Data captured by the electronic speed sign on the B1049 at the entrance to the village confirms that many vehicles are driving at speeds well in excess of the speed limit.
The Mobile Vehicle Activated Sign (MVAS) sign has been in situ on the B1049 heading into the village from the A14 for just under a month. It recorded one vehicle driving at an eye-watering 86mph, as well as 250 vehicles doing more than 55mph, and 31 travelling at 70mph or more.
The average speed of vehicles passing is 32mph. This is markedly below the road’s 40mph limit, meaning that no specific police action would be triggered. However the top speeds reached by some of the 2,883 drivers who pass it daily, remain a cause of concern for Impington residents.
Speed concerns
The early data backs up the feelings of some residents of The Coppice, who have been disturbed by persistent speeding at quiet times along the B1049, adjacent to their homes. It is hoped that the sign will have a positive impact on drivers’ speeds.
Stuart Norris, who was involved in the consultation that led to the speed camera installation, said: “Coppice residents are hoping the sign will make those who speed on the road think twice about exceeding the 40mph limit. I’ve noticed a decrease in the speed of vehicles since the sign was installed.”
Drivers in the village may also have noticed that the sign will light up with the words ‘Thank You’ if they are clocked travelling under the 40mph speed limit.
Previously used by the local volunteer-led Speedwatchgroup, the MVAS was positioned by the roadside on a tripod. Its purpose in its current location is to improve safety by reminding road users of the speed limit as they drive past it. The sign shows the speed of individual vehicles as they pass.
Next steps
In the next few weeks the electronic sign will be run in ‘stealth mode’ – meaning that it will continue to record data, but the sign will not flash or display anything. This will then allow for data comparison to see how effective the sign has been at slowing traffic.
As previously reported in HI HUB, there are also plans in place to relocate the MVAS sign to the Cottenham end of the B1049, with the focus there being on reminding drivers of the speed limit as they approach the Park Primary School. Subject to County Council permission, future locations may include Park Lane entering Histon; New Road, south of IVC; and Cambridge Road opposite The Crescent.
Andy Boylett, Area Coordinator for South Cambs Speedwatch, said: “So far the camera has proved to be a very effective reminder to drivers of the need to stay at the correct speed limit, which makes for a safer environment for all.”
An electronic sign displaying approaching drivers’ speeds has been positioned on the B1049 at the entrance to the villages of Histon and Impington.
The Mobile Vehicle Activated Sign (MVAS) sign was originally purchased in 2018 by the Parish Council for use by the local volunteer led Speedwatchgroup, and has, until now, only been used for short periods at the roadside, mounted on a tripod.
The County Council has now given permission to position the MVAS sign on lampposts at various locations throughout the villages. The first installation is on the B1049 next to The Coppice, as speeding on this stretch of road has been the subject of many complaints from local residents.
The purpose of the MVAS is to improve safety by reminding road users of the speed limit as they drive past it. The speed of an approaching vehicle is lit up in white if it’s within the speed limit and in red if the limit is exceeded.
Data Collection
The sign is currently set to record the speed of approaching traffic and can also provide data on the number of vehicles passing and their speeds in both directions.
The MVAS also continues to collect data with the speed display turned off, so it will be possible to see how effective it has been it slowing traffic. Data collected cannot be used as enforcement evidence, but it can be shared with the Police and the County Highway Authority in order to suggest enforcement action such as speed cameras, lower speed limits or other traffic control measures.
The sign will be moved after a few weeks, with the next location being Cottenham Road, where traffic comes into the village from the north. The focus there will be to remind drivers of the speed limit as they approach The Park School. Future locations include Park Lane entering Histon; New Road, south of IVC and Cambridge Road opposite The Crescent.
Andy Boylett, Area Coordinator for South Cambs Speedwatch, said: “This is a helpful addition to our work. We’re always looking for volunteers which will allow us to run more roadside sessions. We particularly need a coordinator with the passion and time to organise and run sessions here in Histon & Impington with other group volunteers. Do get in touch if you think you can help”.
A vacancy has arisen on the Parish Council following the resignation of Ros Hathorn as a Parish Councillor.
The Parish Council hope to fill this vacancy by co-option at the next meeting on 20th September 2021. If you would be interested in being considered for this opportunity, please can you write or email by 17th September with your brief reasons for wishing to stand. If more than one applicant comes forward there would be a vote amongst the existing Council members to fill the position.
