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A new police station is under construction in New Road. This will become the
home for Cambridgeshire Constabulary's Histon sector.
Inspector David Howell writes: "After 30 years at the old police station it
became clear that we had outgrown it. Where once a sergeant and six officers worked,
we now have four sergeants and thirty four police constables. Space was limited!
"The new police station has been designed to accommodate these staff. This
will give us better facilities for the officers, our communications will improve,
and there will be additional computer facilities to guarantee improvements in
local policing. It is planned to have the police station open to members of the
public, just as the old police station has been.
"This is an exciting time for Histon sector. The station is the first major
development that the Constabulary has undertaken for a number of years, and there
has been much energy put into ensuring it meets all our needs."
The new station should be open in mid 1999. While the development is taking
place, our local police have moved to temporary accommodation at Girton, which
is not open to the public. Local officers can still be reached by telephoning
01223 358966 and asking for Histon police.
Mowlem Close, the site of the old station and police houses, has been cleared
and will be redeveloped for private housing. Plans for seventeen houses have been
submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council.
West Elevation
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PC Bert Brooks is to be Impington's new community police officer, taking over
from PC Gent. PC Brooks comes to us from the city, though prior to that he gained
six years of community experience based around Chatteris and spent ten years with
the Metropolitan force. PC Brooks will retain his role as liaison officer for
the local lesbian and gay community.
PC Brooks tells us: "I intend to be out and about in my car, on foot and on
my bicycle. I will try to meet as many people as I can as quickly as possible."
PC Brooks will be working from Girton until our new police station is completed
and can be contacted by asking for Histon Sector on 358966.
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The threat of a huge retail shopping complex in the village has been lifted
by a decision from the Secretary of State. Parish Councillors from Impington are
celebrating a significant victory in the defeat of a planning application by J
Sainsbury PLC for a huge retail shopping complex, which was to have been known
as "Arbury Park", on land within the parish, adjacent to the A14.
Working in conjunction with Councillors from Histon, a long and complicated
struggle has taken place over a period of three years to arrive at this point.
The Parish Council's objections to the plan were also supported by South Cambridgeshire
District Council, Cambridge City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council but
the Chairman of Impington Parish Council, Councillor Denis Payne, believes that
the work undertaken by HIPCAPS (Histon and Impington Parish Council Arbury Park
Sub-Committee) was significant in gaining this result, as was the considerable
amount of local opposition which resulted in over 700 letters being submitted
against the scheme. Local residents and businesses joined the Parish Councils
in making presentations to the Inspector at the Public Inquiry.
Commenting on the victory, Councillor Denis Payne said: "It is good that at
long last we have a decision and, of course, for us it is the right one. This
was a long and drawn out campaign but it has shown what good teamwork and co-operation
between Councils can do, and this is also a vote for democracy and the wish of
local residents. I hope that, in the future, as we continue to face increasing
pressure to develop the area to the north of Cambridge, local views and concerns
will continue to receive the hearing they deserve."
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