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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Dear all,<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><b><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(0,176,80)">Update 11 March, 2020<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><b><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(0,176,80)">Budget Announcement-OxCam
Arc <span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Cambridge South Station gets the go ahead; Development
Corporation plans for 4 new towns, including a new town at Cambridge. See links
below.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><a href="https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/developers-lobby-for-fast-track-planning-in-oxford-cambridge-arc" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline">https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/developers-lobby-for-fast-track-planning-in-oxford-cambridge-arc</a><span class="gmail-MsoHyperlink" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Link to the Treasury Budget report.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/budget-2020-documents/budget-2020#contents" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/budget-2020-documents/budget-2020#contents</a><span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><b><span>“2.20 The
OxCam Arc<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span>The government has designated the corridor of land
connecting Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge (the OxCam Arc) as a
key economic priority. Earlier this year, the government announced the East
West Rail Company’s preferred route for the new line between Bedford and Cambridge.
The government will also, subject to planning consents, build a new rail
station at Cambridge South, improving connectivity to the world-leading
research facilities of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus – the largest cluster of
medical and life sciences research in Europe.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span>The Budget announces plans to develop, with local
partners, a long-term Spatial Framework to support strategic planning in the
OxCam Arc. This will support the area’s future economic success and the
delivery of the new homes required by this growth up to 2050 and beyond. The
government is also going to examine and develop the case for up to four new
Development Corporations in the OxCam Arc at Bedford, St Neots/Sandy, Cambourne
and Cambridge, which includes plans to explore the case for a New Town at
Cambridge, to accelerate new housing and infrastructure development”<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><b><span style="font-size:14pt;color:rgb(0,176,80)">Water Resources Meeting with Ofwat 30
Jan 2020, Christ's College <span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)">The meeting was convened by
Peter Landshoff, Cambridge Ahead Regional Policy group, who has also set up the
Natural Environment Planning and Policy Group for Natural Cambridgeshire.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><a href="https://www.cambridgeahead.co.uk/our-projects/regional-economic-planning/" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline">https://www.cambridgeahead.co.uk/our-projects/regional-economic-planning/</a><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)">The only minutes made available
of the meeting were redacted. Full minutes of the meeting were only made available
following a request by a customer to the Environment Agency Drought Project
Manager for the East Anglia Area. He has made the minutes available to the
public via a FOI request. See link below.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><a href="https://www.fecra.org.uk/docs/water_resources_30.1.20.pdf" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline">https://www.fecra.org.uk/docs/water_resources_30.1.20.pdf</a><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><b><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(0,176,80)">Save Our Rivers March-River
Cam and the chalk streams<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span>On page 2 of their July 2019
Consultation ( link below) Defra state "The Water Industry National
Environment Programme estimates that water company abstraction
volumes need to be cut by over 700 million litres per day (Ml/d) to
address environmental problems.” See link.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><a href="https://consult.defra.gov.uk/water/measures-to-reduce-personal-water-use/supporting_documents/Consultation%20on%20reducing%20personal%20water%20use%20FINAL.pdf" target="_blank" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline"><span>https://consult.defra.gov.uk/water/measures-to-reduce-personal-water-use/supporting_documents/Consultation
on reducing personal water use FINAL.pdf</span></a><span><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span>Many of you
are asking how much of that reduction applies to the Cam? <b>What is the figure </b></span><b>water
company abstraction volumes need to be cut by </b><b><span>in order to save our chalk
streams? <span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Cambridge school children say “Just like climate change, we
cannot simply rely on the actions of individuals to save our river, we need
real leadership from our councils and water companies”. <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">They are marching tomorrow, Friday 13 March, to demand a
better future for the River Cam and the chalk streams. <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The march starts at 9.45 at Shire Hall. At 10.15 the school children
will march through the city, down Trinity St along St Mary’s St and up Sidney
St arriving at Bridge Street quayside by 11.00. <span></span>I have been invited to speak along with Rob
Mungovan of the Wild Trout Trust and Stephen Tomkins, Chair of Cam Valley
Forum. Terry Macalister, former Energy Editor of the <i>Guardian</i>, “The river is a voiceless victim of regulatory neglect
