See the Wicken Fen Vision

Next Monday the National Trust are holding a public meeting in Fen Ditton presenting some good news for the village - the Wicken Fen Vision.

The vision is to create a nature reserve of more than 20 square miles, reaching from High Ditch Road all the way to the current Wicken Fen site, with access to allow walking and cycling from your doorstep! To anyone worried about the constant expansion of Cambridge city engulfing the village, this is indeed welcome.

Please come to the meeting to show your support. It's at 7pm in the Church Hall, on Monday 10th March 2008. If you miss it, other meetings are being held around the area - click here for a full list.

The Plough tasting evening

In case you missed it, the Plough pub by the river has been relaunched - gone is the Brewer's Fayre stodge; it won't be missed. To celebrate they're holding a tasting evening for their newly-revealed winter menu, on Thursday 15th Nov. For details, phone them on 293264.

Fireworks on the Rec tomorrow

It's the village bonfire night this Friday (2nd Nov) - food and festivities start at 6.30pm on the Recreation Ground, with a firework display at 7.30pm. This is supported by the Ditton Day team and the Parish Council.

Forthcoming events

Time to get your diaries out:

Next Saturday - that's May 12th - is the Spring Fair at Fen Ditton Church (St Mary The Virgin), from 11am-3pm.

Then, make sure you're free on Saturday June 23rd for Ditton Day 2007 which will be as fun and colourful as ever. I'll post a list of what's on and when as soon as I get it.

Council 'needs more time' over sewage works

Cambridgeshire county council has responded to the deluge of public comments on their proposals to build a new sewage treatment works at Honey Hill on the edge of Fen Ditton, by asking for more time to allow yet more 'public consultation'.

In what may well be the beginning of a climbdown over the issue, the planners now propose "considering the implications of the 'do nothing' option", as well as having second thoughts about whether the whole fiasco can be "financially deliverable".

Doubtless you'll be able to make your views known, again, to the Council in due course.

You can read the full press release from Cambs county council
here.

Save Milton Country Park!

Most of us in the village have enjoyed roaming in Milton Country Park at some point. Sadly South Cambs District Council has decided closing this last outpost of green space will save them a few bob, and have set a date of the 31st August 2007 for its demise. You can read the full details at http://www.savemiltoncountrypark.com/.

I'd urge everybody to support this campaign. The park is a place to relax, a place to learn, a place to run around and let off steam; it has something for everyone. The Council will save just over one pound per year per South Cambs resident from closing it - I can't think of many other ways to improve 'quality of life' for so little.

Fireworks and meetings

I've added the minutes from the last Parish Council meeting (on the 10th October) to the Parish Council pages on the Fen Ditton website. Click here to view.

There will be fireworks and light refreshments starting at 6pm on Friday 3rd November on the Recreation Ground. Last year's event was very professionally presented and well attended.

Nice to hear that Neal Street Productions (filming 'Stuart - A Life Backwards', see below) gave a donation of £1000 towards Parish Council funds.

Hollywood glamour comes to Fen Ditton

Well, almost...

Filming started today of a BBC adaptation of Alexander Masters' book 'Stuart: A Life Backwards'. This is a story of a Cambridge man, partly set in Fen Ditton - see here for information.



The former Post Office has been transformed back into a 'shop' for the duration - unfortunately the new sign and rather fetching window display are just for show.



A fleet of lorries and vans has taken over the Blue Lion car park. There is no parking in much of the High Street, and marshals are directing traffic along it.

You can read the BBC press release of the story here. The film is being made by Neal Street Productions.

Village facing more development

Fen Ditton Village Society has warned of two new threats to the Green Belt which affect the village.

One proposal is to allow for "employment, leisure and residential" development on Chesterton Fen, which is currently pleasant open space opposite Fen Ditton along the Cam enjoyed by a great number of walkers, cyclists and anglers.

The second proposal is to allow building on fields alongside Horningsea Road, expanding into the Green Belt and adding more traffic and side-roads to an already difficult school walking route.

As ever South Cambs council has left very little time to raise objections - objections need to be received by Thursday 27^th July at the latest.

More details on these proposals, and how to submit objections, can be found here.

Ditton Day '06 photos now up

Just for fun, I've put a few photos from this year's Ditton Day up on www.fenditton.org - click here for the link.

The whole event was well-organised and a lot of fun. Even the weather held out in the end!