The weekly email in my inbox from Peter Landshoff on behalf of Natural Cambridgeshire is always a worthwhile read.

Some particularly interesting links in this week’s email, from which I’d recommend these if I could choose only three.

(1) The UK’s critical national infrastructure is very vulnerable to extreme weather and other effects of climate change. We touched upon this at local level yesterday in discussions in Huntingdon with the National Infrastructure Commission, where I raised the issue of the sudden and profound effects of drought damage on so many of our local fen roads. But other critical infrastructure is also at risk. “Major power outages, landslides onto roads, buckling train lines and flooding of infrastructure sites: these are all realistic scenarios, and can lead to ‘cascading’ risks affecting other CNI [critical national infrastructure] sectors.”

https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/30507/documents/175976/default/

(2) Environmental targets have been delayed, meaning the Government will breach the Environment Act and will not be ready to present its targets at COP27 this month. The ongoing reality TV show that passes for government in the UK at the moment has left many important issues hanging for months and more. We still don’t know what it’s intending to do about planning policy, for example. Or East West Rail or the Ely Area Capacity Enhancements for rail services, which have a national impact. But the climate crisis isn’t hanging around waiting for the government to get its act together.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/28/ministers-admit-delays-will-cause-government-to-breach-environment-act

(3) The economic consequences of man-made climate change fall most heavily on those nations least responsible for heating the planet. Cumulative 1992–2013 losses from anthropogenic extreme heat likely fall between $5 trillion and $29.3 trillion globally. Losses amount to 6.7 per cent of Gross Domestic Product per capita per year for regions in the bottom income decile, but only 1.5 per cent for regions in the top income decile. Global inequality is both a cause and consequence of the unequal burden of climate change. (And of course much of the movement of millions of people around the world, decried by populist politicians and populist press, is about their need to escape the severe effects of climate change for which they are not responsible.)

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.add3726

An avian flu Order has been declared for Somersham, with a 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone.

Sutton, Mepal, and Witcham all fall in the 10km surveillance zone.

In the 3km zone immediately around Somersham, all birds must be housed; poultry captive birds and mammals cannot be moved unless licensed (with an exception for pets with no risk of exposure to the disease); strict rules control the disposal of carcasses; litter, poultry manure and slurry can only be removed from a premises or spread under licence; there are extensive restrictions on movement of poultry, eggs, poultry meat and carcasses into, within and out of the zone; and requirements imposed of slaughterhouses receiving poultry from this zone. All bird gatherings and release of game birds are prohibited. Strict rules apply in terms of biosecurity and disinfecting.

In the 10km zone extending to Sutton, Mepal, and Witcham, lesser restrictions are in place. No housing is required (although note the forthcoming national housing order being introduced from Monday 7 November) but there is still a requirement to keep extensive records; movement restrictions are in place; strict biosecurity, cleansing and disinfection requirements apply; litter, poultry manure and slurry can only be removed from a premises or spread under licence, and all bird gatherings and release of game bird are prohibited.

The Order for Somersham and associated map can be accessed here.

An interactive map is also available which enables the user to enter their postcode to determine if their birds fall within the zone APHA Interactive Disease Map (arcgis.com)

Information is also available regarding the wider disease situation, guidance for bird keepers, guidance for the public, and health implications Avian influenza (bird flu) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

An appeal has been launched to find more foster carers in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough for unaccompanied children who are seeking asylum.

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fostering Service urgently needs carers to meet the needs of children and young people who are often forced to leave their family and country behind to seek protection from violence, persecution, war, detention, climate change, terrorism, or the disappearance of their family.

More information here.

The Anglian (Great Ouse) Regional Flood & Coastal Committee, which covers our area, is looking for two new independent members.

Anglian (Great Ouse) RFCC stretches from Kings Lynn in the north to Stevenage in the south.  It reaches as far east as Attleborough and as far west as Banbury. (See this on a map.)

The Committee is looking for people with the following experience.

• An applicant from the academic community, with expertise in environment issues including climate change adaptation and mitigation.
• An applicant from a water company background.

The roles will be available from January 2023. They are not paid, but are an amazing opportunity to get involved with issues that really matter, gain new skills and experience, and build networks. The RFCC covers reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and time off work.  You will need to be able to join four meetings a year and prepare by reading papers in advance.

You can read more about the role of RFCCs in the candidate pack, and more information about the roles is available here. The closing date for applications is Sunday 27 November.

East Cambridgeshire District Council has published the following planning applications in the Sutton division.

22/01213/FUL
Mepal
7A High Street Mepal CB6 2AW
Extension and alterations to existing store at 7A High Street, creation of 2 bedroom flat above 7A High Street including access and alteration to the access of 7 High Street.

