Category: Features

A big high five for HI HUB!
As HI HUB celebrates five years of hyperlocal journalism here in Histon & Impington, Amanda Borrill reflects on how local news is every bit as important as the headlines splashed across national media.
Take yourself back to 1 February 2020 – the calm before the storm. A brand new style of community communication in the form of hyperlocal journalism was about to launch here in Histon & Impington and was quickly going to prove more valuable than any of us could ever have anticipated.
Launched into a socially distanced ‘new normal’
For HI Fibrecrafter Moira Neal – lockdown was a time for making masks.
Within weeks of HI HUB’s launch, in an attempt to shield us from the COVID-19 pandemic which was ripping across the world like a murderous wildfire, the UK entered lockdown and the virtual world would soon become our ‘new normal. Working lives were about to change dramatically. Working from home made the need to be online savvy more important than ever, and the arrival of the Zoom call – our pathway to maintaining a link to friends, family and neighbours – offered a new way for the community to come together and share in social and commemorative events.
HI HUB’s focus veered towards tightening community connections as we strived to encourage the village to sign up to our weekly newsletter. Restrictions on public gatherings left our What’s On pages looking sadly bare whilst our News started to fill with vital health notices from the local GP and info from our village schools. Features focused on pandemic related topics including ways to make use of your daily outdoor exercise allowance, how to get a socially distanced drink and stories of how people were using their time getting creative and finding ways to give back to the community.
We covered charitable missions, sourdough baking, jam making, virtual scout camps, nurturing our frazzled mental health, keeping our sanity in lockdown and, ultimately, at the end of 2020 the long awaited news from Cambridge’s Addenbrookes Hospital of a potentially life-saving vaccine.
HI HUB’s role in the community was beginning to take shape and the need and value of a trustworthy independent news source becoming ever more apparent.
Getting to the heart of local politics
Nowhere is reliable fact-checked information more valuable than during election season. Regulated by Impress (the independent monitor of the press), HI HUB operates within strict codes of integrity with a full complaints procedure in place.
Image Marc Hatot Pixabay
Party political broadcasts and door-to-door leafleting deliver a certain level of news but information and answers on those local issues that really matter to a community can be harder to come by. In its five years of publication, HI HUB has covered the 2024 general election, introducing its candidates to those with the power to elect them; reported on multiple local elections including District and County; explained boundary changes; and alerted residents to by-elections and Parish Council (PC) elections too.
Reporting of news from our Parish, County and District councillors is vitally important and HI HUB has offered our community a deeper insight into the activities and decision making of our local representatives – not without a little controversy along the way. Without HI HUB’s reporting, though, where would the community have read news on the very real topics that impact us all; including planning decisions, Parish Council spending, community grants, PC meeting outcomes and more.
Supporting and assisting our community
Over the years, the editorial team has become very familiar with the topics that really matter to people and stories relating to our local GP surgery, new business, crime and what’s happening with our local pubs is always top of the weekly newsletter pops.
Back in 2022, local news met national with the country and villagers alike mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The HI HUB team worked hard to ensure the grieving community was aware of memorials and public acknowledgements including then PC Chair Denis Payne’s reading of the Proclamation of accession to the throne of King Charles III on our village green and the subsequent, happier, celebrations of our King’s 2023 coronation too.
Through our online pages, the community has been invited to read about the adventures, anniversaries and antics of many a village club or group – including the much loved HI Fibrecrafters, HI Runners, HI Drink and Draw, our community choirs, Histon Hornets, Histon FC and our long-running local Womens Institute.
Histon Beer Festival 2019. Photo Keiran Harvey
Fundraising efforts by village groups and clubs are bolstered by HI HUB’s support. HI Friends’ plans ahead of and during our Queen’s platinum Jubilee celebrations were shared with our readers. Our coverage of events across the community in Features and on our dedicated What’s On pages offers free high quality publicity simply not available otherwise. Write-ups from events and initiatives including quizzes, the village fireworks, Holiday at Home, the innovative Swish, Histon Manor’s glorious events, Feast Week, the work of HI Trees, fundraising bi-annual Open Gardens and record breaking Histon Beer Festival are among those featured over the last five years.
Real lives
For the HI HUB writers, real lives matter and five years of features have seen some real gems put under the spotlight.
Steve at home with owners Clare and Jake in 2020. Steve’s heart condition sadly meant they lost him in 2022.
Uplifting stories of charity haircuts and charity shops, quirky tales of benches and cat burglars, adventures underground, a parachuting pensioner, borrowed dogs on walks, dancer hitting the big time, a pitch perfect footballer, a young musician with a passion, teens with a cause, local ‘celebs’, high flying ladies, long-time village volunteers and a village’s fond farewell to a much loved community superstar.
Add to these the poignancy and very personal stories of a cancer scare, living with life-changing speech loss, a heartfelt personal legacy, coping with grief and the untimely loss of some very special people and we have five years of community collaboration, dedication and care by a team of enthusiastic writers who share a passion for communication. Long may it continue!
Thank you to everyone who has written or contributed to a HI HUB story during the past five years. We value your support immensely. To all our sponsors and supporters too – thank you! We hope to see many of you at our anniversary event this Saturday 1st. If you are interested in joining the HI HUB team, we would love to hear from you. Find out more about what’s involved here.
