Author: chris

Railway Vue back on track as new managers take over
Punch Pubs owned community local, the Railway Vue, is once again open for business with new managers ready to welcome the community of Histon & Impington.
New owners. New opening hours. Image Railway Vue facebook page.
The pub closed at the start of 2025 and saw Lance Key and Raimonda Aleksiejute take over just a few weeks later, opening to the public on 17 January.
Community at its heart
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Locals to the area, Raimonda and Lance have considerable experience in the hospitality industry with Lance having previously run the Hop Bind on Cottenham High Street and Raimonda gathering her bar and kitchen expertise at the nearby White Horse in Oakington. Talking to HI HUB Raimonda said: “We are hoping to create a welcoming and friendly local with hearty homemade pub food – offering a choice which will attract customers as good value for money”.
Customers will, however, have to wait a little longer to sample the new menu as the planned refurbishment, including kitchen extension, is not forecast until later in the year. For now the pub will be offering drinks and bar snacks only.
A warm welcome for all
Brand new meat raffle is launched at Railway Vue. Image their own.
“We are hoping to welcome both new and existing customers to help us rejuvenate the pub”, Raimonda added. “Our message to everyone is please give us time to put our own stamp on it while we work with our staff to bring back to life this much loved village local.”
The pub welcomes well behaved dogs and will be screening sports events, hosting live bands for music nights and plan a weekly meat raffle – the first of which has already been advertised on their Facebook page.
A Punch Pubs spokesperson told HI HUB: “We are delighted to share that the Railway Vue in Impington has re-opened with new publicans, Lance and Raimonda, at the helm. We plan to invest in the pub later this year, and we will be able to update the community as those plans progress. The Railway Vue is a fantastic and much-loved pub, and, together with Lance and Raimonda, we want to see it continue to thrive and serve the community for many years to come.”
READ ALSO: Changes ahead at Impington’s Railway Vue
23/01/2025
Parish Council vacancy follows resignation
Histon & Impington residents have the chance to influence local decision-making and spending following the resignation of Councillor Walter Davey from the Parish Council.
Walter served on the Council for almost seven years, first joining in May 2018, and was an active member of the Planning and Development Committee.
On behalf of all councillors, Council chair Yvonne Murray thanked him for his service, saying he helped her “further understand that every councillor was there to make a difference and everybody deserved to be heard”.
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She continued: “Walter is an amazing engineer and innovator; he has confirmed that he will always be willing to help out the Council with repairs to the recreation ground equipment. One of his greatest strengths is fixing things that no one else can.”
Notice of Vacancy

The Electoral Commission told HI HUB that when such a vacancy arises, a Parish Council is “legally required to publish a public notice of the vacancy” and this “must be displayed in a conspicuous place within the parish.” But this legislation dates back to 1972, so there is “no legal obligation” to promote such vacancies online, though “using additional channels, such as social media or newsletters, is considered good practice”.
For example, Cottenham Parish Council currently has a Notice of Vacancy dated 16 January on its website following a councillor’s recent resignation. At time of writing, it had not been posted on Cottenham Parish Council’s Facebook page.
The Notice of Vacancy to replace Walter was formally declared on 8 January and displayed on the Parish Council notice board at the Rec. To trigger a by-election, 10 people eligible to vote in the parish have 14 working days after that date to give notice in writing to the Returning Officer at South Cambridgeshire District Council.
Co-option
If too few electors have made contact with the Returning Officer by the time the Notice of Vacancy expires on Tuesday 28 January, Councillors can select an individual of their choice on the electorate’s behalf.
The Parish Council told HI HUB that further information about fulfilling the vacancy by co-option will be outlined on its website and social media. The clerk explained this has been the procedure when other vacancies have arisen.
To be eligible to stand as a candidate at a Parish Council election, or for co-option to the Council, you must be at least 18 years old and be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, or a qualifying EU citizen with retained rights.
Guidance is outlined on the Electoral Commission website, which states that candidates must also meet at least one of the following four qualifications:
1. Be a registered local government elector for the parish in which they wish to stand.
2. Have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish area for 12 months.
3. Have worked in the parish area for the past 12 months.
4. Have lived in the parish area, or within three miles, for 12 months.
READ MORE: How well do you know your bins?
23/01/2025
Youth work contract extended to end of 2025
The Connections Bus Project will continue to run four hours a week of youth activities in the village until at least December 2025, after Parish Councillors committed over £18,000 to extend their contract.
Despite concerns being first raised in January 2024 that this service does not offer value for money, a proposal was put to a full Council meeting this week to pay the charity a further £8,695 to extend their activities in the village for four months from April to July 2025, coinciding with the end of the academic year.
But the working party that was due to present a full review of youth provision in the village in June 2024 want more time to assess alternatives and produce a community action plan for youth work.
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They have now pledged to report back in June 2025. To give themselves and the charity more time to adjust, and maintain services for young people attending the sessions if the review concludes that new arrangements should be made, the meeting voted to extend the Connections Bus contract until the end of the year.
As the charity have raised their termly fee by 5%, the bill for the work will total £18,261.
Contract issues
During school term time, Connections Bus currently runs a 1.5 hour after-school youth club and a 1 hour ‘mindfulness and yoga’ session at the Rec, plus a 1.5 hour babysitting course at Histon Baptist Church.
The charity has been providing youth work in the village since 2017, when a member of Parish Council staff moved across to them. The Council then contracted Connections Bus to deliver youth services instead of providing them itself.
Councillors couldn’t recall how the original fee to them was set, but thought it was linked to the salary of the person who joined the charity.
However, the contract has been neither formally reviewed nor put out to tender since, and its annual value is now such that for the past two years it has breached the £25,000 ceiling above which all public sector contracts must be advertised through the government’s Contracts Finder service.
