There was an important announcement in this week’s Cambridge Independent.
Earlier this year, Ian Manning, our local county councillor asked whether we were interested in making a LHI fund bid this year.
We asked if we could have traffic calming reinstated since the GCP removed the chicane, shown below, without any consultation when it improved cycle lanes along Arbury Road west.
Ian Manning’s LHI bid has been successful, against the odds given that the Leader of the County Council wrote to me in January 26 to say “no intervention is needed” to improve cyclist and pedestrian safety on Arbury Road east.
This raises the question of where they will put the chicane or whatever they decide to install.
We need to remember how much space the previous chicane took up.
And replacement traffic calming can’t go in the space where the previous one was.
This is now occupied by the zebra crossing at the end of the dedicated cycle paths located so cyclists cross over to “The Cut” into Leys Road.
We are hoping that the County Council will engage meaningfully with local residents about what will be done.
It would be galling if they don’t ask us where the traffic calming should be located or, indeed what form it should take, given the way the Greater Cambridge Partnership acted without any consultation when it removed the previous chicane.
If any ARERA members want to offer Ian Manning thanks for his negotiations on our behalf, please send them to him at Ian.Manning@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
Around 50 people from the West Chesterton Ward came out to meet the candidates for the upcoming election. They took the opportunity to ask candidates about what they will do, if elected, to address their electorate’s concerns and aspirations.
The meeting was jointly chaired by Ros Lund, the acting chair of ARERA, and by the Rev. Dave Maher, the vicar of the Good Shepherd.
Four of the six candidates standing for election were present: a current councillor, Richard Swift (Labour) who is standing for re-election, Guy Mills (Lib Dem); Matthew Howard substituting for Hannah Copley (Greens) who was working a shift at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, and Nick Picton (Independent). Two candidates were absent: Mike Harford (Conservative) and Geoff Leach (Reform UK). For Guy and Nick, it was their first experience of being cross-examined at a hustings.
On arrival, those attending were asked by Dave Maher to write their most pressing issues on a tabletop sheet. He turned these into this Word Cloud
The issues raised, except perhaps for ‘cows’, should come as no surprise to those who live within the catchment areas of the Arbury Road East and Hurst Park Estate Residents’ Associations. Perhaps more surprising was the level of dissatisfaction which candidates expressed between them about the quality of the County and City Councils’ engagement with local residents for the Milton Residents Parking Scheme and for the redevelopment of Arbury Court. And all the candidates offered support for protecting Arbury Court Play Area.
The meeting was friendly, lively and over-ran. It had to be finished long before all the questions people had could be asked, let alone answered.
If you care about what is happening in your neighbourhood, please vote on Thursday, 7th of May.
Proposed development of North Cambridge Academy site
Jamie Dalzell, Local City Councillor
Q & A
Approval of the minutes from 2025 AGM
Chair’s Annual Report
Treasurer’s Report and Accounts SC
Election of Committee and Officers
Any other business*
* If you want to raise any other issues to be discussed at the meeting under AOB, please notify the Committee Secretary via info@arera.org.uk by Thursday 5th March
Not only is Cambridge growing much bigger within its boundaries, it is also growing beyond the A14 and M11! All this growth will affect us all – how we live, how we get to work, our health, our schools, our green areas, our shopping and our leisure facilities and much, much more.
We know that our own immediate locality will be changing, but big changes are planned nearby – Science Park and Cowley Road for example. Further afield more houses are planned for Marshalls Airport as well as the housing already under construction there.
There are further consultations under way which have quite short deadlines. Our friends at FECRA (Federation of Cambridge Residents Associations) have published some useful guidance for these consultations. See
Local Plan Deadline for comments 5pm, 30 January
Friends of St Matthew Piece helpful advice on how to respond to the Local Plan has been updated to include omitted graphics.
‘Feedback from the consultation will inform the final Biodiversity Strategy and Urban Forest Strategy and associated action plans going to Cabinet for approval on Wednesday 25 March 2026’ See link below
‘The Urban Forest Strategy will replace the council’s Tree Strategy in 2026. It will set out the vision, principles, aims, policies and actions for protecting, managing and growing Cambridge’s urban forest over the next decade.
The strategy will be a non-statutory document. It will explain how we will:
manage more – maintain and care for the trees we already have
protect more – safeguard important trees and canopy, especially where it is under pressure
plant more – increase tree cover and species diversity in the right places
engage more – support residents, communities and organisations to be part of delivery
The strategy will be supported by a set of topic papers, which provide additional detail and evidence on specific themes. These themes include asset management, tree planting, subsidence, governance and resourcing, climate resilience, statutory responsibilities, and canopy measurement’
Please look at this information, if looked at in bits it is really not too overwhelming. There are still some opportunities to attend meetings about the Local Plan
Thursday 22 January, 5pm to 7pm: Drop-in session at The Wing, Brown’s Field Community Centre, 31A Green End Rd, CB4 1RU
The parking scheme is due to go live on February 2nd.
Here is the statement we have received from Paul van de Bulk at the GCP summarising the advice provided by Gary Baldwin at the Policy and Regulation team at the County Council.
“So in summary, where there is a formal dropped kerb, residents (or their guests) would not be breaking the law if they crossed a double yellow line to drive over this dropped kerb to access the driveway to park.
