A message from Shirley and Alison at the shop:  “We will be leaving the shop on June 5th.  If anyone is interested in taking over the shop, please ring us on 01763263279.”

Following the public meeting at Meldreth in early March, at which First Capital Connect Managing Director Elaine Holt listened to questions and concerns from members of the public, FCC has taken steps to address some of the issues placed on its table.

Car park charges at Meldreth will be lowered to £1 per day for a three month period, starting March 30.   While this offers a limited respite only, it could be an opportunity for commuters to demonstrate to FCC that £1 per day and a car park at full capacity is more profitable than a £2.50 daily charge and a car park almost empty.   We understand that many commuters come from villages further afield, and would be grateful if you could help demonstrate to FCC that a £1 car park charge is better for everyone.

FCC have also said they wish to look more closely at disabled access issues and will be coming out in mid-April to meet students and staff from Meldreth Manor School and Orchard Transition Service. 

FCC have already been out to review the awkwardly positioned cycle wheeling channel.  Frustratingly, due to stringent health and safety constraints, it cannot be altered in any way.  A decision was taken to leave the channel where it is for those cyclists who are able to use it - the channel does show some signs of wear and tear, indicating that it is being used at least by some. 

An appointment has been made for FCC to look at parking and traffic difficulties around the villages - including Station Roads in Foxton, Melbourn and Shepreth, as well as Meldreth - resulting from rail commuter parking in residential areas near the station.  

Student discount fares is another issue waiting to be addressed.  Significant changes depend also on the willingness of Cambridgeshire County Council to consider allowing Education Transport subsidies to be claimed by students travelling by rail, and not just by bus. 

It is not expected that all of these issues will be solved.  However, FCC is taking first steps in fulfilling its pledge to address local concerns.   We hope that the County Council will also agree to find ways of taking small steps forward.

Burlington Press has announced that it has gone into Administration, and has been forced to cut 51 of its staff of 79.   This means very tough times for local people who have been employed until now at this landmark business in Station Road, Foxton.  Because the printing business generally is facing huge cuts generally - Cambridge University Press recently announced massive cuts in its printing division - ex-employees are being forced to think about re-training for new careers, at a time when jobs are hard to come by.

We now await further news.

The Melbourn and District Villages Association, which looks after our local library, is working hard to find new premises, having recently been given a two-year extension in the portable cabin in which it is presently houses.  The library receives support from Meldreth, Shepreth, Foxton and Melbourn parish councils, and books and IT support from the County Council.  It depeds on volunteer staff to keep the library open.

The library is looking urgently for volunteers to do a two-hour shift per week behind the counter, serving members of the public.  Volunteers would serve alongside another person and therefore would not be alone.  This is a rewarding place to work, bringing contact with all corners of the community in congenial surroundings.  Please ring Susan on 01763-261833 if you are interested.

Melbourn Library is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2:30-4:30, Thursdays 5-7 and Saturdays 10-12. More information is available at http://melbourncambridge.co.uk/library/.

Elaine Holt, Managing Director of First Capital Connect, opened her remarks at the March 3rd public meeting in Meldreth with an announcement that the booking office at Meldreth Station will remain open on Saturdays from 8:45-1:15, and Mondays to Fridays from 7-11:15.  This is a less dramatic reduction of opening hours than FCC proposed in early January, and a direct response to public outcry - expressed in our petition of 1,065 signatures and, according to FCC, more letters and emails than they have ever received from a single community. 

The meeting was standing-room only.  Residents represented a large number of villages which depend on Meldreth Station, and put forward blunt and forthright questions for nearly two hours.  FCC had neglected to communicate when its recent changes to rail service were put into place, but clearly got the message that local people expect proper consultation and proper communication.  Other pressing issues discussed: 

1. The non-sensical parking charges at Meldreth and Shepreth Stations, which are now only 25% full at best and which have resulted in parking and traffic chaos in our Station Roads (not only in Meldreth and Shepreth, but also in Foxton and Melbourn).  Susan asked Elaine Holt for FCC’s business cases on both car parks and intends to follow this up.

2. Complete neglect in the area of disabled access, starting with a dropped kerb for the northbound platform.  A dropped kerb will now be installed, within the next two or three weeks, and Susan asked Elaine Holt to commit to a dialogue with Meldreth Manor School and Orchard Transition Service, for finding short and long-term solutions to disabled access to the southbound platform.

3.  A student discount scheme which is outrageously expensive and thoughtlessly structured, providing free travel at weekends and on holidays rather than focussing on affordable travel when students need to get to and from school.  FCC refused to concede at all on this issue.    County Councillor Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure, Matt Bradney, had been invited to the meeting, but did not attend.  FCC had been in discussion with the County Council about creating a student discount package, but that ended when the County made its Rail Officer post redundant.   Susan will be pressing for a reopening of this dialogue with the County Council - which, after all, collects our taxes and could be offering our students Education Transport Subsidy for rail travel.

 A whole range of other points were taken and Elaine Holt has promised to get back to Susan on actioning these. 

 Thank you again to the hundreds of residents throughout our community who together have forced FCC to listen to our concerns - and may it continue.