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How to receive your Little Shelford newsletter | |
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Do you want to receive an electronic newsletter updating you on up and coming events in Little Shelford every month? To receive the newsletter, simply send your email address to littleshelfordparishcouncil@gmail.com | |
A second burglary was at Newton Road, Little Shelford on May 16 between 09.45 and 14.45. A small amount of cash was stolen.
And cycle was stolen from Hauxton Road, Little Shelford on May 8 between 11.30 and 15.00. A black gents hybrid cycle was stolen from the front of the house. The cycle is described as: 21 gears, disc brakes, straight handlebars, and has a children’s seat carrier attachment to the frame.
Our councillor joins the cabinet
Our local councillor David Whiteman-Downes has joined the cabinet at South Cambridgeshire Council. David, who is one of three district councillors for Little Shelford, will have responsibility for Corporate and Customer Services.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Robert Billinge | UKIP | 954 | 12.4 |
| Adrian John French | Labour | 880 | 11.4 |
| Gail Kenney | Conservative | 1,754 | 22.7 |
| Michael Thomas Kilpatrick | Liberal Democrat | 669 | 8.7 |
| Mike Nettleton | Labour | 801 | 10.4 |
| Tony Orgee | Conservative | 1,852 | 24.0 |
| Linda Whitebread | Green | 810 | 10.5 |
The roads would start closing just before 10am and reopen when the last runner passes through. This means Wollards Lane will probably be closed for an hour or so (because the runners start and finish there) but High Street and Church Street will be closed for less time. The traffic management contractor will be under strict instructions to apply a "light touch". Their remit is to ensure the safety of the runners while keeping disruption to an absolute minimum.
However County Council Tony Orgee pledged at the Annual Village Meeting on April 25 that the service won't end until a suitable alternative is in place.
The bus currently goes from Little Shelford to Cambridge four times a day. However, the County Council is currently reviewing subsidised bus services across Cambridgeshire. They contacted the Parish Council on April 25 to say that the service is now likely to end.
Jamie Williams, who has a condition called Waardenburg syndrome, decided to write a blog about growing up in a “hearing world” and posted it on Facebook - and it was shared hundreds of times in a matter of hours.
He told the Cambridge News: “A couple of weeks ago I was thinking about what I could do because it was the holiday period and I was thinking about writing a blog as I enjoy reading them but didn’t have a clue what to do it on. I was chatting to a friend about it and he suggested ‘you’ve got to so something unique to you that will engage an audience’ and he said one of the best things about me was that I’m happy and content even though I am deaf.
“I had hoped to engage people with it but a couple of hours after I put it online it had been shared loads. In the space of three days it went to 2,500 shares and now has around 3,000.”
The 16-year-old Leys student lives in High Street, Little Shelford. You can read the original article here.
To read his blog visit http://adeafboyinaloudworld.wordpress.com/ and for updates from Jamie visit www.facebook.com/aloudworld.
Fundraising for the new Pavilion has now reached £113,000 the Parish Council heard at its meeting on March 27.
Concerns were raised at the meeting that the Pavilion might end up in competition for small parties and other similar activities with the Village Hall. Pavilion Trust Chairman Maurice Palmer promised that the impact on the Village Hall would be minimal.
The next step has been taken towards creating a new village green at the junction of Manor Road and Church Street. The Parish Council agreed to apply for a licence to cultivate costing £82. This will allow some of the tarmac in that area to be dug up and be replaced with grass.
30mph stickers for villager’s bins have been provided by South Cambridgeshire District Council. They will be distributed to homes close to the edge of the village, encouraging motorists to slow down as they enter the village. Stickers can be obtained from mary.palazzo@btconnect.com
The specifying of the 2013 edition is important as the shop is currently selling the remaining stock of the first edition published in 2010. You can read more about Johnston's life here.
The green will be at the junction of Church Street and Manor Road. It will be the home for the new village sign. It would include expanding the current grass verge over what is now a tarmacked roadway to an island that includes a new tree. An artist's impression by Vic Franklin is included below.
The initial idea to create a village green came from Robin Fox and the Little Shelford History Society. The Society leafleted all 300 homes in the village about the proposals. There were 31 responses. The majority of responses were in favour of the green. Only 16% of residents said they did not support the proposals. The Parish Council voted to support the idea at its January meeting.
The green is lijkely to be one of the smallest in the country. The Parish Council is now working with the County Council to make the green a reality.
Posted March 4 2013
- The Wale Memorial
- The River
- The Church
- The Celtic cross
- Rope
- The Manor House
- The village hall
- An Apollo rocket
- A Nobel peace prize medal
Beaver Scouts Adult Volunteers Needed
A new Beaver Colony is being started as part of the Shelfords & Stapleford Scout Group. Beavers as the youngest section within the Scout Association are for 6 to 8 year old girls and boys.
Whilst they already have some adults who have volunteered to become leaders they would like to give adults, from the wider community, the opportunity to become part of the enthusiastic team organising fun activities for these eager, happy young people.
Perhaps you were a Beaver Scout and would like to give today’s youngsters the opportunity to take part in the types of activities you enjoyed or may be you would just like to volunteer to become part of the leadership team helping youngsters have fun and develop to their full potential. They recognise that in these busy days that it is not possible for everyone to attend colony meetings every week but by developing a good sized team this will not be necessary
Shelfords & Stapleford Scout Group, which mainly serves Great and Little Shelford & Stapleford, is a thriving youth organisation within the local community with large and highly active Cub and Scout sections and a supporters committee therefore if you were to volunteer there is plenty of support
If you would like more information and perhaps pay a visit to one of the Colony meetings to experience the fun of a Beaver Colony please contact Jillian Hardwick on 01223840066 or by email: hardwick.hardwick@ntlworld.com
Library changes
This follows feedback from a survey carried out by the Friends of Great Shelford and from customers, which showed where hours could be tweaked to better suit demand.
Great Shelford customers will see the library open an hour earlier on Mondays and stay open for an extra hour on Friday afternoons. On a Tuesday and Friday the library will close between 1-2pm but otherwise opening hours will stay the same.
New Opening Hours
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
3 - 7 | 10 – 1 2 - 5 | 10 – 1 | Closed | 2 - 6 | 10-1 |
Cambridgeshire ACRE have been running a community oil buying scheme since March 2012 which has become really successful both in terms of member numbers, volunteer local co-ordinators and oil prices negotiated.
The scheme is county wide not village wide so is not dependent upon minimum numbers from a given village or parish to secure a good price.
It is a membership scheme £20 per annum for domestic households. This fee ensures that members receive an exclusive price for their oil not available to non members. Members can place as many orders as they require throughout the year.
Orders are placed once a month and all members are reminded of the deadline date in advance. Orders received are amalgamated and one bulk order is submitted to the oil negotiator on behalf of Cambridgeshire. The oil negotiator tracks prices over the course of a few days and buys from the supplier giving the best price. members are then informed of the price secured and supplier along with delivery window. Members pay the supplier upon receipt of their oil order.
