I C
E N E
B U L L
E T I N
APRIL 2009
Editors: David and Monica
Lilley
Monica.lilley2@btopenworld.com
Distribution: Tony
Court
Hilary Rule
12th April 2009
Monday 6th April - Black bin collection
Tuesday* 14th April - Green bin and Green boxes (bottles, tins
& plastic)
Monday 20th April - Black bin collection
Monday
27th April - Green bin and Green boxes (bottles, tins
& plastic)
Bins and
boxes must be placed out by 7.00 a.m. on your designated day of collection.
*Day later due to Easter Monday falling on
13th April.
The
following items were discussed at the meeting held on Wednesday 18th
March 2009:
Potholes – An e-mail had been received from Mike Cooper (CCC
Highways) saying he had ordered the pothole repairs to be completed as soon as
possible, although they had been almost overwhelmed with pothole reports! The public report the majority of potholes,
but they have full time Inspectors who inspect every road in Cambridgeshire on
a routine basis. The classification of
the road determines the frequency of these inspections. Their SWAT teams also patrol and repair
potholes on sight.
Vandalism - Village Hall and tree in Play Area - The Parish
Council were disappointed and concerned that 10 windows in the village hall had
been deliberately smashed. Pam Fearn
said the windows would be replaced in the next few days. The Plane tree, which had been planted in
the Play Area, at considerable cost, had had some of its lower branches snapped
off. Gerry Birch has said he will tidy
up the end of the branches that have been snapped. The Councillors deplore this type of vandalism, and would ask
parishioners to be vigilant.
Speedwatch – The names of the three volunteers had been sent to
Cambridgeshire Police.
Planning
application(s) received from SCDC:
Declarations
of Interest to be declared. – Lewis
Duke declared an interest in S/0106/09/F
S/0038/09/F – Removal of Condition 9 of Planning Permission
S/1626/08/F – 13 Birds Close - No Recommendation
S/2025/08/F - Erection of Gate – 6 Butchers Hill – AMENDMENT – Gatepost
design & slight relocation of access gate and door furniture information
supplied. Information only.
Lewis
Duke left the meeting.
S/0106/09/F
– Erection of Grain Store,
Re-positioning of Polytunnels & Glasshouses – Grange Road - RAGT Seeds
Ltd.- Refuse. The Parish Council
had previously requested that the height of the grain store be reduced from 9.5
metres to 8.1m, the same height of the existing barn. This point had not been
taken into consideration in this planning application.
Lewis
Duke rejoined the meeting.
S/0196/09/F – Extensions – 64 Abbey Street – Approve
Planning application(s) granted by SCDC:
S/2025/08/F – Erection of Gate – 6 Butchers Hill
Planning application(s) refused by SCDC:
S/2151/08/F – Dwelling at land to the North-West of 9-17
Grange Road – Rowe Build & Dev. Ltd.
-2-
Other items of interest:
The South Cambs Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnership is
focussing on reducing burglary at the moment. Listed below is
some basic, but helpful, information that you may wish to use in
your planned communications.
Cambridgeshire County Council – on 2nd February 2009, the
Contact Centre began changing its telephone numbers so that each of the public 0845
numbers has a new number beginning with 0345.
The rest of each number will remain the same e.g. Cambridgeshire County
Council’s ‘General Enquiries’ number will change from 0845 045 5200 to 0345 045
5200.
