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The average price paid for a house in the village in 2015 was £613,333, up 13.23% on a year ago. This was an increase of £83,305.
Wale Recreation Ground Access from Courtyards 24 Hour Closure 2015
Little Shelford is the only Village in South Cambridgeshire that still owns its own recreation ground, in our case the Wale Recreation Ground which was given to us by the Wale family. In order to preserve and protect the Parish Councils rights over the Wale Recreation ground, foot access from Courtyards must be prevented for one day each year.
In 2015 the access gate from Courtyards will be locked from midnight on Thursday 24th December 2015 until midnight on Friday 25th December 2015
(Christmas Day).
If you have any questions about access to the Wale Recreation ground you can contact the following members of the Parish Council:
David Martin - 845995
David Jones - 847213
Little Shelford Parish Council
1st December 2015
PAVILION ART GROUP
Fancy something arty and different for the New Year? Then why not join our watercolour group for the spring term (18 January-14 March) on Mondays 10.00 a.m.-12.00 noon. Or if you have any experience or interest in photography, publishing and editorial work we are looking for someone to join our team compiling an historic record of the village.To sign up for the term or to find out more, please contact Victor Franklin, tel. 01223 842276, email victorfranklin123@btinternet.com
Petition for more lights
People power has failed to get a lamp post restored in Beech Close.
Little Shelford lost 26 of its 102 street lights as part of the changes earlier this year by Balfour Beattie. Parish Council complaints were dismissed.
However Steve Clements from Beech Close collected a petition of more than 50 signatures complaining about the changes on safety grounds. His petition was presented to Cambridgeshire's Highways Committee on December 1st when he demanded that at least one of the lights be reinstated.
"Little Shelford lost 25% of its lights, far more than the 10% predicted which isn't fair and I will be supporting the petition," said Councy Councillor Tony Orgee.
However the committee turned down the request.
Beetles cause football cancellation
The speed limit between Little Shelford and Hauxton is likely to be reduced to 40mph.
The limit is currently 60mph between the two villages.
There are concerns that traffic is going to fast when it enters both villages because of the current 60mph limit.
The two Parish Councils are putting in a joint bid to get the speed limit for the stretch of road reduced in 2016.
Green bin collection changes
As last year, green bin collections in Little Shelford will be changing to monthly over the winter as far less compostable waste is put out for collection.
Monthly collections will start at the end of November, returning to fortnightly in March for the rest of the year. The dates are:
Monday, 9 November, 2015
Monday, 23 November, 2015
Monday, 7 December, 2015
Tuesday, 5 January, 2016
This is the state of the gutter in Whittlesford Road. The Parish Council has complained about the issue at its meeting in September. The county council and the district council are now deciding who is going to clear the weeds away
Special Shelford visitors
Four monks from Thailand recently enjoyed a Thai meal at the Navigator.
They were invited by the chef to pray bless and do some chanting.
Headlines from the September Parish Council meeting
A 20mph limit will be introduced in 2016 in Bridge Lane in the approach to Shelford School. This will link up with a wider new 20mph zone in the main part of Great Shelford. Read more details of those proposals here. The white lines around the Whittlesford Road/Church Street junction are being re-painted after complaints from the council.
The Parish Council formally supported a petition against the withdrawal of 2 streetlights in Beech Close. Several crimes have happened since the lights were withdrawn. Villager Jill Clements will be speaking at the Cambridgeshire Highways Committee about the issue in October.
Proposals for a new footpath along Newton Road from the end of the existing footpath to the bridal path at the end of the road have received the backing of the Council.
A Village Design Statement has been created to preserve the character of the village. It could also pave the way for some new development in and around the village if it is agreed. The draft plan will be published shortly on this website. The Parish Council is holding a public meeting on November 27.
A new Village Green complete with a new village sign will finally be created in November. Read more details about the Green and the sign here. The sign and green are part of a wider village history project that saw the creation of a village history website and the republication of the book A Record of Shelford Parva by Fanny Wale.
Gardens around the village have hedges and trees that are overhanging the pavement, affecting passing pedestrians. The council is planning to write to the worst offenders, asking them to cut back their foliage. If they don’t react, the council may carry out the trimming and bill the householders.
Proposals to build 2 new homes at 21 Church Street have been opposed by the Parish Council.
Dog owners are asked to clean up after their pets following complaints about the increasing amount of dog pooh on the Wale Recreation Ground.
The Parish Council has offered £200 towards the cost of a defibrillator that could be installed on the outside of the village hall.
A major new science park with up to 1250 houses could be built behind the rugby club in Great Shelford.
Several allotments are available at the end of Garden Fields.
Read the full minutes of the parish council meeting here.
Little Shelford wins 3 times over
The cricket team are champions of their division and have won promotion.
The Bowls team won the Kenzie cup in the final played against Meldreth, at Foxton last Sunday.
The Ladies badminton team were proud to be presented with a trophy as winners of their league.
After several lean years this is great news for all the teams!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP THE REFUGEES IN CAMPS AT CALAIS?
I am collecting donations for the refugees at Calais for a woman in Cambridge who is organising car runs next weekend. If you would like to donate anything from the list please phone me to arrange drop off at my house in Little Shelford tel 845657 or leave at my back door 49 Hauxton road in a marked plastic bag. Below is a list of items needed. Many thanks Bridget Sumsion
The following clothing is most needed at the moment - all for men:
Underwear - Boxers are the most popular
Shirts & Polos - Small and medium. They have plenty of large & XL
Jeans - Waist size 30-32 if possible.
Shoes - Trainers or Doc Marten style. Wellingtons are not liked and leather town shoes would last about 2 minutes in the conditions. Sizes 8-11.
Socks are also needed.
Ah... just found this list too...
CLOTHES
- shoes/trainers (size 7-11)
- jackets (small/ medium)
- socks
- belts
OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT
- tents, covers, tarpaulin
- travel bags
- candles/ other lighting implements
What is always needed:
CLOTHES
- tracksuit trousers and jeans (32-36)
- woolly hats
- underwear
OUTDOOR
- blankets/sleeping bags
- soap
- shampoo
- toothbrushes/toothpaste
- plastic bin bags
- pots and pans
What is NOT needed:
- sheets/ pillows
- suits
- town shoes ( posh!)
