District Council report from Councillor Tim Alban

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION

As has already been mentioned, three options for reforming the major local councils in Cambridgeshire have recently been announced.  

Further details are available on the Huntingdonshire District Council website www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk but in short, each option would see either a merger of Huntingdonshire with Fenland and Peterborough, or a merger of Huntingdonshire with Fenland, East Cambs and Peterborough or a merger of Huntingdonshire with Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire; all the options will include an incorporation of the services currently carried out by Cambridgeshire County Council.  

The ultimate decision will be taken by Central Government, who started this whole process off but please do take the opportunity to participate in the survey.

SAWTRY SWIMMING POOL

Sawtry Swimming Pool

Having spoken in support of the pool as a resource for the villages in our area, I was delighted when funding was secured to reopen it.  The current target for reopening is Spring 2026 but this may be subject to change as work progresses.

ANEROBIC DIGESTER APPLICATION IN LUDDINGTON

Further to my article in March this year, the councillor in North Northants I was liaising with is no longer a council member so I have written to two others who represent Luddington to ask them for an update on what is happending with this application.  I will submit provide further information once it becomes available.

WORKING TOGETHER

My fellow ward District Councillor, Marge Beuttell and I believe in collaborative working.  As well as working closely with County Councillor Ian Gardener, we continue to set up meetings for local Parish Councils, where common issues and hopefully, resolutions to issues can be shared.  We are currently working to arrange the next meeting date, where we hope to invite a County Council Highways Officer.

Tim Alban

District Councillor for Stilton, Folksworth & Washingley Ward

Huntingdonshire District Council

Tim.alban@huntingdonshire.gov.uk

07903 518967

https://www.facebook.com/CouncillorTimAlban

June Parish Council Newsletter for Great and Little Gidding

June Parish Council Newsletter for Great and Little Gidding

The Parish Council has published the June Newsletter which will be displayed on Noticeboards throughout the Parish and submitted via WhatsApp, Facebook and here on the Giddings website. 

If you are aware of anyone in the parish who cannot access the noticeboards or the community social media platforms, please contact the Parish Council so a printed copy can be made available for them. If you would prefer to receive a copy of the monthly newsletter via email, please contact the Parish Council.


Download the June edition of the Parish Council Newsletter

Churchyard Biodiversity Project

Churchyard Biodiversity Project

To increase the range of biodiversity of birds, animals and plants, a small working party of local volunteers have been working together with the aim of increasing the bio-diversity in St Michael’s churchyard. 

Community information about the churchyard biodiversity project

Much of the bramble overgrowth has been removed revealing long lost gravestones, other plants have been cut back exposing dormant plants such as primroses. 

Bird boxes have been added along with compost and recycling bins. Some of the grass will be left long, with cut pathways through to the graves, to create a more diverse habitat whilst other areas will be planted and the remaining grass cut as normal. You are very welcome to view progress or if you want to know more, you will often find one or two of us doing a bit of work in the churchyard and always happy to talk about the project.

Read more about the project observations at inaturalist.org

The group is next meeting on 18th May in the Fox and Hounds pub at 3.00pm to discuss next steps. For more information contact Mary Read on fmary.read@gmail.com

Churchyard Biodiversity Group

April Parish Council Newsletter for Great and Little Gidding

April Parish Council Newsletter for Great and Little Gidding

The Parish Council has published the April Newsletter which will be displayed on Noticeboards throughout the Parish and submitted via WhatsApp, Facebook and here on the Giddings website. 

If you are aware of anyone in the parish who cannot access the noticeboards or the community social media platforms, please contact the Parish Council so a printed copy can be made available for them. If you would prefer to receive a copy of the monthly newsletter via email, please contact the Parish Council.


Download the April edition of the Parish Council Newsletter

Anerobic Digester Application update

Anerobic Digester Application update

From Councillor Tim Alban

“Concerned that it had all gone quiet with this application, I contacted one of the North Northamptonshire Councillors, who represents the ward which includes the proposed site of the digester.

He contacted his council’s Planning Department and has forwarded the following response:

“Anerobic Digester Application NN/23/00026/ WASFUL, Rectory Farm, Luddington
Further to your enquiry received by North Northamptonshire Council on 2 March 2025 on behalf of your fellow councillor, regarding the status of the planning application for an anaerobic digester reference NN/23/00026/WASFUL.

An extension to the determination period has been agreed with the agent to cover the ongoing discussions with the Cambridgeshire Highway Authority to address their concerns through the potential submission of another planning application to deal with a new site access and other works. In addition to the highway matters, the waste planning authority is awaiting a final response from Natural England”.


