July 2003
Warden goes mobile
The new pavilion
The Orange mobile phone mast

July 2003

Warden goes mobile

Stapleford's first Mobile Warden will be Mrs Sue Garrett, a local resident and accomplished care worker. Sue was chosen from a field of candidates and has the personality and experience to bring confidence and security to her clients in the village.

The idea of a Mobile Warden Service was floated by the Parish Council. After residents were canvassed by the Parish Clerk, there was clearly enough interest to take the idea further.

Protracted talks with the appropriate authorities won grants from the Parish Council, South Cambridgeshire Council, and the Cambridge County Council.

The Service will start on September 22nd next when the new Warden will be personally introduced to present clients by Victor Cornish (Chairman of the Mobile Warden Service Committee) and Mrs Eileen French (Secretary to the Committee).

The Committee hopes that others who may well benefit from the Service will come forward and use it. The Committee is also appealing to residents generally to join as Associate Members. Joining will support a fine Service and ensure that it is a community project.

Contact Victor Cornish on 846691 to enquire about the service and to give feedback. This will help the Committee achieve the best possible service for Stapleford.

Pavilion latest

The proposed new pavilion
Click to see a larger image

District Council "appalled"

The present pavilion was built in 1971 enclosing a toilet block built in 1962. An officer of the District Council was recently appalled at its state.

This is not to say that the Parish Council has neglected it. There has been regular substantial expenditure in painting it inside and out, replacing broken windows, keeping it watertight, rewiring it throughout and updating the heating.

More than two years ago the Council delayed replacement in hope of enlarging the recreation ground, but no additional land could be found for sale or rental and it was finally decided in February 2002 that a new pavilion must be built.

All change at the recreation ground

Draft plans for a building on the same site were prepared in April by our architect, Keith Warth. The Council then decided in favour of a building on a fresh site, and revised plans were prepared to build it in the far corner of the recreation ground, where it would least restrict the cricket field.

It would contain substantially extra space for changing rooms, toilets, a meeting room and a kitchen. It would also include storage space for the equipment etc. in the present cricket shed, regarded by all as a supremely ugly building, which could then be demolished. A new site for the skateboard ramp will be required.

Some of the site of the old pavilion could be used for much needed extra car-parking space. Unfortunately several trees have to be be removed. The detailed plans were approved by the clubs that use the ground.

Footing the bill

The cost of the building was estimated at approximately £210,000. Architect's fees, the cost of the planning and building regulation applications etc. would bring the total to about £226,000. Funding has not yet been sought. The District Council may be willing to meet 40% of the cost.

The new playground equipment was largely funded by grants from the Countryside Commission and from landfill tax credits distributed by WREN. Many grants are restricted to charities and the Parish Council would not be eligible for them.

Planning application approved

A planning application was finally submitted to District Council in January 2003 and has now been approved. The District Council were concerned that a number of trees would have to be removed, but accepted that there was no other suitable site available on the Recreation Ground. They have consequently approved the planning application provided that replacement trees are planted as part of the project. The advice of their Tree and Landscape Officer will be sought on this in due course.

An estimate of the cost of the project is now to be obtained from a local builder or quantity surveyor as a first step towards applying for grant funding. A small store for Parish Council records is to be included in the plan. It then rests with the Parish Council to set about raising the necessary funds.

Orange telephone mast

Orange originally gave notice of their proposal to place a mobile phone mast on the grass area outside the Spar Shop in London Road. This would have been ideal for them since it would have given a line of sight range down London Road towards Great Shelford as well as towards Sawston.

This area, with its public seat, is, however, a place of resort for the young and old of the village. The proposal naturally aroused great public opposition, and Orange, after discussions with the Parish Council, have now given notice of their intention to place a mast 11.8 metres high, in the style of a lamp-post, further up London Road by the beginning of the cycleway that leads to Sawston.

The nearest properties are The Grove and Crispin Cottage, and the Parish Council asked that their owners be informed. As the law stands no actual planning permission is required for a mast of this height.