A new pedestrian and cycle route joining Impington and Orchard Park will cut the travel time between the two, improving access to community facilities on both sides of the A14.
A concrete staircase with cycle ramp will replace an informal short-cut that pedestrians have created to access the roundabout over the dual carriageway, in order to avoid using the much longer paved route via the Busway or King’s Hedges Road.
The muddy climb up a 7m embankment and over a roadside barrier has damaged trees and been identified as posing a “significant risk” to the public who have been scrambling up the bank.
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The staircase that will replace it has been manufactured offsite but work to install it will take up to 12 weeks, starting 17 February. During this period, a temporary speed limit of 40mph is due to be introduced on the A14 and there will be some overnight closures on the westbound exit slip road at Junction 32.
The new route, known as Ring Fort Path, is set to benefit residents on both sides of the A14. Members of the Orchard Park community who take this route include students and other users of Impington Village College and its sports centre, users of the New Road Recreation Ground and the Holiday Inn, and patients at Firs House surgery.
Similarly, non-vehicle travel will be easier for Histon & Impington residents using Orchard Park’s sports and other facilities, which include a play area, a multi-use games area, a skate park, an astro turf pitch and tennis/volleyball courts.
Consultation
Proposals for a shorter route between Histon & Impington and Orchard Park date back to 2011 when David Jenkins, former County Councillor for Histon & Impington, signed a petition by cycle lobby group Camcycle to create a path between them.
The project was approved and in 2014 a public consultation considered options for the route – either a straight path or zig zag path up the embankment. David explained: “ramp option[s] were considered because of the need to consider wheelchair and less able users.”
Current County Councillor Ros Hathorn, who picked up the project after David stepped down from the Council, told HI HUB that the consultation had involved many stakeholders, “in particular a wheelchair user who lived very close to the proposed path and was very active in the community”.
Compromises
The ultimate decision to opt for a staircase with cycle ramp instead of a path makes the route less accessible for wheelchair users and prams/buggies, but avoids more extensive loss of trees and scrub habitat for wildlife. It is also much cheaper.
“Much soul searching was done with the community council as to how to proceed as all options had compromises” Ros said.
Preserving habitats serves a double function in Orchard Park. As well as biodiversity benefits, the trees also shield the community from air pollution from the A14 slip road and the B1049.
Ros continued: “Orchard Park sits in an air quality monitoring area. The primary school and sports facilities are adjacent to the B1049 and A14 slip road, and there is air quality monitoring equipment at the primary school.
“Although the way particulates affect air quality is complex, trees and scrub habitat do offer some protection in terms of capturing particulates and improving air quality. So whilst the decision about not having a sloped path does have drawbacks, there are air quality grounds which prioritise minimising the loss of trees and scrub habitat.”
Saint Andrew’s Church is holding one of its monthly walks on Monday 20th March from 10.30am. This one will start from Rampton Village Green, opposite the garage.
It is an opportunity to walk and talk, and also to spend some quiet time reflecting and praying.
The walk will be approximately 3 miles at a gentle pace and good footwear is advised.
Saint Andrew’s Church is holding one of its monthly walks on Monday 20th February from 10.30am. This one will start from outside the cafe at Milton Country Park.
It is an opportunity to walk and talk, and also to spend some quiet time reflecting and praying.
The walk will be approximately 3 miles at a gentle pace and good footwear is advised.
Histon & Impington residents would be able to use a new off-road route linking Histon and Cottenham if proposals for a new Greenway are approved.
Plans for the new route – which starts in St Ives – include a 3m-wide hard path being built parallel to the Oakington Road from Westwick to Cottenham, plus a 2m-wide grass verge for soft surface users such as horse riders.
This would mean that pedestrians could use the popular Gun’s Lane footpath to start an off-road walk to Cottenham. The proposed Greenway also links with the Cambridge-St Ives Busway at Westwick.
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This is one of 12 proposed Greenways, which aim to make local walking, cycling and horse riding journeys safer and easier – connecting villages along the route to each other and Cambridge.
A consultation on the plans has been launched by Greater Cambridge Partnership, with an online survey that will remain open until midday on Friday 31st March.
