october/november 2013 road run returns - … · road run. although plans are ... reiki master........

ISSUE NUMBER 137

After a break of two years a gallant band of enthusiasts have got together to resuscitate the Annual Yesteryear Road Run. Although plans are still in their infancy we have booked Sunday April 27th 2014 for the re-launch of the major charity event that trundles through the villages in our local district. Cancer Research UK are backing our efforts in 2014 with the understanding that any monies raised will be used locally.

In its heyday, the Road Run attracted over 300 entries, from live steam to classic sports cars, motorbikes, tractors to stationary engines, so there is something for everyone. We hope to get the same response from enthusiasts in 2014.

As in previous years, the procession will assemble on Cottenham Village Green, then will head off through Rampton, Willingham, Over, Swavesey (where we will be stopping for lunch) Longstanton, Oakington and Histon, returning to Cottenham Green in the afternoon.

We are hoping that each of the villages along the route will support the Run by creating its own carnival atmosphere. Maybe BBQs or refreshment stalls can help boost not only the collection buckets but the participants too!

Road Run RetuRns OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013

We, the few, are also asking for volunteer bucket shakers, Marshalls and of course entrants to the parade.

Further information will be forthcoming as soon as we can get it together.

So, look out for flyers and posters, and if you receive an invitation to join in with the parade, don’t throw it

in the bin! If you don’t want to take part, give it to someone who does.

Cancer affects everyone in some form or another. Let’s put our shoulders to the grindstone and backs to the wheel to stop cancer getting the

better of anyone we know and love.

“Together we can beat it”

For further information contact either Alan Lampard 01954 200811, or David Norman 01954 250917 or Dorsk Scales 07899 857703.

All help very much appreciated, no matter how small.

Issue Number 137 • page 2

MILLIONHAIRS mobile hairdressing. For an appointment in your own home call MICHELLE on 01954 201136 or 07788480239. 10% discount will be given to senior citizens on Monday and Tuesday. 10% discount will be given to all children eight years old and under. No travelling, no parking, no waiting. All in the comfort of your own home.

.........ExpERIENcEd pROfESSIONAL MuSIc TEAcHER/ExAMINER has a limited number of places available. Specialising in: Piano, Guitar, Drums and Theory of Music, but available for most instruments. All ages, beginner to professional. Examinations if required. Contact John Branton. Mobile: 07786 131782 Email: [email protected] Web: Johnbranton.co.uk

.........ExpERIENcEd ELEcTRIcIAN Part P registered, local, reliable, over 20 years experience. Design, installation, inspection & testing work carried out, no job too small. 10% discount for senior citizens. Call Peter for a free, no obligation quote on 01954 775003 / 07796 260735.

.........pEAT’S GARdEN SERvIcES lawn and hedge cutting, pruning, planting, rotovating, turfing, weekly and monthly visits, all garden work undertaken. All garden waste removed. For a free estimate call Pete Bullen 01954 250771 or 07749 863047.

.........vIcTORY cARS cOTTENHAM local, long-distance taxi company in Cottenham: train stations, airports, seaports, theatre trips. Any destination. 0333 456 1066 www.victoryairporttransfers.co.uk,[email protected] Credit/debit cards accepted. Account customers welcome.

SpANISH TuITION by an experienced native speaker for business, holidays, GCSE, AS and A levels. Also essays proofreading and translations. References available. Contact Maria Gabriela (Mona) Pembrey 01954 250879 or [email protected] or visit http://www.cambridgespanishtutor.co.uk/

.........HOLISTIc MASSAGE THERApY with JoElla. Ranging from relaxation to full bodywork treatments. www.holistictherapy.biz

.........fRESH GRIMSbY fISH Fresh and smoked fish, shellfish in Cottenham every Thursday morning. Est. since 1989. Call Ray on 07702 830308 to arrange a call to your office or home. No order too small.

.........fuRNITuRE pOLISHING ANd REpAIR Polishing and restoration of antique (and not so antique) furniture by a local Cottenham restorer. Rob Ellis, Tel: 01954 250153.

.........TOAT – “Tom of all Trades” Tom Wykes Handyman. No job is too big or too small – garden/house clearance, shelving, plumbing and so on – call Tom for a quote on 01954 250324, 07762 559259.

.........cOTTENHAM LOckS ANd kEYS Mobile locksmith. Domestic, commercial and retail lock fitting, lock opening, key cutting and wireless alarm installation. 24x7 emergency lockout service. Fully insured. Free quotations and surveys, highly competitive prices. Major credit/debit cards accepted. Tel: 07952 747279. Email [email protected] or visit www.cottenhamlocksandkeys.co.uk

.........ART Of cLEAN Dust-free wood floor sanding and restoration. Is your wooden floor in need of sanding? Call today on 01223 863632 quoting ref CN1.

.........

Small ads:

October 1st Parish Council, Council Meeting, Village Hall (venue will be confirmed on notice boards), 7:15pm 3rd Salvation Army, Coffee Morning, Salvation Army Barn 10:00am to 11:30am 9th WI, Musical Nostalgia, Bill Morris, Village College (Tony Cooper Suite), 7:30pm 10th Parish Council, Planning Committee, Community Centre (venue will be confirmed on notice boards) 17th Salvation Army, Coffee Morning, Salvation Army Barn 10:00am to 11:30am 26th British Legion, Autumn Fair, Legion Hall, 9:00am to noon. 24th Parish Council, Planning Committee, Community Centre (venue will be confirmed on notice boards) 25th Gardeners Club, Franklin Gardens, 7:45pm 31st Salvation Army, Coffee Morning, Salvation Army Barn 10:00am to 11:30am November 5th Parish Council, Council Meeting, Village Hall (venue will be confirmed on notice boards), 7:15pm 7th Parish Council, Planning Committee, Community Centre (venue will be confirmed on notice boards) 9th British Legion, Supper and Entertainment, Legion Hall, 7:00pm 10th British Legion, Remembrance Sunday Service, War Memorial, 10:55am 10th Remembrance Service, All Saints’ Church, 2:30pm 11th British Legion, Remembrance Day Service, War Memorial, 10:55am 13th WI, Members’ Night, Village College (Tony Cooper Suite), 7:30pm 14th Salvation Army, Coffee Morning, Salvation Army Barn 10:00am to 11:30am 21st Parish Council, Planning Committee, Community Centre (venue will be confirmed on notice boards) 28th Salvation Army, Coffee Morning, Salvation Army Barn 10:00am to 11:30am 29th Gardeners Club, Franklin Gardens, 7:45pm

Dates:

aRtICLes, dates and adVeRtIseMentsE–mail, CD, memory stick and paper submissions are all welcome. Please contact the Editor if you have any questions. Dates of events to be advertised in the next issue should span the months of December and January.


ART Of cLEAN Carpet, Upholstery & Fine Rug Cleaning. For the most thorough clean or it’s FREE. Call today on 01223 863632 quoting ref CN1.

