Mepal Parish Council heard tonight from property consultants Plansurv and not-for-profit housing provider Havebury about their interest in developing land at Brick Lane Mepal for around 55 affordable homes.

No planning application has yet been submitted, and is unlikely to be before the autumn. However, there were already a number of questions from residents, in particular:

1. Can the access be from Witcham Road rather than along Brick Lane, perhaps with traffic lights to control traffic?
2. Why has the design changed so that instead of the green space being in the centre for children to play, it’s now dispersed around the outside of the site?
3. Will there be funding for local schools from the development?
4. What will the parking provision be like?
5. Why is it proposed to remove the hedging along Brick Lane and replace it with alternative planting?
6. How long will the construction period be, and how will the site be managed to minimise disruption?

The Brick Lane site was in the council’s emerging local plan as a site for 50 homes. However, the council abandoned its own plan earlier this year. This means the plan currently in force is the old 2015 local plan, which doesn’t allocate Brick Lane for development, and which draws the development envelope around the village to exclude it.

This means any proposal for housing here will come to the council as a departure from the local plan, and will need some very convincing reasons if it is to go ahead.

The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority has launched a consultation on its draft Local Transport Plan.

The consultation is seeking views on the future of transport in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough over the next 30 years, as well as the priority transport schemes proposed by the Combined Authority.

The consultation period runs until Friday 27 September. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and give feedback by email or by completing an online questionnaire. A number of meetings are also taking place around Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The remaining dates are as follows:

• Peterborough: Thursday 4 July, 3:00PM-8:00PM, Peterborough Town Hall
• Cambourne: Saturday 6 July, Cambourne Library
• Cambridge: Thursday 11 July, 1:00PM – 6:00PM, Cambridge Central Library, Lion Yard
• Whittlesey: Friday 12 July, 3:00PM-8:00PM, Whittlesey Library
• Huntingdon: Saturday 13 July, 10:00AM-3:00PM, Huntingdon Library
• Peterborough: Tuesday 16 July, 3:00PM-8:00PM, Peterborough Town Hall
• Cottenham: Thursday 18 July, 3:00PM-7:30PM, Cottenham Community Centre Coffee Shop
• Ely: Saturday 20 July, 10:00AM-3:00PM, Ely Library
• Cambridge: Wednesday 24 July, 2:00PM-7:00PM, Cambridge Central Library, Lion Yard
• St Ives: Thursday 25 July, 3:00PM-8:00PM, St Ives Free Church
• March: Saturday 27 July, 10:00AM-3:00PM, March Library
• Peterborough: Saturday 7 September, 10:00AM-3:00PM, Peterborough Town Hall
• Chatteris: Wednesday 11 September, 3:00PM-8:00PM, Chatteris Council Chamber
• Cambridge: Saturday 14 September, 10:00AM-3:00PM, Cambridge Central Library, Lion Yard

To find out more, and to read the draft Local Transport Plan click here.

If you would like a copy of the Local Transport Plan on audio cassette, in Braille, in large print, or in another language please contact LTP@cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk

A Frequently Asked Questions page for the Local Transport Plan can be found here. 

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

19/00785/FUL
Little Downham
Agricultural Building Pymore Lane Farm Pymoor Lane Pymoor
Demolition of existing agricultural building, erection of two-bedroom dwelling and temporary siting of mobile home (part retrospective).

19/00812/FUL
Little Downham
15 Second Drove Little Downham CB6 2UD
Extension to existing property – revised scheme resubmission of previously refused 18/01496/FUL.

19/00826/FUL
Mepal
Land west of Whitegate Farm Witcham Road Mepal
Demolition of two nissen huts, construction of two dwellings with associated parking and amenity area.

19/00804/FUL
Witchford
Land parcel between Grannys End Road and A142 off Marroway Lane Witchford
Erection of four detached dwellings with detached garages, car parking and associated amenity space.

19/00866/AGN
Witchford
Ivydene Grunty Fen Road Witchford
Steel framed portal general purpose agricultural building.

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.

19/00782/FUL
Mepal
3A Rectory Fields Mepal CB6 2BT
Single storey extension to rear.

19/00734/FUL
Sutton
Site west of Crown Yard Depot Station Road Sutton
Proposed eight containers and yards.

19/00777/FUL
Witchford
Georjon 21 Main Street Witchford
Single storey extension to front.

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.

19/00711/FUL
Coveney
Site east of 9 Main Street Wardy Hill
Construction of a three bedroom, two-storey detached dwelling, remodelled access and associated works.

19/00653/FUL
Little Downham
2 Third Drove Little Downham CB6 2UE
Construction of one four-bedroom, two-storey detached property and associated works.

19/00685/FUL
Little Downham
24 and 26 Main Street Little Downham CB6 2ST
Construction of a two-storey rear extension to 24 and 26 and alter the boundary line of the fence.

19/00698/FUL
Little Downham
67 and 71 Main Street Pymoor CB6 2DY
Installation of new gates, erection of summerhouse to no 71 and installation of hedgerow and post and wire fence to form part of northern boundary to no 67.