Full Council meetings are held the third Monday monthly and there are other Committees and Working Parties you can join if you wish.
Please write to: The Clerk, Histon & Impington Parish Council, The Parish office, Histon & Impington Recreation Ground, New Road, Impington, CB24 9LU or email clerk@hisimp.net.
Climate change will be in the national news as the Glasgow COP26 summit approaches, but local efforts will be vital if zero-carbon targets are to be met. Liz Hill reports on how the village is getting involved.
The global UN climate summit known as COP26, taking place in Glasgow in early November, will hopefully see world leaders make new commitments to actions that their countries will take to reduce greenhouse gases and prevent catastrophic increases in global temperatures. But if they are to be delivered, those commitments will rely on the actions of all citizens, and every community has its part to play – Histon & Impington included.
What is COP26?
‘COP26’ is shorthand for ‘the 26th Climate Change Conference of the Parties’. This year’s event is being hosted by the UK, which is also setting the agenda. It will see international delegations come together to agree coordinated action to tackle climate change.
The aim of COP26 is to make better progress towards meeting the commitments made in an international treaty on climate change that was adopted in 2015 – known as ‘the Paris Agreement.’ The summit will culminate with the countries agreeing to targets for reaching the ‘net zero’ carbon emissions needed to stop the devastating advance of global warming.
The conference will be delivered in two ‘Zones’. The Green Zone will be where the general public, youth groups, civil society, academics, artists and businesses will run talks, events, exhibitions and workshops that aim to help the UK’s communities build awareness and make commitments around the climate change agenda.
The Blue Zone is where the governments will negotiate the targets that they will buy into, and is exclusively for heads of state and expert climate delegates from 197 countries who will be sharing their information, advice and stories.
Local champion
Among those involved in these world-changing conversations will be Histon & Impington resident and South Cambs Councillor Pippa Heylings. Her career has seen her working both locally and internationally to encourage sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and a low carbon, climate resilient world. It is therefore no surprise that, in recognition of her extensive knowledge and influence over environmental agendas across the world, she has been given a coveted space in the ‘Blue Zone’ at the conference.
Pippa Heylings
Among Pippa’s aims is to reinforce the message that action at local level is as important as national policy in halting climate change, because change will only happen if individuals and communities do their bit. She is Chair of South Cambs District Council’s Climate and Environment Advisory Committee, national Lead Lib Dem for the Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board, and leads on the cross-party Climate Change Task Force set up by the Local Government Association in the run-up to the conference. The task force members have been meeting regularly with all the Ministers nominated as COP26 Champions for key sectors across Government.
The aim of the group is to get local and regional governments across the world recognised as a vital part of national efforts to reach climate change targets. They are asking for a whole day of the conference agenda to be dedicated to ‘sub-national’ government activity – which in the UK means County, District and Parish Councils. They also want the final COP26 agreement reached by national governments to commit to giving the financial and political support that councils will need to bring about change in their communities.
Off the starting blocks
Here in Histon & Impington, the community isn’t sitting waiting for the outcome of COP26 before taking action. The Neighbourhood Plan came into force earlier this year, supporting the Parish Council to look for opportunities to reduce carbon emissions in the community and to develop community energy schemes. Some community groups are already in action too, not least HITrees and its community planting events, and the new charity H&I Green Spaces, which is securing the future of Abbey Fields and preventing their use as development land.
South Cambs District Council is fully behind community efforts. Together with around 2,000 local councils across the world, it has declared a climate and ecological emergency. Its business plan priority is ‘being green to our core’ and earlier this year its green efforts were commended in the Public Sector Transformation Awards as being “exemplary”.
As part of its efforts, South Cambs has adopted a Zero Carbon Strategy to bring down its own emissions, as well as a Doubling Nature Strategy aiming to increase the tree canopy to absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere. Last year Histon & Impington was able to take advantage of the three free trees it offered to every parish council in the district, and that offer has been doubled this year, with six free trees available.
To support businesses and communities to do their bit to reduce their carbon emissions, South Cambs has prepared a Climate Emergency toolkit, and earlier this year it ran a Climate and Environment Fortnight which presented activities aimed at helping residents think about how to live more sustainably.
