The following planning applications in the Sutton division have been published by East Cambridgeshire District Council.

22/00266/FUL
Little Downham
Old Sunday School 75A Main Street Little Downham
Replacement of rear and side elevations white timber framed windows and door with dark grey PVCU grained windows and door of different design.

22/00305/AGN
Little Downham
Green Acres Straight Furlong Pymoor
Construction of agricultural storage building.

22/00302/FUL
Witchford
37 Common Road Witchford CB6 2HY
Single storey rear extension and internal alterations.

Further information can be found on the district council’s planning pages. If you would like to respond formally to the council about any planning application, comments should be addressed to the district council and not to me.  Comments may be made

• online using the council’s public access web page (the link above);
• by email to plservices@eastcambs.gov.uk;
• or by post to the Planning Department, The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, CB7 4EE

Cambridgeshire County Council held its Full Council meeting this morning.

A selection of the highlights.

1. The Chair of the Council, Cllr Stephen Ferguson, made a statement at the start of the meeting about the invasion of Ukraine, concluding “We in Cambridgeshire support the actions of the UK, EU and wider international community in backing Ukraine’s democratically elected government against this unprovoked invasion.”
2. We amended the council’s Constitution to rule out motions to Full Council meetings about current planning applications. This doesn’t stop local councillors speaking up on behalf of their communities – of course it doesn’t. But it will put an end to attempts to make council policy on planning applications at Full Council meetings, without all the facts. The proper place to make planning decisions is the Planning Committee.
3. Cllr Ros Hathorn (Histon & Impington) successfully proposed a motion calling for a report on how the County Council can support the rollout of new repair cafés and the operation of existing ones. Repair cafés offer huge benefits, environmental as well as social. Great news.
4. Cllr Alex Bulat (Abbey, Cambridge) was also successful with her motion on voter eligibility and registration among EU citizens in the UK. As this motion said, we need a UK-wide approach to extend voting rights in local elections to all qualifying foreign nationals, as in Scotland and Wales.
5. Cllr Hilary Cox Condron (Arbury, Cambridge) persuaded the council to adopt the Public Sector Duty on socio-economic inequalities to help it address socio-economic disadvantage. Cambridge has huge inequalities among its population, and Fenland has several areas which are among the most deprived in the country.
6. Cllr Edna Murphy (Bar Hill) drew attention to the large number of dying trees along the rebuilt A14 where the National Highways tree planting initiative has failed. Her successful motion asked for facts and figures on this from National Highways, regular progress reports, and council officers to engage in ensuring the promised tree planting is successful.
7. Cllr Alan Sharp (Woodditton) proposed the only unsuccessful motion of the day. It called on the council to ‘oppose road pricing in all its forms in the Greater Cambridge area’. But it offered absolutely nothing positive instead. It had literally nothing to say about rising levels of traffic congestion in Cambridge, the lack of attractive public transport options, or dependence on ownership of private vehicles from which many people are increasingly priced out.

The live stream of the meeting was somewhat interrupted by poor wifi at the Burgess Hall in St Ives, but various parts of the meeting can be found here. The papers for the meeting are here.

The following planning applications in the Sutton division have been published by East Cambridgeshire District Council.

22/00262/FUL
Sutton
130 St Andrews Close Sutton CB6 2QX
Construction of two storey rear extension.

22/00268/CLP
Sutton
10 Brookside Sutton CB6 2PT
Loft conversion with hip to gable and flat roof dormer to the rear elevation and 3 x rooflights to front elevation.

Further information can be found on the district council’s planning pages. If you would like to respond formally to the council about any planning application, comments should be addressed to the district council and not to me.  Comments may be made

• online using the council’s public access web page (the link above);
• by email to plservices@eastcambs.gov.uk;
• or by post to the Planning Department, The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, CB7 4EE

The following planning applications in the Sutton division have been published by East Cambridgeshire District Council.

22/00189/FUL
Mepal
Land north west of 7 Bridge Road Mepal
One detached dwelling, detached carport and new access.

22/00138/LBC
Sutton
22A High Street Sutton CB6 2RB
Removal of asbestos in dormers, reinforce supporting roof structure, add wool insulation, restore dormers relining with similar linings clad in lead, repair roof, repair chimney flaunching and leadwork, repoint brickwork on gable end and front.

22/00216/FUL
Sutton
85 The Row Sutton CB6 2PB
Demolition of existing single-storey extension. Single-storey side extension, single-storey front extension and new access.

22/00200/FUL
Witcham
Paddocks east of Witcham House Headleys Lane Witcham
Change of use to paddocks, stables and associated works.

Further information can be found on the district council’s planning pages. If you would like to respond formally to the council about any planning application, comments should be addressed to the district council and not to me.  Comments may be made

• online using the council’s public access web page (the link above);
• by email to plservices@eastcambs.gov.uk;
• or by post to the Planning Department, The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, CB7 4EE

The proposed weekend closures on Mepal Bridge have now been put off for several months.

It is likely that the new dates will be

• Friday 13 – Monday 16 May
• Friday 20 – Monday 23 May
• Friday 27 – Monday 30 May

The delay is due to the water levels on routes in the surrounding network which remain high. Putting off the work to the spring should mean better weather too.

