Caldecote, Childerley, Kingston and Toft issues
Toft Day Care Centre Just a few short weeks ago we were celebrating the fact that this valuable facility was to remain open – particularly as the work Fiona did in relation to keeping the facility open uncovered the shortage of such places through the villages in the Hardwick Division. Now it transpires that despite assurances given to the County Council there are more problems. Activities appear to be limited and there is currently NO transportation available at all. With no relief driver in the event of the usual driver having a day off, and no sign of the new bus with disabled access materialising Fiona is working hard to ensure that the situation improves quickly.
Caldecote and Childerley
The speed thumps – hooray! Caldecote residents have banged their collective heads against a brick wall for the last 8 years. They wanted speed thumps to slow traffic down. What they got were lumps of tarmac installed at irregular heights throughout the village. The thumps installed were never actually signed off by the County Council and so much time has elapsed it is questionable if any further action could be taken against those that installed them to a different specification than that originaly presented. Never someone to give up and accept that it couldn’t be done, Fiona took the issue to the very top – the Chief Executive of the County Council. The thumps are in the process of being officially recognised which will give the Parish Council the ability to finally replace them with something that calms traffic without destroying a car’s shelf life.
Kingston buses and allotments Fiona is delighted to report that we asked for the No. 18 bus service to be run a few minutes earlier in the morning to enable sixth students to arrive at school on time and it has happened. There are four allotments in
Two allotments are let, and there is some interest in one more, but the effort of bringing them back into cultivation is challenging! The Parish Council is considering whether it should offer to take on the responsibility for the allotments, possibly having them cleared and cultivated to make them more attractive to potential tenants. The District Council, unsurprisingly, is not averse to this, and has in other villages transferred the ownership for a nominal sum.
What would you like to happen?
Caldecote speed bump headaches
It’s not always clear why things can’t be done in a timely fashion.
Caldecote Parish Council are currently unable to remove the village’s prominent speed bumps because they have no legal right to do so until the road is adopted. Local residents have been canvassed for their views and the Parish Council are keen to progress removing the bumps and introducing a more suitable speeding deterrent.
The road was unadopted whilst the speed bumps were installed and has not been subsequently readopted – talk about a sign of the times of rules and regulations we live in! In any case, this has a knock-on effect on the rest of the village: you cannot adopt a road off an unadopted road, and thus the roads on the new housing estates remain, frustratingly, unadopted. As the domino effect continues, it is harder to insist on enforcement of parking regulations on adopted roads, and so people freely park on pavements. Anyone pushing prams or wheelchairs have to use the road to get around obstacles in their way.
Christmas rubbish collections
South Cambs District Council has reviewed its operating schedule for waste collection over the 2008/09 Christmas and New Year period. Over the festive period, collection of domestic refuse and recycling will be as normal, with adjusments for the bank holidays. The final timetable is available on-line (www.scambs.gov.uk), in the South Cambs Magazine and from the Contact Centre. If you have a clinical and/or trade waste agreement you will be notified separately of any changes to the collection rota.
Your district councillor: Robin Martlew
Robin Martlew, Lib Dem District Councillor for Caldecote, Childerley, Kingston and Toft, has lived at Leylands, Caldecote, for some 50 years.
Robin has been dedicated to local democracy all of his adult life. He served as Liberal District Councillor in Stanningfield, near Bury St Edmunds, and then as Lib Dem County Councillor for the Bourn division for many years. He became District Councillor for Caldecote ward in 2004.
At South Cambs District Council, Robin serves on the Licensing Committee and is Opposition Spokesman, together with Cllr Richard Summerfield, for Resources and Staffing. He is the Council representative on the Cambridge Citizens Advice Bureau.
Professional
Robin began his working life as a farm worker and farm manager, following on as a regional sales manager for an international firm. He retrained as a teacher, qualifying in 1973 and becoming head of science in a Suffolk middle school. Robin is a keen unionist and has served as a local branch president of in the NUT.
Community service
Robin has served as governor and chair of governors for various local schools, including Caldecote Primary, Comberton Village College, and Queen Ediths Grammar.
Personal
Robin is married with three adult children, all of whom were educated in local schools, and has two grandchildren in Bristol. His hobbie include reading and atheletics (he has run middle distance and cross country for club and county).
Local issues
Local issues Robin has campaigned on include alleviating ongoing noise nuisance from the TKA motor parts factory, and unsuitable development opposite Caldecote Primary School. He has supported parish Council proporsals for removing and/or replacing damaging speed bumps put in by developers.
Making contact
Robin would be happy to hear from you on any matter of local concern. You can reach him at any of the following:
Email: Robin@martlew.wanadoo.co.uk
Tel: 01954-210298
Leylands, Highfields Road, Caldecote, CB23 7NX