There is no doubt that the building blocks are being put in place to encourage and support our village to step up to the enormous challenge of climate change. It’s up to each of us now to engage with the process and take our own steps towards the zero carbon future we so urgently need.
Community organisations in Histon & Impington can do their bit to inspire action on climate change by joining in with the Great Big Green Week, a national week of events from 18 to 26 September. Thousands of events will celebrate how communities are taking action to tackle climate change and protect green spaces. Event organisers can sign up to take part.
Fears have been allayed that the playing field in New School Road – previously used by the former Infants School – could be used as development land now that the school has moved.
Land owners Cambridgeshire County Council have granted a ‘tenancy at will’ to the Parish Council, which has no plans to develop the site, but will open it to the whole community, monitor its use and listen to any good ideas that could further enhance its value to local residents.
Although a ‘tenancy at will’ allows the Parish Council to occupy the land indefinitely, it is only a short-term measure and either party could end the arrangement by giving immediate notice at any time. However, the intention of both parties is that that this temporary arrangement will be turned into a long-term lease of the land. A 7-year lease is currently on offer, which would protect the land from development during this period.
Parish Council Chair Denis Payne explained: “The tenancy is good news because it makes a little more green open space available to the community. The field is a Protected Village Amenity Area in the South Cambs Local Plan, and also a Local Green Space in the Histon & Impington Neighbourhood Plan. Anything that the Parish Council does with the land will reflect these designations.”
Future use
For the time being the field – which will open to the public from Friday 30th July – will simply remain as a field. It is likely to be open for use from 8am until dusk each day and will be subject to a few common sense rules, including ball games being allowed. The rights of existing users will be protected, including the neighbouring Early Years centre, which is a condition of the tenancy.
Among the ideas for the land are a Pump Track – which has long been the vision of some in the community. A post on Facebook commented that the original gift of the land was for the benefit of children’s exercise and neighbours are used to it being used for children’s recreation. “It already has some mature trees. I can imagine it with hedging and additional planting to make it interesting, it would be a great, central use of the space, and it’s big enough with some careful design”.
Planners have firmly rejected proposals for demolishing Kendal Court – the buildings around Station Stores on Cambridge Road, Impington – and redeveloping the area with high density residential accommodation.
Developers had applied for permission to develop the whole site with a building containing 28 apartments and two commercial units, in an L-shaped configuration at the corner of Cambridge Road and the guided busway.
But planning officers for South Cambridgeshire have provided 7 grounds for planning permission to be refused.
Objections
The Parish Council has been a vocal objector to the proposals. On behalf of the community, it made 27 objections to the original plans, and 24 objections to the revised version submitted to planners when it became clear that the initial proposal failed to adequately address local needs and concerns, or meet the requirements of the Village Design Guide.
Among the issues it raised were the absence of affordable housing; inadequate parking provision; and the density of residential accommodation that would be created in the area surrounding the former railway station, where more than 50 new properties have either been built or are under construction on the former Bishop’s site opposite. It also commented on the strain a development of this scale would place on the already-overstretched doctor’s surgery, and the loss of business premises in the area, which was formerly home to Anglia Fireplaces as well as Station Stores and Richard Stebbings Funeral Service.
Others who objected to the plans included the Local Highway Authority, which expressed concerns about vehicle manoeuvring from the site to the road, and the Local Flood Authority, unhappy about surface water drainage arrangements.
35 residents responded to the public consultation, commenting on issues including inadequate provision for cyclists and the visual impact of the four-storey development on the area.
Planners also felt that the private and communal outdoor amenity space available to residents in the properties would be inadequate.
The developers who own the site are now faced with choices about how to proceed.
While they could appeal the decision, success seems unlikely given the number of reasons given for rejecting the proposed scheme.
They could adjust the proposal and resubmit, or alternatively – unless they choose to sell the site on to someone else – they will need to go back to the drawing board to come up with a scheme that addresses the points raised by planners.
Parish Council chair Denis Payne commented: “We are delighted that this particular scheme has been rejected. The site is designated as an area for mixed development, so that the area around the guided busway stop could become a gateway to the village, with destination businesses creating a lively 7am to 10pm area.
