Excerpts from Peter's Hanley Grange blog...

Sun 6 April Download the eco-town material from the Government website, wrap wet towel round head and start reading…discover that “if you want to know more about the Hanley Grange proposal” there is a top-notch PR company to call. Interesting.

Tue 8 April Go to Parish Council meeting – aim to find out more at a session with other parish councils next week.

Thu 10 April Send out what I’ve found to people I know locally. People ask “where exactly is Hanley Grange?” Even Cambridge Evening News is vague on the point.

Mon 14 April Meet Andrew Lansley, local MP. One large map and mug of coffee later, pin-point location of Hanley Grange and the three stages of its planned development: 8,000 houses built on quality agricultural land.

Tue 15 April Go to evening meeting called by MPs and Cambridge
Horizons. More than ten parish councils are here.
County and district planning officials set out existing
building plans e.g. 23,000 houses including Northstowe,
and so why HG would be housing overkill. Parish councils speak with feeling on threat to shops, including Sawston High Street, as well as road and rail burden.

Thu 17 April Out canvassing in the evening. Hanley Grange comes up on
the doorstep again and again. Pat lots of dogs. Talk to Heathfield resident against background of A505 traffic.
Bad enough as it is. How could this road cope if a town
the size of Ely was added in?

Thriplow resident asks: would a dualled A505 come
closer to the village?

Mon 21 April Parish councillors meet to decide how to set out HG issues
for people locally, and agree to research train traffic volumes – which means counting commuters at the
station over a few mornings!

Tue 22 April On morning train down to London. Squashed up and standing in the aisles. Wonder what it will be like with another few thousand people sharing the journey from Whittlesford
Parkway and Audley End....