible.
We live in interesting times. Keeping in touch and well informed is more essential than ever.
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 2nd 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