A Battle which started just after Christmas to get lights on Hills Road Bridge working during the guided busway project - has finally been won by Geoff after a concerted effort to get officers to organise repairs with contractors. This has been quite a tuzzle with health and safety and other factors brought into the equation, but we now have light for which i am sure users will be relieved - particularly cyclists at night.

Geoff in his Cambridgeshire role as County Liberal Democrat Health Spokesman - has warmly welcomed proposals contained in the Primary Care Trust’s Strategic Plan to invest more cash into Mental Health Services in the County especially for the elderly arguing that with an increase in the expected number of older people - and especially with dementure - much more needs to be done to help both victims of such illness as well as carer’s. In the longer term this is very helpful for the patients themselves but will also be more cost effective for the NHS

Geoff has sent photographs of some pretty untidy passages off Mowbray Road to Streetscene following a number of complaints from residents living in Hulatt Road. It is clear that some warm weather has brought a number of weeds and other vegetation on further than is desirable - so actioned has been requested urgently to tidy things up.

Geoff has met with Highways’ staff from Whittlesford and shown them the major hot spots in terms of pot-holes, broken kerb stones, damage to cycle routes and been advised that a team will now hit these in a very firm way over the coming weeks with permanent repairs. He added - we have had an exceptional number of these problems in recent months and i am very pleased that at last - we shall see some work carried out to make these safer.

Geoff - as a member of Railfuture and rail user has slammed the management of National Express East Coast who have just announced an 11% increase in advance ticket prices - as the franchise admits that it is having difficulty meeting its commitments to Government with the franchise.

These Train Operators know perfectly well when they negotiate the franchises in the first place with the Department of Transport - what sort of payments they will have to make as well as any likely premiums, they were happy to make healthy profits in the goodtimes now that things with the Economy are difficult - they run to the first port of call - cane the rail user at a time when we should be encouraging more people to use environmentally friendly rail - they penalise the rail users once more. The regulator should now step in on behalf of the passenger and stop these disgraceful rises.

In responding to recent questionaires on whether a congestion charge is appropriate or not, it is very easy to get emotional and only look at the issue from a self centred point of view. There are wider issues at stake here amongst them - pollution and the impact on individuals and the community at large, costs of delays to everyone, delays to our bus network as well as our wider health due in no small part to the frustration of sitting in long lines of traffic.

Congestion charge is only one element in a wider package of measures which need to be examined in a mature way if we are to tackle the long and medium term future of a City worth saving, it is often forgotten that the package being offered by Central Government would see significant sums of investment in public transport which would see more buses and service provision which would undoubtedly improve access to transport other than cars.

Before everyone puts their hands in the air - think what City we want to bequeath for future generations, what environment we want to live in meanwhile and the wider good.

Geoff both as the ward County Councillor and resident of the road has argued for some considerable time that the Police and County Council ought to be doing more to tackle the speed problem on this relatively straight piece of road - not least with the close proximity of two schools, old people’s complexes and young mums trying to get children to and from School.

Extensive survey and speed checks have now been completed and the results are extremeley worrying showing large numbers of motorists abusing limits by some margin. We now want more robust and regular action taken before a young child or elderly person is knocked down.

Geoff has now received confirmation from the Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust Management that demand for acute beds at Fulbourn Hospital in the first three months of this year has shown a significant level of growth and it is being monitored. It is clear to me that this shows past decisions have not always been the best ones and with a growing population - provision at Fulbourn needs urgent review. In the coming months I shall certainly be keeping an eye on bed occupancy rates.

Geoff is delighted to announce after a four year campaign with County Council Highway managers - that funding has been agreed to spend some £149k on footpath maintenance across the Gunhild estate. This is no small victory given the financial pressures on the Council and obviously many demands for cash, i am thrilled.

The City Council in responding to Ward Councillors about their concerns surrounding the wulfstan way shop area - have now agreed to hold a workshop in June with local business, Community Leaders to examine ideas of what could be done to lift this area and bring it into the 21st century. Geoff who has continued to press for action over some period of time welcomed the news and added “We need to see a forward looking plan that will put fresh life into this area - not only for the benefit of the shops but in making a significant difference to the life of the wider community, i hope people will embrace the need to come forward and be part of this.

Geoff is arranging a walkabout with Highway staff from Whittlesford to examine several poor condition sections of pavements across the ward in the coming weeks. Some are really a safety hazard and i am hopeful i can get funds spent on putting these right as quickly as possible.

If you are aware of a poor section in your road which needs attention do let me know.

Geoff’s latest attempt to get Stagecoach Service Citi 2 to leave Queen Edith’s Way atleast once an hour to serve Gunhild Way, Tillyard Way and Spalding Way has been rebuffed by Stagecoach’s Commercial Director - as not being possible.

Geoff had made a fresh approach for the many elderly and disabled who find it extremely hard to walk either to Cherry Hinton Road or Queen Edith’s Way. I am very disappointed but not surprised, a commercial company is only interested in routes where it will make money sadly. I shall now make an approach to Dial a Ride etc and see if they can assist.