The Bridge Feb 17
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News, views and events from your Town Council February 2017 St Ives Riverport heritage • Beautiful location • Community spirit • Exceptional shopping Highlights... Message from new HDC Leader 5 Meet new Civic Society Chair 7 St Ives Schools feature 8-9 Exciting town scheme 10-11 Meet the new Clerk 14 INCLUDES RESULTS COMMUNITY SURVEY Contents MAYOR’S MESSAGE MAYOR’S MESSAGE 2-3 THOUGHTS FOR FEBRUARY WHAT YOU’VE BEEN SAYING 4 Photograph by Peter Townsend The beginning of a New Year ST IVES, DEVOLUTION AND gives us time to reflect on the THE FUTURE 5 challenges of the previous year and the changes 2017 will bring TOWN TEAM UPDATE 6 for us all here in St Ives. COME ON YOU RANGERS! 7 Having more control In May we will see the MEET THE NEW CIVIC completion of the new Combined SOCIETY CHAIR 7 Authority for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough under the SCHOOLS UPDATE 8-9 control of an elected Mayor. THE SUN SHINES ON THE On page 5 Cllr Robin Howe, PARK AND RIDE 10-11 the new Executive Leader of Huntingdonshire District Council, Town and District Council promised PLANNING POINTS 12 gives us further details on by Cllr Howe to ensure that St Ives local devolution and how this has a Master Plan to enable us to NOTICE BOARD 12 could define our town with the face these challenges together. creation of a Master Plan for We must pursue what is important NORRIS MUSEUM UPDATE 13 St Ives. for existing and new residents to MEET THE NEW TOWN CLERK 14 What I am certain of is that St Ives but we must also preserve St Ives is a vibrant, unique our uniqueness and heritage for MEET YOUR NEW COUNCILLOR 14 and beautiful market town generations to come. but is facing the challenges What you told us WHAT’S ON? 15 that so many market towns in I want to thank everyone who Cambridgeshire have faced over COUNCIL MEETINGS DIARY 15 completed our Community Survey the last five to seven years – in the last edition of The Bridge and particularly the demand WHO DOES WHAT? 16 and online. The Town Council plans for more housing and retail to carry out surveys like this on a opportunities. I welcome the FRONT COVER Our Merrie Wives of St Ives day back in July was future co-operation between the blessed with beautiful summer weather. After children’s activities during the day the outdoor play was performed on The Quay in the evening to a sell-out audience basking in sunshine. This was a true community effort produced after months of rehearsals and preparation by the Town Team. The town itself provided its own perfect backdrop! Photograph by Alan Bennett/Media Imaging Solutions This issue of The Bridge is copyright © St Ives Town Council 2017 Copyright of the photographs published in The Bridge is retained by the photographers credited. Further reproduction without the photographers’ permission is prohibited. We apologise if we have not been able to identify a photographer. … while waiting for Santa to arrive on The Quay The Bridge is produced by the Town Council My duties vary from the ceremonial to the fun. Promotion and Publicity Committee. with (l-r) Snowman Frostie, Mace Bearer Tom The town’s Remembrance Day service and parade is The Bridge is designed, printed and distributed Rawlinson and Chair of FESt Gilly Jackson is full always well attended, respectful and very moving ... Where is he? for St Ives Town Council by The Artworks www. of excitement. theartworksprintanddesign.co.uk 01487 842687. Photograph by Jason Archontides www.jasonaphotos.com 2 February 2017 regular basis so we can continue host of helpers, including ‘Frostie Town Council and we are looking to understand your priorities for the Snowman’, I was there on The forward to working with him - you the town. On page 4 Cllr Dan Rowe Quay to greet him when he arrived can find out a bit more about him provides a summary of the answers to help distribute presents at his on page 14. and the feed-back we received from grotto in the Corn Exchange. Key to I wish you and our town a very you. We will use this invaluable all these notable moments are the happy and prosperous New Year! information as we monitor our voluntary groups in our town and so progress in delivering the services I want to thank them all very much you expect from us – this is part of for putting so many smiles on to the consultation process we agreed so many faces - both children and CLLR MRS DEBBIE TOWNSEND, when we drew up the Council’s adults! TOWN MAYOR Strategic Plan in 2015. Other good news Memorable moments I’m delighted to report that in late Christmas is a busy time for any December Cambridgeshire County Town Mayor and is probably my