5 PARISH
COUNCIL
NEWSLETTER at April 2021
Editorial
Spring is here, its official, the cricket Outdoor gatherings either 6 people or 2 households. square is being prepared for a summer Outdoor sports, such as tennis or formerly organised cricket programme. As subsequent sports. lockdowns have decimated the Football Season at least this summer we might get a full season of cricket as well as some tennis Non essential retail, gyms, zoos, theme parks, drive-in and bowls matches. performances. Hospitality can service people outdoors only. Holiday lets can re-open. Funerals can be held Included in this issue of the Newsletter are with up to 30 people. Keith Austins MVAS’s results, which make quite sober reading, especially the 102 on April 24th entering the village from the Litlington Steeple Morden Spring Fair, SM Church (p7) Road. Many of the speeds entering the village are eyewatering, and thoroughly May 22-23rd dangerous, with Station Road and Hay Star Shine Walk, Arthur Rank Hospice. (p11) Street regarded as part of a race track.
Unfortunately the only way to prevent this sort of speed are road humps, but with so many lorries passing through the village it is not really an option.
Two significant dates opposite, giving details of the next steps out of lockdown. Unfortunately April 12 effectively misses the Easter holidays which would have allowed many venues, restaurants and pubs to open and alleviate some of their lost revenue.
In May and June it is hoped that many of our usual events and activities will be listed and life will have some semblance of normality.
Desma
Editor Desma Goddard: Email: [email protected]
Steeple Morden Parish Council New Planning teams to manage development in Great List of Councillors as at February 2021 Cambridge
CLLR J CLAYTON (Chair) In March 2020 the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning [email protected] Service created three geographical area based planning 01763 853855 teams, which cover the Greater Cambridge area for the development management service (dealnig with planning CLLR S WHEATLEY (Vice Chair) applications, appeals and pre-application requests and [email protected] discharges of conditions) 01763 853826 The reason for having area-based teams is to provide a CLLR G BELSON (Vice Chair) more responsive and focused service to the local [email protected] communities and planning agents/applicants within those 01763 852475 areas, given the large size of Greater Cambridge.
CLLR K AUSTIN We are in Area 1: covering the southern part of South [email protected] Cambridgeshire. Julie Ayre is the team manager. 01763 852023 (For further details p42/43 South Cambs. Magazine, CLLR N BADGER Spring 2021) [email protected] 01763 852191
CLLR M BIRD [email protected] Thakeham ‘will not bypass’ Local Plan with its 01763 852469 25,000-home proposal for South West
CLLR A DREW Cambridgeshire [email protected] South Cambridgeshire’s MP has welcomed what he 01763 853390 characterised as a “climbdown” by developer Thakeham over
how it will progress its controversial plans for 25,000 homes in CLLR S TRAVERSE-HEALY the district.In a letter that followed a meeting between the [email protected] Conservative Anthony Browne and Thakeham CEO Rob 01763 853843 Broughton, the West Sussex-based company confirmed it would
engage with the Local Plan process. CLLR C UPCHURCH [email protected] This is significant, because it suggests that the company does 01763 852193 not expect to bypass the normal planning process - a fear
expressed by those campaigning against the enormous DISTRICT CLLR MRS H. WILLIAMS development proposed for rural South West Cambridgeshire. 07885 774775 Thakeham outlined its shock proposal for a “zero carbon COUNTY CLLR MR S. KINDERSLEY community” comprising a new town and connected villages in 01767 651982 December. It said it controlled land around Barrington,
Bassingbourn-cum-Kneesworth, Foxton, Meldreth, Orwell, Parish Council Website: Shepreth, Whaddon and Wimpole and was in discussions with www.steeplemordenpc.org.uk/ other landowners ahead of submitting proposals.