and mindless exploitation by profit-driven firms. It needs our help”.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">More info: <a href="https://www.cambschoolsecocouncil.uk/" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline">https://www.cambschoolsecocouncil.uk/</a><span><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><b><span style="font-size:14pt;color:rgb(0,176,80)">Silver
Street public toilets 19/1167/FUL and 19/1350/LBC </span></b><span style="font-size:14pt"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="font-size:10.5pt">At the
Planning Committee last week councillors voted to defer plans for a new
disabled loo above ground and renovation of those below ground. </span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="font-size:10.5pt">While no-one
disagrees that a refurbishment is certainly needed, the objections, including
from FeCRA, see link <a href="https://www.fecra.org.uk/docs/Silver%20St%20toilets%20letter.pd" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline">https://www.fecra.org.uk/docs/Silver%20St%20toilets%20letter.pd</a>
focussed on the failure to conserve water using the latest
technology, a design which compromises the willow trees and
which disability groups say does not meet their needs, and the inclusion
of a new kiosk which raises concerns about safety in this very congested area
next to a pedestrian crossing. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="font-size:10.5pt">These issues should have been considered from the
start of the project, but there has been no public consultation since the
location of the new toilets was agreed in 2016. </span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="font-size:10.5pt">We hope that the City Council will now withdraw
these proposals and consult fully to ensure that the plans meet the highest
environmental standards and provide properly for people with a disability.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><br><span style="font-size:10.5pt"></span><span style="font-size:12pt"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><b><span style="font-size:14pt;color:rgb(0,176,80)">South Cambs District Council facing judicial
review <span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">Fews Lane Consortium,
a South Cambridgeshire community action group that advocates sustainable
development within the district’s villages and promotes the principles of
transparency and democratic accountability claim that<b> </b></span>the council has been having secret, unannounced meetings,
from which no agenda or minutes are ever published, in violation of the Local
Government Act 1972. They also say insufficient oversight by elected
councillors has resulted in officers routinely issuing planning decisions completely
at odds with the council’s stated position on climate change and water
consumption. Greater Cambridge Planning Service is shared between Cambridge City
Council and South Cambs.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><a href="https://www.elystandard.co.uk/news/south-cambridge-council-third-judicial-review-1-6541517" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline">https://www.elystandard.co.uk/news/south-cambridge-council-third-judicial-review-1-6541517</a><span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><a href="https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/local-news/cambridgeshire-council-completely-ignoring-law-17628964?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline"><b>https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/local-news/cambridgeshire-council-completely-ignoring-law-17628964?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar</b></a><b><span style="color:rgb(0,176,80)"><span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><b><span style="font-size:14pt;color:rgb(0,176,80)">Cows about Cambridge<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">Delivery of
the plastic cow art trail round Cambridge has been delayed for the time being
as a ‘precautionary measure to help minimise the spread of Coronvirus’. See
link.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black"><a href="https://cowsaboutcambridge.co.uk/">https://cowsaboutcambridge.co.uk/</a><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><b><span style="font-size:14pt;color:rgb(0,176,80)">East-West Rail plans on show in
Cambridge<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black">March 20 Ross
St Community Centre </span>CB1 3UZ, 2.30-6pm <span style="color:black"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">March 30 <span style="color:black">Webb
Library CB5 8B5, 11.30-5pm<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><i><span style="color:black">Cambridge Independent</span></i><span style="color:black"> article, link below<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span style="color:black"><a href="https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/east-west-rail-plans-go-on-show-at-series-of-community-events-9099966/">https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/east-west-rail-plans-go-on-show-at-series-of-community-events-9099966/</a><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Best wishes,<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Wendy<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><span> </span></p>
<div><div dir="ltr" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div>Wendy Blythe<br></div>Chair, FeCRA</div><div><br><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:small"><a href="http://www.fecra.org.uk" target="_blank">www.fecra.org.uk</a></div><div style="font-size:small"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/CambridgeRAs" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/CambridgeRAs</a></div></div><div style="font-size:small"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/fecra2" target="_blank">www.twitter.com/fecra2</a></div></div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>