Planning & Environment Issues Report 1. PACT's Planning & Environment Issues Sub-committee met on Thursday, 2nd September 2004. Date and venue of next meeting TBA. 2. Beehive site. Rychard Carrington reported on youngsters breaking down and vandalising the board fence and getting in to St Matthew's Gardens. (Perhaps raise with managing agents for the site if we get to meet with them re Rope Walk - see item 5) 3. Crown Court. Lesley Tubb commented about the boring and woefully inadequate planting around the Crown Court. Lesley will write to Andy Thompson (Planning Dept.) and Anthony French (Parks and Rec Dept.) to see if it can be improved. But we are not hopeful since the local authority appears to have little influence over Crown Properties. 4. River Moorings. Richard Allen (guest) outlined what had been happening. Camboaters want the Cam Conservators ban on river moorings to be re-visited. Richard told us that the City Council is trying to get a moorings policy together. Our Sub-committee unanimously recommends that PACT support Camboaters. 5. Rope Walk lighting. Richard also gave a progress report on this item. He has secured the promise of a Safer City grant of 5K providing that PACT supplies evidence of need and can secure matching funding. Richard has conducted a survey of residents' views at Nos. 2 - 90A York Street. Glenys has written to Adrian Penfold of British Land and received an encouraging reply. Adrian will ask their managing agents to look into the matter and report back to him and then he will get in touch with us. I have sent Adrian contact details for Richard and myself in case the agents wish to meet with us to see exactly what is needed. (See also item 2 above) 6. Foot/cycle path, Beehive site. Raised as issue by Ben Bradnack. Had joint use of this path always been envisaged? Glenys' recollection is that it was always marked as a foot/cycle way but is unable to find the drawings which show this. Ben is going to ask Council Officers who should have them on file. Sub-committee thought that pedestrian and cycle use of this path caused few problems provided people were sensible. The main obstruction to the path is caused by ASDA trolleys not being collected up from the wheel-locking area. 7. ex-CRC site in Young Street. Developer has lodged an appeal against refusal of 1st set of plans and against non-determination (failure to reach a decision within required 13 weeks) of 2nd and 3rd plans. Fourth application also submitted - for 70 dwellings! The appeal is to be heard at a public inquiry to commence on 5th October at 10.00am in the Council Chamber of The Guildhall. It is anticipated to last for several days. The C.E.N. tried to stir a debate by printing the story under a banner headline " Battle is joined over plans" and asking for readers' views. Donald Mackay had a letter published and Cllr Alan Baker, Chair of the Planning Committee, wrote to defend the City Council's position. PACT's Sub-committee recommends that PACT leaves this 'spat' to be resolved between the developer and the City Council.  8. 179 Sturton Street (Hanley House). New application, 04/0866, for 2-storey building comprising 6 flats. Sub-committee thought this an improvement on earlier proposal for 8 flats which was refused. Harmke Kamminga will query developer's claim that existing house is currently occupied. All the evidence is that it is not.  9. Cafe Afrika.  Magistrates granted Khal Sene renewal of public entertainment licence, on appeal, for 4 months with conditions as before. This despite a conviction and fine for non-compliance with planning conditions and a Noise Abatement Notice served on him by the Environmental Health Dept. His solicitor said that Khal had learned his lesson and was seeking help and advice on how to manage the venue better. Lots of support for this venture from people who don't have to live close by - such as people from London and, even, as far away as Manchester!  10. Station Area re-vamp, pedestrian and cycle routes. Brian Human replied to PACT's enquiry to say that pedestrian and cycle routes would be retained and improved to provide residents of Petersfield with good access to the station and through to Hills Road. He also wrote that it would be the City Council's intention to maintain good routes throughout the construction period, without putting people at risk, but this had yet to be worked out and would depend on the timing and sequence of the development. 11. Boat Race, East Road. Refurbishment complete and has re-opened as "The Vine". Many residents dismayed by the loss of this live music venue. 12. Drama Centre, Covent Garden. Present users have re-located to The Junction. City Council's Property Dept. seeking new tenant but must be self-financing. Looks like another valuable community building may be lost to Petersfield.  13. Community Centre - S106 Terms. Valerie, Dorothy, David and I had to do some work on this during PACT's August break. We are awaiting response to PACT's comments on 2nd Draft of Ageement. Issues are Terms of ownership of the centre by Chartfront and lease to PACT. 14. Fortnightly Rubbish Collection. Mixed views on this from Sub-committee. Concern was expressed that plastics recycling (TESCO is the nearest) is limited to plastic bottles only and that bins for plastic bottles are often full whereas those for glass are often nearly empty. Can more bins be provided please and for other forms of plastic waste? 15. Open Space Improvements in Petersfield. Fionnuala Lennon has sent notes of meeting between PACT and herself and John Roebuck which was held on 8th June 2004. She also forwarded notes of the follow-up discussions between herself and John Roebuck. Unfortunately, Fionnuala has left Cambridge City Council so we shall have to continue this work with her successor! 16. Petersfield Community Meeting, 7th October 2004. Ben has fixed this for St Matthew's School at 7.30pm. He circulated a provisional agenda which Glenys said was OK providing it was made clear that residents could raise other issues if they wished to. The provisional agenda which Ben suggested was: - future of Howard Mallett Centre according to Parkside Community College. - anti-social behaviour issues and Community Safety - Rope Walk lighting - or lack of - cycle way through Beehive site - information update - progress on St Matthew's Piece improvements - proposals for grants for environmental improvements and S 106 money.