Radical traffic plans for Great Shelford revealed
Proposals as wide ranging as stopping motorised traffic using Church Street and to make Woollards Lane and High Street one-way have emerged to improve traffic management in Great Shelford.
Moves to switch parking on Church Street to the opposite side of the road, extending weight limit restrictions and the introduction of all day parking charges in the village are highlighted in the report.
“A very radical option would be to consider if a permanent closure of Church Street to motorised traffic would be possible or desirable,” says the report, commissioned by Great Shelford Parish Council.
“The closure of Church Street to through traffic would reduce traffic along Woollards Lane and High Street, particularly the rat running identified from the traffic surveys.
“Other options have been considered, such as introducing one-way operation in High Street and Woollards Lane,” the report states.
The 45 page traffic report has been carried out by consultants Intermodal Transportation, who were commissioned by the Parish Council. It has been published on the Parish Council website. Great Shelford Parish Council, who commissioned the report are planning wide consultation before considering the options and exploring the viability of some of the ideas. No decisions have yet been made by Great Shelford Parish Council.
The report highlights illegal parking near the school which it says could be addressed with “a camera option which would likely to be the most effective deterrent.”
“There may be a benefit in switching the parking adjacent to the Church from the northern side of Church Street to the southern side as that would increase inter-visibility,” the report states.
“A one-way scheme for High Street and Woollards Lane could be included with a segregated cycle facility incorporated if roadside parking is removed in part,” the report proposes.
Further work was commissioned by the Parish Council in February 2023 to explore the feasibility and potential benefits of introducing a one way system. This work will measure traffic flows and the potential impact of changes.
“A survey of local people indicated a high level of concern relating to congestion, speeding and parking,” said the report.
The report states: “Great Shelford Parish Council intends to implement ongoing improvements in the village and after initial priorities are addressed, will explore additional measures such as one-way systems, pedestrianisation in parts, increasing parking potential on the perimeters of the village and introducing all day parking charges.”
Next steps suggested in the report include:
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“Consider the detailed revisions to parking in Church Street and introduce a formal priority working arrangement to facilitate wider footways where possible.
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“To discuss potential weight restrictions in Church Street with the Local Highway Authority (the County Council.)
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“To undertake further studies including exploring if a one-way traffic system could be implemented in High Street and Woollards Lane.”
Lyn Disley of Great Shelford Parish Council commented “We asked the consultants to ‘think out of the box’ and so the ideas are varied and some pretty radical. Of course, some considerations are just unworkable, but as with all problem solving, ideas can lead to further thought and eventually to solutions. No action is being considered yet as we are only part way through the process of gathering data and ideas. It is helpful to see a wide gamut of thoughts and this will inform debate. The closure of Church Street to through traffic is not an option that is being actively considered.”
Proposals arising from this work and other investigative work will be shared with residents and feedback invited on practicable initiatives that could be discussed with the Highways Department of Cambridgeshire County Council and then any improvements that could be viable would be trialled and reviewed.
Any changes would need to be approved by Cambridgeshire County Council.
Posted June 1 2023
East West Rail WILLl travel through Great Shelford
The East West Rail route between Cambridge and Oxford WILL travel through Great Shelford a new report has confirmed.
The proposed new line will run alongside the existing King’s Cross line through the Shelfords before merging with the Liverpool Street line in Great Shelford.
Under the current proposals, EWR has stated that this junction, located to the west of Granham’s Road in Great Shelford and known for historical reasons as the Shepreth Branch Junction, will need to be re-built to accommodate the additional trains. This may require the King’s Cross line to cross the Liverpool Street line on a new bridge in Great Shelford, before the four tracks merge and run side-by-side into Cambridge Station. Technically, this is known as a grade-separated junction because the railways cross at different heights.
Assuming this happens, the impact on Great Shelford will be significant. The bridge structure is expected to be many hundreds of metres long (perhaps over a kilometre) and several metres high – roughly the height of the current footbridge across the railway. The new structure may be located south of Addenbrooke’s Road bridge as that is where there is most space, but EWR has not said.
At present, only two tracks run into Cambridge. But this will become four tracks under the proposed new layout. To accommodate the widened railway, the DNA cycle path running alongside the current tracks will probably need to be moved according to the proposals.
Read more about the impact on the Shelfords here.
Posted May 26 2023
New girls football team for the village
Shelford & Stapleford Strikers Football Club are hoping to start a Girls team for the 23/24 football season. This is to add to our super successful mixed teams from the age of U6s to u18s.