30/01/2025
New High Street home for Hayward Moon

The property experts at Hayward Moon specialise in helping other people move house. Lucy Callington finds out what happened when they undertook their own move to sparkly new premises near you…
The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed a change on the High Street recently. Since the local branch of Barclays closed down last year, its old shop front at 13-17 High Street had been looking rather sad, unloved and desperately in need of a lick of paint. Cue property conveyancers Hayward Moon moving in, to well and truly breathe new life into this prime spot on our busy High Street.
Julia Schofield, Director at Hayward Moon is ‘over the moon’ about the company’s recent move and explains the reasons behind it to HI HUB: “We have been on the High Street for many years, however, our offices were tucked away on the first floor (above Gin House) making it difficult for clients to find us sometimes. Thankfully, we now hold a more prominent position on the High Street, which should mean you can’t miss us!”
The company has been thriving recently, so much so that recent expansion in its business and therefore its staff team had seen it outgrow its previous office space. Since opening the Histon branch (Hayward Moon has five other branches across the region) a recruitment drive saw lawyers Sharon Harding and Kerryanne Pond join the firm.
Julia says: “Our Histon office has gone from strength to strength, building up excellent relationships with clients, estate agents and mortgage brokers. As a result of this, we took the opportunity to move to premises that allowed us to expand.”
A warm welcome
So will it be business as usual for the team? Julia confirms: “Yes very much so. It will be business as usual, however, we are also very excited to show off our new reception area and conference room to clients. With a more obvious entry to the building and a welcoming reception space, it will be great to meet with customers and clients in our relaxed new environment”.
The new office is also a more sociable space which will enable the team to host events for the community such as Macmillan coffee mornings and charity events like those already hosted in other branches.
There has already been a positive reception to the company’s glow-up from the community too. Julia tells HI HUB: “We have had an overwhelming amount of support from clients and also residents in Histon and Impington. The team is looking forward to welcoming more customers and helping them on their property journeys”.
So if you’re passing, do pop in and say hi to the team!
READ ALSO: Selling your Property? Here’s how to get ahead of the game | HI HUB
30/01/2025
Businesses Against Abuse – offering a safe place for those in need
A few months since the launch of the Businesses Against Abuse scheme here in Cambridgeshire, Amanda Borrill talks to Scheme Force Lead PC Nicky Peacock about how it all began and her ambitions for its future…
Launched at Milton Park and Ride in October 2024, Businesses Against Abuse (BAA) is a partnership with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Police Authority and the Cambridge and Peterborough Rape Crisis Partnership (CAPRPC). Around 300 local businesses are already part of BAA, including Stagecoach East whose drivers have been given dedicated training by CAPRPC to help them recognise people who are in vulnerable situations, and to know how best to offer help.
With 28 years experience serving in a variety of roles within Cambs Constabulary, BAA Scheme Force Lead Nicky Peacock has been fundamental in getting this project off the ground. And her efforts have not gone unrecognised: she recently received the runner up award for ‘Commitment to Safeguarding’ at a recent annual ceremony held for its officers by Cambs Police.
Safer streets for all
Nicky is presented with her award for Commitment to Safeguarding. Photo Nicky Peacock.
Nicky explains how the BAA scheme began. “The scheme was established using funding from the Home Office Safer Streets initiative. This money is provided to police forces across the country with each force individually responsible for determining how it is spent. I joined the scheme during Safer Streets 3 when we began training those working in the night time economy to recognize the warning signs of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) predators. Safer Streets 4 saw things evolve into an accreditation scheme rather than just training, with initial roll-outs in Peterborough and Fenland. Currently, we are operating under Safer Streets 5 which saw the programme extended to Cambridge”.
A few months in, I’m interested to hear what Nicky sees as the positives and negatives of the scheme. “One major positive has been the involvement of Stagecoach East”, she shares, “which ensures that safe spaces on their buses are available across the community. These safe spaces not only provide refuge but also help individuals remove themselves from potential threats. Another highlight has been visiting accredited businesses and learning about the proactive measures they are taking to ensure the safety of women and girls”.
And the downsides? “One of the biggest challenges is reaching as many businesses as possible and encouraging them to sign up. It’s a time-intensive process, and there’s always more to be done”, she explains.
“Creating an environment hostile to those who perpetrate abuse”

Darren Roe talks at the launch of BAA scheme.
Richard Marsham/RMG Photography
Cowley Road-based Stagecoach East has been a powerful advocate of the BAA scheme. Reflecting on the first three months in a recent press release, Managing Director Darren Roe reveals: “I am so proud of how our Training team, drivers, and everyone concerned has reacted to being part of this important scheme. We have already had numerous incidents where drivers have intervened to stop abuse against women, and their actions have absolutely kept them safe on our vehicles. These have ranged from young women feeling safe seeing our destination messages, diverting a bus service to take a vulnerable woman to a safe area, and also direct interventions to keep predators away from a young girl, one of whom was arrested.”
Nicky is currently fully dedicated to BAA. “My primary role is to educate as many people as possible and to create an environment in Cambridgeshire that is as hostile as possible to those who perpetrate abuse”, she emphasises. “Being a woman does give me a unique perspective on female safety, but BAA is not about placing the burden on women and girls to protect themselves or change their behaviour. For too long, the responsibility has fallen on women, and this needs to change. The BAA scheme is designed to make tackling VAWG a collective responsibility, bringing communities together to show perpetrators that their behaviour is unacceptable and ensuring women and girls know they have the support of their community. Engagement from all genders is vital for the success of this initiative”.
