Question 5

Mostly yes

We welcome the proposed connection to Milton Country Park but it should be noted that the facility is already operating at capacity on many days, especially through the peak season. It will therefore be necessary for the facilities at Milton Country Park to be improved and the physical size of the park to be expanded.

Mostly not

Facilities need to be adjacent to key walking and cycling routes, away from main roads. A secondary school may be needed. More leisure and sports facilities are needed.

Neutral

Following my earlier thread facilities should be culture changing. Education for life not education for the rat race. The theme should be mental health and by that I don't mean the avoidance of psychosis but the active promotion of positive psychology, an attitude that we are all in this happily, together. Recent experience of Mutual Aid has demonstrated that communities don't have to be isolated in their homes. Care, understanding, life long learning can blossom given the right facilities. Schools and libraries can be very dry silos to work in. Education must meet the outdoors where life and learning are naturally continuous.

Not at all

No answer given

Mostly not

No. But again, how can we judge? It is really difficult to understand from the consultation document what the community facilities will be. The provision seems vague and imprecise and dependent on numerous other unspecified factors. Community facilities must surely be an essential foundation for these new communities, otherwise too much pressure will be placed on already over-subscribed schools, health centres and exercise facilities in the already highly populated area of Cambridge. There is provision for a library and a community centre, a GP surgery but not currently for a secondary school for a new suburb the size of Ely.

Mostly not

No answer given

Not at all

Where is the commitment to a new secondary school? Where is the commitment to adequate health provision above GP level? No swimming pool is shown, nor are allotments. Green space, including formal parks, playgrounds and playing fields is utterly inadequate. Why has the concept of a large cultural centre been lost? Why is there no space devoted to spiritual wellbeing? The lack of all of these will add stress to already overburdened existing facilities in the City, add to transport difficulties, and will undermine the quality of life and cohesion of the new community. This is shameful, especially in such a place as Cambridge. This is over twice the number of people living in the new development in Trumpington, and obviously requires a commensurate increase in community facilities, not less.

Neutral

No answer given

Yes, completely

No answer given

Not at all

The proposal makes no commitment to build a secondary school, only to allocate space ‘in case it is needed in future’ so the development is not self-sufficient as advertised. A secondary school must be included as an absolute commitment. Only GP level healthcare facilities are planned, despite 18,000 residents (the population of Ely). The planned number of residents must be reduced, and additional healthcare facilities included. There are no sports pitches, no swimming pool and no leisure centre. This is completely unacceptable. The development must include as an absolute minimum: several large new playing fields; new indoor and outdoor 50 m swimming pools/baths; and several new public indoor sports halls. The plan does not include provision for a large-scale cultural centre, only a library and community centre. A more ambitious cultural centre, comprising art galleries and museums must be included. There has been a resurgence in people wanting – and often needing – to grow their own food. The dwellings planned have no gardens and there are no allotments. Every new household should have access to a space to grow its own vegetables, with a minimum 50 square metres of growing space per dwelling. Schools and leisure facilities should be located on key walking and cycling routes so that children can travel safely and independently to their destinations from a young age. Schools, health facilities and other community buildings should be in place as residents move into the first homes to promote low levels of car use and ownership.

Mostly not

Leisure facilities MUST include exercise - a swimming pool and general sports centre. These need to be easily walk and cyclable, with good provision for keeping bikes / scooters etc. safe while people use the facilities. It also looks as though insufficient space has been given to schools. Primary and secondary schools will be needed (children will grow up!). Also, these schools will need good outside space given the planned high-density living (and, possibly, the pandemic-driven need to give children and staff as much outdoor learning opportunity as possible).

Mostly not

Insufficient facilities for a development of this size.

Not at all

No answer given

Mostly not

Camcycle supports schools being located on key walking and cycling routes and away from main roads. This will help children travel to school safely and begin to travel there independently when they are old enough to do so. We think it’s likely that a secondary school will be needed – this should be planned well in advance of need, alongside other services such as health centres and leisure facilities. All services should feel safe to walk or cycle to in all seasons and at all times of day. Lessons should be learnt from other developments in Cambridge: if services (including transport links, cycle hire and car clubs) are not in place before residents move in, car-dependency will become locked in. Care should be taken to maintain high-quality walking and cycling access throughout the different periods of construction, including to any ‘meanwhile projects’ on the site or in surrounding communities.

Neutral

I am not clear how many of the facilities mentioned are actually likely to be built and at what stage, given the use of phrases like "if needed" and "pending further engagement with x".

