Projects

New Cemetery

The Victorian cemetery in the centre of the village is nearing capacity and after gaining views from Bottisham residents it was determined that a new cemetery was required.

Background

A resident’s working party was established by the Parish Council in 2012. This group then carried out a village survey in spring 2013 to identify views of residents in relation to their interment needs. The survey indicated a strong continuing wish for a cemetery within walking distance of the village and a second key consideration was the want for easy access and parking for vehicles.

Having established resident’s desire for a continued cemetery provision within the village, the working party set about identifying suitable sites that met the following criteria set by the Environment Agency.

Search Criteria

• no burials within 30.00m of a watercourse
  
• no burials within 10.00m of a field drain
  
• the need for at least 1.00m of unsaturated soil below the bottom of the grave (ie water-table of >2.83m below surface for double burials)
  

The Parish Council own no land in Bottisham village. Therefore, had to look at the purchase of land. The search was a challenge as within the village envelope there were no areas of land that offered easy vehicular access and didn't have a watercourse flowing close by or low lying.

Chosen Site

Only one site proved to be a viable option. No others were identified within easy walking distance of the centre of the village. The only other alternative would be for residents to be buried in neighbouring villages. This just displaces the problem and does not enable people to be buried in the village / community where they live.

The site identified and chosen was off Lode Road. This site was:

• within walking distance of the village
  
• >30.00m away from a watercourse (apart from the southern corner)
  
• located at the top of an incline – (good drainage)
• adjacent to the road network with easy access for parking and good visibility
• the property of a willing landowner (National Trust)

The land is held by the National Trust in Trust and is “inalienable”.

Why not use this area as a Play Area?

There are 2 answers to this:

1) The National Trust has made quite clear that they would not co-co-operate with a sale of this land for a play area. It was the particular requirements of the village for a cemetery at this location that persuaded them to cooperate with a compulsory purchase.

2) This is the only land identified as suitable for interments around Bottisham. If used as a play area there would definitely never be a cemetery built for the village. Whereas the planning requirements for a playing field mean that it should be easier to find a suitable location around the village. There is a working group of volunteers (residents in Bottisham) who are seeking viable options for a play area.

Site Research, Surveys & Studies

Professional cemetery consultants were engaged with along with other various required authorities. Numerous detailed studies were undertaken including land level, soil samples etc. Unfortunately we discovered, perhaps not surprisingly given how low-lying Bottisham is, that the land would need to be raised by 2m to avoid ground water contamination. This would mean importing new soil. We found that after liaising with other local Parish Councils that others have had to do the same including a similarly new cemetery in Littleport. It is likely this will be a requirement of future cemeteries constructed around The Fens!

Further research and surveys will still be required.

Challenges & Achievements

• Land purchase - A compulsory purchase was needed. This could only by exercised by East Cambridgeshire District Council (ECDC) on our behalf. The Parish Council does not have the power to exercise a compulsory purchase). A compulsory purchase is a legal mechanism by which certain bodies (known as ‘acquiring authorities’) can acquire land without the consent of the owner. The National Trust has given its willingness to co-operate with a compulsory purchase. However, they have insisted on having an input into the design and approval of the plans prior to work commencement. This is to align with their national priorities; protecting nature, beauty and history.
• Covid-19 delays - Unfortunately we encountered additional delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The good news is that everything now is back on track.
• A grant from ECDC towards the costs of the purchase and, as a public authority, we can obtain a competitive 50 year loan from the Public Works Loan Board. We do not expect that the precept will need to be increased to fund the building of the cemetery.
• A tree/shrub planting plan, designed by local experts, has been submitted as part of the planning application.
  

Next Steps

• ECDC purchase the site
• Appoint approved contractors to build the cemetery
• Engage with local schools & residents in the tree and shrubbery plan & also identifying opportunities for ecological educational initiatives

Formal Opening

Optimistically we hope for a formal “opening” of the cemetery to take place in 2025.

Project Playground

You may be aware that for some time Bottisham Parish Council has been seeking to improve the play facilities available to the village. We understand from communications with Bottisham residents that this remains a key priority.

Whilst the Parish Council have secured agreement with Anglian Learning forout-of-hoursaccess to play facilities within the village college, there is currently no pre-school play provision for during the daytime in Bottisham.