In a letter to Mr Browne, Thakeham confirmed: “We will be making representations to the Greater Cambridge Local Plan.”It went on: “Thakeham’s vision for South West Cambridgeshire is to create the UK’s first zero carbon community, helping the country reach net zero, delivering 10,000 affordable homes and providing a blueprint forsustainable placemaking. In order to achieve this, we are committed to engaging at every level oflocal, regional and national government, together the local community, as our proposals evolve.“Since releasing our high-level vision in December 2020, a significant amount of work is being undertaken to enable a Local Plan submission to take place.”
Clerk to the PC: Sally Walmesley (Cambridge Independent quote) [email protected] 2
NEWS FROM YOUR PARISH COUNCIL The Full PC meets on the second Monday in the Cricket Pavilion (Village Hall in winter) at 7.30pm. The meeting is listed every month in the Village Post Office window, on the Notice Board at the Recreation Ground, and in Odsey near the station. A copy of the full minutes from the Council Meetings may be obtained by contacting the Parish Clerk, Sally Walmesley, Redwood Lodge, South Street, Litlington, Royston SG8 0QR. Telephone 01763 852137 or e-mail [email protected] Minutes can also be viewed on the Steeple Morden Village Website www.steeplemordenpc.org.uk and at the Village Post Office.
Notes taken from a Zoom Committee Meeting on 8th March
District Councillor Heather Williams- reported that there was funding for homelessness, and more COVID-19 funding support for small businesses. There is also some relief for people who have difficulty in paying their council tax. County Councillor Sebastian Kindersley – reported that £30million has been allocated in the CCC Budget for highways, £7 1/2 million for potholes and footway maintenance. The A1123 is to be reclassified. There will be 1.99% increase in council tax. The Census takes place on March 21st: if you don’t respond you will be visited at home. South-West Cambridge Action Group has been formed to preserve South Cambs Villages, there is a fear that the Great Cambridge Plan with override local planning laws. Cllr Kindersley has promised to look into the request for the storm drain at the bottom of Bogs Gap Lane to be cleared of rubbish. Steeple Village Award Presentation – the recipient is to be announced towards the end of the month, and the presentation will take place later in the year. Litter Picking – some litter picking has been carried out in the village by public spirited individuals. It has been noted that the people having a ‘kick-about’ on the recreation ground are leaving a lot of rubbish. Please take your rubbish with you and put in the bins provided. Covid Volunteer Group Update – several villagers are receiving help when needed. Recreation Ground Maintenance – Repairs to the outside toilet door are complete, a new lock has been fitted. It will remain locked until April. Tree Maintenance – the Leylandi surrounding the play area is unfortunately dying, the Parish Council have asked for a report from Blue Tree the tree surgeons. It will be replaced with a native species hedge interspersed with trees for shade. Village Tree Planting update – the Parish Council thank Nettie Traverse-Healy and Sacha Wheatley for all their hard work. The council have decided to roll over the same amount of funding for the purchase of more trees. Grasscutting – the conservation area was not cut and is now going to be left until next year. Signs are being put in the conservation area to preserve the orchids. Guilden Morden Parish Council – Suggestion for a joint Neighbourhood Plan – the Parish Council are quite happy with the Local Plan for Steeple Morden. It was thought the Neighbourhood Plan would take up a great deal of time, and includes a great deal of paperwork just to obtain grants for building or enhancements to the villages. Cllr S.Traverse-Healy is to liaise with the chairman of the Guilden Morden Parish Council.
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Village Hall CCTV Cameras – to be upgraded. Ashwell Road Dog Bin – to be repaired and refixed to post.
CALPAC Membership 2021/22 – to be renewed.
Kerbing Request for North Brook End – this was refused, the Parish Council would like the grass verge to be reinstated for safety reasons. Request for a path between Ashwell Station and Steeple Morden – the Parish Council are not in a position to fund such a costly project.
The Nesting Box – has been repaired and reinstated.
th The AGM will be held on May 10 . The Annual Parish Meeting is to be delayed to later in the year.
The next meeting will be held on Monday April 12th at 7.00pm
Kestral Box Reinstated
A Team organised by Brian Upchurch, Albert Covington, Roger Huffer and Adam Bailey (who made the nest box), installed the nesting box onto it’s original post on Saturday 13th March. It is situated at the bottom of the conservation area, near the stream, and it is hoped that it will be used this year. There is a kestrel that is regularly seen around the recreation ground and the conservation area. So birdwatchers keep an eye on the nesting box and see if it is used this year.
