I have faced a number of phone calls from journos today.  Asking for replies to Richard Spring’s outburst in effect saying I am solely responsible for delaying the dualling of the A11.  I have placed no formal objection to it.

A couple of points:-

1 It’s interesting to see that Mr Spring appears to say I have more power as a local councillor than Mr Spring has sway at Westminster at the moment.

2 My primary concern is the safety of residents and the daily hazard they face in crossing the A11 and the congestion they face at Fiveways on a regular basis.  Surely I would have failed as a local representative if I didn’t reflect their concerns? 

That said I want the A11 to be dualled.  It’s the strategic highway into Norfolk from the South.  It should be a priority and it needs to be safe and as such local traffic should be separated from it as much as possible.  Is that too much to ask?

So moving forward, let’s take party politics (in the middle of an election campaign - may be difficult) out of it, get the go ahead for the last 9 miles of dualling and make sure we campaign hard for the Fiveways  and associated junctions to be improved considerably.

Please join me in this endeavour Mr Spring, it’s much better to work together on this sort of thing, it’s what people are crying out for.  The reputation of politicians at such an all time low, let’s start to rebuild the public’s trust.

I had great pleasure in officially opening the playground at Barton Mills.

After I was elected one of the first things I was approached about was that the parish was having great difficulty accessing money that had been tied up withy the planning permission for the old Dairy site.  I was happy to help unlock the bureacratic hurdles that had been errected to stop the money been spent on something like the playground equipment.

 The parish councillors have done a great job in  upgrading this community facility.

I see Conservative Councillors Colin Noble and Rona Burt have expressed legitimate concerns about the Fiveways Roundabout.

Nobody is objecting to the dualling, indeed I am not but I would like the Fiveways to be brought up to a standard for the 21st Century and action taken on the dangerous junctions south of it.  

Is it sensible for motorists  wanting to go north (or even just Mildenhall) cross the A11 then do a u-turn  on the Newmarket road before travelling north? 

 The story can be found here:-

http://www.eadt.co.uk/content/eadt/news/story.aspx?brand=EADOnline&category=News&tBrand=EADOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=IPED16%20Apr%202009%2022%3A59%3A36%3A760

Whilst I welcome the decison to bring forward the long awaited dual-ling of the Barton Mills to Elvedon stretch of the A11.  There are still no plans to make sure that we have a road fit for purpose  for the first half of the 21st Century.  Unless plans come forward for the upgrading of Fiveways then congestion will ensue, economic growth in the Mildenhall area will suffer and the local population consequently will lose out from any benefit from the scheme.

My big worry from what could ensue when Roundabout are left in major schemes only has to look at the Black Cat roundabout on the A1/A429 junction at Wyboston.  Another scheme that eases congestion in one place only to put it in another, far better if the Roundabout had been done away with when the Great Barford Bypass was built.  Anyone who is there at the wrong time of day is assured of a wait in traffic.

The Government has brought forward proposals for the long awaited dualling of the A11 between Barton Mills and Thetford. The proposal is to start work in 2010 on the final stretch to become dual carriageway between Norwich and London. There are currently no proposals to improve the Fiveways roundabout or any of the junctions south of it.
Local Lib Dem Councillor Tim Huggan has asked the Highways Agency to urgently consider proposals for the improvemnet of the roundabout and associated junctions. He needs your help if they are to take this matter up.
Tim Huggan said ‘ With a large Sainsbury’s likely in Mildenhall , increasing volumes of traffic as Norfolk is easier to reach from outside means that traffic volumes increase, gridlock will become more regular and more accidents will happen as local people try to cross the A11. This work needs to be done at the same time as the road is upgraded.

On Sunday,  I had a very enjoyable day walking around  Barton Mills, seeing the scarecrows, talking to friends and watching the entertainment.  Yet again Barton Mills has produced a festival worthy of the name.  

The effort that goes into it is amazing and the organisers must be proud of themselves to established this as probably the best festival of its type in the country.

My sons Alex and Tom had a great time too!

Nothing surprises me with Conservative controlled  Forest Heath.  Currently Conservation areas are being looked at on a parish by parish basis.  Barton Mills is one of the first to be looked at.  At the last planning committee on Forest Heath, it was proposed that a six week consultation period would be instigated into the conservation area at Barton Mills.  The council was looking at various things  such as boundary, permitted developments, planning rules/guidance etc.  I proposed that the six week consultation period was extended to 8 weeks and luckily I managed to persuade enough Conservatives to back it against opposition from others.

I was shocked to find that more than two weeks after this had happened,  Forest Heath has not even told Barton Mills parish council about the consultation!  So at the Parish meeting on Friday I was the first to tell them about it.     If  Forest Heath wasn’t going to consult the parish about their own conservation area, who were they going to consult?

 I had to apologise to the Parish for this lapse and felt personally embarassed.  Luckily as Barton Mills has monthly meetings, they have a chance next month to discuss the proposals.  The other parishes in my ward Freckenham and Worlington meet bi-monthly and when their parish conservation areas come up for review,  I think I will inform the parish clerk forthwith.

I have been asked to provide names for three roads at the site. I am happy for the PC to suggest names.  The only rules appears to be it must not be named after a living person or similar to existing street names.

My ideas include Bridge Farm Close, Old Station End.  I am keen for some history to be retained in the site.

The time frame is quite limited so quickly please.

Forest Heath is reviewing the  conservation areas within the district.  Barton Mills is now out for review.

Key points in the draft plan are:

- no change to current conservation area.

- current undeveloped areas that are within the conservation area that need protecting.

- UPVC windows and doors not allowe dwithin conservation area and Forest Heath considering  withdrawing permissions on all residential properties for them within area.

- undergrounding of all overhead wires to be encouraged.

- The former Wilhire site to provide opportunity for sensitive development.

- A number of buildings worthy of inclusion in a list of buildings of local importance.

- A survey of boundary walls witha view to developing grant aid for scheme for their repair.

 Anyway submissions have to be in to the council by the end of April.  Please let me know what you think of the proposals.