Kind regards,

Tim

Councillor Tim Alban 

Stilton, Folksworth & Washingley Ward
Huntingdonshire District Council

February Parish Council Newsletter for Great and Little Gidding

February Parish Council Newsletter for Great and Little Gidding

The Parish Council has published the February Newsletter which will be displayed on Noticeboards throughout the Parish and submitted via WhatsApp, Facebook and here on the Giddings website. 

If you are aware of anyone in the parish who cannot access the noticeboards or the community social media platforms, please contact the Parish Council so a printed copy can be made available for them. If you would prefer to receive a copy of the monthly newsletter via email, please contact the Parish Council.


Download the February edition of the Parish Council Newsletter

Photo competition results

Photo competition results

Message from the organisers:

Firstly a huge thanks to you for submitting a photo or 3: they were excellent and very varied from the humorous to the beautiful. In total we had 75 entries so there was a lot to view. They made the coffee morning a huge success (along with the fantastic cakes) and gave people a lot of enjoyment and difficult decisions on who to give their vote to. 

Great Gidding Photo Competition coffee morning Jan 2025

As promised all will be displayed either individually as the 4 winners based on the popular vote or together with others. We had 68 voting slips returned to us:

– 62 of the 75 photos received at least 1 vote

– 31 of the 75 photos were awarded first place by one or more people

The 4 winners

In 1st place

Tess Butler - Church in Spring

In 2nd place

Richard Downer - Cycle Race

In 3rd place

Jack Bolton - Church Spire 2

In 4th place 

Paul Crank - St John's in the Snow

Thanks again for your brilliant photos. I know some of them have been converted into Christmas cards in the past and perhaps we should create a calendar. If we decide to do this we will obviously ask permission first.

Bruce Jordan

Bruce

Sadly, Bruce Jordan died early this morning in Polebrook nursing home after a short illness.

Many of us will remember Bruce and his wife Lois moving to the village over 20 years ago. They were active members of the church and our community in general, always welcoming and keen to help others. We’ll miss him, but know that all he’s wanted for these past 10 years since his beloved Lois died is to be with her and we hope he has finally found some peace. 

Funeral arrangements.

Bruce‘s funeral will be held at Saint Michael’s church in Great Gidding on Friday, the 17th of January at 11:30 am. The family welcome everyone to join them afterwards at the Fox And Hounds pub in Gidding.

December Parish Council Newsletter for Great and Little Gidding

December Parish Council Newsletter for Great and Little Gidding

The Parish Council has published the December Newsletter which will be displayed on Noticeboards throughout the Parish and submitted via WhatsApp, Facebook and here on the Giddings website. 

If you are aware of anyone in the parish who cannot access the noticeboards or the community social media platforms, please contact the Parish Council so a printed copy can be made available for them. If you would prefer to receive a copy of the monthly newsletter via email, please contact the Parish Council.


Download the December edition of the Parish Council Newsletter

Preparations for new Local Plan for Huntingdonshire are underway

Preparations for new Local Plan for Huntingdonshire are underway

A news item from our local councillor, Tim Alban…

Preparations for the new Local Plan for Huntingdonshire are underway and the District Council are asking residents to help to create it.

A Local Plan is a crucial for the future development of Huntingdonshire, it helps us achieve the goals set out in the Huntingdonshire Futures Place Strategy and Corporate Plan to 2028.

The plan influences policies that help shape housing, infrastructure, and employment while addressing vital issues like climate change, affordability, and flooding. The aim is to achieve sustainable development that meets today’s needs without compromising the needs of future generations.

Last year, the council asked for input and used the feedback to shape our options.

The council are now consulting on three key documents:

  • Further Issues and Options – Sets out options for what may be included in the new local plan. It also asks some questions about what is important to you.
  • Land Availability Assessments – Assesses sites that were put forward by landowners, developers, agents and interested third parties to see if they are potentially suitable or unsuitable for development.
  • Sustainability Appraisals – Assesses our strategies, options, sites and future polices against a series of sustainability objectives

How to take part

There are several in-person events from 2 PM to 8 PM where residents can view the Local Plan documents, ask questions, and share their thoughts.

Upcoming Dates & Locations:

  • 8 Oct: Queens Park Hall, Yaxley
  • 10 Oct: Civic Suite, Pathfinder House
  • 15 Oct: Burleigh Hill Community Centre, St Ives
  • 21 Oct: Sawtry Women’s Institute, Sawtry
  • 22 Oct: Kimbolton Scout Hut
  • 28 Oct: Love’s Farm House, St Neots
  • 31 Oct Ramsey Community Centre

Alternatively please visit online consultation site to submit feedback.

Emails with comments can be sent to local.plan@huntingdonshire.gov.uk  Anyone who would like to copy me in or contact me can do so via tim.alban@huntingdonshire.gov.uk