Planning

The parish council has faced many challenges in planning in recent times. With no Local Plan yet adopted by UDC we are thankful that our own group managed to get our own Neighbourhood Plan adopted. This has been used to great effect in our defence against the proposed development of 350 new homes between the village and Stumps Cross. We also had a win at the Boro Farm aggregate site which has also lost its appeal to continue working and should be returning to its previous condition. We will wait to see how this develops over the coming weeks. 

Cllr’s Tom Newcombe and Julie Redfern met with Tom Cunningham, the Essex County Council cabinet member for highways recently. They walked from the Crown &Thistle to the new developments along London Road. They discussed the concerns of safety, speeding, and works that have not been completed to the standard we would expect. Discussion also started on how we can work together to de-urbanise  this route to the village with the funding provided by the Section 106 monies secured for this project. This is an ongoing process and we will continue to report on progress at parish council meetings. 

We are also talking to the developers Hill Residential about possible planting along the resurfaced footpath to the station. This is now another conversation with Essex Highways. 

We have also had confirmation from Network Rail that our long awaited cycle gully over the foot bridge along with additional bike racks will finally be installed. 

Nursery

The nursery project has had its delays and frustrations. However, at the time of writing, the final stages of obtaining planning consent for non-material amendments to the initial planning consent which result from the changes to the original design and service runs are almost finalised.   The specification documentation for the building is close to completion and following the planning conditions included,  the procurement process will commence.   With the present feedback from the UDC planning department, this is expected for the end of November.   The return of bids from potential contractors and their assessment with available funding is expected early January 2025.   Work is scheduled to start early/mid-March, depending on contract negotiations.  The initial focus at the commencement of the work will be to minimise disruption to activities on the recreation ground.  Present scheduling is for a six-month build period with fitting out in September.  

Recreation Ground & Open Spaces

Skatepark

This item of popular piece of equipment at the recreation ground is nearing its end of life.  Following inspection by the PC's safety consultants earlier this year, the skatepark was closed for some weeks as remedial work was carried out.  This and likely future work will only keep the skatepark going for so long.   It will be an expensive bit of kit to replace.  The PC is actively looking at available funding and is considering starting a fund raising project.   If this is something you would like to be involved in, do contact the Clerk!

Ditches & flood defences at the Recreation Ground

The issue of flood defences is a sensitive issue within Great Chesterford following the incident in 2001.   The PC ensures that the ditches and their banks around the recreation ground are cleared at least annually in the autumn after the bird nesting season.  This leads to the PC contacting the  landowners (or their agents)  up and downstream of the recreation ground.   This includes Essex County Council who are responsible for the culverts under both the Walden and Newmarket  Roads.   This can be a frustrating exercise!

Grants

Next year will be a big push to look for grants towards play equipment and the skatepark. The skatepark in particular will need a lot of funding as to replace it fully will be in excess of £100,000. If anyone would like to be involved in the fundraising for this please get in touch with the Parish Council as we will be looking to set up a crowdfunding page soon as another source of potential funding.

Christmas!

We have purchased again a Christmas Tree for Horse River Green but with a difference this year. It will be a rooted tree which we hope can be used year on year. We have also been asked by the WI if they can add to our decorations, which of course we are delighted to accept. 

Cllr Julie Redfern is again organising The Chesterfords Seniors Christmas Lunch on Saturday 7th December. Julie is again overwhelmed by the numbers that volunteer to help and those who continue to so generously donate to this fun and festive village tradition.

Who to contact?

A guide to whether something is an Essex County Council issue or a Uttlesford District issue or a PC issue is available on www.lovegreatchesterford.com, but broadly for PC issues the roles are as follows:

Kate Stacey - GCPC Clerk - email: clerk.gcpc@gmail.com, a great first point of contact and Kate can direct queries to the best councillor for them

Tom Newcombe - Chair, Planning, Highways, Local Plan, Liaison with scouts and local PC chairs

Mike Mitchell - Vice-Chair, Nursery, Open Spaces, Recreation Ground, Community Centre liaison, Storage facility, Allotments, Orchard

Julie Redfern - Vice-Chair, Planning, Highways, Local Plan, Nursery, Good Neighbours Group, Liaison with the Welcome Trust Genome Campus, Liaison with WI

Rachel Thackray - Neighbourhood Plan, Grants

Penny McCullough - Online Comms, Website, Safeguarding

Amanda Cooper - Community Engagement, Grants

We are delighted to announce that our clerk has been awarded the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA) and we congratulate her on completing this far from simple qualification!

Could you join the PC?

We would love to have some extra hands to help our PC and village run smoothly. If you have a few hours to spare and could help drum up funds to replace the skate park, or maybe you have knowledge about planning matters and could support our two councillors that lead on planning, it would make a massive difference! If that’s not your thing, we would also love someone to liaise with all our fabulous community groups; from the WI to the Community Centre Committee, the Cricket Club, the Bowls Club and all the other groups that run in the village! If you are website or socially media minded we have space for you too. Even if you only want a small role in helping, we can make sure we find you something that fits. Email Kate on clerk.gcpc@gmail.com and come and meet us!