19/00725/FUL
Mepal
Pond Farm 3 High Street Mepal
Proposed side and rear single-storey extension, new front porch and detached carport.

19/00769/FUL
Mepal
Site south of 20 Brangehill Lane Mepal
Proposed four-bedroom dwelling.

19/00745/OUT
Mepal
The Granary Whitegate Farm Witcham Road Mepal
Demolition of existing structures and erection of up to three dwellings with parking and associated works.

19/00747/FUL
Sutton
66 St Andrews Close Sutton CB6 2QX
Internal first floor alterations and external elevational changes.

19/00754/OUM
Witchford
Site north of 196-204 Main Street Witchford
Outline planning application with all matters reserved (except for access) for up to 44 residential dwellings, new internal access road and footpaths, open space, sustainable urban drainage system and associated landscaping, infrastructure and earthworks.

19/00741/FUL
Witchford
Site to rear of 32-33 Manor Close Witchford
Proposed three-bedroom dwelling (resubmission of previous application 17/02076/FUL).

19/00676/FUL
Witchford
Land south of Mills Barn Mills Lane Witchford
Construction of equestrian building comprising stable, feed/tack room, hay loft, horse trailer store for personal use only.

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 Environment Agency is set to start works again this summer on the next phase of the barrier banks works between Earith and Welney. The works compound will be set up at Mepal from 1 July, and work will start from 15 July. There will be a public drop-in event on Tuesday 25 June from 4:00PM to 8:00PM at Rectors Hall in Earith.

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

19/00487/OUT
Coveney
Land north of 9 The Green Wardy Hill
Residential development for a four-bedroom property and double garage.

19/00598/RMA
Coveney
Site north-west of Wardy Hill Social Club The Green Wardy Hill
Reserved matters for two five-bedroom dwellings with new access road, parking, amenity spaces and landscaping.

19/00627/FUL
Mepal
Site northeast of 15 Bridge Road Mepal
Dwelling and garage on land benefiting from extant outline permission (18/00909/OUT).

19/00619/FUL
Sutton
122 High Street Sutton CB6 2NW
Construction of rear single-storey extension/sunroom. Proposed automatic entrance gates and boundary wall to the front of the property.

19/00600/FUL
Witchford
12 Meadow Close Witchford CB6 2JD
Construction of single-storey side and rear extension (re-submission of 18/01749/FUL).

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.

Following a meeting behind closed doors on Tuesday, Cambridgeshire County Council has announced regeneration company Brookgate as its preferred bidder for the council’s Shire Hall site in Cambridge.

The decision was taken in confidential session despite Liberal Democrat councillors voting against the move to exclude the press and public.

Brookgate, the company responsible for the CB1 development of Cambridge station, will lease the Shire Hall site for a period still to be agreed. The company proposes to establish a hotel and office accommodation there, while the county council moves its HQ to Alconbury.

Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Lucy Nethsingha says: “The Liberal Democrat group have very grave concerns about the decision taken this week on the future of the Shire Hall site.

“We have opposed the move to Alconbury, on the basis that there are too many levels of government in Cambridgeshire, and the Conservatives should not be building an expensive new headquarters at a time when we should be reducing the number of councils and moving to a unitary structure.

“We are also deeply worried by the lease mechanism which has been pushed through the council by the Conservatives against cross-party opposition.

“The proposed lease arrangement leaves the council with a high level of future risk.

“The expectations of income over the next 30 years depend on complex calculations of inflation and rental income. This income is far from certain.  Yet again it seems Conservatives are pushing risk and cost onto future generations.” 

The next deadline for applications to Cambridgeshire County Council’s Innovate & Cultivate Fund is Thursday 1 August. A pre-application advice session will be held on Tuesday 18 June.

The fund supports initiatives that strengthen communities and reduce pressure on County Council services. There are two funding streams: a ‘Cultivate’ fund for smaller projects that build community support networks and an ‘Innovate’ fund for bigger, bolder and more innovative initiatives. Council services that are inviting applications include adult social care and children and families services. 

The council has developed new guidance on starting Cultivate ‘seed fund’ projects that can help people to remain independent and active within their community, encourage volunteering and complement more costly council services.  Projects include Timebanks, Good Neighbour Schemes, Dementia-Friendly Communities and Men’s Sheds.  See the council’swebpages for details.

The fund is open to voluntary, community and social enterprise sector organisations based in or outside Cambridgeshire, and public sector organisations in Cambridgeshire.

The deadline is Thursday 1 August for Cultivate grants (£2,000 – £19,000) and Innovate grants (£19,001 – £50,000). The next deadline is 1 November for Cultivate applications only and 1 February 2020 for both Cultivate and Innovate grant applications.

If you want to talk through your ideas before submitting your application, bookings are now open for an Innovate & Cultivate Fund Advice Session on Tuesday 18 June, 9:30AM-12:30PM at Huntingdon Youth Centre. Please book here.

Applications and further information about fund priorities and criteria may be found on the website. If you have any queries about the application advice sessions please email lianne.parrett@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.  Cambridgeshire Community Foundation can answer questions about applying for the Fund info@cambscf.org.uk.