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Home Start is here for You
Home-Start Royston, Buntingford & South Cambridgeshire are reaching out to local families with children aged 9 or under, who might want some extra support to reduce anxiety and loneliness, through the uncertainty of this pandemic.We can offer support for families in Royston and Buntingford, the surrounding villages, and the SG8 villages of South Cambridgeshire, who are experiencing difficulties such as:
- Parents feeling isolated and lonely
;- Expectant or new mums struggling to establish routines and keep connected with others
;- Parents and children feeling anxious and worried;
- Parents struggling to juggle everything that is being asked of them right now;
- Financial worries.
Home-Start is able to offer:
- Regular supportive phone, video or face-to-face contact from a member of staff or trained volunteer;
- Information about other services that might be able to provide help and assistance;
- Access to our family support groups where you and your children can meet other people, make friends and build a network of support;
- Ideas for activities to support your child’s learning and development.
All of which help to reduce feelings of loneliness or isolation and improve well-being and mental health.You can ask for help by: - emailing us - [email protected] - making contact via our website www.hsrsc.org.uk
- calling us on 01763 262262 and one of our co-ordinators will contact you to discuss what you need and the best way we can support you.
If you need help, or know someone who needs help, visit www.keep-your-head.com/now
This website has been developed through a collaboration between Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group, Cambridgeshire Country Council, Peterborough City Council and many voluntary sector partners including the SUN Network and Lifecraft.
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Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church, Guilden Morden Congregational Church Steeple Morden Diary for April Diary for April www.guildenmordencongregationalchurch.com www.shingaychurches.co.uk Given the current situation and the lack of certainty concerning future regulations, the following is a diary of events and services we would like to plan for April. Sunday services in church are Although the regulations permit face to face services we are also continuing to provide online services via Zoom. currently suspended, but worship Please refer to our website (link above) or our facebook continues by special permission. Do page for more up to date information. For those wishing to join us! join a “service” zoom meeting the code is 933 0302 5193 passcode 2c1h3G.
Aprl 1st Maundy Thursday Sunday 4th April 10.30am Easter Sunday 6.30 pm Holy Communion Steeple Morden service with children’s activities in the chapel, and April 2nd Good Friday via Zoom. Led by Tony Frost 2.30pm Service Litlington Church and Sandy Watkins
th April 4th Easter Day Sunday 11 April 11.00am Service at Litlington. If we are unable to 8.30am Parish Communion Wendy hold a service at Litlington
8.30am Parish Communion Abington there will be a zoom service Pigotts. at 10.30am led by Tony Frost 9.30am Parish Communion Litlington 9.45am Parish Communion Steeple Morden Monday 12th April 10.30am Men’s Guild via 11.am Parish Communion Guilden Morden Zoom
Sunday 18th April 10.30am Joint service with (Check your copy of Prospect for any St Mary’s at the Chapel and additions to the above) via Zoom 14.30 – 15.30pm Sunday School via Zoom, led by For all Zoom services – email Sandy Watkins
th [email protected] for a Sunday 25 April 10.30am Communion service in the Chapel, and via Zoom link to services. Led by Tony Frost.
The church is open daily for private prayer. Home group Zoom meetings Tuesdays, Contact Amanda for details
Measures to enable the start of other activities in the Chapel and schoolroom are now in place, and the buildings will be available for general use once the strict regulations have been relaxed sufficiently for activities to be allowed.
SOS – Can you help the Refugees in Cambridgeshire again? The Church has been asked, through Mothers’ Union, if anyone in the village has clothes or toys for under 5s in the refugees. There is a particular need for under 5s, but if anyone can contribute toiletries or household cleaning supplies for the mothers these, too, would be very welcome. The mothers very often arrive in the refuges with nothing, so Mothers’ Union give each one the basics on arrival – toothpaste, soap, shower gel, etc. - and when they leave they get basic household things – washing powder, washing up liquid, cloths, pot brush etc. Nothing big. If you can help, please bring donations to the Steeple Morden Spring Fair on 24th April. Otherwise please leave them in Steeple church, but no earlier than the 21st April, or ring Anne (853490). Many thanks.