- jumpers
- wellingtons.
THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR ANY CHILDREN'S OR LADIES CLOTHING
Shelford parents lose bus campaign
Parents in Great and Little Shelford have lost their battle to save a free bus service from the axe.
Nearly 50 parents appealed against Cambridgeshire County Council's decision to remove the complimentary service from the Shelfords to Sawston Village College.
The campaign ended in disappointment when councillors denied the appeal at a Shire Hall.
Council officials said improvements they made along the route from the villages to Sawston Village College for cyclists and pedestrians justified charging for the buses – but parents disagreed.
A county council spokesman said as the majority of properties in Great Shelford and Little Shelford are less than 3 miles away from Sawston they are not required by law to provide free transport between the villages.
Principal Jonathan Culpin said: "Sawston Village College is extremely disappointed with the decision to withdraw the bus service.”
Parent James Prisk from Great Shelford said while they were disappointed by the failed appeal, they had made their case well and will continue to campaign to create a "truly safe walking and cycling route".
South Cambridgeshire MP Heidi Allen was also against the proposed school bus changes.
U-turn demanded over street light loss
The Parish Council is demanding a u-turn on the number of street lights that have been taken from Little Shelford. As many as 27 street lights have been removed from the village as part of the changes.
The Parish is now joining forces with County Councillor Tony Orgee to demand a re-think.
Parish Councillor Mary Palazzo described contractors Balfour Beattie as “appalling” for proceeding without proper consultation with the village and then “lying” about the Parish Council having agreed the plans.
These are the lighting changes that have happened in Little Shelford.
- Beech Close – 6 lights reduced to 5
- Newton Rd – 6 lights reduced to 4
- Courtyards - 9 lights reduced to 8
- Hauxton Rd – 24 lights reduced to 18
- High St – 21 lights reduced to 15 (9 removed & 3 new ones added)
- Bridge Lane – 8 lights reduced to 6 (5 removed & 3 added)
- Church St – 8 lights reduced to 6 (5 removed & 3 added)
- Whittlesford Rd – 19 lights reduced to 13 (9 removed & 3 added)
Restaurant shuts its doors
Little Shelford restaurant Sycamore House closed down in September.
"Michael and Susan will be retiring at the end of September having opened Sycamore House in October 1993," said a statement being shared in the popular restaurant. "The restaurant will close but the property will remain our family home.
"
Around 50 parents have appealled against the County Council's decision to withdraw the free bus service from Little Shelford to Sawston Village College. The appeals are taking place in July.
47 appeals have been lodged by parents against the decision, claiming the route is dangerous. About 180 pupils at Sawston Village College are set to lose the free service.
Little Shelford is moving
Little Shelford is shifting. It looks as if we will have one county councillor instead of the current two. And Great and Little Shelford will be in the same ward as Hauxton, Harston and Haslingfield.
The draft recommendations have been made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. The Commission welcomes comments on the recommendations report by 06 July 2015. Representations should be made:
www.consultation.lgbce.org.uk.
· By email to: reviews@lgbce.org.uk.
· Or in writing to:
Review Officer (Cambridgeshire)
Local Government Boundary Commission for England
14th Floor
Millbank Tower
Millbank
London
SW1P 4QP
Little Shelford resident dies
Father delighted in competing in the Garden Show, frequently wining prizes for tomatoes, pears and roses. He also enjoyed presenting the Children's Photography prize in memory of my mother.
Sadly my father died suddenly at home on Saturday 13th June after 91 years of active life. Rosemary, Charles and I would be pleased to see his friends at his funeral on Tuesday 30th June 12.30 at St. Columba's Church, Cambridge and afterwards at Emmanuel College for tea (both are next to John Lewis)."
Could you take in a lodger? The Church is looking for someone who has a spare room and is willing to put up a parish volunteer (with some money for board and lodging, of course). The lodger is 18, from Hungary, and volunteering to serve in a church. He would arrive in September and stay till next summer. Please email simonjscott1965@btinternet.com if you can help.
Village speeding statistics
New Shelford art group
There are plans to start a village art group in our new pavilion on the Wale recreation ground in Little Shelford on 28 September 2015 if there is sufficient interest.
Meetings will be held on Mondays between 10.00 am and 12.00 noon over the autumn, winter and spring terms at a cost of £25 per term (subject to numbers).
Membership is open to beginners as well as artists of all ages and abilities with interests in sketching, watercolour, oil or acrylics, pastels, calligraphy or any other art form or medium. In particular, we would like to start a photography section with a project on the village in mind.
You are welcome to come along and do your own thing or join in with some structured informal tuition, studies and exercises, visit exhibitions or attend demonstrations by visiting artists.
To sign up for the first term or to find out more please contact Victor Franklin, telephone 01223 842276, email victorfranklin123@btinternet.com
Keep Little Shelford tidy
As some of you may be aware Michael Millar, who does a fantastic job of litter picking in our village, has been in hospital for just over a month. He is making a good recovery and hopes to be home in 2 to 3 weeks time.
Whilst Michael has been in hospital nobody has officially been covering his litter picking job around the village. This entails not only the village itself but right up to the village boundaries.
We could all help by picking up odd bits of litter as we all walk around the village.
Rubbish dumped in Little Shelford
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These are photos of the rubbish dumped in Bradmere Lane. They include wrappers from Annabelle's Sandwich Bar in Hills Road and Upper Crusts Catering. The illegal dumping has been reported to South Cambridgeshire Council by the Parish Council.
Shelford Guides under threat of closure
Girl injured by fellow cyclist
A 13 year old girl was knocked off her bike by another cyclist during a protest cycle staged to show how unsafe the route from the Shelfords to Sawston Village College is.
The Year 8 pupil was hit by an adult cyclist, who then launched a verbal tirade against the girl, as she rode with about 50 pupils and parents from Stapleford to Sawston Village College on May 22, acccording to witnesses.
The mass walk and cycle was held to highlight the dangers of the route after the council axed free school bus services from Stapleford and the Shelfords to the school from September.
Cambridgeshire County Council says the route is now safe for pedestrians for cyclists – a claim many parents, pupils and teachers strongly disagree with.