“The proposed plans would have added a significant amount of residential accommodation but not provided the associated amenities and facilities that a growing village needs, and did nothing to address the serious problem of affordable local housing.
“It seems likely that the developers will offer an alternative scheme, and we hope they will take this fully into consideration before resubmitting ideas for the site.”
The ways that Histon & Impington residents use their leisure time for recreation and other physical activity is the subject of a new survey examining the need for additional indoor and outdoor facilities in the village.
The findings will help the Parish Council prioritise spending at the Recreation Ground and plan the long-term provision of recreation opportunities for the community.
The questionnaire asks residents about the leisure and recreation facilities and spaces they currently use; how satisfied they are with them; and what facilities they would like to have in the community – and specifically at the Rec.
Neil Davies, Chair of the Recreation Committee at the Parish Council, is keen for the community to have their say. He said: “We recognise how important it is for people to be able to use their leisure time for recreation and other physical activity. It is recognised that this doesn’t just improve their physical health but it also contributes to better mental health.
“We are fortunate in Histon & Impington to have such an excellent recreation ground and access to various informal green spaces. We just need to make sure that what’s provided is good for the future.”
The survey, which runs until 18th July, can be found online at https://tinyurl.com/HandIRec or using the QR code. Hard copies of the questionnaire are available at the St Andrew’s Centre, Print-Out, Station Stores and the Parish Office. Call the Parish Office on 01223 235906 if you can’t pick one up, and for more information contact David Jenkins at jdj@davidjenkins.org.uk and on 07739 758859.
From little acorns, mighty plans have grown and on 11 May the community purchase of Long Meadow and the Croft Close Set Aside finally reached completion. Amanda Borrill has been talking to the team behind this success, along with Abbey Farm’s new owners, about the journey so far and what happens next…
In July 2020, the Rowley family-owned Abbey Farm house and grounds, with its two associated plots – Croft Close Set Aside (CCSA) and Long Meadow (LM) – all went up for sale causing much concern locally over its fate. What followed next was people power at its finest; a community coming together through a unique set of circumstances with one sole aim – to preserve this historic and beautiful part of our village for future generations.
The power of the people
Resident alongside the CCSA since 1966, nature lover Moira Neal is overjoyed that completion has finally taken place. Talking to Moira, you can’t fail to be drawn in by her passion and enthusiasm for its preservation: “Yes, I am passionate about it! Over the past 21 years we have enjoyed the field with our dogs and grandchildren.
Two of the regular visitors to the CCSA pond, captured together, by chance, in a rare moment. Photo: Moira Neal
“I have always vowed I would have been like Swampy and strapped myself to a tree if any developer had got hold of it. It is such a very precious space which Tony and I have nurtured for over 20 years. As I sit writing this I can hear the purr of the highly-endangered turtle dove calling for a mate. He has chosen our field as his summer home. We are indeed very honoured as they have decreased by 93% since the 1970s.”
Early steps
A walk around the area with Howard Biddle and his wife Hilary early last summer introduced me to this area of natural beauty that I had no idea even existed and took Howard into his leading role on the Abbey Fields Task and Finish Group – a joint collaboration between the community and our Parish Council. Howard shares how he became involved.
“During the first Covid lockdown we explored a lot of local walks and were delighted to discover new woods and paths, all between Histon, Girton and Westwick, but we couldn’t understand why there were no paths marked across Abbey Fields. I therefore decided to research the process for claiming formal Rights of Way. Tentative conversations soon evolved into a campaign and then, in July, came the news that the entire Abbey Farm estate was up for sale. The Abbey Farm house was going for a high price but the price being asked for the two plots now known as Abbey Fields (CCSA and LM) seemed within reach for the village. Publicity on HI HUB, Network Magazine and local social media very quickly established overwhelming support for what we were doing.”
Asking Howard what it means to him personally to have played a part in securing this land for our community, his enthusiasm shines through: “It was a project that needed doing and I couldn’t find anyone else to do it! Unwelcome as lockdown was, it gifted me time I would never normally have had to take this on. Green spaces in urban developments are important. These two pieces of land are special both from an environmental and historical perspective. My kids enjoyed these fields and so too now will future generations. It is brilliant that we have been successful.”