A statistical chart of prices is available on our website www.cambsacre.org.uk follow the wellies and radiator picture to the community oil buying page. On average as you will see members have saved 5ppl against the average price found at the time of negotiations. (prices all exclude VAT@5%).
Posted Feb 14 2013
Navigator opening time changes
Two homes in Whittlesford Road have been burgled during December.
In the first incident, between 7.30am and 6.30pm on Monday December 10th, a laptop and cash were stolen.
The second burglary occurred between 16:30 hrs on 28/12/2012 and 09:07hrs on 29/12/2012. Putty was removed from around a single glazed window at the back of the premises and thieves then entered the location, leaving via the back door. Two bags of screws and screwdrivers were found discarded behind the garden hedge having been stolen from the address.
Please take care and secure your property and items of value.
| Street | Average price paid | Number of sales |
| Beech Close | £329,950 | 1 |
| Church Street | £965,000 | 2 |
| Courtyards | £388,800 | 5 |
| Garden Fields | £350,000 | 1 |
| Hauxton Road | £317,400 | 5 |
| High Street | £581,000 | 5 |
| Newton Road | £783,000 | 2 |
| The Terrace | £585,000 | 1 |
| Whittlesford Road | £239,250 | 2 |
The Parish Council is pushing for the speed limit on Whittlesford Road entering the village from the Whittlesford direction to be reduced to 40 mph. This should then help to reduce the speed of traffic in the 30 mph zone.
Little Shelford looks like it will get a new MP. A proposal has been made to switch our village from Andrew Lansley’s seat to the seat of James Paice.
The village has been given 8 new trees. 4 will be planted in Beech Close in the spring and 4 will be put in the Wale Recreation Ground.
Parish Clerk Jill Taylor is standing down after 10 years in the role. Jill’s knowledge of the village, her tenacity and experience will be greatly missed. The Council will be recruiting a new Parish Clerk early in 2013.
Posted Nov 29 2012
There is a plan to have our own Little Shelford village sign to be erected at the corner by the church.
This is a joint venture between the Parish Council and the History Society and is part of the ‘Bringing Little Shelford Alive’ lottery funded project which includes:
· Creating a digital copy of the Fanny Wale book (now printed)
· Creating a heritage trail to celebrate the history of Little Shelford ( in progress)
· Launching a village history day (30 September 2012)
· Creating a dedicated village website (up and running)
· Transcribing the 1911 census (awaiting data)
· Creating ideas for a village sign with pupils and staff from Gt & Lt Shelford School based on episodes from Little Shelford’s history (ongoing)
As part of the school involvement, at the beginning of the September term you may well have seen groups of well-behaved children plus members of staff studying aspects of the village. Ray Saich went to a school assembly and then spent time in each of the Key Stage 2 classes. Vic Franklin (artist) and Neil Horne (sign writer) also accompanied him. The children’s artistic interpretations were on display at the September history day.
The History Society feel that it is important for all members of the village community to have the opportunity to add their ideas/views/artwork for the composition of the village sign along with the children’s contribution. A circular containing more information will be distributed to all village households before the end of the year.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any further information.
David Martin 845995 davidm1961@gmail.com
Ray Saich 842737 pandrsaich@btinternet.com
The calendar journeys through the school’s history, using photographs which celebrate across three centuries:
the development of the building; teaching and learning, key events in the school year; extra-curricular activities.
Priced at £6 each or £10 for two, calendars can be ordered from Brie Lury, (brigidroche@yahoo.co.uk). Proceeds will go to the PTA (Registered Charity No. 1110813) to further fund the development of our outdoor learning environment.
The opening times at Great Shelford library are likely to change shortly. These are the current and the proposed new times.
| Day | Now | New time | ||
| Mon | 4-7 | 3-7 | ||
| Tues | 10-5 |
| ||
| Weds | 10-1 | 10-1 | ||
| Thurs | Closed | Closed | ||
| Fri | 10-5 |
| ||
| Sat | 10-1 | 10-1 |
Do you, or anyone you know, find it difficult to cook a hot meal because of illness, age or disability?
Meals 2 You is a meals delivery service run by leading disability charity Papworth Trust from its OWL Café in Sawston. It delivers a main course and a dessert on weekday lunchtimes (usually between 12.15 and 1pm) in Little and Great Shelford, Sawston, Pampisford, Stapleford, Whittlesford, Duxford, Hinxton and Ickleton.
Meals can be delivered every day or just one day a week, either short term or long term. Frozen meals are also available for reheating at weekends and on bank holidays. A two course hot meal costs £3.60 and a frozen one costs £3.35.
If you are aware of anyone in your community who could benefit from this service please tell them about it. If you could spare a couple of hours at least once a week we are always looking for volunteers who not only deliver meals but provide vital face to face contact with those who may feel isolated.
To order a meal or find out more, please call 01223 833396 between 10am and 1pm, email owlcafe@papworth.org.uk or visit our website www.papworth.org.uk/meals2you
Volunteers needed
Little Shelford Cricket Club starts its winter nets programme on Sunday November 4th at 8pm at Hills Road Sports and Tennis Centre Cambridge and subsequent Sundays until April 2013.
They are looking for new players for the 2013 season and beyond so if you are new to the game and want to give it a try, an up and coming youngster or an established player looking for a new challenge, they would be delighted to see you.
Their ECB qualified coaches will be on hand to help develop your individual skills in all aspects of the game.
They are a progressive club with an ambitious sports development plan which includes the building of a new pavilion of their picturesque ground just south of Cambridge.
