Our Next Event - 31st October. Halloween
 
Some people really enjoy trick or treat at Halloween and some don’t. If you want to be visited, the usual convention is that you leave a pumpkin or some other welcoming sign outside your house.
 
This year BARA is joining in. And there will be PRIZES!  £10 Co-op vouchers and More.  Read about it here.

A successful Coach Trip to Norwich
 
A small and select group had a wonderful day out in Norwich. The coach dropped us near the city centre and there was plenty to keep everyone occupied.  Read about it and see photos here. 

Community Library
 
This is a very grand name for bookshelves in a telephone box. The phone box in Birdwood Rd is unusual in that it still has a working telephone. Now it also has shelves at the back for book and magazine swaps. Do please bring and take. If it gets too full, we’ll clear out the extra and take it to charity shops. As this is an open box, please keep to the shelves and don’t leave anything on the floor – it will get wet!

Citi2
 
Stagecoach are not listening.  At a recent meeting they rejected our plan to send buses round our loop. They say they are recruiting and training 16 drivers which should improve reliability by the end of October.
 
If you want to give feedback to Stagecoach, contact Nigel Tarrant on 01223 433 250 between 08:30 and 17:30, Monday to Friday or email: Nigel.Tarrant@stagecoachbus.com
Address: Stagecoach, 100 Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0DN
 
Jane has written to the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who is considering franchising the bus services in this area. And we are not alone. A Cambridge Area Bus Users group has formed to tackle problems with Stagecoach throughout Cambridgeshire. https://cbgbususers.wordpress.com/
 
They have put in a submission ‘Transport Committee's inquiry on health of the bus market, Written submission from Cambridge Area Bus Users.’ saying that our bus services are ‘in crisis’.
 
If you don’t have access to the internet you can contact them through 52 Birdwood Rd.
 
Pavements and potholes!
 
We took up the state of the pavements in Birdwood Rd with the County Council and some larger holes in the pavements have been filled. But we still have trip hazards in Birdwood Rd and other roads in our area. Please report those near your house – or any that cause you problems. The County Council will not consider compensation for pothole damage to your car unless the hole has already been reported to them! Pavement holes need to be 2.5 cm deep before the County Council will consider filling them.
 
Nothing will be done unless they are reported. So please alert the County Council to any highway problems in your road (including pavements), call 0345 045 5212 (charged at local rate) or on-line at https://highwaysreporting.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/

Coach Trip to Norwich – 15th September – Heritage Day.
 
The coach is booked and there are still some spare places.
 
Whether or not you have expressed an interest please use the booking form.  If you have already expressed an interest, your place is reserved. Others are on a first come, first served basis. If you have friends in Cambridge who you would like to take with you, do invite them.
 
Norwich is a wonderful fusion of the modern and historic, one complementing the other. Like any great city its centre is easy to walk around and has a river at its heart. As well as being the most complete medieval city in the UK, it has superb independent as well as High Street shopping, lively restaurants and a heritage that is a delight to explore.

There is something for everybody: a large covered market ; two shopping centres ; four department stores ; boutiques & independent stores ; charity and antique shops ; lots of restaurants and cafés ; river walk ; history everywhere.

Heritage Open Days
Every September thousands of free events are organised throughout the country.  Norwich has been a big supporter from the start, opening its museums, many churches and historical buildings, and operating tours.   This year the Castle Museum which usually costs £9.50 is free on 15 September.  The Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell is also free (usual cost £5.95)
Some events require pre-booking and can be limited. We have produced a pdf of events that are within the centre to download or you can look online.  You can book on-line or by phoning Tourist Information 01603 727950. 

Booking the coach
Download and complete the booking form and return it to the address on the form with your payment and names of attendees.  If you don't have a printer provide the details we need on a piece of paper.
You need to do this by 5pm 20th August 2018.

Since the change in timetable to the Citi2 which halved our service (together with the missing buses which have often made the waiting time 40 minutes), our Chairwoman has had a meeting with Nigel Tarrant from Stagecoach, two City Councillors and two County Councillors.
 
