"Fence"-gate continues - petition wins concessions about grazing on Coldham's Common

Firstly thanks to all who gave their support on the petition.  Without your efforts it would not have been possible.  We have won concessions from the council as reported by Cambridge News : http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Cattle-grazing-plans-on-hold-after-petition-18012013.htm

The final petition had 101 signatures on paper and 90 online, and the council have taken note of us.  The Friends went to the "Community Scrutiny Committee" on Thursday 17/1/13 to formally present the petition, prior to a council debate on the matter.

The Labour Councillors Zoe Moghadas and Carina O'Reilly  were both very critical of the council's approach with the fence. Zoe said it was another example of a failure by the council to consult adequately with residents. When visiting the site, she found fences that simply ended nowhere and wouldn't hold cows in. Carina offered sympathy to the residents, saying that what had turned out in reality had not matched plans or the expectations or needs of the community.

However Councillor Simon Kightley  from Lib Dems. who remembered putting the ash trees, felt perhaps they hadn't developed as intended. He felt that whatever was put in place there should be a good tree belt and good pedestrian access.

Responding Rod Cantrill recognised Coldham's Common as an important open space with numerous users such as dogwalkers, runners and cows.  There had been a genuine objective to improve the common, but the reality had turned out differently.  He offered a proposal answer, which is in a letter to FoCC, but in summary says :

1. The fencing that is causing immediate problems will be taken down as a temporary measure;
2. He will ask officers to stop works until further notice;
3. He will ask officers to go back and look at the scheme, so that "lessons learnt" can be found and that whatever done has been done correctly;
4. Ultimately a new management plan will be drawn up for the whole common, that takes accounts of everyone's views.

He will include this as an item in his 2013/14 "post portfolio".

Dog control areas affecting access onto Coldham's Common

The council is introducing new measures to deal with dogs in the city.  One of these will be "dog exclusion" areas, and another "dogs on leads" areas.  Some of it is fair enough - such as no dogs in toddler's play area.  If introduced in its present form however "dog exclusion" areas will prevent you as a dog walker from accessing the common ( even with a dog on the lead ) by :
- walking across the skate park, basketball pitch and swings on Coldhams Lane
- walking along the southern stream side by Abbey Pool ( this isn't the play area, so no idea why )

Online consultation is at http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/content/environment-and-recycling/animal-welfare-and-pest-control/dog-control-order-consultation.en

You can respond by :
Online survey : http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/S6H79CR
email to Wendy Young, Enforcement Officer, at wendy.young@cambridge.gov.uk
visit the Customer Service Centre [ Good luck ! ]
write to Dog Warden Service, PO Box 336, Cambridge CB1 2WS

Check the maps below for the proposals.

http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/public/docs/dog_areas_abbey.pdf
http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/public/docs/dog_areas_romsey.pdf

Closing date for consultation is 8 February.

There will be a display at the Dog Control Orders - public consultation at Eastern Area Committee on 10 January, which will shows specific proposals for the East Area. Check http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/democracy/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=147&MId=1263&Ver=4 - Vicky has volunteered to pop along and check for us.

Meeting Monday 7/1/13 7.30pm at Ross Street Community Centre

Come and get an update on the fencing works and put your views forward.

This meeting is to assemble our views prior to the Council Community Scrutiny committee meeting on 17 January, where the petition will be discussed.  We are also looking for volunteers to come to the council meeting with us, which unfortunately is on a weekday.  New faces more than welcome. 

[Details of the meeting ==> details of Community Scrutiny committee meeting.]


We are meeting as previous meetings except this time in the Community Room. Details of the centre are here ==> Ross Street community centre.

There will be biscuits and tea provided, but if you want to bring along uneaten mince pies to share, that would be loverly as well.

Please can you let those people not on the email know.