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Allotments available in Steeple Morden
Want to grow your own food and know it is fresh and chemical-free? Or maybe you want to grow your own cut flowers or herbs. Did you know that during all the lockdowns and tiers it has been permitted to cultivate your allotment? If you would like to grow your own in 2020/1 Steeple Morden community allotment site on Station Road, has plots available for 2020/1. Fresh air, exercise and a friendly, helpful group of fellow growers await you. We are in a beautiful spot on the edge of the village, with car parking spaces and that all important water supply. The soil is good and the site is run by and for plotholders mucking in together. A few plots have just become available for 2020/1. To make one of them yours, call Nettie on 01763 853843, email [email protected] or join our Facebook group ‘Steeple Morden Allotment Society’ and send me a message.
CHURCH YARD Find the help that suits you We would like to gather a volunteer If you are shielding and need support the group together to help the P.C.C. Countywide Hub – offers support from manage our volunteers with food parcels, medicine and church yard. keeping you connected. [email protected] 0345 045 5219 If you would like to help in any way, have any ideas for its management, For residents not on the shielding list but who the preservation nevertheless need some support with errands or of it’s bio diversity, or speak to me keeping in touch your local parish council or District Councillor with be able to connect you about it generally, with the community groups that are co- please contact me on ordinating support in your village. [email protected] 01763 853130 01954 713 398 or
For further information contact [email protected] www.scambs.gov.uk/coronavirus THANK YOU
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Contact Names, Numbers and E-Mail Addresses for Organisations and Groups in the Village
Organisation Contact Name Phone E-mail Number SM Newsletter Editor Desma Goddard 01763 852287 [email protected] First Responders Nick Badger [email protected] First Responders Wayne Cox [email protected] (co-ordinator) Primary School Tracey How, 01763 852474 [email protected] Headteacher Village College The Principal 01763 242344 [email protected] Ms Vickey Poulter SS Peter & Paul Church Canon Shamus 01763 853067 [email protected] Williams (day off normally Monday) GM Cong. Church Sandy Watkins 01763 852869 [email protected] SM Village Hall Bookings Diane Knight 01763 853073 [email protected] Scouts, Cubs & Beavers Keith Austin 01763 852023 [email protected] Brownies Debbie Fisher 01763 852811 [email protected] Guides Allotment Society Nettie Traverse- 01763 853843 [email protected] Healey Smarties Pre-School and Michele Taylor 07952 100208 [email protected] Out of School Club 01763 852888 Cricket Club Fraser Daws 01763 853008 [email protected] Football Club Pete Summers 07709258359 Morden Magpies Youth Shelley 07778181334 [email protected] FC Bainborough Bowls Club (Sec) David Holt 01763 852636 [email protected] Tennis Club Fiona Coverdale 01763 853325 [email protected] Waggon & Horses 01763 853311 Morden Players Jenny Elder 01763 852557 [email protected] First Thursday Club Ann Thorp 01763 852848 [email protected] Royal British Legion Patricia 01763 852982 [email protected] Covington Mobile Wardens Scheme Angela Drew 01763 853390 Lynn Pestell 01763 853461 WI Joyce 01763 852087 [email protected] Stackhouse Neighbourhood Watch Cambs Police: www.cambs.police.uk Social Car Scheme Hazel Smith 01763 852602 [email protected]
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A Reminder
to all dog
owners
Dog mess is an eyesore and a health hazard. If you are a dog owner, you have a legal duty to clean up every time your dog messes in a public place. (Registered blind people are not required to clean up after their guide dogs. There is also exemption for dog owners on some kinds of public land in England and Wales, including: Land used for agriculture or woodlands (dogs should be on a lead in cultivated
fields) Rural common land
Land that is predominantly marshland, moor or heath
Highways with a speed limit of 50mph or more)
Most local councils require dog owners to carry a poop scoop and disposable bag whenever they take their dogs out to a public place. Some councils offer free scoops: ask your council’s animal warden unit.
