To enter your comments/suggestions on any local issues or about this website please e-mail: Stuntney Webmaster

---

January 9th 2010.
It was fascinating to find the page on your site about the Ambrose Estate, and I hope you will not mind me quoting parts of it on our family genealogy site (which is a family tree with various formatted reports)?
I shall of course give a link back to your site, and will pass you our website coordinates. So far I am keeping it away from search engines, though that may change in due course.
Congratulations on your Stuntney site, which is very well presented.
Yours sincerely Bill Stuart-Bruges

October 2009. The Ely Masterplan and Stuntney - where do we stand?

The Ely Masterplan is currently being debated at District and City Council level and a booklet 'Ely Masterplan Summary - Draft for Consultation' is available from ECDC.
Certain key proposals have emerged from the discussions. The plan envisages the growth in Ely's population from 18,000 today to 27,000 by the year 2031. Councillors accept that the growth is dependent on Ely having the infrastructure to accommodate it, in particular a solution of the traffic problems in the Railway Station area. As Stuntney rsidents well know, a visit to Ely often involves long hold ups at the rail crossing, with rows of HGVs waiting for the crossing gates to open, the resultant cost and frustration is obvious.
The following article is taken from 'Ely Weekly News' of 29th October 2009.

Another matter of particular interest to Stuntney is the forecast of housing development and how our village may be affected. The main growth area is planned to be in the north of Ely, between the Princess of Wales Hospital and the village of Chettisham. Only minor infilling is allowed for in our village. The following is a report from Stuntney resident and County Councillor Nigel Bell:

"I can confirm that Stuntney will remain 'infill' only and that the Inspector rejected the proposals to expand the development envelope of the village. The village is classified as a 'Smaller Village' which means that 'housing schemes of up to 2 dwellings may be appropriate if all other matters can be satisfied'
With regard to the Southern Bypass it looks as though they are now trying to find a new, cheaper and shorter route for the road which doesn't require a high viaduct over the river. I have not seen any plans as yet. 30/10/09"

February 16th 2009.
Letter from CCC received in response to complaint from a Stuntney resident about the inoperative highway lights along Stuntney Causeway.

I would like to apologise for the delay in responding to you. I will immediately speak to our contractors, who I'm hoping will be able to advise accordingly with regards to the current status of the faults at the above location. I will look into this, and notify you in due course with correct details of the current situation.
Regards
Lori-Anne White CCC Street Lighting Technical Assistant.

December 20th 2008
From Sylvia Bell in Australia
I am a little lost as to why there is so much opposition to the new houses. What are the concerns? I knew Stuntney 45 years ago when it was buzzing. Now it seems like a ghost town. Have a safe and happy Christmas. Sylvia Bell

December 2008.
Reply to above from Rodney Vincent.
Interesting to have your views Sylvia. although I can't say I agree. Villages are different places to what you remember. Car ownership and the proximity of supermarkets means that there is little demand for shop services, village schools are no more and pubs are having a thin time owing to supermarket cheap drinks. Home entertainments such as TV and computers have all added to the decline. It is not easy to maintain a community spirit in the village, with the Social Club and the Church the chief meeting places.
It is my view that a greatly increased population would give little hope of new facilities or that our village life would be enhanced. Experience in other villages has shown that where new mini estates are built the occupants simply use the village as a dormitory and take little part in village activities.
Perhaps I am being cynical but that's what I have observed.
If groups of new houses are built the occupants tend not to see themselves as really belonging to the village, whereas just two or three new houses mixed in with the existing gives a much better chance of integration. It's a question of what a small village can absorb without drastically changing its nature.

December 23rd 2008.
Reply by Sylvia Bell
I understand and agree with some of the things you have stated above but, Stuntney cannot become an enclave for the retired.
I lived in Steward Close and I know we all felt part of the village. How could you not?
I take on board your comment of concern that new houses may change the nature of the village. But you did not define just what the nature of Stuntney is these days.
I was not born in the village, but I became part of the village eventually. Even now, 45 years down the track, I still visit Stuntney, online each week, to see what is going on. The place grows on you, and even though I am 13,000 miles away, in Australia, I am still interested in what is happening and I always will be.
That is why I have felt so sad when ever I have visited Stuntney on my trips to the UK. No matter what the time of day, there is never a soul around. The village needs more people living in it, to bring it to life again.
I think your idea of having new houses interspersed between existing ones is a good one and the reasons you gave made sense. So please, don't totally oppose the plan for Stuntney. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Put forward ideas and see what happens.
my comments are all made out of genuine affection for Stuntney.
Cheers. Sylvia.

Return to 1st page of Comments and feedback (to November 2008)
Go to Local Issues page
Go to Guest Book entries or post a message

Return to Index page