The proposed Bourn Airfield Development of up to 3,500 homes is causing more upset as villagers in Bourn take up arms in protest at its inclusion in the South Cambridgeshire District Council development plan.
The protest movement, started by Des O’Brien a resident of Bourn, started last week with an interview on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire Andie Harper mid-morning program. The program also featured interviews with me and Cllr Pippa Corney who is the Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy and Localism. The public meeting at Bourn Village Hall yesterday evening was a follow on in the campaign process.
The Bourn Village Hall was packed out by over 150 residents from Bourn, Caldecote and Caxton to express concern about the proposed development at Bourn airfield, and work out how to oppose it. There was standing room only, and some had to stand outside, showing just how concerned local people from Bourn and the surrounding villages are about the proposed plans.
Des O’Brien addressed the audience giving a well prepared history of the process that got the site to the top of the list. He said villagers felt the area had already taken its fair share of development with the development of Cambourne, and questioned whether existing infrastructure could cope with any more growth. He was also concerned at the way in which the site had been assessed, and said villagers were led to believe it was just a name on a list and that there was not the likelihood of the site being developed.
Residents of Bourn in particular feel that they have taken their fair share of development, with the development of Cambourne which is still expanding eastwards. The infrastructure provided has fallen far short of expectations, and surrounding villages are still adjusting to the effect of a Cambourne.
I attended the meeting, along with Cllr Mervy Lloynes and Cllr Alison Elcox who are both district councillors representing Bourn Ward. Cllr Clayton Hudson, the third Bourn ward councillor was unable to attend but is reported to be supportive of the villagers views.
Part of the ongoing campaign is the e-petition that was started on the South Cambridgeshire District Council website, which received 306 signatures before it closed, more than the required 200 to get it debated by the council. The petition will be presented at the next full council meeting on 25th July 2013 at 2.00pm at the Council chamber, with the possibility of a debate on it by councillors. The petition is item 7 on the meeting agenda here.
The campaign to Stop BAD (Bourn Airfield Development) is now well under way and gaining members on a daily basis. The purpose of the campaign is to oppose and defeat the incorporation of Bourn Airfield into the Local Development Plan.
Anyone who wishes to join the campaign or receive information about the activities of the campaign should send an email to bad@beskeen.com and request to be put on the mailing list. There is strength in numbers, and I would encourage all residents in the local area and especially villages of Caldecote, Bourn, Caxton, Hardwick, Dry Drayton, Knapwell and Caxton to reply to the consultation and ensure they send in their responses.
Afterall, Cllr Pippa Corney has said “it is not a done deal yet”. I call on all concerned to put that statement to the test!!
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