Today Cllr Sarah Whitebread and Cambridge MP Julian Huppert met with staff at the County Council to discuss residents concerns about loss of the few remaining cast iron columns in the city centre.  Many residents will be aware Sarah has been campaigning on this issue since she was alerted to it in May by residents of Christchurch Street.

The main result of the meeting was the County Council committing to carry out surveys of the cast iron columns to check whether they are structurally sound. Sarah pushed for the results of these surveys to be made public, and Council staff to attend a public meeting to discuss the way forward when the tests have been carried out.  Sarah and Julian were keen to impress on County Council staff the need to consult with residents on the plans and take their views into account.

Sarah commented “It was a more positive meeting today.  I am pleased the County Council have now agreed to carry out structural tests.  It was ridiculous when they were proposing to remove the columns without testing them.  I will keep pressing for proper consultation with residents as the process continues.”

Sarah’s petition to save the historic street lights in the city centre is still open for signatures online and can be found here: http://epetition.cambridgeshire.public-i.tv/epetition_core/community/petition/1896