|
Contact Centre Telephone Number Listing |
|
|
Care Service |
New Telephone Number |
|
Adult Health and Social Service General Enquiries |
0345 045 5201 |
|
Adult's Social Care |
0345 045 5202 |
|
Children's Services |
0345 045 5203 |
|
Blue Badges Disabled Parking |
0345 045 5204 |
|
Occupational Health |
0345 045 5205 |
|
Learning Disability Partnership/Sensory Services |
0345 045 5221 |
|
General Community Service |
New Telephone Number |
|
General Enquiries |
0345 045 5200 |
|
Switchboard |
0345 045 5222 |
|
Trading Standards |
0345 045 5206 |
|
Waste Management |
0345 045 5207 |
|
Education Transport |
0345 045 5208 |
|
Human Resources (recruitment line) |
0345 045 5210 |
|
Online Payments Support |
0345 045 5211 |
|
Streetscene (highways, transport and streets) |
0345 045 5212 |
|
Library Services (includes automatic renewals) |
0345 045 5225 |
|
Citizenship |
0345 045 5155 |
|
Family Information Service |
0345 045 1360 |
|
Education Welfare Benefits Service |
0345 045 1361 |
Froglife is a UK wildlife charity committed to the conservation of
amphibians and reptiles – working with people, enhancing lives together for a
healthier planet. For more information,
telephone ( 01733 558844, e-mail: info@froglife.org or visit their website: www.froglife.org
-3-
Services
for April
|
Thursday 2nd |
11.30
a.m. Holy Communion |
HINXTON
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday 5th |
8.00 a.m. Holy Communion |
DUXFORD |
|
Palm Sunday |
9.45 a.m. Procession from the Methodist
Chapel to |
|
|
|
10.00
a.m. Parish Eucharist with Sunday School |
ICKLETON |
|
|
No Evensong |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday 12th |
9.30 a.m. Festival Eucharist |
DUXFORD |
|
Easter Day |
11.00
a.m. Festival Eucharist |
ICKLETON |
|
|
No Evensong |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thursday 16th |
11.30 a.m. Holy Communion |
HINXTON
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday 19th |
8.00 a.m. Holy Communion |
ICKLETON |
|
Easter 2 |
10.00
a.m. Family Communion |
HINXTON
|
|
|
6.30 p.m. Evensong with laying on of hands |
DUXFORD |
|
|
|
|
|
Thursday 23rd |
11.30
a.m. Holy Communion |
HINXTON
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday 26th |
8.00 a.m. Holy Communion |
HINXTON
|
|
Easter 3 |
10.00
a.m. Family Service |
DUXFORD |
|
|
6.30 p.m. Evensong |
ICKLETON |
|
|
|
|
|
Thursday 30th |
11.30 a.m. Holy Communion |
HINXTON
|
Additional
Services in Holy Week:
Compline
Candlelight
Compline will be held at 8.00 p.m. Monday 6th at Hinxton, Tuesday 7th
at Ickleton and Wednesday 8th at Duxford.
Maundy
Thursday 9th April
8.00
p.m. Eucharist of the last supper, Hinxton.
Good
Friday 10th April
9.30
a.m. Easter Garden, Hinxton,
2.00
p.m. Vigil Service, Duxford,
7.30
p.m. ‘Were you there?’ Reflection on the events of Good Friday, Ickleton.
Holy
Saturday 11th April
8.00
p.m. Confirmation & Easter Eve service, Ely Cathedral.
Christians
regularly remember the death of Jesus Christ during their service of Holy
Communion. However Easter is a time for special remembrance when Christians
around the world celebrate the Passion and sacrifice of our Lord.
As
part of our Easter devotions we are thinking about the effect which the
crucifixion had on all of those involved.
How did Mary feel? Was Caiphas
simply a puppet? Did it have any effect
on Pontius Pilate – the man who sent Jesus to his death? How did the Disciples react - and the
Centurion who said that he was a good man?
Through
songs, poems and dramatisations we attempt to answer some of these questions
and extend our own understanding of the meaning of Good Friday.
Please
come and join us in our reflections at 7.30 p.m. in Ickleton Parish Church on
Good Friday. There will be a retiring
collection in aid of a local charity. Rosemary
McKillen
-4-
LICENSING OF THE REV’D ANDREW
SCHOFIELD
My
rendering of Andrew’s licensing at Beetham, Cumbria, on Friday 20th
February
It did not seem so very long since we gathered on a cold
February evening at St Peter’s Duxford
to welcome Andrew and Mary Schofield into the parishes of Duxford,
Hinxton and Ickleton. At that stage we had met with Andrew briefly on only one
or two occasions and could not possibly know how his ministry would develop
amongst us. As we now know the “four years short of three days” between the two
licensings were memorable. We were truly fortunate to have Andrew and Mary with
us in that time. Poor Mary suffered woefully during the period with her illness
but never lost her sense of purpose, poise and persistence while, we earnestly pray,
beating the terrible disease. And so it was an emotional occasion to see Andrew
and Mary being welcomed into a parish and amongst a new congregation. The
intrepid travellers from Ickleton, Hilary Rule and Rosemary McKillen, had made
the journey up to the Wheatsheaf Inn in Beetham (conveniently placed
overlooking the churchyard) during the day and so had already visited The
Parsonage by the time Virginia and I arrived in the village. All was
beautifully arranged and we made our way into the solidly impressive church.