.........LEARN TO RELAx, MEdITATE ANd bE MINdfuL Weekly drop-in sessions - Mondays (term-time only) 1:30pm-2:30pm. £6.50/per session. Email [email protected] or ring (07901 774660) Meditation Teacher/Reiki Master.

.........IN NEEd Of A bAbY SITTER? I am a responsible, reliable and capable 15-year-old with childcare experience. Available most weekends and holidays, and weekdays after 5:00pm. Contact Caitlin on 01954 251700. E-mail: [email protected]

.........dRAMA cOAcHING IN cOTTENHAM Professional actress, experienced drama coach, offering one to one drama coaching for all levels. Sessions tailored to your specific needs. Previous students have come to me for help with: Audition preparation, Voice production and RP accent coaching, Acting in opera and musical theatre, Public speaking technique, Storytelling coaching. Please call Alice Fernbank on 07812 909781 or email [email protected] for further details.

.........IMpROvE YOuR ENGLISH CELTA certified teacher of English as a foreign language, offering one to one English lessons to speakers of other languages. Experienced at teaching all levels, exam classes. Some experience with medical English. If you would like to improve your English or you know someone who is looking for an English teacher in Cottenham or the surrounding area, please contact Alice Cook on 07812 909781 or email [email protected]

.........MATHS TuITION: GcSE/SEcONdARY ScHOOL MATHS Qualified Maths Teacher ex CVC. Contact [email protected]

.........SARAH JANE HAIRdRESSING HAS A vAcANcY for a hairdressing assistant, commencing December 2013 for two days a week plus holiday/sickness cover. Tasks will include reception, shampooing, dealing with customers, assisting the stylists, stock control, ordering and keeping the salon tidy. No prior experience is required as all training can be given but a bright, confident personality is required. Applicant must be reliable. Please send a cover letter/CV to Sarah Jane Hairdressing, 131 High Street, Cottenham by November 15th.

.........ZuMbA – Mondays, Cottenham Community Centre. ZUMBA “Ditch the workout – Join the Party!” 7–8pm. ZUMBATOMIC 4–7yrs, 3:30–4pm. Contact Jo: 07915 043205, [email protected], www.jjkdancin.com

.........IMpROvING buSINESS WEbSITE pERfORMANcE Is your business website attracting enough visitors and enquiries? If not, have a chat with me, Neil Ford. Take a look at what I do at www.ely-website-seo.co.uk

.........c HILSdEN dEcORATING SERvIcES all aspects of painting and decorating, tiling and home maintenance carried out to the highest standard. Free estimates and excellent rates. Carl Hilsden – Tel: 01954 277204 Mobile: 07590 517882 www.hilsdendecorating.com

ExpERIENcEd cHILdMINdER AvAILAbLE IN cOTTENHAM A gentle, nurturing and fun environment with varied activities and experiences. Baby/under-5 and out-of-school care available. Ladybird Preschool and CPS school runs catered for. Ofsted registered, Pacey member. Please call Lucy on 07920 448647.

.........HOuSE/pET SITTER, fully insured and CRB checked. Tailor-made service having your pets looked after in their own home with anything from daily visits to living in, assuring security. This is a reliable/discreet/confidential business with visits in an unmarked vehicle. Excellent references. Email: [email protected]. Tel: 01223 232792 or 07980 042601.

.........RESpONSIbLE bAbYSITTER, 16 years old. Friendly and capable, happy to look after children of any age. Available for work in the local area. Email: [email protected] or phone: 01954 200138.

.........HEAvEN ScENT bEAuTY TREATMENTS available in Cottenham, including Sports Massage, Swedish massage, Facials, Electrolysis, Waxing, Manicure, Pedicure, lash n brown tint. Contact Helene Gautrey (Btec Nat Diploma in Beauty Therapy and VTCT Diploma in Sports Massage) on 01954 200130 or 07925 169697 or email: [email protected] for a price list or an appointment. Website: www.heavenscentuk.com

.........dRESS MAkER/ALTERATIONS Degree qualified dress-designer/maker, based in Oakington and Cottenham. Made-to-measure, from wedding gowns, bridesmaid, prom and lycra dance dresses, to tiaras, hats and fascinators. Plus, all your clothing alterations and repairs, including curtains. Free consultation by appointment, 5 Watsons Yard, High Street, Cottenham. www.charlygirl.com, facebook.com/charlygirlcouture, [email protected]. Call Charlotte on 07554 518868.

.........T.G. pLASTERING ANd buILdING SERvIcES Plastering, rendering, removal of artex, hard landscaping, exterior decorating. All aspects of building work – no job too small. Please Telephone 01638 482174, Mobile 07765 411662. Email: [email protected] References available. Regular customers in Cottenham.

.........Why not advertise in the Newsletter! Items for sale, announcement of family events, local products and/or services...

5p per word, with all proceeds going to charity. Send advertisements and payment to the editor.

Cheques should be made out to ‘Cottenham Newsletter’.


Most of us want to live independently in our own homes for as long as possible. As we get older, we may need support and assistance to enable us to do so.

The Home Help Service is designed with people in later life in mind. For people over 60 who have difficulty doing their housework, it offers the support of friendly and responsible individuals, who are passionate about providing a professional service that enables people to remain living within the comfort of their own home.

All of our Home Helps are CRB-checked, carry photo ID cards and have undergone an extensive induction process. As well as carrying out housework tasks, our Home Helps also provide regular company and keep a friendly eye out for clients. We can also signpost clients, carers and family members to other parts of Age UK Cambridgeshire.

Our team also consists of office-based staff to ensure that a friendly helpful voice is always at the end of the telephone if you have any questions or comments regarding your Home Help service.

Home Help Tasks include:• Vacuumcleaning• Dustingandpolishingfurniture• Cleaningbaths,sinksandtoilets• Removing cobwebs from walls and ceilings and washing paintwork • Cleaning fridgeandchecking forout-of-date foodas necessary • Washingfloors• Cleaningwindows(insideonly)• Laundry• Ironing• Changingbedlinen• Emptyingrubbishbins.

No personal tasks can be undertaken.

You will be matched with a suitable Home Help and agree a mutually convenient day and time for the visit(s) to take place. You must be at home when the visits take place. Weekly or fortnightly visits can be offered from one hour upwards (depending upon availability). This is a very competitively priced service.

We want you to be pleased with the service we provide and we therefore monitor our quality standards to ensure we are satisfying the high expectations of our clients. We care what you think and your feedback will be used to

improve and develop the service. We have many happy clients and families who feel that our support has been invaluable. ‘I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your help and understanding over the past seven years. Mum’s Home Help has been the most amazing support over this time and has become like one of our family’, ‘You saw us through a very dark patch and we are eternally grateful to you’.

Contacting us:

For further information, about availability and charges please contact us on 01354 696650 or email [email protected]

Job vacancies: as the service is growing we would also invite anyone interested in being a Home Help to contact us on the above telephone number.

HoMe HeLp aVaILabLe


As solar panels become a common sight around our neighbourhoods, you may be wondering what options are available to you to save or even generate your own energy, but it can be daunting knowing where to start. At Trading Standards we want to help you find a trader you can trust and make sure you know what you can expect of these businesses.

