South Cambridgeshire District Council are proposing to create a new parish for Arbury Park (the orange area!).

The Parish Council is the most local level of Government, so is responsible for reviewing planning applications, providing local services (play areas, open spaces, community centres, sports and recreation) and working with other organisations to represent the residents.

The Parish Council has members who are elected, raises its money through the Council Tax system, takes decisions for the Parish residents and often owns land/property in the Parish.

As Arbury Park is currently part of Impington Parish, these decisions are being made by a Parish Council consisting mostly of residents from Impington not Arbury Park. With this parish review, the residents of Arbury Park have the chance to confirm that they want local residents to be making these decisions.

Establishing a new Parish will mean a Council that can have total focus on Arbury Park, and establishing it now is critical to this early stage of community development and ensuring that every decision really serves the Arbury Park residents.

Impington Parish Council have done a superb job to date ‘birthing’ Arbury Park (look around the site at the existing designs and facilities to see the valuable work done by a relatively small number of Impington residents), but the time has come for this ‘youngster’ to stand on its own two feet. As with any concerned parent, Impington Parish Council will of course continue to offer support and encouragement.

A leaflet from South Cambridgeshire District Council has been posted to all residents providing more details, and the next Residents’ Forum (31 March) will be an excellent opportunity to find out more and ask questions.

What should I do?

Attend the Residents’ Forum and read the SCDC leaflet, but most importantly, every resident should send their feedback to South Cambridgeshire District Council, by post, email, online or through the petition being organised by the Residents’ Group.

More info:

http://www.insidearburypark.net/News/BoundaryReview/tabid/72/Default.aspx