Get on board!
To build on its success though, the scheme needs more businesses on board and it is Nicky’s ambition that every business in Cambridgeshire becomes BAA accredited. And to those reading this who might be considering signing up, Nicky has a clear message. “Do it! There’s nothing to lose and so much to gain. We provide bystander intervention training tailored to all personality types and publicly promote your business as accredited on our social media and website”.
Find out more about BAA here.
Upcoming training sessions are scheduled for the morning and afternoon in the Management Suite at the Grafton Centre, Cambridge on Monday 3 February and Wednesday 5 March.
The BAA team is also available to deliver talks in schools. For more information contact Nicky directly at: nicky.peacock@cambs.police.uk
READ ALSO: Buses designated safe spaces for people fearing abuse
23/01/2025
It could be YOU!
As HI HUB approaches its 5^th birthday, the need for more community involvement has become vital. Liz Hill explains why.
On 1 February it will be five years since HI HUB was launched in the village, offering a hyperlocal news service specifically for the community of Histon & Impington. It is one of around 100 or so similar public interest news publishers across the UK, most of them serving much larger areas.
A not-for-profit organisation, HI HUB has been admitted to the Independent Community News Network, is involved with the Public Interest News Foundation and operates to the exacting professional standards required by press regulator Impress. But nonetheless it is a micro enterprise which is volunteer-led. The board works with three very-part-time staff and a team of volunteers. Without volunteers, the organisation is not financially viable and would close.
Looking ahead
What’s more, to ensure that HI HUB can continue serving the community for the next five years and beyond, more volunteers are needed. Expanding the wonderful team of people who contribute their time and skills free of charge will help give HI HUB a secure future – so that’s what we want to do.
Yes, it could be YOU! Training can be given to anyone with the enthusiasm and aptitude for the wide range of activities that come together to provide HI HUB services for the community.
So that no volunteer is asked to contribute an unreasonable amount of time, we have identified ‘bite size’ roles in many different areas. We would love to talk to anyone who might like to be part of this exciting and unique venture which is the envy of many other communities in South Cambridgeshire.
There are volunteer and board roles that we would like to fill.
Volunteer roles
- Feature writer
To write a minimum of 3 feature articles per year on subjects agreed with the editorial team. All contributors are given full editorial support and everything published is subject to HI HUB’s ‘two pairs of eyes’ policy before publication.
- Researcher
To search for job and volunteer vacancies in the village and post them to the website
- Copy editor
To be part of the team who read, raise author queries (if required), edit and upload news and features created by the writing team.
- WordPress developer
To look after ongoing maintenance to make sure the technical aspects of the site are up to date, generate reports and help to implement new features.
- Fundraiser
To identify potential sources of funding, sponsorship, advertising and donations, and work with the Administrator and board to convert leads.
- Graphic designer
To create digital adverts on behalf of advertisers and work with the board and WordPress developer on the visual development of HI HUB.
- HR adviser
To advise the board on HR-related issues, including contracts and management systems.
Board roles
- Chair
To succeed the current chair, setting board agendas, convening board meetings, initiating and responding to ideas for organisation development, and supporting other board members with issues that arise.
- Commercial lead
To advise on marketing strategy, sales strategy, sponsorship and fundraising, including advising the Administrator who implements campaigns.
- Editorial co-lead
To work alongside current board member Amanda Borrill, advising on editorial policy and content, contributing to editorial planning, advising volunteers, supporting journalists and maintaining the relationship with PINF and ICNN.
- Financial lead
To advise on financial issues, including the annual budget, supporting the Administrator who maintains the accounts (Xero) and liaising with sponsor Streets on annual returns.
Come and find out more…
Even if you think volunteering for HI HUB is probably not for you… but it just might be… let’s have a chat. To celebrate our 5^th birthday we will be in the Library from 10.30am to 12.00 on Saturday 1^st February, followed by 12.00 to 1.30pm in the ‘bottle room’ at the Red Lion. We can tell you more there.
But whether you can or can’t join us then, we will soon be holding a meeting at a local venue to explain more about what HI HUB does and answer questions.
To be kept informed about this, with no obligation at all, simply email admin@hihub.info and we will add your name to a Doodle Poll to find the date that most can attend.
If you can’t make that meeting, or if you’d prefer an initial one-to-one chat with the most relevant member of the HI HUB team, we can arrange that instead.
We need you – and we very much hope to hear from you.
23/01/2025
How well do you know your bins?
To bin or not to bin… that is the question. And then should it be, green, blue or black? Despite our best intentions, the world of waste disposal can be a messy minefield. Lucy Callington is here to help you get sorted.
Even something as simple as making a cuppa can cause a bin quandary. Take-away coffee cups can’t be easily recycled, but making a brew at home can be tricky too. And even though used tea bags and coffee grounds can be tossed in the green bin, plastic milk bottles have to go in the blue… and, ay there’s the rub… the small pull-tabs from the top of the milk bottle can only be put in the black.
Unwanted wine glasses and glass tumblers (broken or unbroken) can go in the black bin, but glass jars and bottles should be stashed in the blue instead. And did you know that, if you buy fruit in a punnet, the plastic can be recycled in your blue bin, but oddly enough, the mesh nets from oranges cannot?
So if you’re trying to up your recycling game this new year, here’s a few pointers to help you play this bin bingo!
