EWR Accessibility Advisory Panel

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Dear Local Representatives Group Members,

We want to build a better and inclusive railway that works for everyone. To help us do that, we’re setting up an Accessibility Advisory Panel to help us understand the barriers for disabled passengers and ensure we arrive at inclusive and innovative solutions.

The panel will consist of up to eight people who live in the area between Oxford and Cambridge, representing a broad range of disabled people and impairments. They will meet on a bi-monthly basis, either in person or via Teams/Zoom.

As Local Representatives, we’re asking if you could kindly share this information with your communities. More information about how to apply to the Accessibility Advisory Panel can be found here.

Kind regards,

 

Caroline Eglinton

Head of Inclusion 

Support for Ukraine: It all starts with a spare room

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Support for Ukraine: It all starts with a spare room

A major campaign has been launched to appeal for more hosts in South Cambridgeshire and the city of Cambridge to support families from Ukraine. Anyone who can offer a room is being asked to text ROOM to 88802.

Between the two areas, a total of almost 500 hosts have already been providing housing to guests. However, with the war in Ukraine continuing, and with it not being safe for many families to return, there is an ongoing demand to provide them with a safe place to stay.

Anyone who can offer a spare room and warm welcome is being asked to text ROOM to 88802 so that the councils can support them through the process and match hosts to guests who have already started to settle in the local area.

Read more, and watch video stories from current hosts and guests, at www.scambs.gov.uk/support-for-ukraine-it-all-starts-with-a-spare-room

 

If I can provide you with any further information about this appeal, please do not hesitate to ask.

 

Many thanks,

 

Tom

 

Tom Horn | Senior Communications Officer

M11 Junction 14 to 13 closed next week

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M11 junction 14 to 13

 

I am writing to tell you that we plan to carry out essential surveys to assess the condition of the road on the M11 between junction 13 (Girton) and junction 14 (A1303 Madingley Road overbridge).

 

We plan to complete this work over 3 nights from Monday 28 November to Wednesday 30 November between 8pm and 6am, weather permitting.

 

Closures and diversions

To carry out the work safely, we will need to close the M11 southbound between junction 13 and 14.

 

Whilst this closure is in place, traffic will be diverted off the M11 at junction 14 onto the A14 to take the junction 32 exit and return westbound on the A14 / A428. Exit the A428 at Scotland Road Interchange and return on the A428 eastbound before taking the A1303 exit slip and following the A1303 to re-join the M11 southbound at junction 13.

 

How to find out more

To find out more about road improvements we’re carrying out across the East of England, please visit our website at https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-work/east/.

If you would like more information, please contact us on 0300 123 5000, or by email at 

 

Yours faithfully

 

Christina Stevens

Business Services Co-ordinator

Communications Team
National Highways | Woodlands | Manton Lane | Bedford | MK41 7LW

Web: nationalhighways.co.uk/

 

Bird Flu Reporting

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There are more cases of Avian or Bird Flu being reported around the country. A recent case in Blackpool of dead swans at Stanley Park resulted in an exclusion zone being set up around the lake there. If you do spot dead wild birds then these should be reported.

Government website for reporting Avian or Bird Flu.

Cost of Living Help

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The Big Issue has put together a useful article that summarizes all the help available on cost of living.

Government, Energy Companies, Councils and Charities

Read in The Big Issue

Reminder Greenways Engagement Zoom

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The Greenways team will be presenting Barton Greenways on Zoom. Thursday 17th November from 18:00 to 20:00.

Public engagement at the Village Hall next week Thursday 24th November from 13:30 to 19:30. There you will have chance to view plans and talk to the Greenways team.

 

 

 

Congestion Charge Consultation-Making Connections

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You will have seen the flyer sent out by Anthony Browne opposing the Congestion Charge. As a reminder, there is a formal consultation that you can respond to. This is under the banner heading “Making Connections”.

 

 

Digital Voice & PSTN Switchoff

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Many are not aware that all households will be moved to Digital Voice only. The old PSTN will be switched off in December 2025. This means that residents with a land line will be moved to a digital phone system. This is relatively straightforward for homes with broadband connections and your broadband provider should provide free replacement phones. However, for land line users only equipment will need to be installed to provide a specially dedicated broadband connection for the digital phone.

There is a good article on Which that explains the Digital Voice and Landline Switch-off.

For most users, the change over should be straightforward. However, the digital phone system is not perfect for complicated set ups in larger properties. The digital phones link directly to the broadband hub. So may not have the range for the whole house. You may need Digital Voice Adapters that pair into the hub and then can be moved to a more convenient location and plugged into a normal electric socket. An existing non-digital phone is plugged into the adapter. As long as the adapter is within range of the hub, you will be able to use a standard phone as before. For further coverage BT DECT repeaters are available from outlets like Curry’s. These extend the range of BT DECT-based phones. Digital phones can be used together with standard phones using the setup of Digital Adapters and hub.

Our experience is that BT agents are not fully up-to-speed with more complicated setups but it now seems that we have a workable solution with both wifi and phone coverage throughout our house.

Hope this explains a little about the switch over. Something we were  not aware of until we upgraded our wifi and took the offer of free digital phones.

 

Barton Village 2022 Christmas festivities

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As the nights are drawing in and the evenings are getting colder, it’s time to start thinking about Christmas.  Following the enthusiasm for previous Christmas displays around the village, we thought it would be nice to continue the tradition this year with a new theme – the Christmas ELF or indeed ELVES.

From the 1st December we ask villagers who would like to participate in this year’s village ‘dress up’ to display an ELF (or elves) on a shelf, in the garden, on the roof, in the window or anywhere else that can be visible from the pavement or road for all of Barton to enjoy.

There are no rules – you are welcome to let your imagination go wild and capture the seasonal spirit and fun of elves in whichever way makes you smile.  We would love lots of houses to get involved.

All we ask is that Elf and safety is paramount!

So that we can put together a list for those wishing to see all the elves around the village, we would be grateful if you can register your participation to join the Barton ELF adventure with . A list of all streets displaying elves will then be published on the website.

December dates for your diary

1st December: Barton Village Elves get up to mischief. Villagers to display their elves on a shelf, in the garden, on the roof, in the window or anywhere else that can be visible from the pavement/road for all of Barton to enjoy.

3rd December 4-6pm: Official lighting of the Village Christmas tree. The tree will be erected on the village green by the pond. Mince pies, mulled wine and hot chocolate will be served. Parishioners are cordially invited to make and hang a decoration on the tree.

10th December 11.30 – 2pm: Barton Primary School will be hosting their Christmas fair. All are welcome.

13th December: Children of Barton School Choir will be singing at Burwash Manor. This is weather dependent and to be confirmed. We will keep you informed of updates via the website.

15th December: The children of Barton Primary School will be a-carolling around the village- Kings Grove 1.30pm, Great Close 2pm, Allen’s Close 2.30pm. This will be weather dependent.

18th December 6.30pm: Carol Service St. Peter’s Church

Roadside vegetation

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Dear Barton residents

Thanks to all this recent rain, we have noticed many of our hedges and shrubbery are bouncing back into life after the dry summer. As wonderful as this is, please be reminded that you are responsible for the maintenance of vegetation in your gardens, and particularly, ensuring that it is cut back from public paths and roadsides so as not to impede these areas.

Should you need any help with this, please get in touch with the Amenities and Open Spaces Working Group of the Parish Council via the contact details below, and we can recommend local gardening services that may be able to assist you.

Yours faithfully,

Cllr Danielle Stretch

On behalf of the Amenities and Open Spaces Working Group