Author: millroad

It Takes A City

A Cambridge Homelessness Partnership

By Hema Tasker

Statistics indicate that there are 160 homeless people in the city centre, of which 130 are in temporary accommodation. This means that one would expect there only to be 30 homeless people with nowhere to go at night. Walking down Mill Road one questions this statistic. Some street people shy away from Jimmy’s as they need to hand over “details” – while others are fiercely independent in their response to welfare cuts, job loss and possibly addiction.

I had the pleasure to chat to Lee outside the church who explained how he wanted to change his life and liked to say “I’m homeless but not phoneless”.

Lee has, with the help of the people around him, managed to set up his own business: It Takes A City – A Cambridge Homelessness Partnership. He patiently explained why he advocates for It Takes a City. Looking at this website I can finally  answer the question how can I help? Well click on It Takes a City and find out who you can donate tampons, socks and furniture to. Or how you can cater for an event, or get your garden cleaned, while developing skills for homeless people in Cambridge through various social enterprises.

Hema Tasker
ehcpservices
STEAM and SEND specialist tutoring and consultancy services

This post is an edited version of an article in Mill Road News Nº25 Early Spring 2020.

Save our local chalk stream!

Those of us who have ventured to the far end of Mill Road to Burnside, and along Snakey Path during last summer, will have seen the poor state of Cherry Hinton Brook. This was highlighted in a YouTube video by local citizen blogger Antony Carpen.

Cam Valley Forum reports:
During the 2019 summer, the dry weather reduced our River Cam to little more than an elongated pond with a pathetic tickle over the weirs at Jesus Green. Some of the Cam tributaries dried up, many only flowing because they have been augmented by water from sewerage works.
How to Save Water, and the Cam posted 9th December 2019

Whist BBC journalist Mark Williamson Tweeted about the Granta/Cam at Grantchester.

And Feargal Sharkey reported Environment Agency information.

We are indebted to Cam Valley Forum for some of this information.

Cam Valley Forum Newsletters can be viewed/downloaded here.

Mill Road and the reason why it is so good to live here!

By Lorenza Brock

According to the 2019 World Happiness Report, Finland is the happiest country in the world, with Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and The Netherlands holding the next top positions. What’s even more interesting is that the Nordic countries persistently top the chart year after year! So, what knowledge do they have and what cultural ethics do they live by to make them so happy? 

What we learn from the Nordic countries is that from a societal point of view we need to look at building a well-functioning infrastructure where people can feel supported, valued and taken care of.  It is therefore not surprising that the Cambridge’s Mill Road area is such a lovely place to live.

The Mill Road Bridges Community of Communities has long been investing time and efforts to bring together different community groups, independent traders and residents to promotes the interests and rich cultural diversity of this neighbourhood. There is a real sense of community here making it such a great place to live, work, visit and be entertained!

It is worth remembering, though, that as individuals we also have a duty to ourselves to actively try to be happy. It requires a constant effort of positivity and willingness. As Miek Wiking, founder of the Happiness Research Institute, explains, we have the power within ourselves to build a bank of happy memories. So, what are you waiting for? Get involved with the community!

Lorenza Brock is a Well-Being Consultant and founder of Wellness & Purpose, based in the Mill Road area.

A longer version of this article THE FINE ART OF BEING HAPPY can be found here, on Lorenza’s website.

Projector screen

Thanks to the Trash Nothing site and app – and the generosity of a donor in Shelford, Mill Road Bridges now has a small projector screen.

So Mill Road Bridges can be generous, too.

We can lend this to non-profit community groups in and around Mill Road.

It would be suitable for small meetings, of up to 20 people (maybe 30 at a pinch). See the image and dimensions, below.

Dimensions

Screen width: 95 cm
Screen height: 98 cm
Height from floor to top of screen: 166 cm
Extended leg radius: 43 cm
Could be positioned on a table-top for extra height (if you’re careful).

