A Councillor's Comments - April 2005

Returning the commons to their proper condition is now moving forward. The Cambridgeshire Wildlife Trust has advised your Council that it will not be possible to have them grazed until after a first cut, probably in August, and even then only if we have a mixture of cattle and horses. Thus it is likely that we won't see grazing until 2006. The general feeling is that renting of the commons for grazing will never again bring in an income for the benefit of the people of Soham. If we are to keep them in a fit condition it will cost money. Hopefully, we will be able to find grants to cover these costs.

At your Council's March 2005 meeting, Circle 33, a Housing Association, presented their ideas for an estate of about 67. The site is along the Railway North of the former station, in the area of the old dock. Circle 33 made it very clear that this site will not affect the possibility of re-opening the railway station. The houses will be "affordable", for example shared equity or rented, but the details are not yet decided. In general your Council supported this scheme, it being fairly close to the Town Centre rather than out on a limb like other recent proposals. Circle 33 have not yet applied for planning permission so it will be a year or so before anything happens.

The proposed twinning is progressing and it is now appropriate to think about forming a twinning association. Anyone interested should contact the Town Clerk. It will be discussed at the Annual Town Council Meeting (see below). A sub-committee of your Council has met a representative of Andrézieux-Bouthéon. We are now waiting for an invitation to a group of our young athletes to attend an international festival of 5,000m and 10,000m races in early May 2005. The next step may be a visit from the mayor of Andrézieux-Bouthéon, which may be in July 2005. At some stage a delegation from the Town Council will have to visit to see whether Andrézieux-Bouthéon is really suitable for Soham as a twinning partner.

Another important matter for the Town Meeting will be a Town Plan. In order for the planning authority, East Cambridgeshire District Council, to take notice of the views of the people of Soham it is necessary to prepare a Town Plan which will set out your requirements for any development. Before this can be written it is necessary for the people of Soham to tell their Council what they want. Think about this and if you can let one of your Councillors or the Town Clerk know it will be possible to take it all into consideration.

John Wignall your Town Clerk retires at the end of March and attended his last meeting of your Council in March 2005. His replacement, David Giles, has started work with us and formally takes over on the 1st of April 2005.

The Annual Town Council Meeting will be held on 9th May 2005. Look out for the formal notices for the time, the place will be the Walter Gidney Pavilion

Kindest Regards

Tony Hinsley
Soham Town Councilor