Into the Blue
Your blue bin is the go-to place for most of the items we use and discard on a daily basis:
Blue bins are the first port of call for waste
- Foil – ideally rolled in a ball the size of a tennis ball
- Cling film
- Cardboard – except if it’s wet, when it should go in the green bin
- Egg cartons
- Tetra Pak cartons
- Aluminium tubes – like tomato puree
- Bottle tops and plastic lids
- Sandwich packs – without the plastic window (which needs specialist recycling)
- Ice cream tubs
- Yoghurt pots
- Plastic fruit punnets
- Plastic milk bottles
- Aerosols
- Glass jars and bottles
- Broken glass jars and bottles
- Bubble wrap
- The foil base of BBQs
Going Green
The green bin can swallow up most kitchen waste, cooked and uncooked food and more:
Food waste of all kinds can go in the green bin
- Corks – natural only
- Paper and kitchen towels – use these to line your caddy
- Teabags
- Coffee grounds
- Tissues
- Bread
- Some butter wrappers (made from greaseproof paper)
- Bamboo
- ‘Bagasse’ food packaging
The ‘go-the-extra mile to recycle’ items…
Soft Plastics Recycling at the Coop Photo: Val Robson
And then there are those annoying items that can’t be recycled at home. While it’s tempting to hurl these in the black bin and have done with it, with a little more effort these items can have a second life.
Plastic bags, biscuit and crisp packets can be recycled at most major supermarkets in bins labelled, ‘soft plastics’. Our local Co-op also has a bin beside the entrance for these, which is emptied every day due to popular demand.
All medicines and inhalers should be returned to a pharmacy or other healthcare provider which accepts them.
Medicine blister packs can be recycled in branches of Superdrug. Batteries can be recycled in some supermarkets and shops, such as Tesco Milton; printer ink cartridges can be taken to the Salvation Army shop, or Rymans branches in Cambridge; and look out for organisations that recycle baby food and cat food pouches.
If you know of any other specialist recycling schemes, do let us know at news@hihub.info
Back in Black
If all else fails, there is the black bin – to scoop up everything that cannot be reused or recycled. And for larger items, and electrical goods, there is the Household Recycling Centre at Milton. Your black bin is the place for:
Non-recyclable household items destined for the black bin
- Fruit mesh nets
- Polystyrene and packing chips
- Mirror glass, wine glasses and tumblers (broken or unbroken)
- Pringles tubes – although sometimes these can be recycled at specialist centres
- Nappies
- Wipes – bin them to prevent toilet blockages
- Cooking oil – contained in small plastic bottles
- Plastic corks
- Sponge scourers
- Jute bags
- Wrapping paper that contains foil
- Coffee cups
- Post-It notes – the glue on these means they can’t be put in the blue bin
- Sello-tape
- Cigarettes – including butts
- Candles – these can also be melted into new candles
- Black plastic bags
- Cable ties
- Cat litter and animal faeces!
- Ash from briquettes or coal
An A-Z of rubbish
Find a full list of what can and can’t be recycled on the South Cambs District Council’s website here. And if you can think of an item that isn’t covered you can send feedback to the council here.
To find out more, visit What are my bins for? – South Cambs District Council.
[copy updated 17/1/25 and 20/1/25]
16/01/2025
10 tips to beat the January blues
With the excitement of Christmas and new year celebrations behind us, and the cold, dark reality of January sinking in, the first month of the year can be a little on the depressing side. Here’s our top ten local blues-busting activities to give you a much needed new year boost.
1. Blooming marvellous
If there’s a Christmas tree-shaped hole in your home, consider treating yourself to a bunch of flowers to brighten the space and your mood. Local florists Gin House Flowers have beautiful blooms available by the stem and gorgeous plants galore. Alternatively, if your own house plants have been multiplying recently, trim off a few spider plant babies – or similar – and pot them up around your home.
2. Get out and about
Winter in Long Meadow. Photo Guy Richardson
We are lucky to be surrounded by lots of green space that is free and accessible such as Abbey Fields and Croft Close Nature Reserve. Walk across fields to Girton or Westwick, or follow the village sculpture trail through our parks and open spaces. Alternatively take photos on a wildlife walk or borrow a dog for all-weather walks.
3. Budget shopping fix
If you’re in need of a therapeutic post-Christmas shopping spree, many of our local shops and garden centres have January sales on. Head to Topiary Tree where you’ll find Christmas stock and ‘Chalk’ clothing half price, or hit the sales in central Cambridge via the number 8, or guided buses for £2 each way.
4. Time for a catch up
Being sociable is a great way to banish the Winter blues, even if you have vowed to do dry January! H&I has no shortage of cafes and pubs to catch up in, and many of them are offering seasonal discounts, so your wallet will thank you!
Here’s just some of what’s on offer locally this January:
The Boot has 50% off mains in January; The Red Lion is offering a three-course set menu for £22; The Royal British Legion club has reduced price beer on Sunday lunchtimes; The King Bill is open later on Thursday and Friday; or watch football on the Barley Mow’s big screen if it’s too cold to get along to the real match.
5. Get moving!
Dance the dark days away and get fit in the process. Why not try one of the fitness or dance classes available at the St Andrews Centre, the Methodist Church, the Legion or Holiday Inn – from modern jive and line dancing, to pilates and yoga and clubbercise.
Why not take up a new hobby or join a club for the new year? Visit Exercise and Hobbies | HI HUB for details on what’s happening locally – everything from scrabble club to watercolour group.