They are a friendly, family oriented club with an active social side to our activities
Please call Neil on 01223 842843 or 07866751651, or e-mail neilorpwood@msn.com for further information or questions
We look forward to hearing from you. Neil Orpwood
Posted October 19 2012 Official ebay service Did you know Little Shelford has its' very own ‘ebay’ service? One entrepreneurial young mum in the village has recently set up a new company called the ‘Little Shelford ebayer’, basically, ‘ebaying’ on your behalf and doing all the time consuming things - taking photos, putting the ads on line, dealing with enquiries, going to the post office etc. For those of you who haven’t heard about ebay, its an online auction and shopping website allowing you to buy and sell almost anything from wardrobes to CDs, digital cameras to dresses. It’s a great way to recycle goods and more importantly to earn a few extra pennies. The Little Shelford ebayer will take a 15% cut as commission. For more information, email the littleshelfordebayer@gmail.com or contact 07973 778957. Posted October 15 Bird survey An experiement to atrtract more birds to a Little Shelford farm has had positive results. Bird numbers in the 10-year survey had been declining on the Bayer Crop[science farm on Whittlesford Road, in line with the national trend. But following the introduction of winter food last year there was an immediate increase in the farmland bird index to its highest level since 2005. Read the full story in Farmers Weekly magazine here. Posted October 15 Garages available Six garages are available for rent in Little Shelford. The garages, which are owned by South Cambridgeshire District Council, are in Beech Close. The rent for the garages is: Council Tenants £7.78 per week Non Council Tenants £12.89 per week Posted October 11 Little Shelford Parish Council September meeting – decisions and information
Posted September 27 2012 New youth club due to start A new youth club started in Little Shelford in September. The Shelford and Stapleford Youth Inititiative was launched in the North Building at All Saints on Monday 24th September 7pm to 8.30pm if everything goes according to plan. Hopefully the club will run on run every Monday up to Christmas. It will be different to the SSYI Friday club in Great Shelford, as it will be open to all but with specific activities and open for a shorter time. The North Building is being used as the Village Hall cannot accommodate the club. Posted September 3 2012 Widlife group seeks new volunteers Are you interested in the environment? If so, you may be interested in joining the village's wildlife group. In 2003, the Parish Council secured a grant to construct the “Riverside Walk” and after completion formed the volunteer Little Shelford Wildlife Group. Diana Haines headed up the group and it was agreed that it’s task would be to maintain and improve the wildlife habitat at the Wale Recreation Ground and Bradmere Lane. The Group’s initial job was to plant hedges around two sides of the bowling green, along with protective netting against rabbits, and also clean out the ice ponds. Following some more fundraising, plants and netting were purchased and the area around Bradmere Pond was also cleared and trees and more plants put in and some of overgrown and unsafe willows coppiced. In addition bird and owl boxes were put up in both locations and a seat at Bradmere Pond. Later on the area between the children’s playground and the bowling green was cleared and reseeded and two picnic tables were installed. This work has continued to date and involves:
We are a small group of some 6 active members and are lucky that some are qualified in environmental studies. However, we always need keen volunteers willing to roll up their sleeves a few times a year. So if you want to join a very sociable group doing thoroughly worthwhile work, please contact Diana Haines, who lives in Church Street, on 01223/841415. Posted September 3 2012 Newsletter published The latest newsletter for the Great and Little Shelford Twinning Association has just been published. A version is attached at the bottom of the page. War hero dies Air Commodore James Coward, who was based in King's Farm, Little Shelford during WW2 when he flew spitfires out of Duxford before serving on Winston Churchill's personal staff has died. He was 97. The Air Commodore was shot down over Little Shelford in one of the first incidents in the Battle of Britain. He survived the incident although he lost part of his leg when he crash-landed. After the war, her returned to Australia where he rose to the rank of Air Commodore in the Australian Airforce. Earlier this year, the Commodore and Mrs Coward moved into a retirement village in Yass, about an hour north-west of Canberra. He died in the early hours of July 26. You can read more about the Air Commodore's fascinating career here. Posted July 26 Workers accommodation rejected Proposals to build accommodation for up to 50 foreign workers on the Little Shelford boundary have been rejected. The planning application at Dernford Barn Sawston Road Stapleford sought planning permission for the change of use of agricultural buildings to hostel accommodation for agricultural workers and ancillary office accommodation together with erection of covered external area and use of existing bungalow as warden accommodation This would have enabled up to 50 workers to be accommodated. The proposals have been rejected by a planning inspector after they were first turned down by South Cambridgeshire District Council. Posted August 2 2012 Twinning report Did you know that our villages of Great and Little Shelford are twinned with a village in northern France? You can read the report of their latest exchange here. Entrepreneur Little Shelford businesswoman Sally Guyer has been highlighted as one of Cambridge's five entrepreneurs to watch by the Cambridge News. Sally set up the brains behind the Cambridge Raincoat Company. Sally has featured on the Daily Telegraph website. Parish Council decisions and actions At it's July meeting, the Parish Council made a number of decisions affecting Little Shelford: £3,000 given to the Council because a new house is being built in the village will be donated to the fund for the new sports pavilion. A memorial will be created at the Wale Recreation Ground for village stalwart Ivor Pearl. Contributions from people who knew Ivor will be welcome. Just 13% of people in little Shelford have so far signed up for the Connecting Cambridgeshire campaign. A new footpath along the verge in Newton Road is going to be pursued. A small grant is to be given to the local twinning group. A grant of £750 to provide water for the allotments has previously been announced. Councillors are going to draw up options about how to raise the remaining £700 needed by September. Posted July 11 South Cambs local plan A new Local Plan is being created for South Cambridgeshire. While it doesn't propose major new development in Little Shelford, some of the proposals might have an adverse impact on the traffic through our village. Consultation events are taking place at Spicer's Pavilion in Sawston on July 17 and at Great Shelford Memorial Hall on September 5, both from 3pm to 8pm. Posted July 11 Broadband campaign New figures just released reveal that Little Shelford residents don't want faster broadband speeds. A new campaign started earlier this year called Connecting Cambridgeshire. Yet only 13.8% of Little Shelford villagers have so far signed up for faster broadband. The ‘Get Cambridgeshire connected’ campaign features prominently on the new Connecting Cambridgeshire website at www.connectingcambridgeshire.co.uk A survey in November 2011 showed the average download speed for Little Shelford was just 1.48 mps. There is a call to action for residents, businesses and community groups, who have a key part to play in the success of the project by showing that there is considerable and growing demand for access to faster and better broadband services across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. By clicking on the ‘Get Cambridgeshire connected’ button, householders and businesses can register their support for the broadband campaign in minutes with just a postcode and landline phone number. Visitors to the site will also be able to check their broadband speeds, volunteer to support the campaign as Digital Champions, ask for business advice and regular updates. Simon Conway-Smith, who organised a survey of Broadband speesd in Little Shelford in November, has been appointed as our Digital Champion. You can contact Simon here: simon.conway-smith@tesco.net Posted July 9 2012 Missing out on the village magazine? We aim to deliver the Newsletter to every home in thevillage. If you, or someone you know, do not receive a copy and would like to,then please let us know. You can contact us by email to newsletter@allsaintslittleshelford.org,by telephone at the church office on 843710 or by leaving a note for Sarah Glauert at 44 Whittlesford Road. Sarah Glauert Posted June 26 2012 Main gate at the Wale Rec locked In order to prevent unauthorised vehicle access to the Wale Recreation Ground, a combination padlock has now be installed on the main gate. The Chairmen of all authorised organisations who use the Rec (Cricket, Football, Bowls, Ents Committee, Wildlife Group) have been informed of the access number. If you have any questions about vehicle access to the Rec you can contact the following members of the Parish Council: David Martin - 845995 or David Jones - 847213 Posted 26th May 2012 Parish Council decisions Little Shelford Parish Council met on May 23rd. These are the main decisions and actions: South Cambridgeshire District Council wants to demolish 12 garages in Beech Close and replace them with one house. 