Issue - meetings

To welcome Christian Criscione (Communications Officer Anderson) who will give a verbal presentation on Burnside Lakes.

The Committee welcomed Christian Criscione, Communications Officer (Anderson) who gave a verbal presentation on the management of Burnside Lakes which covered the following points:

     i.        The land on which the Lakes stood was jointly owned by Anderson (major land owner),Cambridge City Council and Peterhouse College.

    ii.        Primary point of anti-social behaviour and trespassing on to the Lakes was through Peterhouse College land.

   iii.        Trespassers were putting their safety at risk.

  iv.        There would be a proposal to Peterhouse College on how the site could be secured on their land to resolve trespass issue. The work would be undertaken by Anderson.

   v.        With the further security measures in place this should reduce the amount of vehicles in the area to the Lakes, particularly around the St Bede’s area.

  vi.        Contractors visited the site twice a week during term time which increased to four times during the school summer holidays, picking up litter, replacing stolen or displaced life buoys and repairing any damage to the perimeter fence.

 vii.        Trespassing had an adverse effect on the environment.

viii.        Public safety was the priority.

In response to questions from the Committee and members of the public Mr Criscione  said the following:

     i.        Andersons have been very clear that the Lakes were private and access prohibited.

    ii.        If any crime was witnessed by local residents this needed to be reported to Police.

   iii.        Committed to opening the lakes to the public but if the Lakes were permanently open then the management of the Lakes long term would need to be looked into.

  iv.        To open the lakes permanently would need financial investment.

   v.        The ecological impact on the Lakes had to be considered should public access be permitted.

  vi.        No evidence to suggest that the site was not appropriate for residential development.

 vii.        If the Lakes were to be open, public access would be over the Tins Link Bridge; left of the bridge access would be created. Parking would be created the other side of the train line.