[Members] River Concerns : Reminder Doubletree Ability Group River application tomorrow's Planning Cttee 10 am; Ditton Meadows Enclosure 6pm LLF Barnwell Church 6pm; Scudamores Application

[Wendy Blythe]

Dear all,


We are hearing widespread concerns about the preservation of the River Cam
and its frontage of ancient and beautiful water meadows. The river and its
beautiful frontage is loved and enjoyed by young and old, by town and gown.


*Singing on the River 21st June 2015 *


*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7uS1PR-RW0&feature=youtu.be
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7uS1PR-RW0&feature=youtu.be>*


* <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7uS1PR-RW0&feature=youtu.be>*

*Planning Committee tomorrow, 10 am Guildhall, Doubletree Hilton Ability
Group’s application (17/1351/FUL)*


Magnate Andreas Panayiotyou Ability Group’s application to remove the
*Doubletree
by Hilton’s glass pyramid and replace it with a clad structure containing
ten bedrooms and “a small (45sqm) leisure facility” *(presumably for the
use of hotel guests only).


Since 2010 Panayiotyou’s company has submitted seven planning applications
for additional bedrooms to the hotel.  Two are outstanding, but only one
has been passed because on each occasion residents have argued that the
proposed plans are ugly and inappropriate for such an important and
historic River frontage. Jane Singleton of RAON will be speaking for city
residents against this application. Support appreciated.



*Scudamores application 17/1864/FUL *


This will vastly increase the size of Scudamore’s river frontage. Even
though the deadline has passed it is still worth commenting. We understand
Case officers will still take comments.



*Ditton Meadows Fence Enclosure- Wed Jan 10, 6.00 – 7.30pmBarnwell Baptist
Church Chisholm Trail and Abbey Chesterton Bridge LLF *


This is an open meeting.


Gonville and Caius College, the owners of Ditton Meadows are insisting on
an ugly chicken wire fence as a planning condition for the Chisholm Trail.
The meadows are currently open to the public, and this seems to contradict
a key argument for the Trail that it would give people more access to open
space amenity. Residents are concerned that enclosing the Meadows and
fencing off cattle like this as a “landowner deal” sets a precedent for
other Greenways and cows on other open spaces. Water vole habitats on
Coldhams Commons have already been destroyed by GCP contractors- a criminal
offence now under investigation.


FeCRA raised the need for sensitive landscaping on the Chisholm Trail with
the Planning Inspector


http://www.fecra.org.uk/docs/Dear%20Planning%20Inspector.pdf


<http://www.fecra.org.uk/docs/Dear%20Planning%20Inspector.pdf>

Local Blogger Richard Taylor has also drawn attention to the extent and
ugliness of the fencing,


https://twitter.com/RTaylorUK/status/939562464664047618

https://twitter.com/rtayloruk/status/939561174554894342?
refsrc=email&s=11http://planning.


*Would this be acceptable for Grantchester Meadows, Sheeps Green, Coe Fen
or Midsummer Common*?


Once Ditton Meadows are enclosed the public loses access to large areas of
the meadows.* The path is the only right of way.* It is shocking that all
these details are only emerging as a planning condition via the planning
process and that even now the public still does not have the information
about the fence and the Trail. This is a civic project, we should all have
been able to see and contribute to these plans during development.


1)    Ditton Meadows is not common land & has no open access rights

2)    There is no other right of access except on the footpath to the rail
footbridge

3)    All other access is via permissive path only, including all existing
cycleways

4)    NE agri-environment access agreement expires 2019


People and animals have shared Cambridge meadows for 1000 years. Why
separate them? 'Ditton' means ditch. The wooden jetty originally in the
plans for the Bridge is also to be replaced with a steel jetty and
unspecified surfacing for Abbey Chesterton bridge - further urbanising
Ditton Meadows


You can submit representations on the planning application at
http://planning.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/swift/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.
DisplayUrl?theApnID=C/5005/16/CC/C4&theTabNo=3 … <https://t.co/tCFhYjpIdr>


<https://t.co/tCFhYjpIdr>

*See also: *

http://idox.cambridge.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?
activeTab=summary&keyVal=P0MXYWDX0A700

http://idox.cambridge.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?
activeTab=summary&keyVal=P0MYFQDX0A700


*Key contacts:*

*Emma.Fitch at cambridgeshire.gov.uk <Emma.Fitch at cambridgeshire.gov.uk>
Business Manager, County Planning*


*Gonville & Caius Senior Bursar*: Dr David Secher
senior.bursar at cai.cam.ac.uk/


Best wishes,


Wendy





 Wendy Blythe,

Chair, FeCRA
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