July 2015
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Meldreth Matters, July 2015 Contents include … July Events in Meldreth Mettle Hill: Have Your Say Our Local One Stop Does Solar Still Make Sense? Letters to the Editor Community Chest Money A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign Melbourn Village College Primary School Pre-School Church Services From Heidi Allen, MP Friends of Holy Trinity Local History Betty Greasley Education Charity Cecily’s Fund Volunteering Opportunities Parish Council Women’s Group Good Companions WI Notes From a Small Garden Councillors’ Reports Petanque in Provence Meldreth Tennis Club Melbourn Sports Centre Local Events in July Planning Matters Advice Pages Local Links Index to Advertisers Local Telephone Numbers
Page 2-3 4-5 6 8-9 10-13 15 16 19 20-21 22-23 23 24-25 27 28-29 30 31 32 37-41 43 43 44-45 47 48-51 52-53 54 55 56-58 59-60 61-64 66 67 68
Welcome to the July issue of Meldreth Matters. I attended the Annual Parish Meeting in the Village Hall on 21st May and listened with interest to the presentation from the Mettle Hill Working Group and the debate about possible uses for the money being given to the Parish Council as a result of the two new local solar farms. The land on Mettle Hill and the solar farm money present us with a potentially unique opportunity to shape the future of our village and provide new facilities which will be of lasting benefit to the whole community. There is more information on Mettle Hill on pages 4-5 of this issue. All residents will be canvassed for their opinions in August. Ideas and proposals for possible use(s) of the solar farm money are now being sought - see page 38 for further information. Kathryn
Cover: Items from the Bronze Age Meldreth Hoard. Photograph by Robert Skeen, courtesy of the British Museum
The opinions expressed in the letters and articles in this magazine are those of the writers, who are responsible for the accuracy of the information contained within them.
The last date for copy is the 12th of each month. Copy should be submitted by email where possible, to meldrethmatters@hotmail.com or delivered to the Editor, Kathryn Betts at 36 North End, Meldreth, SG8 6NT Tel. (01763) 268428 The Editor reserves the right to withhold from publication or to shorten if necessary, any article or letter sent to her.
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July Events in Meldreth To see your event listed, please email meldrethmatters@hotmail.com Friday 3rd July 5.00-8.00pm Summer Fun Meldreth Primary School Try your hand at croquet, have a go at archery, kids can take a dip in the pool … BBQ, bar, a bouncy castle, village games and some tasty treats will be on offer We have a lovely evening planned with something for everyone. Open to the whole village - free admission
Saturday 4th July 10.30am-12 noon Coffee Break Sheltered Housing Community Room, Elin Way There will be coffee, tea and soft drinks served at very reasonable prices, and a selection of biscuits will be provided. There will also be a ‘Bring and Buy’ cake sale and we would welcome any contributions on the morning. Thank you. Marion Long 01763) 261365
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Saturday 11th July 2.00 - 4.00pm Meldreth Pre-School Summer Fete Recreation Ground Lucky dip, face painting, games, tombola, stalls, bouncy castle Refreshments and ice creams See back page for further details Saturday 18th July, 7.00pm Summer Garden Concert with the Cottenham Brass Band Holy Trinity Churchyard The concert will be held in the Church if the weather is unsuitable. Please see page 27 for further details
Thursday 23rd July, 2.30pm Meldreth WI Afternoon Tea Sheltered Housing Community Room, Elin Way A donation of ÂŁ2 per person would be appreciated in aid of the British Heart Foundation
Meldreth’s Community Access Point Free tuition in computer use Whether you are a complete beginner or want to learn more about getting the best out of your computer, our volunteer tutors can help you. Interested? Call Ron on (01763) 262199 3
Mettle Hill: Have Your Say! The Mettle Hill Working Group (MHWG) has been meeting regularly since October and made a presentation of its "work in progress" to the Annual Village Meeting on 21st May. This is a summary of the first half of the presentation. We plan to deliver a summary of the second half of the presentation to your homes next month, together with a questionnaire asking for feedback.
History Mettle Hill was bought by the village after the successful campaign to stop it re-opening as a traveller's site. The ÂŁ125,000 cost was financed with a loan and repaid by a levy on our village precept (the part of our council tax payment which comes directly to the village). Many ideas were put forward during the campaign regarding what the site could be used for and the group has considered these. 4
Description and Condition of Site The site comprises 4.75 acres, with 2.21 acres within the bund as a travellers' site. The facilities put in for travellers are in a derelict and dangerous state. The planning use for the 2.21 acres is for travellers’ accommodation and it has a brownfield designation. There is a large earth bund at the front of the site providing security and there are two means of entry into and out of the site; the former entrance to the travellers' site itself and a side access on the west side of the road frontage. This access leads via a track to the rear of the site, which is scrubland with an historic agricultural use. Further Costs Cost estimates to clear the travellers' site ready for redevelopment are approximately £28,000. We have also looked at the likely cost of applying for planning permission for a change of use: it depends on the level of complexity but we may have to find over £20,000 to fund this. Clearance Clearance would make the site safe, but could make it open to illegal use. We think therefore that this should go hand in hand with redevelopment. MHWG Brief Given the background, the working group decided that we should bear in mind the following: Ownership: we assumed it was probably important as a village that we maintain the freehold to give us overall control of the land. Affordability: we need to raise/fund the costs of clearing/repairing the site. Longevity: will it still be there in 25 years, is it viable, is there a demand for its future use/purpose? Sustainability: it is at least self-funding re costs, does it offer alternatives to car use, does it add to village amenities? Income: additionally can the use be income-producing? Inclusive: is it a use potentially beneficial to all? We hope that once a main use is found for the site which satisfies the above criteria, we may be able to incorporate other use/uses which provide a whole village amenity. Mettle Hill Working Group 5
Our Local One-Stop Few readers can doubt that Meldreth is a great place in which to live. We have what many believe to be the fundamentals of a desirable village, a railway station, a good pub, a good school and a village shop. That the shop includes a Post Office is a double bonus. The owners of our village shop have embarked on a programme designed to improve their customers’ shopping experience. A major component of this is a customer feedback scheme. Customers are invited to complete an online, smartphone or telephone questionnaire detailing their experience of visiting their local One Stop. Jodie outside One Stop, This allows analysts to gain an insight into June 2015. Photograph by the shopping habits of their customers and Kathryn Betts gives the customers the chance to win a £500 prize for participating. But there is more! There is an element of competition between individual One Stop shops to find which one can generate the most customer feedback responses. The Meldreth branch of One Stop won this competition in its first month and then came second in May. There are nearly 800 One Stop shops in the country so Meldreth has done well by being consistently in the top ten due to a high response rate and a high customer satisfaction percentage. In May Jodie Pittam, the manageress of our One Stop, attended a regional training event that focussed on the importance of the customer and the need for shop staff to provide a high standard of service. The event was attended by 200 managers of One Stop shops. Jodie was singled out to receive an ‘Outstanding Customer Service Award’ as a result of feedback from customers highlighting improvements in the service offered by her and her staff at Meldreth. As Jodie said, ‘the feedback survey provides customers with the opportunity to voice their opinions regarding improvements that they would welcome in the shop, enabling us to make shopping at One Stop pleasant for both our customers and our staff.’ Congratulations to Jodie and her staff - we hope that your success is on-going. Ken McLean 6
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Does Solar Still Make Sense?: the Financial Case for Photo-Voltaic Panels The Government pays householders for the electricity generated by their solar panels by means of a Feed-In Tariff (FIT). This tariff has been reduced over the years and now stands at 13.4p per kWh and will decline further to 12.9p from July this year. In addition, an Export Tariff is payable on half of the power generated and this currently stands at 4.85p per kWh. However, while the FIT has declined, so has the price of the panels and whereas a 4kW (14 panel) array could have cost up to £14,000 a few years ago a similar installation could cost under £6000 today. In addition to the income from the electricity generated, there is also the very considerable benefit of free electricity while the panels are working. The FIT is payable on the total amount of electricity produced with no deduction for that which has been used by the household. If washing machines, dishwashers etc. are used on a sunny morning, for instance, the power they use will be absolutely free - it’s your power and you have made it - but you will also be paid for every kWh! A local company has improved this benefit even further by means of a ‘Solarcache’; this device automatically diverts any surplus electricity which you don’t use to your hot water cylinder, thus providing ‘free’ hot water. If you don’t need the hot water it can also be diverted to radiators or an under floor heating system. With all this in mind, a typical calculation might look like this: Cost of 4kWh solar array £6000 Amount of electricity generated 3600 kWh per year Income from FIT: £ 465 Income from export tariff: £ 87 Savings from ‘free’ electricity: £ 234 TOTAL ANNUAL BENEFIT: £786 Thus the installation would pay for itself in 7/8 years with an annual return of 13%. But the FIT is index-linked (to the rate of inflation) for 20 years, by which time the accumulated benefits would have risen to a minimum of £15,000 but probably a great deal more since the cost of 8
electricity will have risen substantially by that time, thus increasing the benefit of the ‘free’ power from the panels. The presence of a solar installation can also only have a positive effect on the value of your house, should you choose to sell. Beyond these factors, it seems to me that all of us should take some responsibility for reducing our ‘carbon footprint’ and solar panels are an excellent way to start; with the wonderful incentive that the Government actually pays you to do it! If you would like to discuss this matter further, or come to look at the installation at 64 High Street, you are very welcome. David Smith Meldreth SPEP Team (01763) 260378 vintage_bean@yahoo.co.uk
Sustainable Parish Energy Partnership Survey Since 2008 South Cambridgeshire District Council has been helping Parishes to explore carbon-reduction and energysaving strategies through the Sustainable Parish Energy Partnership. Sustainability has become a major area of research and growth during the past decade. With this in mind, SCDC is looking to review its sustainability programme to ensure it best meets the needs and interests of Parishes, Residents and Communities. Please take the time to complete our online survey to let us know what you think of our current services, and where we can improve! Take the survey at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SPEP Kirstin Donaldson, Projects Officer South Cambridgeshire Hall, Cambourne (01954) 712908 kirstin.donaldson@scambs.gov.uk 9
Letters to the Editor In last month’s Meldreth Matters, a letter was published that had been written by several residents in the High Street. It was originally sent to the Parish Council and was discussed at the Council meeting on Thursday 2nd April. The publication of this letter has prompted the following responses—Editor. Re: Letter to Meldreth Parish Council Until the letter from some High Street residents was published in last month’s issue of Meldreth Matters, the Parish Council was unaware that the Council’s reply of 9th April had not been received. A copy of the reply has since been delivered to each signatory to the original letter and is also printed below: Thank you for your letter which was received via Cllr Fallon and discussed at the Parish Council meeting held on 2nd April 2015. Your letter has seven main items which I will go through individually. Item 1 – The station entrance where the grass verge has been damaged. The Parish Council has made enquiries to see if the Highways Department will restore the verge. Item 2 – The building at Station Yard The Parish Council were unable to find any listings for this building, so it would appear not to be protected. The Parish Council is not informed when buildings are to be demolished, however there are procedures which have to be adhered to. The Parish Council is presently waiting for an update from the planning department at SCDC. Item 3 – High Street sign Both the Clerk and Cllr van de Ven have reported this to the relevant department and it is hoped that the problem will be rectified soon. Item 4 – Opposite Station entrance near the notice board a trench has been dug and the area left in an unsatisfactory state It would appear that the works by Open Reach have not yet finished but as soon as they have finalised their work the area will be made good. Item 5 – Area at the bottom of Station Hill The Parish Council has taken your views on board and will contact the landowners to see what can be done to address this situation. 10
