Are you OPEN MINDED, OBJECTIVE AND IMPARTIAL?
Are you DISCREET?
If you can answer yes to these questions, would you like to become an Independent Custody Visitor? Cambridgeshire Police Authority is looking for people to join its Custody Visitor Panels.
Take a walk around Milton Country Park and help raise £5,000 for Cancer Research UK’s vital work.
It’s a family event and all ages are welcome. There’s a 4k walk around the park or 12k walk which includes a beautiful ramble alongside the famous river Cam. Both routes are suitable for pushchairs.
For more information click here Cambridge Cancer Walk
A vacancy is currently available on the Parish Council, if you are interested in becoming a Parish Councillor click here for more details.
In your village and others around, there is a huge problem with vehicles travelling at excess speed usually during the rush hours. We would like to take this opportunity to ask if there are any times and locations were you feel we need to be concentrating our speed checks.
The village has lost one of its elders with the death of Daphne Black on April 17th. Her funeral was held at All Saints’ on April 30th and she is buried in the Orchard Road cemetery, as is her mother. There is a tribute to Daphne on p. 21.
The very successful Mobile Warden Scheme was set up by Val Trueman sixteen years ago. Sadly she has now had to resign as Chairman due to ill health. We are grateful to Val for her hard work and wish her well.
Would you like to join the band of Walkers who regularly help make the Bridge the Gap Walk a very successful and enjoyable day for all concerned, especially the two charities who benefit?
Heydon Grange Wind Farm – the impact on Melbourn
Some of you may have read in the press about a possible wind farm development in the area. The facts are, that a German company called Volkswind are undertaking an ‘Environmental Impact Assessment’ (EIA) on land owned by Heydon Grange golf club, to assess the affect that such a development would have on the local environment.
(Report authored by Jeannie Seers – 01.04.10)
The following information is a summary of notes captured from my attendance at Heydon Parish Council AGM held on 31st March 2010 about the scoping document referring to a wind farm development on land at Heydon Grange. They reflect the views presented.
Benefits of wind farms have been well publicised and are presented within the scoping document by the developer Volkswind.
Attendees at the meeting had the opportunity to hear a presentation from Mike Barnard – an independent – who has expertise on the subject. Following Mike’s own experiences, he has developed an enlightening view, following extensive research on the impact that wind farms have – from the perspective of the public. Mike is an active campaigner in bringing realities of wind farms to the table for those faced with the prospect of a development in their neighbourhood.
The villages directly impacted by a wind farm development at Heydon Grange would be Heydon, The Chishills, Melbourn, Fowlmere, Duxford and Thriplow. All of these villages could expect to experience tangible changes as a result of any development, so it is imperative that each village is diligent in ensuring it is proactively involved in the process and that it works together with the rest.
Government has left development of wind farms to the market place by setting targets, giving subsidies and letting the market place decide where these developments will be.
As this is a commercial interest, the developers look at the most commercially viable sites as there is a lot of money to be made out of any site with a willing landowner. The Heydon Grange site would be expected to generate in the region of £100m for the developer and the landowner would expect to receive around £150k per annum.
It is unsurprising that for maximum energy benefits, a wind farm is best placed where it is windy! Therefore the most suitable placement is off shore. However this is expensive, difficult and much higher risk so profitability is reduced, hence why developers have driven the market on shore. However the result of this is that typical output of on shore wind farms is actually only around 20% of capacity.
Countries which have significantly embraced wind farms such as Germany have reviewed their position in the light of such results and are now determining that developers move to off shore positioning. It should be noted that Volkswind who are seeking on shore opportunities in the UK are a German company.
Targets set across the UK have been surpassed by Cambridgeshire, who lead the country (alongside Lincolnshire) for wind farming. Cambridgeshire have delivered 130% against target already. (To be validated)
Historically, once precedence has been set for a development, the area becomes a magnet for further developers. It is an important point and one which may be of interest to adjoining counties via respective councils who may not only be impacted by this scoping project, but any future developments given the proximity of this site to County borders of Hertfordshire and Essex.
The site is not considered suitable by residents for the following reasons:
2.1 The site is not windy. Wind records indicate that wind speeds are on average low and would not be a productive location.
2.2 The height of the turbines will encroach upon the airspace of aircraft using Duxford Airfield which is of significant economic importance to the area. This is a huge safety issue for both aircraft and the residents under this space. Duxford Airfield themselves are lodging an objection on this basis.
2.3 A Heydon resident raised a point that many properties have covenants that may be relevant to what may be permissible with any future proposal relating to a wind farm on this site. These covenants are to be examined to understand the implications.
Wind turbines are not without negative impact upon residents and it is widely accepted that these effects can readily encompass a 10km radius. This means that the seven villages already mentioned are certain to experience some or all of the following effects.
Environment
Each turbine suggested, from base to tip of blade is 126.5 metres high (over 415 feet) that’s taller than a 40 storey building and 80% of the height of Canary Wharf! These will be very visible from a considerable distance (30km) and dominating the closer one gets. People will have varying sensitivity to this. Notable historic interest sites such as Icknield Way will be impacted by the alteration of the scenic view.
Bats and birds will be at risk by both the risk of turbine blade collision and the displacement of wildlife, altering the local eco-system as a result of site clearance and construction.
Cambridgeshire County Council’s ruling group has decided keep £25 million in reserve, and to cut its support to ten Library Access Points across the county by 50% – a total of just £15,000. That includes Melbourn Library.
New for Melbourn and District
If you are the parent or carer of children under the age of five, you might like to come along to the newly established Story Time at Melbourn Library, located in The Moor, adjacent to the front entrance of Melbourn Village College (follow signs from the High Street). This takes place Thursdays, 10am to 10:45am, during term time.