7 of the garages are currently being used. The Parish Council received four letters of complaint about the proposals from people saying the changes would add to the parking problems in the close. The Parish Council agreed to oppose the demolition of the garages. A new picnic bench has been installed by the village pond in Bradmere Lane. The Parish Council has received a £750 grant to help provide water for the village allotments. The total costs will be around £1700. The Council is going to explore options to bridge the gap at its July meeting. All of the allotments are now being used. A village litter pick and tidy up is taking place on Saturday June 9th for an hour. Anyone who wants to join in can meet at the telephone box library at 11am. A display about a Village Design Statement which is being compiled to protect the character of Little Shelford and prevent major developments in the village will take place in the Village Hall as part of the Jubilee street party on June 2. A meeting with Garden Fields residents to discuss issues regarding their road surface has now been moved to July because some families couldn't make the original date. A letter will be sent to all families in Garden Fields. Tickets for the Village's fun week-end have nearly sold out. Little Shelford residents have priority to buy tickets until mid-July. The Shelford and Stapleford Youth initiative is looking to start sessions in Little Shelford on Monday evenings if they can find a suitable venue. Three new people have joined the Parish council. Here is a full list of Parish Councillors along with the contact details and their portfolios. New picnic bench arrives A new picnic bench has been installed by the village pond, at the top of Bradmere Lane. We had a last minute refund on the recently installed information sign for the village pond, Bradmere Lane and the new Clay Pits Path. That was part of the project for the Clay Pits Path, led by Shelagh MacKnzie and Guy Brown. The result: a picnic bench installed by the pond. Enjoy! Big thanks to Mike Paduano and Martin Atkins for help with its installation. Richard Patterson, Footpaths Subcommittee, Little Shelford Parish Council. Posted May 23 2012 Do you want faster broadband speeds in Little Shelford? A new campaign to deliver faster broadband speeds to Little Shelford and the rest of Cambridgeshire has just been launched. The ‘Get Cambridgeshire connected’ campaign features prominently on the new Connecting Cambridgeshire website at www.connectingcambridgeshire.co.uk A survey in November 2011 showed the average download speed for Little Shelford was just 1.48 mps. There is a call to action for residents, businesses and community groups, who have a key part to play in the success of the project by showing that there is considerable and growing demand for access to faster and better broadband services across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. By clicking on the ‘Get Cambridgeshire connected’ button, householders and businesses can register their support for the broadband campaign in minutes with just a postcode and landline phone number. Visitors to the site will also be able to check their broadband speeds, volunteer to support the campaign as Digital Champions, ask for business advice and regular updates. Simon Conway-Smith, who organised a survey of Broadband speesd in Little Shelford in November, has been appointed as our Digital Champion. You can contact Simon here: simon.conway-smith@tesco.net Posted May 9 2012 Beech Close garage changes? South Cambridgeshire District Council is currently considering our options regarding a number of Council garage sites in the District that are not well used or that are in need of refurbishment. One that is being considered for sale is at Beech Close, Little Shelford. The valuation that has been obtained for this site is around £120,000 with planning permission for one dwelling following demolition of the garages. Planning have confirmed that a single storey dwelling would be acceptable on the site, subject to evidence that adequate parking could be provided for any properties that currently rely on the garages for parking. The Council’s options for this site are: not to sell but to retain and refurbish as a garage block, demolish the garages and use the area for parking or to place the site on the open market as a development plot. The Parish Council has been asked for its views by Friday 25th May. Youcan email your views to the Parish Council at littleshelfordparishcouncil@gmail.com Posted May 9 2012 Local election results
The results for the Shelfords and Stapleford seat in the recent polls for South Cambridgeshire District Council were: Mike Nettleton - Labour - 400 votes Charles Nightingale - Conservative - 960 votes (elected) Bill Powell - Liberal Democrat - 363 votes Linda Whitebread - Green Party - 355 votes Design Agency raises money for charity
Staff from Redback Design, based in Newton Road, are taking part in a sponsored walk to raise up to £1,000 for the Alzheimers Research Society. Posted May 9 2012 Person killed on railway crossing A person was killed at the Hautcon Road railway crossing on April 26. A spokesman for British Transport Police said: “BTP officers were called to Hauxton Road, Little Shelford in Cambridge, on Thursday, 26 April following the report of a person being struck by a train. “BTP and officers from Cambridge Constabulary attended the incident which was reported to BTP at 2.25pm and is currently being treated as non-suspicious. First Capital Connect say the incident will cause delays of up to 20 minutes between Stevenage and Cambridge. The incident was covered in the Royston Crow. Posted May 9 2012 The Manor Road tree is finally replaced
The tree previously on the site was chopped down last autumn by the County Council because it was diseased. The Parish Council held a poll on this website to see if villagers wanted a new tree or a village sign. Almost 90% of the people who voted opted for a tree.
A new tree was donated by South Cambridgeshire District Council. But when it arrived, it was found to be quite small. So it was replanted on the Wale Recreation Ground with the three other Jubilee trees and some villagers clubbed together to buy a more mature tree. Posted April 20 2012
Vice Chairman dies
Ivor Pearl, the Vice Chairman of the Parish Council, has died after a short illness. He was 78. Ivor (seen at the reopening of the Wale Memorial, second right) was born and bred in the village. He played for the Bowls Club and the Cricket Club before holding senior positions with both groups. He was also a Trustee of the Village Hall. "He lived for the Recreation Ground - he was never happier than when he was down there," said Ivor's sister, Margaret Day. "Little Shelford will be less of a place without him," said Parish Council Chairman, David Martin.
Ivor's funeral was held at All Saints Church, Little Shelford on April 10 at 2pm.
Have your say on a special memorial page.
Posted March 26 2012. Council elections
On May 3, villagers in Little Shelford will be going to the polls. There are four candidates for the Shelford and Stapleford seat on South Cambridgeshire District Council. They are: Mike Nettleton - Labour, Charles Nightingale - Conservative, Bill Powell - Liberal Democrat and Linda Whitebread - Green Party. There are no parish council elections as there weren't enough candidates to fill all of the council seats. Posted April 11 2012 Little Shelford student meets Government minister
Little Shelford student Chris from Hauxton Road was one of a number of people who met the Minister for Disabled People when she visited OWL at Sawston this week. Chris is pictured in thegreen outfit. Maria Miller, the minister for disabled people, dropped in on the OWL Centre in Sawston, run by the Papworth Trust. The centre has a cafe and a bike workshop where unwanted bikes are recycled and refurbished before being sold to the public. Ms Miller said: “Just under half of all disabled people are in work, but we know many would like to be. That is why I have come to see for myself how social enterprises like the OWL cafe and bikes businesses can be effective in providing fulfilling employment for disabled people from the local area. “They not only provide job opportunities, but also training for disabled people and are popular with customers from around Cambridgeshire.” Cambridge News coverage of the visit Posted March 29 2012
New trees for the Wale Rec
Four new trees have been planted at the Wale Recreation Ground to make the Queen's Jubilee. The trees have been provided by South Cambridgeshire District Council. Posted March 26 2012 Car crime Two parked cars were broken into in Church Street earlier this month. The cars were parked near to the Sycamore Restaurant on March 7 when they were broken into. Details of the incident have just emerged. Posted March 26 2012 Historical drawings up for grabs
Three Victorian drawings of Little Shelford are currently up for sale on Ebay. They include two drawings of the old Shelford hall which was demolished in the 1850s, and a drawing of All Saints Church. Click on the drawings to go to the relevant Ebay page. Posted March 13 2012. No hosepipe ban for Little Shelford
The proposed hosepipe ban announced by Anglain Water will not yet affect Little Shelford, as we are served by Cambridge Water. You can doublecheck if you are covered by the ban through this new website. Posted March 20 2012 Village budget changes
The Parish Council is planning to spend £16,600 in Little Shelford over the next 12 months. This will cost a family in a Band D property £42.43. The Council's share of the Council tax bill has increased by 2.7%, from the previous budget of £15,900. The extra money will also be used to pay for the £500 cost of the elections in May. Brownie leader found
The Brownies in Great Shelford have been saved after an appeal for a new leader on this website. The new leader from April 1 is Charlotte Coulson. If you are interested in helping, please contact Jane Kynaston on 01223 842314.