When considering the options available to you, the Energy Saving Trust (www.energysavingtrust.org.uk) is a good place to start. They are an independent organisation that provides free, expert advice on saving energy in your home. Their website contains extensive information, and they also have a helpline which can be contacted on 0300 1231234 (national rate).

In terms of funding any improvements, if you aren’t able to pay for them up front, you could consider the Government’s Green Deal Scheme (www.gov.uk/green-deal-energy-saving-measures) which allows for repayment over a period of time through your energy bills. As with any finance arrangement, make sure you know how much you will have to repay in total, what the monthly charges will be, and check the interest rate is competitive with other finance options. You should also be aware that with Green Deal the debt attaches to the property, so if you sell it, your buyer will have to take over the debt. If you need advice on finance options, your local Citizens Advice Bureau will be able to help you.

There are a range of businesses that offer home assessment visits to advise you on the options most

suitable for your specific circumstances. You will usually need to pay for this and you should check whether there is a tie-in clause requiring you to use a certain business to do the installation work if you decide to go ahead. The assessment will give you estimated savings projections for the first year based on a specific level of energy usage. Unfortunately this means you won’t know exactly what you will save, but you can at least check to make sure the estimate is based on a realistic level of energy usage for your situation.

In terms of finding a trader, it is important to shop around to ensure the business is reputable and that the price is fair before agreeing to any work.

Green Deal has its own approved assessors and installers, but if you are not using Green Deal we would recommend that you find an installer and products that are part of the Micro Generation Certification Scheme (MCS) or are Renewable Energy Assurance Limited (REAL) approved. These organisations have codes of practice that traders have to comply with and standards that the products have to meet. The Energy Saving Trust website allows you to search for local installers who belong to MCS. Some members also sit on our Buy With Confidence approved trader scheme, giving you even greater assurance that they are businesses you can trust. Visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk for more details.

As always, we would recommend getting three quotes to ensure the installation price and projections are reasonable, and check the terms and conditions carefully before agreeing to anything.

If you encounter any problems with an assessor, installer or any other type of business and need some advice, please contact our advice partner, the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline, on 08454 040506 (national rate).

Cambridgeshire Trading Standards Release

Is RenewabLe eneRgy foR you?


stRaw aRson HARVEST is upon us and we’re calling on local residents to help our fight against straw stack arson.

Stack fires can quickly spread and not only endanger people and livestock, but also life-long work on farms. Stacks burn very slowly, meaning crews are committed for long periods of time, making them unavailable for other emergencies. Don’t forget, many of the firefighters attending incidents like these in rural parts of our county are on-call personnel and their retention at a stack fire impacts directly upon business and services in their community.

We’re working with police, neighbourhood watches and farm groups to drive stack arson down, including installing covert cameras to help bring those responsible to justice.

What can you do? We’re urging residents and those passing through rural areas to keep a careful watch. Do you see someone acting suspiciously around stores of hay or straw? Is there an unusual vehicle near farm buildings? Become a community member of Arson Watch and keep an eye on stacks in your area.

Report suspicious activity to police on 101 and dial 999 if you see a stack fire.

Like our fan page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/cambsfrs, follow us on Twitter @cambsfrs.

To find out if you are eligible for a free home fire safety check, call 0800 917 99 94.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service Release

septeMbeR spaRkLe

As the overnight ground temperatures plummet this month, the early morning garden is often turned a sparkling silver by dew drops collected on leaves, on the developing shiny fruits of early autumn and, perhaps, most spectacularly on lacy spiderwebs. At the Botanic Garden at this time of year, silvery dew works like an ultraviolet light shone to expose invisible spy writing and each morning paints silver the fine funnel-shaped webs of labyrinth spiders to reveal a huge population in the close-clipped dark yew hedges. At the mouth of the silvery whirlpool sits the dull grey sizeable spider, guarding the egg sac within, tethered by silk threads from all sides of the labyrinth cavity.

Dew occurs when surface temperature drops sufficiently on thin structures, such as blades of grass, leaves or spider web threads, to reach the dew point, at which atmospheric water vapour condenses to form small droplets. Some plants in the garden, like nasturtium and lady’s mantle (Alchemilla), seem to be particularly adept at collecting dew drops and rolling them into shiny pearls, holding them at the centre of shallow-scooped, rounded leaves. This is known as the ‘lotus effect’ after the sacred lotus, Nelumbo nucifera, an Asian aquatic plant which is growing spectacularly in our new Waterlily House. The delightful pale grey-green leaves are fully circular (peltate) with the scaffolding stalk joining the leaf as if supporting a spinning plate, and the beautiful waterlily-like flowers are followed by wonderful pepperpot seedheads.

A water droplet tends to a spherical shape due to its high surface tension. On contact with a surface, adhesion forces result in the water droplet being sucked into and wetting the surface. But the wax-covered microscopic bumps (papillae) on the sacred lotus leaf surface are highly water repellent and reduce the contact area between the droplet and the leaf. This minimised wetting of the leaf surface is further enhanced by the water droplet picking up dirt particles, which negates the adhesion forces and results in a self-cleaning function. This effect provides important protection for plants, cleaning away fungal pathogens and algal growth which could contaminate leaf surface and impact the plant’s ability to photosynthesise.

The ability to stay dry and the self-cleaning properties of plants such as the sacred lotus, lady’s mantle and nasturtium are being researched by nanotechnologists for applications in self-cleaning paints, roof-tiles, glass and much more. So this month, as you admire your dew-bejewelled garden, marvel also at the engineering we could learn to emulate from our garden plants.

The Botanic Garden is open 10:00am to 6:00pm in September & October 10:00am to 5:00pm. Admission is £4.50, Giftaid admission £4.95, or join the Friends, get free admission and help the Garden grow! For news and events, detailed information about the Garden or to discover this week’s Plant Picks from the Head of Horticulture, please visit the website at www.botanic.cam.ac.uk.

Juliet Day, Development Officer, Cambridge University Botanic Garden


pInk Rose appeaL

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT), the dedicated charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals, is this year celebrating its tenth annual Pink Rose Appeal to raise additional funds for breast cancer care and treatment at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Started in 2004 by fundraiser, Louise Sunderland, it’s thanks to many kind supporters that the Pink Rose Appeal has now raised over £450,000 for the Cambridge Breast Unit and Cambridge Breast Cancer Research Unit. A large proportion of the funds helped establish the £2 million Cambridge Breast Cancer Research Unit in 2008 and fundraising continues to help make a difference for the many women and men who suffer from the disease.

As in previous years, ACT is inviting people to host Pink Rose parties during October – breast cancer awareness month – and ask their guests to make a donation to the cause. Anything goes, from coffee mornings to dinner parties to cocktail soirees. It’s easy – people are simply asked to get together with friends, family or colleagues, have fun and raise much-needed funds to support breast cancer care.

