It’s the time of year for fêtes and garden parties, not to mention the Jubilee and Olympic events.

The south of Queen Edith’s starts things off. First is the Queen Edith’s Primary School Fête on 26th May, then there’s the big Jubilee parade along Wulfstan Way on Jubilee Tuesday, 5th June.

In June, the north is the busy part. There is a garden party at St John’s Church on the 23rd: as well as the excellent cakes and books and Traidcraft, there will be Olympics races and children should go dressed in Olympic style (modern not ancient as it could be chilly). In the last weekend of June, Saturday 30t, there’s a fête at Morley School, Blinco Grove.

Do pass on news of any more spring and summer events and we’ll add them to the list.

works on east road

Utility companies could be charged a daily fee for road closures while they carry out work across Cambridgeshire.

The idea has been put forward by Liberal Democrat Councillor Sarah Whitebread and would apply to companies laying new gas or water mains or carrying out similar work in the county.

Cllr Whitebread, who represents Cambridge’s Market Ward on Cambridgeshire County Council, claims the move could prevent lengthy closures such as the one which brought the city’s East Road to a virtual halt for weeks while new gas mains were laid.

She made her suggestion during Question Time at the county council meeting today (Tuesday, May 15) and it was agreed to look into such a scheme.

A similar idea, approved by the Department of Transport, will allow Transport for London to charge companies in the capital up to £2,500 a day for closing major roads. Companies will face lower charges if they carry out work outside of peak times.

“The county system at the moment has no incentive for speedy work, or to encourage work outside peak times” said Cllr Whitebread. “Given the frequency with which utilities companies need to carry out road works in Cambridge, I think a charging scheme of this type needs serious consideration.

“I also pushed the council to look at ways to encourage utility companies, when carrying out works, to keep roads open for cyclists. Often there is road space around the works that could be made available, but instead cyclists told to wait with cars or dismount and walk. In a city where so many people travel to school and work by bike, this clearly needs addressing.”

The county council’s Cabinet Member for Community Infrastructure, Tony Orgee, agreed to look into such a scheme.

You are invited to attend this year’s Chance to Dance Festival.

Netherhall Sports Centre, Queen Edith’s Way, CAMBRIDGE, CB1 8NN
Sunday 20th May  10am-4pm (doors open at 9.45am)

Part of the Cultural Olympiad, Chance to Dance is an opportunity to experience a whole range of dance styles including salsa, street dance, greek, ballet, line, indian, tango, flamenco and more….

Performances from local dancers will be followed by a series of short taster workshops. All dance abilities and ages will be catered for – from pre-school age to adults and families.

You are welcome to attend at anytime of the day but if you wish to participate in any of the dance workshops, you will be required to register for the event. This can be done in advance online until Friday 18th May or at anytime on the day.
To register or for more details about the festival, please visit: www.cambridge.gov.uk/chancetodance

12/0406/FUL 10/05/2012   49 Hartington Grove CB1 7UA    Log Cabin at end of the Garden – 0.5M from the boundary at the back and the right. Building is 2.96M (W) x 4.34M (L) x 3.0M (H – at the ridge). Log Cabin is Finnforest Peili. Delegated Decision

12/0560/FUL 11/05/2012  22 Glebe Road   CB1 7SZ   Part two storey and single storey side and rear extension. Delegated Decision

12/168/TTPO 09/05/2012   32 Topcliffe Way  CB1 8SH   T4 – Weeping willow – reduce the long over-extended branches that grow out from the crown over the roof of the house by approximately 3m. Delegated Decision

12/171/TTCA 08/05/2012  Homerton College CB2 8PH  T1: Wingnut – Remove as wrong species planted for location. Delegated Decision

Here are the latest Queen Edith’s Planning Applications:
12/0528/FUL 30/04/2012 5 Bowers Croft CB1 8RP Single storey extension to front, side and demolition of garage. Delegated Decision

