True grit

Bit of a blast from the past as the snow is now a distant memory and we are back with typical February cotton-wool weather. But the snow and ice clearly has awoken some sort of folk-memory of a colder type of winter for which local people and local authorities need to be ready.

Evidence of this for me is (a) talking to a local farmer at the week-end who was well up for being a sub-contractor for the county council to get out on his tractor with a plough and scoop the snow off the smaller roads that it isn't possible for the county highways teams to grit. I think he was quite looking forward to it! And (b) people saying to me they were interested in a grit box in the village so that if you want to throw a shovel of sand across the pavements to make it easier for people to get about then why not. The only issue on both counts is the health and safety, "I'll sue the pants off you" culture.

Keeping an eye on one or two fields in the area...II

Further information emerged in the last 24 hours about traveller plans to move onto a field alongside the A505.

I spoke with the district council's enforcement officers this morning, who were on the case - information went before a judge this afternoon and an injunction was secured.Anyone moving onto the field will be in breach of a court order. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

Cycle safety at Whittlesford station

Following my meeting and phone conversations with National Express's local stations manager, they have now put posters up reminding people of how to guard against cycle thefts and vandalism, offered a cycle branding session if people are interested, and increased British Transport Police presence at the station. So fingers crossed we won't see scenes like this again!

Try fitting a house on a grass verge!

This is the entrance to Heathfield, looking out onto the Duxford Road junction. To the left where the grass is, a developer proposed squeezing a house onto what is really not much more than a verge with a bus stop in front of it.
Heathfield residents were concerned that this would mean there was no space for buses to pull in, at a narrow enough entrance already, and that the drains at Heathfield couldnt take another house at that location.
After some to-ing and fro-ing between the residents and the planning officer, who kept missing each other, I made sure that the district traffic officer turned up and took a proper look, and that residents concerns and those of the parish council were properly taken into account. The application has been rejected by the planners.

Down on the farm

Not really anything to do with Whittlesford or Thriplow, but one part of my day job which I really enjoy is the chance to meet farmers and talk with them, about the work they do growing the crops and raising the animals that feed us all.
I spent today with a farmer out on the fens, an old chap who had all the facts and figures in his head - no need for a compooter - and was justifiably proud of his beef herd. The only concern must be - who is going to replace him and his brother when they finally call it a day? A quarter of British landowners are aged over 65. Anyway, on a bright cold February day, with the ice and snow melting and the young Friesians and Charolais pushing their inquisitive noses over the gates, it was a great sight...