We were warmly greeted and shown to our seats in the pew
directly behind Andrew and Mary and their son John. Andrew showing some small signs of apprehension if not
nervousness! He was visibly pleased to
see those of us who had made it up to Cumbria from the South.
The Licensing was conducted by the Bishop of Penrith, The
Right Reverend James Newcome and Andrew was installed by The Venerable George
Howe, Archdeacon of Westmorland. The
most notable feature of the whole proceedings was the warmth that seemed to
exude from the very stones of the building and all the people present. The
church was warm and solid with lots of
shining polished brass, the Bishop was full of good humour and stories
to embellish the occasion and the singing was full hearted as we sang
well-known and popular hymns – Praise my Soul, Love Divine, O Thou who camest
from above -. The welcome was comprehensive from church and civic figures alike
and one was aware of the importance of the place to which Andrew has gone in the
life of that community. One does wonder though how on earth he will look after
the parish in three days a week. This will be a huge challenge but one feels
that, as ever, Mary will help to steer him through. And, by the way, the Bishop mentioned the fantastic send-off that
Andrew had had from Cambridgeshire and noted that there were representatives in
the congregation!
The Parish is part of the Kent Estuary group of parishes so
there is a lot of sharing between them as evidenced by the large number of
clergy at the service. Mingling with
the congregation after the service – we were treated to a feast the like of
which we could have expected in our three parishes – we were struck by the
warmth of the people and by their genuine delight at having Andrew in their
midst. There were even folk from
Cambridgeshire and Andrew’s former parishes at Ellington now living near
Beetham!
And so in spite of our sadness at losing Andrew we came away
with the feeling that he was well placed among delightful people in a landscape
that both he and Mary love and in a church that will truly appreciate his and
Mary’s many talents. We only hope he can manage to keep the workload in check!
We rounded off the evening by visiting Andrew and Mary in
the Parsonage. They have done wonders in such a short time and the house looked
pristine. With its thick stone walls it should keep the heat in and with the
shining white paint on the woodwork – the product of our collection for Mary
and Andrew- they will not be short of light.
It felt a very homely place already.
Finally we were treated to a glass of Champagne to welcome
them in and I restricted mine to a teaspoonful. I say this as, on the way back to Braithwaite, we were stopped by
the police. Just a routine stop I was
told. Was it my car, where was I going
etc., so I told her. But I added that
we were returning from the Licensing service for the new Priest-in-Charge at
Beetham. ‘No need to detain you any
further’ she said! So good luck and God’s blessings to Andrew and Mary, thank
you for your time with us and may your time in Beetham be all that you would
wish. It seems that it has every chance of so being. Andrew Walker
BIBLE STUDY
Have you ever thought of finding out more about the Bible?
We are planning to start a study group in April on Monday evenings. We will be using an approach tried and
tested across the world called – Community Bible Study: CBS. You don’t have to
go to church to join the group: CBS is non-denominational and independent. It provides a simple four step approach
through:
Come and
have a cup of coffee and see what you think – on Monday May 11th at
7.45 p.m. for 8.00 p.m. at the Methodist Chapel.
Find out
more about CBS from their website www.communitybiblestudy.co.uk or contact Jenny Duke or Mandy Jeffery.
CHESTERFORD &
DISTRICT GARDENING SOCIETY
Our Chairman Pauline Gale and husband Steve devised another
light hearted quiz evening for our March meeting, which was very well attended
and much enjoyed.
An outing to Chippenham Gardens, near Newmarket, has been
arranged for July 8th at 6.30 p.m. at £7 per head. The next meeting
will be the A.G.M. and Plant Sale on April 1st.
Cynthia Rule
-5-
THE CHESTERFORDS,
ICKLETON AND HINXTON W.I.
There was a good attendance at the AGM on March 18th.
Evelyn Lilley was voted the new President for the coming year. Retiring Presdent Julie Baillie and
committee member Carol Deane were each presented with a rose called ‘Blessings’
for their gardens, which we hope will give them pleasure for many years to
come.
Next month the speaker on 15th April will be from
the Hat Pin Shop, Whittlesford when members will enjoy a hilarious time trying
on hats and fascinators with a view to Ascot etc.