Item 6 – The road leading into the area at the bottom of Station Hill Once again the Parish Council will contact the landowners to see what can be done. Item 7 – The fence along the bridge on Station Road The Parish Council has been in correspondence with Network Rail with concerns over this fence and it has not been left in a satisfactory state from the time of the accident. The Rail Users Group has also been trying to get this fence reinstated. I have been in contact with the Environmental Health Department with regard to getting litter picked up on the main roads and have been informed that Meldreth is due for a litter pick in July 2015. Meldreth has two litter picks scheduled per year (July and January) and our own litter picker carries out a daily litter pick on the smaller roads. I have also informed Environmental Health of the fly tipping on Mettle Hill and hopefully that will have been cleared. The Parish Council can try and rectify your concerns but it is also down to the individual landowners; the Parish Council has no jurisdiction on private property. Judy Damant Clerk, Meldreth Parish Council Re: Letter to Meldreth Parish Council I write in response to the letter from Mr & Mrs Rogers, Mrs B Ward, Mr & Mrs G Hoskins, Ms L Hoskins and Dr H & Dr R Ogilvie that appeared in the June issue of Meldreth Matters. The letter was read out at the Parish Council meeting on 2nd April. As with all such matters it was robustly debated by those members present and an action plan drawn up. If the signatories to the letter were expecting a reply from the Parish Council, I respectfully apologise if they have not had an answer. Whilst we are collectively the Parish Council our powers and our finances are not limitless. Whilst I agree broadly with the views set out in the June letter, the Parish Council can only write to home and land owners, utility companies and other regulatory authorities. We cannot compel anybody to do anything. I greatly reject the inference of the letter that Meldreth Parish Council does not care. Those of us from the parish who serve on Meldreth 11
Parish Council do so with the wish to improve the life of all those within the parish. We are all volunteers and give greatly and freely of our time to our community. In pursuance of our tasks with the Council we often incur expense, both financially and in time, which we are unable to recover. The Parish Council is also greatly assisted by both the District Councillor and our County Councillor who both give of their best to support this parish. I, like many others who serve on Meldreth Parish Council, also have an employer to please. I survey for an earthmoving company based in Essex; there being few weeks in the year when I do not exceed 60 hours. I have a family, a home life and various hobbies that I like to pursue yet I still find time to support my local community. Prior to being a Parish Councillor I was for 30+ years a member of Lions Clubs International, being a respected club and district member with responsibilities for all clubs within the East Anglian district. I am shortly to leave the parish of Meldreth so I have tended my resignation to Meldreth Parish Council. This will now create a vacancy within the Parish Council. Maybe one of the signatories to the June letter would like to apply to take my position on the Council? I write stating my own thoughts and observations, which may not be those of Meldreth Parish Council. Julian Fenner Re: Letter to Meldreth Parish Council & the issue of Mettle Hill Parish Councils are elected by their communities or if there is an inadequate response, councillors are co-opted by their own councils when there is a vacancy, though this is not the best solution. This does happen, sadly, because there is not sufficient interest from the public in their own council. When I see what is, or more strictly is not, being done here in Meldreth I can well understand the feeling. How often does one see members of the Council actively doing something rather than just standing around talking? The ordinary, necessary but mundane every day work of footpaths, recreation ground, planning matters and pavilion are coped with at the monthly meetings but when it comes to an issue which demands imagination, initiative and resourcefulness it is quite another ball game. 12
That is what the vexed question of the old Mettle Hill travellers’ site has turned out to be. The Parish Council decided on its purchase three years ago and precious little has been done since then. The Council’s excuse always has been lack of finance and community involvement but action must come from them. Now they will be benefitting from proceeds from the solar project to the tune of £50,000 there is nothing to prevent the bulldozing down of the whole site right to the road right away. Then if the community cannot come to an agreement about its use, the Council elected to act for them should do just that. Sufficient funds would remain to start up a community enterprise. Why not a permanent village market with stalls let at a reasonably low price to local entrepreneurs wanting to get started? Everything from clothes, crafts, DIY goods, a bakery, dairy, electrical/tv repairs even perhaps a visiting psychotherapist and masseuse. A house could be provided for a site caretaker. Care could be taken not to duplicate services already in the area. At any rate, I throw that in for starters. Something has got to happen and it is the responsibility of the Parish Council to get moving and provide the stimulation that has so far been non-existent. They are incredibly fortunate in having exceptionally able District and County Councillors to give them advice and backing. Let battle commence! Margaret Hunter
Community Benefit from Solar Farms Meldreth Parish Council will be receiving a one-off payment of £50,000 from SunEdison and approximately £12,000 per year (index linked) for the next 20 years from Lightsource. The Parish Council would like to spend this money on a project or projects that will benefit the whole community. If you have any ideas or would like to join a working party to determine how the money should be spent, please contact Judy Damant, Parish Clerk on (01763) 269928 or email parishclerk@meldreth-pc.org.uk. 13
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Community Chest: Money Available for Club/Community Projects From tents and archery equipment for Scouts, to football club and village hall refurbishments, communities across South Cambridgeshire are set to benefit from nearly £34,000 of grant funding - and there’s still more on offer. Since the beginning of April, 26 projects have been awarded amounts ranging from £350 to £1,500 from South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Community Chest fund. A total of £72,000 is available this financial year for voluntary and community sector groups, charities and parish councils to improve the quality of village life for local residents. Grants of up to £1,500 are available for: improvements to community facilities repairs to historic buildings/monuments/memorials tree and hedge planting schemes equipment and materials Grants awarded since April include £500 towards buying a computer and printer for the Mary Challis Trust in Sawston, £740 for Grantchester Cricket Club to buy a pop-up gazebo to serve teas, £840 to repaint and repair exterior woodwork, doors and fascias at Hinxton Village Hall and £1,500 towards 1st Whittlesford & Duxford Scout Group buying fencing, archery and indoor caving equipment. Councillor Ray Manning, leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “I’ve been delighted with the quality and quantity of grant applications already received. Community Chest money is awarded on a first come, first served basis, so if you know of a community group or project that would benefit from a boost of up to £1,500, please get them to apply as soon as possible.” Grant applications are accepted at any time and can completely or partially cover the costs of a project, equipment or work. For application forms and full details about the fund, plus guidance on eligibility, visit www.scambs.gov.uk/communitychest. Kelly Quigley South Cambridgeshire District Council 15
A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign: Bumpy Bike Ride from Royston to Shepreth! A group of local cyclists from the A10 corridor cycling campaign rode from Royston station to the Plough in Shepreth on the evening of Wednesday 10th June. The ride was intended to highlight the poor state of the existing path between Royston and Melbourn and it certainly did that! The path has numerous potholes, broken surfaces and emerging tree roots. Not only do these make cycling difficult and dangerous but they also constitute a tripping hazard for pedestrians. The A10 cycle path campaign hopes in the longer term to have a dedicated cycle path from Royston to Melbourn with a bridge over the A505, but in the short term it would like to see Photographs by Ralph Betts effective repairs done to the existing path. For more information about the campaign please visit a10corridorcycle.com. A report on the poor state of the path has been submitted but no action has yet been taken. The more people that report this, the louder will be our collective voice so if you would like to see this path improved please submit your own report at: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/info/20081/ roads_and_pathways/10/roadworks_and_faults. The ride concluded in good cheer at the Plough in Shepreth with our County Councillor, Susan Van De Ven in attendance to discuss the Royston to Melbourn path and more generally the improvement of cycling facilities in South Cambridgeshire. If you would like to learn more or support this campaign please come along to our next meeting on Tuesday 7th July at 7.00pm for 7.30pm at AstraZeneca on the Melbourn Science Park. Ralph Betts 16
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Melbourn Village College - Visit to Spain On Thursday 14th May, 55 Year 8 students set off for a five day academic visit to the beautiful town of Comillas in Cantabria, Spain. Our programme included: Day 1 - Spanish lessons given by native speakers followed by an academic interaction with Spanish students, presentations in Spanish in front of over 100 people and a chance to sample some speciality cakes in a local café too! Day 2 - Spanish lessons and a visit to the wonderful Altamira Cave, with a delicious paella for lunch. Day 3 - After our Spanish lessons, we marvelled at the amazing stalactites and stalagmites at El Soplao and did a treasure hunt around the town, speaking to the locals to get the clues. Day 4 - This was spent with our Spanish friends, learning flamenco or playing in a football tournament, followed by playing on the beach and a visit to the El Capricio De Gaudi in Comillas, to learn about Antoni Gaudi's style of architecture. Day 5 - For our final day, we went to Cabarceno, the largest national park in Europe, which is used as a rehabilitation centre for sick animals. Regina Lawrence, visit leader said “I have been leading foreign language visits for over 20 years now, and this trip certainly had everything for the students: language learning, experience of the food and culture of the country, the chance to get to know young people one's own age, and all this whilst staying in a lovely hotel with a pool, which we enjoyed in the evening! Our students have not only improved their Spanish but grown in all round confidence too.” Alison Friday Melbourn Village College 19
Meldreth Primary School www.meldreth.cambs.sch.uk Feather and Fur On Friday 5th June, children from Robin, Jay and Kingfisher classes spent some time at Whipsnade Zoo for a fun filled day of animal related learning. Each class took part in an educational session with an animal expert involving lots of hands on experiences. We had plenty of time to explore all parts of the zoo, with Robin Class particularly excited about walking ‘right around the world’ as we visited each section of the park. For this month’s magazine, the children have described what they enjoyed about the day. Kate Samways The zebra was stripy. It eats leaves. Lottie, aged 4 The sealions were good at touching the really high ball. Bertie, aged 5 The chimpanzee was cute because it eats bananas. Alfie, aged 5 I liked the butterfly house because one landed on my head. Cora, aged 5 We saw zebra, fox, snake (I touched the snake), peacock, hippopotamus, chimpanzee. Elliot, aged 4
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I really, really, loved how the chimpanzees got their food. If the food rolled into the river they got a stick and fished it out. The chimpanzees were my best part. Esther, aged 6 My favourite animal was the sealions because they swam beautifully. Sean, aged 6. I liked the wolves at Whipsnade because we used to have them at the Wildlife Park. They were like foxes. Tom, aged 5 We travelled to the zoo on a coach. Later on we went to a workshop to learn about habitats. At the end we were shown a python. It was scary, smooth and hot. I felt awkward about touching it but it was okay. I liked Whipsnade because it was exciting and brilliant. Alfie, aged 7 The elephants were at the back of the field then one minute later they were sucking water. One was funny and was spraying sand. We went to the butterfly house and Harry’s hat found out it was a habitat! We did see a crocodile very nearby. Daniel P, aged 7 I loved Whipsnade Zoo because it made me feel lucky and I learnt that those rabbit things are called wallabies. Lily-Rose, aged 7 21
