Welcome
February Parish Council Minutes
01.
PUBLIC MEETING
District Cllrs Lay and Sharp and one member of the public attended.
C Cllr Edge was unable to attend and forwarded a report that can be seen in full on the website ashleyparish.org and covered the following subjects:
Strategy Resources and Performance, Adults and Health, Children and Young People, Highways and Transport and News from the Combined Authority.
Cllr Sharp reported as follows.
Local Government Review – Statutory Consultation ends 26th March and it is expected that the Government will announce their decision in July prior to the Parliamentary Recess.
ECDC Budget will be decided 24th February with 0% increase proposed.
Planning – The proposed Kingsway Solar Farm consultation has finished. An application has been made to install large battery units at Burwell to store surplus electricity from periods of low demand, and feed back to the grid at peak times.
Buses – Two new routes are proposed for the Southern Villages that will provide a direct service to Addenbrookes.
Cllr Summers asked D Cllr Lay for an update on the proposed Newmarket Hub where funding of £4m had been set aside. D Cllr Lay replied that issues with access to the site were preventing any progress.
Cllr Herridge highlighted that the sums allocated for road repairs by Cambridge County Council were insufficient to prevent further decline in the road network.
The meeting closed at 7.45pm.
02.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Cllr Howell made her apologies.
03.
TO SIGN & APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETINGS HELD ON 12th January 2026
The Minutes for November were presented for approval, proposed by Cllr McLachlan, seconded by Cllr Herridge, and signed by the Vice Chairman in the absence of the Chairman.
04.
Item 04 - Recreation Ground – Clerk advised that he had received a negative response from the agent for the Landlords in respect of the PC’s offer to purchase the Recreation Ground. The reply suggested that the offer was less than the value of agricultural land and a sum of “many times” the offer would be required. Cllrs discussed and agreed to engage with Ashley Pavilion CIO and discuss how a larger offer could be financed.
Item 04 – About Ashley – Cllr Howell provided an update by email following further discussions with Debbie Garrity. The printing costs for a run of £300 A5 copies would be £108, and the proposal is for a quarterly publication. The PC has in principle agreed to fund up to £300 with the remainder achievable through advertising revenue. It was suggested that the PC could manage the receipts and payments and so avoid a separate Bank A/c for the publication, with Debbie and her team dealing with the production and delivery.
05.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None
06.
PLANNING MATTERS
Ref19/00179/DISE Site north of 39 Church Street, Ashley – To discharge condition 16 (soft landscaping) for information only.
07.
FINANCE MATTERS
To note following receipts in January/February
None
(b) To authorise the following payments.
Ashley Pavilion CIO – Rent for use of Pavilion for PC meetings Oct – Dec.
60.00
08.
20MPH FUNDING 2026/2027
Cllrs discussed whether an application should be made to designate the village as a 20mph zone. We have recently applied for a solar speed sign through the LHI grant scheme, and if successful, this would allow data collection to help with a future 20mph application. As we have no data at present, it was agreed to look again next year if the scheme is repeated.
09.
WEBSITE
Cllr Herridge advised that he had updated the home page and was working on other improvements.
10.
URGENT MATTERS/ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA
Donations
11.
CORRESPONDENCE
None
13.
DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held on Monday 9th March at the Pavilion.
The meeting closed at 8.20pm
A Positive New Chapter for Our Village Shop
We’re proud to see our village shop reopened under the care of a family team who are passionate about serving the community. With a fresh new look and an improved range of everyday essentials, the shop aims to be a welcoming, reliable place for everyone in the village. More than just a shop, it’s a friendly face, a familiar stop, and a place that puts people first. Thank you Nira Fernandez and his family for bringing a new shop to our community we hope to support you in this new chapter
The Poor Condition of Our Local Roads
The condition of many local roads has become a serious concern for residents. This recent photo of a dropped drain between Ashley and Cheveley clearly show the extent of deep potholes, with multiple hubcaps knocked off vehicles after hitting them. This is one of many defects our local roads suffer and they pose a real risk to cars, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. Reporting road damage to the local authority is vital via Highways Cambridge . Each report helps build an accurate picture of the scale of the problem and increases the likelihood of timely repairs. By taking a few moments to report potholes and road defects when we see them, we can collectively help improve road safety and prevent further damage or accidents.
The Future of Our Abandoned Village Pub
The former village pub, once a central and much-loved part of village life, has sadly been left abandoned for some time. In its absence, the car park has effectively become a free-for-all parking area, bringing disorder and frustration rather than the sense of community the site once provided. Despite this, many residents remain hopeful that the site could one day be brought back into positive use — something that genuinely benefits the village and reflects its central location. With thoughtful planning, this space has the potential to serve the community once again, rather than becoming yet another dwelling where a shared village asset once stood.