Nichola Harrison

A four day planning inquiry has taken place to hear Tesco’s appeals against refusal of planning permission to extend the old Wilco store in Mill Road, Romsey and the result is expected in November. Many objectors attended the inquiry and site visit, and some made statements. Representatives of the No Mill Road Tesco Campaign and the Cambridge Cycling Campaign gave detailed evidence about the dangers and inconvenience that would result from Tesco’s proposed options for making deliveries to the store. Nichola made a statement to the inquiry which you can read here. Read the rest of this entry »

With Ashwell’s planning application for the station area development due to go to the City’s planning committee on 15 October (9.30am at New Hall), Nichola is making a last push to secure funding from developers Ashwell for traffic management measures in the Tenison Road area.

In a letter to residents she has asked for their written support to be produced at the planning committee meeting. You can read the letter here.

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Underage drinking is being targeted in Petersfield and neighbouring wards Coleridge and Romsey.The Cambridge Community Alcohol Partnership (CAP) was launched in July by Cambridgeshire Trading Standards in partnership with police, the charity Drinksense and the alcohol retailers’ group, RASG. Read the rest of this entry »

Nichola and her Lib Dem colleagues from Romsey ward are promoting the idea of Mill Road as an “Independent Business Zone”. Nichola will be speaking on behalf of residents opposing Tesco at the planning inquiry which starts tomorrow.

Explaining the idea to the Cambridge News, Nichola said: “The government gives precious little backing to communities who are trying to protect the special character of local shopping streets. Mill Road is very special and we are looking for practical ways to protect and improve it. Read the rest of this entry »

At the request of local residents, Nichola has asked ASDA to find ways to stop customers removing shopping trolleys from their premises. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s good news that a “Neighbourhood Speedwatch” scheme will soon be underway in Cambridgeshire, giving trained local volunteers the opportunity to contribute to road safety in their neighbourhood. Nichola has submitted a formal request to the County Council for Petersfield to be one of the first areas to benefit from the scheme because of the frequency of accidents here. Read the rest of this entry »

It was announced last week that the County Council’s cabinet has formally suspended its ‘TIF’ plan for £500 million of central government transport investment plus a 7.30am-9.30am congestion charge in Cambridge. Instead, the cabinet will pass the poisoned chalice to an independent Transport Commission whch will now take evidence from people with an interest in the congestion issue. It will not report until after the County Council elections next year. Read the rest of this entry »

In July, we reported that Nichola had written to government minister Rosie Winterton to ask her to allow councils to use road signs saying ‘No Entry Except Cyclists’ at the entrance to contraflow cycle lanes. The reply was negative  - apparently this sign would be confusing for drivers and cyclists! Cambridge would just have to struggle on with the famous low flying motorcycle sign (motorcycle over car within a white circle with red edge) - which in reality is misunderstood and ignored by many drivers.

The Cambridge Cycling Campaign has also been working on this issue with Cambridge MP David Howarth.

The great news is that the government has now announced a major review of road signs, giving Cambridge a good chance to argue for signs suitable for contraflow cycle lanes, which are themselves important safety measures for cyclists and are supported by government guidance.

In response to concerns about plastic bottles blowing out of the blue recycling boxes, the City Council is trialling the use of net covers on the boxes. Residents of Glisson Road were selected to be the Petersfield guinea pigs.

The trial will be monitored for six months. If you are using a net, do record a Comment here to let us know how well it works.

The rules of the government’s Concessionary Bus Fares scheme, which provides free bus travel to elderly people, are forcing Cambridge residents to pay the bus fares of thousands of people who live outside the city.

The scheme is administered by local councils, supposedly with full government funding, but Cambridge is being left to foot 50% of the bill this year – that’s £1.3 million, or £1 in every £5 raised in council tax by the Council.

The scheme penalises places like Cambridge which attract many visitors. The Council has to pay the bus fares for all elderly people who get on a bus in the city, including return fares for people who live outside the city.

Cllr Ian Nimmo-Smith, Lib Dem Leader of the Council is tearing his hair out. “It’s great that elderly people are entitled to free bus travel, but it’s unfair that Cambridge’s Council Tax payers are having to foot the bill for non-residents. Unless the government changes its rules, we may have to make big cuts in other services to pay for this.”

Cambridge City Council has been rated as “Excellent” and as one of the top four financially-competent councils in England by the Audit Commission.