Update 2nd December 2024
Dear all,
Cambridge City Council Budget Priorities Survey
– ends 11.59 on Wed 4th Dec, 2024
An important consultation that you may have missed. You’ll need to be registered or signed in to complete the survey. Proposals include: reduction in mowing; giving up management of community centers, cutting funding for swimming pools and cultural services, reducing number of public toilets and passing responsibility for funding the pinder ( the out of hours grazing management service) to those who are allowed to graze their cattle on the city’s commons. There are also two additional surveys which have been launched , asking more detailed questions about any changes to car park provision and fees; and public toilet provision and fees. You can also take these surveys on their own.
No more cows on Cambridge’s Commons?
If the council does stop the out-of-hours pinder service, the likely effect will be to make grazing uneconomic for the farmers, ending a centuries-old part of Cambridge life. Farmers say the ancient grazing rights are ‘not worth it’ if they are forced to take on the cost of the animal rescue service. The city council has previously said grazing was a “significant and well-recognised contributor to the biodiversity of the city.” It is not clear what the status of the commons will be if they lose their status as medieval grazing land. See:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/nov/10/cambridge-could-lose-city-centre-cows-if-council-cuts-out-of-hours-rescue-service
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/10/cambridge-council-cuts-grazing-cows-rescue-service/
Cambridge City Council survey on the role played by Cambridge’s traditional market and markets in the area
Deadline Sunday 22nd Dec 2024 see
https://engage.cambridge.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/cambridge-and-south-cambridgeshire-markets
There is a strong focus in the survey on pricing and value for money. With farming in the news and the heated discussion about the impact of the inheritance tax change on family farms and the real cost of food production, plus the cancellation of the grants to farmers for nature, this survey is very topical. See Leics farmer’s son and agricultural historian Oli Fletcher’s short YouTube videos explaining some of the farming issues.
What will the budget mean for farmers?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfoDw3fQbBg&t=123s
Rural politics is upside-down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7c8PnUfo8k&t=38s
We went to the Farmer’s Protest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8jGTDb6sI0&t=351s
See farmer and best-selling author James Rebanks report.
‘The farming crisis? It’s much bigger than inheritance tax’
The survey about markets follows the Civic Quarter proposals for Cambridge’s Market Square. The City Council envisages the number of permanent stalls in the market reducing to 27, which would sit beneath a lightweight canopy over half the square, while 64 de-mountable stalls would provide “additional trading” space at weekends and during busier months. The Market Square would also be resurfaced to improve accessibility.
Market traders fear the plans to make the Square an event centre will shrink Cambridge’s traditional market and mean it is no longer viable. They have set up a petition demanding that the City Council rethink its plan to reduce the number of permanent stalls to just 27 which they say will be “the death of the market”. A paper version is available at the Emerald Foods stall on the market. See:
They are demanding that the council build at least 54 permanent stalls, which they say is the minimum needed to accommodate the businesses that trade there at least five days a week.
Stallholders warn the market would become smaller and have raised questions over the usability of de-mountable stalls,
See the recording of the Full council meeting on Thursday 28th November
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHHaG03pG4A
and questions 6, 7, 9
Market ‘will not be destroyed’ by revamp plans. See: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly277l2l4wo
Cambridge blogger Phil Rodgers commented ‘it seems £55m isn’t even the overall total cost – it includes only a small part of the planned spending on the Corn Exchange (£4.5m out of £22m) and market (£3m out of £12.6m) . This brings the total cost to at least £82.1m’. See:
https://x.com/PhilRodgers/status/1856398965807231129
Cambridge Biomedical Campus Planning Update 23rd Oct, 2024
CBC Ltd and CBC Landowners Forum presented on their longer term development and expansion plans. See links below for the event recording
South Cambridgeshire District Council YouTube channel
Slide Deck: view the presentation slides
Q&A Document: compiled Q&As from the event
Following the update consultation has started on new Supplementary Planning Documents for development in Greater Cambridge, including one for the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. See
There is an online webinar about all three of the draft Supplementary Planning Documents is on Tuesday 10 Dec 2024 from 6pm on YouTube.
in-person drop-in events for all three of the draft Supplementary Planning Documents
- Thursday 12 Dec 2024 from 10am to 2pm at the Clay Farm Centre (Hobson Square, Trumpington, Cambridge CB2 9FN)
drop-in events specifically for the draft Cambridge Biomedical Campus Supplementary Planning Document:
- Monday 16 Dec 2024 from 3pm to 6pm at the Royal Papworth Hospital (Papworth Road, Trumpington, Cambridge CB2 0AY)
- Tuesday 17 Dec 2024 from 10am to 2pm at the Community Room at St Mary the Virgin (12 Church Street, Great Shelford, Cambridge, CB22 5EL).
Commenting on the consultation
Comments can be made and submitted as part of the consultation:
Online on the consultation system hub
But, as journalist Mark Williamson tweeted “big question: given that the Cambridge Growth Company will be leading development in ‘Greater Cambridge’ with councils only having an advisory role – will this guidance be adhered to?“
https://x.com/markrwilliamson/status/1862223889020899434
‘Greater Cambridge’ – particularly South Cambs – is set to be reshaped to benefit the sci-tech sector. Local authorities will an advisory say in this – (along with other ‘local partners’) but how big isn’t clear. ‘(3)
https://x.com/markrwilliamson/status/1862223892883915126
‘and the government has said it intends to do away with ‘planning red tape’ to ‘unblock development such as that proposed around Cambridge. ‘ See ‘Rayner pledges to unblock red tape holding up 300,000 new homes’ ‘We won’t hesitate to intervene,’ says Housing Secretary launching scheme to ‘force through’ projects thwarted by planning system ‘failures’
Cambridge City Residents Association Meeting 3rd Dec, 4-5.30pm
Agenda includes Local Plan update
Save Histon Road Playground
Local residents have asked us to share their petition with you. They say please help them to protect Histon Road playground in Cambridge from land loss due to an adjacent development by CIP (Cambridge Investment Partnership = Hills Development + Cambridge City Council). Residents say the development does not allocate its own green space, so in order for it to receive planning approval CIP propose to “borrow” BNG (Biodiversity Net Gain) and the amenity park land of Histon Road Recreation Ground adjacent to it.
Best wishes,
Wendy
Wendy Blythe
Chair, FeCRA
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