A Councillor's Comments - November 2004

The most important matter discussed by your Council at its October meetings was the proposed development at Townsend. Further changed drawings have been submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council by the developers and the Town Council has been asked to give its comments. The Council was still not happy with the proposals, the affordable housing has not been properly integrated, we do not want any more ghettos built in Soham; the site of open space on the other side of the spine road could be dangerous for children to use, as they would have to cross what will become a busy road and the proposals include three-story flats over looking existing properties. The Town Council insists that a public consultation meeting be held with the developers before Planning Permission is granted.

The Town Council was very concerned that work on the site has started before Planning Consent is given and East Cambridgeshire District Council do not intend to take any action against the developers to stop them ignoring your Councils. If you are also concerned about this, please take the matter up with the District Council, the Town Council has no powers in this matter. It is only consulted about planning matters.

The Boundary Commission has come up with a revised proposal for County Council election ward boundaries. These combine Soham, Fordham, Wicken etc. into a 2 member ward. Whilst not ideal this is better that splitting Soham into 2 parts and your Council will not be making any objection to the new proposal. We await the outcome of their deliberations with some concern.

In my last report the matter of a single authority taking charge of co-ordinating cleaning ditches was mentioned. At that time it was suggested that East Cambridgeshire District Council should take the lead, as they are thought to have the general duty of maintaining the environment. They have now said they do not want to know. So we are back to where we were before the Environmental Action Day. Your Council urged the Soham members of East Cambridgeshire District Council to press the other District Councillors to do something about this ongoing problem.

During the discussion on ditches it appeared that District Councillors thought that they were not our representatives, but act on behalf of the entire district. I assume that at the next election they will not be disappointed if we elect proper representatives who will act on our behalf.

The police reported that the special action they took to increase resources in Soham over the summer to reduce anti-social behaviour has had some effect. Only 29 crimes were reported over the last month compared with 49 in the previous month. Any reduction is to be welcomed, but the problem will only return now these resources are no longer available to Soham. The long term solution is more police, preferably real police, but Police Community Support Officers are better than nothing. A uniform at the right place at the right time will do the trick.

Tony Hinsley
Soham Town Councillor