Terms & conditions

Email us, using this link, as far in advance as you can.
You/your group is responsible for collection and return.
There is no fee.
If you damage the screen, you/your group are responsible for finding a replacement of similar standard (2nd-hand, not perfect, but passable).

Greater Cambridge Local Plan

Open meeting, in the Mill Road, Wednesday 19th February 2020 7:30pm

And see, further down, about another meeting on the previous evening.

This public meeting was be led by Katie Thornburrow, Executive City Councillor for Planning.

Were you there? Please send us a report?

This plan will affect the way we live, work, travel and play in Cambridge over the next 20 years and beyond.

The shared planning department are committed to growing our economy, and planning for new homes and jobs which meet the needs of all our community, and meeting the challenges we face.

But it’s not just about the economy or development: the Local Plan is an important tool to help us become a net zero carbon society, and to meeting our target of doubling biodiversity in the area.

Click for more information about Greater Cambridge Shared Planning
An introductory video from Greater Cambridge Shared Planning
The big themes: biodiversity, climate change, wellbeing, homes, jobs, infrastructure…
Where to build?

Greater Cambridge Local Plan – The Big Debate

An evening of quickfire presentations from local groups and lively debate about the future of Greater Cambridge.

Tuesday 18th February 2020 18:30 – 21:00 GMT
Cambridge Corn Exchange, 2 Wheeler Street, Cambridge CB2 3QB

As part of the ‘First Conversation’ consultation on the new Greater Cambridge Local Plan, local groups were invited to share their ideas about the future of the Greater Cambridge Area. Eight local groups presented and debate their ideas.

If you attended either event, please send us a report using this link to email us, and we’ll add your report to the post.

Shorter comments are also welcome, below, but should be polite.

Reduce, reuse, repair, recycle – what does it mean in practice?

We thought it would further our subscribers’ understanding to take a look at a recent blogpost from Antony Carpen, aka A Dragon’s Best Friend.

Summary:
Responding to world record consumption of resources and materials…
Click to view.

If you’re not already a subscriber to Antony’s excellent, thoughtful blog scroll down to the foot of his homepage and enter your email address.

You could also investigate his ‘Donate’ button…

You could also take a look at our Tread Lightly On The Earth page, and even add your own comments.

Mill Road News Distribution

Can you help?

Some of our latest newsletters

Our volunteers distribute 5,500 copies to residents in and around Mill Road and to local shops, cafés and pubs. Could you help us? Additional volunteer distributors are always welcome, and we especially need help in Romsey Town.

If you think that you could help, please click this link to email us.

The first issue of the decade (Nº25) is now being distributed.

Four times per year, the non-profit community group, Mill Road Bridges, produce a lively local newsletter focussing on different aspects of life in and around Cambridge’s Mill Road. You can view and download past editions here: Newsletter downloads.

With its high editorial to advert ratio, Mill Road News is well received by residents – rather than being thrown, unopened, into the recycling bin! 

We sell advertising only to cover the costs of supporting Mill Road Bridges’ objectives of furthering the interests of local residents and traders in Mill Road’s ‘Community of Communities’. We do not seek advertising from businesses with no connection to Mill Road.

In addition, though this website and our @MillRoadBridges Twitter account we seek to highlight local residents’ and traders’ on-going discussion about the future of Mill Road.

Perhaps you would like to become more active in the Mill Road community, by joining our steering committee and helping contribute to planning future editions of Mill Road News. If so, please email us to offer your support and involvement in Mill Road Bridges.

Ironworks, Mill Road

Image from ‘Ironworks‘ website

THE redevelopment of the former Mill Road Depôt site by Cambridge Investment Partnership, an equal partnership between Cambridge City Council and Hill Investment Partnerships is proceeding apace.

Ironworks is the first mixed tenure housing scheme to be delivered by the Partnership, and will include 182 homes, 50% of them new council homes.