The reason for the works is to repair faults in the bridge joints which were installed in 2016. As a short-term measure the council plans to carry out minor repairs to the central joint of the bridge this weekend. These will be done under two-way traffic lights, not a road closure.

When the weekend closures take place these will be from 8:00PM on Fridays to 5:00AM on Mondays.

Anna Tuck from Community Catalysts is offering three drop-in information sessions at Ely Library. See the poster below for more information.

80 representatives of organisations fighting the climate emergency met today to kick off a year-long ‘Cambridgeshire COP’.

After COP26, the climate summit held in Glasgow last November, Cambridgeshire County Council leader Cllr Lucy Nethsingha was inspired to bring together countywide organisations to share information on Cambridgeshire’s current position in the race to net zero.

We heard from Cllr Nethsingha, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Mayor Dr Nik Johnson, and Cllr Pippa Heylings who sits on both the Local Government Association Climate Board and South Cambridgeshire District Council. Cambridgeshire’s Lord Lieutenant Julie Spence was also in attendance and read a message of encouragement from Prince William Duke of Cambridge.

The event included four group discussions on increasing biodiversity, developing sustainable transport, changing heating and housing options, and dealing with waste. I chaired the biodiversity discussion – very important for Cambridgeshire, among the most biodiversity-deprived counties in the country.

A range of local events and activities will take place throughout the year. These will include a biodiversity event in May, to mirror the international national biodiversity conference in China; activities led by youth groups in June to coincide with the pre-COP27 discussions in Bonn; and a series of activities across Cambridgeshire 7-18 November to coincide with COP27 in Egypt.

The council is changing bin collection days for most residents across East Cambridgeshire from Monday 28 March 2022. It says the changes will improve service efficiency for residents and reduce carbon emissions.

Households will be sent a letter informing them of the changes which will involve blue, green, and black sack routes. Some areas will not be affected by the changes.

East Cambridgeshire District Council’s company East Cambs Street Scene (ECSS) is contracted for waste collection and street cleansing across the district. The company estimates that changing the rounds will save nearly 5000 litres of diesel and 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. This is the equivalent of taking one truck off the road every single day. They say it will also allow waste operatives to work more efficiently.

Blue and green bins will continue to be collected on alternate weeks. Residents should continue to check their calendars and the council website for regular collection dates and bank holiday changes.

The new collection days and areas are as follows:

Monday Long Meadow, Lode, Bottisham, Burrough Green, Brinkley, Dullingham, Six Mile Bottom, Stetchworth, Westley Waterless, Woodditton, Ditton Green, Little Ditton, Upend, Fordham, Badlingham, Chippenham, Kennett, Snailwell, Newmarket, Ashley, Silverley, Cheveley, Kirtling, Saxon Street

Tuesday Burwell, Reach, Swaffham Prior, Swaffham Bulbeck, Barway, Soham Fen, Stuntney, Isleham

Wednesday Littleport, Queen Adelaide, Prickwillow, Shippea Hill, Little Ouse, Redmere, Soham, Upware, Wicken

Thursday Haddenham, Aldreth, Earith, Wentworth, Stretham, Chittering, Wilburton, Sutton, Witcham Toll, Witchford, Witcham, Mepal, Wardy Hill, Coveney, Pymoor, Little Downham

Friday Ely, Queen Adelaide, Chettisham, Little Thetford

More information about the changes can be found at www.eastcambs.gov.uk/bindaychange

COVID-19 measures at Cambridgeshire’s Household Recycling Centres will change from Tuesday 1 March. The County Council is removing booking requirements, and increasing the number of vehicles allowed on all sites to pre-COVID levels.

‘Meet and greet’ staff will continue to limit the number of vehicles on site to the maximum parking bay capacity. COVID signage will still be in place, and hand sanitiser for public use will still be available. Social distancing will still be observed between site staff and visitors.

Anyone who is self-isolating is asked not to attend any site. Where staff assistance is needed, materials must be removed from the vehicle by the visitor for removal by site staff after the visitor’s departure. Staff will maintain social distancing, wear gloves, and sanitise after handling waste. Where practical, only one person should be on a gantry at any time except where two are required to lift bulky items.

Anyone attempting to make a booking from 1 March will see a message stating that booking is no longer required. Visits using vehicles or trailers which require e-permits will be registered by site staff on arrival at a recycling centre with no requirement to book visits in advance.

The following planning applications in the Sutton division have been published by East Cambridgeshire District Council.

22/00102/FUL
Sutton
28 Link Lane Sutton CB6 2NF
Proposed single storey rear and side extensions.

22/00163/FUL
Witcham
Land south west of Ely Model Aircraft Club Hive Road Witcham
Proposed agricultural barn open fronted to store straw size 27m x 8.7m.

22/00188/FUL
Witcham
10A The Slade Witcham CB6 2LA
Change of use of existing timber cabin from garden room to bar associated with caravan and camping site (retrospective).

22/00115/FUL
Witchford
31 Granta Close Witchford CB6 2HR
Proposed side and rear extensions, re-roof and internal alterations.

Further information can be found on the district council’s planning pages. If you would like to respond formally to the council about any planning application, comments should be addressed to the district council and not to me.  Comments may be made

• online using the council’s public access web page (the link above);
• by email to plservices@eastcambs.gov.uk;
• or by post to the Planning Department, The Grange, Nutholt Lane, Ely, CB7 4EE