Fortune favours the brave
Securing this land, however, has not been without its challenges. It is to all our fortunes that one multi-million pound offer for all three plots was subsequently withdrawn and some very good samaritans, in the form of the Jenking family, came along with the means to buy CCSA and LM – taking them off the open market and keeping them within the community.
Anthony Jenking takes up the story: “It has been a surprisingly complicated process spanning over 10 months and I’ve certainly learnt a lot on the way. Over this time I have met some amazingly talented and dedicated people that, strangely, I have yet to meet in person due to the pandemic. I can’t wait to rectify that!
“Essentially we (myself and my wife Bogusia) have bought CCSA and LM and covered the related costs for the short-term. Unfortunately, we’re not in a position to donate all of the money, so our aim has been to ensure that the land was off the market and ‘safe’. Now that this has been achieved, our group has more time to organise and deliver a permanent solution, to ensure the fields can remain a community asset in perpetuity. We’re also excited to be able to open that process up to the wider community now that the private sale has been completed.
The beautiful and tranquil Croft Close Set Aside at sunset. Photo: Moira Neal
“Although I’ve lived in the area for over 20 years, I had no idea that the CCSA existed. When I talked to friends in the village, it seemed that a good proportion of them were also unaware of this incredible piece of land on our doorstep. My aspiration is that, if we can make this a success, we can replicate the process again: our group has dreams of a “Histon Loop” where people can walk around the village on connected fields and pathways. It might take a lifetime to realise but this is a great first step!
“This is the first big community effort I’ve been involved in and I have been bowled over by the spirit that has been displayed. The people of Histon & Impington are just as special as the environment we live in.”
With completion of the sale of Abbey Fields, comes a new chapter in the life of the Abbey Farm estate and I asked Anthony how he saw the relationship between the Task Group and the new house owners evolving. “Obviously I don’t wish to speak for them, but we should bear in mind that a huge task lays ahead for them with renovation of the house and grounds. This is likely to keep them very busy for the foreseeable future. I can say though, throughout the sale process they have been incredibly supportive of all we are aiming to achieve and I see them being a fantastic asset to the community.”
Abbey Farm – the next chapter
So, just who are the new buyers of the Abbey Farm estate? I had the pleasure of speaking to one half of the husband and wife team behind the purchase – Michael Watson. Michael oozed enthusiasm for their return to the village he grew up in and it was clear that he and his wife Sue are keen to build a harmonious and long lasting relationship with the community.
Michael’s family connection with the villages goes back many generations with his great-great grandfather once owning the windmill and his sons running Loves Butchers. His parents still live in the village and, until her recent retirement, his mother, Rosemary, worked in Barclays Bank here on our High Street. Michael tells more:
Abbey Farm. Photo: Howard Biddle
“I have very fond memories of Abbey Farm (or Rowley’s as it was always called) particularly at times of the Feast Parade where the procession would assemble on the drive, before starting its journey through the High Street. With that as the background, it is therefore a privilege (if not also a little daunting!) to be stewards of the next chapter for Abbey Farm.
“We welcome the enthusiasm from the village community in trying to bring some of the grounds into public ownership and have been working hard, alongside Howard Biddle and other members of the Task and Finish Group, to allow this vision to be brought to reality. What amounts to almost 40% of the original Abbey Farm grounds will be designated permanently as open spaces to be enjoyed by everyone. This is a fantastic achievement and the newly named ‘Abbey Fields’ will, I’m sure, be the envy of many other villages who could only wish to achieve a similar result.
“We will be taking up residence on 11 May, and our initial focus will be to renovate the main house, as well as restore and find new uses for the historic farm buildings within the grounds. There is also a lot of general catch-up maintenance to make safe a number of damaged or diseased trees and ensure the rather unique natural environment can be preserved for the long term. You may notice therefore increasing levels of activity in the coming months as various equipment, materials and people are brought in to help with these tasks”.
Over recent weeks, the erection of new signs on the estate has prompted questions on local social media. I asked Michael about these and how he sees the relationship developing between his family and the community. His response was a fair one:
The recently erected sign on the Abbey Farm estate. Photo: Tom McKeown
“The Rowley family were generous over the years in hosting events and allowing access to their land. Once our initial projects are completed, we too will look to find ways for others to enjoy the grounds. In the meantime, we hope people will understand our need to balance that against the privacy we all expect in our family homes. Many of you will have seen the new signs we have erected to help identify the areas that will have public access, as opposed to those that will remain private. We are really pleased with how this has been respected so far and we thank you for your continued understanding as we work through sorting out a new future for Abbey Farm. We look forward to strengthening old friendships and creating many new ones as we settle back into the village.”