In addition, this year’s appeal features new and exciting initiatives to make it even easier for people to get involved:

‘Boob Tube’ collection pots – a fun and funky way to collect spare £1 coins

‘Mayer Pink Rose Jewellery’ – exclusive to the Pink Rose Appeal, these fresh water pearl and rose quartz pieces are fabulous gifts

Pink Rose Appeal rosebush – a bespoke rosebush cultivated especially for Pink Rose Appeal supporters

Pink Rose pin badges – this delicate accessory makes it easy to proudly show support for a wonderful cause

Former Addenbrooke’s Breast Cancer Patient, Cathie Sales, 30, from Comberton, said: “Pink Rose Appeal fundraising supports a really worthy cause. Please join me and many others to help make the patient experience even better. The

little things can really make a difference, such as the new Friends Quiet Room, which was a much nicer environment to have my prosthesis fitted in than the clinic room I was initially seen in. I felt more comfortable and relaxed at that stressful time. Your help can mean that patients like me can have the best treatment possible. Thank you.”

Michelle Gray, Head of Community Fundraising at ACT said: “We invite everyone to get involved in the Pink Rose Appeal this year. It’s so easy to take part. If you’re unable to hold a Pink Rose party, then you could purchase some of our exclusive jewellery or request ‘Boob Tube’ collection pots in which to save your £1 coins for the cause. Every extra penny raised for the Pink Rose Appeal is so important – helping to improve care for breast cancer patients and making a real difference to ordinary people, now and in the future.”

For more information about the Pink Rose Appeal or a fundraising pack, please contact Mercy Kaggwa, Community Fundraising Assistant on 01223 349805, email [email protected] or go to www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/pinkrose.

kIt pLayeR RequIRed

Your local brass band Cottenham Brass, currently has 35 regular players but we need a drummer to complete the full complement of players. We play a wide variety of music and perform at many concerts and other engagements locally. The players in the band cover a wide range of ages and standards. Above all, the band prides itself on giving a friendly welcome to new members.

We have a drum kit in the rehearsal room so there will be no need to transport your own kit around. We are looking for a drummer of any reasonable standard, including those currently receiving tuition at school or elsewhere. You would, however, need to be able to read music.

We rehearse at Cottenham Baptist Church on Thursday evenings.

To get more info about Cottenham Brass take a look at our website www.cottenham-brass.co.uk or email [email protected].


sHape youR pLaCe

My name is Anna and I am working on the ShapeYourPlace project in South Cambridgeshire (http://southcambridgeshire.shapeyourplace.org/).

Shapeyourplace.org has been successfully running in other parts of the county for a few years and in June this year the website was launched in South Cambridgeshire. I am delighted to introduce the project locally and I am here to support you make the best of this website. In the next few months I will be out and about meeting with local residents and community groups, so if you see me in your area, please come and say hello. I’d like to find out more about the positive things that happen in your community and learn about the local issues that may concern you – please get in touch if you’d like to meet for a chat and find out more about ShapeYourPlace.

ShapeYourPlace.org is an award-winning website giving local residents across Cambridgeshire a real say about what matters most to them where they live. It acts as a one-stop-shop for the community where you can have conversations with each other and local public services about local issues and news.

On the site you can:

• raiseissuesaffectingwhereyoulive• startcampaignsanddebatesandhaveconversations with other people • blogaboutlocaleventsandcommunityactivities• sharecommunitynewsandissues.

Where an issue is raised by a resident, the police, fire service and local councils have agreed to respond in 10 days about how they can resolve the issue if possible.

With ShapeYourPlace you don’t have to worry who is responsible for the issue as the team behind the website will direct your issue or idea to the right organisation.

Have you got a story to tell? We offer free training to help you report on what happens in your local area using words, audio, images and videos. Community reporting is a great way to be part of your local community life, meet new people and develop your broadcasting skills, so why not give it a go?

Interested? Do get in touch to find out more! I look forward to hearing from you.

Anna Allen,Shape Your Place – South Cambridgeshire07769 304132. [email protected]


Local Plan

Public consultation is now underway on plans for 22,000 new jobs and 5,000 additional new homes across the district over the next 20 years. Proposals in South Cambridgeshire’s draft Local Plan include a new town at Waterbeach, a new village at Bourn Airfield and a major extension to Cambourne. These homes are in addition to around 14,000 on the edge of Cambridge and at the new town of Northstowe where building or the planning process is already underway. The plan also includes local green spaces such as the playing fields and village greens that are important to local communities and which will be given a similar status to green belt land. There is no new development for Cottenham in the draft plan.

In earlier phases of public consultation residents commented on options for the plan and over 30,000 comments received in the first stage last summer have helped to shape the draft. In this final stage residents and businesses will be asked to say whether they support or object to the proposals within it. This will be the final opportunity for residents and businesses to make their views known before the plan is submitted for independent examination next year. The format of this stage is set by government so that the representations received can be included in the material submitted to the Inspector.

The consultation runs until Monday 30 September. Information about the plan and how to comment can be found at http://www.scambs.gov.uk/localplan as well as details of exhibitions being held at which officers will be available to answer questions. For those who prefer it a paper consultation form can be obtained from South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Changes to Housing/Council Tax Benefits

New rules imposed on local councils by central government are without doubt causing difficulty for a large number of people. SCDC is doing as much as it can through carefully drafted policies to minimise the effects and to support those who do find themselves in difficulty. The Council is continuing to provide funding to the Citizens’ Advice Bureaux so that residents can get help and advice through this valuable agency. A lot of questions are being asked about the ‘bedroom tax’ by those who are affected by a reduction in their benefit payments for under-occupancy of their homes. The Council has prepared answers to some of the most frequently asked questions and these can be found at http://www.scambs.gov.uk/content/housing-benefit-changes-faqs where there is also information about sources of support.

Shared Services

The Council is continually looking at ways to save money in order to protect front line services as much as possible. Plans are in place to share some back office services with other councils to keep costs down. Sharing of the Internal Audit function with Cambridge City Council and Peterborough City Council has already started and a new shared payroll service with Cambridge City Council is targeted to start in the autumn. The one full-time and one part-time members of staff currently operating the payroll service at SCDC will become part of the shared service team.

Your councillors welcome your comments/questions on these and any other local issues. Our contact details are included in this newsletter’s directory.

Lynda Harford

dIstRICt CounCILLoRs’ RepoRt


Remembrance Sunday this year is on Sunday November 10th. In the morning there will be a service at the War Memorial. The High Street will be closed again this year to allow the parade to leave at about 10:45am from the CBS car park, and the service begins at about 10:55am. There will be another service at All Saints Church, Cottenham, at 2:30pm when the full roll call of those who died in each World War will be read out.

Armistice Day is on Monday November 11th and there will be another service at the War Memorial beginning at about 10:55am.

We are preparing for our Poppy Appeal activities for this year. As usual, we will be distributing trays of poppies and collection tins around the village and collecting door-to-door throughout Cottenham and Rampton. We are looking to recruit more collectors this year. Each person only needs to collect in a small area which usually takes about an hour or so. If you would like to offer your services please contact us – see details below.

If you wish to lay a wreath on behalf of yourself or an organisation, and have not already informed us, please contact Ann Scott (contact details on the back page of this Newsletter).

