Gritting in and around Fen Ditton

I've just had word from the County Council about plans for road gritting in the area in the event of more snow and ice.

The main B1047 (Ditton Lane/Horningsea Road) will be gritted from the A14 junction down to Newmarket Road. There will be no gritting between the A14 junction and Waterbeach, nor will High Ditch Road or High Street.

Basically, road salt is being rationed across the country by the Department for Transport's "Salt Cell", and local authorities are being told to halve the amount of salt they use or face a reduction in their allowance. In the meantime, the public is being asked to write off their cars and break their limbs with good humour and a stiff upper lip(*).

More detail, including maps, at

http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/roads/winter/

(*) Possibly, I made this bit up.

Parish Council meeting

I've just updated the www.fenditton.org website with the minutes of the last parish council meeting.

The next meeting is Tuesday 2nd February, in the pavilion on the recreation ground - all members of the public are welcome to attend.

Something useful, part one

Well, while I'm still full of New Year resolution here's some possibly-useful(*) information: the dates for wheelie bin collections for 2010.

06 Jan (Wed): Black

12 Jan: Green

19 Jan: Black

26 Jan: Green

02 Feb: Black

09 Feb: Green

16 Feb: Black

23 Feb: Green

02 Mar: Black

09 Mar: Green

16 Mar: Black

23 Mar: Green

30 Mar: Black

07 Apr (Wed): Green

13 Apr: Black

* - and probably accurate: I'm just passing on what it says on the South Cambs council magazine page I have here.

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.