Meldreth Pre-School www.meldrethpreschool.com
This year has flown by! Tadpoles have become frogs, summer is in the air and the holidays are just around the corner. The older children in the ‘rising fives’ group have enjoyed spending time with their new teachers at the Primary School in preparation for starting in September. We are looking into providing afternoon sessions for our current ‘rising fives’ in the first few weeks of the school term. Please let us know if you are interested. Fundraising Our Pre-School is currently struggling financially due to government cuts in our funding. We are doing all we can to ensure that we can stay open by applying for grants and planning lots of fundraising. Over the summer we will be having several fundraising events, including the following: Summer Fete The fete will be held on Saturday 11th July from 2.00 to 4.00pm - see the back page for details. Summer Camp This will be held from Monday 3rd to Friday 7th August in Meldreth Village Hall and will be run by fully qualified staff. All sorts of activities will be provided for your children including lots of arts and crafts, sports and walks. Half days (£20) and full days (£25) are available. Places are limited so please book with us in advance. Please support our fundraising activities wherever possible to help us keep this wonderful setting going. Committee We are looking for a new treasurer as well as general committee members. If you are interested please contact us for more details. You don’t have to be a parent; anyone from the village would be welcomed. Please email preschool@meldrethpreschool.com for more details or pop into the setting and speak to the staff. 22
We are a friendly Pre-School offering a quality term time service at competitive rates in line with NEF funding. We take children from the age of two and are happy to welcome children in nappies. You can find out about our Pre-School by visiting our website www.meldrethpreschool.com. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We are filling our places fast, so anyone looking for new or increased hours needs to contact us as soon as possible. Either telephone the Pre-School on 07518 173653 or email Sarah Isle at preschool@meldrethpreschool.com. If you are keen to join us in September it’s not too early to come for a visit and get your name down! Meldreth Pre-School
Holy Trinity Church Services Sunday 5th July 9.45am Family Communion and New Seekers Sunday School Sunday 12th July 8.00am Holy Communion Sunday 19th July 9.45am Family Communion - no Sunday School Sunday 26th July 8.00am Holy Communion
Joint Parish Prayer Group There will be no Prayer Group meetings in July or August. We will be meeting again in September and the date will be advised in the August issue of Meldreth Matters. However, if you do have concerns or wish to convey a prayer request, then please get in touch with me on (01763) 261365. Marion Long 23
From Heidi Allen, MP www.heidisouthcambs.co.uk I am absolutely delighted to be able to write to you as your new Member of Parliament! In the early hours of 8th May 2015, I was elected to represent every person, every business, every school and organisation in South Cambridgeshire and I can’t tell you how proud that makes me feel. During the election campaign I tried to meet as many people as possible and convey to them that if successful, I would always be approachable, available and crucially listening. I come to politics from business having worked in both the public and private sectors and more recently running my own firm. In my working life I discovered that the best decisions I made were as a consequence of listening to the people who would be affected by those decisions. I want to carry that ethos forward, so if you are worried about anything, need my help, want to talk to me – please feel that you can. You can call my office on (01954) 211444, email me heidi.allen.mp@parliament.uk, write to me at 153 St Neots Road, Hardwick, CB23 7QJ or you can tweet me @heidiallen75. I am here because you put me there, and I will never forget that. I have had a busy first few weeks both in Westminster and here in the constituency. Since being elected I have set up my offices and taken on support staff who will work with me in Hardwick and at the House of Commons. Constituents and organisations have already contacted me on local and national issues ranging from problems with school transport to the EU referendum and from flooding to changes in Royal Mail and Post Office services. I am keen to hear the views of local residents and to help with any issues you may have. I have therefore established a schedule of local surgeries over the next few months. Details of how to book a surgery appointment can be 24
found on my website www.heidisouthcambs.co.uk or by telephoning (01954) 212707. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Hannah Gautrey (pictured), a student from Long Road Sixth Form College, who won East Anglian Vocational Qualification Learner of the Year 2015. I have participated in a number of debates in the House of Commons, including questioning the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the roll out of superfast broadband. In order to explore the new technologies available to connect the hardest to reach rural areas in South Cambridgeshire, I will meet with Ministers later this month. Since the election things have been exceptionally hectic and there has been a lot to learn! But now I have my offices and fantastic staff in place, we have rolled up our sleeves and are getting stuck in with helping people. I am thoroughly enjoying the challenge. If you would like to find out more about what I get up to, take a look at my weekly videos on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCGvYX2XAzThq0t4jds-r1lQ. Heidi Allen MP for South Cambridgeshire
Meldreth Church Fete Thank you to all our visitors and to everyone who contributed to the fete in so many different ways. Despite the showery weather and a slow start, it was an enjoyable and successful event. In particular, the new auction drew a lot of attention, and will be repeated next year. Chris Mannix and the organising team
Holy Trinity Church Projects Church Heating: we are awaiting the installation of additional heaters. Bell Restoration: a structural engineer has advised on the work needed to cut pockets in the tower wall for the new all-steel bell frame and supports for the corner posts of the roof. John Price 25
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Friends of Holy Trinity www.foht.org.uk Saturday 18th July, 7.00pm Summer Garden Concert with the Cottenham Brass Band
This event will mark a return visit for this popular band following their last concert here in 2013. Bring your picnic, drinks, picnic chairs or rugs. The concert will be held in the Church if the weather is inclement. Parking will be available in the churchyard. Tickets cost £7.50 (£7.00 for Friends) and are available from: Robert Long - (01763) 261365 Mary Gregory - (01763) 260120 John Price - (01763) 260048 Peter Chilvers - (01763) 260742
Forthcoming Events: Sunday 6th September: 11th Car Show With a mix of vintage, classic and sports cars plus a few motor bikes and pedal bikes Friday 23rd October: Talk on China A talk by Hans van de Ven based on his passion for Chinese history Friday 13th November: Quiz by Colin Limming With a Ploughman’s Supper John Price 27
Local History: Law and Order ‘Audacious Attempt’ to Steal a Valuable Horse from a Meldreth Farm, 1878 On 22nd March 1878, a local paper, the Royston Crow, carried a report of ‘an audacious attempt’ to steal a valuable horse from Charles Mortlock Waller’s farm in North End, resulting in a ‘desperate struggle’ between Mr Waller and one of the two horse thieves. Described as ‘strange, if not suspicious looking men, somewhat fashionably attired’, they had caught an afternoon train that day from Royston to Meldreth and been seen loitering in the village. Under cover of darkness they tried to steal the horse, valued at £50, from the farm stables but were met with a ‘cool and courageous response’ from Mr Waller who, with the help of a neighbour, detained one of the men, wresting from him a ‘burglarious instrument’ (a ‘jemmy’) though not without suffering a broken collar bone in the process.
A detail from the 1820 Enclosure map showing the probable location of Mr Waller’s farm, just to the north of the College Farm Bend. Cambridgeshire Archives
Police-Sergeant Redhouse was summoned from Melbourn police station and took the man into custody where he gave his name as John Morris, a silk weaver from Liverpool. Finding the name ‘Morris’ on his shirt collar, the police were inclined to believe that this was his true identity. On searching him they found a number of articles which incriminated him further including ‘ten skeleton keys, a box of silent matches, a pair of gloves and a cloth.’ John Morris was later brought before Melbourn Petty Sessions, the small courtroom ‘crowded on the prisoner being brought in, each being anxious to get a sight of him.’ Committed to the Midsummer Quarter Sessions at Cambridge, he appeared there on 12th July 1878 and was found guilty after trial. He had a previous conviction at Chatham and 28
was sentenced to ten years penal servitude, with seven years police supervision to follow. As the name implies, penal servitude was a sentence designed to punish the prisoner not just by depriving him of his liberty but by subjecting him to hard labour. It replaced sentences of transportation in the late Victorian period when colonies such as Australia became increasingly unwilling to accept convicted criminals from Britain. Hard labour could take a number of forms but often involved prisoners being made to operate a treadmill. These were installed in most gaols at the time; the one at Bedford ground flour to provide bread for prison use but most were simply instruments of punishment with no end product. In reporting the case, the newspaper congratulated Mr Waller on his courage in preventing ‘similar depradations’ and for his ‘good service to the public’ in capturing one of the would-be thieves. As for his injuries, the reporter was ‘glad to say that he is going on well under the care of Dr Parkinson.’ John Crawforth
From the Archives Collision in Meldreth It would seem that poor visibility at the Fenny Lane/Whitecroft Road crossroads is nothing new. A report in the Royston Crow in July 1926 mentioned an accident involving two lorries and concluded that “the view of drivers is very much obscured by the high hedges and trees”. The report read as follows: On Tuesday morning, about 8 o’clock, two motor lorries came into collision at the four cross roads (Donkey Hall). A lorry belonging to Messrs. Worboys, timber merchants, Bassingbourn, driven by Mr Stanley Rosendale, and loaded with timber, came from the direction of Kneesworth, and on approaching the main road collided with a lorry belonging to Mr F Wedd, builder, of Arrington, which was going towards Melbourn. Messrs Worboys’ lorry was turned over, and the driver was badly shaken, and had his right wrist and elbow cut. There were four men on the other lorry. Both lorries were rather badly damaged. 29
The Betty Greasley Education Charity The Betty Greasley Education Charity will be holding a
Fundraising Tea Party Saturday 22nd August 3.00 – 5.00pm at Jackie & John Rogger’s home ‘The Rushes’, 81 North End, Meldreth Please join us for a delicious tea! The Betty Greasley Education Charity was set up in memory of Betty, a very popular and much loved teacher at Meldreth Primary School, who died in 2006. The charity supports the Jersey School in Katete, Zambia. It has to date helped to provide textbooks, the refurbishing of old buildings, the setting up of a specialist classroom for computers and for the pre school, toys and outdoor play equipment, the building of a three– classroom block (opened in 2013), along with equipping a staff room and an extension of an existing teaching block (during 2014). We are helping to provide, a large new block of four classrooms plus offices for the completion of the Secondary part of the school. At present there are just under 1000 pupils and in January next year the school will provide the full 12 grades of Zambian schooling. We are hoping to provide some £10,000 of the £35,000 needed for this final project. Much of that money has been raised and £3,500 already sent. Whatever we are able to give will help the school complete the project earlier than their funding would allow them to do. It brings to a conclusion our fund raising for Jersey School Katete, having enabled rapid development over the last nine years. If you would like to know more about this charity or donate to the fund, please contact either myself, Jackie Rogger on (01763) 260809 or Jill Price on (01763) 260048. Pauline Penfold (01763) 260163 Penfold001@btinternet.com 30
Cecily’s Fund
Cecily’s Fund is a small charity working in Zambia – one of the world’s poorest countries which has suffered hugely from the ravages of AIDS. There are now estimated to be over a million children orphaned through AIDS in Zambia. Cecily’s Fund was set up in 1998 in memory of Cecily Eastwood who was killed in a traffic accident while on her gap year in Zambia, where she was working with vulnerable and orphaned children. The fund works with partner organisations to educate children orphaned by AIDS, providing school uniform, fees when necessary, school meals for one entire school in Lusaka, the capital city, teacher training fees and the training of health educators. More information is available on the Fund website, www.cecilysfund.org. I have been supporting Cecily’s Fund for many years now and hope to extend my fundraising for it this year. The major event that I have planned is that of hosting a two–man play in the autumn, called ‘No Picnic’. It will be performed by the ‘Plain Quakers’, Arthur Pritchard and Mike Casey, and is based on the story of one man’s refusal to fight in the First World War. Arthur and Mike have written and performed a number of plays addressing social issues such as slavery and this one promises to be an interesting look at WW1 and a strong statement about peace. It will be performed at the All Saints Community Hall in Melbourn on Friday 25th September at 7.30pm. Do, please make a note of this date in your diaries, and come if you can. Some of the profit will go to Meldreth Local History Group; the remainder to Cecily’s Fund, improving young lives in Zambia by making education possible for them. Ann Barnes 31
