Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats are welcoming a paper published today that recommends continuing funding for Chesterton’s Whitworth House for at least a further 18 months.

Cllr Ian Manning, who worked with the County, the provider Orwell Housing, as well as volunteer representatives from the Whitworth Trust and local women’s groups, welcomed the news: 

This is an update on seperate proposed or to be implemented parking schemes covering the following areas:

Chesterton Triangle (Springfield Road to Hawthorn Way and those streets inbetween (ie Herbert, George, Chesterton Hall Crescent)

Ascham area

Hurst Park area (Hurst Park Avenue, Highfield, Orchard, Leys Road & Avenue, Arbury Road (lower half), Mulberry Close & Highworth Avenue)

I've also included links to the history, please hit Read More... 

Last night (April 10th) a van smashed through the closed level crossing barriers on Fen Road while trying to escape from police.  It is fortunate that trains were able to stop or the consequences could have been much worse.  The smash again cut off people living beyond the level crossing and shows the need for a long term solution to improve access to this area so this dangerous level crossing can be closed.  Please sign our petition!

After tonight's meeting I wanted to provide further updates on the situation with whitworth house.

The headline is that a small group, consisting of myself, Whitworth Trust volunteers, women's support workers, Orwell officers and the Castle County Councillor, will get together to try and provide more evidence to support the case for Whitworth House being retained. 

If anyone is willing to help with my work on this, please contact me.

This was something I suggested, having idenitfied the paper goign to be committee will be finalised within approximately the next couple of weeks.  There are wider questions here, but this is the immediate challenge facing us.

There is some good news but still uncertainty after a meeting held on 2019-02-14 with a follow up planned this week.

I (Cllr Ian Manning) met with officers from Orwell Housing, The County Council, the Whitworth Trust (the charity that supports the house) and women's groups on 2019-02-14.  Whilst it was a private meeting with no agreement to publish minutes, I want to update interested residents on what came out of it and follow up since.

I made sure we got timescales, actions, and a follow up meeting to ensure we have a chance of saving the service.

A friend and colleague, Cllr David Jenkins, has written this excellent blog which explains the con that is the Conservatives' claims of Highways investment:  https://cllrdavidjenkinscom.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/highways-investment-its-a-con/

Dear Resident
How much better could Elizabeth Way & Chesterton Road be? How much greener? How much safer?

...and how would you do it?

PUBLIC DROP IN MEETING: 27th February 1800 – 2000, The Waterman, rear shed

This is an update on where we are with resident parking plans for the Chesterton Triangle area, and the idea of a possible merger with the Ascham area.

Further to https://www.cambridgelibdems.org.uk/whitworth_house_closure_update_1 , the County Council has relased a "breifing note" for Councillors about housing related support in general, part of which addresses the Whitworth House Closure.  I'm publishing it in full here, but am still chasing the actual detail of the report mentioned that led to the removal of the funding for Whitworth - when it's stated that Whitworth didn't provide best value:

What is the detail that led to this calculation?
What consultation was done with Whitworth?

Further, the fact is that we may be in a situation where Orwell moves out of Cambridgeshire, so I've written to them to ask their intentions. 

A full presentation for Councillors has been arranged soon, so please do contact me if you've any further specific questions you'd like addressed. 

Major works are planned to replace the damaged bridge expansion joints to Elizabeth Bridge on Elizabeth Way, Cambridge over the River Cam.