What is the point of an Annual Parish Meeting?

It is your chance to hear, briefly, from us what we have been up to this past year.

Why should I bother coming along?

This is your time to ask questions, raise concerns, and have a say on matters that are important to you, your family and friends that live here or visit you. It won’t be a stuffy, boring meeting, no lecturns … we’ve shaken it up a bit. We will be in small groups so it is not going to be daunting if you are new to these yearly gatherings. Give it a chance because if you don’t say what you think of the village, of Parish Council or what you would like added or changed then it is just guess work from us.

Can anyone just come along?

Pretty much but you should be a resident of Bottisham. We really want to meet you and hear from you whether you have lived here for years or just moved in.

I do have some ideas about improving the village but will you listen?

As a resident your top priority should be to ask about current key concerns or projects impacting the village, such as the status of planned improvements, ongoing developments, or recent initiatives to address traffic issues within the village … anything that you feel affects daily lives. We will listen.

I like living in Bottisham but I’ve got no idea what Parish Council does or what questions to ask - can you give some guidance?

To give you some idea …

• Budget and spending:How is the current Parish Council budget allocated across different areas like maintenance, community projects, and environmental initiatives?
• Community engagement:What channels do residents have to voice concerns and provide feedback on council decisions?
• Local planning:What are the current planning applications being considered in the village, and how are they expected to impact the community?
• Environmental issues:What steps is the council taking to address environmental concerns within Bottisham?
• Accessibility and inclusivity:How is the council ensuring its services and facilities are accessible to all members of the community?
• Upcoming events and initiatives:What community events or projects is the council planning to host in the near future?

When and where is it taking place?

Tuesday 29th April at 7:30pm at the Bottisham Sports & Social Club. The bar will be open at the end too.

If you can't make it but want to put either some questions through or have some feedback please email: clerk@bottisham-pc.gov.uk

The Copse Close play area is now open - in time for families to enjoy it over Easter.

The official opening for the new Bradens Field, Copse Close and our new play area will be on Tuesday 13th May 2:30pm ... more details to follow soon.

Please be advised of a planned road closure for Tunbridge Lane from 14th April - 22nd April from 8am - 6pm.   A map of the closure and the order are located in the additional documents.  

We have a wonderful small group of volunteers who regularly help out, but we need more volunteers to get around more of the village every month, so if you can spare an hour and a half on a Saturday, please do come along.  

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

Exciting Improvements Coming to the 'Triangle'!

We are pleased to announce that improvement works on the 'triangle' will commence on April 1st, with the first phase expected to take approximately one week to complete. During this time, we aim to keep disruption to a minimum, with no planned road or footpath closures.

_{What to Expect in Phase One:}

• Installation of planters to enhance the green space
  
• A new seating area with bark chips and planters replacing the current bench location.
• A brand-new Community Noticeboard, alongside the removal of the outdated village map.

_{Upcoming in Phase Two:}

In April, further work will include:

• Relocation of the existing bench on the triangle and re-staining of bench outside the Co-Op
  
• Installation of two newly commissioned benches on “triangle”.
  
• Plans are underway for a new Bottisham map, created by a talented local artist.
  

_{Words from Our Parish Councillors:}

Parish Cllr Jon Ogborn shared his enthusiasm, stating:
"It is great to see this project now happening, which will result in visible improvements in the central hub of Bottisham. We recognise we are limited with village green space and hope that making small improvements like this will have a big impact."

Parish Cllr Nadene Cundell added:
"We would welcome volunteers to help plant some evergreen and perennial plants in our new planters. Please email us if you would like to support this new village initiative. We are also delighted to have the support from Anglesey Abbey to help us plant some lovely snowdrops."

We greatly appreciate the community's support and look forward to creating a more vibrant and welcoming space for everyone to enjoy.

Thank you,
Bottisham Parish Council

email: clerk@bottisham-pc.gov.uk