Training will begin for the girls team this summer, ran by John Rush, coach and chairman at SASS FC. (Volunteers will also be required)
If you (or you know someone) with a daughter in Year 2 or 3 that is keen to play, please contact John.rush@sass-fc.com.
SASS FC also take on U6 boys and girls (year 1) for our mini striker teams.
Please visit www.sass-fc.com for more info
Posted May 23 2023
Co-op burgled
The Co-op in Great Shelford was broken into on May 19th.
The burglary meant that the store had delayed opening on May 20.
Posted May 24 2023
Square and Compass is back
The Square and Compasses has re-opened.
The village pub opened its doors again on Easter Sunday after Hans and Justine Pinkard took over the reins.
Traditional pub food is now back on the menu.
And new benches at the front of the pub are also on the way in the next few weeks.
Hans and Justine have many years experience, having previously ran popular pubs at Balsham and Ashdon.
“We have been out for three years after because of the pandemic but the timing for the Square was just right,” said Hans.
“We have lots of experience of pubs. We hope we can offer the village something fresh alongside the traditional pub offerings.
“Hopefully the Square can recover from the pandemic and people rediscover the joy of the village pub, rather than it being down on its luck
“We are child friendly and dog friendly – we want to make this a pub for the whole village,” he said.
“Overall we think we need to keep it simple, with good quality beer and reliable reasonably priced food.”
You can stay across their opening hours through their new Facebook page
The Square and Compasses pub in Great Shelford closed in January.
Posted April 24 2023
Great Shelford and Stapleford Neighbourhood Plan: April/May 2023 community consultation is live
There are only three things in life that are certain: death, taxes…and that development will be coming to Stapleford and Great Shelford.
We can’t stop development, but we can shape it to meet our community’s needs, protect the things we value and improve the less good bits. We can do this through legal powers given to us in Neighbourhood Planning.
Building on an initial opinion survey in 2022, a group of Stapleford and Great Shelford residents and parish councillors has drafted a vision for our villages in 2040 and actions we could take to realise it.
There are lots of other things we’d like to understand residents’ views on too, including our proposals to protect locally valued vistas and green spaces; meet local housing needs; improve biodiversity; enhance access to our surrounding countryside; and expand our active travel network.
We need to know if we’ve got all these things right before we start work on the legally binding policies against which all planning applications for our area will be assessed.
You may sometimes feel that you don’t have a say in the growth of our area, but you do! When completed, policies in our Neighbourhood Plan will have just as much clout as those in the National Planning Policy Framework and our Local Plan.
Please give a few moments to help shape the place where you live.
The survey is open until 28th May 2023 – you can find it and lots of supporting information online at www.greatshelfordparishcouncil.gov.uk/SGSNPlan or pick up a hard copy at a pop-up event or at Great Shelford Library. And three lucky-dip winners will each receive a £50 voucher as thanks for taking part.
Jenny Flynn
Chair of Stapleford and Gt Shelford Neighbourhood Plan steering group
Posted April 20 2023
Parish Clerk attends Coronation
Libby White, Clerk to Great Shelford Parish Council was invited to attend the Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May 2023.
Both Libby and Angie Hurren are local council clerks and Community Governance graduates with First Class Honours degrees from De Montfort University, and were awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to their communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Around 2,000 people attended the Coronation. That number includes around 400 community representatives.
Updated May 23 2023
Shelford Twinning Association 2023 exchange visits
We are delighted to be arranging visits again after the pandemic. 2023 marks the 35th anniversary of the beginning of the Shelfords’ twinning link with Verneuil en Halatte, a village situated about 30 miles north of Paris. The date of this year’s visit to Verneuil is:
Shelford to Verneuil : Thurs 1st – Sun 4th June
Cost: Adults £95* Children £75* (second and subsequent children £50*)
The fare includes all travel, accommodation and meals (the only other expenses being a small gift for the host family, lunches on the days of travel, a little pocket money and your travel insurance for the four days). Travel is by coach from Great Shelford (channel crossing by tunnel).
The visit is for all, adults and children. The people in Verneuil are welcoming and friendly, and everyone is accommodated in families as the essence of twinning is getting to know each other on a personal level. Children of primary school age are especially catered for. The programme includes outings to places of interest, a morning in school for primary age children, and a party for all. It is not necessary to be able to speak French, but it’s nice to try!
Children aged 13 and under must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Closing date for applications: 22nd April
For more information and a booking form please contact Sarah Haddow (sarah.haddow@talk21.com) or Colin Jefferson (colin@frenchfrogs.net)
The French visit to Shelford is scheduled for 8th – 11th July 2023
It is not a requirement to host a French family, but it is fun to do so!