Cynthia Rule
ICKLETON SAFARI
SUPPER
The Basics
The Safari Supper will be on Saturday June 13th
between 6.30 p.m.-11.00 p.m. at venues around Ickleton. Tickets will be £14 per
head. The aim is to have fun, and it’s a novel way to raise funds for the
village church.
How does it work?
This is supper with built-in exercise between courses. It’s
a chance to have a meal with good friends, renew acquaintances and meet people
in the village you might not normally come across.
Everyone will go to the village hall between 6.30 p.m. –
6.45 p.m. to rendezvous with their core group and collect a route map. Staying
with your core group you then go to 3 different houses for your starter, main
course and dessert. At each house you will meet one other group. Obviously
timing is quite crucial to the smooth running of the evening, so there will be
a timetable to stick to. Everyone returns to the village hall at the end of the
evening for cheese, biscuits, cash bar, to draw the raffle, and finally coffee.
Phew!
How can I take part?
There are various ways you can take part. We need people to
offer their houses as a venue for a course and we need cooks to prepare the
courses. You might be happy to do both. We will also need non-cooking helpers
at the village hall at the beginning and end of the evening. You could provide
a raffle prize, or you might just want to be a participant and enjoy the food
and company.
What does my ticket
include?
Your ticket will cover all food and one glass of wine with
your starter. Further wine can be pre-ordered with your tickets, and will be
labelled and delivered beforehand to your main course venue.
Do I need a ticket if
I’m offering to cook?
Yes – everyone buys a ticket. Cooks will be reimbursed in
part or full for their food expenses if they wish to claim.
Can I choose who I go
with?
You can elect to be in a core group of up to 6-8 people.
However you won’t find out who else you will meet until the night, and that’s
part of the experience. If you are on your own or a couple that’s fine too, we
will accommodate everyone.
Is there a set menu?
No. Cooks will have free rein over their particular course.
Bear in mind though that you will be providing a course for 12-14 people and
that it needs to be something that does not require last minute attention as
you may not be there! It does not have to be elaborate, and this is definitely
not a competition!
What about special
diets?
It will be difficult to accommodate complicated dietary
requirements, but it might be possible to group people who have similar needs
together. Please specify when booking if, for example, you are a vegetarian.
Great idea but I’ll
need a babysitter
Local babysitters are likely to be in heavy demand so have a
think whether you could double up with someone and make this a fun occasion for
the children too. We do have some extra ideas of young people in neighbouring
villages, so if you don’t have in-laws handy we may be able to help you find an
alternative sitter.
Count me in - What
happens next?
Tickets will go on sale from April 20th and will
be available from Jackie, Mandy or Caroline – details below. We know of other
villages who have run this type of event and it proves extremely popular.
Please book early as there will be an upper limit on numbers.
As there is quite a lot of organisation involved we are
asking everyone to complete a booking form which also includes the various ways
you can help, and identify your group if you wish. Booking forms emailed from jackie.fishhut@btinternet.com, mandy.jeffery@tiscali.co.uk, pjulian.owen@btinternet.com
We’re looking forward to a really fun evening and hope that
you’ll join us for this novel village event!
Jackie Casement, Mandy Jeffery, Caroline Owen
-6-
ICKLETON SOCIETY
Wine tasting
On 20th February we held a wine tasting in the village Hall - the tasting held last year having proved so popular. Over 30 people came along and enjoyed a most interesting selection of unusual wines from around the world, chosen for us by Sebastian Payne. Sebastian’s descriptions of the wines, where they came from and how they were made, added to the evening’s fun. To give the wine something to wash down, Neil McKillen had chosen some excellent cheeses.
History of Cambridgeshire Allotments
On
Wednesday 6th May Jacqueline Cooper (a noted local historian) will
give a talk in the Village Hall on the history of allotments in
Cambridgeshire. The talk is free and we
hope as many people as possible will come along, particularly as Ickleton now
has allotments again. The evening
starts with the very short AGM at 7.30 p.m. followed by free wine and
refreshments and then Jacqueline’s talk.
Do come along.
Linton Wind Farm
You
may have heard that planning applications have been submitted for 8 125m wind
turbines along the ridge from Linton to Great Chesterford (7 in South
Cambridgeshire and 1 in Uttlesford).