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Volunteering Opportunities The following organisations are looking for volunteers. If you need volunteers for your group or organisation, please email meldrethmatters@hotmail.com. Royston Day Centre, The Old Barn, Upper King Street, Royston Are you bored? Do you have a few hours once or twice a month when you could help out? We are looking for volunteers at our luncheon club in Royston. Would you be willing to help in our kitchen, preparing/cooking a meal for the elderly people who attend our club? We are open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9.30am to 1.00pm. For more information and a friendly chat, please call Sharon on (01763) 244229. Bletchley Park Bletchley Park has enjoyed an explosion in visitor numbers. So far this year, more than 100,000 people have already visited Bletchley Park; an increase of more than 80 per cent on the previous year. Due to this unprecedented success, we need more volunteers, in particular stewards. The role involves helping visitors to navigate the site and ensuring it runs smoothly. An army of volunteer staff help each and every one of our visitors to get the most out of their day, helping to tell the remarkable story that lives in the very walls of this unique heritage site. Volunteers at Bletchley Park benefit from working as part of a passionate team, learning new skills as well as using their existing ones. They also have access to extensive resources and libraries. Full induction and training is provided. Other roles are also available in Education and Estates. To find out more, please email volunteer@bletchleypark.org.uk or telephone (01908) 640404. Great St. Mary’s Church, Cambridge Volunteers are needed, duties are to welcome visitors to this historic church, learn about the history of the church and possibly training to do guided tours and help with children’s activities. For more information, please contact Rosie Sharkey, by emailing rc58@hermes.cam.ac.uk. 33
Meldreth Village Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday 9.30-11.30am Baby & Toddler Group
Meldreth Matters is available online at free.yudu.com
5.30pm Slimming World 6.00-7.00pm Brownies 7.30pm Slimming World
9.30-11.30am Meldreth Local History Group
10.00am-12.00 noon Handbell Ringing
9.30-11.30am Baby & Toddler Group
7.30-10.00pm Old Time Dancing
4.00 - 6.00pm Martial Arts Classes for Children
5.30pm Slimming World
7.00 - 8.00pm Aerobics
7.30pm Slimming World
9.30-11.30am Meldreth Local History Group
10.00am-12.00 noon Handbell Ringing
9.30-11.30am Baby & Toddler Group
7.30-10.00pm Old Time Dancing
4.00 - 6.00pm Martial Arts 5.30pm Slimming World Classes for Children 6.00-7.00pm Brownies 7.00 - 8.00pm Aerobics 7.30pm Slimming World
9.30-11.30am Meldreth Local History Group
10.00am-12.00 noon Handbell Ringing
7.30-10.00pm Old Time Dancing
4.00 - 6.00pm Martial Arts Classes for Children
7.30-10.00pm Old Time Dancing
2.00-4.00pm G Companions 6.00 - 6.45pm Pilates 7.00 - 9.00 pm Tennis 7.30pm Parish
6.00 - 6.45pm Pilates 7.30 pm WI
6.00-7.00pm Brownies
6.00 - 6.45pm Pilates 7.00 - 9.00 pm Tennis
9.30-11.30am Baby & Toddler Group 5.30pm Slimming World 6.00-7.00pm Brownies 7.30pm Slimming World
2.30pm Meldr Elin Way
10.00am-12.00 Handbells 5.30pm Slimming World 7.30pm Slimming World 10.45-11.30am Mobile Library 4.00 - 6.00pm Martial Arts Classes for Children
6.00 - 6.45pm Pilates 7.00 - 9.00 pm Tennis
7.00 - 8.00pm Aerobics
9.30-11.30am Meldreth Local History Group
Thurs
6.00 - 6.45pm Pilates 7.00 - 9.00 pm Tennis
7.00 - 8.00pm Aerobics
Church Services and Bell Ringing are held at Holy Trinity Church. The Prayer Group meets at 85 N Councillors’ Surgeries, Meldreth Local History Group and the ‘Coffee Break’ mornings are held in Women’s Group meet in the Holy Trinity meeting room. The Mobile Library Service visits Bell Clo 34
Diary - July 2015
sday
Good Fitness
m Table
Friday 5.00-8.00pm Summer Fun, Meldreth Primary School (see page 2)
Saturday 10.30am - 12 noon Coffee Break 10.00am - 4.00pm Mouse Show
Sunday 9.45am Family Communion and New Seekers Sunday School
h Council Fitness
m Fitness
m Table
2.00-4.00pm Pre-School Fete, Recreation Ground (see back page)
8.00am Holy Communion
7.00pm FOHT Summer Garden Concert, Holy Trinity Church (see page 27)
9.45am Family Communion
Copy deadline for August issue of Meldreth Matters
8.00am Holy Communion
reth WI Tea, Fitness
m Table
m Fitness
Term finishes on Wednesday 22nd July
m Table
North End. Good Companions, A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign Meetings, District & County the Sheltered Housing Community Centre, Elin Way. Brownies & Melbourn and Meldreth ose. All other events are held in the Village Hall unless otherwise indicated. 35
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Meldreth Parish Council www.meldreth-pc.org.uk Extract from the unapproved minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Thursday 4th June 2015 at 7.30pm in the Green Room of Meldreth Village Hall. Present: Mr C A Land - Chairman, Mr R A Searles - Vice Chairman, Mrs C J Fallon, Mr J Fenner, Mr A Keena, Mr D Lee, Mr N Pellatt and Mr D Stewart In attendance: J Damant (Clerk) and Councillor S van de Ven (CCC) Apologies for absence: from Mr S Hawkins and Councillor P Hart Public Participation Councillor John Spenceley (Bassingbourn Parish Council) and Councillor Lee Ginger (Chairman, Whaddon Parish Council) and four members of the public were in attendance. A proposal was discussed concerning the vehicle movements entering and leaving Eternit. At the moment the vehicles access Eternit via Mettle Hill when both entering and leaving the site and it is proposed to have a one way system, with vehicles entering via Mettle Hill but leaving Eternit via Whaddon. One way routing would, it is hoped alleviate constriction where two vehicles meet along Chestnut Lane, Kneesworth where the road is narrow. It was also proposed to set up a group consisting of Councillors from neighbouring parishes who would be able to work together on items which affected them all from traffic issues to housing and social schemes (see below). Report from District Councillor The full report is published on page 48. Report from County Councillor The full report is published on pages 50-51. Joint Partnership with other Parish Councils A joint partnership whereby Parish Councillors from neighbouring parishes get together seems a very good idea. Mr Land and Mr Lee will represent Meldreth and Councillor van de Ven would also like to be involved. Traffic is one area which affects all parishes together with 37
housing and social items such as youth work and dog fouling. There are many projects which could also benefit from joint partnerships between the Councils. Clerk to contact Shepreth, Bassingbourn and Whaddon Parish Councils. Solar Farms SunEdison (Bury Lane) - One-off Community Benefit payment of ÂŁ50,000 A model contract has been sent to SunEdison but nothing has been received back yet. This is being chased. However, SunEdison have suggested the following types of projects they encourage: the installation of solar panels on village hall/local school contributions towards rebuilding village halls improved stiles and signposting on local footpaths provision of village playground bird nesting habitat provision and nest boxes/ habitat and ecological improvements. Lightsource (Substation) - the first yearly community benefit payment of ÂŁ12,474.23 has been received. Ideas of how to spend these monies so far are: Solar panels on the village hall; solar panels on the Primary School; station footway to Melbourn and leading off a ramp (yet to be built but hopefully funded by Network Rail); play equipment for under 7s; educational bursary and Mettle Hill developments. Two residents have volunteered to be part of the working group to propose how the money is spent, but others are needed, together with more ideas for spending the money. Annual Village Meeting A report on the meeting will be circulated to councillors and then put on the Parish Council website along with the reports given out at the meeting. Playground Rubbish is still being dumped in the ditch and the footpaths from Elin Way and from the High Street to the recreation ground are breaking up. Clerk to make enquires. 38
The chains and the seat for the swings and footrests for the large rocking horse will be replaced. It has been decided that refurbishing the roundabout would not be cost effective so it was decided to remove the roundabout and replace it with a 'witch’s hat' and a zip wire. At the recent village meeting other items for the play area were suggested; a toddlers’ climbing tower age up to 7 years and adult outdoor gym equipment. The Clerk is presently getting quotes for these. Mettle Hill The Mettle Hill Working Group is meeting to finalise the summary of its presentation to the Annual Meeting and to decide on a short term action plan. As most of you who were able to attend the Annual Meeting will know, there is still a great deal to do to settle upon a use which will be of net benefit to the village and upon which as many people as possible can agree. For this reason, it may be the case that if a questionnaire is to go out at this stage it will be just the first and will seek to establish certain principles: do we want to sell the site, yes or no? do we want to open the site for a different use? do we want a residential use on the site? should the village pay for the site to be cleared and/or made safe? how important is it that the site be income-producing? Correspondence and Clerk's Report Meldreth Pre-School would like to hold a village fete on 11th July on the recreation ground. Permission was granted. A cheque for £60.00 has been given to Meldreth Primary School from the Mary Course Fund for the Annual Challenge. Residents’ letter. Until June's edition of Meldreth Matters was published containing a copy of the letter received at the April meeting, the Parish Council was unaware that their response of 9th April had not been received. Once the Clerk was made aware that the letter had not been received, a copy of it was hand delivered. The Parish Council is still encouraging the businesses at 1-6 Station Road to make arrangements to have the area tidied up. [See pages 10-11.] 39
Footway at “The Boulevard�. The Parish Council have reminded CCC that this work needs completing. Churchyard. The Parochial Church Council (PCC) has requested a joint gravestone inspection by the Parish Council and the PCC. The Clerk will arrange this. The hedge at the corner of Mettle Hill and Whitecroft Road needs to be lowered as visibility is bad when approaching from Kneesworth. Also the grass at Whaddon Road/Fenny Lane and at the junction of the A10 and access to Melbourn is overgrown and not helping with sight lines. This will be followed up. Flood Risk Management Cambridgeshire's Strategy for flood risk management is now to be updated and the public consultation will run for six weeks from 3rd June to 14th July. See www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/site/custom_scripts/ cons_detailes.aspx?ref=369 Local Government Boundary Commission Draft recommendations have been published for the future electoral arrangements for Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) at www.lgbce.org.uk. The consultation closes on 6th July 2015. It is proposed that 61 County Councillors should be elected to CCC and that there should be new electoral division boundaries across the county. Highway Items Speed limit between Meldreth and Shepreth. Shepreth Parish Council supports a reduction in the speed limit to 40mph. Meldreth Parish Council will start the process. Communication It was suggested at the Annual Parish Meeting that Parish Council agendas be sent via email to villagers who have registered. An article in Meldreth Matters will see who is interested. [See following page.] Meldreth Manor School Meldreth Parish Council has been invited by Scope, owner of Meldreth Manor School, to take part in a local consultation on their plans for the future. The Clerk will contact Scope. Melbourn Area Youth Development The youth club is being well attended with 26 attendees ranging from 11 to 14yrs. 40
Burial Ground The fence at the back of the burial ground needs replacing and quotations are being sought. The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Thursday 2nd July at 7.30pm in the Green Room of the Village Hall. Meldreth Parish Council The official Minutes of Meldreth Parish Council are those signed in Public Meetings by the Chairman. They are available for public inspection from the Clerk and can also be accessed on the Parish Council website at www.meldreth-pc.org.uk or on the Parish Council notice board opposite the One Stop shop. Meldreth Parish Council contact details: Web: www.meldreth-pc.org.uk; Email: parishclerk@meldreth-pc.org.uk Telephone: (01763) 269928. For contact details of Parish Councillors, see page 68. Parish Office, Meldreth Sheltered Scheme, Elin Way, Meldreth SG8 6LT Office hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10.00 am to 12 noon. By appointment at other times.
