Exclusive: Tesco set to open on Mill Road

Coleridge Conservatives understand that Tesco are pressing ahead with their plan to open on Mill Road, and are working to an opening date of 26th August. It is anticipated that work will start on site a few weeks before this date.

Its fair to say some very interesting questions about planning permission and how deliveries can comply with traffic regulations remain to be answered...

Guided Bus Update

This week there was a meeting of the Guided Bus Southern liaison forum, with a few topics of interest to Coleridge raised.

The mobile CCTV on the bridge was discussed. This was hard fought for, and a lack of communication between the Guided Bus team and the City Council nearly meant it didn't happen, but in the event turned out to be as good as useless. The cameras weren't appropriately positioned to monitor the types of problems we wanted to monitor, and the warning signs were all but invisible rendering it useless as a deterrent. I am still trying to get to the bottom of these issues. There was also an incident on the bridge at the start of June in which a young person was seriously injured - currently subject to a police investigation, but when that is concluded, there will be more questions to answer...

There was an estimate of the final date for the removal of the roadworks on Hills Road Bridge - mid September. It is obviously very disappointing that these works have overrun, but hopefully the end is now in sight. A more interesting question is how the bridge is re-instated. I made it clear that residents will be expecting a high quality finish to the road (some contractors seem to think it is acceptable to fill trenches with blobs of plastercine after they have been working on the road - I don't want this to happen here, although the Milton Road re-instatement does seem to be of high quality). More controversially, the County Council is considering trialling a scheme on the bridge to include only one lane going on to the bridge in each direction, widening to two lanes coming off the bridge, to allow space for a wider cycle lane. I think this idea has a lot of merit, (particularly to help cyclists who are currently very vulnerable on the bridge), but could be controversial. If the Council are going to trial this measure, the best time to start the trial is when the roadworks are finally removed, but I would be interested to know what any local residents think about these plans.

Finally, there are some major changes about to happen outside the station to allow the Guided Bus works up to the station to be carried out. The short stay car park will close on 20th July, and move to a new short stay car park. Works for the guideway in the signal box area have commenced, and road construction is underway.

No word yet on final opening date for the southern section - it sounds like there are still major engineering challenges in the Trumpington cutting, where a high pressure gas main under the route needs to be protected by shielding it with concrete, before putting the guideway on top, so full opening will be next year. There is however a good chance of buses running from the station to Addenbrokes earlier, in which case I will be pressing for as much of the cycle route as possible to be open as soon as it is ready.

Tiverton House Planning Application Received

Some stop press news - a planning application was received by the City Council late last week for work on Tiverton House, but it is only for very limited works - the conversion of the former warden's flat into two flats, and the provision of 12 new cycle parking spaces in the existing garden. (I think there may be a couple of formalities before it is accepted as a valid application, so can't find it on the planning portal yet)

Having read through the application this morning, it looks to me like the new owner of Tiverton House is not thinking of making any further planning applications, and is intending to re-open the whole of Tiverton House for 'private sector rental' if this application is allowed.

I am urgently seeking clarification with the planning department of what advice has been issued to the applicants about what will be permissible with and without planning permission - significant works have already been undertaken and we want an on site meeting to check every detail not covered by the new application is permissible - there was some correspondence during the election period that the officers couldn't discuss due to election rules.

We believe that this application should really be considered as a change of use of the whole building (all the plans accompanying the planning application are for the whole site), and the application judged accordingly.

We will be working with other ward Councillors to try and maximise the input allowed from local residents - I would like a follow up public meeting to get into the details of what is permissible under planning law, and will be requesting the application is determined by Councillors rather than officers - likely to be at a future area committee.

More details when we have them.

Area committee makes way for Harriet Harman

The city council's East Area Committee is coming to Coleridge this week, beginning 7pm at Lichfield Hall on Wednesday.

This is a day earlier than was planned and therefore at a different location. The meeting was moved for the convenience of the committee's Labour councillors, who sheepishly admitted that it was so they could attend a social with Harriet Harman. This no doubt avoids a tricky dilemma between the charms of the Minister for Women and Equality and attending the council meeting!

There is no neighbourhood policing item on the agenda this time so aside from the open forum (intended for members of the public to ask questions) the main item of interest to Coleridge is likely to be a planning application for the old Cambridge Building Society building on Cherry Hinton Road: "Change of use from A2 (financial and professional services) to A3 (restaurants and cafes)."

New licensing applications

The City Council has received two applications from shops for premises licences to sell alcohol:

New

Tesco Stores Ltd, 163-167 Mill Road

M & S Simply Food, Unit 8, Beehive Centre,

Coldhams Lane

Can't help feeling one is going to be more controversial than the other...

Tins path set to be closed for maintenance

From the County Council:

"As part of the Cycling Town programme we are planning to widen The Tins to make it more suitable for combined use by cyclists and pedestrians. Improving it should encourage more people to commute into Cambridge by bicycle from Cherry Hinton, and will provide a safer more pleasant alternative to Coldhams Lane

This is just a note to inform you that The Tins path will be closed from 7th July for up to 10 days so that initial works can be undertaken to improve the surface of the existing path which is particularly poor, and the subject of many complaints from the public.

An alternative route will be signed taking cyclists and pedestrians along Snakey Path (Burnside, Romsey to Sydney Farm Road, Cherry Hinton)."

However, it appears that these aren't the works to widen the path - negotiations are still ongoing to obtain the land, and it is hoped that the main scheme will be implemented next year. I'll be on their case to make sure this path does get widened as promised...

Save City Homes South!

Plans are advancing for the services of City Homes South, which has a public office on Cherry Hinton Road, to be transferred to Cambridge City Council's Customer Service Centre at Mandela House on Regent Street. The latest step was confirmed on 16 June at a meeting of the council's Housing Management board.

While Coleridge Conservatives are pleased that the council is finding ways to save taxpayers' money, we do think that the access point that the City Homes South office provides for local residents is valuable. We would therefore like to see options considered to allow the office to be used in future as a general outpost for access to services provided by the Customer Service Centre.