Stijn van Dongen, a parent who saw the incident, said the cyclist "clattered” into a girl. “The speed at which he was cycling was far greater than the girl's speed. Both fell to the ground.
"Immediately after picking himself up he started vehemently telling the girl that she was in the wrong side of the path and the cause for this collision
The girl needed first aid treatment at the school and the man is believed to have suffered a grazed elbow.
Tony Orgee, a Conservative county councillor for the Shelfords Sawston, said he is coming down on the parents' side in the campaign, who are appealing against the decision of the Tory council's officers.
A spokesman for the council said they would not comment before the appeal hearings on June 16, when the safety arguments will be heard.
See the full story in the Cambridge News.
Little Shelford lighting changes
These are the lighting changes that are currently proposed for Little Shelford. The Parish Council is currently campaigning to protect the lights in Beech Close, Courtyards and Netwon Road.
Beech Close – 6 lights reduced to 4
Newton Rd – 6 lights reduced to 4
Courtyards - 9 lights reduced to 8
Hauxton Rd – 24 lights reduced to 18
High St – 21 lights reduced to 15 (9 removed & 3 new ones added)
Bridge Lane – 8 lights reduced to 6 (5 removed & 3 added)
Church St – 8 lights reduced to 6 (5 removed & 3 added)
Whittlesford Rd – 19 lights reduced to 13 (9 removed & 3 added)
You can also see the detailed plans here.
http://www.lightingcambridgeshire.com/new-lighting-programme.htm
You can send your feedback to enquiries@lightingcambridgeshire.com or ring 0800 783 8247
Plans for new homes thrown out
Plans to demolish a house in Church Street and replace it with 2 new homes have been rejected by planners at South Cambridgeshoire Council following a campaign by local residents
They threw out the plans because of the "serious impact" on the adjacent houses and the fact that the development would mean the removal of a Birch tree.
14% of cars speeding in Little Shelford says survey
The Parish Council has kicked off an anti-speeding campaign in Little Shelford.
In the first survey on May 8th, 10 cars out of the 71 checked on Whittlesford Road were exceeding the 30mph speed limit.
They will now receive a Police warning about speeding through the village. More speed checks will be carried out in the next month.
Shelfords result for South Cambridgeshire Council elections
The Shelfords and Stapleford
Fane | Peter | Liberal Democrat | 768 |
Nettleton | Mike | Labour Party | 882 |
Whitebread | Linda Jane | The Green Party | 676 |
Whiteman-Downes | David | The Conservative Party Candidate | 2,076 |
Turnout – 75.85%
Shelford School bus service under threat
The free bus service for pupils of Sawston Village College from Great Shelford, Little Shelford and Stapleford is being withdrawn if the pupil lives within 3 miles of the College. This involves around 180 pupils.
Parents can appeal (before 11th May) and a hearing will be held on the 16th June. Thereis no formal process by which other interested parties can put their view forward. However parents can present evidence of support and this can be a statement (which must be in place 5days before the hearing).
Sawston Village College has come out against the proposals; Principal Jonathan Culpin said; "While the College understands that the County Council needs to find substantial savings to its budget, we are opposed to this decision on the grounds that the route to and from the College is not sufficiently safe at key points to cater for the large number of pupils who will be affected by this decision. Furthermore, while we anticipate the vast majority of pupils will walk or cycle, we are also concerned by the potential for increased traffic along New Road at the beginning and end of the school day, increasing congestion and the risk of an accident. "
Great Shelford Parish Council has come out against the changes. This is their statement:
Great Shelford Parish Council whilst understanding the need for the Local Authority to reduce costs considers that the existing school bus service should be retained.
The Parish Council considers the route to be unsafe and that the recent re-assessment by an officer from the Road Safety Serviced is unsound.
The concerns the Parish Council have are:
1. The “traffic light island central reservation” is inadequate (not railed)
2. The “traffic light island central reservation” is not big enough to accommodate large numbers of people at the peak times.
3. The speed limit of 50mph from the “Stapleford Bridge” to the crossing is too high.
4. There is a “narrow pavement / cycle way” in front on the cottage as you approach the bridge at Stapleford when travelling from Sawston, this was a potential accident spot especially if the number of people using it increased substantially at peak times (eg pupils would bunch)
5. The route under the Stapleford bridge is unlit and provides opportunities for criminal activities.
6. The route under the bridge is subject to flooding.
7. The route along “Cambridge Road” after the lights approaching the College, which is open to the elements,is unlit and the cycleway is narrow and in need of repair.
Little Shelford hustings
There was standing room only when Little Shelford hosted its first ever General Election hustings at the Village Hall on April 23. All 5 candidates for the South Cambtridgeshire seat answered questions from the 85-strong audience.
 |  Left to right Marion Mason (UKIP) David Martin (Parish Council Chairman), Dan Greef (Labour) Simon Saggers(Green), Heidi Allen (Conservative) and Sebastian Kindersley (Liberal Democrat). Photos : Alex Martin |
Save Great Shelford library update
There may be no funding to continue to run staffed branch libraries such as Great Shelford. Possible alternatives which the vision document presents include village libraries wholly run by volunteers, or a move to “community hubs” – multi-user centres housing services such as GP surgeries, Children’s Services, or Post Offices, with a volunteer-run library. Another strand, “Digital first”, aims at providing more material digitally and less in hard copy, reducing the need for readers to physically visit libraries.
Mike Roe, Chairman of the Library Friends Committee which organized the meeting, introduced the meeting: “I think it’s tragic that our library, which is acknowledged by the Service itself to be one of the most successful, with the highest book borrowing figures in the smaller library category and with a librarian of the highest standard, must radically restructure to continue to exist at all”.
Alan Lyne, Friends Committee treasurer, outlined some of the proposals. Of the volunteer-run option, he commented:
“It’s us taking responsibility for resourcing and funding the library going forward - are we prepared for that responsibility?
"Shelford is not your average village library, we’re the busiest in South Cambs – we couldn’t run it as it is with volunteers. Shelford is a special case!”.
Concern was expressed that Shelford library was too small to function as a hub. Who would wish to share the limited space in the library and how would it work?
Speaker after speaker expressed their enthusiasm for the library. There is no doubt that Shelford library is a very popular and well-used resource, of great value to the local community. There was a strong consensus to defend the library against further cuts.