Posted March 28 2012 Car crime in the Little Shelford A spate of car crimes in South Cambridgeshire has included theft from a car in Little Shelford.
The crimes have included 5 thefts from motor vehicles;
Remember your vehicle security. Do not leave items on display even if they are of little value. Thieves don't know that, and they will still cause the same damage. Posted March 11 2012 Local water park update
More details have emerged about a major water park proposed at the edge of Little Shelford. The plans include a sailing and boating lake and a separate lake with a beach for swimming.
It has been revealed that the development, known as Cambridge Waterside, would now include up to 85 holiday homes as well as a gym, a brasserie and an adventure playground. Great Shelford Tennis Club is looking to relocate to the park with four indoor and four outdoor courts. The waterpark would be situated between Little Shelford and Sawston around Dernford House. It would be accessed from the A1301 at Sawston. The development would create up to 70 jobs rather than the 50 that were originally indicated. The proposal is based on the Cotswold Water Park.
The developers of the water park are teaming up with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust for the environmental elements of the project. The initial proposals have now been shared with South Cambridgeshire District Council. You can get more details at http://cambridgewaterside.co.uk/ or from Edward Smith on 07771 525353 or email rsmithfarms@fwi.co.uk Posted March 4 2012 Burglaries alert Cambridgeshire Police have launched an operation following more than 200 burglaries in South Cambs - but not Little Shelford- and Huntingdonshire in the past four months.Operation Twist will focus on tackling burglaries in rural villages in the
districts.
Since November there have been 115 burglaries in Huntingdonshire and 113 in
South Cambs. Detectives believe they are part of a linked series with the
offenders potentially travelling in from outside the county.
Operation Twist will see increase patrols in rural villages, as well as
investigative and forensic work to target those responsible.
Releasing these figures is not about scaring people, as in reality people
living in Huntingdonshire and South Cambs are less than one per cent likely to
become a victim of burglary. In fact, there has been an average of one burglary
a day across Huntingdonshire and South Cambs. While that sounds a lot, it is
worth bearing in mind the population in Huntingdonshire is 167,300 and there
are more than 69,000 homes across the area. And in South Cambs the population
is 143,600 and there are more than 59,000 homes across the area.
However, it is important that we raise awareness of this series as the public
play a vital part in helping us to prevent further offences as well as catching
those responsible.
Although a large number of offences have taken place while people have been
away detectives believe offenders are targeting homes during the day, often
breaking in through the rear of the property.
It’s important people remain alert to activity in their neighbourhood,
reporting anything out of the ordinary or suspicious to police.
By taking simple preventative measure people can further reduce the risk of
becoming a victim.
To reduce the risk of being a victim:
Deterrents:
Alarms: Install an alarm - even an empty box on the side of your home can be
enough to put off a burglar.
Dogs: A `beware of the dog’ sign can be enough to put off an intruder,
regardless of whether a dog is present.
Lock up your shed: Offenders do not like carrying break-in tools as they may be
searched en-route to a burglary. They often raid sheds to get their hands on
tools to burgle.
Strong communities are also a deterrent for burglars: Make friends with your
neighbours or join your local Neighbourhood Watch scheme.
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers,
anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
DI Ian Simmons
Posted March 3 2012 Computer scams A Little Shelford resident recently had to pay out £150 to get her computer repaired after a scammer rang her up and ended up installing a virus onto her computer. This is some advice from Courtyards resident Simon Conway-Smith.
It is common knowledge that we need anti-virus software to protect our computers from viruses and from people who are bent on stealing our personal information.
First steps of defence against such people: · Always have an anti-virus solution installed on your PC, ensure it is kept up-to-date and runs regularly. · Use an external USB disk to store a backup of you data files, photos, documents, etc., and make sure the virus checker checks that regularly too.
However, cybercriminals have now found new ways of getting round all the firewall and anti-virus protection that we have on our computers. These people have now started calling people on the telephone, claiming to be from Microsoft and offering to fix problems on our computers. They often use information found in the public domain like phone books to select their targets - unsuspecting computer users. They might even make a few guesses about you and your computer, for example, which operating system you have.
These people are very persuasive – BUT THEY ARE SCAMS!
They can trick you into installing rogue software onto your PC.
Once installed this software can damage your computer, it may allow them to take control of your computer remotely and steal personal information from it.
** Do not trust ** unsolicited phone calls and do not give out any personal information. If you are unsure of the caller, hang up.
If you get such phone call, · If you have BT’s Caller-ID service and the call shows “INTERNATIONAL” or “WITHHELD”, DO NOT answer with your name and/or number, just an anonymous “hello”. DO NOT confirm any personal information they ask. · DO NOT buy any software or services · DO NOT switch your computer on during this call · NEVER provide credit card or financial or any personal information. · NEVER give control of your computer to the caller · Ask them to tell you your PC’s... o Windows version AND Service Pack (the Windows update level) o Make & model o Processor type and speed o The amount of RAM installed If they cannot answer any/all of these accurately, especially the first, or try to fudge the answer, it’s a sure sign that they are a scammer.
No genuine anti-virus or PC ‘maintenance’ company will ever cold-call you, so assume that anyone who does is trying to trick and deceive you.
If you think your PC has been affected, for example it is behaving unusually, shut it down immediately disconnect the Internet connection, and seek trusted advice.
For further information, please contact Andrew Ade-kunle, Cambridge iT Consultants 07779 758217 Posted January 19 2012 | ||||||
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Speed limits
The Parish Council is working with Hauxton Parish Council to reduce the speed limit on the road between the villages to 40 mph and hopefully reduce the speed of cars entering the village via Hauxton Road. You can have your say by emailing davidm1961@gmail.com . This is the letter that has been sent out to Hauxton Road residents. Little Shelford Parish Council is always endeavouring to obtain support to reduce the speed of vehicles going into and out of the village. The Parish Council, following discussions, instigated by David Lines, Area Traffic Engineer, Cambridgeshire County Council, with Hauxton Parish Council, has agreed to fund a joint speed reduction scheme. The scheme will involve the reduction of the current national speed limit between the villages to a 40 mph limit. This should lower the speed of vehicles entering the 30 mph speed limits in both Little Shelford and Hauxton. Little Shelford Parish Council is not having a formal consultation. However, we feel that this joint initiative can only be to the benefit of Hauxton Road residents and the village as a whole. The work will commence within the next twelve months; this is dependent on completion of the Speed Limit Order process and availability of staff. Posted January 10 2012
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Parish Council decisions The Parish Council met on November 23. This is a summary of what was decided and discussed.