Parish Council Agendas If you would be interested in subscribing to a mailing list to receive the Parish Council agendas by email prior to each meeting, please contact the Parish Clerk on (01763) 269928 or email parishclerk@meldreth-pc.org.uk. Meldreth Parish Council
Allotments If you are interested in having an allotment in Meldreth, please contact the Parish Clerk on (01763) 269928 or email parishclerk@meldreth-pc.org.uk. Meldreth Parish Council
Refuse Collections Collections in July will be on the following dates: Black bins: 10th & 24th July Blue and Green bins: 3rd, 17th July and 31st July 41
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l New installations l Electrical condition reports l Alterations and additions
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l Maintenance and repairs
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42
Melbourn and Meldreth Women’s Group Our May meeting was the summer supper which was attended by 44 members and their guests. We enjoyed a ploughman’s supper followed by a tasty selection of puddings. The evening was arranged by the committee members with Diane, Pauline and Marion helping out with additional puddings. Our thanks go to all who attended, to those who supported the evening even if they could not attend and to all who supplied prizes for the raffle. Thanks also to all who bought tickets. The sum of £65 was raised for HomeStart Royston and South Cambs. My heartfelt thanks go to the committee members, Angela, Anne and Sue for all their hard work and a special thanks to Angela for doing the quiz. Our next meeting will be on 28th July in All Saints Community Hall when Dr Joseph Simon will speak to us about The National Autistic Society which was the charity we supported last year. Our meeting begins at 7.45pm and all ladies are welcome to attend. We are a small, friendly group and have no annual membership fee just a charge of £1 on the night and an option to donate to the charity pot. If you would like to know more about the group please contact one of the committee members: Pat Smith on (01763) 262575, Sue Toule on (01763) 260955 or Anne Harrison on (01763) 261775. Pat Smith
Good Companions For our meeting on 4th June we enjoyed an afternoon tea in Julie and Peter’s beautiful cottage garden. We couldn’t have wished for better weather; it was a glorious summer’s afternoon enjoyed by us all and we were also pleased to welcome friends and residents of Maycroft. Many thanks to Julie and Peter for making us all so welcome. The next meeting of Good Companions will be on Thursday 2nd July from 2.00pm to 4.00pm in the Elin Way Community Centre when we have staff from Royston Museum visiting us again. We had two visits from them last year which were really interesting and lots of fun. Why not come and join us; all are welcome. L. G. Pocknell, Secretary (01763) 261432 43
Meldreth WI My goodness, what a lot has been going on - and not all behind the doors of the Village Hall the second Thursday of each month! After our President Maureen Moody opened our June meeting and all past and forthcoming business was discussed, Jane Bates told us about her visit to Buckingham Palace. As it is the WI’s centenary year, the Queen graciously gave permission for a garden party to be held, attended by WI members from all parts of England and Wales. The weather was atrocious on the journey there, but the sun came out when the two coaches from Cambridge arrived at the palace. The wind did not abate, however, and apparently hats where being blown all over the place! There were 7000 members present and even though not everyone could see the Royal party, which included the Duchess of Cornwall, Countess of Wessex and Princess Alexandra of Kent, the splendour of the event was there for all to enjoy. The tea was delicious and members were able to wander around and see the beautiful gardens. It was a day never to be forgotten. Our AGM was held the following day in the Royal Albert Hall and once again was attended by members from all over England and Wales. This is always a day to remember, but more so this year as it was attended by her Majesty the Queen, HRH the Princess Royal and the Countess of Wessex. This is where 'Jerusalem' sung by so many ladies always brings a lump to the throat (well it did with me!). Quite a few of our own members had been able to see a lot of the ceremony at the Hub in Melbourn and it was also available on You Tube. Our speaker for the June meeting was Mrs V Nichols. Vanessa, as many of you may know, has been our village vet for ten years. She graduated from Bristol University in 1993 and after working on a farm in Somerset returned to her native Cambridge to specialise in small animal work. She can be asked to deal with anything from a pet mouse to a great dane. During a fifteen minute consultation questions are asked so that a diagnosis can be made. A plan of action and cost are then discussed. Vanessa then showed us some of the x-rays taken to diagnose different problems. On one a spoon was clearly visible. One thing that is perhaps not well known is that there is an animal blood bank and pet owners could be advised to have a blood sample taken in case of blood being required in the future. This month we will all be going out for an evening meal at The Green Man. Finally, to further mark our centenary, we would like to invite 44
you to afternoon tea on Thursday 23rd July at 2.30pm in the Sheltered Housing Community Room in Elin Way. Come and enjoy some cake a cup of tea and a 'natter'. We would appreciate a donation of ÂŁ2 and all proceeds will be given to The British Heart Foundation. Please do come along. Programme of Events, 2015-16 Meldreth WI meets at 7.30pm on the second Thursday of each month in Meldreth Village Hall and welcomes new members. Our programme of events for the coming year is as follows: July 2015: Outing to The Green Man August 2015: Paula Dolan - 50s & 60s Childhood September 2015: Steve Price - The Bobby Scheme October 2015: Carol Pook - The First Woman Doctor November 2015: Maureen Moody - Christmas Wreaths December 2015: Christmas Meeting January 2016: Rob and Sandra Searles - Travels in Burma February 2016: Julie Dore Healing - Plants of Botanic Gardens March 2016: to be advised April 2016: Honor Ridout - Corners of Old Cambridge May 2016: Dr Watkins - English Spirit Distillery Kathleen Thompson
British Legion Women’s Section Melbourn and Meldreth Branch We have had a busy year, with meetings, services and our national conference. Our May meeting was a quiz night which everyone enjoyed. During the summer, we meet on the fourth Wednesday of every month at 7.00pm in Vicarage Close community room in Melbourn. All ladies are welcome; you do not have to be connected to the Armed Services. For more information, please contact Ann Neaves (Chairman) on (01763) 260110, Pauline Parkinson (Standard Bearer) on (01763) 262617 or Elizabeth Murphy (Secretary) on (01763) 220841. Pauline Parkinson, Standard Bearer 45
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Notes From a Small Garden A trapped nerve in Jim’s back was curtailing work in the garden but then friendly neighbours came and erected supports for runner beans and climbing French beans then kindly planted them. Another good friend cut the long hedge on the High Street and then a kind young man wheeled our green bin out ready for collection. The melons have been set and have been reduced to two per plant. The carnations in the greenhouse border are growing well and the first flower buds are showing. The chrysanthemums growing in large pots have had their first stop, i.e. the main shoot has been taken out. We have planted a row of dwarf runner beans. These produce normal sized runner beans on plants 2-3 feet high over a long period. These are excellent for growing in containers. The apricot tree has set a large crop and these have been thinned out, removing half of the fruit to give the remaining ones chance to grow to a good size. Julie has visited some of the owners of gardens that were open on the Spring Gardens Open day to hear how they are getting on and has taken some new photographs. She is hoping to get a brief history of Open Gardens in Meldreth together soon which will be uploaded to Meldreth History Group’s website, www.meldrethhistory.org.uk. Julie and Peter were taken to Chelsea by their eldest daughter in May. They had a wonderful time. Julie hadn’t been there for years, but the marquee was as brilliant as ever and the individual gardens, particularly those with wild flowers, were quite special. She and Peter were at a loss to understand how they plant them up. The garden from Chatsworth was beautiful and so reminiscent of the Derbyshire hills where Julie was bought up and thoroughly deserving of the first prize. She also got lots of good advice about why some of her auriculas won’t flower: the answer is to plant them in a bed and feed them. Things to do Sow wallflowers and summer prune the apples, i.e. cut the new shoots down by two thirds, which will encourage the fruit buds to develop at the base. Clear the spring flowers including forget-me-nots so that plants like roses and campanulas that do so well in June have a bit of room and you don’t forget that they are there! Jim and Julie juliedraper@dumbflea.co.uk, (01763) 260323 jane_eggleton@yahoo.co.uk, (01763) 261824 47
District Councillor’s Report Fillcup Field - Greenhousing and Associated Energy Both Meldreth and Shepreth Planning committees have recommended refusal of the revised application. In addition to noise and smells, the predominant concern is still traffic and traffic routing. Councillor van de Ven and I will be meeting representatives from the Highways Department at the application site to better understand the issues involved. I will be liaising with the Planning Officer in the course of the next couple of weeks, and I understand that this application is now not likely to come before Planning Committee until 5thAugust. Local Development Plan The Planning Inspector has suspended her deliberations on the Local Plan pending further information gathering concerning the development strategy, green belt and housing and transport delivery. As I have explained on many occasions and in several contexts, the District is open to opportunistic applications on land outside village envelopes during this uncertain period. At Planning Committee last week the CEMEX application at Barrington for 220 houses was narrowly passed by six votes to five. However the application for 199 houses in Melbourn was turned down by a large majority. The difference with the way each application was treated by the committee boiled down to the Barrington brownfield site having been previously developed whereas Melbourn's is greenfield. Surgeries I will not be holding surgeries in July and August. However, if there are any issues that you would like to discuss with me, please contact me using the details below. Philippa Hart District Councillor, Meldreth and Shepreth philippajhart@btinternet.com 07811 323571 or (01763) 261255
