Update 19th June 2021

Dear all,

Update 19th June 2020

STOP PRESS!

Milton Road Library Next Demo 21st June

If you are free, joining the read-in demo (bring a book) today, Monday 21st June outside the Milton Road Library at 3.20pm to raise awareness of the campaign to safeguard the library for the future.

Invitation to celebrate the River Cam, Monday, 21st June

Jesus Green 4-10 pm 

Bring picnics. The organisers say there will be music, bells, poetry, song and river tales!

(social distancing will be observed)

Declaration of the Rights of the River is at 6pm

Milton Road Library Petition

Please sign and share
https://cambridgeshire.cmis.uk.com/ccc_live/ePetitions/tabid/115/ID/54/The-Council-should-stop-the-sale-of-Milton-Road-Library-immediately-and-then-keep-it-as-a-community-resource-permanently.aspx

Romsey Lakes

https://www.andersongroup.co.uk/project/coldhams-lane-cambridge/
Plans have been submitted in June 2021 to Cambridge City Council to build one of the largest commercial developments in the region in recent times say the Anderson Group. They have just submitted the application for the development of the area known as “Land South of Coldhams Lane” which includes their ideas for opening the lakes.

The application can be found  here: https://applications.greatercambridgeplanning.org/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=dates&keyVal=QTD0HJDXFUL00

There are a large number of documents, key ones include the one called “Master Plan”, plus the two parts of the Landscape Design Statement.

There is also some information on the Anderson Group website:  https://landsouthofcoldhamslane.co.uk/news/

Local residents say that these plans are rather different from those presented at the previous community consultation.

• The main development (“Parcel A”) is no longer residential, but commercial, and will involve a large distribution depot. This would result in large scale HGV traffic and associated “white van” last mile traffic in the area.
• The previously  proposed formal leisure area on the wasteland on the north side (“Parcel B”) has been replaced by a no-public-access “conservation area’.
• Residents say that the main lake part (“Parcel C”) seems to have been made like an ordinary urban park, and less like a country park.
• It would also appear that the developers propose removing a lot of the vegetation and “replanting” which will have detrimental effects on the wildlife and character of that area. Residents point out in fact a very small area (particularly given that they are proposing no access to Parcel B) and anything other than a low-impact path around it with a few benches is going to basically destroy it.
• There seems a high level of detailed planning on the park, whereas previously the impression had been given that this would be more of a community process
• The issues of ownership and governance are murky and don’t appear to be very accountable.

Councillor Dave Baigent Chair of Cambridge City Council Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee who is also the Vice Chair of the City Council Planning Committee that will decide on the application tweeted 9th June that “the lakes offer an opportunity for people and nature to coexist to both their advantages. Parcel A is the means to pay for this. The question is, about the price”

There has been some confusion about the deadline for the public consultation, with a number of dates published erroneously. Friends of Cherry Hinton Brook have also been following up on the plans with both the Anderson Group and the Council planning office. The date is to be revised and is now more likely to be in the second half of July.  FCHB will be making a response, as will a number of other groups, and they would urge individuals to do so also.

The application can be found  here: https://applications.greatercambridgeplanning.org/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=dates&keyVal=QTD0HJDXFUL00

There are a large number of documents, key ones include the one called “Master Plan”, plus the two parts of the Landscape Design Statement.

Best wishes,

Wendy