6. Out with the old
Bargains galore at the Salvation Army shop. Photo: Bridget Davidson
Have a clear-out and donate unwanted clean clothing, toys and homeware to the Salvation Army Care & Share shop, or look out for charity donation bags coming through your door. And if you want to refresh your wardrobe on a budget, pick up a bargain from the charity shop’s rails – with prices starting from 50p!
7. Hunker down at home
If you can’t face the cold weather and would rather stay warm at home, why not keep busy with a jigsaw or board game – and if your selection is looking a bit tired, pick up a new game or puzzle on local swapping sites such as Histon and Impington Swap and Share at Histon and Impington Swap and Share | Facebook.
8. Time for a treat?
Don’t let December have all the fun… January can be glamorous too! We have lots of salons and specialists locally to help us face 2025 looking and feeling our best. Take a look at the range of beauty and therapy options available in H&I here Beauty and Hairdressing | HI HUB .
9. Lose yourself in a book
Pick up a book on your winter walk
Our local library is a haven from the cold, and this Saturday 11 January at 10.30am, Cambridge Storytellers will be at Histon Library to celebrate winter and welcome the new year through stories and rhymes. The event is aimed at families, but everyone is welcome and it’s free to attend.
Plus look out for children’s books deposited throughout the village for reading and replacing. Find a book, read it and re-hide it or pass on to a friend.
10. Do nothing!
If all else fails and you can always opt to stay in and save the pennies, put your feet up with a film or one of those Christmas box sets you didn’t get round to watching in the flurry of festivities. Plus, you could always start to make a dent in that leftover cheese mountain…
For more information on local, events, activities and businesses visit What’s on | HI HUB
09/01/2025
Feeling drained?
Does thinking about where your waste water ends up leave you feeling drained? This mundane daily occurrence is, it seems, considerably more important than first thought. Liz Hill tells more.
There are some things in this life that barely warrant a second thought in your day… until, that is, they break. Your kettle, your brakes, your big toe – and sewage disposal.
Press that flush button – or indeed, watch the shower tray, sink, dishwasher or washing machine drain away – and what happens next isn’t something that is likely to cross your mind… except when it doesn’t work.
And if it doesn’t work for a lot of people at the same time, then chances are, there’s a problem with what’s politely described as ‘foul drainage’ in the village. Social media will spring into action to share news of such an eventuality – and hopefully Anglian Water will spring into action too, as they’re the ones responsible for taking most of it away.
Not all the village is connected to main sewers, so some households have their own provision. A few others have a shared provision off the main network, but responsibility for their piping and service provision lies with Anglian Water too.
Pipe dreams
So where exactly does the waste go, and how does it get there? HI HUB asked Histon & Impington’s very own resident drainage expert, Denis Payne, to chart its journey.
“In almost all cases the foul drains rely on gravity” he says. “In a few places, like Hunters Close, gravity isn’t up to the job so a small pumping station is installed, with pipes from individual households connecting to the main pipe network under the roadway.
“Bizarrely, precise information about the location of these pipes and other underground services isn’t freely available; rather, a digital services company will sell it to you for a fee – and anyone planning the works will need the information so will have to pay this.
“There should be no trees planted or other services laid in a 3m ‘buffer zone’ around any pipes, to allow access to them if the need for a repair arise – though clearly this isn’t possible in some built-up areas.”
Home Close bound
The pumping station at Home Close.
All pipes then lead to a large pumping station at Home Close, from where it continues its onward journey, forming a heady cocktail as it passes through ‘jam factory’ land, picking up their “outflow” (not jam) on the way.
“It then passes down the access road alongside the old station building, through The Copse, under the B1049, past Histon Football Club, and finally off to the sewage treatment works at Milton” explains Denis.
“There are still plans for a new treatment plant to be built between Fen Ditton and Horningsea, but this won’t affect the direction of travel for Histon & Impington’s sewage. This will continue on its journey to Milton, from where it will be connected to the new plant.”
Buffering up
Preparatory tree removal at Crossing Keeper’s Hut in 2021. Photo: Jemima Borrill.
The Parish Council discovered the implications of not leaving a buffer zone around a pipe after they first installed electricity in the crossing keeper’s cottage – affectionately dubbed ‘The Hut at Poo Corner’ – at The Copse.
Digging revealed that the offending sewage pipe, which had sprung a leak, was next to several other utility pipes and cables under the ground. Before the repair could begin, the electricity supply at the Hut had to be moved. Five trees had to be removed by specialist tree surgeons, as the excavation would have disturbed their roots and left them unsafe.
If there are problems at the pumping station or with the main pipes leading to Milton, multiple tankers have to operate round the clock to empty the storage tanks at Home Close. This often coincides with periods of heavy rain.
Denis explains why: “In theory, the sewage system is ‘sealed’ and only deals with outflows from domestic and business premises – not surface water. In Histon & Impington special permission is needed to connect rainwater run-off to the sewage system.
“But during periods of heavy rain, surface water does get into the foul network. During one period of really heavy rain, almost 90% of the water at the pumping station was from that rain, either getting in via manhole covers, or via less than perfect joints in the network.”
Backing up
Heavy rainfall in Oct 2023 left the bridge over the Brook underwater. Photo: John Gooch.
