Cambourne

Infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Cambourne
latitude= 52.22
longitude= -0.07
population =
shire_district= South Cambridgeshire
shire_county = Cambridgeshire
region= East of England
constituency_westminster= South Cambridgeshire
post_town= CAMBRIDGE
postcode_district = CB23
postcode_area= CB
dial_code= 01954
os_grid_reference= TL318598

Cambourne is a new settlement in Cambridgeshire, England, in the district of South Cambridgeshire. It lies on the A428 road between Cambridge, 9 miles (14 km) to the east, and St Neots and Bedford to the west. It comprises the three villages of Great Cambourne, Lower Cambourne and Upper Cambourne. The area is close to Bourn Airfield, and photographs of aeroplanes that flew in the area during World War II can be viewed inside the local supermarket (Morrisons). The final population is expected to be around 10,000 [ [http://www.cambourne-uk.com/faq.html Cambourne FAQs] , accessed 3 November 2007] .

History

As part of plans to build thousands of new homes in the south-east of England, a new settlement in the Cambridge area was considered in the late 1980s. Planning permission for a development at Monkfield Park was given in November 1996, while construction began in June 1998 [South Cambridgeshire District Council, [http://www.scambs.gov.uk/Environment/Planning/NewDevelopments/Cambourne/Cambourne3.htm A brief planning history of Cambourne] , accessed 3 November 2007] on what was previously farmland.

As of 2008, work on building Upper Cambourne is underway, with the estimated date of completion being between 2008 and 2010.

The existing planning permission allows 3300 homes in the development, and there are also proposals for a further 950 homes. [South Cambridgeshire District Council, [http://www.scambs.gov.uk/Environment/Planning/NewDevelopments/Cambourne/ Cambourne] , accessed 3 November 2007]

Cambourne was initially going to be named "Monkfield" after the name of the original farm, which is commemorated by a Monkfield Lane in Great Cambourne. The name of the community was created from the names of Cambridge, the nearest city, and Bourn, a nearby village.

The area became a civil parish on April 1, 2004.

Amenities

Many facilities have been built in Cambourne as part of the recent development. These include a Morrisons supermarket and petrol station, a medical practice, a hotel, allotments, a Chinese takeaway and a pub, "The Monkfield Arms", owned by Pathfinder Pubs.

The high street in Cambourne is still underway, with a chemist, a fish and chip shop, several estate agents, a bookmaker's, a building society, a dry cleaners and an Indian restaurant. However a survey in July 2006 found that more than a third of residents thought that slow development of services was a problem, while almost a quarter thought that the range of shops was poor. [Cambridgeshire County Council, [http://www.cambourne.info/Events/CAMBOURNESURVEYREPORT220107_final.pdf Living in Cambourne: A survey of Cambourne residents] , accessed 3 November 2007]

Cambourne has two primary schools, Monkfield Park Primary School and The Vine Inter-Church Primary School, and is in the catchment area for Comberton Village College. Cambourne has many religious services available and is a multicultural community. Cambourne Business Park is located to the north of Lower Cambourne and is the home of South Cambridgeshire District Council, which relocated there in 2004. Environmental facilities include an educational 'Eco Park' which is home to a variety of plant, bird and mammal life and a 'Country Park' covering 80 acres (32 hectares), partially opened in 2001, situated between Lower and Great Cambourne.

Sport

Various sports clubs are located in the villages, including football, rugby, tennis, netball and cricket clubs with their own pitches.

Cambourne Cricket Club runs two senior teams and two junior teams at U14 and U15 level, with an U11 team looking ever more likely in 2009 after increased interest. Building work on a new pavilion in Lower Cambourne was completed in April 2007, with the club enjoying a sustained period of growth. As of 2008, a second ground is due to be opened in 2009 behind the graveyard which will allow up to four teams to be entered into the Saturday leagues.

The senior football club is Cambourne Rovers FC, whose Saturday side plays in the Cambridgeshire Football League BIS Division 1a. A reserve team has also been entered into Division 5a for the 2008-09 season. CRFC is further represented by a Sunday league team, competing in the Halls of Cambridge Sunday League Division 4B. [ [http://www.cambournerovers.co.uk Cambourne Rovers FC] website]

Cambourne Rovers Juniors FC has a number of teams playing in the Cambs Mini League and Cambs District Colts League. A second junior club called Cambourne Eagles FC also exists, with teams for under-eights to under-15s. The latter junior club appears to be more successful, with their under-12s winning the 2006–07 league, and also making it to the cup semi-finals. The Eagles U12's move to colts football has also been successful for the club, finishing the 2007–08 season as division C (U12) league champions and winners of the U12 knockout cup. [ [http://www.cambourneeaglesfc.co.uk Cambourne Eagles FC] website]

Cambourne Exiles Rugby Club was formed in 2005 when some of the villagers decided to form a rugby-related social group. The first game was on 26 November 2005, against Saffron Walden 3. The team have grown to be a competent threes-level team. After the first season of friendly matches, in 2006 the team joined the Greene King Merit League.

Transport

The transport network for the area has been developed further as a result of Cambourne's construction, with the extension of the dual-carriageway section of the A428. This new bypass opened in May 2007 and has moved much traffic from the single carriageway into Cambridge onto the new road. A bus service operates between Cambourne and Cambridge, with a less-frequent service towards St Neots hourly. The nearest railway station is located at St Neots. The speed limit set for the majority of Cambourne is 19mph, although this is not enforceable due to the fact the roads are privately-owned, have not been adopted by Cambridgeshire County Council and no Traffic Regulation Order is in place.

Church

Cambourne has a wide variety of faiths.

Cambourne Churches Together meet every Sunday - visit www.cambournechurch.org.uk

Cambourne Roman Catholic Church meets every Saturday at 5pm, in The Vine. Priests from OLEM, our main parish come to say mass in our village every week. Visit www.cambournerc.kk5.org to find out more

References

External links

* [http://www.cambourne-uk.com Cambourne Official website]
* [http://www.cambourneparishcouncil.gov.uk/ Cambourne Parish Council]
* [http://www.cambourne.info Cambourne Crier] - Local newsletter
* [http://www.cambournecc.com Cambourne Cricket Club]
* [http://www.cambournetennisclub.co.uk/ Cambourne Tennis Club]
* [http://www.cambourneexiles.com Cambourne Exiles Rugby Club]
* [http://www.cambourneeaglesfc.co.uk/under12s/ Cambourne Eagles U12's]
* [http://www.cambournerc.kk5.org/ Cambourne Roman Catholic Church]
* [http://www.cambournechurch.org.uk/]