Look out for bins marked as dog bins to dispose of your dog bag. If you cannot find a dog bin, then double wrap the dog bag and place it in a normal litter bin.
Nessie
NESSie is a not for profit, child first, family focused organisation, supporting families and school staff to ensure positive emotional health in children and young people.
Orginally set up in North Herts in 2015 in response to increasing mental health needs in schools. NESSie now has a large team includimg councillors, art, music, drama and play therapists, autism specialists and 0- 5 parent/child therapists. NESSie has developed to become a country-wide organisation, providing online or face-to-face therapy for children and young people, support and resources for families, and training and tools for education professionals. Visit: www nessieined.com or email our founder Rachel Lambie directly on [email protected]
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Steeple Morden Parish Council – launch new website
We are pleased to announce the launch of the new website of the local Parish Council. Do take a visit and see how to access local information and get updates on News and Notices that are relevant to the area. The new website can be found by scanning the QR code or simply entering: www.steeplemordenpc.org.uk
Here you can find out who your Parish Councillors are, how to contact them and when meetings are planned. There is an events calendar to keep you informed of local activities and a library of newsletters, PC meeting agendas and minutes.
Sign up to the email list – and get the village newsletter sent to you when it gets issued. Find the sign-up form in the footer of the web pages. Note you will receive an email asking you to confirm your intent to sign up by clicking on a link.
You will find directories for local Clubs and Organisations, for Businesses and Community contacts. Please help us keep this information up to date and introduce us to new contacts so we can keep the directories relevant and current. Please email either [email protected] or [email protected] with your information.
If you have any comments, please do let us know and we can keep this resource as relevant as possible. [email protected]
Star Shine Walk 2021 Be part of a weekend to remember with Star Shine Walk!
We invite you to walk in memory of someone special on the weekend of 22 and 23 May. The thirteenth annual Star Shine Walk, sponsored by The Cambridgeshire Care Home, will raise much needed funds for hospice care across Cambridgeshire.
This is the second outing for Star Shine Walk as a ‘virtual’ event! We challenge you to complete a 5, 10 or 20 mile distance of your choice, at a time and place to suit you! You can walk, skip, wheel, trundle, scoot, walk the dog or even dance your way around your self-made route.Early bird registration at the discounted price of £15 / £13 is available until 11.59pm on Friday 26 March.
Contact our Events & Challenges Team today, email [email protected] or call 01223 675888 11
STEEPLE MORDEN VILLAGE HALL
Steeple Morden Village Hall is available for hiring for Parties, Weddding receptions, club and social activities
It comprises: Tables, Seating for 120, Bar, Kitchen, Cooker, Fridge, Stage, Parking. There is also limited Crockery & Cutlery Projector and screen available and Induction Loop Equipment – ask our booking clerk for more details.
For bookings and prices please contact: Diane Knight 33 Cheyney Street, Steeple Morden, SG8 0LR Tel 01763 853073 (please don't phone between the hours of 6 - 7 p.m.) email: [email protected] www.hertsnativetrees.co.uk
Mobile Library
It stops at Russell Close between 10.20 am and 11.05 am. The next calling date is Tuesday April 6th 2021 The Village Wheelchair
There is a manual wheelchair available for It stops at Russell Close short term use by anyone in the village. For between 10.20am and more information and availability please 11.05am. contact Trish at the Post Office.
Contributions sent to the editor prior to the newsletter deadline will normally be printed in the next available edition. The deadline for May edition is 12 noon on 17th April 2021.
Contact details for the editor are at the bottom of the first page of the Newsletter
Don’t forget you can view this issue and back issues of the Newsletter online; you can also subscribe to receive notification of when the newsletter is availale on www.steeplemordenpc.org.uk
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