The Library Service is currently consulting on its Library Vision, and a consultation document can be found on the County Council website
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/info/20130/news_and_events_in_libraries/570/library_services_developing_our_approach_for_the_future.
Closing date is 10 May. Everyone is urged to comment.
Little Shelford burglary
There was a burglary between April 10 and April 14 in High Street, Little Shelford.
Entry was gained by forcing a ground floor window, and an external light was damaged.
An untidy search has taken place and items removed.
New SSYI Youth Development Worker
He is a professional JNC accredited Youth Worker and studied BA Hons in Youth Work and Ministry at Oasis College. Previously, he had been working in a village in Northern Ireland as their Outreach Worker in a numerically thriving youth centre and my role was to engage those hard to reach young people and those individuals who were not engaging with the youth provision. Before he took this post, he had been working in Croydon as the Lead Youth Worker in a local secondary school responding to the 2011 riots, where he pioneered the youth work within the school, and in the wider community. In addition to these, he had delivered youth work in Tonbridge and Grimsby.
"I am very excited to be working in the Shelfords, Stapleford and Sawston as there is great support in these communities to provide effective youth provision for their emotional, social and spiritual support that will help young people recognise their true worth and encourage young people towards their fullest potential," he said.
"I am someone that is community focused and really values working with other individuals, organisations and families, therefore, if you wish to contact me for anything at all or have any specific questions about SSYI, please do not hesitate to contact me. My details are ollie.leonard@romseymill.org or 07768 545915."
Little Shelford shed burglaries
There have been several shed burglaries in Little Shelford.
Two separate shed burglaries were reported in High Street, Little Shelford. These occurred overnight on Sunday 29th March. The thieves forced open the shed doors and gained entry. Nothing appears to have been stolen at either location.
Another shed burglary happened in High Street between Monday 6th April and Saturday 11th April. The thief damaged a lock to a stable used as a shed and gained entry. Nothing was stolen.Election candidates
There are 5 people who are standing in the General Election for the South Cambridgeshire seat on May 7 to replace former MP Andrew Lansley. You can question them all at special Little Shelford hustings at the village hall on April 23 at 7.30pm
And there are 4 candidates for the Shelford and Stapleford seat in the South Cambridgeshire District Council elections on the same day.
31 bus changes
Little Shelford man jailed
A Little Shelford man has been jailed after causing a collision that left a man losing his leg.
Keith Davies of Beech Close, Little Shelford was jailed for 15 months following the incident in May 2014.
Read the full story in the Cambridge news.
Little Shelford break-in
Outbuildings at a house in Church Street, Little Shelford were broken into between March 29 and 30th. Outbuildings were targeted and several locks broken but nothing was taken.
Less lights for Little Shelford
Little Shelford will have 7 less streetlights under changes happening in the summer.
The lamp posts are being replaced by Balfour Beatty. The Parish Council was told the village will lose 7 street lights from Beech Close, Courtyards and Newton Road.
Parish Councillors raised concerns about removing lamps from Newton Road as it is a traffic route and very dark. Balfour Beatty agreed to double-check these proposals.
Leaflets and letters with a free phone number will be sent to all residents. The work is done in 3 stages – New columns installed close to existing ones – UKPN team connect the power – old column removed and ground filled. The work is due to start on May 11.
Read about the rest of the Little Shelford Parish Council meeting here.
"Nightmare" traffic problems predicted
- Four block of flats might be built on the former chemical plant. This site has planning permission for about 250 houses and Redrow have now put in an application for four large blocks of flats.
- A new planning application has been submitted to build 32 homes and create a country park on the former waste treatment facility at Cambridge Road in Hauxton.
Heroes & Villains Weekend
Wale Recreation Ground
Friday 4th – Sunday 6th September 2015
Heroes & Villains Dinner Dance - Friday 4th
Sumptuous meal, bar, music, dancing, charity auction, “Heroes & Villains” fancy dress competition. All in the Marquee on the Wale.
Over 18’s only and tickets available from 13th July.
Advance table bookings taken for Little Shelford villagers: e-mail Liz Carrothers(lizcarrothers@icloud.com) or call Liz on Cambridge 956747.
Heroes & Villains Fun Afternoon - Saturday 5th
Join us from 1pm to 5pm for family fun and games. BBQ all afternoon, village stalls for all ages. Lots to do from 1pm so why not join us for lunch?
FREE ENTRY
All Saints Harvest Celebration - Sunday 6th at 11am in the Marquee
All ages welcome, there will be songs and celebration for harvest. Non-perishable gifts will be collected for Jimmy’s night shelter. Join us after the service for tea, coffee, cake and conversation. Then stay for........
Heroes & Villains Musical Picnic Finale 1pm
Bring your picnic, family and friends to an afternoon of live music and enjoy the late summer sunshine. FREE ENTRY.
Please come along and support us in bringing the villagers of Lt Shelford, their friends and families together for fun and friendship.
We are fund raising for our village.
For more information, offers of help or other questions contact:
Gail Pilkington on Cambridge 840581 (gailpi@mac.com)
Playground consultation
Thank you to everyone who came to support the playground consultation day on March 8. We had a great turn out and was brilliant to see everyone so enthusiastic and interested in the new ideas for the improvement to the playground. We will be keeping you posted on the progress on this website, however if you do have any questions/suggestions/ideas please do contact susannahmanning@googlemail.com.
Two casual vacancies in Little Shelford
Closing date: Saturday 14th March 2015
Little Shelford kitten rescue
A kitten called Gandalf was rescued by fireman after getting stuck on a roof Little Shelford.
Gold chain found at park
A gold chain has been found in the Wale Recreation Ground. The chain has a cross with green spots and red flowers. If it is your chain please call at 26 Whittlesford Road.
Can you help slow down traffic in Little Shelford?
Do you want to help slow down traffic in Little Shelford as part of the Speedwatch scheme. Anyone who wishes to take part and be trained (takes under 2 hours for the training) by the Police contact Mary Palazzo at mary.palazzo@btconnect.com Volunteers can commit to as little or as much time as they wish. This is really the best way to address the speeding issues that so many residents are rightly concerned about. And we get a high vis uniform, so who could resist?