While supporting the principle of renewable energy, the Committee is
concerned that a wind farm is not appropriate for this, one of the least windy,
areas of the country. The open nature
of the countryside means that there will be a major impact on the
landscape. The plans are available on
the websites of Uttlesford and South Cambridgeshire District Councils. Comments on the applications need to be made
to the Councils under reference 0232/09 as soon as possible (Uttlesford say
comments must be made by 2nd April). Rachel Radford
SPONSORSHIP AT
CHURCH FETE
Each
year we deliver a programme to each house, a week before the Church Fete on 4th
July. We offer sponsorship on the back
of the programme, to businesses and individuals who would like to sponsor
us. It is £25 per line. Please put a cheque through my door, with the details which you would like to be
put on the back of the programme. This
helps with the expenses of the fete advertising and paying for the village hall
etc . This offer finishes May 31st, so I can photocopy the
programme. The Church Fete is in aid of
Church Funds and is a registered charity No. 245456. Please contact me if you would like any more information
regarding the Church Fete.
Monica Lilley – Fete Organiser
ICKLETON CHURCH FETE 4th JULY - FLOWER AND PRODUCE MARQUEE
This
will be fun event so that everyone can have a go at flower arranging and
enter early summer produce from the garden or allotment. 50p per
entry. Plus other activities for children in the marquee..
Flower Arrangements.
Two categories: Adults - with a donated winner’s cup and a
voucher to spend at Springwell Nursery. Children - with winner’s
mystery voucher.
Salads. 5 Home-grown
salad items on a plate.
Strawberries. 5
Home-grown strawberries on a plate.
Mixed Herbs. Three
stems in a jar.
Children’s ‘Grow a Bean in a Jam Jar’ Competition. Who will have the tallest plant on the
day? Seeds and instructions will be distributed free in late April to all
who want to enter. Special arrangements for Mothers and
Toddlers and Sunday School.
Swap Seedlings.
Anyone wanting to swap home-grown seedlings - flowers or vegetables - bring
them along on the day.
More Fun for Children:
Hidden Treasure Map. Orange Bowling. Fantasy Farmyard. Other ideas still
germinating - more in the next Icene.
We
have a marquee, but still need tables - if anyone can help please let us know.
John and Christina
Taylor
-7-
WELCOME TO THE
WETLANDS NATURE RESERVE
The Wetlands website (http://www.hinxton.wellcome.ac.uk/wetlands.Introduction.html)
contains all the latest information and event updates. We look forward to seeing you at many of the
2009 events.
Thursday April 23rd – Join us on this evening to
learn about and experience the wonders of amphibious life! This event will start at 6.00 p.m. and
finish at approximately 9.00 p.m. We will start the evening by the Wetland
lakes with some pond dipping to discover what creatures live in the ponds. The data collected will contribute to the
ongoing monitoring of the site, and counting the number and types of creatures
in the water is a good way of estimating how healthy the water is! Once it
starts to get dark we will begin to look for amphibians such as toads, frogs
and newts and will observe their courtship behaviour. Amphibians are great indicators of the health of an aquatic
ecosystem, so monitoring them is a key aspect of the management of wetland
habitats. Wellies are recommended and
participants should bring a small torch
for when we walk around the campus. All
other monitoring equipment will be provided.
Places are limited to 20 on this course.
If you would like more information on any of the events
below, or would like to book a place on one of them please contact Gemma (gemma@ebi.co.uk ).
NEWS FROM SAWSTON
MEDICAL PRACTICE
The Practice is shortly to lose two very important members
of our team. Pauline Betts, our
Practice Manager, has decided to retire and will be leaving the practice at the
end of May. Mary Simuyandi, one of our
senior practice nurses, has resigned and left the practice on 31st
March. Both Pauline and Mary have been very loyal, hard-working and
long-serving members of our team and we will be extremely sorry to lose them
both in such a short space of time.
