Foxton issues
Police and traffic issues update
Two recent meetings, the Neighbourhood Police Panel and the Speeding Summit, provided a forum to bring local concerns to attention.
At the July 21st Neighbourhood Police Panel, news announced at the meeting included the imminent departure of PCSO Emma Garwood, who is moving on to training as a Police Constable. We do not know when we will see a replacement come in for Emma, to join PCSO Lee Nutbeam, though the question was asked. There is some concern as the number of applicants does not match the number of PCSOs leaving, on a district-wide basis. Police acknowledged that they must keep on top of ASB issues during the summer holiday period.
At the Speeding Summit, we listened to a lot of reasons as to why speed limits cannot be reduced in a simple manner. For example, police and County officials want speed limits to be enforceable, so that speed limit reductions must be accompanied by ‘environmental changes’; and there is considerable expense even for minor changes, due to a variety of legal requirements. The audience of parish, district and county councillors was determined, however, to get the message across that something must be done. (Concern about speeding along Fowlmere Road, Foxton, was raised at the Neighbourhood Police Panel the night before).
Great interest resulted in a demonstration of a Community Speedwatch project recently piloted in the Soham area.
Royston and District Community Transport scheme
If you are elderly or mobility impaired, and need lifts to the doctor’s or to get shopping done, you could benefit from the Royston and District Community Transport scheme.
A fleet of volunteer drivers donate their time free of charge. Passengers contribute 45 pence per mile; the minimum charge is £3.50 per journey. The scheme also operates a wheelchair-accessible 12/16 seat minibus and a four-six seat Multi-Purpose Vehicle.
The service can be used for health care appointments, day centres, special needs clubs, social purposes and shopping.
If you require a lift - or would like to volunteer as a driver - please text or phone 01763-245228 between 9AM and 3PM Monday to Friday; an answer phone will take a message if the phone is unmanned. (Please don’t be put off by the answer phone - it does get checked regularly!) You can also email the service at rct1@totalise.co.uk.
EDF leaves its mark in Foxton and Shepreth
Residents in Foxton and Shepreth could hardly have missed the maintenance work carried out by EDF Energy during later winter and early spring months. While improvements to infrastructure are of course welcome, there was disappointment in EDF’s failure to leave grass verges in the same state they were found. As District Councillor for Shepreth, Susan has written to the company to express concern and request repair to verges.