A heavy rainfall in October 2023 saw some residents in the village reporting their toilets backing up and foul water rising through plug holes. Anglian Water explained that a blockage at the local pumping station with what looked like an item of clothing meant the excess rainwater couldn’t drain away until they could clear the blockage.
A few months later, there were multiple blockages of the main drain in Parr Close. The drain there takes the foul water from around 150 houses in the area, including Homefield Close, Hereward Close and The Dole, and problems arose after heavy rain, leading to difficulties flushing toilets.
The company attributed these problems to a continued build-up of wet wipes and unflushables, as well as roots growing through the pipes.
Keep it flowing
These blockages led the company to issue guidelines to the village about ‘Don’ts and Dos for your Sinks and Loos’.
They highlight three actions that all households should take to keep pipes flowing – both public sewers and pipes within the boundaries of a property – which are the responsibility of each household and unblocking must be paid for.
So in case you’re still reading, and the subject of sewage disposal has warranted a second thought in your head today, here are their top tips:
- 1. Use sink strainers in plugholes to catch tiny bits of food, then empty them into a food waste recycling bin.
- 2. Never put fat, oil or food scraps down the sink or loo – use the recycling facilities, at home or a Waste Recycling Centre
- 3. Put sanitary pads, wipes and tampons in the bin – not down the loo
If we all follow their advice, hopefully no one in the village will ever experience a poonami again.
09/01/2025
Goodbye 2023, hello 2024
The New Year is a good time to look back, take stock and start thinking ahead. A review of 2023’s most attention-grabbing news stories and features is as good a place to start as any – though it also reminds us that even the best laid plans can plans can go awry!
Most read
Tawa Lounge
The most read of all HI HUB news stories was in June, predicting continuity and a bright future ahead for the former Smokehouse after owner Simon Morrice moved on. Tawa Lounge duly stepped up, contributing to the vibrant hospitality scene in the village with a popular new café restaurant venue. However, the big changes announced for the Rose & Crown are yet to materialise and progress on the promised refit under new business owners seems to have stalled. Things didn’t go so smoothly for the new owners of the former Rutland Cycle shop either. They withdrew their original planning application and are now aiming to get approval for a scaled-down version, but without the hoped-for retail space.
Medical matters also featured in the most-read charts, led by news of Firs House surgery, which, faced with overwhelming demand for its services, launched a new appointment booking system that itself was quickly overwhelmed. “We cannot meet patient demand” they said – and these very words could have been echoed by Well Pharmacy on the Green, where customer frustrations boiled over in the face of long waits for medication, queues and lost prescriptions.
The bridge over the Brook was underwater. Photo: John Gooch
Controversy
Other themes grabbing attention included the weather. Unsurprisingly flooding caused problems, but the County Council did finally take responsibility after a long-running dispute with residents over flooding caused by the building of Park Primary school. A spate of anti-social behaviour also proved challenging, prompting security at the Rec to be stepped up.
As always, some news provoked controversy. The prospect of 20mph speed limits and parking enforcement throughout the village were by no means universally popular, and neither was the idea of a ZombieFest to celebrate Halloween. Planners took a dim view of the application for an all-weather football pitch next to residential properties at IVC and the College’s proposal to prioritise places for Girton Glebe primary school didn’t go down well either.
Community spirit
Just to prove that there is an appetite for good news too, the village celebrated lots of successes, including a former Histon Hornets junior playing in the Premier League and the Beer Festival breaking previous records and raising thousands of pounds for local charities. These included Camtrust, which celebrated its 30^th anniversary.
1919 Chivers van at the 150th anniversary exhibition. Photo: Barry Starling.
Many features provided a showcase of what is so good about living in the village. Some of the well- and lesser-known residents were featured for their contributions to village life, ranging from ‘wellbeing’ artist Helena Perry and popular local builder Matthew Salmon, to vinyl music enthusiast Tam Cochrane, and Joyce Hallett, founder of Holiday at Home, who sadly passed away at the end of the summer.
We also had a glimpse into the activities of the hard-working volunteers who run the village’s thriving clubs and societies. These included the Model Railway group, Impington Music Society, the Histon & Impington Archaeology Group, the HI Fibrecrafters and many more besides. Volunteers also stepped up to run popular events for the community, notably the Village Society’s exhibition celebrating Chivers’ 150^th anniversary, and regular events including the Winter Wassail at the Community Orchard, The Feast, the Fireworks Extravaganza and the Dahlia Festival.
Model Railway showiing the area around what is now the guided bus, Station Stores and Station House cafe as it looked mid 20th century. Photo: Martin Claydon
Our fascination with property continued. Many homes for sale in the village will have attracted a lot more viewers on HI HUB than actual house-hunters, and articles giving a sneaky look at some of the local homes being built or renovated proved irresistible for a lot of readers.
HI HUB sponsors shared their expertise with the community, with property lawyers Hayward Moon showing how to beat would-be property scammers and Award property management explaining what to expect from the Rental Reform Bill. Buckingham & Stanley advised us on MOTs and the Red Lion kept us up to date with news of their support for the local community.
The Red Lion. Photo: David Berry
Looking ahead
There was so much more besides and it has been a great pleasure to be making our own contribution to village life by sharing all these stories, both on HI HUB itself and now in HILights magazine too. We couldn’t do it without the support of our amazing team of volunteers and we all owe them a big vote of thanks for their hard work and enthusiasm. Our thanks also go to all the sponsors, donors, funders and advertisers who provided our vital income stream last year.
