Not that sort of warden!

We had a good session this morning at the sheltered housing centre at Butts Green in Whittlesford (after nearly setting off the fire alarm) going through what the changes in the warden service means for residents there, after the county council withdrew its funding.
We also talked about the proposed changes to the C7 bus, which would make it dificult for people without cars to get into Sawston, which has a lot of the services that people need - doctor, dentist, good supermarket, butchers etc etc.
On the first issue - I have some ideas, which we discussed and agreed, and people liked.
On the second, I'll keep people posted.

Wardens watered down - what next for village services

Called in to talk to the warden at the sheltered housing at Butts Green in Whittlesford. Currently the county council passes on around £643,000 annually to the district council for the service, but that is being reduced to approximately £424,000.
It is tough for the residents - who I talked to a few weeks back - because the basic service provided is being cut further as a result. Some people get very little social contact except the warden service. And Butts Green has a really active group of residents so it isnt that people are just waiting around - they do help themselves.
The library at Shelford, the C7 bus service through the villages, the warden service - all being cut back. Yet the county has put its rates up - unlike the district. 
Some villages have a warden scheme - and that is something that I want Whittlesford to look at. It won't be the same, but it might help. It means the parish picking up more financial commitment.