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County Councillor’s Report 1. The Boundary Commission has recommended changes which would split the current Melbourn Division thus: Shepreth, Foxton, Heydon and the Chishills would be aligned with Chrishall Grange, Fowlmere, Foxton, Thriplow, Whittlesford, Hinxton, Ickleton and Duxford; while Meldreth and Melbourn would be joined with Whaddon, Bassingbourn -cum-Kneesworth, and Littlington. The new boundaries create significantly larger divisions (approximately 9000 voters instead of 7000) and a smaller number of councillors overall. The current Melbourn Division, arranged largely around the catchment area for Melbourn Village College and a strong association to the A10 transport corridor, gives way to two very different clusters, one with no secondary school and the other with two. You can view the details and comment on the proposals until 6th July at https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/4143. 2. The County Council is consulting on reductions to discretionary support for post-16 education transport. A public consultation has just been launched and closes on 24th June. Areas that will see change include mileage reimbursement for parents of children with a Statement of Special Educational Need; removal of the allowance for free travel for a second child in the same family currently in post-16 education; and the introduction of charges to new post-16 students with Special Educational Need and Disability. The 50% rail discount that I negotiated with the train operating company still stands and operates outside of the council’s remit. Unfortunately the council website has not been great when it comes to displaying public consultations; they are hard to find and that undermines the whole purpose. I’ve asked if this one can be extended; given that the deadline will have passed by the time you read this please do feel free to contact me about this and I will be happy to feed in any concerns. 3. Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Rail User Group’s next meeting is scheduled for 29th June at 7.00pm for 7.30pm in Foxton Village Hall. The agenda will be posted at http://melbourn.org.uk/railusergroup. Would the Parish Council like to have a designated member to come along to the Rail User Group meetings? It would be good to work more closely with the Parish Council, for example on what is for many people very poor access to Meldreth Station. 50
I met up with Great Northern and Network Rail for our Community Rail Partnership meeting on 10th June and one of the things we discussed was the sudden change to the station yard environment, with the unexpected removal of the small warehouse, which no one had been notified of in advance. At the same time, the Rail User Group’s survey of car park usage, kindly carried out by Sue Hanson, showed conclusively that there is very little spare capacity. The question of maximizing potential additional car and cycle parking space will be pursued. A rumour that the train company would be leasing car parking space to any new prospective private development was quashed as completely unfounded. 4. Following on from our Oil Club rebate donation to Mind in Cambridgeshire, Mind is aiming to provide both group and one-on-one support at the Melbourn Hub, available free of charge for the wider community. The professional support is made possible by funding Mind receives from Cambridgeshire County Council for outreach work. This service would be for people aged 18-65, offering practical support and advice about more specialist support if needed. At the time of writing we don’t yet have a start date but the hope is that it will begin in late July and I will include any updates in the monthly email newsletter that Philippa Hart and I send out. Please let us know if you’d like to be added to the mailing list. As you know, the Hub building itself is financed by the Melbourn Parish precept, although all the services it provides are open to anyone from the surrounding villages. Therefore I am asking neighbouring parishes if they might wish to consider a contribution to the Mind in Melbourn project, for example towards room hire. 5. I reported the broken High Street sign again and was assured it would be repaired. I lost track now of how many times I reported it but it’s nice to see that it was at last repaired the day after the Parish Council meeting. 6. The clearing of the ditch at College Farm bend is now taking place by the landowners, for which many thanks – a really thorough job. My next surgery will be held on 6th July, at 2.30pm at the Melbourn Hub. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch anytime with any questions or concerns. Susan van de Ven, County Councillor susanvandeven@yahoo.co.uk (01763) 261833 51
Petanque in Provence On 9th May eight members of the British Queen Petanque Team plus two non-playing wives set off by train for a trail-blazing petanque week in Provence. We caught the early direct train from St Pancras and seven hours later were being picked up by taxi at Avignon TGV station. We were then taken on to Pernes-les-Fontaines, so named because of its 40 public and more than 60 private fountains. In Pernes we had a six bedroom 18th century converted stone barn called La Saga all to ourselves. The house is located in the medieval centre of the small town and, with its courtyard swimming pool turned out to be the perfect base for the week. Our hosts Glennis and Marine had arranged everything for us from meals and wine supplied by La Camarette – a vineyard and restaurant of repute on the edge of town – to taxis to the villages where we were to play our petanque games, all of which was enjoyed in the most gloriously hot, sunny weather. Petanque originated in Provence in 1907 and translates literally as “feet fixed” or “feet planted” (on the ground) – referring to the position from which the boule is thrown – and is played on a dusty, hard-packed gravelly surface often containing small stones. We were soon to discover that playing on shingly public house pistes in the Central Cambridgeshire League would be no preparation for petanque Provence -style! After settling in at La Saga we wandered down to an area by the Nesque river to practise and to try to work out the practicalities of playing on such a surface. Next day, the real thing! Taxis took us to the nearby village of St Didier and its boulodrome where we had our first taste of Provençal hospitality. In France, to play in competitions, all players 52
must have membership cards which, in England, we don't need. Fortunately we had been forewarned and had had some printed, thereby avoiding embarrassment on our first competitive outing. After we were briefly introduced to the president (of the St Didier Petanque Club, not of France) we had to register with each player handing over their membership card together with the 5 euros entry fee. It was at this stage that we discovered that we were not only playing for our pride but for MONEY! Each event we played in was called a “melée” which meant that, when registration closed at 3 o'clock, all of the entrants names were randomly drawn by computer into triples, each triple being paired against another triple. Our next task was to find our playing partners – not easy as there were upwards of 60 French men and woman milling around. As we were all wearing our British Queen team shirts (and they're pink) we tended to stand out so it didn't take long to acquaint ourselves with our teammates. Despite playing on unfamiliar terrain we acquitted ourselves well and afterwards refreshments were served in our honour. The press were also in attendance and a short piece with a team photo celebrating our visit appeared in the local paper (right). Three more “melées”, conducted on similar lines, followed on the next three afternoons at Le Thor, Pernes and Monteux and and at each we met the President and were welcomed to their boulodromes. No more press, however! Over the four competitions we won four individual money prizes and, overall, finished feeling satisfied with our performances. On our last full day we visited La Camarette and, after a tour of the production area, had a superb al fresco lunch. Fortunately this was served beneath a large plane tree as, by then, the temperature had reached the mid 30s so we were actually quite pleased not to be playing in a petanque competition that day. On our departure day we all, including Glennis and Marine, had a celebration lunch in a local restaurant and then said our farewells before another relaxing journey on Eurostar back to chilly England. Our week in Provence turned out to be a most successful and memorable venture – one that we are hoping to repeat. Roger Wallbridge 53
Meldreth Tennis Club Fourteen members of Meldreth Tennis Club took part in a fun doubles tournament in the village on Saturday 16th May. Each pair played an 11-minute timed set against every other pair. Most of the sets were very even and it was one of the closest tournaments for years. At the end of play, the winning team of Hilary Rhodes and Richard Phillips finished three points ahead of their nearest rivals. However, less than a point separated the next four teams, as can be seen below: 1st on 18.5 points, Richard Philips and Hilary Rhodes 2nd on 15.5 points, last year’s winners, Kathryn Betts and Jo Kitteridge The tournament winners, Hilary 3rd on 15.25 points Christine Knight Rhodes and Richard Phillips and Jackie Holmes Photograph by Kathryn Betts 4th on 15 points John Rogger and Jan Butchers 5th on 14.75 points Ann Bannister and Hilary Marsh The Club holds a number of tournaments and social events throughout the year and this summer has arranged some friendly matches against local village teams. Members have free use of the courts, and Club sessions are held at the following times: Mondays 10.00am to 12.00 noon, Tuesdays 6.00 to 9.00pm, Wednesdays 9.30am to 12.00 noon, Thursdays 10.00am to 12.00 noon and Saturdays 10.00am to 12.00 noon. New members are always welcome. Anyone interested in joining the Club should contact the Secretary, Tracy Aggett on (01763) 243376 or come along to one of the Club sessions. Kathryn Betts Meldreth Tennis Club 54
Melbourn Sports Centre www.melbournsports.com The Kidz Factor (An OFSTED Registered Playscheme) Let us entertain your child/children this summer! We’ll amuse, encourage and tire them in fun packed days of activities that will include trampolining, art and crafts, games, dry sports and swimming. Age range: 5 - 14 year olds - please see terms and conditions located on our website) Dates:
Time: Price:
Thursday 23rd – Friday 24th July Monday 27th – Friday 31st July Monday 10th – Friday 14th August Monday 24th – Friday 28th August Tuesday 1st – Wednesday 2nd September 8.30am – 5.30pm. Morning and afternoon bookings taken. from £20.00 / £25.00 per person per day or 5 days for £95.00 (Bronze Members Only)
Coming up in August we have our Sports Camp from Monday 3rd to Friday 7th August and our Summer Pentathlon from Monday 17th to Friday 21st August. Full details of all of our courses and activities are available on our website or by telephoning (01763) 263313. Graham Johnson-Mack Melbourn Sports Centre
Bourn to Run: Sunday 27th September 2015 3/10km run in aid of Bourn Primary Academy and Bourn Sports Club. 10km run starts 10.30am Limited to 600 runners, 14 years and over only 3km fun run starts at 10.45am All ages welcome Register now at www.bourntorun.com. Early bird discount available until 31st July. Race entries close 22nd September. Enjoy a multi-terrain course across fields, hills and a nature reserve. For full terms and conditions of race entry go to www.bourntorun.com. 55
Local Events in July Below is a selection of events happening nearby this month. To see your event listed, please email meldrethmatters@hotmail.com. Thursday 9th – Saturday 11th July, 8.00pm In Situ Theatre Group: ‘From the green wood, from the dark wood’ Wandlebury Country Park ‘We went into the woods and we came out changed.’ An intriguing opportunity to watch Cambridge experimental theatre group In Situ performing their evocative and playful reflections on time, magic and woodwork. The group creates performances outside the boundaries of conventional theatre by performing in non-theatre spaces – this time in magnificent settings among the trees of the Jubilee Wood at Wandlebury. You can book ahead or find more information here: www.insitutheatre.co.uk or call (01223) 211451 or purchase a ticket at the park from 7.00pm. £12, £10 for concessions. Sunday 12th July, 12.00pm - 3.00pm Foxton Fun Day Foxton Recreation Ground Stalls, games and family fun; bar and barbecue; cake stall; pony rides; tombola; bouncy castles; aquazorbs; zorb football; raffle with cash prizes. There will also be a fun dog show in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support - entry forms available on the day. Please contact Sandy Batten on (01223) 870050 for details. In aid of Foxton Primary School. Wednesday 15th July, 7.00pm Summer Concert Jesus College Chapel, Cambridge Concert in Aid of Home-Start Cambridgeshire, held by kind permission of the Master and Fellows of Jesus College Piano Trio in C (K.548) – Mozart Kiss on Wood – Macmillan Isolde’s ‘Liebestod’ from Tristan und Isolde – Wagner, transcribed Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody (Op. 68) - Popper Piano Trio in C minor (Op.101) – Brahms Performed by Helena Buckie, Anil Umer and Nigel Yandell A minimum donation of £15 per ticket (£7.50 students) is requested, to include a glass of wine in the interval. 56