The Parish Council is going to plant a tree at the end of Manor Road to replace to the tree chopped down by the Highways Department because it was diseased. In a village poll asking residents whether they wanted another tree or a village sign, around 90% of people who voted favoured a replacement tree.
30 MPH stickers for people’s rubbish and recycling bins encouraging commuters through Little Shelford to slow down are being obtained by the Parish Council. If you want a free sticker, please contact the Parish Council.
The average Broadband download speed in Little Shelford is only around 1.50 KHZ according to the recent survey carried out by Simon Conway-Smith. The full results from all 48 participants can be found on the village website. The Parish Council is now going to send the results to Cambridgeshire County Council as well as meeting with the council official in charge of the county’s broadband project demanding that we are given the highest priority in Little Shelford.
The Shelford and Stapleford Youth Initiative is looking to work with the Parish Council to create a new regular Youth Club in Little Shelford. More formal proposals will be developed in 2012.
Fundraising towards the new community sports pavilion on the Wale Recreation Ground is really gathering pace. The total now stands at £14,000 thanks to £3,000 from the village fete and almost £2,000 from the recent hugely successful Ascot race night. A planning application is due to be submitted by the end of the year.
Robin Haines is leading a campaign to improve the play equipment on the Wale Recreation ground. The Parish Council gave its wholehearted support to the campaign and offered3250 towards any new play equipment.
Four allotments are currently free in Little Shelford.
The Parish Council is opposing plans to chop down a tree in the garden of the Navigator public house. The final decision will be taken by South Cambridgeshire Council.
The enquiry into the possible footpath from the end of Garden fields and Bradmere Lane is due to start in January according to Cambridgeshire County Council. A child’s orange bike has been left locked to a bench in the Wale Recreation ground, probably following the September fete.
There have been two planning applications this month · There are proposals for a new house at 8 High Street · And plans to extend 32 Whittlesford Road have been approved by South Cambridgeshire Council. (Posted Nov 29 2011) Body found in Little Shelford
Police searching for a missing pensioner discovered a body in Little Shelford on Saturday November 12. John Lumbers, 82, was reported missing after leaving his home in Hauxton. Police officers found the body of a man in a small lake just outside Little Shelford at around 3pm after searching the area including the village pond in Bradmere Lane.. A spokeswoman said: “The death is not being treated as suspicious and will be passed to the coroner.” It was thought Mr Lumbers had gone out on his bike. Broadband surveyHow good is the broadband service in Little Shelford? More than 40 households took part in a daily broadband survey to establish how fast or slow the Little Shelford broadband service is. The average download speed was around 1.5 mps.
A full copy of the results and the Parish Council report are attached at the bottom of this page.
(Interview recording available here. It's also available via the BBC Iplayer here. Interview is approx 2 hours 25 mins into the program.)
The tree story While undertaking some tree works in the village a local tree surgery company parked up by the Lime tree located on the junction of Church Street and Manor Road and noted that the tree was in decline, on further inspection they noted the tree had significant deadwood up in the canopy associated with the significant decay at the base where the bark was dead and peeling away. The decay agent was a pathogen know as Kretzschmaria deusta formally Ustulina deusta. Topple test results A topple test has now been conducted at All Saints Church graveyard and a few gravestones have been laid down due to their dangerous state. Relatives and Friends who visit or look after graves in the Churchyard should pay a visit soon to see if they have been affected by the topple test. If they have been affected they should contact Simon Scott in the Church Office or by e-mail as soon as possible, to discuss the best way of repairing the affected gravestone. Simon can be contacted on 841998 or email simon.scott@allsaintslittleshelford.org Phone box library theft Sometime during the week leading up to the Bank Holiday, or possibly over that weekend, the whole of the Children’s Section of the telephone box library was taken from the box. In addition, all the audio books also disappeared. A green baker’s tray which housed overflow books on the floor of the box has gone as well. This is obviously very disappointing and a bit of a blow for the village. I would appreciate it if anyone who has any information about what might have happened could contact me on 01223 844289 or by email: mary.palazzo@btconnect.com. I would very much like the items back as soon as possible if they have indeed gone missing within the village. In the meantime, if any generous residents would like to make a donation of books for young children (i.e. picture books),books for primary age children or of audio tapes, this would be greatly appreciated so that we can restock as soon as possible. If anyone has a spare plastic box kicking around their attic or garage, that would also be great! Adolescent fiction is also in great demand. Please bring the items to me to sort at number 5 Courtyards, rather than leaving them in the box itself. Many thanks for all your generosity and your help. You have made the telephone box such a success to date that it would be shame if we let this setback defeat us. Please do remain vigilant, especially those villagers who live near the box and do feel free to challenge anyone (in a polite way) whose behaviour towards the scheme concerns you. Mary Palazzo Parish Council meeting
At the July Parish Council meeting, there were a number of decisions and updates that affect Little Shelford littleshelfordparishcouncil@gmail.comPavement repairs have been carried out in Newton Road and the High Street following pressure from the Parish Council. Three pot holes are also going to be repaired outside of the Sycamore House restaurant. There are moves to improve the Neighbourhood Watch scheme so villagers can be alerted quickly, possibly by email, if there is any crime in the village. However several volunteers are needed to help make this system more joined up. If you are interested in helping, please email the Parish Council at The Parish Council was told that the changes to Great Shelford library might not now go ahead next year. There were proposals to reduce the opening hours of the library to 23 a week and use volunteers to help run the library. The Parish Council had previously been asked to help subsidise the new-style library. However opposition to the changes here and elsewhere has made the county council reconsider the proposal. A plan setting out where new developments will happen across South Cambridgeshire over the next 20 years is being created by the District Council. The Plan will look at what is needed and where new houses could go. While there is not expected to be any main developments in Little Shelford, proposals for Hanley Grange near Sawston could be resurrected. The Parish Council is going to put eight wooden posts at the entrance of the Wale Recreation Ground to stop cars driving across the middle of the park and playing area. Villager Robin Haines has won the support of the Parish Council to put a new piece of play equipment in the play area at the Wale Recreation Ground. He will be canvassing opinions at the fete in September before starting the fundraising. The Parish Council will have a stall at the village fete on September 10. A calendar with historical photos of the village will be on sale at the stall. Fundraising for a new sports pavilion on the Wale Recreation Ground has now reached £10,000. A golf day is taking place in September and a Race Night is taking place in November A Jubilee street party is being proposed for Little Shelford next June, led by Andrew Stephenson. If you would like to help, please email the Parish Council at littleshelfordparishcouncil@gmail.com The telephone box library needs more books for children between 9 and 12 years old. Please drop them off at the box in High Street if you have any. And the Church is about to carry out safety tests on its gravestones. You can read the full minutes of the meeting at www.littleshelford.com The next Parish Council meeting is on September 28 at 8pm. | ||||||
Tony’s last Sunday in his current parish will be the 26th June and he will be licensed to his new parishes on the 14th July, 7pm
Library changes
| Monday | 2-5pm | |
| Tuesday | 10am-5pm | |
| Wednesday | Closed | |
| Thursday | 2-5pm | |
| Friday | 10am-5pm | |
| Saturday | 10am-1pm |
Tesco decision
Tesco has won planning permission for more changes for its new store in Great Shelford.