Pauline has worked for the practice for an amazing 43
years. When she joined, the practice
was located in Tudor House, London Road, Sawston and the senior partner was Dr
Alan Treweek. At this time there were
three main sites, Sawston, Great Chesterford and Whittlesford. There were also branch surgeries held at
Duxford & Ickleton. Her role at
that time was a mixture of secretary/dispenser/bookkeeper. The practice moved to the old Link Road
premises in 1969 and computerisation followed in 1989. In 2006 we moved to our
current premises in London Road and Pauline was instrumental in ensuring that
the last move went so smoothly; she particularly enjoyed attending site meetings
as the building took shape. Over the
years she has seen many changes not only in this practice but also in the NHS
as a whole. Whilst raising her family
she worked part-time as the practice bookkeeper and also as a locum
receptionist, thus keeping connections with the practice and enjoying being a
mother. When she returned to full-time
work she undertook a management diploma in her spare time. In 1988 she became Practice Manager and she
has enjoyed the many and varied challenges that this role has provided. She has been very much valued by the
practice and her knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm will be much missed. We all wish her a long and happy retirement.
Mary joined the practice when Dr Chris Anderson was senior
partner. Mary has been a key member of
our diabetic team providing an excellent standard of care, and she has been
able to assist with many queries from newly diagnosed diabetic patients. She was also the practice lead on vaccinations.
Her expertise and sympathetic manner will be sorely missed by us all. She has decided to complete her career by
working in Palliative Care at Arthur Rank House in Cambridge and for the
Hospice at Home service. We are sure
she will be an asset to their team.
The Hay Fever season is nearly upon us. Please remember that you can buy many
remedies over the counter. If you need
advice on suitable products our pharmacists, Susan, Annabel and Rachel, will be
pleased to help you. We have a
dedicated pharmacist advice line ( 01223 727565. However, for ordering repeat prescriptions
please ring ( 01223 727530. Both direct lines have an answerphone
facility.
If you are planning a summer holiday in foreign climes, our
nursing team will be pleased to assist you with travel advice and the administration
of any relevant vaccinations. Please
book your travel vaccinations well in advance of your planned holiday. Jenny Parker - Assistant
Practice Manager
COUNCIL HOUSE
TRANSFER
What will transfer mean for you?
Higher Rents? Housing Association rents in South
Cambs are on average 11% higher than council rents.
Less Security
The Assured tenancies of
housing associations offer less protection in law than current council Secure tenancies.
Huge Debt
The proposed Housing Association would have to borrow £50-60 million in
order to get off the ground. The
repayments (plus interest) will have to be paid from our rents before any
promises can be met.
Higher Service Charges
Housing Associations charge additional 15%
VAT, but councils are VAT free.
Demolished Sheltered
Housing? After
transfer, many Housing Associations demolish sheltered schemes, to replace them
with blocks of flats.
South Cambs Against Transfer, a group made up of experienced
tenants and councillors, strongly advise tenants to vote against the transfer
of our homes in the forthcoming ballot.
For more information, please contact Dave Kelleway, 87
Fulbourn Road. Teversham CB1 9AJ. (
01223 293743
-8-
THE RECENT FLOODS
MAY BE ‘A DROP IN THE OCEAN’
suggest
J & M Bristow of Mill Lane
The
possibility of severe flooding to Mill Lane, The Green, Brookhampton Street and
surrounds should not be ignored. There is a real likelihood that the damaging
levels of the floods of 1947 and 1968 could be repeated. Indeed it could be
argued that higher flood levels are now more likely than ever before.
Those
of us who can remember the floods of 1947 and 1968 will recall that flood water
reached a height of four inches below the front windowsill of Mr Wallace’s
house in Mill Lane.
Our
property which abuts the river has been reinforced against flooding by the
building of an approved wall which holds back the swollen river waters and has
in my opinion prevented some flooding to Mill Lane already. A further wall I
intend to build will go some way towards improving flood defences to the
village. However these measures are only a “Finger in the Dyke” because the
benefits of the walls are being offset by the lack of measures being taken
elsewhere in the village and by the fouling of the floodplains.
The
“Blockhouse Field” which has always been the natural floodplain has been filled
with soil which will prevent the waters dissipating towards Hinxton as has
always been the case and similarly the plain on the Gt Chesterford side of the
river has also been built up with added soil to a height of eight feet or more
- again blocking the historic flood watercourse.
In
1969 British Rail didn’t help the situation when they deposited rubble into the
ditch running alongside the rail filling up the culvert which had previously
diverted the flood water away from the village. This resulted in the higher
levels of the flood the same year.