Mary Palazzo
Little Shelford Parish Council
Parish Council update
Shelford school parking to be reduced
Villagers turn over new leaf
Three villagers got so fed up waiting for the council to clean up leaves in Bridge Lane that they cleaned them up themselves. Charlie Russell, Gaby Barnard and Susie Everett rolled their sleeves up and cleared away the leaves between the 2 bridges on February 3.
"It was just getting dangerous for the kids and adults on the school run," said Charlie. "I think they'll be lots of happy mummies on the school run this morning.
Guide leader needed
1st Shelford Guides provides fun and adventure for girls aged 10-14 years. We meet once weekly during term time. As the current leader is leaving at the end of the summer term, a new leader will be needed from September 2015 for the unit to continue. Training to be a Guide leader is mainly 'on the job' and role sharing is possible. The selection of haiku poems below written by the girls gives a taste of what Guides is about! If you are interested in finding out more, please contact the current leader Lisa MacGregor on 07523 668731 or at lisa.macgregor@ntlworld.com, or look at www.girlguiding.org.uk.
Policing in Little Shelford to be reduced
Little Shelford daytime burglary
A home in Little Shelford was burgled by 3 hooded men on January 15. The burglars broke into the house in Church Street at lunchtime and took jewellery, other items and the car parked in the drive.
If anybody saw anything untoward near the Sycamore restaurant at that time, would they please give details to the police.
Water park proposal near Little Shelford rejected
Shelford twin town visit
Christmas bins in Little Shelford
Bike wheel stolen
Two wheel were stolen from a cycle in Hauxton Road Little Shelford between October 28 an 29.
Attempted Little Shelford burglary
A man was detained by police officers following an attempted burglary at 3pm on October 22 in High Street, Little Shelford.
Little Shelford Playground renovation & improvement update
Last July’s newsletter gave a summary of the results of the survey of what villagers thought of the current playground and which improvements were sought.
We need to expand participation, especially of mothers with young children, in our playground initiative group. It will not be time consuming. If you wish to join us please contact David Jones, Susie Manning or Robin Haines by email to rshaines@rshaines.plus.com or phone 841415.
New MP for Little Shelford in 2015
Heidi Allen will be the Conservative candidate in the General Election in South Cambridgeshire in May 2015. She is currently a district councillor in St Albans.
Little Shelford Wildlife Group
At the Recreation Ground we have helped the path down to the river to reappear! The willows were enveloping the playing field end so hopefully it will be easier now. We will also be cutting the hedging around the bowling green which has to be done every year. Earlier this year we had it cut back quite hard to enable us to keep it in good shape.
Please enjoy our lovely village and help to keep it clean and tidy.
Parish Council update
- Garden Fields will be re-surfaced in the autumn now that some of the residents have agreed to pay half of the £14,000 cost. The other half will be paid for by the Parish Council because of the legal agreement connected with the road when the allotments were created.
- The village’s 31 bus has been saved. There will be more journies from January, but some of them will only go as far as Addenbrooke’s hospital.
- The Parish Council is going to ask the allotment holders if they want to form a co-operative to run the allotments.
- A request to introduce a 20 MPH limit in Hauxton Road was rejected. However the council is going to set up a speedwatch scheme. 3 volunteers have signed up. Another 3 are needed. Please email
- littleshelfordparishclerk@aol.co.uk if you are interested in helping.
- The phone box library will be closed on October 4 and 5 when it is being re-painted.
- The Parish Council has unanimously opposed the Cambridge South development adjoining Great Shelford which would include a new science park and 1,250 houses.
- The enquiry about the possibility of re-instating the footpath between Garden Fields and Bradmere lane will take place on January 21 and 22 2015.
Shelford school in walking competition
Great and Little Shelford Primary Schools is competing with 3 other schools as they aim to get as many pupils as possible to school without the car.
Water park to be created near Little Shelford
Here is Rev Simon Scott from All Saints' Church experiencing the Ice Bucket Challenge.
Little Shelford villager of the year
Steph and her husband Dave have been involved in running events for nearly 30 years and helped out on the original LSEC firework nights in their 20's.
High Street theft
A theft was reported in High Street, Little Shelford. This occurred on Wednesday 20thAugust at 12.05pm. The thief stole a green carrier bag full of assorted food/drink from the front of the property.
Care Network Cambridgeshire
Care Network Cambridgeshire is a local charity supporting older and vulnerable people. Our vision is a Cambridgeshire where people at risk of isolation, loneliness or depression feel supported in their local community and stay healthy, happy and independent for longer.
Need help to find information? Community Navigators are local volunteers who help older people find out about activities and services. This FREE information service could provide anything from finding leisure activities to where to get financial advice, or help to stay independent at home. Contact 01954 212100.
Need help after an illness or hospital stay? Help at Home is a FREE service that offers practical help and emotional support in the short term (usually for 3 weeks) by collecting prescriptions; shopping; arranging meal deliveries or just calling in to make sure you are ok. We can also help with one-off tasks to help you remain independent at home, such as changing a light bulb or taking curtains down for a wash. Contact 01223 714433.
Want to set up a group for older people? The Community Development team work with people who want to set up their own groups, from car schemes to singing groups and social clubs. Contact 01954 211919.
Consider volunteering -we’d love to hear from you! Volunteering can help keep you healthy, active, and engaged with shaping your community. You can make a big difference! To find out more, call 01954 211919.
Are you aware that the no. 31 bus service is going to change?
Consultations between parish councils and the County Council have been going on for many months to improve the no. 31 bus service. Pleas have been made to improve the service by making it more frequent and direct. Given the constraints of funding, creative solutions were needed.
The working party, together with the representatives from the County Council agreed that the best solution would be to terminate the service at Addenbrooke's Hospital for the majority of journeys, but to continue to travel to Drummer St. for peak journeys. This would mean that buses would run at hour and a half intervals from Little Shelford, stoppping at Gt. Shelford rail station on the way to Addenbrookes. Termination at Addenbookes means that a number of additional journeys can be laid on compared with the now very infrequent service. Since Addenbrookes is something of a 'transport hub' passengers can connect with a number of routes there. The link up will continue for the return journeys.