Finally, whatever the picture nationally and internationally as we move into 2024, there’s much to look forward to on our own doorstep and we will be sharing all the details. So do keep reading, support us with a donation if you can, and if your friends and neighbours don’t know about us, make it your New Year’s resolution to spread the word among them.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year from the HI HUB team
Amanda, Brian, Chris, Denis, Kate, Liz, Lucy and Ruth
03/01/2024
On the sofa with Paul Kirkley
With his latest book, Notes from a Small Screen, adorning festive reading wish lists, self-confessed ‘fangirl’ Amanda Borrill sits down for a chat with writer, award winning journalist and Histon resident Paul Kirkley.
In his time as a journalist for magazines such as Waitrose Weekend, Radio Times and Rolling Stone, Paul Kirkley has sat down opposite such cinematic royalty as Tom Hanks, Kurt Russell and Jake Gyllenhall, been to the pub with former Time Lord Matt Smith and even thrown his (strictly metaphorical) boxer shorts at Sir Tom Jones himself – all in the art of securing a great interview. So, when face to face with such an obvious expert in his field, how do you go about interviewing the master? The answer is simple. You don’t. You just enjoy the opportunity to have a good old natter, stash away a few tips for conducting future interviews and surreptitiously attempt to convince him that writing an article for a future issue of HI HUB’s new magazine, HILights, would be an extremely good idea. Well, he didn’t say no!
A tough job but someone has to do it
Paul, poised for some TV action. Photo his own.
Paul’s latest book, Notes from a Small Screen, begins back in 2015 and shares with us eight years of his television columns for Waitrose Weekend, each one written with his irresistible wit and panache. He describes the book as a “bit of a vanity project” driven by the desire of wanting to preserve seven and a half years of writing. But, he adds, “I also think it offers a useful overview of modern British television, which isn’t really available elsewhere”. Paul opted to focus purely on British output and the book opens with an immensely entertaining 5000 word introduction that summarises the state of British television in what, he laughs, “I am pretentiously insisting on calling the last days of the second Elizabethan age”.
So how exactly did he end up getting paid to watch the telly? “All the other Weekend critics were famous faces (Mark Kermode, Mariella Frostrup, Stuart Maconie, Alan Titchmarsh etc)”, he revealed “and I was supposed to be a temporary stand-in until they could tap up someone more glamorous to do it. But, after a few months, I was given the job permanently. I like to think it was because my copy was too witty and sparkling to let go, but it’s equally possible they couldn’t find anyone more famous to do it. (Maybe they were all too busy being on television to watch it.)”.
Flicking through the pages provokes nostalgic memories of all that great TV you loved over the last few years but also introduces you to a whole new bunch of shows you didn’t even know you needed in your life, but most definitely do! Paul’s obvious love for the BBC classics such as Poldark, Happy Valley and Motherland transported me back to nights gone by when my ‘Do Not Disturb sign’ was very much in use. His scathing views on many others, including anything involving food critic Giles Coren, made me laugh out loud. And, in these days where pretty much everything is easily available to revisit On Demand, this is a great reference book for making note of what was hot and what was definitely not. Post-it note page markers at the ready (other brands are available)!
Paul remains modest about the privilege this job brought, telling me “my granddad was a miner, literally toiling beneath the ground in the dirt and the dark. So I always tried to remember that sitting on the sofa, eating crisps and watching telly was a very privileged way to earn money. But I still got quite grumpy about it at times, especially when having to watch yet another ropey ITV ‘psychological thriller’. The struggle is real”. Yes Paul. As is our sympathy.
Top TV moments
With this book spanning eight years of amazing British television, I had to know what, in his expert opinion, falls into his most memorable TV moments from that period. “Chernobyl (Sky Atlantic) was extraordinary – a terrifyingly immersive descent into hell that haunted my waking dreams for months. (I’m not making it sound much fun, am I?) The End of the F****** World on Channel 4 was a brilliant black comedy-drama that deserves a lot more love. And I absolutely adore the Inside No.9 episode Bernie Clifton’s Dressing Room, which is like Samuel Beckett, if Samuel Beckett had written jokes about Blankety Blank and The Grumbleweeds”. And this, of course, illustrates exactly why he really is the best at what he does.
A childhood well spent
Photo: mojzagrebinfo on Pixabay
Growing up in the 1970s there wasn’t the array of dedicated kids’ channels that exist today and those rare opportunities to simply sit and watch TV were usually accompanied by that well worn soundtrack of parents demanding we turn off that television set and go and do something less boring instead. TV producers even created a show named exactly that – as if it needed further enforcing.
Fans of Paul’s writings about Doctor Who will be in no doubt what his No. 1 childhood TV show was and, it has to be said, all that viewing doesn’t seem to have done him too much harm at all. He has published books on The Doctor and regularly writes for Doctor Who magazine. Furthermore, his recent revelations about having been in the room during filming of the groundbreaking scenes where David Tennant bi-generated to be joined by the fifteenth Doctor, actor Ncuti Gatwa, were met with blatant and undisguised envy by Paul’s social media groupies, myself included.
A father of two boys himself now, I asked Paul how his childhood TV life differs from that of his own children in 2023. His answer, I’m sure, will resonate with many. “When I was young, our parents used to tell us we’d get square eyes from watching too much television. These days, I’d love my kids to watch more telly, instead of watching idiots on TikTok and YouTube, or mindlessly shooting people on the Xbox. Television, with its proper storytelling and craft, now feels like the equivalent of making them read an improving book”.