To continue paying for any services at this level will require the Council either to put them out for tender, or offer the money as a grant, which places fewer conditions on the recipient. Decisions on whether a service should be offered a grant or a contract will be part of a wider discussion at the next full council meeting in February, where a draft grants policy will also be considered.
READ ALSO: Decision time for Connections Bus
23/01/2025
Shorter IVC term dates to continue next year
Eastern Learning Alliance (ELA), which runs Impington Village College, are recommending that the shorter calendar of teaching days introduced in 2024/5 should continue next year.
In a trial during the current academic year, October half term was extended by two days and the Christmas holiday began mid-December. A survey across the Academy Trust’s schools saw 86% of staff and 78% of students support the changes, but only 59% of parents.
In 2025/6, half term will run from 23 October to 3 November and the autumn term will end 12 December. ELA say they have “plans in place to ensure that they work with parents to provide age-appropriate childcare opportunities for those who need support with this.”
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Replacement
ELA’s vision is that the teaching hours lost due to the changes – described as “disaggregated” time – will be used to provide “enhanced extra-curricular and intervention offers” outside of the normal school day, spread across the school year. Each school in the Trust is developing its own plans as to how best to use this time.
“Academic interventions” in the form of one-to-one and small group provision to boost the core curriculum outside of the school day, will be part of the programme.
ELA explains: “As these taught sessions do not currently form part of teachers’ directed time, we rely on teaching staff volunteering to run them.”
This means the schools are unable to “consistently staff the sessions, guarantee the provision to those who need it, or robustly monitor the delivery of these sessions.”
ELA has also “committed to offering sector-leading [extra-curricular] programmes”, including sport, and to making these offers as inclusive as possible.
Final decision
The trial will run for the full academic year 2024/25.
As well as looking at staff, student and parental feedback, it will include analysis of student and staff attendance, staff recruitment and retention, Governor monitoring reports, the nature and extent of academic interventions and extra-curricular activity, and student outcomes – based on data to be collated in August 2025.
Following the publication of those student outcomes, a decision will be made with regards to future academic years.
23/01/2025
Reception Supervisor – Holiday Inn
LGH who manage the Holiday Inn in Impington are looking for several roles including this.
Reception Supervisor to be responsible for leading a team of receptionists, ensuring the smooth operation of the front desk, and providing excellent customer service to guests. Manage and supervise the daily operations of the hotel reception, ensuring high standards are met. Provide guidance and support to the reception team, ensuring they are trained and motivated to deliver exceptional guest experiences. Coordinate with other departments to ensure smooth guest experiences, including room reservations, housekeeping, and maintenance. Handle guest complaints and inquiries, resolving issues in a timely and professional manner. Apply by 17/02/2025
See all Jobs at the Holiday Inn
22/01/2025
Board Members – CHS Group
Cambridge Housing Society (CHS Group), a charitable housing association and social enterprise, are recruiting for this role partly based at their head office on the Vision Park.
Board Members to use their skills and knowledge to shape the strategic direction and support CHS to provide excellent services and remain financially viable. As well as attending Board meetings, you will also be a member of one of our Committees, which will be allocated based on the knowledge and experience that you bring to the role. Committee meetings are usually held online via MS Teams (approx 4 per year) whilst Board meetings and Strategy Days are held in person (approx 7 meetings per annum). They are looking for up to three new Board members with experience in any of the following areas to join our talented and committed Board, who care passionately about providing great quality homes and services for people in and around Cambridgeshire ICT, digital (desirable). Finance, Treasury and Audit and Risk, Change management, Social Care Sector. Apply before 29th January 2025
See all jobs at CHS Group
22/01/2025
Housing Officer – CHS Group
Cambridge Housing Society (CHS Group), a charitable housing association and social enterprise, are recruiting for this role based at their head office on the Vision Park.
Housing Officer to deliver a first class service to customers by carrying out regular weekly visits to your housing patch. Dealing with all aspects of tenancy and estate management you will ensure that homes are let efficiently and fairly, work to maximise rental and service charge income, deal with cases of anti-social behaviour and support our customers to meet the terms of their tenancy agreement. Apply by 2nd February 2025.
See all jobs at CHS Group
22/01/2025
Housekeeper – Bramley Court
Bramley Court Care Home are looking for this role.
Housekeeper to ensure daily cleaning schedules are followed and with the rest of the housekeeping team, ensure every area of the home is spic and span and up to our standards. This includes all communal areas, toilets and of course our residents’ rooms. You’ll interact with our residents on a daily basis – so you’ll be friendly, caring and kind whilst respecting our resident’s dignity at all times. Apply by
07/02/2025
See all jobs at Bramley Court
22/01/2025
Teacher of English – IVC
IVC who are part of the Eastern Learning Alliance are looking to recruit to for this role.
Teacher of English to join the English faculty. The department have developed an exciting and unique curriculum as part of the IB Middle Years Programme, developing pupils’ understanding of world literature and the importance of the English language. You will be well supported in the faculty by a number of highly experienced colleagues, and have the chance to lead extra-curricular activities based on your interests, and join a range of overseas and local trips, including public speaking competitions, theatre trips and more. Apply by February 3, 2025
See All Jobs at the Eastern Learning Alliance
22/01/2025
Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages – IVC
IVC who are part of the Eastern Learning Alliance are looking to recruit to for this role.
Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages to join their large, thriving Languages faculty. An ability to teach German would be desirable, but they would also welcome applicants from across Spanish, French, Italian and Mandarin. Given the scope of our languages provision, they expect candidates to be able to teach more than one language, ideally to at least GCSE level. Apply by February 3, 2025
See All Jobs at the Eastern Learning Alliance
22/01/2025