Shepreth Parish Council’s new website: www.shepreth.org.

Susan regularly attends parish council meetings and her reports are included in parish council minutes.

District Councillor Surinder Soond: www.surindersoond.mycouncillor.org.uk

Village groups

If you run a village group and would like help advertising an event or recruiting volunteer helpers, please let me know and I’d be glad to include a few lines in my monthly community e-newsletter.

Neighbourhood Watch

Theresa Smith has been working hard to promote Shepreth Neighbourhood Watch.  The group holds regular meetings and can be contacted via Facebook: Shepreth Neighbourhood Watch.

The Plough

Shepreth is a small village, but such a huge amount of sustained support has been demonstrated for the future of The Plough as a pub.  Recently, British Forces News came out to Shepreth to film a short programme about the pub’s history and current efforts. You can see it on line:

 http://www.bfbs.com/news/special-report/fight-save-battle-britain-pub-56920.html

Shepreth Recreation Ground

Rabbit holes on the Rec: an ancient subject but a worsening situation!  This was one of the first items I remember trying to deal with as district councillor some years ago, and advice and permission were given by South Cambs District Council to shoot rabbits with air rifles at a specified early morning hour.  I don’t know if this ever actually happened, but if it did the rabbits have multiplied since then.

The Recreation Ground is an important village asset – but the rabbit hole problem poses a genuine risk to anyone playing on the Rec.  The children’s football club matches played on the Rec require hours worth of rabbit hole filling directly before each match, and one has to hope that they are all accounted for, as the threat of breaking an ankle or leg is very real.  Equally worrying is the possibility that football clubs will look for other recreation grounds.  That would mean less activity in the village, and fewer customers using local businesses.  It would also mean less income for the parish council.

No doubt there are no easy answers but all the talking amongst us councillors hasn’t achieved much.  I’ll be raising the matter in my report for the next meeting, with a suggestion that a new and more vigorous approach is taken.  Any ideas welcome.

Shepreth Village Shop site

It is great to see the new shop, ‘Teacake,’ up and running.  Basic provisions are sold here.  More at http://susanvandeven.mycouncillor.org.uk/2011/11/04/teacake-in-shepreth-is-open/

BMX and 12 houses, Meldreth Road

This planning application was approved by South Cambs Planning Committee on September 1st, by a vote of twelve to one, and was supported by parish council, district and county councillors, and County Youth Workers.  It will be great to have more low cost housing for Shepreth people, and enthusiasm for BMX riding amongst Shepreth young people could not be more evident!

Can you help?

There are plenty of local organisations always looking for volunteer help – and these are always good ways of making new friends.  Our local library situated on The Moor at Melbourn, the Royston and District Transport Scheme, Welcome Home from Hospital, Shepreth WI annual litter pick, and Friends of the River Shep are just a few.

Royston Weekly News available to collect

Rebecca Willers at Shepreth Wildlife Park has been in touch to say that the park has arranged to receive ten copies of the Royston Weekly News delivered each week.  She says, “I understand Shepreth does not get this newspaper delivered door-to-door, so anyone in the village is welcome to pop into the shop and pick up a copy if they want one.  If it becomes popular we will request more copies to be dropped off.”

Royston and District Community Transport: do you need a lift?

The old Shepreth Car Scheme has been successfully incorporated into the Royston and District Community Transport scheme.  This scheme has a paid administrative post and a fleet of volunteer drivers who donate their time free of charge.  Passengers contribute 45 pence per mile; the minimum charge is £4 per journey up to nine miles.  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.  It means that you should be just as well served as you were under the old scheme. 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.