Watch this space for updates and a start date. In the meantime, please do consider how you can make use of the additional service so that we can keep passenger numbers up on the no. 31 in future.
Mary Palazzo, Little Shelford Parish Council
Little Shelford house prices keep on rising
Green bin collection changes in Little Shelford
| Ian Couch | UKIP | 388 |
| Peter Fane | Liberal Democrats | 341 |
| Adrian French | Labour | 396 |
| Ben Shelton | Conservative | 1143 |
| Linda Whitebread | Green | 437 |
School buses withdrawn
School buses to Sawston Village College are being withdrawn for most pupils in Great Shelford and Little Shelford from September.
Usually, only pupils who live more than 3 miles away from the school are entitled to free transport.
However the rules were changed temporarily a couple of years ago after concerns were raised about pupil safety crossing the A1301 on the edge of Sawston.
The junction has now been improved. Now Cambridgeshire County Council has written to parents in a letter titled “ Notice to withdraw school transport between the villages of Stapleford, Great and Little Shelford to Sawston Village College.”
The letter says that the changes will take effect from September 2014.
Parents can raise their concerns by emailing SRR@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Hauxton update
- Ian Couch – UK Independence Party (UKIP)
- Peter Robert Spencer Fane – Liberal Democrat
- Adrian French – The Labour Party Candidate
- Benjamin Joseph Shelton – The Conservative Party Candidate
- Linda Whitebread – The Green Party.
Little Shelford theft
A theft was reported in Hauxton Road, Little Shelford on Tuesday 22nd April at approximately 1.30pm. A man called at the address claiming that he was owed £75 for gardening work. The victim gave him £50. He said he would help himself to the rest and having being handed the purse, appears to have taken a further £100.
Little Shelford's horse has bolted
Little Shelford's horse sculpture has been removed temporarily so that it can be part of an exhibition at
Blenheim Palace, the former home of Winston Churchill. The sculpture can normally be seen in the garden of a home in the High Street. The Sculpture is due to return at the end of June.
Little Shelford CCTV.
Posted March 26
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Sign up for badminton
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 | These are photos of flooding in Little Shelford on February 8 2014 by David Jones. Top left - the Bowls Green under water Above - the water meadow between the two rivers on Bridge Lane completely submerged - fortunately the horses had already been evacuated. Left - The Riverside Walk in the Wale Recreation Ground under Water. See David's video coverage here: See Ruth Shah's flood photos here The flooding photo below is by Alan Slater Send your flooding photos to davidm1961@gmail.com |
Great Shelford Library
Great Shelford is one of ten county-run libraries in South Cambridgeshire area and is the busiest one in the district, issuing more than 84,000 items in the year 2012-2013.Children’s books are particularly popular, accounting for almost 55% of all loans.The library stocks around 13,000 items in total, including audio CDs and cassettes and also DVDs; it has had more than 3,000 new items added to stock this year (2013-14).
The public library in Great Shelford is run by the County Council and serves the surrounding villages, particularly Little Shelford and Stapleford, in addition to Great Shelford itself. The library is open for 23 hours each week, including Saturday mornings – full details can be found at: http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/directory/great_shelford_library.htm
Great Shelford Library has an active Friends Group which campaigns on behalf of library users. It also hosts regular evening events and raises money for equipment. The library is very well supported by a band of volunteers who help the library staff at every open session - shelving and tidying books, and assisting customers with the self-service computers. Volunteers also run regular Rhymetime sessions for the very young and offer IT support via the Computer Buddy scheme
The library service itself hosts occasional author visits and also arranges monthly afternoon talks for older people –Engage sessions. Recent talks have included the history of St Mary’s parish church and the World of Scalextrics! In the summer holidays younger readers can participate in the national Summer Reading Challenge. They read six library books of their choice during the summer, collecting stickers along the way - all FREE! There is a different theme each year; in 2013 it was ‘Creepy House’ and 121 youngsters took part – children who complete the Challenge receive a certificate with their name on and a medal at an Award Ceremony held at their local library. The challenge is aimed at children aged 4 to 11 years, inspires children to read in the long summer break, encourages them to discover new authors and establishes a regular habit of visiting the local library and reading for pleasure. The 2014 theme will be Mythical Maze created by top illustrator Sarah McIntyre.
For further information about the library services, or to discuss the possibility of visits or talks from library staff please contact the South Cambridgeshire Community Engagement Librarians – Anne Worthington for Children’s Services or Victoria Richardson and Ruth Cowan for Adults – via 0345 045 5225.
Parish Council update
- The Council has now discovered that 5 homes in Garden Fields are expected to contribute any repairs to the road surface. The Council is going to seek 3 quotes for the work.
- The Council decided to continue its campaign to have the footpath between Garden Fields and Bradmere Lane reinstated. There could be a public inquiry later this year.
- The new 40mph zone on the edge of the village at Whittlesford Road has been introduced.
- The next meeting around the future of the 31 bus will be on March 4.
First Little Shelford Safari Supper
Car theft
Roadworks will cause Great Shelford delays
31 bus meeting
On 30thJanuary 2012 the County Council committed to a three-year phased programme of reducing the £2.7 million budget that the Council uses to subsidise bus services and the funding available will gradually drop to £1.5m per annum from April 2014.
Around 90 percent of public transport in Cambridgeshire is run commercially with no involvement from the local authority, with only 10 percent receiving any form of financial support (or subsidy) from the County Council.
The majority of subsidised services operate in the more rural areas of the county where passenger numbers are low or where the lengths of journey mean that operating costs are high, making the services unviable to operate commercially. On some of these services the level of subsidy required is over £10 per person for a single trip.
A project is now looking to work with the local community to investigate alternative ways to provide transport which gives a solution to the transport need but is also cost-effective. It is appreciated that for some, the subsidised service is the lifeline that enables them to access essential services. For this reason the project aims to deliver new transport solutions in places where subsidised services may be withdrawn.
The latest official figures for Great Shelford library are that in the period April to September 2013 our Library issued 22,446 items which represents a drop of 4% on the same period last year. Great Shelford library had the highest issues of all ten libraries in the South Cambridgeshire library group.