She put forward an alternative ‘shorter route’ to the one turning round at Sainsbury’s. This route would go down Perne Rd to Cherry Hinton Rd, turn left onto Cherry Hinton Rd and then left into Walpole Rd and Birdwood Rd and back to the city centre. The rationale is that this route includes retirement housing in Walpole Rd, City Council housing in our area, and it serves at least 700 residences plus St Bede’s school. This change might also stop the barrage of complaints to Stagecoach about bus waits! It would take us back from an unreliable 20 minute service to an unreliable 10 minute service – so, it’s better but still not perfect. There would still only be a 20 minute service to Addenbrooke's – but that is not nearly as well used as the one into town. A second meeting was scheduled for 3rd August to further discuss this plan but this has now been postponed to 3rd September. SO FRUSTRATING!
 
If you want to give feedback to Stagecoach, contact Nigel Tarrant
Telephone: 01223 433 250 between 08:30 and 17:30, Monday to Friday.
Email: Nigel.Tarrant@stagecoachbus.com
Address: Stagecoach, 100 Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0DN

On 29 July the times are changing.
Buses will leave Birdwood Road at 14, 34, 54 for town and at 14, 34, 54 for Addenbrooke's. 
Sunday's and B/H will be 17, 47 to town and 01, 31 to Addenbrooke's.

Download the timetable.

We are hoping to organise a coach trip to Norwich on Saturday 15th September for Heritage Day (when the castle and other venues have free entry).

The subsidised cost will be approximately £10 (although additional donations are welcome!)

To express an interest please email birdwoodara@gmail.com or put a note through the door at 26A Ward Rd by Friday 6th July saying how many places.

If there is sufficient demand we’ll book the coach.

Have you ever thought that you would like to organise a small group with your very local neighbours?

How about a reading group, scrabble, knitting or just a regular coffee and chew the fat morning? If you would like to try, go for it!  And let us know if you think we can help.
 
Pavements

The contractors from the County Council filled in the really big holes, ignored the others and went away. I wrote to ask how we could do the rest ourselves and got no reply!

We have complained many times about the buses since the change in timetable. Please join in if you are having problems – the more people who complain, the better. We have a meeting with Nigel Tarrant and representatives of the City and County councils on 18th June. The trouble is, no-one seems to be able to take control and responsibility for this. We’ll let you know the outcome – if there is any!
 
If you want to give feedback or complain to Stagecoach, contact Nigel Tarrant
Telephone: 01223 433 250 between 08:30 and 17:30, Monday to Friday.
Fax: 01223 433 275
Email: Nigel.Tarrant@stagecoachbus.com
Address: Stagecoach, 100 Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0DN

Two years ago there was a boundary review for the County Council wards. We were not informed about it and Coleridge Ward disappeared for County elections. Our corner was put into Cherry Hinton Ward and our County Councillor is now the representative for Cherry Hinton. Had we been informed, we would have said that we have more in common with Romsey than Cherry Hinton (although our Cherry Hinton councillor has been very helpful with pavements and buses.)

There is now a review of City Council wards and we have been informed. The consultation runs until 6 August and it would be helpful if lots of people responded.

The consultation page for this review is https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/12865

You can respond on-line (or write) saying you are responding to the Cambridge City Council review consultation:
     Local Government Boundary Commission for England
     14th Floor, Millbank Tower
     London SW1P 4QP
     Telephone: 0330 500 1525
If you have any queries, please contact the Commission or Electoral Services at the City Council. 01223 457049 elections@cambridge.gov.uk

Copied from the technical advice on the Local Government Boundary Commission website:
 
"In broad terms, in making recommendations, we are required to have regard to:

• the need to secure equality of representation;
  
• the need to reflect the identities and interests of local communities; and
• the need to secure effective and convenient local government.

Included in the community identities and interests criterion is the desirability of fixing boundaries which are and will remain easily identifiable, and which will not break local ties. Our aim is to identify clear and long-lasting boundaries for ward division. We also take into account factors such as the location and boundaries of parishes and the physical features of the local area when drawing boundaries."

The Friends of Cherry Hinton Hall are joining forces with The Cambridge International School in Cherry Hinton Hall to hold a Family Fun Day on Friday 29th June from 2-5pm in Cherry Hinton Hall to raise £2000 for a for a defibrillator to be placed on the Hall, for public use.

Sandra Day is looking for stalls and arena demos from local sports groups. Stalls will be £25 for 12 x 12 outside, on grass. The day will be based around family fun like a school sports day and fete, with stalls and side shows but they need help. If you want to help run races or games in the arena she would love to hear from you.  You can contact her on 01223 247639.