Balsham

Infobox UK place
official_name=Balsham
country=England
latitude=52.13170
longitude=0.32303
region=East of England
population=1,641
os_grid_reference=TL591507
post_town=CAMBRIDGE
postcode_area=CB
postcode_district=CB21
dial_code=01223
constituency_westminster=Cambridgeshire South East
london_distance=mi to km|59|precision=0
shire_district=South Cambridgeshire
shire_county=Cambridgeshire

Balsham is a rural village and civil parish in the county of Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom which has much expanded since the 1960s and is now one of several dormitory settlements of Cambridge. The village is south east of the centre of Cambridge beyond the A11 road and also within comfortable driving distance of Newmarket and Haverhill where many residents work and shop.

History

In 1010, Balsham was totally destroyed by Viking raiders. A sign on the village green commemorates the sole survivor of the attack who escaped by hiding in the parish church. [cite web | title = From the Viking Invasion to the Norman Conquest | publisher = St Edmundbury Borough Council | url = http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/sebc/visit/865-1066.cfm | accessdate = 2008-03-12 ]

Governance

Since 1987, the Member of Parliament for South East Cambridgeshire, covering Balsham and surrounding towns and villages, has been the Conservative James Paice. At the 2005 general election, the Conservatives won a majority of 8,624 and 426,374 votes in the constituency. The Liberal Democrats won 17,750 votes and Labour 11,936. [cite web | title = Cambridgeshire South East | publisher = The Guardian | url = http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/0,,-1298,00.html | accessdate = 2008-03-11 ]

Balsham is in the South Cambridgeshire local government district. The village is part of a ward that also comprises Carlton, Castle Camps, Horseheath, Shudy Camps, West Wickham, West Wratting and Western Colville. As at the 2007 local elections, the two seats on the district council were held by the Conservatives. [cite web | title = Election Results Archive | publisher = South Cambridgeshire District Council | url = http://www.scambs.gov.uk/CouncilAndDemocracy/Elections/ResultsArchive/default.htm | accessdate = 2008-03-11 ]

Geography

Balsham is located at coord|52|7|54|N|0|19|22|E|display=inline|region:GB_type:city in south east Cambridgeshire, near the county boundaries with Essex and Suffolk. The town is convert|9|mi|km|0 south east of the city of Cambridge. The larger village of Linton is to the west, and smaller villages of West Wickham and West Wratting lie to the south and east.

The village is sited on a ridge which runs from east to west, reaching convert|380|ft|m|0 at its eastern edge. From the village, the ground falls away to open countryside. [cite map | publisher = Ordnance Survey | title = Landranger | url = http://leisure.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/leisure/ItemDetails.jsp?item=os_landranger | edition = D1 | section = 154 ]

Demography

As of the 2001 census, the Balsham parish had a population of 1,641.cite web | url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=792311&c=Balsham&d=16&e=15&g=426916&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1214266533749&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 | title=2001 Census: Key Statistics: Parish Headcounts: Area: Balsham CP (Parish) | publisher=Office for National Statistics | accessdate=2008-06-24 ]

Economy

Landmarks

"Prince's Memorial" is a full-sized bandstand opposite the village green.

Transport

There is a limited local bus service running through the village operated by Stagecoach. Buses run approximately every two hours between Haverhill and Cambridge. [cite web | title = Service Number 16A | publisher = Stagecoach | url = http://www.stagecoachbus.com/timetables/16Asept07.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2008-03-11 ] [cite web | title = Service Number 19 | publisher = Stagecoach | url = http://www.stagecoachbus.com/timetables/19.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2008-03-11 ] The A11 road runs within convert|2|mi|km|0 of Balsham, providing easy links to Stansted Airport and London . The nearest railway stations to Balsham are Audley End, Cambridge, and Whittlesford on the main lines into London Liverpool Street and London King's Cross. [cite web | title = Stations and Destinations | publisher = National Rail Enquiries | url = http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/ | accessdate = 2008-03-11 ]

Education

The Meadow Community Primary School on the High Street provides for primary school children aged from 4 to 11. The school had 288 pupils as of 2007. [cite web | title = Meadow Primary School| publisher = Ofsted | url = http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?event=getReport&urn=110670&inspectionNumber=310382&providerCategoryID=4096&fileName=\school\110\s5rti_110670_20071206.xml | date = 2007 | accessdate = 2008-03-11 ] Children from the surrounding villages West Wratting, West Wickham, and Weston Colville also attend the school, travelling there by bus. Children of secondary school age travel to nearby Linton Village College. [cite web | title = Linton Village College | publisher = Ofsted | url = http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.7c7b38b14d870c7bb1890a01637046a0/?event=getReport&urn=110862&inspectionNumber=310445&providerCategoryID=8192&fileName=\school\110\s5rti_110862_20071205.xml | date = 2007 | accessdate = 2008-03-11 ]

Culture and sports

The Church Institute used to host a number of groups and societies. However, in recent years, the Women's Institute and local pantomime groups are more likely to meet at the school.Fact|date=March 2008 The Holy Trinity Church holds two services every Sunday and communion every Wednesday. The church also plays host to two yearly concerts by a village choir, the "Balsham Singers."Fact|date=March 2008 The village has a large recreation ground and bowling green used by football, cricket, and bowls teams. [cite web | title = Sports Facilities Database | publisher = Cambridgeshire County Council | format = PDF | url = http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3F0420BD-EF8A-4884-B210-1D5A08FC36AE/0/SportsFacilitiesdata.pdf | accessdate = 2008-03-12 ]

Media

Balsham is covered by several local newspapers. The "Cambridge Evening News" is published each afternoon and occasionally contains news about the village, while the "Haverhill Echo" appears every Thursday and offers more comprehensive coverage.Fact|date=March 2008 The "Saffron Walden Reporter" is a free newspaper delivered weekly to every residence in the village, and is the main source of local property listings.Fact|date=March 2008 "Balsham Review" is a monthly parish magazine with local news, sporting reports, and advertisements.Fact|date=March 2008 Local radio stations include "BBC Radio Cambridgeshire" and "Q103".Fact|date=March 2008 There is no cable television in the village, but broadband internet access is available in the form of ADSL.Fact|date=March 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/ Cambridgeshire County Council ]
* [http://www.scambs.gov.uk/ South Cambridgeshire District Council ]