Turning pledges into hard cash
As completion is finalised, the team reaches the most difficult part of all – raising the money needed to buy this land for the community. A call for pledges in August last year saw offers totalling over £130,000 and now the time has come for these pledges to be turned into hard cash. Fundraising lead on behalf of the Abbey Fields group is Kate Brierton. Kate told me what drove her to take up this challenging role and how it is planned to gather in these vital funds:
“I have been walking the land around Abbey Fields nearly every day with my family for the last 15 years and when I heard it had come up for sale, I immediately wanted to protect it from development. I’m a clinical psychologist and there is lots of research showing that contact with nature is good for emotional and physical wellbeing. The importance of this has been underlined by the pandemic and I feel these green spaces have been invaluable during this period.
“Our minimum target is £450,000 to cover the purchase cost but our ambition is to raise significantly more than this so that we can invest the surplus to provide income to cover the cost of the upkeep. I am looking forward to collecting more pledges from individuals and local companies, as well as organising fundraising events and grant applications. Most of the funds will come from individuals in the local community but we will also be applying for grants both from local authorities and other grant awarding bodies that focus on environmental conservation. A charity is being established under our Parish Council so donors can be confident in our objectives and accountability. The fundraising and collection of pledges will take place after the charity we are forming is registered.
“It’s amazing what you can achieve with a group of like-minded people working towards a common objective. Now we’ve secured the land – I can’t wait to get started on this next phase!”
Community Action
To inform, educate and involve the whole community, a village meeting is planned. This will take place at 7.30pm on 10 June and will give everyone the opportunity to hear more from the team involved about their next steps. More details on how to join this meeting will be made available on the Abbey Fields website, here on HI HUB and across local social media.
The team is also looking for people willing to get involved with fundraising. If you have experience in fundraising or a just passion to help, please contact Kate Brierton at kate@brierton.net.
You can find out more about the project, the land and its archaeological history at the Abbey Fields website, here.
Nine out of ten residents in Histon & Impington have endorsed the Neighbourhood Plan drawn up by the Parish Council.
The Plan sets out a framework for future development of the village. By voting overwhelmingly at last week’s referendum to adopt it, the community has secured the formal assurance that South Cambridgeshire District Council planners will take local wishes into consideration when they decide on planning applications.
Over half of residents eligible to vote – households in the parish that are north of the A14 – did so. This was slightly higher than the turnout in Cottenham, which also voted to adopt its Neighbourhood Plan, but with a marginally smaller majority.
The Parish Council has said a “huge thank you” to everyone who voted to adopt the plan, which the Planning Committee can now refer to in their responses to proposals for complex large developments in the village, and it will help them engage constructively with developers.
A working document
Although the Neighbourhood Plan provides a solid baseline, it can still be revised and updated as the village’s needs and circumstances change, and the Parish Council intends to keep evolving the plan via future editions.
Already on the horizon are the Government’s plans for changing the regulation of the planning system, and this could lead to major changes in the Local Plan – the overarching framework that covers the whole of South Cambridgeshire until 2031.
The Parish Council has already started to put together a team to take forward new ideas and is keen for more people to join.
Chair of the Parish Council, Denis Payne, believes tackling environmental issues could be part of a first revision, looking more closely at sustainability, biodiversity, climate change adaptations.
“I think we should also be looking at other Neighbourhood Plans,” he said. “For example, Hailsham has just approved a plan that contains policies supporting a ‘10-minute town’ – where everywhere is accessible within a 10-minute walk or cycle ride. Our focus on 800m is close to that, but we may want to refine it and look at more walking and cycling improvements.”
Revising the Plan will involve the same process as developing the original one – listening to the community, producing a draft for consultation, reviewing the responses and checking that the agreed version matches with the Local Plan.
“It won’t be a quick process,” Denis explained, but hopefully it will be much quicker than this first one, which has been delayed by a year due to Covid.
The Parish Council would be delighted to hear from any resident interested in contributing to revising the Neighbourhood Plan. Email np@hisimp.netfor more information.
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