A
small concrete pipe was placed into the original Victorian culvert running from
Stoney Arch to the old waterfall creating
a bottleneck and reducing the volume of water flowing though it to over
half resulting in water overflowing the
slade.
The
maps of the Environmental Agencies have been proved to be incorrect; in fact
they were showing flooding where it is dry and dry areas which are susceptible
to flooding; in short the maps were the wrong way round! Other examples of errors were that the maps show Ickleton Place as being
flooded but to my knowledge it never has been, and it shows the flooding
reaching our drive but stopping before it reaches Mill Lane, but as I have said
previously the flood waters do and have reached Mill Lane and in some considerable depth too. I have
brought this to the attention of the Environment Agency and with my assistance
the maps are being corrected. It might be prudent for villagers to look again
at the maps to see if changes have been made and if so whether the changes
affect them.
It
is also interesting to note the changes to the maps which relate directly to
the soil deposits on the floodplains. They show a reduction of flooding to the
centre of the village. This is remarkable given previous experience and
traditional flood trends which relied to a great extent on the water being
allowed to flow away from the village unhindered by the present build up of
much higher land.
Flooding
is something which affects the entire village, not just those of us who live
close to the river, so it will be no surprise to you to learn that we have
brought our concerns to the notice of the authorities. We had some personal
success for being instrumental in having the deposits of soil moved back from
the river, but are disappointed that the Parish Council seems powerless to
address the issues.
We
have been vigilant over many years and have never tired of bringing the
shortfalls of flood defences for the village to the attention of all those who
have a responsibility for the environment in general and for flooding in
particular and we shall continue to do so. We have in particular raised our
concerns over the building of higher land levels so close to the river bank and
on traditional floodplains with limited effect and our suggestions that
improved watercourses would result if the culverts were cleared have gone
unheeded.
The
threat of flooding should concern us all. There are very real reasons why we
must shake ourselves out of complacency, promote awareness and seek defensive
measures before the waters come again.
If
you are interested in learning more about flooding and preventative measures
being taken then perhaps you will join me in recommending to the Parish Council
that a special meeting be held to discuss the issues fully. Perhaps the Parish
Council and the Environmental Agency could outline their own concerns or
satisfaction on flood defences and allay some of the fears that I know we share
with others in the village.
Parish Council Footnote The
Parish Council will be holding a meeting to discuss flooding in the near
future.
-9-
CLASSES FOR SPRING
FITNESS BOOTCAMP
Thursdays 7.00 p.m. - 8.00 p.m.
Duxford School. A 4 week course - £17,
starts April 9th.
From 7th May Body
Conditioning then returns at this time until the end of term.
PILATES
Beginners
Mondays 8.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m.
Ickleton Village Hall. A 7 week course
- £38.50, starts April 20th.
PILATES
Mixed Ability
Fridays 11.00 a.m.-12 noon
Ickleton Village Hall. A 10 week course
- £55, starts April 24th.
Please book all above through
Disa (01223 729604 or
disa_bennett@hotmail.com
Register of Exercise Professionals
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
MENCAP – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Cambridgeshire Mencap is
seeking volunteers to support young people with learning disabilities.
You could assist someone to go to the cinema, attend a youth club, go swimming, play sport, or do any number of fun activities. Your support could help develop the young person’s self-confidence, social skills and level of independence in the community.
If
you are aged between 16 and 30 and can spare a few hours every fortnight then
you could do something new, or something you already do and enjoy, whilst
making a BIG difference in a young person’s life.
Interested?
Find out more by contacting Robert Wallace, Volunteers’ Support Coordinator (01223 883140
Text: 07835101621
Email: robert@cambridgeshiremencap.co.uk
LIFT OFF FOR FUN
SCIENCE EVENT AT DUXFORD
On Wednesday 11 March, as part
of National Science and Engineering Week, over 700 children descended on
Imperial War Museum, Duxford for a fun-packed day of hands-on science
activities.