We can’t give constant updates, unless there’s a particular community aspect to inform local people about, or to discuss. Named ‘Ironworks‘ the official site can be reached by clicking on the image below.

Click the image to visit the site.

Cambridge Investment Partnership is an equal joint venture between Cambridge City Council and Hill Investment Partnerships. It has been set up to take forward the redevelopment of council and other land to help meet the need for housing, in particular to deliver 500 new council rented homes across the city.

This City Council press release, dated 7th January 2020, is exactly what we’d like to keep you informed about.

PLANNED NEW MILL ROAD COMMUNITY CENTRE

A new partnership of local community organisations has been appointed by Cambridge City Council to manage the new community centre that will be built as part of the ‘Ironworks’ housing scheme on the former Mill Road Depot site. Click through for further details.

This is just one of the new developments being progressed by Cambridge Investment Partnership. To learn more about them all, you may find this article Joint venture tackling housing shortage in Cambridge in Local Authority Building And Maintenance, dated 10th January 2020, of interest.

PLANNED NEW MILL ROAD COMMUNITY CENTRE

A NEW partnership of local community organisations has been appointed by Cambridge City Council to manage the new community centre that will be built as part of the ‘Ironworks’ housing scheme on the former Mill Road Depôt site.

Romsey Mill Trust and Petersfield Area Community Trust worked collaboratively to submit a successful tender to secure an initial 11-year lease to run the new community building for local residents and community groups to use. 

The council has appointed an operator for the building at this early stage so that they can help to inform the specification for the individual spaces in the new centre.

The new centre is being funded by S106 developer contributions, will be fully accessible, and will provide much needed community facilities and meeting spaces for Petersfield ward, including:

  • A large hall for community events
  • Meeting rooms
  • A community kitchen, and 
  • An outdoor space. 

The centre will be built in the final phase of the Ironworks scheme and is due to open in August 2021. 

In addition to the new community centre, the scheme will include 182 homes, 50% of them new council homes. 

Cllr Anna Smith, Executive Councillor for Communities, said: “We are delighted that Petersfield Area Community Trust and Romsey Mill Trust, two organisations embedded in the local community, have been appointed to manage the new community centre at Mill Road.

“This is a part of the city that has long needed more community facilities. Together with Petersfield Area Community Trust and Romsey Mill Trust, we will now work closely with local residents to help shape plans for the new centre, to ensure it provides services and facilities that people really want.”

VE Day 75th Anniversary in Cambridge

Grants available for community commemorations

May 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day – the official end of World War II in Europe.

Image on iwm.org.uk website

The Early May Bank Holiday will move from Monday 4th to Friday 8th May. Events will take place around the country throughout the three-day weekend, to commemorate everybody who contributed to the war effort.

Locally, grants of up to £500 are available to help pay for events to celebrate the VE anniversary. Cambridge community groups, voluntary organisations and groups of local residents can apply.

Many people in Britain didn’t wait for the official day of celebration and began the festivities as soon as they heard the news on 7th May.

But it was not the end of the conflict, nor was it an end to the impact the war had on people. The war against Japan did not end until August 1945, and the political, social and economic repercussions of the Second World War were felt long after Germany and Japan surrendered.

Click the image to download the guidelines in PDF format.

We are pleased to let you know that small grants of up to £500 are available for community groups, voluntary organisations and groupings of local residents organising events and activities celebrating the 75th Anniversary of VE Day on 8th-10th May 2020.

Click through for the guidelines, monitoring form* and application form. The deadline for applications is 20th April 2020. We would be very grateful if you could share this information with your networks and anyone who may be interested.

For further information and to discuss an application please email Melanie and the grants team or phone them on 01223 457875

Melanie Baker, Grants Officer, Cambridge City Council [amended]
Note: The *monitoring form is essential to ensure that public money (yours, your friends and your neighbours’) is not mis-spent, particularly in any partisan, party-political way.