12/0529/FUL 30/04/2012  62 Beaumont Road CB1 8PY First floor side extension to existing dwellinghouse Delegated Decision.
12/165/TTPO 02/05/2012 6 Long Road CB2 8PS Delegated Decision Pyracantha, lilac, holly, cotoneaster and 4 x small hollies (left hand side of house when viewed from the road) – to fell. Delegated Decision

Here is the city council election result for Queen Edith’s:

Sue Birtles, Labour 1084
Amanda Taylor Liberal Democrat 963
Richard Jeffs, Conservative, 513
Martin Lawson, Green 172

Thank you to all the people who supported me yesterday and to the thousands who have voted for me and the Lib Dems over the years that I have been a city councillor. I have learnt a lot, got involved in many valuable activities, and I hope I have left the area better than it was before. It has been a privilege to be your councillor for the past 18 years.

I’d also like to thank the many people who have sent emails and letters, phoned and called since the election; your messages have meant a lot to me.

Jean adds – George and I are really sad that Amanda, with all her experience, is no longer a city councillor colleague. We look forward to continuing to work with her on issues that matter to Queen Edith’s residents alongside Geoff Heathcock our County Councillor. Thank you Amanda for all you have done and all you will do in the future.

Strawberry Fair is to launch a poetry slam competition for young people age 13 – 25 from across Cambridgeshire. The competition will be free to enter and prizes include a prime performance slot at the Fair and opportunities to be mentored by critically acclaimed poets.

If you write poetry, love poetry and want to share your poetry, then they would love to hear from you. You can use beatbox, rap, mc-ing, polyvocal or acapella, as well as poetry and spoken word.

All you need to do to enter is:

1. Go to www.strawberry-slam.org.uk
2. Follow the instructions to post a clip of yourself reading or reciting your poem.
3. Wait to hear whether you have been selected as one of 12 finalists to go through to compete in the Strawberry Slam final on Saturday 2 June.

Deadline for entries: Saturday 26 May 2012

The entries will be judged by five professional poets from London’s Point Blank Poets Collective and the 12 finalists will be announced on Tuesday 29 May. The final will be held in the brand new Strawberry Slam stage at the Fair on Saturday 2 June, 7 – 10pm. The Slam will be hosted by the formidable Hollie McNish (a former UK Slam Poetry Champion) and emcee Inja, with guest performances from renowned spoken word artists Bridget Minamore, Sabrina Mahfouz, Dean Atta and Deanna Rodger.

To find out more visit www.strawberry-slam.org.uk or get in touch with amy@strawberry-fair.org.uk

Three varied applications this week:

12/0481/FUL 23/04/2012   32 Mowbray Road  CB1 7SY  Change of use to Bed and Breakfast Delegated Decision

12/0513/FUL 26/04/2012   54 Netherhall Way CB1 8NY Ground and first floor extension Delegated Decision

12/0518/FUL 26/04/2012   33 Cavendish Avenue CB1 7UR  Single storey extension to the rear  Delegated  Decision

Developers have come forward with new proposals for Lion Yard which retain a redesigned walkway to Fisher Square.

The plans will be discussed in depth at a meeting of the Lion Yard Toilets Working Party in May. In the meantime, work will start on reconfiguring some of the shops in Lion Yard, while allowing walkway and the toilets to remain unaffected.

The new proposals have been welcomed by Cambridge City Council Leader, Sian Reid who said: “The city council’s working party and I have expressed real concern about closing the walkway and I am very encouraged that developers are responding to this.

“The working party will be discussing these new plans in depth and will discuss how best to consult again with residents.

“I am very pleased that the developers, who planned to close the walkway, have listened to residents’ views and the concerns of Cambridge City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council and proposed to retain it.

“I believe that it is vitally important to connect the central market area and Fisher Square with other parts of the city; and retaining the walkway makes it easier and quicker for people can get from the Lion Yard to the toilets

“The county council has given informal advice reflecting this too.”

Cambridge City Council refused permission in 2011 for the developers to move the toilets to the first floor; their future on the ground floor is assured.