Posted March 17 2023
Kash stores changes hands
Kash Stores on Hinton Way, Great Shelford changed hands on April 3. Prakash and Jayshri retired after 28 years.
In a statement, Prakash said:
"We are pleased to announce that the convenience store "Kash Stores" in Great Shelford will be handed over to a new set of people on April 3rd, 2023.
"The new team is committed to providing the same quality services that our loyal customers have come to expect. We would like to thank our customers for their support over the years and wish the new team every success in their new venture."
Posted March 31 2023
Co-op to move to High Green
Proposals for the Co-op to move out of the centre of the village have been given the go ahead.
The Co-op is planning to move to High Green from its current location in High Street.
The plans were today, Jan 18, given the go ahead by South Cambs Council.
The Co-op said that the High Green shop would be larger than its current store. The shop also includes 11 car parking spaces.
Great Shelford Parish Council supported the changes.
One supporter of the switch said: " The parking in Great Shelford Village is not sufficient and this most definitely will help to reduce the congestion."
Opponents of the switch said that rather than traveling or walking to the centre of Great Shelford, people will travel by car to the new store therefore increasing traffic in the village.
The switch was first proposed in January 2018.
The building, which was originally the De Freville Arms, was previously used as a furniture showroom. It is next to Noel Young Wines and Bryan Turner Kitchens.
Posted Jan 18 2023
Cambridge Miniworks to stay in the village
Cambridge Miniworks is staying in Great Shelford.
In September, owner Blake Elkins announced that the family run business would be relocating to a bigger site.
But now the company has decided to keep hold of its Shelford headquarters while also expanding to a second garage at Wimpole (Wishers garages) which will also be named Cambridge Motorworks in due corse. The Wimpole site has its own mot bay, 4 ramps and a body shop.
They are also about to change the company name to Cambridge Motorworks.
“We are going to be carrying out services and repairs for all different makes and models at Great Shelford but also still specialising in Mini and Volkswagen. We already have a big local customer base so this is the right direction for us.
The expansion will see sales being carried out in the future at Wimpole. And that will mean the company will no longer need to park vehicles on High Green, which will go down well with local residents.
“This is a real Great Shelford success story,” said Blake. “This is good news for the village and good news for the business. This decision means that the village will be retaining a good quality and trusted garage on its doorstep.”
The expansion will also mean extra jobs for the village, keep an eye out soon!
Cambridge Miniworks have been in the village since 2011 when the company converted the former blacksmith’s shop.
It’s a family run company, with Blake involved with maintenance and sales, while his wife, Lauren, looks after accounts. Assisting Blake in both garages is Ian Newey along with 3 highly experienced technicians.
Posted Jan 31 2023
New path to Dernford reservoir in the pipeline
Exciting changes are planned under the umbrella of a new venture called the Sawston Greenway.
The Sawston Greenway will provide a safer and better route for people walking, cycling and, where appropriate, horse-riding, linking Sawston, Stapleford, Great Shelford, Addenbrooke’s/Biomedical Campus and Cambridge.
The Greater Cambridge Greenways will follow off-road paths, along quiet streets or provide improved facilities along busier roads to provide more people with safer, easier and more direct routes in and out of Cambridge.
Proposals include;
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Reducing the speed limit on Chaston Way, Mingle Lane and Church Street, Stapleford to 20mph along with traffic calming measures
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A new parallel zebra crossing is proposed on Hinton Way, Great Shelford to connect between Chaston Way and Mingle Lane.
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The creation of a new direct off-road shared use path from Great Shelford to Dernford Reservoir and the A1301.
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A raised junction is proposed outside Shelford Station to reduce vehicle speeds and create a safer environment for people accessing the station.
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An upgrade to the Genome cycle Path making the path wider to provide users with more comfort.
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Consultation about the proposed changes ends on Friday 9 December.
To find out more and share your views with us please visit the following website: https://consultcambs.uk.engagementhq.com/gcp-sawston-greenway
Posted Nov 23 2022
New barbers for Great Shelford
A new barbers has opened in Woollards Lane, Great Shelford.
Istanbul Barbers opened on November 21 in the former Solutions hairdressers.
The new barbers will be open seven days a week, offering what owner Çetın Tasdoğan describes as the best traditional Turkish services including wet shaves.
They are opening Monday to Saturday 9am to 6.30pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm with no appointments necessary.
Solutions Hairdressers in Great Shelford closed on October 13.
The Woollards Lane business has been going strong for 13 years.