The pre-school play area included in the plans for the second phase of the Ox Meadow development isless than the recommended provision for a village of this size. Other possibilities that have been considered but rejected include land from private land owners, the new cemetery land that the National Trust owns as well as ‘dirt hills’ near the primary school.

The open space beside Ancient Meadows had also been identified as a viable option. East Cambridgeshire District Council kindly stated that they would be open to a proposal from Bottisham Parish Council to buy or lease part of it for a Play Area. However, following a consultation with the residents from Ancient Meadows it was evident that this was not supported or wanted.

Having exhausted all suitable options on publicly owned land in the village, the Council has now allocated monies in the 2023/4 budget for the purchase of land. We are also setting up a residents working party to explore potential sites and, after purchase by the Council, guide the development of a play area.

More detail will follow as we have this. However, to take this project forwards we are looking for the active involvement of residents to be part of Project Play and, if you would be willing to be part of the working party, we would be very pleased to hear from you. Please write to us at: clerk@bottisham-pc.gov.uk

Neighbourhood Plan

Latest Update 3rd March 2025

The first stage of the Neighbourhood Plan was on show to residents on Saturday 1st March at the Bottisham Sports & Social Club. Residents were able to see the vision, objectives and the importance of the provision of services and facilities now and in the future as well as housing provision for the future and protecting areas of over development and the historical areas of Bottisham. For all those that attended there was the opportunity to complete the survey form either on the day or post into the survey box at the Co-Op (by 7th March 2025) or scan the QR code.

The Neighbourhood Plan first presentation (in .pdf form) are here for your review.

What is a neighbourhood plan?

Neighbourhood planning is a way for communities to have a say in the future of the places where they live and work. It gives you the power to produce a plan with real legal weight that directs development in your local area. It helps:

• choose where you want new homes, shops and offices to be built
• have your say on what those new buildings should look like
• grant planning permission for the new buildings you want to see go ahead
• other aspects of village life including social facilities, connectivity, education, environment and other key issues.

Groups can get tailored advice, support and grants to develop their neighbourhood plans which must fit with the District Council's Local Plan.

The main premise for the Neighbourhood Plan is to ensure that developments going forward meet all of the stringent conditions placed on it by the Planning Inspector.

What is Bottisham doing regarding a neighbourhood plan?

A consultation via Survey Monkey and paper based in The Cresset took place back in October 2023 asking for views on the way Bottisham should develop over the next ten years or so.

A Bottisham Neighbourhood Plan Working Group (BWG) has been created and meeting dates will be uploaded here and also notified in the monthly editions of The Cresset.

This comprises residents and Councillors and currently numbers twelve members.

This is a village wide project. The total process is facilitated by the BWG as an off shoot of the Parish Council.

The group has been active over the past few months collating all of the input arising from the 2023 village consultation.

Why is a Neighbourhood Plan (NP) is necessary?

Neighbourhood Planning provides the opportunity for communities to set out a positive vision for how they want their community to develop over the next 10, 15, 20 years in ways that meet identified local need and make sense for local people.

An NP is even more necessary now with the unrelenting expansion of Cambridge into the countryside and the pressure this has and will continue to place on pastoral land in Bottisham.

The construction of ‘executive style’ homes will only limit the number of homes for our young people and homes for those wanting to downsize.

Who is helping the BWG?

A company, Nupremis, has been commissioned to guide us through the process and to help source demographic and geographical data.

How is the Neighbourhood Plan currently being financed?

The finance for this has been made possible by an annual grant provided by Central Government.

Will the Neighbourhood Plan be enforceable / legal?

Once brought into legal force the NP will form part of the statutory local development plan.In this way communities will be able to choose where they want new homes, shops and business units to be built, have their say on what those new buildings should look like and what infrastructure should be provided. This is a powerful set of tools for local people to plan for the types of local development to meet local community needs.

What information has been gathered so far from the survey?

We had a good response from the survey, so thank you.

