Street lighting in Milton

There have been numerous comments recently about the street lighting in the village. Milton Parish Council are not responsible for street lighting but have asked Cambridgeshire County Council about the reduction in lighting levels and have been directed to the announcement made last year about the changes that CCC were making during the period 2024-2026.

Here you can read what is happening:

TRAFFIC CALMING AT COLES ROAD

Vehicular access from Coles Road to the car park serving the GP’s Surgery, the Community Centre, the Recreation Ground, and the Annex has increased over the past few years. There have been instances of near collisions because the access is positioned on a 90° highway bend and vehicles parked on the highway obstruct visibility.

The Parish Council seek residents’ views whether double yellow lines at the junction would improve road safety.

A plan illustrating the proposed road parking restrictions is shown below.

Please do respond, whether you support or object, or want to make a comment or suggestion. The more responses we have the better evidence we have to submit with the application. 

Responses can be returned:

  1. Via email to – clerk@miltonvillage.org.uk
  2. Paper copy delivered to the Parish Council Office at Coles Road

    Milton Christmas Tree is back!

    Milton Parish Council made the decision some months ago to erect a Christmas Tree on Pond Green this year. What we and our suppliers did not know at that time was that we would get a visit from Darragh who blew our tree over only 24 hours after putting it up!

    Fortunately, the stormy weather has now moved away and we have had the chance to get it upright again and for us to add the finishing touches.
    In addition to the lights, we now have a number of crochet baubles made locally in the village which adds extra colour to the tree. The tree has also been more secure and so if one of Darragh’s friends decides to pay Milton a visit in the coming weeks, hopefully we can fend off any high winds next time.
    Come and join us and the Revd. Alex for Carol singing around our tree at 6pm on 21st December. To keep all in fine voice, The Waggon and Horses will be selling festive refreshments.

    The Councillors and Clerk of Milton Parish Council would like to take this opportunity to wish all the residents of Milton a Happy Christmas.

    E-scooters: Christmas gift guidance

    The Parish Council have been asked to share the following note:-

    The more organised among us might have started doing, or planning, our Christmas shopping. With that in mind, one of the big gift requests this festive season is likely to be an electric scooter, or e-scooter.

    We are aware that e-scooter use causes concern to residents across the District, and the South Cambs Community Safety Partnership wanted to provide you with some helpful information about e-scooter use.

    We also need to highlight to you Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service’s current Take Charge & Be Safe campaign: https://www.cambsfire.gov.uk/community-safety/take-charge-and-be-safe/. This features advice on how to charge, and buy replacements for e-scooter and e-bike batteries as safely as possible and is an important resource.

    It’s currently against the law to ride an e-scooter on a public road or pavement. The only exception to this is in zones where trials are taking place, such as some areas within the city of Cambridge. In these areas, hired scooters can be used on the road and on cycle paths.

    E-scooters can never be used on the pavement, and e-scooters you may purchase can never be used:

    • On a public road without complying with several legal requirements, which users will find very difficult
    • In spaces that are set aside for use by pedestrians, cyclists, and horse-riders; this includes on the pavement and in cycle lanes

    You can buy e-scooters from many popular retailers, and your children may report to you that all their friends already have one. However, the law is clear – the only place an e-scooter can be used is on private land. So, right now, you can buy one, but you can’t ride it on a UK public road, cycle lane or pavement.

    If you are stopped by police while using an e-scooter illegally, they will advise you of the current law about how to use one legally and ask you to take your e-scooter home. They may however still penalise you depending on the nature and gravity of the offence.

    This is all because e-scooters are classed as a motor vehicle in the same way that motorbikes and cars are. This means they are subject to the same legal requirements, such as MOT, licensing, tax, and insurance. As e-scooters do not have numberplates, indicators, and do not always have visible rear lights, they cannot be used legally on the roads. Further details can be found on the following Government website at www.gov.uk/government/publications/powered-transporters/information-sheet-guidance-on-powered-transporters

    Cambridgeshire Police say: “We understand the public’s support for environmentally friendly modes of transport. We want to work with the public to make sure the roads are safe for everyone. The UK Government is currently taking part in “Future Transport Zone” trials for e-scooter hire, with a view to making them legal to use on the roads. You can find details of the trails closest to you, at www.gov.uk/guidance/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-users

    If you have a question, contact Project Officer – Community Safety Partnership, Beth Watson, on Beth.Watson@scambs.gov.uk

    Milton Parish Council seeks to obtain real data for traffic movements in Milton

    Since September 2024, Milton Parish Council has been undertaking a continuous traffic survey along the High Street close to the shops to understand better the number of users there are on the exisiting road and pathways.

    The data below was taken over a typical week from 14th October to 20th October. From a total of 40,586 movements during this period the split shows 80.86% were motorised vehicles, 11.69% were pedestrians and 7.44% cyclists.

    These figures will be used by MPC when discussing with other groups, their plans to change or alter routes through Milton. The next set of data to be produced in the coming weeks will be along Landbeach Road.