Local resident Don Kelly walked and talked with Sheryl Bailey as they dodged the downpours and set off with Billy, the renowned King Bill hound, along the historic Gun’s Lane footpath.
“There are some great walks around Histon & Impington,” I was told, “so why don’t you find yourself a walking pal and follow the trails? And please take a dog.”
Don and Billy get to know each other. Photo: Sheryl Bailey
“Great idea,” I said, and envisaged writing an article that would be a cross between Clare Balding’s Ramblings and the Louis Theroux interviews – only without the famous people or exotic trips to distant places. Perhaps the dog would give my article ‘star’ appeal.
I chose my first victim carefully. Even if you haven’t met Don Kelly, you’ve probably come across his name. Chairman of the Histon Beer Festival Committee, designated village minibus driver, trustee of HI Friends, and expert canasta teacher, he was also front and centre of the awesome village response to the covid lockdowns.
Known as ‘The Don’ to his Beer Festival pals, this chap is the real deal. An all-round solid good egg if ever there was one. But don’t even think of taking him on at a pub quiz. He’s been a contestant on three televised quizzes – including Eggheads – and won some great prizes, with specialist subjects being real ale (shock), Manchester United (sad), and African mammals (solid).
Covid got him back into walking and enjoying nature and, as one of his ambitions is “to die fit and relatively healthy”, I deduced he definitely had the stamina for the walk. The only problem was, he doesn’t have a dog. Easily fixed. Step forward King Bill landlady Susie and her partner Mark, who generously loaned us their gorgeous beagle Billy ‘Bryan’ for the expedition.
Getting under way
I say expedition, but that’s a bit of an exaggeration, even though Gun’s Lane used to be the main road from Cambridge to Ely and William the Conqueror and his army is said to have used it when they chased Hereward the Wake into the Fens.
A muddy start. Photo: Sheryl Bailey
The route takes in some of the countryside on the northern side of Histon where it borders Westwick, and forms a 3.5 mile loop through wide open fields, herds of sheep, ancient hedgerows and a flowing brook (especially in the rain).
And rain it did. So much so that our planned walk began with a cheese and ham toastie on the sofa at Don’s house while we waited for the pelting downpour to pass before setting foot outdoors. Two days later we finally got ourselves suited and weatherproof booted before setting off to Gun’s Lane. The prospect of knee-deep mud for the first 200m of the lane meant another change of plan, involving a short and very pleasant diversion across Croft Close set-aside.
Don rescues his hat… Photo: Sheryl Bailey
For someone who doesn’t own a dog, Don proved surprisingly dexterous with a dog lead. “The benefits of walking for your mental health and wellbeing – especially with a dog – are huge,” he said, clearly enjoying the opportunity to give Billy an unexpected outing. “Minnie, our cat just isn’t interested,” he added wistfully.
To be fair, it wasn’t just a walk in the park. There was a moment when he had to wrestle what’s left of a tennis ball from Billy’s jaws without causing an accident on the Oakington to Westwick Road. Then there was the incident with the poo bag splitting and my unflappable friend’s hat catching on a bramble. I (un)helpfully took photos instead of supervising Billy… always thinking of the article.
The Don
It was time to find out more about Don and what drives him to take the lead in so many community endeavours.
He and his wife Lesley moved to Histon in 2008. His house is in a fantastic location with enviable vistas of Abbeyfields and woodland views. He takes great pleasure from his beautiful garden, “although Lesley does all the work!” he admitted. He has become an avid fan of Twitcher bird apps. “Identifying birds from just their song is a great joy,” he explained.
A structural engineer by trade – now retired – he is one of the world’s great positive thinkers. “I always strive to be happy by being positive about things. I have made fortunate choices with work which has given me certain freedoms at this point in life.Regularly seeing our two daughters, grandchildren and both our mums, who all live nearby, gives me great pleasure.”
The route skirts fields and offers great views and beautiful skies.
He loves to travel with Lesley, and fly-drive holidays and wildlife spotting are their thing.
