One teenager’s important call

/in News /by Andrew Martin

It’s 1.59am on Wednesday morning. One teenager should have been safely asleep in bed, but was woken up by her mum’s partner shouting.

She confided in officers that the man had violently pulled her mum out of bed in front of a young toddler and her worried mum had told her to call the police.

The teenager kept the other child safe in the house in Wisbech while she called us, and said her mum’s partner didn’t believe police would visit.

We soon proved him wrong though, as he was arrested less than 20 minutes later on suspicion of assault and enquiries continue.

Some calls about domestic abuse don’t come from those suffering the abuse itself. They can come from worried family members, friends or neighbours.

If you or someone you love is suffering from domestic abuse, we have dedicated officers to help and support you. You are not alone.

For more information and advice, visit our dedicated web pages.

Greenways Update

/in News /by Andrew Martin

Work has started on widening the shared pavement along New Road between A603 to near Kings Grove. Cambridgeshire County Council Streetworks has insisted on New Road being closed to enable a safe working space and a safe path for pedestrians and cyclists. This has resulted in less traffic through the village and impacted businesses in the village centre. Barton Parish Council has been in daily contact with Greenways project team and Milestone to try and minimize the disruption.

 

The original programme of work had New Road closed for 6 weeks. Schedule rearrangement should reduce this closure period but will mean an increase in overall project time. We have also asked for signage to be put up on the diversion route to say that businesses are open as usual. We would encourage everyone to support local businesses during this period and to spread the word that they are open. Access is through High Street from A603 for light vehicles or Comberton Road from Bourn, Toft, Hardwick and Comberton for HGVs.

 

Please contact Barton Parish Council over any traffic or transport related matters so that we can coordinate actions.

 

Greenways Works Road Closures

/in News /by Andrew Martin

The following permits have been issued for Barton Greenways works which will start next week. These allow road closures and or temporary traffic lights at any time during the periods below.

NEW ROAD: Road closure 22 April 2025 to 02 June 2025  CL902-GW-BART-01-B

KINGS GROVE: Road closure 22 April 2025 to 30 June 2025  CL902-GW-BART-01-D

NEW ROAD: Multi-way signals 17 April 2025 27 June 2025  CL902-GW-BART-01-C

HIGH STREET:  Road closure 17 April 2025 05 September 2025  CL902-GW-BART-01-F

Please note that New Road will be closed to all traffic from A603 to first houses/Burwash entrance for about 6 weeks. Pedestrians and cyclists will have access.

Ticket Fraud Tips

/in News /by Andrew Martin

Hello everyone,

In Action Fraud’s new campaign, we are urging people planning to buy tickets or attend this summer’s events and concerts to stay vigilant to criminals.

According to new data, £9.7 million was lost to ticket fraud in 2024 in the UK alone. Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, has launched a new ticket fraud awareness campaign, warning people to be alert to fraudsters trying to catch out people planning for popular and sold-out events.

Follow our top tips to avoid falling victim to ticket fraud.

  • Only buy tickets from the venue’s box office, official promoter or agent, or a well-known ticketing website.
  • Avoid paying for tickets by bank transfer, especially if buying from someone unknown. Credit card or payment services such as PayPal give you a better chance of recovering the money if you become a victim of fraud.
  • The password you use for your email account, as well as any other accounts you use to purchase tickets, should be different from all your other passwords. Use three random words to create a strong and memorable password, and enable 2-step verification (2SV).
  • Be wary of unsolicited emails, texts or adverts offering unbelievably good deals on tickets.
  • Is the vendor a member of STAR? If they are, the company has signed up to their strict governing standards. STAR also offers an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution service to help customers with outstanding complaints. For more information visit star.org.uk/buy_safe.

If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040, or call Police Scotland on 101.

Roman Hill Green Space Project

/in News /by Andrew Martin

Barton Parish Council Announces Community-Led Green Space Project

Barton Parish Council is delighted to unveil plans for an exciting new green space project in the village, designed to enhance the local environment while incorporating valuable feedback from residents during and after the public meeting in January. The initiative, set to commence spring 2025, will transform the green area along the A603 of Cambridge Road and Roman Hill into a vibrant, wildlife-friendly space for the community to enjoy. (See attachment on Amenities and Open Spaces Working Group page)

 

The project will follow a carefully considered design that balances resident input with environmental stewardship. Ground clearance will be undertaken thoughtfully, preserving local wildlife, flora, and fauna while removing brambles and ivy to make the area accessible. Native East Anglian plant and tree species—such as holly, apple, hawthorn, and blackthorn—will be introduced, with juvenile trees (1-1.5 meters tall) planted to encourage long-term growth.

