QE Lib Dem Blog January 2024
Welcome from your Liberal Democrat councillors and campaigners in Queen Edith’s ward and division. We are sending this newsletter out approximately monthly to help keep you informed of what we’ve been up to and events within Queen Edith’s. Please feel free to forward this message on to anyone who would be interested. To sign up please visit
www.cambridgelibdems.org.uk/in-your-area/queen-ediths.
Please do let us know what you think as we would welcome feedback. To contact us about anything in this newsletter, please email
alex.beckett@cambridgeshire.gov.uk, daniel.lee@cambridge.gov.uk, karenyoung.libdems@gmail.com or iblackburnhorgan@yahoo.co.uk.
Best wishes
Alex Beckett - County Councillor Queen Edith’s Division
Karen Young - City Councillor
Daniel Lee - City Councillor
Imogene Blackburn-Horgan – City Councillor
Queen Edith's Councillors
In this edition:
- Housing Development GB2/Newbury Farm
- Licensing application denied for Sunset Lounge, 106 Cherry Hinton Road
- Joy’s Garden
- Planning decisions
- Road Closures
- Housing: HMOs
- Housing: Mould
- Highways: Potholes
- Highways: Leaf fall etc.
- Anti Social Behaviour: Traffic and vehicles
- Anti Social Behaviour: Nightingale Rec.
- East West Rail
- Air Quality Strategy consultation
- Future of local housing consultation
- Cities Outlook 2024
Housing Development GB2/Newbury Farm
On 31 January, there was a pre-application planning meeting for the site known as GB2 between Worts Causeway and Brabraham Road. At the meeting the detail of the buildings was outlined over the already agreed layout. The plans can be seen here https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/documents/s65061/Developer%20Presentation.pdf
We are still pushing for confirmation that the much needed community centre included in the plans will actually be built. Please let us know if you have any comments or concerns that you would like us to put forward.
Licensing application denied for Sunset Lounge, 106 Cherry Hinton Road
As many will be aware, a licensing application was made for the above site which backs onto many residential properties on Rock Road and Hartington Grove. Immy attended the meeting at which this was considered, and made representations on behalf of residents who were very concerned about the noise and anti-social behaviour of potential customers. The application was denied.
Joy’s Garden
We have further news about the micro homes that will be installed in Joy’s Garden. The current timing is still not confirmed as it is dependent on certain statutory approvals and permissions, but the current plan is that the tree work required is done in February, and the main site works in April.
A note on the future residents: Whilst those we house there are quite likely to have a history of rough sleeping, it is very unlikely that anyone will move in straight from the street, but will be moving in as part of a managed journey away from homelessness.
Residents will be referred to the project from within the normal Council-led processes for advising on accommodation options and will be supported from the start by It Takes a City, building on the work ITAC carries out in the Crossways winter accommodation project and the year-round Survive and Thrive support service.
We hope that the new residents will be welcomed as for any new member of a community, and indeed some local residents have made very kind expressions of support in this vein.
Immy has asked that residents are kept informed of the process and ITAC have confirmed that they would be very happy to meet local residents again. If you want to know more about ITAC see here: https://www.ittakesacity.org.uk/about/
Planning decisions
There have been a few complaints this month about planning decisions made and the process, so we thought it would be useful to lay out a brief summary:
- Here is the website link for the planning service: www.cambridge.gov.uk/planning
- The applicant makes an application and it is publicised on the website here: https://www.greatercambridgeplanning.org/planning-applications/view-and-comment-on-planning-applications/
- Affected residents should be notified by the council. You can search for the detailed documents regarding the application by address or planning application number.
- The website provides details of how to make objections and where to send them.
- The process is set out in law and all officers and Councillors must follow the process. They assess the plans against the local plan document which is here: https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/local-plan-2018
- If there have been similar applications which have been approved before, then this does set a precedent for a particular street.
- If planning permission is denied, then the applicant can appeal, at which point it goes to the Planning Inspectorate who will reassess the decision against the law and the local plan.
- If planning permission is granted, then the only way neighbours can object is by judicial review which is expensive and time consuming.
If you have any concerns, then we are very happy to provide advice.
Road Closures
- Baldock Way on 21 March 2024 will be closed to allow the microhomes in Joy’s Garden to be installed. The diversion will be Blinco Grove, Hills Road A1307 then onto Hills Avenue.
- Wulfstan Way bus stops are closed because of the road works. Stagecoach has promised to post notices at the bus stops to inform residents of the closures and these are also posted on their website here: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/regional-service-updates/east/cambridge-city
Housing: HMOs
We are all aware of the difficulties of housing in Cambridge one element of this is HMOs (houses of multi occupancy). When is a house of multiple occupancy a HMO? Is it licensed, should it be licensed and if a 4 bed is it meeting the regulations including most importantly fire safety for tenants? Immy and Karen have raised concerns with the Council about roads where residents have concerns about impacts from the number of HMOs. If you have concerns, feel free to tell us or alternatively report such matters here:
https://forms.cambridge.gov.uk/TELLUSABOUTAHOUSEINMULTIPLEOCCUPATION/launch
Housing: Mould
Mould, maintenance and poor waste management, Immy and Karen continue to work with the Council and Private Landlords/Management Agents to address specific incidents impacting on tenants health, safety and well being which distressingly continue to occur. Some have been on-going for a while and it is very hard to get such matters resolved. This has fend into the Council housing budget amendments proposed by the Liberal Democrats. See report from Cllr Katie Porrer to address some of these areas, but sadly the propsals were voted down.