***There will be an Autumn Fair at the British Legion Hall on Saturday October 26th. Proceeds from this will go towards the Poppy Appeal.

There will be a Supper with Entertainment on Saturday November 9th at 7:00pm in the British Legion Hall. Tickets are £7.50. All are welcome.

If you would like tickets for the Supper, offer to help with door-to-door collecting or find out more about our activities, please contact Ann Scott, Tel: 251468.

Dates and times can be found in the Village Diary on page 2 of this Newsletter.

Road CLosuRe notICe

There will be a temporary Road Closure on Sunday November 10th between 10.30am and 11:30am for the Remembrance Day service which will take place at the War Memorial.

The High Street will be closed to traffic from The Green to Telegraph Street. Denmark Road will be closed from The Green to Telegraph Street. The planned alternative route is along Rampton Road, Lambs Lane, the interlinking part of the High Street and Telegraph Street.

There will be access to the Village College from the High Street at the Histon end of The Green.

Access will be available for residents of the affected roads. Stewards will be on duty to ensure safety.

Ann Scott

poppy appeaL and ReMeMbRanCe

day

aRts nIgHt ‘bIg gIg’

A collective of Cottenham musicians, singers, poets and artists will be putting on a laid-back, entertaining, engaging evening of songs and more at the CCC Coffee Shop at 7:30pm on Sunday 24th November. With the dual aims of raising money for the Community Centre, but mainly of having a REALLY GOOD TIME, the evening will be open to all. Beer, wine and soft drinks will be available, and a collection will be made with all proceeds going to the CCC to further its work in the community.

Numbers will be limited, so please get in touch to reserve a ticket.

And, if you’d like to perform a song, poem, story or even something a bit more avant-garde, please get in touch too... we’d be delighted to have you involved!

Simon Oliver

www.revcoffee.netFacebook: revcoffeecottenhamTwitter: @revcoffeecccE-mail: [email protected]


HoLIday aCtIVItIes foR CHILdRen

During October half-term Cottenham Sports Centre will be running a range of activities for children 1 – 11 years. A few months ago we started running our toddler mornings during the school holidays and due to demand we are now running them twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays 10:00am to noon during the holidays. The sessions feature two inflatables, soft play equipment, ride on toys and more to keep your little ones entertained, with free tea and coffee for the parents. On Monday and Wednesday afternoon we have Roller Skating and on Thursday 31st it’s our Halloween Activity morning where the children will get to make spooky craft items and play games. On Friday afternoon we have a gymnastics session, suitable for all abilities. For the full programme of activities see http://sports.cvcweb.net or to book call 01954 288760.

LItteR pICk In a stark contrast to the weather conditions experienced at the previous litter pick in November, 22 volunteers set out in the blazing heat one July Saturday to collect litter from the main thoroughfares and some of the many side roads and cuts which criss-cross the village. A dozen or so bin bags were filled, mainly with cans, plastic bottles, cigarette butts (particularly from outside pubs and clubs), and sandwich and sweet wrappers.

The volunteers consisted of members of Sustainable Cottenham, parish councillors and Cottenham residents as well as three children. It was a particularly noble effort, given that they could have been sitting in the cool of their gardens or (in the case of the children) playing in paddling pools rather than helping their community.

The weary and hot volunteers enjoyed squash and cake afterwards. It is hoped that there will be another litter pick later in the year – look out for posters. If you wish to find out more about Sustainable Cottenham, please have a look at our (very basic!) website www.sustainablecottenham.org.uk To volunteer or suggest areas to cover in future litter picks contact Christine Ward on 01954 251813 or [email protected]

tHe studIo The Cottenham Community Centre is excited about the development of The Studio. The “room upstairs” has been transformed, after a donation from Mi-Time Wellbeing Ltd, into an exercise and well-being studio. The Studio features a special floor, mirrors and a ballet barre. Apart from the Yoga classes that already used The Studio, Miranda de Vries from Mi-Time organises several session per week, now to include two sessions for age range 12-17. The Studio is available for hire.An overview of the activities in The Studio and a picture of The Studio, can be found on the Cottenham Community Centre website http://www.cottenhamcc.org

dIssenteRs’ CeMeteRy

The Cottenham Dissenters’ Cemetery has a new committee. For all queries about the Cemetery please contact Ann Scott, Chairman, or Sarah Berenger. Contact details are on the back cover of this magazine.

feast paRadeThis year’s Feast Parade will take place on Sunday October 13 and will follow the usual route from Broad Lane to the Green. If you would like to have a float and haven’t received a letter, don’t worry as you can still be involved. There will also be the fair and stalls on the Green as in previous years. Any local group is welcome to send in a request for a share in the monies collected at the Feast Parade. For further information on any of the above, please contact Julie Percival, 183 Coolidge Gardens, CB24 8RH, 01954 200854, or by email at [email protected]


bIRd RepoRt I am writing this towards the end of August and each year I feel that this is a strange time of the year. It is clear that summer is drawing to a close, but we are not yet in Autumn, so that we are experiencing an in-between season.

Birds are certainly aware of the changing seasons. The swifts have already left us, and I miss their wonderful screaming as they fly just above the roof tops in the early evening. The cuckoo [rare this year in Cottenham] has also flown, and other summer visitors are also on the move. I have seen flocks of young swallows gathering on telegraph wires, and they will be off to warmer climes before too long.

This means that this is a quiet time for most birds. They no longer need to sing to attract a mate, so the usual singing and chirping of garden birds are missing. But that does not mean that we can’t listen to bird song. A number of people have asked me if I have heard the daily “Tweet of the Day” at six am on Radio Four. I am ashamed to say that up till recently the answer has been “no”. But thanks to modern technology it is, of course, possible to hear it later in the day. It is really very good and strongly to be recommended.

I heard the oystercatcher and tawny owls on this programme, and by coincidence at about this time I also heard a radio programme about Ludwig Koch. Nowadays many people have never heard of this man, but not long ago his name was a household word among bird watchers. He was born in Austria and trained as a musician and became a professional singer. But his main interest was in bird song, and he was the first person to record bird song,

incredibly in 1889! He gradually developed and improved his technique and became world famous and was clearly the inspiration behind modern wildlife recording. With his strong accent and enthusiastic commentaries he also became an obvious subject for imitation, particularly by Peter Sellars.

I sometimes think that the word “birdsong” is a misnomer. Relatively few birds actually sing, including blackbirds, robins, chaffinches, willow warblers and so on. But most birds shout or call or squawk and this raises questions which I am unable to answer. For instance why do some beautiful birds like terns and gulls and reed warblers have such unattractive calls, and some rather dull-looking birds such as dunnocks and willow warblers have a more musical voice?

Research has shown that great tits in cities sing louder than in the country, no doubt to compete with the noise of traffic. And chaffinches have been shown to have regional accents, rather like we do. All very interesting!