 

A highlight of the project will be a Community Tree Planting Day, where residents are invited to participate in planting and “adopt” a tree, fostering a sense of ownership and connection to the space. Additionally, Barton Primary School pupils will be invited to build and stain 10 bird boxes in the school’s signature blue, which will be installed in the trees to support local birdlife.

To ensure safety and accessibility, crown lifting works will be carried out to maintain clear sightlines for those entering and exiting Roman Hill. Any trees removed during the process will be mulched and reused on-site, promoting sustainability. Works on the house-side of the area will be communicated to residents in advance to minimize disruption.

 

While a suggestion for a wire fence was noted, South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) has advised assessing the need once planting is complete, favoring a natural barrier where possible. Barton Parish Council will monitor the situation once the planting stage concludes.

 

The project has received full approval from Highways, ensuring compliance with all necessary regulations. Barton Parish Council is committed to keeping residents informed throughout the process and looks forward to seeing the community come together to bring this vision to life.

 

For more information, please contact Barton Parish Council.

Barton Greenways

/in News /by Andrew Martin

Construction within Barton Village (part of the Barton Greenway) will commence from Tuesday 22nd April 2025, continuing for approximately 19 weeks, to September 2025 (subject to final arrangements).

Milestone Infrastructure, will carry out the works on weekdays from 7.30am to 5.00pm (Monday to Friday).

We would ask if your residents do have concerns during the construction phase to contact Milestone Infra below:

Email: ku.oc.arfnienotselim@syawneerG
24-hour phone line: 0800 028 1363

You’ll also be able to access the latest diversion information here:
https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/roads-and-pathways/roadworks-and-faults/roadwork-and-traffic-information

Road Works in Barton

/in News /by Andrew Martin

Reminder that resurfacing work will take place on Kings Grove next week. This will be similar to the work on Comberton Road. Access to Kings Grove will be limited and controlled by the Highways team. There will be a period when no traffic will be allowed on the road during surface spraying and surface laying, so please liaise with the workforce and plan accordingly. (Note that resins are used that can damage tyres and paintwork, so you would not want to drive on the new surface until you are allowed to by the team.)

You will also see advanced warning signs for Greenways works starting 22 April. Milestone are the contractors and they will set up a compound on the recreation ground carpark for the duration. Most of the Barton works will be similar to those in Comberton last year and will last about 19 weeks which is end of August beginning of September.

The gifts, the hidden phone and the headteacher

/in News /by Andrew Martin

We were contacted by a concerned mum recently who was worried her daughter was being groomed or exploited.

The woman from Huntingdonshire said she had seen an increase in her daughter’s phone use and she had received mysterious gifts – including phones and designer goods. The teenager’s change in behaviour had become more intense and she was being hostile when challenged.

Other calls include one from a worried dad in South Cambs, who discovered his 12-year-old daughter had been speaking to people online using a hidden phone, and a headteacher in Fenland who said a boy had confided in him that he was being exploited to sell drugs by his friend.

Cases like these are flagged up to our dedicated Child Exploitation Hub every single week and our officers work hard to safeguard children, but we can’t do it alone. You may think children aren’t exploited where you live or it won’t happen to those you know – but these cases prove differently.

Do you know the signs to spot this Child Exploitation Awareness Day?

Please take the time to speak to your children, those you care for, or family and friends, about any concerns you have. One conversation could be a start towards making a real difference.

Concerns can also be reported to us, like the parents and headteacher did here. Find out more information about child exploitation on our dedicated web pages.

 

Black Mazda on Car Park

/in News /by Andrew Martin

We urgently need to contact the owner of the black Mazda parked on the recreation ground car park close to the High Street fence. This area of the car park where it has been parked for a number of months is required for a temporary compound. If anyone knows who the owner is or how to contact them could they please let the Parish Council know.

Owner of Black Mazda Recreation Ground Car Park

/in News /by Andrew Martin

Will the owner of the black Mazda parked on the recreation ground car park near the fence by the High Street please contact the Parish Council. Access to the area where it is parked is required in the near future.