A village poll will be held in January 2014 to test the mood for raising the council tax in the village to help pay for the sports pavilion, resurfacing Garden Fields and refurbishing the play area at the Wale Recreation Ground. Currently, the annual council income is about £18,000. Around £6,000 a year is spent on the outstanding mortgage for the village hall. A decision will be made at the parish council meeting on January 28 2014.
Fifty people have responded to a survey about the village bus service. While current users say they are satisfied with the 31 bus service, most respondents said they would use the bus more if the bus buses were more frequent. A meeting about the bus service will be held at Great Shelford library on January 20 at 3pm. A decision will be made on the future of the 31 bus in the summer of 2014.
A 40 mph speed limit on Whittlesford Road entering the village from Whittlesford will be introduced in 2014. The council heard that a driver was seriously injured in a collision at the junction of the road with High Street in November.
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Winners and losers
Little Shelford ladies needed
On 30th January 2012 the County Council committed to a three-year phased programme of reducing the £2.7 million budget that the Council uses to subsidise bus services and the funding available will gradually drop to £1.5m per annum from April 2014.
Around 90 percent of public transport in Cambridgeshire is run commercially with no involvement from the local authority, with only 10 percent receiving any form of financial support (or subsidy) from the County Council.
The majority of subsidised services operate in the more rural areas of the county where passenger numbers are low or where the lengths of journey mean that operating costs are high, making the services unviable to operate commercially. On some of these services the level of subsidy required is over £10 per person for a single trip.
A project is now looking to work with the local community to investigate alternative ways to provide transport which gives a solution to the transport need but is also cost-effective. It is appreciated that for some, the subsidised service is the lifeline that enables them to access essential services. For this reason the project aims to deliver new transport solutions in places where subsidised services may be withdrawn.
There are 4 services in Area G that receive a subsidy from the County Council. All the journeys in Area G could be affected by the subsidy withdrawal. Below is a list of the services affected in each area:
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Villages serviced and days of operation |
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31 |
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Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s, Trumpington, Stapleford, Great Shelford, Little Shelford, Hauxton, Newton, Thriplow, Fowlmere, Elmdon, Chrishall, Heydon, Great Chishill, Barley |
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Monday to Saturday |
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75 |
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Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s, Newnham, Barton, Great Eversden, Trumpington, Harston, Harlton, Haslingfield, Barrington, Orwell, Wimpole, Croydon, Arrington, Croydon, Tadlow, Wrestlingworth |
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Monday to Saturday |
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114 |
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Cambridge, Grafton, Beehive, Addenbrooke’s |
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Monday to Saturday |
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199
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Cambridge, Newnham |
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Tuesday and Friday only |
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Detailed timetables for each service listed above can be found at this webpage: http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/cft/buses-affected.htm
There are several types of transport that could provide a solution to the removal of subsidies services, including:
- Car sharing - private or a social car sharing scheme
- Community bus service - parish owned or private
- Community transport such as dial-a-ride
- Franchise - working with a local entrepreneur to develop a service
- New subsidised bus services that are more viable by using new routes and/or times of operations
- Parish owned car
- Rail
- Taxi sharing schemes and taxi vouchers
· Travel clubs or car clubs
A description of these transport solutions is provided on the CountyCouncil website:
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/cft/alt_solutions.htm
The transport solution(s) will vary across the county - one size will not fit all. The project aims to be creative and find innovative solutions to historic problems, but if the best solution to deliver an essential service is to retain the current form of provision, this will remain an option.
The group behind the project seeks to encourage local communities and service providers to become more involved in the process of designing and delivering transport, developing a culture of co-production. By encouraging community involvement throughout the process and broadening the reach to include potential passengers as well as existing ones, the resulting transport will be more sustainable and viable.
The first step towards this is to work with local communities to assess the transport need in their local area. The County Council will then work with the community and partners (such as transport providers, parish and district councils, key local groups, etc) to design transport solutions that best reflect the identified need.
It is hoped that Councillors will play an active role in developing and supporting the engagement process, using their local knowledge and experience.
It is recognised that Parish, District and County councillors will act as the key agent of engagement, helping to steer and involve groups and individuals who are active in the community to contribute to the project. Councillors will be able to advise and lend credibility to the formation of Working Groups and ensure the most difficult-to-reach are included in the process.
Project schedule
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Research and preparation Oct 2013 |
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Create contact lists (Cllrs, key groups), ride buses, send out Councillor Briefing Packs, arrange Cllr Meeting. |
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Councillors’ Meeting 13th Nov 2013 |
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Meet with Parish, District and County Councillors to discuss the project plan, existing transport and key groups to consult, identify possible members of a Working Group, identify a Champion(s) to help drive the project through key stages. |
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Community drop-in event Dec 2013 |
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Drop-in open to the public to further publicise & discuss the project, questionnaires will be available (paper and laptop; all questionnaires to be submitted before the 2nd Working Group Meeting). |
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Meetings with key groups 9th Dec 2013 to 31st Jan 2014 |
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Working Group 1st Meeting Jan 2014 |
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Discuss project plan, present data on current services, share feedback received from the community, assess the transport solutions suggested so far. |
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Working Group 2nd Meeting Feb 2014 |
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Review all feedback collated by Officer, assess all transport solutions, agree a preferred solution and discuss its design. |
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Agree decision on final design Mar 2014 |
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Agree design with Working Group by email, agree design with CCC |
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Procurement process Apr – Jul 2014 |
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Launch and publicity Aug 2014 |
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Monitoring / Community feedback Ongoing cycle of monitoring, evaluation & modification |
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Survey 3 months after launch, evaluate & modify if necessary, survey after 12 months, thereafter survey at least every 6 months |
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Next steps
A meeting has been arranged to discuss the project plans for Area G with Councillors. The meeting will take place on Wednesday 13th November, 2-3pm at Haslingfield Village Hall, New Road, Haslingfield, CB23 1JP.