Festive favourites
Radio Times festive edition 2023
With Christmas just around the corner, I couldn’t miss this opportunity to quiz Paul on his memories of TV from Christmas past. Without a doubt there is something very powerful about those childhood memories of a Christmas spent with those you love in front of the box and, unsurprisingly, Paul was ready with his own memory. “Watching Quincy’s Quest“, he shared. “A Christmas TV film starring Tommy Steele as a faulty department store doll who embarks on a mission to find the store’s Santa Claus and save his fellow rejects from the incinerator. It was basically Toy Story, 15 years ahead of its time”. Have to confess, I wasn’t expecting that!
And in Christmas present – what makes for a special family afternoon in front of the fire for The Kirkleys? Tradition rules supreme it seems as Paul replies with, “It’s A Wonderful Life, obviously. As a family, we always watch The Snowman and its sequel, along with a wonderful BBC film called Click & Collect, with Stephen Merchant”.
Finally, although I suspect I already know the answer, TV or Radio Times on their coffee table? “I’m offended you even have to ask”, comes back his mock outrage. “I mean, who in their right mind buys the TV Times? I got to write something for last year’s Radio Times Christmas special. I think that’s when my career may have peaked”.
Peaked? Not a chance. You’ve yet to write for HILights magazine… remember?
Paul’s book Notes from a Small Screen is available on Amazon now. Find out more about Paul and what he gets up to when he’s not watching television by visiting his Interesting Media blog, here.
RREAD ALSO: Box of delights: the ultimate lockdown TV viewing guide and Histon journalist wins award
14/12/2023
The 12 frauds of Christmas – part 2
In the second instalment of a two-part feature, Rachel Carr, Fraud and Cyber Crime Prevention Officer with Cambridgeshire Constabulary, shares more ways to protect yourself and your loved ones from festive fraud.
According to Trading Standards, almost £100m is forecast to be stolen from thousands of victims this Christmas, so it’s important that shoppers be on their guard over the festive period. Here are the next six of 12 frauds that are common this holiday season – and how you can avoid falling prey to them.
1. The crime: Money transfer fraud
Fraudsters take full advantage of the chaos and rush around Christmas time. It’s easy to be so set on buying all your presents that you might not think twice when asked to pay for something via bank transfer, rather than inputting your card details. However tempted you may be because something is the last one in stock, never transfer money directly into a seller’s bank account. There are plenty of genuine sellers out there, but be aware fraudsters are also looking to cash-in by persuading people to transfer money for products and services that don’t exist.
The prevention:
- Never send a money transfer for online purchases
- Never provide your banking information to people or businesses you don’t know
1. The Crime: Christmas e-card scams
With more and more people looking to cut costs and save the environment, Christmas e-cards (cards you can send digitally via email) are becoming ever more popular. While most are genuine, be aware that cyber criminals are creating their own festive e-card, which, once opened, can install malware on your device enabling the scammers to collect your personal, sensitive data.
The prevention:
- If you receive an e-card from an unknown email address or someone you don’t know, play it safe and delete it
- If you believe your electronic device has been infected, report any money lost or suspicious activity on your account to your bank and Action Fraud
1. The crime: Quishing scams
Quishing, also known as QR code phishing, involves tricking someone into scanning a phony QR code with their phone or device. The QR code then takes the user to a fraudulent website that might download malware or ask for sensitive information. QR codes are often found on things like parking machines, charging points, emails and even restaurant menus.
The prevention:
If the QR is on a poster in a public area, always check whether it appears to have been stuck over the poster, window or billboard. If the sign or notice is laminated and the QR code is under the lamination or part of the original print, chances are it’s more likely to be genuine. If in doubt… download the app from the official Google or Apple store or search the website on your phone’s internet browser, rather than scanning a QR code to take you there. It may take longer, but it’s more secure. Trust your instincts, if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
1. The Crime: Social media scams
Beware fraudsters on social media platforms advertising festive giveaways and offers. While many will be genuine, some are designed to encourage you to click on phony adverts, which take you to bogus sites and ask for personal or financial details.
The prevention:
- Carefully consider the amount of personal information displayed and posted on your social media accounts as fraudsters can use this to their advantage
- If you click on a social media advert, do the necessary checks before buying anything from the website you land on
1. The Crime: Malware fraud
Mobile phones, tablets and anything tech are the gifts of choice for many at Christmas, but these are a cyber-criminal’s dream! Fraudsters are constantly developing new ways to infect our devices through malicious apps or infected website URLs.
The prevention:
- Make sure you have the latest version of software installed for increased protection
- Only download apps from official app stores like Google Play and Apple Store
- Avoid clicking on links in emails from unknown sources
1. The crime: Auction fraud
Auction sites such as eBay and Vinted are a great way to buy Christmas gifts – items are often cheaper and you get a great feeling from giving new life to something unwanted. However, while most items and sellers on auction sites are genuine, some are looking to make a quick buck at your expense.
The prevention:
- Always use recommended methods of payment rather than transferring money direct to a seller
- Research the seller before you bid. Check their feedback but be mindful this can also be falsified
- Be cautious when buying from sellers abroad or private individuals. If in doubt, back out of the sale
For more information visit the fraud pages of the Cambridgeshire Police website and the Action Fraud website.
READ ALSO: The 12 frauds of Christmas | HI HUB
14/12/2023