The company’s plans for a refrigeration condenser and air conditioning units at the former Eaden Lilley premises in Great Shelford have been given the go ahead.
South Cambridgeshire District Council's planning committee approved the application by nine votes to five today, May 11.
Residents opposing the plans said the units would lead to more traffic in Woollards Lane and say fresh traffic research is needed.
But planning officers told councillors they do not have power to control vehicle movements at the site.
Little Shelford elections
Conservative candidate David Whiteman-Downes won the seat for Little Shelford, Great Shelford and Stapleford in the South Cambridgeshire District Council elections on May 5. The results were:
| David Whiteman-Downes | Conservative | 1503 |
| Michael Kilpatrick | Liberal Democrat | 621 |
| Mike Nettleton | Labour | 545 |
| Linda Whitebread | Green | 390 |
Two new footpaths opened
The event was attended by over 70 people. Adults, children and dogs all assembled at the local Navigator pub and walked through the village to the new paths for the opening ceremony.
Some fascinating information on the history and wildlife of the location were provided by the Local History Society and the Wildlife Group and after the ceremony, many joined in bug hunting and pond dipping round village pond.
The Clay Pit Path provides a short loop at the end of Bradmere Lane. It accesses an ancient village space, which has been used by the community in the past and today supports a wealth of wildlife.
Parish records say:
‘The Clay Pit, containing 2 roods and 33 perches, is to be used in common by the proprietors of lands in Little Shelford and their tenants for their use and for the repair of public and private roads and to dig clay for their present and future buildings and fence walls in the parish and elsewhere'.
Village roadworks
'Contractors will start work on Wednesday 30th March at the Bridge Lane, Church Street and Whittlesford Road junction. There will be some disruption as the contractors will have to use temporary traffic lights to enable them to construct the island; the work should take one week to complete.'
Library meeting
A meeting to discuss the future of Great Shelford library will take place in Great Shelford Memorial Hall on March 30 at 7pm. It is one of a number of libraries being named as being under review by Cambridgeshire County Council.
Tesco proposals update
Tesco's applications for a new shop in Great Shelford will be considered again by South Cambridgeshire councillors in April.
The retail giant wants to open an Express outlet in the former Eaden Lilley premises in Great Shelford.
528 residents wrote letters of objection, accompanied by a 395-signature petition.
Tesco already have permission in principle to open a store in Woollards Lane.
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Tesco-decision-delayed-again.htm
Footpath launch
The two new footpaths, one running along Whittlesford Road verge and the other looping round Clay Pits will be officially opened next month. These paths have been funded through Defra’s Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund.
The event will take place at 2.00pm on Sunday 27th March 2011. We will start at The Navigator and walk to the Clay Pits for the opening ceremony. You will be able to explore the area and there will be activities for all, including pond dipping courtesy of the Wildlife Group. There will be fascinating facts provided by the Local History Society and the Wildlife Group.
Little Shelford bus service faces the axe
The future of the bus service connecting Little Shelford with Cambridge is under threat. The county council is looking to cut the annual subsidy of £88,000 for the number 31 bus.
Cambridgeshire county Council decided on January 26 to cut £3 million of bus subsidies over the next four years. There are 57 routes that will lose their subsidies, including the number 31.
The bus service is currently provided by Meridian Line Travel. The 31 leaves Little Shelford at 7.45am and 10.07am. You can email your views to county councillor Tony Orgee at tony.orgee@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or county councillor Gail Kenney Gail.Kenney@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Library under threat
There is a question mark over the future of Shelford library. It is one of a number of libraries being named as being under review by Cambridgeshire County Council. Councillors decided on January 26 that the library will need members of the public to carry out some of the library staffing.
You can email your views to county councillor Tony Orgee at tony.orgee@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or county councillor Gail Kenney Gail.Kenney@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
A Facebook group has been launched.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?sk=group_160390267346537
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/13-of-25-libraries-are-placed-under-review.htm
Footpath work starts
Work has started on two new footpaths in the village. Following the award of the grant from COMMA, the Little Shelford Footpaths Committee, has moved ahead with the Whittlesford Road Verge Path and the loop path round the Clay Pits.
The paths will formally open on March 27. The event starts at 2pm at the Navigator.
The £7,000 cost of the work has been funded through the Aggregate's levy Sustainability Fund.
The Verge Path has been cleared and levelled and the overhanging brambles trimmed. In addition, the road drains, which were a potential hazard to walkers, runners and horse riders, have been covered and grips installed to allow the water from the road to drain safely. The path will be reseeded in the spring and the Parish Council will then continue to maintain the path.
The short loop path around the Clay Pits at the end of Bradmere Lane has been cleared and drainage installed under the path where needed. The surface has been improved with road planings and the Parish drain entrance strengthened. There is a little more work to be done on this path and once this is complete, we will install a sign and may put up some nest boxes. The path looks a little drastic at the moment but will bed down well when spring comes and the undergrowth no doubt will fight back! With the Wildlife Group, we are hoping to set up a Clay Pits group to help look after the path and perhaps develop this area further. If you are interested or have any suggestions or comments, please contact the Footpaths Committee.
Shelagh MacKenzie, Guy Brown and Richard Patterson
Footpaths Subcommittee
Contact us via Richard.Patterson@mottmac.com or 01223 842 998
Wildlife appeal
The Little Shelford Wildlife Goup wants to have some pollarding work carried out at Bradmere Pond and the Wale Recreation Ground. The work will cost £2,000. They are appealling for donations of £5 or more from every household in the village. Cheques or cash to Diana Haines at 19 Church Street ( 841415) or Judy Boothroyd at 4 Newton Road (843313).
Tesco Planning Applications – an update
Tesco's applications for a new shop front, a cash machine and a lit sign at its planned new store in Great Shelford have been turned down. But the shop is still likely to open in 2011 creating 20 jobs.
The retail giant wants to open an Express outlet in the former Eaden Lilley premises in Great Shelford.
The refusals came after 528 residents wrote letters of objection, accompanied by a 395-signature petition.
Tesco already have permission to open a store in Woollards Lane.
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Blow-to-Tescos-plans-for-controversial-new-store.htm
Water park proposal
A major waterpark is proposed at the edge of Little Shelford. The plans include a sailing and boating lake and a separate lake with a beach for swimming. The development, known as Cambridge Waterside, would also include holiday homes, a gym, a brasserie and an adventure playground.
