Many of you have written to us about the proposal by Ice Box to host an ice rink on Christ’s Pieces for a period of time this winter.

The consultation has indicated the existence of strong views on both sides of the matter.

As a result, your ward councillors have requested that a public meeting be held to ensure that all residents’ questions are properly addressed before the proposal goes any further.

Therefore we are writing to let you know that Cambridge City Council will be holding a public meeting to present the proposal and discuss some of the concerns raised through the consultation process so far.

This will provide an opportunity for people to ask questions and enable the Council to listen further to feedback from residents and interested parties. It will also establish which objections could be overcome by
simple changes to the plans, and which cannot be overcome.

In addition to residents, a representative from Ice Box will be in attendance, as well as City Council officers, ward councillors and relevant Executive Members. These are the details of the meeting:

Wednesday 17th July
7 – 8pm
Unitarian Church
5 Emmanuel Road, Cambridge
CB1 1JW

If you are unable to attend, but you have comments (or further comments) that you would like considered, please do be in touch with one of us.

Andrea Reiner – City Councillor
07717 693 858
andreareiner23@gmail.com

Colin Rosenstiel – City Councillor
368326
rosenstiel@cix.co.uk

Tim Bick – City Councillor
07720 413 173
tim.bick@btinternet.com

Ed Cearns – County Councillor
07874 837063
edcearns@gmail.com

Midsummer Fair is Coming! The opening is the evening of 19 June.

Fair opening hours are:
Wednesday 19th June 14:30 – 23:00hrs
Thursday 20th June 17:00 – 23:00hrs
Friday 21st June 14:30 – 23:00hrs
Saturday 22nd June 12:00 – 23:00hrs
Sunday 23rd June 14:00 – 21:00hrs
Monday 24th June 17:00 – 23:00hrs

Website: www.cambridgesummerinthecity.co.uk/midsummer-fair/

The Showmen will begin to arrive for the Fair set-up on Sunday 16th June.
Traders will arrive from Tues 18th June for set-up.
The Fair will open on Wed 19th June, with the throwing of pennies at 6:30pm, and run until Mon 24th June.
The take down will take place on Tues 25th June.

If you have any questions or concerns during the Fair, please contact the out of hours number 01223 457457.

Last year there were a number of concerns about heavy fair vehicles ignoring the weight restrictions on Maids Causeway.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary are aware of the concerns of local residents and the need to enforce any highways legal restrictions. Keeping the law on the roads is a Police matter and not the responsibility of us as the event organiser. However, Cambridge City Council has taken the following reasonable steps to ensure that the restrictions are upheld:
– The issue has been discussed with Police who will brief their patrols to be aware of possible breaches.
– All showmen have been sent a letter explaining the restriction and the need to abide by the law.
– Maps of alternative routes in and out the city avoiding the restriction have been provided in advance.
– There will be signage at the exit of the Common stating that there is no left turn for vehicles over 7.5T.
– Staff speaking with showmen on site will verbally remind them of the restriction before they exit.
– We have a yellow card/red card barring and warning system for traders and showmen on site. Any instances of ignoring the restriction by showmen, witnessed by Council staff, will involve a warning or barring from future Fairs.

If you have a concern that someone is breaking the law, we recommend you contact the Police directly.

We thank you for your continued support of the use of the Common for the Fair and hope that you will come down and enjoy the event.

The Cambridge News has covered the developments with Parker’s Piece art.

This is a City Council press release

The early conceptual artwork design that was released last month, through a commission to celebrate the role of the ‘Cambridge Rules’ in the formation of the Football Association (FA) Rules has recently undergone a review prior to public consultation.

This review has highlighted issues of a commercial nature, some of which could be overcome, however these events have put into question the underlying commercial references that the artwork could deem to signify.

Further work has also more clearly established the likely total commissioning costs for this particular concept. The result of which has raised the need for a significant increase in budget to make it deliverable.

This review was undertaken in conjunction with Councillor Andrea Reiner, new Executive Councillor for Public Places, who has taken over responsibility for overseeing the delivery of this project.

Taking into account the above issues and input from the project board, the Executive Councillor has decided that this concept cannot be pursued any further and a process to seek alternative concepts will now take place over the next few months. A public consultation of shortlisted concepts will then follow, to inform the final decision.

Councillor Andrea Reiner said:

“This is a very important project for Cambridge and I want to see the best possible outcome, not only for fans of the beautiful game, but for the whole community which enjoys Parker’s Piece. This has been a difficult decision, which has not been taken lightly. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the artist Gordon Young for all of his hard work and enthusiasm in getting us to this point.”