And what about local birds at the moment? I am glad to hear that, in spite of a national decline, turtle doves have been seen and heard in the area. House martins seem to be down in numbers, but yellowhammers are up. Herons are known to be rather solitary birds, but on Long Drove on August 24th I saw ten herons all standing close to each other, but taking no interest in each other! And recently just as we were regretting the few birds in our garden, a flock of long-tailed tits appeared.

What other surprises are just round the corner?

Jasper Kay,August 2013


CRICket CLub The sun shone down on Clare College ground as we all met up for our first taste of Finals Day in the Cambridge News sponsored CCA 20/20 Walker Cup. Sunday August 4th was an especially poignant occasion for us as we were the instigators of this competition, having proposed its introduction six years ago. Prior to this summer, however, we’d never even got past the first round!The format of the day is along the lines of the first-class equivalent at Edgbaston with both semi-finals and the final on the one day. We were dealt a serious blow the week before when our skipper, Matt Talaga, got injured in a League match and had to miss finals day. This was cruel luck on Matt who had probably played in all our previous 20/20 games and really deserved to lead us out on this big occasion for the club.Thriplow, who have been a bit of a bogey club for us, won the toss in the first semi-final and put us in. Stuart Cronin and Guy Musson got us off to a good start before Stuart unfortunately holed out on the long on boundary with the score on 23. Guy and Tom Colquhoun progressed steadily against some tight spin bowling, getting us to 58 in the 9th over before Guy was caught and bowled. Wickets fell steadily after that but we kept at it and finished on 121–9. The general feeling was that this was 20 or so light of where we wanted to be but you have to give some credit to the opposition’s attack and fielding – they dropped nothing.We knew we had to be right on it from the start in the field and we were. Stuart, captaining in Matt’s absence, opted for an all spin attack and Jake Raven and Jack Barkley-Smith stepped up to the mark brilliantly. Their figures were

0–15 and 1–20 respectively from their four overs and they kept a tight rein on things. Steve Marsh took a great catch on the boundary to remove their danger-man hitter early and we kept up the pressure throughout through Tom and Ben Drane. Their middle order then started to build a partnership but Dan Parrott came on to nip out one of them and a direct hit run out accounted for the other. They wanted 11 off the last two with 7 wickets down and it was nip and tuck right down to the last over when they edged over the line, hitting a boundary with two balls to spare. We probably needed a wicket in that last over. The whole team did superbly almost to defend that lowish total and they did themselves and the club really proud on this showpiece occasion.Many thanks to all those who turned up to support us – it was a really good turnout and greatly appreciated by the players. Now we’ve had a shot at it, we want to go back again and do that bit better next time!!Dave Partridge


faMILy HIstoRy There will be regular drop-in sessions at the library on the third Monday in the month at between 7:00pm and 9:00pm. Forthcoming dates are October 21st and November 18th. You may work on your own, or we can offer some ideas to get you started, assist you to open and use a library internet account, tell you about various family history records, demonstrate some of the websites you’ll need to use, advise on research skills, and much more…

Are you interested in looking at your family’s history or perhaps you’ve already started, but are confused by the thousands of websites out there? Are you hindered by no computer or no internet at home… or, can’t use a computer? Have you considered using Library computers for your research… with free internet access?

You can also use the computers in the library during regular opening times to access www.Ancestry.com for free – all you need is a Library card. Cottenham library is situated in Margett Street.

For further information, contact 0345 045 5225 and ask for Cottenham Library.

tHRee gHosts CoMIng!

Yes, it’s that time of year again already – it’s time to start thinking about Christmas time and Cottenham Theatre Workshop’s Panto 2013 (oh yes it is!). This year’s panto will be ‘A Christmas Carol’, based (very loosely) on the classic story by Charles Dickens, but with more songs, more terrible puns, and more custard pies.

Ebenezer Scrooge is mean and miserly, and he hates Christmas more than any other time of the year. Can a night-time visit from three strange spirits change his mind? Children and adults alike will find something to make them laugh, something to make them groan, and maybe something to send chills up their spine (but don’t worry – it won’t be too scary!). The performances will be at Cottenham Village College, at 7:30pm from Tuesday 3rd to Friday 6th December, and, for the first time ever this year, two matinées on Saturday 7th December at 1:30pm and 5:30pm.

For more details contact the director, Tim Kelby, either by email: [email protected] or phone 07905 945543.ConsIstoRy

CouRtThere will be a Consistory Court hearing on the re-ordering of the Parish Church Faculty Petition on 16 November 2013 in the Church at 10:30am. The Court will decide on the removal of pews and replacing them with chairs.


Do you know which town in France we are twinned with? Do you know how many years we have had a twinning association?

Riding a small electric train through tunnels 200 feet underground was certainly a different way to mark 15 years of twinning with Avrillé in the Loire valley. In May our party of 50 visited a restored slate mine during a weekend with our French hosts. We passed through cathedral-sized caverns where slate had been mined and guides demonstrated how the two tonne blocks were split into roofing slates by hand.

On Saturday evening there was a dinner with music and dancing to a live band. The Mayor hosted a reception at the Town Hall on Sunday morning to officially mark the 15th anniversary, with a local choir providing the entertainment. An afternoon walk in the countryside allowed all of us to enjoy the spring sunshine, before returning with our friends for dinner.

The Fen Edge Twinning Association is a voluntary group for everyone who lives in Cottenham, Rampton, Willingham, Landbeach and Waterbeach. We are always happy to welcome new families to join us, especially those with children of school age as there is strong interest from similar families in our twinned town of Avrillé – so if you would like an excuse to visit France regularly or if you would like to find out more about the group, please contact Anna, details below.

Quiz Night

We will be holding another of our very popular quiz nights this Autumn on Friday 15 November. The venue is Cottenham Village College. Teams can be up to 6 people and the ticket cost is £7.50 per person. The doors open at 7:30pm and the quiz will start at 8:00pm. Supper is included in the price of your ticket and there will be a pay bar.

Annual General Meeting

Another way of finding out more about us would be to join us at our annual general meeting. We will be meeting at 8:00pm on Monday 7 October at the Black Horse pub in Rampton. This will be an informal meeting over a drink in the pub – so come and meet us and find out more.

If you would like details of how to get involved with the twinning association or are would like to reserve a table at our next quiz night, please contact Anna Vining on 01954 252432 or [email protected]

twInnIng assoCIatIon – quIz nIgHt

w.I.Ladies! Come and join our lively group. We meet on the second Wednesday of every month at Cottenham Village College at 7:30pm. We have a varied programme of speakers and you will be assured of a warm welcome.

For more information please contact Jill on 01954 253385 or Margaret on 01954 250841.


toy LIbRaRy The toy library would like to thank all those who made the teddy bears picnic a great success. The weather was kind to us this year and a large number of families and their teddy bears joined us for the picnic in the beautiful garden. We appreciate the support of many local businesses who donated raffle prizes.

We ran three messy play events during the summer holiday, which were well attended and lots of fun. The themes were weather and seasons, under the sea and intrepid explorers. Thank you to the people at the Jolly Millers pub who kindly allowed us to use their gardens to host these events.

