Bottisham Parish Council – What We Do & How You Can Get Involved

We’ve seen a number of recent comments about the Parish Council and wanted to take a moment to clarify what we actually do - and what we can’t do. The Parish Council is made up entirely of volunteers who give up their time alongside their jobs and personal lives to help make Bottisham better. Councillors are not paid, and we are here purely out of care for our community.

Parking – Let’s Clear It Up

We understand the frustration around parking - but to clarify, parking enforcement and road issues are not the responsibility of the Parish Council. These fall under Cambridgeshire Highways and East Cambridgeshire Police. You can report potholes, flooding, or other road issues directly via the “Report It” tool on our website. They might not be done to the standard you want but that is down to Highways. Not passing the buck just trying to let you know.

Yes, parking has become worse, likely due to increased popularity of the Bell Pub and the new homes on Bell Road. We’ve applied for more double yellow lines, but even these are often ignored. Enforcement remains under the police, as East Cambs District Council has chosen not to implement Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE), unlike South Cambs. Unfortunately, only one PCSO covers the entire east area - but we do work closely with them and constantly in communication to get them to attend. Tickets are being issued we can assure you.

Please remember: parking on double yellows, pavements, or blind corners is still illegal, even if it’s “just for a pint of milk.”

The Triangle & Beautification

The Triangle is owned by Highways, but we've worked together to improve it through the Pride of Place grant, adding seating and planters to enhance Bottisham’s appearance. The new plants will be low-maintenance, evergreen and pollinator-friendly—good for bees, butterflies, and the community.

The Bottisham Greenway

You may have seen the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s Greenway plans, aimed at improving walking and cycling routes across the region. In Bottisham, proposals include raised tables, block paving near the Triangle with no parking, and shared-use paths.A shared-use path would typically be a 3-metre wide sealed track running beside the road, separated by a green verge.

While this may improve pedestrian and cyclist access, the current layout could leave only 4 parking spaces in that area. All plans are publicly available on the GCP website. The Parish Council has been actively pushing for changes over the past couple of years to ensure local needs—especially around parking—are not overlooked.

Let’s engage in Open and Respectful Communication

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and we value hearing yours. But we ask that feedback comes from a place of respect and positivity.

If you believe the Parish Council is falling short, please pinpoint specific issues or areas for improvement. Vague criticism or negativity online helps no one—clear, respectful dialogue is how real change happens.

Instead of Criticising—Get Involved

We’ve received some harsh and, frankly, unfair criticism online. We can take it we are all adults ... however, if you care about what’s happening in Bottisham, come and talk to us.

We have a vacancy for a Parish Councillor and would love to welcome someone passionate about the village - especially those of you that say you've lived here for years and have seen nothing ever done and want to see change.

Upcoming Meetings

Annual Parish Meeting: Monday 29th April, 7:30pm at the Bottisham Sports & Social Club.

At this APM we'll be joined by East Cambs Police, the school, and highways officers. We’ll cover highways, parking, environment, community issues and more.This is the place to speak up.

Parish Council Meetings are every month normally the first Monday at 7:30pm at the Bottisham Sports & Social Club.

Don’t hide behind a keyboard - get involved.

We’re here because we care. If you do too, we’d love to hear from you.

Bottisham Parish Council