22/00982/FUL
Sutton
3 Pound Lane Sutton CB6 2PR
Single storey extension to rear and associated works.

22/01000/FUL
Wentworth
Victoria House Main Street Wentworth
Loft conversion with dormer window.

22/01000/FUL
Witcham
The Bury Meadows Bury Road Witcham
Clear back the emerging surface vegetation 1m either side of the current clear usable surface (2m currently). This vegetation is primarily bramble and young blackthorn suckers. In order to enable safe use of the route by horse riders any encroaching vegetation / branches within this clearance width will be cut back to a height of 4m.

You can find further information on the district council’s planning pages. If you would like to respond formally to the council about any planning application, please write to the district council and not to me.  You can comment

• 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 first Warm Hubs have opened their doors across Cambridgeshire this week—part of the
new initiative designed to support communities in East and South Cambridgeshire this winter.

In East Cambridgeshire, Warm Hubs at Haddenham, Soham and Little Thetford were the first
locations to open their doors. Hubs at Ely, Burwell and Stetchworth will shortly follow suit, and
more Warm Hubs in East Cambridgeshire will open their doors by the end of November.

More information about the Warm Hubs and their opening hours at https://www.facebook.com/WarmHubsCambs

East Cambridgeshire District Council has published the following planning application in the Sutton division.

22/00311/FUL
Sutton
Acre View The Gault Sutton
Polytunnel on agricultural land for use for growing food, polytunnel to be 20ft wide by 48ft.

You can find further information on the district council’s planning pages. If you would like to respond formally to the council about any planning application, please write to the district council and not to me.  You can comment

• 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 & Peterborough’s Combined Authority will meet tomorrow to consider the results of its bus procurement.

In a statement today, the Combined Authority said that 14 of the 18 services cut by Stagecoach, along with all of the five reduced services, had received tenders from new operators.

Two Peterborough routes, one in Royston, and the part of the 39 which runs between March and Chatteris, did not receive tenders from bus operators.

The Citi8 beyond Cottenham, and the 39 between Chatteris and Ely, may therefore be saved for the next five months.

Assuming tomorrow’s meeting agrees the tenders, the names of the operators, and the timetables they will run, will not be published for nearly another week.

The Greater Cambridge Partnership Making Connections 2022 consultation on transport in and around Cambridge is now open. Between 17 October and 23 December 2022, everyone living in Greater Cambridge and the travel to work area can have their say on the proposals.

You can find the survey, information about the proposals, maps, frequently asked questions, dates of public meetings, and ways to share your thoughts here.

It’s really important that residents from East Cambridgeshire—particularly those travelling into Cambridge regularly for work, study, or other reasons—read the proposals, then respond.

There will also be a drop-in event in Ely on Saturday 29 October for local residents to learn more about the proposals and have questions answered by a member of the project team. The event will run from 10:00AM to 1:00PM at Ely Library meeting room, The Cloisters, Ely CB7 4ZH.

The proposals are in three parts.

Transforming the bus network
From mid-2023, the Partnership proposes to transform the bus network through new routes, additional services, cheaper fares, and longer operating hours. These would include new bus connections for Mepal and Sutton to the guided busway at Oakington for onward travel into Cambridge. Hourly buses would serve Mepal, Sutton, Witcham and Witchford to Ely.

Investing in other sustainable travel schemes
Alongside the bus network, the Partnership propose to invest in new sustainable travel schemes, such as better walking and cycling links.

Creating a Sustainable Travel Zone
They then propose to introduce a Sustainable Travel Zone including a road user charge. People would be charged for driving within the zone between 7:00AM and 7:00PM on weekdays. The money raised would fund improvements to the bus network and other sustainable travel schemes. The Zone would be fully operational in 2027/28 but only once the first bus improvements are introduced.

You can email any queries about the proposals to consultations@greatercambridge.org.uk

East Cambridgeshire District Council has published the following planning applications in the Sutton division.

22/01150/FUL
Sutton
13 Mostyn Close Sutton CB6 2QJ
Part conversion of a garage storage area to seamstress studio/workshop (retrospective).

22/00958/FUL
Sutton
Site south west of 16 Tower Road Sutton
Construction of a new dwelling.

22/01090/FUL
Witchford
Land parcel between Granny’s End Road and A142 off Marroway Lane Witchford
Construction of two three-bedroom bungalows with garage, parking and access road including acoustic fence.

You can find further information on the district council’s planning pages. If you would like to respond formally to the council about any planning application, please write to the district council and not to me.  You can comment

• 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