However, they would be breaking the law if they crossed the footpath in a vehicle to access a driveway, where there is not a formalised dropped kerb, regardless of whether there are double yellow lines or not.”
Although we asked both the GCP and the CCC to indicate which regulations governed this, neither have done so.
Gary Baldwin has told us that this is simply standard practice in our Highways Authority (the County Council) as it is in others in England .
In other words, if you have a dropped kerb, you can park in your driveway or front garden even if there is a double line outside your house.
If you don’t have a dropped kerb, you may not continue to park in your front garden – even if you have been doing so “for the past 39 years” as one of you have told us they have been doing.
IN ADDITION ….
We met James Hostler, the GCP’s project manager for installing the parking scheme, when he and Paul van de Bulk joined us on site last week.
In practice, James said, it is crossing the undropped kerb which is illegal regardless of whether there are double yellow lines or not.
And Paul warned us that he was aware of an instance where a householder was fined £1,000 for doing so.
But he didn’t provide us with details about this example.
If you don’t have dropped kerb and park in your front garden, you need to heed this warning.
AND …
Previously, we had been told that the County Council would “assist” any residents who park in their front gardens but don’t have a dropped kerb.
On the site visit last week, we asked James Hostler what form this assistance would take.
Disappointedly, he said that the County Council would simply direct such residents to its web page about how to apply for a dropped kerb and nothing more.
Are you concerned about the proposed redevelopment of Arbury Court?
Do you support or oppose the Council’s intention to build six storey flats on Arbury Court Play Area.
If so, let Cambridge City Council know.
The opportunities for doing so are coming up and the time scale short, see below.
You can fill in the survey, see below.
And you can attend one of the consultation events.
The first one is next Monday, 17th of November, at Akeman Community Centre from 6pm onwards, see below.
We are now moving into the next stage of the North Cambridge Framework for Change project, and we are inviting you to provide feedback on our plans to build 200+ new council homes and 200+ new private homes in the area, with Arbury Court shopping and community facilities redeveloped, and improvements made to local public spaces and parks.
Over the past year, hundreds of residents, organisations and community groups have told us about ageing homes, safety concerns, open spaces that feel under-used, and the need for better connections between neighbourhoods.
That feedback has directly shaped a draft plan that includes:
• Taking down existing homes and commercial premises at Arbury Court and replacing them with over 100 new council homes and over 100 new private homes – including more accessible homes for people with disabilities – as well as new commercial units for existing Arbury Court traders to move into and new community facilities including the library. The current park will be replaced with more space for new park and play areas, which will be at the centre of the new Arbury Court.
• Regenerating the Kingsway council estate, replacing existing homes with 99 new council homes and 98 new private homes, with a better arrangement of open and green spaces. The proposals also include redeveloping a number of homes on nearby Brackley Close, Rutland Close and Verulam Way.
• Enhancing parks and green spaces across the north of the city to make them safer and more accessible, increasing biodiversity, and planting trees and shrubs – initially at Arbury Park and the open space Kingsway, with a longer-term focus on Pulley Park, Nun’s Way recreation ground and Arbury Town Park.
• Working with the Highways Authority for safer streets, better crossings and improved travel connections, including the Arbury Court and Kingsway link.
During the course of the engagement period, we’ll share these proposals in more detail and ask for your views on the priorities for areas like Arbury Court and Kingsway. Your input will help refine the final version of the Framework before it is adopted.
Have your say Our latest survey is open until Tuesday 16 December. • Fill in the survey 📝
We are also hosting a series of community conversations in the coming weeks, which you can register for on our engagement platform: • Akeman Community Centre on Monday 17 November from 5 to 6.30pm • Meadows Community Centre on Saturday 22 November from 11am to 12.30pm • Online webinar on Thursday 27 November from 5.30 to 7.30pm • Brown’s Field Community Centre on Monday 1 December from 5.30 to 7pm
We have just received this attachment from Ben Binns, the City Council’s Assistant Director of Place, about the redevelopment of Arbury Court and adjoining areas.
If you have any queries or concerns about what is being proposed,please contact Ben at ben.binns@cambridge.gov.uk and copy in ARERA at info@arera.co.uk so we are aware of the issues you are raising.
Eddington Community Orchestra (ECO) invites new members for the term beginning Sunday, October 5, 2025.
This term, we are working towards a selection of pieces from the Nutcracker with a concert scheduled for December 13 at the Storey’s Field Centre in Eddington.About ECO: Formed in the autumn of 2024 with 20 musicians aged 8 to 74, we practice most Sundays during term time from 3-4.30 pm under the direction of Laurie Friday.
Membership is free, and no audition is needed. Free parking is available at the local park and ride.
We think we are a very relaxed and flexible group, so check with us if you have any special needs or questions.Come join us!
We know that some of you are worried that work on the Residents’ Parking Scheme could start while you are away on summer holiday next month.
We have recently heard from our Local County Councillor, Ian Manning, about the start date for this work.
He has informed us:
“The most recent I’ve had from the project team is August/September and I have asked for sufficient notice that I can get another letter out, and organise more public meetings before anything starts.”
This seems to suggest that nothing is imminent.
If we can manage to get any firmer information, we will let you know.