"Its a really sad day for me and a really day for the village," said owner Sharon Footman.
She said that Solutions had never recovered after the pandemic.
"The climate has changed so much since then. People are trying to save their money, men are cutting their own hair. Mums are cutting their kids's hair. And people are cutting back on colouring.
"I feel really sorry for our elderly customers as there will no longer be a hairdressers for them in the village."
Sharon is now mobile hairdressing. Her number is 079969898375.
Victor is going to retire after more than 60 years as a barber.
"I would like to say a massive thank you to all our lovely clients for their support throughout the years,” said Sharon. “It feels like the end of an era, it's just awful.”
Updated Nov 23 2022
Planning approved for 39 new retirement apartments in Great Shelford
Permission has been given to build 39 brand new independent living retirement apartments in Great Shelford After a successful planning appeal,
Regenerating the vacant former commercial yard site on Station Road, the new development will bring a new community to the heart of Great Shelford, supporting around 78 jobs both during and after construction and contributing over £300k a year to the local economy.
In the appeal decision notice, the Government’s Planning Inspector R Norman dismissed concerns about the design and impact of the development, concluding that the plans “would represent an improvement on the existing site frontage,” and “would improve the character and appearance of the area.”
The new development will provide high quality, secure and self-contained accommodation in landscaped grounds. Owners will enjoy independent living and a sense of community, with a communal owners’ Lounge, a Guest Suite, a Lodge Manager, and a 24 hour emergency call alarm service.
Stuart Goodwill, Managing Director of Churchill’s planning consultancy, said: “This is a very positive result and we will now look forward to starting work as soon as possible on this new development in Great Shelford. Retirement housing is the most effective form of residential development for generating local economic growth, supporting local jobs, and increasing high street spend. The new apartments will also help improve the health and wellbeing of those who live there, and meet the housing needs of many older people in Great Shelford and the surrounding area.”
For more information on the development, please call 0800 458 1857 or visit www.churchillretirement.co.uk
Posted Oct 5 2022
New cafe for Great Shelford
The empty shop next door to Shelford Spice is a new cafe.
It is a full English breakfast cafe, eat in and takeaway.
It is called Brunch Base. The operating hours are Monday to Friday 8am till 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 9:30am till 2:30pm.
It opened on Jan 11th 2023.
You can see their website at www.brunchbase.co.uk
The next door takeaway, Shelford Spice opened in Woollards Lane on July 19.
Shelford Spice is in the former McColls newsagents which closed almost four years ago.
Updated Feb 16 2023
Three new streets for Great Shelford
Three new streets are being created in Great Shelford with the arrival of 21 new almshouses
The 21 homes will be ready to be lived in early in 2023.
The homes are ion three new terraces:
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Martin Terrace
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Pearson Terrace
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Oliver Terrace.
Martin Terrace
Great Shelford was one of many villages to benefit from the generosity of Lettice Martin. On her death in 1562, this wealthy landowner from Chrishall, some 8 miles south of Shelford, left money to found charities for the poor across 36 parishes. In 1890, Great Shelford’s Lettice Martin’s Charity merged with two other local charities to form The Parochial Charities.
Pearson Terrace
In addition to housing, the charity in its early years provided other benefits to those in need, most notably the provision of coal but also nursing aid and equipment. Their records show that between 1893 and 1895, the Parochial Charities paid for nursing duties provided by Elizabeth Pearson, a widow living in Abberley Wood.
Oliver Terrace
Before the Great Shelford health centre opened in 1980, the village surgery was located on the corner of Tunwells Lane and Station Road. Here Dr Hugh Oliver MBE practised, firstly as a locum in the late 1950s and latterly – from 1976 to 1988 – as a much-loved village GP. In between, he served as Medical Superintendent at the Mengo Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. Dr Oliver was for many years a trustee of The Parochial Charities, stepping down in 2014. He died in 2017 aged 87.
Read about the 21 new homes at the Great Shelford Parochial Charities website.
Posted September 27 2022
Nursery offers £1,000 bonus to new staff
Shelford Day Nursery is offering a £1,000 bonus to new staff.
The Nursery is currently advertising on Heart Radio for qualified and experienced Early Years Educators as well as Lunch Time Supervisors.
" We are encouraging new staff to join us as soon as possible and as such, we are offering new starters a joining bonus of £1000; please spread the word," said the Nursery
Potential staff can apply for roles by calling Debs at the nursery, popping in to see us, online via our website (shelforddaynursery.org) or by emailing info@shelforddaynursery.org.
https://shelforddaynursery.org/
Posted June 27 2022
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