Parish Council and Supporters Update as at March 12 2021

Covid-19 and Current Lockdown

We trust everyone remains well. 

We continue to maintain very close contact will all our Parish, District and County Councillors and are grateful to them for their on-going help. We will continue with these monthly newsletters until such time as we can arrange a further public meeting (which we hope can be in September this year) and rely on reactions from everyone to help keep us up to date. 

Please do let us know if there is anything you become aware of which would be helpful. Our general e-mail address continues to suffer an access fault so please feel free to contact me direct: iain.muspratt@hemingfordsactiongroup.co.uk

 

Astro Turf Site – Planning Application Reference FMW/072/19

So far as we have been made aware CCC still await the further information requested from MGL and their traffic consultants.

It is most unfortunate that CCC have not had the response they are seeking and until they hear we will continue to monitor the situation and remain confident that the points we raised regarding the ‘red lines’ to be both entirely valid and critical to the long term activities on the whole site.

We intend to leave the remaining large banners in place until this matter is resolved.

As a result of the withdrawal of an objection by a unit of CCC Highways we wrote to the officer concerned pointing out that the transport assessment we commissioned and submitted was not referred to. We received a confirmation that it would be receiving attention. In the last month we had two responses from CCC Traffic Assessment Scheme – one in relation to traffic data collected during the limitations on commuting to places of work and the other in relation to the traffic hazard which would be caused by HGV/HCV entering and exiting the site. We considered both responses unsatisfactory. We pointed out that to say that traffic was unaffected by significant numbers of residents working from home was unacceptable the other regarding traffic hazards failed to take account of the fact that stopping distances from the junction becoming visible did not meet requirements at 40mph let alone 60mph which applies in Rideaway at those points.

We and our lawyers await the response CCC have promised regarding the ‘red line’ point we made.

HEMINGFORD ABBOTS GOLF RANGE, SHOP & CONFERENCE CENTRE

American Golf’s new venture remains closed but we understand is planned to reopen on March 29th. In due course there is also an intention to reopen the Restaurant.

NEW DRAFT WASTE AND MINERALS PLAN

The Waste and Minerals Team have submitted their final draft to the Inspector which incorporates to some extent (but not all) the last points we made. The Inspector will decide whether this change is adequate. Although the deadline was 15th December the further points we submitted last month have been forwarded to the Inspector whose final response is awaited. If that is not received before 25th March the new policy will not be adopted until after the May 6th elections.

HEMINGFORD GOLF CLUB CAR PARK

On March 8th two large trailer units belonging to GBM Demolition were left in the Car Park and connected to generators and mains water. These appear to be control units. GBM Demolition is a trading name of Grantham Industries (based in Louth) an established demolition specialist also with quarrying and waste interests. It is owned by the Grantham Family and we have no further details. It has been suggested that these may be in some way linked to the demolition of the old A14 Bridge at Huntingdon. If anyone has additional information please let us know.

SUB_COMMITTEE TO ASSIST WITH THE PROCESS OF PREPARING A DETAILED PROPOSAL FOR THE HEMINGFORD GOLF CLUB TO BE GRANTED THE STATUS OF COMMUNITY ASSET et seq

This matter remains outstanding and will not be progressed until we have established a dialogue with American Golf.

COMMUNICATION

A link to these updates appears under our listing as an Organisation on the HA Website and a Summary is sent to HGPC for incorporation in their regular newsletters.

LOCAL ELECTIONS May 6 2021

Our Current County Councillor, Ian Bates, is retiring at the next election. As well as serving our constituency with distinction Councillor Bates has been enormously helpful to us in our Campaign for which we are very grateful The nature of our organisation is that we are non-political and we shall be in contact with all candidates to ensure they understand the concerns we represent.

On the same day the election for the Leader of Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Combined Authority will take place. We shall brief all candidates standing for this Mayoral position.

As a result of the Election CCC contact with elected representatives will be subject to restrictions from 25th March although CCC may continue to determine planning applications, even if they are controversial but major policy decision, including the adoption of the new Waste and Minerals plan would have to be deferred.

E-mailing lists

We are rationalising these to minimise duplications. If you know of anyone who would like to be added please e-mail Audra Green at audra.green@hemingfordsactiongroup.co.uk. Please also let us know if your e-mail address has changed.

Can you help please?

We remain anxious to strengthen our Board and would be pleased to hear from anyone who has experience in local planning and land development matters. If you are interested please e-mail: iain.muspratt@hemingfordsactiongroup.co.uk

Stay Safe and Keep Well everyone.

Iain Muspratt  – The Hemingfords Action Group

March 12 2021