We are always keen to see new faces at the toy library sessions, which run on the first and third Thursday of the month from 2:00pm to 4:00pm in the Salvation Army Barn. The toy library is a community group that aims to lend good quality developmental and imaginative toys to families in the surrounding area, whilst providing a meeting point for parents, carers and their children. Free refreshments are provided and there is a different craft activity each session. Hope to see you there soon.

Beth BowsteadSecretary, Cottenham Toy Library

tHe RoostSunday 17th October sees the second of a fantastic new monthly event in the Cottenham Community Centre Coffee Shop. It is called The Roost and runs from3:00pm to - 4:30pm.

‘The Roost’ is a fun combination of arts, craft, messy play, computer games, videos, The Sunday Papers, quizzes, creative writing, conversation and more.

It hopes to give Cottenham families and individuals the chance to spend time together, get to know others, be creative, and explore life and faith from a Christian perspective. There will also be great coffee and delicious flapjack!

‘The Roost’ aims to be open and suitable for people of all backgrounds and beliefs, and like all the RevCoffee initiatives it will value and explore the perspectives of all!

Future dates: 17th November, 15th December

Do get in touch if you’re interested in coming along or would like to know more!

Simon Oliver

www.revcoffee.netFacebook: revcoffeecottenhamTwitter: @revcoffeeccc


paRIsH CounCIL NoticeboardsA recurring comment is that nobody knows what the Parish Council is up to and it seems that very few people read the noticeboards. It then occurred to me that perhaps nobody knows where the boards are! For reference the boards are located: High Street – outside the post office and Shaun’s newsagents, Lambs Lane next to the primary school and on Tenison Manor. Regular news and updates are also posted on our Facebook page which is proving popular (Like ‘Cottenham Parish Council’).

New Changing RoomsWe are pleased to announce that we have received an award of £50k of Lottery funding from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities fund. Tenders for the build will be going out in early autumn with a view to the work starting towards the tail end of this year. It is estimated that the build time will be approximately 6 months.

RoadsDuring August a hastily arranged but extremely productive meeting with one of the Highways Officers took place. We spent an hour touring the village and the following was discussed:High Street – identified numerous areas between King & Co and Broad Lane where white/yellow lines needed refreshing. These will be done before the end of the school holidays. Discussed the cambered area of pavement outside 239 High Street. Solutions will be looked at.Lambs Lane – still doing the investigation work at the moment outside the Cottenham Club regarding the flooding. When Highways do the full work in the second half of the financial year they will also try to resolve the problems with the Victory Way junction not draining properly. Harlestones Road – will continue to patch and will add to the list for surface dressing.Pelham Way – will continue to patch and will add to the list for surface dressing. Strong case for getting the footpath resurfaced.Rampton Road – white lines will be reinstated at the Lambs Lane junction.Denmark Road – looked at the areas of flooding (Telegraph St junction in particular). Drains need jetting and follow up investigations will be carried out as necessary.

Smithy Fen – Work scheduled to fill the numerous large potholes. Broad Lane – Work scheduled to fill the numerous potholes.

Connections Mobile Youth BusThe youth bus had a steady, but small, following over the summer holidays. Sessions will now be running every Thursday from 7:00pm to 9:00pm on the Recreation Ground and are open to all yr7s upwards. The bus has a wide selection of resources including internet linked PCs, games consoles, video/DVD, karaoke, sports equipment, craft activities, quizzes, discussion topics and a tuck shop. Young people can also take away leaflets on many issues that affect them such as bullying, drug and alcohol awareness, smoking, eating disorders, homelessness and health.

Recreation Ground toiletFollowing a successful trial over the summer holidays, whereby the outside toilet was open for public use during the daytime, we will continue to keep the facility open. Reduced autumn/winter hours will be posted on the door.

Charity grantsDuring November the Parish Council Finance Group will be considering grant applications for 2014 from local charities. Examples for eligibility include: offering a service to certain residents (e.g. a playgroup) or all residents (picking up litter) of Cottenham; providing facilities for our residents’ use; promoting Cottenham’s wellbeing. Applicants should give a general description of what their organisation does along with details of what any grant will be used for. If you would like to be considered then please write to: The Clerk, Cottenham Parish Council, Right Side Entrance, 250a High Street, Cottenham CB24 8RZ. The deadline for applications is Friday 25th October 2013. Grants will be made in April 2014.

Christmas treeCalling all local companies! We are looking for sponsors for the Christmas tree for the village green this coming December. If you can help then please contact me.

Jo Brook, Parish [email protected] 328401


Lettersto the Editor:dear Editor,

I share David Young’s concern about the Parish Council and its failure to notify or seek residents input before contemplating a substantial increase in its precept demand. I’m sure he and many parishioners will be dismayed to learn the council was planning a much larger increase, 57% being the figure I heard at the time. It was of course reduced once news leaked out to parishioners.

It is unfortunate that a flyer circulated by parishioners, to bring the council’s plan to the attention of the wider community and encourage attendance at the January 15th council meeting, didn’t reach Mr Young’s neighbourhood.

Questions were put to the council in early January and a meeting requested. But the then-chairman, Cllr Mudd, responded by stating: “... no discussions will be held with residents” – prior to the January 15th council meeting at which the budget & precept increase were to be set.

One Cllr described the council as being run by an “oligarchy” another a “cabal” and confirmed the objective to push through the precept increase without notification or engagement with parishioners. The rationale being that it represented just a few pounds increase to the average council tax payer and would go unnoticed or at least be in place before anyone did notice! The council’s meeting minute notes “Cllr Richards voiced concerns as to whether we may have been ‘pushed’ in reducing our precept following the circulation of a malicious flyer”. This statement plus Cllr Mudd’s refusal to meet or discuss the council’s plans speaks volumes about this council and the way it’s run.

Cottenham deserves better but in order to effect change more residents need to take an active interest and challenge the council to engage with the parishioners it claims to represent. I’m sure parishioners will not have forgotten the council’s proposals to turn Cottenham into a town with bypass etc. All prepared, promoted and submitted without the involvement of parishioners.

Letters continued on page 19

speedwatCH Your local Speedwatch team has been active over the summer. Here is a brief summary of their measurements over the course of July and August.

July 2013:

10th – Rampton Road 7:30 to 8:30am, southbound. 422 vehicle count in an hour (rush hour). 12 of those vehicles at 35mph and above.

17th – Rampton Road 2:30 to 3:30pm, southbound. 84 vehicle count in an hour. 19 of those vehicles at 35mph and above.

24th – Rampton Road 7:30 to 8:30am, southbound. 255 vehicle count in an hour. 27 of those vehicles at 35mph and above.

August 2013:

10th – Histon Road, 10am to 11am, Saturday morning. 313 vehicle count in an hour (Saturday, morning) with 77 of those vehicles at 35mph and above. Two above 45mph in a 30mph zone.

14th – Rampton Road, 4:30 to 6:30pm, both directions. 205 vehicle count in two hours, with 47 vehicles at 35mph and above.