Council, who own our Town Bridge, most enjoyable time of the year agreed that the Norris Museum MAYOR’S as I attend many carol services, should be responsible for managing CHARITY QUIZ! plays and exhibitions. On Christmas the Chapel of St Leger (known I am fund-raising this year Day I joined volunteers at the Free as the Bridge Chapel) as a major for the Macmillan Woodlands Church to help serve Christmas heritage asset. I believe the Norris Centre Appeal. Please come Dinner to residents who may Museum is best placed to raise the along and join in the fun - or otherwise have spent Christmas day profile of the Chapel on behalf of bring your own team! – at 7 pm on their own. I can whole-heartedly the town and so we look forward to on Friday 24 February in the say it was a brilliant and happy the Museum Director Sarah Russell Corn Exchange. Information and day for everyone who helped and and her team finalising their plans tickets can be obtained from the attended. with the County Council in January. Town Hall on 01480 388929. You can find the latest news of I also had two other memorable the Museum’s development project moments when I had the honour of progress on page 13. officially welcoming Santa twice to St Ives! The first was at the Lastly, I would like to Christmas lights switch-on. Then, welcome our new Town a couple of weeks later, when Clerk, Allan Siao Ming Santa returned by boat with a Witherick, to our Town Hall Team. Allan brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the More fun: a highlight of the festive season was a Christmas tea dance with a cockney theme at Rheola Care Home. This was organised by the Carers Trust and funded through the Big Lottery’s Celebrate Photograph by Gavin Carroll/Carers Trust Fund. Young carers volunteered their time to help plan and deliver the party. This event was part of an intergenerational project developed in partnership with our own Norris Museum (see page 13). … while waiting for Santa to arrive on The Quay Back row: l-r Ali Naylor (Norris Museum); Tania Bingham with (l-r) Snowman Frostie, Mace Bearer Tom (Carers Trust); entertainers Mike Worthington and Ian Rosie Rawlinson and Chair of FESt Gilly Jackson is full Ah, at last - he’s here again! What a relief. Rose. Middle row: residents Betty Darnell and Florence Clarke. Front row: three young carers supported by Carers Trust of excitement. Where is he? Photograph by Jason Archontides www.jasonaphotos.com Cambridgeshire. Photograph by Jason Archontides www.jasonaphotos.com 3 WHAT YOU’VE BEEN SAYING RESULTS OF THE COMMUNITY SURVEY Photograph by Mike Wells In September 2015 the Town Council adopted a five-year Parks and green spaces strategic plan on how it should develop the services it The use of the parks and green provides. Three of the important actions included in the spaces showed a greater overall plan are: usage, with nearly 85% of • To consult residents using cost-effective methods respondents using them on at least proportionate to the importance of the issue a monthly basis, with the majority of use being for exercise • To communicate with residents in a variety of ways to and as a quiet place for relaxation. The quality of these ensure they are informed of the Council’s plans spaces was mostly rated highly, with the average scores regarding the grass, flowerbeds/baskets and trees ranging • To provide, maintain and, where appropriate, enhance between 7.7-8.2/10. There was a general feeling throughout services in the town that are valued by the local this section, however, that the quality of the paths needed community to be improved, gaining a score of only 6.5/10, coming out To help achieve these aims we asked you to complete a as the least value for money and being reflected in a large Community Survey in the last issue of The Bridge in order number of the comments as well. When asked about which to gather some feedback on issues relating to the Council’s areas could be improved, there were also strong feelings work within the town. The survey received a strong and towards improving the number of litter bins, seats and welcome response, for which we thank you, and a summary improving the lighting facilities. There was less of a feeling of those responses is presented here. Most replies came regarding improvement to the planting, which received a back as hard copies from the magazine, but 41% of them number of favourable reviews and comments. were received through the online questionnaire. Please Farmers’ Market Photograph by Tom Rawlinson/SITC note that this summary is derived only from the responses received and is therefore based on the views of a sample With the farmers’ market, 96.6% of residents only.