It is hoped this meeting will achieve the following outcomes:
- answer any questions / take comments from Councillors on the plan
- identify with Councillors existing transport services in the area
- identify a local Champion(s) for the project - we would welcome enthusiastic volunteers who would be able to spend some time to help drive the project through key stages
- take suggestions from Councillors
on possible members for a Working Group
Vote for our guides
Shelford Guides have been selected by Waitrose to be one of three charities participating in November's Community Matters token scheme. Customers at Waitrose are given green tokens that they then use to 'vote' for one of the charities by putting them in boxes in the lobby area. At the end of November, Waitrose will split £1000 between the three charities in proportion to the number of tokens each receives. Shelford Guides are delighted to have been selected and will use the money raised to help with the costs of camps next year. So they would be very grateful if any local residents who use Waitrose would be kind enough to 'vote' for Shelford Guides with their tokens.Shed burglary
Cambridgeshire County Council propose to implement a 40MPH speed limit in Little Shelford on the following streets:
Parish Council meeting summary
Navigator starts home deliveries
Some parts of Little Shelford might receive faster broadband before other parts of the village according to new information produced by the Connecting Cambridgeshire campaign.
The Parish Council will be looking at the situation on September 25 to see if both stages of work can be done at the same time.
You can read more about the campaign here.
Fun run success
A petition with 250 signatures to save the service has been collected by Angela Cox in and around Little Shelford.
The contractor for this bus service changed from Cozy to Whippet on 2 September, and the contract for the subsidised service will run to at least the end of May 2014.
The County Council’s consultations regarding subsidised bus routes has been delayed as some of the staff involved have been promoted or moved to other authorities. New staff have now been recruited and consultations should recommence early next month.
County Councillor Tony Orgee has promised that no changes will be introduced until there have been extensive local consultations to see how local residents’ travel needs can best be addressed in the future.
The last week or so has brought mixed emotions for the Little Shelford Sports and Recreation Trust in their efforts to provide a new pavilion on the Wale Recreation Ground. Firstly they received the welcome news that the project had been awarded a grant of £27,000 by Sport England (The Lottery), which was a major accolade given the demand from other sports organisations right across the country.
They are also in advanced negotiations with the Football Foundation and Amey Cespa for grants which would have brought the Trust very close to our original target of £250,000.
Maurice Palmer, Trust chairman
New book from former Vicar
New speed limit entering the villageThe Parish Council is bringing about a new 40 MPH speed limit for Whittlesford Road following complaints from local residents.
Bowls club boost
Little Shelford Bowls club has been awarded a grant of almost £1,000.
The club has received £960 for changing room roof repairs. They were 1 of 3 organisations supported by South Cambridgeshire District Council’s community chest fund.
Theft at Village Hall
A handbag went missing from the Village Hall on Wednesday evening (June 10) during a Pilates class. The bag had been left on the right hand of the stage, and despite instruction taking place in the main hall it had gone by the end of the class. A search took place at the time, but nothing has been found. Nobody saw anything!
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Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh took a tour of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) on her visit to Cambridge in May. She is pictured meeting villager Dr Hugh Pelham, director of the Medical Research Council’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology who lives in Little Shelford.
The Queen was treated to a performance by Great and Little Shelford Primary School’s choir as she entered the new building at the Addenbrooke’s site.
Parish Council decisions and actions
A number of decisions and actions were by the Parish Council at its meeting on May 22.
Following the recent burglaries in Little Shelford, a villager who lives on Whittlesford Rd has offered to start a Neighbourhood Watch scheme for her street. Representatives are needed for Newton Road and the High Street.
The Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner is to be invited to speak at the next Parish Council meeting.
Proposals to hold a fun run through Little Shelford on the morning of September 15 will be allowed, even though High Street, Church Street and Whittlesford Road will be closed for all cars for around an hour.
Dog fouling at the Wale Recreation Ground is getting worse. A notice will be put up on the gate giving suitable advice and asking people who walk several dogs at once to be particularly careful.
The telephone box may be re-painted, dependent on cost. The Parish Council will seek a volunteer for the work in the village.
Village burglaries
Youth worker wanted
Shelford and Stapleford Youth Initiative (SSYI), a Christian charity, is looking for a support youth worker to support the running of the Friday night youth club and one other evening project for 5 hours a week.They will need to be young people focused with a passion for youth participation and a sense of community. The youth worker should be able to work with a range of young people in a busy environment and able to support young people, specifically young women, in the issues they face.
| 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 |
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
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
| 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.
David Martin 845995 davidm1961@gmail.com
Ray Saich 842737 pandrsaich@btinternet.com
| Day | Now | New time | ||
| Mon | 4-7 | 3-7 | ||
| Tues | 10-5 |
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| Weds | 10-1 | 10-1 | ||
| Thurs | Closed | Closed | ||
| Fri | 10-5 |
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| Sat | 10-1 | 10-1 |
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
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. **STOP PRESS ** Broadband Survey Week featured on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire Thursday 13th October 8:25am (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. This is a pathogen which takes on an appearance of bird droppings or splashed tarmac, see picture below - fairly insignificant in appearance however the effect it has on trees is rather more significant. The action of the decay produces a 'ceramic' failure which is unpredictable and it is difficult to determine the extent of the decayed wood as the rate of decay of the cellulose and lignin is at the same rate and does not directly lead to obvious decay characteristics e.g. cavities, exudate, large fruiting bodies. From a legal and safety aspect the owner of the tree being Highways have a 'Duty of Care' under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957 and a duty of keeping the highway safe for all users, the tree surgeons contacted the Parish Council, who in turn contacted South Cambridgeshire District Council to establish ownership. Once Highways were informed of the tree a site visit by their officer concluded that the tree had to be removed with immediate effect - this action is permitted as Highways have the power of 'Statutory Undertakers' meaning they do not have to seek consent for such works to a tree afforded statutory protection as it is a matter of making the highway safe. It is a shame to have lost a tree in such a prominent position within the village however it may be possible with the co-operation of the Highways, parish council and South Cambridgeshire District Council that a replacement may be possible . Roz Richardson, Tree and Landscape Officer, South Cambs District Council
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 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 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
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
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'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
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.
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
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.
David was best known by many people for the work he did at the Ministry of Agriculture where he specialised in pesticidal residues and their impact on ground water. The book which he co-wrote with colleagues entitled "Soil Management" became a best-seller in its field and it is still the bible text for young agricultural students.
Links to Great Shelford pages on our sister site, Greatshelford.info
Great Shelford planning and planning applications
Great Shelford community groups
Great Shelford blogs and emails