We are grateful to Woodfines LLP Solicitors for their sponsorship Please request tickets by Friday 3rd July 2015 from Home-Start Cambridgeshire by telephoning (01223) 210202 or email office@homestartcambridge.co.uk. Saturday 18th July, 8.30am Men’s Breakfast Meeting, College Farm, Grange Road, Duxford There will be a talk on farming in Britain today and how European Union law affects our farming practices, followed by a tractor/trailer drive to see a modern working farm at harvest time. We hope you can joint us; if so please contact Mark Howard, (01223) 503377, 07785 703413 or email Mark-Howard@UWclub.net or contact Tony Garrick on (01223) 510201 or garrick.tony@gmail.com. Let us know if you would like a full or continental breakfast so we know how many to cater for. We suggest a contribution of £7 to cover costs and will make a donation to the speaker’s charity. Saturday 18 July: 10am Cambridge Young Archaeologists at Wandlebury Country Park Take part in a Roman road sponsored walk in aid of the Cambridge Young Archaeologists’ club. Join the walk accompanied by historical re-enactors in full Roman regalia. Budding young Legionnaires can dress up as Romans themselves, with prizes for the best costume. Along the way you will hear fascinating insights from local archaeologists and wildlife experts. The walk starts at the Country Park and there are three routes of varying lengths – join the one you think will suit you best. All are welcome, minimum sponsorship amount of £5 per individual or £15 as a family. Routes start and finish at Wandlebury and are 5, 10, or 17 miles – or as far as you like. Under 16s must be accompanied by a responsible adult. 23rd July - 2nd September Summer at the Museums 23 venues in Cambridgeshire will be presenting a jam-packed programme of drop-in and bookable creative activities, events and trails. You can keep a record of your visits throughout the summer with our museum passport; use it to collect a stamp from every place you go. Free ‘What’s On’ guides and passports will be available from all participating museums or collections from 20th June. Alternatively, visit www.cam.ac.uk/museums/summer. 57
Local Events in July: Cambridge Open Studios www.camopenstudios.co.uk Cambridge Open Studios (COS) is thrilled to announce that its membership numbers for 2015 have grown by over 10%, continuing its excellent record of year on year expansion. The artists’ network, which is one of the oldest Open Studios programmes in the country, has seen steady growth since it began over 50 years ago and represents a flourishing community of artists, craftspeople and designer-makers throughout Cambridgeshire. This July, 323 Cambridge Open Studio artists will be taking part in 219 different locations. There will be a wide range of artistic media to see, including painters, sculptors, jewellers, photographers, illustrators, furniture makers and many more. 112 new artists have joined for 2015, promising an even greater variety of art and events for the public to enjoy. On every weekend in July, artists will open their doors free of charge, welcoming the public to view their work, learn how it’s created and even in some cases, try your hand. Covering the whole county, the Open Studios initiative includes many outlying towns and villages as well as Cambridge city itself. COS aims to bring artists together with the public, making studios and workshops accessible at certain times of the year. Working to demystify art and spread the word about the enormous amount of talent we have living and working in our county today, the annual summer Open Studios initiative sees hundreds of artists opening their workshops and studios to the public to share their craft. The organisation promotes the making of original works of art and craft, and works to forge a lasting relationship between local people and local makers. Participating studios will be open from 11.00am to 6.00pm, although it is worth pointing out that not all studios are open on all of the weekends, so do check the website www.camopenstudios.co.uk for opening dates or refer to the free Guide Book which lists all artists and groups participating. It really is a wonderful day out. Remember to look out for the synonymous yellow flags that will be flying outside the open studios. Cambridge Open Studios 58
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Planning Matters Parish Council Reference and Address
Detail
Parish Council Recommend
Fillcup Field, land to the north of Meldreth Road, S/2944/14/FL
The construction of a glasshouse, 380kw biomass boiler, 150kw anaerobic digestion plant, covered feed stock storage clamps, covered digestate loading area, covered vehicle store, farm workers log cabin and associated plant.
Parish Council recommend Refusal with comments. 'If SCDC are minded to approve this application a condition should be set to only 1 vehicle is used to bring in the raw materials for the bio-digester to avoid dangerous passing on the North End bends.’
105 North End, S/1005/15/FL
Rear single storey extension
Parish Council recommend Approval with no comments.
76 North End, Proposed first floor S/1154/15/FL extension and new front porch
Parish Council recommend Approval with no comments.
19a Whitecroft Application for variation Road, of conditions 1 S/0345/15/VC (drawings), 3 (soft landscaping) and 4 (glazing) of planning reference S/1336/13/FL
Parish Council feel that they cannot make any recommendation on a technical issue between the applicant and the planners.
11 North End, S/1213/15/FL & S/1214/15/LB
Parish Council recommend Approval with comments 'That the bricks being used on the new build should match the existing bricks.
Information only: alterations to existing chimney stacks and chimney pots
87 North End, Prior approval for a Noted S/1038/15/PH conservatory to rear of the property 36 Howard Road, S/1316/15/FL
Front and rear single storey extensions
Parish Council recommend 'No Objections' with no comments.
The full minutes of Meldreth Parish Council planning meetings are available on the Parish Council’s website, www.meldreth-pc.org.uk. 60
Planning Matters SCDC Decisions There were no SCDC decisions. Other Items: Cemex, S/2365/14/OL – went to SCDC Planning Committee on 3rd June. The application for 220 houses has been approved. Meldreth Parish Council Editor’s note: Full details of all planning applications may be viewed at this website: http://plan.scambs.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/wphappcriteria.display
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Alarms 4 Life for Landlords LANDLORDS of privately rented properties in Cambridgeshire can pick up free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms at upcoming distribution events. New safety laws make it compulsory for all landlords to fit smoke alarms in rented homes and are expected to come into effect from October 2015, subject to Parliamentary approval. Under the new laws smoke alarms must be fitted on every floor of the property as well as carbon monoxide alarms in properties which burn solid fuels. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has a limited number of free alarms to give out to relevant landlords and will be doing so at distribution events at its fire stations on the first Monday of July, August and September. For the full details, dates and where you can collect alarms, log on to http://www.cambsfire.gov.uk/firesafety/alarms4life.php. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and updates. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service 61
Event to Celebrate Newest Foster Carers An event to welcome the newest foster carers to Cambridgeshire County Council’s fostering service was held last week. The last twelve months have seen a record breaking 32 new families from across Cambridgeshire become foster carers with the local authority and many of these new carers attended to join the celebrations. Jill Blose, Service Manager for Fostering said, “We extend a huge thank you to all of our new foster carers, many of whom are already providing safe and loving homes to local children and young people unable to live with their own families. However, we urgently need even more people in Cambridgeshire to follow in their footsteps and consider fostering. We are particularly keen to hear from people who feel they are able to foster older children and young people.” To be a foster carer you need to be over 21. You don’t need to own your home, but you do need to have a spare room. Foster carers can be single, married, in a civil partnership or living with a partner. We welcome applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and from people who have their own children, as well as those who haven’t raised children of their own. Cambridgeshire County Council offers foster carers comprehensive training, 24 hour support and generous allowances. Carers can also earn additional payments as they develop their skills and experience. For more information on fostering please get in touch today on 0800 052 0078 or visit www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/fostering. Chris Hopwood Fostering Marketing and Communications Manager Cambridgeshire County Council 62
July is Scams Awareness Month Every year millions of people are scammed. In one year the total loss from scams is £5 billion! Help us tackle scams during July - Scams Awareness Month Don’t be rushed, Don’t be hushed! Report scams or get advice. Contact the Citizens Advice Consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06. Visit Cambridge & District CAB at 66 Devonshire Road, Cambridge, CB1 2BL. We are open Monday to Friday from 9.15am to 12.45pm. Come and see us in Cambridge City Library where we will have a stall on 1st July and 15th July between 1.00pm and 4.00pm. Citizens Advice Bureau
eCops News: Shed Burglaries There have been a number of shed burglaries in the local area recently. Please ensure that you keep sheds and outbuildings locked. If you would like to receive local crime information by email, register with eCops at www.ecops.org.uk. The service is completely free and works alongside Neighbourhood Watch, to bring you messages about your local area, including news and appeals, local crime information and crime prevention advice. It also allows you to feedback information to your local policing team, to help us police your neighbourhood effectively. Messages can include crime prevention advice, details of incidents and appeals for your help in reducing crime in the county. So why not sign up to eCops for direct and easy access to your local policing team at a time convenient to you? Cambridgeshire Constabulary 63
Stop Loan Sharks