“Since living and working in Africa, I developed a passion for the continent and safaris are our favourite holidays,” he said. “We’re hoping to go to Zimbabwe next.”
Village life
As for Don’s involvement in the village: “I like being busy and always crave a full diary, but preferably not being overly stressed” he said. “I want to do things that give me personal pleasure, but also the pleasure of giving something back to the community.” These are not empty words. Added to his already busy schedule in 2023 will be a commitment to the first ever HI Friends Wellbeing Festival, planned for late spring.
The early mornings aren’t for him. So being an owl rather than a lark, it’s perhaps not surprising that the Beer Festival is among his community activities. He was a bit of a late starter, having hardly visited a pub until he left home for university aged 18. But he’s made up for lost time since. “I’ve decided I could live without beer but wouldn’t want to” (Hurrah for this!). Getting the 23rd Histon Beer Festival organised and being even more successful than last year is on his list for 2023 (A second hurrah for that).
“I crave the social interaction in pubs. The whole purpose of going out for a drink is the social side and always think I’m missing out if not in the thick of the conversation somewhere,” he said. You might not believe it now, but Don was apparently, “a very shy and insular child”. He went to a private, single-sex school on a scholarship and declares himself to have been, “academic, studious, well behaved… and really boring!”
A post-walk nap for Billy
…and finally
As we approach the end of our walk, there’s just time to slip in two more personal questions to wrap up the interview.
What scares him? “The smell of chlorine still gives me the shivers,” he admits. “I didn’t learn to swim until I was 14. Every Wednesday at school they take you to the pool and throw you in until you learnt. It was a great method for causing lifelong trauma.”
And what would he like to see in 2023? “Manchester United to qualify for Champions League.” Oh dear… he may be a bona fide Egghead, but clearly there’s still a thing or two he needs to learn.
Around 10 years ago, a small group of Histon & Impington residents drew up a set of easy to follow instructions introducing seven circular walks that start and finish in the village. Over the next 12 months, Sheryl Bailey will be walking these routes accompanied by members of the community and their dogs, and HI HUB will be sharing their stories.
Saint Andrew’s Church is holding one of its monthly walks on Monday 16th January from 10.30am. This one will start from outside the Station House Cafe in Impington.
It is an opportunity to walk and talk, and also to spend some quiet time reflecting and praying.
The walk will be approximately 3 miles at a gentle pace and good footwear is advised.
Abbey Fields are holding a walk on Thursday 11th August from 10am to 12pm from the end of Croft Close.
Dave Dives will show some of the interesting flora in the Croft Close Set-aside. Dave, a knowledgeable botanist, probably knows the flora of the Set-aside as well as anyone, having recorded around 170 species there.
Abbey Fields are holding a general introduction to Abbey Fields, and the Croft Close site in particular, on 30th June from 10am.
Led by Jon Pavey, you can enjoy the beauty of our rich mosaic of habitats. The walk starts at the gate at the end of Croft Close.
These walks are open to all. Whilst participants need to be able to walk over uneven ground we will be proceeding slowly to allow those less sure on their feet to join in. To attend any of the guided walks please register your interest by emailing sitemanagers@abbeyfields.online .
Abbey Fields are holding a walk on Wednesday 22nd June from 10am to 12pm at Long Meadow.
Dave Dives will show some of theinteresting flora at Long Meadow. Dave, a knowledgeable botanist, probably knows the flora of Long Meadow better than anyone.
The walk starts from the east end of Long Meadow, by the new fence. The walks are open to all. Whilst participants need to be able to walk over uneven ground we will be proceeding slowly to allow those less sure on their feet to join in.
Abbey Fields are holding a general introduction to Abbey Fields, and the Croft Close site in particular, on Saturday 18th June from 2.30pm.
Led by Jon Pavey, you can enjoy the beauty of our rich mosaic of habitats. The walk starts at the gate at the end of Croft Close.
These walks are open to all. Whilst participants need to be able to walk over uneven ground we will be proceeding slowly to allow those less sure on their feet to join in. To attend any of the guided walks please register your interest by emailing sitemanagers@abbeyfields.online .
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