    Greenway update

    In November 2023, Milton Parish Council held a public meeting to inform residents what the Greater Cambridge Partnership plans for the Waterbeach Greenway meant for the roads, cycleways, and footpaths through Milton. Throughout the process, Milton Parish Council has been closely following the plans of the GCP and trying to represent the views of the residents wherever possible.

    The GCP held a consultation event in Milton and asked people to complete a consultation questionnaire which closed in December 2023. MPC encouraged people in the village to complete the questionnaire, if they could, since the outcome would have a significant effect within the village. After a delay, GCP have now released the outcome of the consultation, and which can be seen on their website. However, as a summary, these are the key points of interest to residents of Milton.

    The overall response to the consultation showed 187 respondents were against the scheme and 173 respondents in favour of the scheme. More generally, respondents were unsupportive of the proposal to use a shared use by-directional path for pedestrians and cyclists throughout the village.

    Specifically, for the section between Coles Road and Fen Road there was a request from a local group who wanted the scheme to be more ambitious by restricting motorised traffic through the High Street. This is something previously rejected by Milton Parish Council and many residents in the village, and which will continue to be resisted.

    There was also objection to the removal of on-street parking outside the shops. This is a concern to many since lack of parking would affect the viability of the businesses and the continued convenience of having High Street shopping.

    Concern was also raised about having a shared used path and space for equestrian users, cyclists, and pedestrians along this very narrow corridor through Milton and hence needs reconsideration.

    The alternative routing through Coles Road was not well supported since it was felt the route would not be used, as it was a deviation from the more direct High Street route.

    The GCP have concluded that since there were mixed levels of support for some sections of the Greenway proposals, it is necessary to revisit the design for some areas. It has therefore been suggested that alternative designs, including, the shared use path proposals and removal of on-street parking through the High Street section, are examined again. A key challenge that needs to be resolved is highway land constraints in the village, which prevents full segregation for walking and cycling and that an on-carriageway solution for cyclists through Milton may need to be explored. Furthermore, work to determine how to reduce motorised traffic levels and speed needs to be considered.

    Milton Parish Council is collaborating with local councillors and other groups to develop some alternative ideas which at the appropriate time will be shared with the village and the GCP.

    Update on the A10/Humphries Way junction

    Milton Parish Council and Councillor Anna Bradnam have been pushing hard to get the much-needed improvement to the A10/Humphries Way junction underway as soon as possible.

    The County Council response is as follows:

    “The planning obligation is for Urban and Civic to construct the scheme to signalise this junction once three hundred dwellings at Waterbeach New Town are inhabited. Cambridge County Council have no programmed works at the junction as the delivery obligation already secured is for the developer of the Waterbeach expansion to deliver these works.”

    It was explained by officers and by U&C at the Waterbeach Community Forum on 23rd October, the contribution identified in the S106 Agreement is insufficient to secure delivery of this major junction. The County Council officer reported that they have no justification for finding the additional funding at present because it is for the developer to deliver these works. Unless alternative funding can be secured this junction will be delivered at the 300th occupation trigger. Currently there is thought to be approximately eighty occupants.

    In view of the dangers around this junction and the numerous accidents, Councillor Anna Bradnam is proactively seeking additional supportive funding through Greater Cambridge Partnership and the County Council. Meanwhile, Milton Parish Council will continue to do everything in its power by continuing to lobby all groups and organisations involved to reach a solution. Cambridgeshire County Council have allowed us to share the proposed layout for the improvement of the junction. Obviously, changes can still be made to the scheme, so this is not a definitive version, but it gives people an idea of what to expect.

    Junction layout

    Cambridgeshire County Highways Street Works (September)

    Proposed Closures (see maps  at link below for diversions):

    High Street (outside One Stop/Edmund House)  29 July – 9 August 2024 (Diversions will be put in place)

    Church Lane closed at numbers 1, 1A between 24 September to 30 September 2024 – 0800-1800hrs

    Fen Road closed at numbers 42-44 between 24 September to 30 September 2024 – 0800-1800hrs

    Landbeach Road to Ely Road (High Street in front of the College of West Anglia) closed between 24 September to 26 September 2024 – 0800-1800hrs

    This is to lay the cables for City Fibre. People who have overhead phone wires will get fibre in the same way, so these are in areas where the wires are underground. The contractors will help anyone who needs access to get through whilst the roads are closed.

    Proposed Road Works Sept 2024

    The Rowans Play Area update

    You may have seen that The Rowans Play Area is close to completion with the surface having been installed last week.

    Unfortunately there is evidence that some people are visiting the unfinished park as damage has been done to the new climbing net. We would like to point out that this is still a building site and as such prohibits unauthorised entry as clearly shown on the warning signs attached to the security fencing. We would appreciate it if people stay away from park until it is opened.

    Once the net has been repaired by the manufacturer we can schedule the required safety check of the area. Just as soon as we are allowed and the equipment is fit to play on, the security fencing will be removed. We hope to formally open the new play area later in July.

    Update on The Rowans Play Area

    The work to revamp the play area is due to start on Tuesday 7th May 2024 at 7am.

    Please keep the road by the gate to the park clear of all vehicles until the work is fully complete which will take several days. 

    When parking nearby please ensure that contractors heavy vehicles can access the site when collecting and delivering materials.

    Upload Completed