A loan shark is someone who lends money without the permission required by the Financial Services & Markets Act 2000. A loan made by an illegal money lender (without a license) is unenforceable without permission from the Financial Conduct Authority. This means that you cannot legally be made to pay it back. The average cost of borrowing from a loan shark is three times the price of the highest cost of legal credit. The highest interest rate the team have come across so far was 131,000% APR. The only way we can help is if we know about the problem. A specialist Trading Standards team is helping to hunt down the illegal money lenders. Talk to your friends and family about loan sharks – ask them if they know of any loan sharks operating in your area. If you or someone you know is a victim of a loan shark operating in your area, contact Trading Standards Illegal Money Lending Team in strictest confidence: use our 24-hour confidential hotline - 0300 555 2222 or text “loan shark” and your message to 60003. You don’t have to give us your name or sign an official statement if you don’t want to. Alternatively email reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk. For more information visit www.gov.uk/stoploansharks. Trading Standards
Reporting Faults and Problems Please report faulty streetlights by using freephone number 0800 7838 247, giving the SC or CCC identification number, street name, village and fault description. Problems on the roads, including potholes and poor pavement surfaces should be reported on the Cambridgeshire County Council website: http://www2.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/HighwaysReports/Highways/ ReportProblem1.aspx. Meldreth Parish Council 64
We can make life a little easier Local Community Services delivered from Moorlands Court Homecare: our fully trained carers visit you in your home. Sitting service: a visit from our experienced staff gives family carers time for themselves. Day Centre: based at Moorlands Court with a friendly and sociable atmosphere and includes a tasty 2 course lunch. Meals service: nutritious, hot lunchtime meal delivered to you. Housekeeping: we do those jobs which you can no longer manage, from cleaning and ironing, to bed changing and shopping. To find out more, call us at Moorlands Court on 01763 260564 or email: denise.taylor@chsgroup.org.uk
Free Estimates
Little Hands Nursery School
Quick response to all repairs
The Moor, Melbourn
Little Hands is a Private Nursery School specialising in quality education for the under fives and offers: Flexible hourly booking - open 08.30 to 16.30 Term time bookings with optional holiday club Bumble Bee room for children 12 – 24 months Ladybird room for 2 year olds Butterfly room for children 3-5 years With optional “ready for school sessions”
www.cambridgeroofers.co.uk
Cambridge Roofers
All sessions have a high staff to child ratio and are available for eligible funded 2 year olds and all funded 3/4 year olds with no extra charges Categorised as “Outstanding” by Ofsted
YOUR LOCAL ROOFING COMPANY
For further information contact Anne McCrossen: 01763 260964 lh-melbourn@btconnect.com
ALL REPAIRS TO FULL RE-ROOFS
Little Hands is also at Bourn, Linton and Newton visit the website at www.littlehands.co.uk
Quality Workmanship · Affordable prices · Insurance backed guarantees
PC Repairs Advice & Installation of Home Networks Help with Selecting a computer
Slating ·Tiling ·Flat Roofs ·Guttering ·Chimneys ·Ridges ·Leadwork
Fault Finding Brian Girling 01223 208529 (Wimpole) E-mail bg@moncraft.co.uk
CALL US ON: 01223 782382
We can also provide the following services: Design of brochures, posters, business cards, etc. A4/A3 laminating • A4 comb-Binding Small print runs on A6 to A3 media
44 Hertford Street, Cambridge, CB4 3AG 65
Local Links Cambridgeshire County Council County Councillor: Susan van de Ven Fix My Street
www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk susanvandeven.mycouncillor.org.uk Email: susanvandeven@yahoo.co.uk www.fixmystreet.com (Report, view, or discuss local problems)
Govia/Great Northern
http://www.thameslinkrailway.com
Holy Trinity Church
Main website: www.meldrethchurch.org.uk Friends’ website: www.foht.org.uk
Melbourn & District Photographic Group
www.melbourn-photographic-club.co.uk
Melbourn Hub
www.melbournhub.com
Melbourn Sports Centre
www.melbournsports.com
Meldreth History & Meldreth Today Meldreth Manor School Meldreth Matters
www.meldrethhistory.org.uk atschool.eduweb.co.uk/Meldreth/textandinfo/index.html free.yudu.com [search for Meldreth]
Melwood Conservation Group MP: Andrew Lansley Parish Council
www.andrewlansley.co.uk Email: lansleya@parliament.uk www.meldreth-pc.org.uk
www.melwood.btck.co.uk
Pre School
www.meldrethpreschool.com
Primary School
www.meldreth.cambs.sch.uk
Rail User Group
www.melbourn.org.uk/railusergroup/
Royston CAB
www.adviceguide.org.uk
Royston & District Community Transport Shape Your Place South Cambs DC Stagecoach Train times/tickets
http://www.roytrans.co.uk/ http://southcambridgeshire.shapeyourplace.org/ www.scambs.gov.uk www.stagecoachbus.com/cambridge/ www.qjump.co.uk/index.html 66
Advertising Rates Size per issue Half page £27.25 Quarter page £16.50 Eighth page £8.75 Business listing per line
6 months £134.00 £74.00 £43.00 £11.00
12 months £216.00 £118.00 £65.00 £16.00
Occasional full page advertising features are also available on request. For all advertising enquiries, please email meldrethmatters@hotmail.com or telephone Beverley Cottrell on (01763) 262176.
Index to Advertisers Meldreth Matters depends entirely on advertising revenue to cover its production costs. Please mention Meldreth Matters when contacting our advertisers. A10 Timber .................................... 14 Abrey Agricultural .................... Cover Art of Clean .................................... 59 Art of Clean Wood ......................... 18 Boiler Juice ..................................... 59 Bracey’s Accountants ..................... 49 Cambourne Self Storage ................. 46 Cambridge Roofers ........................ 65 CHS Day Centre ............................ 32 CHS Group .................................... 65 College Farm B & B ....................... 49 Coton Electrical ............................. 26 The Country Store ......................... 18 Ely Design Group............................ 17 Eternit Sports and Social Club ........ 46 Fen Feeds Limited .......................... 42 Gilhooly ......................................... 36 Granta Montessori Shepreth .......... 14 Home Footcare .............................. 49 iPlaster ........................................... 59 James, Handyman ........................... 18 JPK Plumbing and Heating ............... 7 Keyholes Driving School ................. 36 The Letting Centre ................... Cover Little Hands Nursery School ........... 65 Looks Good Hairdressing ............... 17
Lynn Driscoll Footcare ..................... 42 Maycroft Care Home ....................... 26 MCT Construction .......................... 26 MDA Plumbing & Heating .............. 14 Melbourn Flooring .......................... 32 Melbourn Village College ................. 17 Meldreth Landscapes .......................... 7 Meldreth Plant Hire ............................ 2 Meridian Lawncare ............................ 7 Michael Easton Personal Trainer ..... 59 Moncraft Computers ....................... 65 NCB Electrical ................................. 42 Newlings of Royston Funeral Service 42 Nigel Wigg Home Improvement ...... 14 On the Leash .................................... 46 Penn Farm Physiotherapy.................. 17 The Picture Framers ............................ 7 Reflections Hair Studio .............. Cover Richard Burns Electrician.................. 18 Rod’s PC Support ............................. 46 Royston Fencing ............................... 18 Shelford Energy ................................ 42 Slimming World ......................... Cover Spice Hut Indian Takeaway .............. 32 Summit Landscapes........................... 18 67
Local Telephone Numbers Tennis Club: Tracy Aggett 243376 WI: Maureen Moody 260938 Meldreth United FC 07930 650036 Holy Trinity Church: Rev. Mary Price 261569 Adult Choir: Pauline Penfold 260163 Bells: Peter Hinton 262045 Friends: John Price 260048 Sunday School: Karen Lillie 261885 Melbourn: Doctors Surgery: appointments 260220 Dispensary 261246 Baby Clinic 262861 Library 269956 Village College 223400 Melbourn & District U3A 260399 District Council 03450 450500 Housing Services 03450 450051 Waste, Recycling and Environmental Health 03450 450063 Councillor Philippa Hart 261255
Meldreth: Community Access Point 262199 Litter Picker: Mick Taylor 261118 Neighbourhood Watch: Police Co-ordinator Graham Borgonon 260358 Pre-School 07518 173653 Primary School 260432 Lunch Club - Nikki & Julie 07599 292327 Village Association (MVA) 07961 128323 Village Hall: Chairman: Paul Ray 260304 Hiring: Sherida Richards 262512 Meldreth Clubs and Societies: Babies & Toddlers Club: Lynda Heard 260545 Bowls Club: S. Lambert (01223) 207888 Croquet Club: Janet Pope 248342 Local History Group: Joan Gane 260129 Melbourn Mushroom Club 260258 Melwood Cons. Group: B Huett 232855 Revelation: Miriam Skuce 262440 Table Tennis: Christine Knight 261676
MELDRETH PARISH COUNCIL - CONTACT DETAILS http://www.meldreth-pc.org.uk Parish Office, Meldreth Sheltered Scheme, Elin Way, Royston SG8 6LT Parish Clerk: Mrs J Damant Mr D Lee Mrs C J Fallon Mr J Fenner Mr S Hawkins Mr A Keena Mr C A Land (Chairman) Mr Nigel Pellatt Mr R A Searles Mr D Stewart
parishclerk@meldreth-pc.org.uk david@oakrits.plus.com joan.fallon@btinternet.com julian.fenner@tomblackwell.co.uk s.hawkins@dsl.pipex.com alankeena@aol.com
269928 261571 262822 268523 261451 260267 261004 262444 260435 261562
nppellatt@btconnect.com robert.searles@btinternet.com derekstewart67@hotmail.com
OTHER USEFUL NUMBERS Emergencies Crimestoppers Police (non emergency) S Cambs Fire & Rescue Cambridge CAB Royston CAB Childline Samaritans NHS Direct (24-hr service) Addenbrooke’s Hospital Report potholes (Highways) Royston Health Centre
Miscarriage Support Community Transport Anglian Water Cambridge Water Co. Gas Emergency Electricity Emergency National Rail Enquiries Stagecoach Cambus Cambs County Council Councillor: S. van de Ven S Cambs MP: A Lansley Home-Start R. & S. Cambs
999 or 112 0800 555 111 101 01223 376283 08448 487979 08444 111 444 0800 1111 08457 909090 0845 4647 01223 245151 0345 045 5212 242981
Village shop opens 7 am - 10 pm 7 days Tel. 01763 262158
07906 559756 245228 08457 145145 01223 706050 0800 111 999 08007 838838 08457 484950 01223 433275 0345 045 5200 261833 01954 212707 262262
Station tkt office opens Mon - Fri 7-11.15am, Sat 8.45am - 1.25pm Tel. 01223 453702
Meldreth Matters Team: Chairman: Lesley Farbridge 261578; Editor & Layout: Kathryn Betts 268428; Distribution & Proof-reading: Ken McLean 261243; Treasurer, Secretary & Trade Advertising: Beverley Cottrell 262176; Cover & Advertising Layout: Richard Burns 263121; Founder Member: Ann Barnes
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Reflections Hair Studio Specialist in all Aspects of Unisex Hairdressing. Cutting * Colouring Techniques * Hair Extensions We use only the best quality products by Matrix and have a wide range of home hair care retail. Gift vouchers and hair accessories available. Please call for any enquiries. 01763 260431 Reflections Hair Studio 45 Whitecroft Road Meldreth SG8 6LS
The Letting Centre Setting Standards in Property Management •
Established 20 years and based in Melbourn, we manage around 100 properties in Cambridge and the surrounding area • We offer discounted management fees for multiple properties and free, no obligation visit to value for the purpose of rental • We have no ‘hidden’ fees and do not take commission on maintenance charges Call us for a Landlord Pack and Letting Centre leaflets providing information about fire, furniture, gas, electrical regulations or tax
The Letting Centre, 24b Orchard Road, Melbourn, Cambridgeshire SG8 6HH Tel. 01763 263039
Fax 01763 263458 email enquiries@letting-centre.co.uk www.letting-centre.co.uk
Meldreth Matters is printed by Plumridge Printers 41 High St Linton 01223 891407