Cottenham Speedwatch do a worthwhile volunteering role:

Local policing use our data to target where it is useful to deploy their resources. So, although we do not have any policing powers, we can help local police. We also have a role in raising awareness of speeds, speeding, and also we have an insight into the levels of traffic volume.

All events are suggested by trained volunteers, and subject to shared police-owned kit, availability. Volunteers are welcome to volunteer as much, or as little, as suits. If you are interested in joining Cottenham Speedwatch, then please contact your Cottenham Speedwatch co-ordinator at [email protected] or by telephone on 01954 252664.


foR neXt Issue25tH oCtobeR

Deadline:

Letters for publication may be sent to the Editor, and should include the name and address of the sender, although this may be omitted from publication if requested. Please keep correspondence short and topical. Please note that the Editor may use his discretion regarding publication, and his decision is final. The views expressed by correspondents and other contributors are their own and are not necessarily shared by the Editor.

I believe there are councillors who are prepared to listen and only make major decisions once an open dialog has been held with parishioners. Unfortunately they appear to be in the minority and would welcome greater involvement, support and scrutiny of the council’s activity by parishioners. This council has a long established track record of ignoring parishioners who do challenge its decisions or dare to ask what it’s up to and how it’s spending our money. If Mr Young or any other parishioners are interested in forming an informal group to effectively monitor & engage with the council to bring about change, do get in touch.

Nick Stevenson – [email protected].........

dear Editor,

I am writing on behalf of Cottenham Parish Council in response to the letter in the Cottenham Newsletter issue 136 from David Young.

By way of background, the Council Finance Group meets in November and recommendations for the next budget are put before the full Council at a public meeting held every January, several months in advance of any potential increase coming into effect. All meetings have time specifically set aside for the public to speak. The date of our meetings are published in this newsletter and are available on our website (www.cottenhampc.org.uk). Additionally there is a legal requirement for our agendas to be posted in a public place 3 clear days before our meetings (we have 4 noticeboards which are located by the post office, newsagents, primary school and on Tenison Manor; this is significantly more than most parishes).

I would like to take this opportunity to point out that the Council did not take the decision for a precept increase lightly, and that discussions were extremely ‘lively’ prior to a final budget being presented. At the January meeting we had a significantly higher turnout than usual with over 30 residents present. What is more noteworthy is that nobody at the meeting spoke against the budget and in fact many specifically voiced support for the increase.

To clarify the key areas that the money is going towards are: traffic safety and a £400k Public Works Loan. The loan is to primarily fund cashflow during the build of the new changing rooms on the recreation ground which will be starting later this year. Grants are currently being finalised for this work. However money is usually released retrospectively. Regarding the loan, rates are currently extremely low and it was felt that the opportunity for this borrowing would not be available for much longer. Once

funds are released from the grants the loan will then be used towards major refurbishment of the village hall to provide better facilities for the community. These projects were all recognised following direct requests from residents. Full details of the budget, along with explanatory notes were posted on our website. Furthermore an explanatory note regarding the Council Tax increase was posted on the noticeboards.

We have taken steps over the past year to improve our communications both by using the noticeboards (I post regular Clerk news updates), creating a Facebook page to provide instantaneous news updates and a new website is being finalised. It would be great to see a few extra faces at our meetings as they are a good way of keeping in touch with what is happening in the village but we also need the public to engage more with the Council too. I will be trialling open house sessions in the Parish Office over the autumn and further details will be announced shortly.

Jo Brook,Clerk

.........dear Editor,

I was recently diagnosed with cancer and I would like to thank several people who have been extremely kind and helpful to me.

The district nurses who paid very many visits to me and the doctors and receptionists at the Telegraph Street Surgery. Also the pharmacists and people in the community; helpful assistant at the Co-op shop and a lady who helped me one Sunday morning when I felt really ill.

Also Gerry and the drivers of Cottenham Care Car and the Mobile Warden Scheme. And of course thanks to many neighbours who have been a great help.

All this help was very much appreciated when I was feeling very unwell.

Sincerely,Christine Van Geldren.

Letters continued from page 18


ContaCts: Parish Council Jo Brook, Clerk 07503 328401

[email protected]

District CouncillorsLynda Harford [email protected], 251775

Simon Edwards [email protected],

01223 233682 / 07711 079089

Tim Wotherspoon [email protected],252108

County CouncillorsDavid Jenkins [email protected]

01223 236232 / 07739 758859

Mike Mason [email protected]

British Red Cross Shop 01223 301426

Citizens Advice Bureau66 Devonshire Road, Cambridge, CB1 3BL 0844 848 7979

Social Services Histon Team 01223 718011

Mobile Warden Scheme 200080

NSPCC Cottenham Area Team 01733 558245

RSPCA 24 hour cruelty & advice line 0300 1234 999

Railway Station Cambridge Passenger Enquiries 0845 7484950

Driving Instruction TOPS Driving School 252239

Library Margett Street 0345 0455225

Library Doorstep Service Hilary Firth 01223 718358

Parish Church The Rectory, 6 High Street 250454

Baptist Church Church Office 252378

Catholic Church St Laurences Church 01223 704640

Methodist Church [email protected]

07554 202929

Salvation Army Tori Richardson 07709 652101

Royal British Legion Ann Scott 251468

[email protected]

Cottenham Brass Band Colin Watson 250813

Bridge Farm Riding School 252284

Allotments Cottenham United Charities 200080

Sustainable Cottenham Christine Ward 251813

Cottenham Dissenters’ CemeteryAnn Scott 251468, [email protected]

Sarah Berenger 251420, [email protected]

Police General Switchboard 101Community Beat Office 01223 358966DoctorsDr. T Blumenfeld, 188 High Street 250079Dr. M. Grande, 42 Telegraph Street 251180Urgent Care Cambridge (formerly Camdoc) 0330 123 9131District Nurse Team 251071Cottenham CareCarCo–ordinator, 10:00am – 4:00pm, Gerry Brett 251929Cottenham Community Centre 202109Cottenham Charities 250387Cottenham Day Centre 200873Cottenham Gardeners Club 250119Cottenham Toy Library Christina Koester 270334Cottenham WI Mrs Rita Williams 251454Dentist Wiese and Associates, 40 Margett Street 251696Chemist 222 High Street 250556Chiropractorwww.inspiredchiropractic.com 01223 864444Counsellor & Therapist Ruth Barnett, [email protected] 202556, 07961 644006OsteopathPhysic, [email protected] 01223 237459Physiotherapist Tiffany de la Cour 07879 642697Samaritans Cambridge Centre 01223 364455Veterinary Surgeon Village Vet Cottenham 252122SchoolsCottenham Village College and Community Office 288944County Primary, Lambs Lane 250227Cottentots Baptist Church 251632 Pre–SchoolLadybirds Pre–School, Recreation Ground 250891Kids Only (Out of School Club) 01954 250025Brownies & Rainbows Chris Hurworth 203764Scouts [email protected] Shaun’s News 250398Council OfficesCounty Council Switchboard 0345 045 5222SCDC Switchboard 0345 045 0500

october/november 2013 road run returns - … · road run. although plans are ... reiki master........

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