News

At the last two Parish Council Meetings, in discussions around the Independent Audit of the Off-Road Cambourne to Cambridge (C2C) Busway, the District and Parish Councillors referred to an interim scheme supported by the Local Liaison Forum, LLF, and put forward as a “quick win” alternative to the C2C Scheme proposed by GCP.

 The LLF represent Villages and Residents Associations affected in the continued dialogue with the GCP over the appropriateness of the C2C Scheme. Hardwick are represented on the LLF by two Parish Councillors plus our District Councillor, Grenville Chamberlain, who is also the Vice Chairman of LLF.

As the Government’s cautious road-map out of lockdown continues, people’s health, safety and wellbeing remain of paramount importance. While infection and death rates are decreasing, transmission of Coronavirus is still an extremely serious threat and we all have a role to play in doing our utmost to stop its spread.

This can best be done by continuing to take precautions against catching or transmitting the virus and closely following the Government’s rules for each step of its COVID-19 Response Spring 2021 roadmap out of the current lockdown for England.

This means continuing to abide by the guidelines for social distancing by:

• Washing your hands regularly and for at least 20 seconds;
• Covering your face in enclosed spaces (especially where social distancing may be difficult and where you come into contact with people you do not normally meet);
• Staying two metres apart where possible, or one metre with extra precautions in place.
• It is also essential to stick to the rules around travel and holidaying.

Our Council team continues to provide essential services and support to the residents most in need in our district. They are working in conjunction with many dedicated volunteers who have played a crucial role in helping this work and we are immensely grateful to them.

Residents who need to carry on self-isolating during this time can rest assured that all the support previously available will continue, including financial help.

Our Reopening the High Street team is supporting local small to medium businesses as they reopen and work towards recovery. This includes helping them to carry out comprehensive COVID-19 risk assessments to keep customers and their workers safe; providing signage and aiding the implementation of the two-metre rule in the workplace; and advising on cleaning, handwashing and hygiene procedures in line with current guidance.

As more Government financial packages are announced for the business sector, our Business Support Team is also there to support the recovery and help struggling firms to access much-needed Government grants to address some of the financial impact of the lockdown and to fund recovery activities. We are also offering support and grant aid to local communities to get voluntary projects and services back on track after months of lockdown.

Everyone across the district is working extremely hard to put plans into place for when affected services are able to gradually and safely welcome everyone back. Until then, please continue follow the guidelines to help protect the NHS and our families, friends and colleagues. By keeping infection rates low, we will all be able to get back to doing the things we love sooner.

To access advice and support see https://www.scambs.gov.uk/coronavirus/

For more information on the Government guidelines in the COVID-19 Response Spring 2021 roadmap, see https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Useful links:

Government Coronavirus restrictions: www.gov.uk/coronavirus

South Cambridgeshire District Council Coronavirus information: www.scambs.gov.uk/coronavirus

Information on financial support to self-isolate: www.scambs.gov.uk/isolation

South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Reopening High Streets Safely Team: www.scambs.gov.uk/business/coronavirus-information-for-businesses/reopening-the-high-street

Support for local businesses: www.scambs.gov.uk/business/coronavirus-information-for-businesses

Update from: 25th March 2021

Dear residents, see below message from Mr Phil Swann, who is the appointed person to carry out the audit:

“The statement of the assumptions and constraints underpinning outline business case and the selection of the preferred route has now been published. A copy of the statement is attached and is available on the GCP website. The focus of the audit is on the robustness and continuing appropriateness of those assumptions and constraints.

Interested parties are now invited to submit written representations on the assumptions and constraints and their application throughout the process. Representations should be submitted to C2Caudit@sharedintelligence.net by 23 April 2021.“

Dear All,

Please see notice from the Parish Council below:

Dear residents,

Here is a link about what to expect for the next May 2021 Local elections in our region:

https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/2021-local-elections-everything-you-19855211

Dear residents,

Our local MP, Anthony Browne has a recent survey, the South Cambridgeshire Development Survey, is now live on his website.

Link: https://www.anthonybrowne.org/form/planning-survey

The press release is here

If there are any further queries, please get in touch with Anthony Browne’s office.

Dear residents,

For information, Mr Phil Swann (Director Shared Intelligence) has been commissioned by the Greater Cambridge Partnership to manage an independent audit of the project.

His first step is to commission an independent transport expert to carry out the review. The expert’s first task will be to prepare a statement of the key constraints and assumptions which underpin the selection of the preferred route. He will publish the statement together with an invitation to local representative groups to submit representations to the audit on the constraints and assumptions.

In the meantime if local representative groups wish to ensure that previously submitted evidence is drawn to the attention of the transport expert, then please let Mr Swann know.

Mr Phil Swann can be contacted via e-mail at C2Caudit@sharedintelligence.net

For more information: https://www.greatercambridge.org.uk/public-transport-schemes/cambourne-to-cambridge/cambourne-to-cambridge-independent-audit

Dear residents,
Please see information below pertaining to priority groups for vaccinations:

The NHS has now opened up access to the COVID vaccine to staff and volunteers from community groups currently directly working or having contact with people in the priority groups outlined here:
Priority Groups for Vaccination

• those involved in the direct supply of food and other goods
• those supporting older people and those with long term health issues
• those supporting vulnerable children and young people
• volunteer drivers involved in transporting people to vaccine appointments

We are working with the NHS on the identifying community groups to receive the COVID vaccine and will be your point of contact, if you believe your staff and/or volunteers meet the eligibility criteria please confirm and we will send you details of how to book appointments.

At this point there is no restriction on numbers of vaccinations available, with plenty of appointments available this week, so we urge you to respond immediately.

If you fit within the above, please contact the Parish Council through the Clerk.