Mostly not

There is no clear provision for places of worship. People’s spiritual health and well-being is as vital as their physical health. Faith groups bring communities together through shared activities, including serving the vulnerable. Research has been carried out and support this. For example in East Wichel, Swindon in Wiltshire, a church leader (ChL) both lived and worked within the community. A community space (The Stoweaway) was owned by Churches Together in Swindon but managed as a community space for all faiths and none. It was paid for with a grant from the council out of Section 106 funds. This placement enabled the Church leader to engage with the community as a resident and community builder, and work in partnership with stakeholders to allow an understanding of the community’s needs from a range of perspectives. A conclusion from a study of this initiative was that: “Social outcomes such as whether or not people enjoy living in the neighbourhood, are also linked to the community building intervention through analysis of trust and reciprocity, and perceptions of trust: those who visit the Stoweaway regularly are more likely to know and trust more neighbours, and believe that people look out for each other, and those who heard about activities from the ChL are also more likely to think that people look out for each other.” [quote from: Dissertation submitted for the MA Applied Social Research (Built Environment) at the University of the West of England, Bristol, November 2012, Angela Parfitt. Divine intervention? Church leadership and community development in the Urban Village, A case study of East Wichel, Swindon in Wiltshire.] Provision needs to be included in North East Cambridge for faith groups therefore enhacing the social capital in the neighbourhood.

Neutral

Please build a church.

Mostly not

strongly support response from Camcycle

Mostly not

A secondary school is very likely to be needed, along with more leisure and sports facilities as these are lacking in this part of the city. We support schools and leisure facilities being located on key walking and cycling routes so that children can travel safely and independently to their destinations from a young age. Schools, health facilities and other community buildings should be in place as residents move into the first homes to promote low levels of car use and ownership.

Not at all

Appropriate and adequate community facilities are vital to the successful delivery of the vision for NE Cambridge. I am concerned about the vagueness of some proposals that are vital, for example a secondary school “if needed”, a nursery “pending further engagement with Cambridgeshire County Council”, health provision “pending further engagement with health providers” and indoor sports and swimming provision “pending further engagement with Sports England and through the updating of the Sport Strategies for both Councils”. Community facilities must be in place as the first new residents move in, to avoid locking residents into car ownership. In the absence of adequate provision on site, huge stresses will be placed on already over-subscribed schools, health centres and exercise facilities in the surrounding areas.

Mostly not

A secondary school is very likely to be needed, along with more leisure and sports facilities as these are lacking in this part of the city. Specifically, no provision for swimming is mentioned. Swimming facilities are already lacking in the local area and should be considered a priority give the recent government plans for improving the nations health and the intended increase in proposed population, and subsequent demand. It should be paramount that schools and leisure facilities are located on key walking and cycling routes so that children can travel safely and independently to their destinations from a young age. Schools, health facilities and other community buildings should be in place as residents move into the first homes to promote low levels of car use and ownership.

Mostly not

Three primary schools will serve people with primary age children well. There appear to be only vague hints of educational facilities for older children, so until any additional facilities are built for them then the reasonable expectation would be that they attend other local schools. This will inevitably involve a proportion of them driving to or being driven to these schools, increasing traffic in the surrounding areas. A facility modelled as the Fulbourn Centre would be a good addition to the area.

Mostly yes

No mention of CRC? Is this staying?

Mostly not

We support schools being located on key walking and cycling routes and away from main roads. This will help children travel to school safely and begin to travel there independently when they are old enough to do so. We think it’s likely that a secondary school will be needed – this should be planned well in advance of need, alongside other services such as health centres and leisure facilities. All services should feel safe to walk or cycle to in all seasons and at all times of day. Lessons should be learnt from other developments in Cambridge: if services (including transport links, cycle hire and car clubs) are not in place before residents move in, car-dependency will become locked in. Care should be taken to maintain high-quality walking and cycling access throughout the different periods of construction, including to any ‘meanwhile projects’ on the site or in surrounding communities.

Not at all

Not even close to answering the needs of this rapidly expanding city. If you think a couple of schools and a community centre are enough to add to a city expanding at this rate then you're flat out wrong. This is unambitious and underwhelming. Why isn't there a vision for adding something unique and needed in this city?

Neutral

No answer given

Neutral

No answer given

Neutral

East Chesterton and King's Hedges, the neighbouring areas, have very very little community provision. So there needs to be plenty. Primary schools - why are they so close together? This will mean children having to walk/cycle much further than needs be. And will encourage parents to drive them by car. Secondary school. Why is one not included? How on earth are Chesterton Community College and North Cambridge Academy to take all these children? Public space/green space - doesn't seem to be enough Where are the allotments?

Not at all

No answer given

Mostly yes

It will be good to have community and cultural facilities in this area and will be important in integrating the area with surrounding neighbourhoods. Local community organisations from across the area should be involved in planning the development and use of these facilities to ensure they can be a resource for all neighbouring communities.