I have requested that the Council and It Takes A City meet with residents to keep them informed of the Joy’s Garden development.
Highways: Potholes
QE Ward Councillors have been reporting and showing residents how to do this on line and talking to our County Councillor about Queen Edith’s road needs.
Cllr Alex Beckett County Councillor for QE and Chair of Highways Committee is strongly supporting measures to both repair and prevent potholes.
Highways: Leaf fall etc.
Thanks to residents being in touch who have identified roads with leaf fall, debris, hedges blocking thoroughfares etc. in response to our teams reports, the Council are commencing a thorough clean up/unblocking drains, this has resulted in clearing flooding from our roads.
https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/report-a-street-that-needs-cleaning-or-clearing
Anti Social Behaviour: Traffic and vehicles
As a result of hearing lots of feedback on speeding on our streets, the Police have responded by putting extra attention to the ward. Also, Immy is delighted to be invited to join Speedwatch. If you would like to find out more see here:
Morley Primary School raised dangers on their streets from speeding, parking, blocking drives etc. Immy and Alex consulted residents, the school reviewed options and they were directed to where they could apply for funding for the options they chose to implement.
Across QE parking/pavement parking/blocking cycle lanes continues to blight people’s lives so Immy has taken this up with Parking Control who are now doing extra patrols.
Anti Social Behaviour: Nightingale Rec.
Immy has worked with the community garden to explore the option of a S106 bid to further promote this wonderful resource on our doorstep, and the work the band of volunteers do every day to keep it thriving for us all to use.
East West Rail
East West Rail will be starting their statutory consultation in the first half of the year. It will be split into two stages to maximise the opportunity for communities to influence proposals during the development stage of the design process. This approach will help develop a better solution, more fully informed by the people living and working in the communities EWR will serve.
Phase 1: the updated designs will be shared, as well as new information on design areas. There will be an overview of potential environmental impacts and mitigations. The proposals will be presented in more detail than in previous rounds of non-statutory consultations and will again seek feedback from the public.
Phase 2: EWR will then analyse and consider all submissions to finalise and present a single proposal for the entire route.
Air Quality Strategy consultation
Residents have been invited to take part in a new consultation to help shape the new Air Quality Strategy which will seek to improve air quality in the Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire area, to protect the health and wellbeing of residents. You can find out more, including how to comment here:
Future of local housing consultation
Residents, businesses and local organisations are being asked to help shape the future of housing across Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire in a consultation that launched this week. Queen Edith's Ward residents can have a voice about housing and new developments being built plus the standard of current housing, including affordability, safety (maintenance) and its growth here on our streets.
There is the Joint Councils Consultation of Housing which is going to form the next decades priorities for housing including here on your doorstep. There is only a 6 week consultation finishing on 3 March.
Please complete the survey here: https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/consultations
Previous Local plan https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/housing-and-related-
Cities Outlook 2024
Centre for Cities published a report call Cities Outlook 2024, which looks at the economic performance of cities since 2010, including Cambridge which you might find interesting. The link is here: https://www.centreforcities.org/publication/cities-outlook-2024/
Useful contacts
Cambridge City Council Customer Services 01223 457000
Monday - Friday, 9am - 5.15pm
Out of Hours Emergencies 0300 3038389
Homelessness support out of hours 03300 538109
Housing Advice Service
(Housing advice, housing options, homelessness and homelessness prevention, applying for housing, bidding, banding, changes in circumstances, appeals)
housing.advice@cambridge.gov.uk
Domestic waste and recycling
Bin day calendars, information about what goes in which bin and to request a bulky collection go to: www.cambridge.gov.uk/bins-rubbish-and-recycling
Use the same link to report a missed bin. Missed bins must be reported after 3.30pm on the day the collection was due and before 3.30pm the following day
Streets and Open Spaces
- Graffiti, needle sticks, litter and litter bins, fly tipping, grass cutting, street sweeping
- abandoned vehicles, illegal advertising, fixed penalty notices, issues with businesses
- abandoned bikes
www.cambridge.gov.uk/street-and-park-maintenance
Environmental Health
(Noise, pest control, premises and personal licences, taxis, food registration, houses of multiple occupation, housing standards, pollution)
Planning
planning@greatercambridgeplanning.org
www.greatercambridgeplanning.org
Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)
Either email asbsection@cambridge.gov.uk
Or:
Reporting Anti-social behaviour
Waste
Fly tipping
Noise
Public Nuisance
Anti-Social Behaviour
www.cambridge.gov.uk/report-it
Parking Control
parkingcontrol@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Tel: 01223 727915
Police
999 emergency
101 Anti-Social Behaviour/Public Nuisance
www.cambs.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/
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