Analysis of the villages Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (otherwise known as a SWOT Analysis) has been created to help guide the BWG to form a collective community vision. There will be issues that can’t be delivered, or that sit outside of the remit of a NP, or are over ambitious or not pragmatic at this stage. However, with the help of the SWOT, 4 foremost priorities have been identified by the BWG who are working on the objectives needed for delivering these:

a) Housing Needs

b) Natural Environment

c) Facilities and Services

d) Climate Change

SWOT Analysis Draft 1

When will we see the Neighbourhood Plan?

When completed the draft NP will be presented for local community consent in the form of a public presentation and a formal referendum.

In the meantime if you have any questions related to the Neighbourhood Plan then please email: neighbourhoodplan@bottisham-pc.gov.uk

20MPH Highways Initiative

Bottisham Parish Council are applying for a 20mph speed limit throughout the village of Bottisham. The reason we strongly believe this is needed within the village is it will help address significant known safety issues that have got progressively worse over a number of years. These issues and why we feel this application is justified will be addressed in detail within this application. We will supplement this application with detail from residents that have been concerned for many years about the disruption and dangers posed by the volume and speed of traffic.

Bottisham is already a very busy village and is often used as a “rat-run” or through-route to nearby villages of Swaffham Bulbeck, Swaffham Prior and Burwell. Bottisham Parish Council has received a number of complaints of speeding within the village despite having speed warning signs (MVAS) and 30mph poles. Bottisham has a growing population of 2400 with a primary and secondary school, two care homes and a recently approved, to be built, 170 retirement home. The village is made up of a very diverse population, older people, growing families with children, young adults and persons with mobility issues and irrespective of age and ability surely their safety is paramount?

Bottisham is planned to have a Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership “Greenway” through the village encouraging active and sustainable travel. This “Greenway” will result in Bell Road (a major route into Bottisham) being designated as a “quiet street” and move from 30mph to 20mph. This “Greenway” is going to see cyclists in the primary position of the carriageway. In order for this to happen and more importantly ensure safety is paramount we really need to slow the traffic down everywhere. However, this does not address the crucial main roads through Bottisham which are all 30mph and where majority of speeding and incidents take place.

Bottisham Parish Council has worked hard to find ways of improving safety in the heart of the village. We are aware of the challenges with the junction of Bell Road, the endless speeding on main routes that lead to both a primary and secondary school where numerous school children are walking and cycling to school then adding in the care homes and the doctors – it’s a real challenge.

Open Safety Forum

Bottisham held its inaugural Open Safety Forum on Wednesday 8th March 2022. This meeting was relatively well attended by around 40 residents however considering our village population we are sure a lot more would benefit from attendance.

We followed this up with the second meeting on 17th October 2023.

This open forum is for all residents including those who hold concerns about any aspect of community safety in Bottisham, whether anti-social behaviour, road safety and various other topics. It was a chance to meet and ask questions of representatives of some of the key groups and authorities impacting on life in Bottisham and working to keep us safe.

The meetings are hosted by your Parish Council, with support from East Cambs Community Safety Partnership. The responsible authorities work together to protect their local communities from crime and to help people feel safer. They work out how to deal with local issues like antisocial behaviour, drug or alcohol misuse and reoffending. They annually assess local crime priorities and consult partners and the local community about how to deal with them.

Representatives are there to answer a lot of questions.

At the previous events these were, but not limited to; road safety on the A1303 along with our main roads in the village including Lode Road and the High Street including speed and whether we should be looking at speed reductions from 30 to 20, discussions around the dreaded pot holes that we face throughout the village, anti-social behaviour activity from graffiti, nitrous oxide cannisters around the Triangle and the fires that have been started in nearby fields, refuse collection where black bin collections have been missed causing rubbish to be strewn around paths and roads due to rogue cats, deer, foxes etc and then there is the parking around School time and challenges day in day out around the Triangle.

One key result of these two meetings was an overwhelming demand for making Bottisham a safer village to drive, walk and cycle. This has resulted in Bottisham Parish Council submitting a Local Highways Initiative to the Cambridge County Council to request 20mph speed limit consideration throughout the village.

So as you can see lots of varied topics. Lots of questions were answered but the panel, made up of Neighbourhood Police, Village College, District and County Councillors, took many questions away guaranteeing responses will be given along with 3-month plan created. A community update will follow in the forthcoming months.