The waterpark would be situated between Little Shelford and Sawston around Dernford House. It would be accessed from the A1301 at Sawston. The development would create up to 50 jobs. The proposal is based on the Cotswold Water Park.
The waterpark would be situated between Little Shelford and Sawston around Dernford House.
The waterpark proposal was discussed by the parish council at its meeting on November 24th. There is no formal application at this stage. The Waterpark is unlikely to happen until at least 2012.
A brochure and map are attached at the bottom of this page.
You can get more details from Edward Smith on 07771 525353 or email rsmithfarms@fwi.co.uk
Faster broadband campaign
BT is starting a fibre based broadband rollout under the banner “BT Infinity”. This is something we as Little Shelford residents should be very interested in, given how poor our current broadband provision is.
However, rather than just rolling it out across the country, perhaps with priority based on the current proportion/density of existing broadband connections within an exchange, they have set up a voting system to give priority to those exchanges with the most votes.
This is a call to arms, to ask if you would add your vote for the Trumpington Exchange.
To vote, visit http://www.racetoinfinity.bt.com/ and follow the instructions, initially with your postcode CB22 5...
Time is limited, and it’s a competition, and to quote the BT Infinity web site… “The five areas with the largest percentage of votes by December 31st 2010 will win the chance to bring superfast broadband to their area. BT will also donate £5,000 of computer equipment to a local community project.”.
Little Shelford in the Guardian
Little Shelford mum Sarah Hall featured in The Guardian on October 16 telling her story of how she is trying to balance the family's budget. http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/oct/09/child-benefit-stay-home-mother
Gritting changes
Gritting changes have been announced for Little Shelford this winter. All of the main roads through the village will be gritted regularly. Newton Road was originally gong to be omitted from the list. But after a complaint from the Parish Council, the change was scrapped.
The Parish Council's traffic survey in 2009 found that over 200 vehicles per hour pass along this road during peak times in the morning and afternoons. The Council has asked for Newton Road is added to the gritting priority list. The Parish Council has also said that the village would welcome the provision of Grit Bins, provided they can be funded by the District Council.
Tesco comes to town
Tesco has leased the former Eaden Lilley store in Woollards Lane, Great Shelford, Little Shelford Parish Council heard at their meeting in September. They are planning to open a Tesco Express store. However this could have an impact on the future viability of local shops including the butchers, the bakers and the fruit and vegetable shops. You can express your views to your District Councillors - you can find their details in the left hand column, under Councillors. http://www.nototescoshelford.org/
Sycamore House development
Permission has been given for a new three bedroom home to be built on the car park of the Sycamore House restaurant. The Parish Council had opposed the development because of the loss of car parking spaces at the restaurant and the impact on the village's Conservation Area. South Cambridgeshire Council turned the planning application down.But planning inspectors have now given the proposals the go ahead.
Blue Bins
The new Blue Bins will be used for recycling paper, glass and plastic in Little Shelford from the first collection day on Monday October 11th. The Blue Bins will replace the three green crates. Paper will go in the caddy at the top of the bin. In the main part of the bin, you can place plastic bottles and packaging, plastic bags, glass jars and bottles, food cans, aerosols, tin foil and trays, cartons and cardboard.
Footpath success
Little Shelford Parish Council has been awarded a £7,000 grant from COMMA (funded by the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund), for two new footpaths paths in the village, thanks to lots of hard work by Shelagh Mackenzie, Guy Brown and the Little Shelford Footpaths Committee.
The Whittlesford Road Verge Path will adapt the current verge route to a grass path suitable for walkers and runners etc, which can be more easily maintained in subsequent years by the Parish Council. The path will run from Courtyards along the Whittlesford Road for 1km, connecting with the Dernford Farm path to Sawston and the ‘cinder track’ to Newton.
The Clay Pit, situated on the left at the end of Bradmere Lane, is an old village site, which was used to supply clay for roads and buildings. The plan is to create a short circular path around this site leading back to Bradmere Lane. The existing very rough track will be defined and extended, but much of the growth will be left as it supports the area’s birds, butterflies, orchids and other wild life.
The Footpaths group is working closely with the village Wildlife Group and intend to follow the natural style of the village pond, which that group maintains.
If you are keen to join a group to help make this happen or would like to contribute in any way, please send an email to richard.patterson@mottmac.com and we will let you know the date of the first meeting.
Election results
Ben Shelton is the new South Cambridgeshire district councillor for Little Shelford. The Conservative candidate won the poll on May 6, taking the seat from the Liberal Democrats.
| Candidate | Political Party | Votes cast | Elected? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Thomas Kilpatrick | Liberal Democrat | 1517 | No |
| Michael Robert Nettleton | The Labour Party | 444 | No |
| Benjamin Shelton | The Conservative Party | 1942 | Yes |
| Linda Jane Whitebread | The Green Party | 329 | No |
Beating the Bounds
A walk to the boundaries of Little Shelford to support the footpaths campaign is taking place on May 15 2010. The walk starts the at the corner of Manor Road and Church Street at 10.30am The route will include the bridge on Bridge Lane, the Wale Recreation ground and Hauxton Road. Moredatils from Richard patterson on 842998 or richard.patterson@mottmac.com
Allotments
There is currently one allotment available for rent. Anyone interested should contact Gillian Taylor.
Traffic Survey
As a result of pressure from the Parish Council a census of traffic was carried out in Hauxton Road last October between 7am and 7pm. The results are summarised below.
| Hour started | Peds | Cycles | M/cycles | Cars | LGV | HGV | Buses | Total |
| 7.00 | 9 | 15 | 6 | 349 | 50 | 7 | 5 | 432 |
| 8.00 | 26 | 26 | 5 | 528 | 63 | 10 | 4 | 636 |
| 9.00 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 318 | 39 | 6 | 0 | 370 |
| 10.00 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 194 | 41 | 3 | 2 | 247 |
| 11.00 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 210 | 34 | 5 | 1 | 258 |
| 12.00 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 196 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 232 |
| 13.00 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 276 | 39 | 2 | 1 | 326 |
| 14.00 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 225 | 39 | 4 | 1 | 274 |
| 15.00 | 29 | 11 | 1 | 260 | 40 | 3 | 3 | 318 |
| 16.00 | 8 | 17 | 9 | 438 | 62 | 0 | 2 | 528 |
| 17.00 | 4 | 22 | 9 | 510 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 577 |
| 18.00 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 363 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 389 |
| Totals | 128 | 133 | 37 | 3,867 | 486 | 43 | 21 | 4,587 |
The idea of this census stemmed from the need for us to have quantitative data available to us when discussing the traffic problems in Little Shelford with the various authorities. We are also concerned at the effect the new Addenbrookes Access Road will have on the ‘rat run’ through the village. Once this is opened we will have another census to compare traffic volumes. The above data does emphasise the traffic problem we have in Little Shelford, particularly at rush hours in the morning and afternoons.