Organised by IWM Duxford's Department for Learning, the Science Connections
Duxford event took place in AirSpace, Duxford's education award-winning
exhibition and introduced children to
rockets,
model aeroplanes and the scientific nature of
air. There was an introductory demonstration, and then children had a go at
designing, building and testing pneumatically powered rockets capable of
leaving a launch pad at over 100 miles per hour and climbing to over 100
metres. They also learnt how to assemble a large model aeroplane and to find
out how they fly and are controlled. Putting all of this fun activity into
context, children then learnt about The Nature of Air, how it behaves and how
it can be harnessed for flying. The children also found out about parachutes
from members of the newly opened Airborne Forces Museum and had a chance to
make their own. Other activities included the history of jet engines, making
paper aeroplanes and using flight simulators, learning about survival in the
polar regions, aerial photography, codes and ciphers, explosives, aircraft
conservation, forces and motion, and structures. Children also had the
opportunity to meet and interact with re-enactors representing George Cayley,
18th century pioneer of aeronautical engineering, Percy Pilcher, designer of
the famous Pilcher Hawk glider in the 1890s and astronaut Buzz Aldrin. One
parent said 'I just wanted to thank you for organising another fantastic
day. Luke particularly enjoyed the Science Alive activities, the Nature
of Air lecture and chatting with the men from the BMFA Flight and Model
aeroplanes (having a go on their flight simulator was a real treat!).
There was so much to do yesterday we didn't have chance to do the AirSpace
Trail or Concorde Quiz, so we're planning another visit to complete those.’
This
event is part of a packed programme of learning activities at Duxford.
Further information is available at www.iwm.org.uk/duxford
or by calling the Department for Learning (01223 499342
-10-
BULLETIN DELIVERY
ABBEY STREET/GRANGE ROAD
We
are pleased to announce that Keith and Tracy Head have agreed to take over
delivery of the Bulletin for Abbey Street and Grange Road. Editors
AN EXCITING YEAR OF EVENTS AHEAD AT IWM DUXFORD
Imperial War Museum, Duxford presents a
fantastic range of diverse and exciting events during 2009. From spectacular
air shows, to hands-on learning events and the opportunity to get up close to
some huge military vehicles, there is something at Europe’s leading aviation
museum for all tastes, interests and ages. Highlights of the season include:
‘Can You Handle It?’ Sunday 5th
April
A special day devoted to giving
families the opportunity to get involved in a really hands-on way, with a host
of fun activities. Find out what your weekly ration would have been during the
Second World War, or how much ‘G’ force the body undergoes when a pilot ejects
from his cockpit, while sitting in a real ejector seat! Enjoy the
opportunity to handle the equipment
used by a British soldier on D-Day, including rifles, uniforms, hats and
helmets, or talk to a costumed character re-enacting the role of a Lancaster
bomber crewman. There will be tours, handling sessions, mystery object quizzes,
a demonstration of wartime food and a lesson in wartime thrift. Activities run
between 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. in AirSpace. Visitors can drop in and
out of sessions – there is no need to book in advance and all activities are
included in the standard admission price.
Spring Car Show Sunday 3rd
May
Building on last year’s success,
hundreds of stunning cars are scheduled to return to Duxford, with marques
including Porsche, BMW, Alvis and many more. This is a great opportunity for
all visitors to get up close to the automotive classics on display, and to talk
to their owners. No extra cost –
standard admission applies. Children aged 15 or under go free when accompanied
by an adult.
Later Events for the next three
months:
Spring Air
Show 17th May
Military
Vehicle Show 21st June
Flying
Legends Air Show 11th & 12th July
Classic Car
Show 2nd August
Spitfire
Day 9th August
American
Air Day Friday 21st August
|
April 1st |
Chesterford
& District Gardening Society AGM & Plant Sale 8.00 p.m. |
|
|
Chapel, Carmel Street, Gt. Chesterford |
|
6th |
Mobile
Library |
|
7th |
Church
Coffee Morning 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon |
|
10th |
Were
You There? 7.30 p.m. Church |
|
15th |
Parish
Council Meeting 7.30 p.m. Village Hall |
|
15th |
W.I.
Meeting 7.45 p.m. Gt. Chesterford Community Centre |
|
20th |
Mobile
Library |
|
23rd |
Wonders
of Amphibious Life 6.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. Wetlands Lakes |
|
May 6th |
Ickleton
Society AGM & History of Cambridgeshire Allotments |
|
|
7.30 p.m. Village Hall |
|
16th |
Theatre
Group ‘The History of Dr. Faustus ’ Village Hall |
|
June 13th |
Safari
Supper |
|
July 4th |
Church
Fete |
|
September 5th |
Summer
Sizzler |