Category: News-in-brief

Have your say on police priorities
Histon and Impington residents are being invited to take part in a community engagement meeting with their local police force.
Run by Cambridgeshire Constabulary, the meeting is a chance for participants to find out more about local policing priorities and share any concerns regarding crime or antisocial behaviour in their area.
The online event, which is one of a series set to take place this year, is scheduled for 7pm on Tuesday 7 February. Attendees will be asked to fill in a survey ahead of the meeting.
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Local police are ready to listen to residents’ concerns. Photo: South Cambs Police.
During the meeting, residents can meet with neighbourhood officers and help shape policing priorities for the future.
The interactive forum will also include an update on recent policing activity from Cambridgeshire Constabulary, a presentation of the results of the survey and a Q&A session with officers.
After the session, the neighbourhood policing team will work on any matters discussed and update participants with progress over the coming months.
Future meetings are scheduled for May, August and November this year.
To take part, register at www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/cambridgeshire-constabulary-14356769797 and fill out this survey https://bit.ly/3IdqB6k ahead of the meeting.
25/01/2023
Cut hedges back now to avoid summer overgrowth, says Council
Photo: Nick:Wood on VisualHunt.com
Residents with garden hedges adjoining pavements and public footpaths are being urged to cut them back before the main breeding season for nesting birds, which lasts from March to August each year.
Cambridgeshire County Council’s Highways Department wants to remind home owners to tackle their hedges now to prevent new growth obstructing pavements over the summer.
However, some birds may nest outside the main breeding season, so it is important to check for active nests before cutting. Anyone who has to cut during the nesting season for some reason should check for nests first and only use hand tools.
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The RSPB warns: “It is an offence under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 to intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built, or to intentionally kill, injure or take chicks or adults, or intentionally take or destroy any eggs.”
25/01/2023
Tea, Cake and a Winter Walk at Histon Manor
Snowdrops at Histon Manor. Photo: Jemima Borrill
Following the very successful winter opening of Histon Manor gardens in 2022, which sold out within 24 hours, owners Katherine and Rob Mann, are repeating this event on Saturday 11February from 10am to 3pm. All proceeds will go to HI Friends charity.
The snowdrops, which were magnificent in 2022, are dotted along the banks of the moat and in the woodlands. Visitors will also be able to see the newly installed Monet-style bridge leading onto the island.
Histon Manor kitchen Photo: Helen Blake
There are two types of ticket:
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Tea and Cake and entry to the grounds: 100 tickets are available at £6.00 per ticket which will include a slice of homemade cake and tea or coffee served in the Manor House kitchen. These tickets are for hourly slots for the refreshments to enable everyone to be able to sit down and relax in the beautiful kitchen. Visitors are welcome to spend as long as they like walking around the grounds. Children under 7 are welcomed free of charge with each accompanying adult.
There will also be 200 free tickets for entry to the grounds only, which will not include refreshments. No ticket is needed for children under 16. As these tickets are free of charge, there will be a bucket for donations towards HI Friends.
Click here for tickets to the Winter Walk at Histon Manor. Thanks to Edd Stonham for use of his ticketing system which maximises the proceeds going to HI Friends.
To volunteer at the Winter Walk event or other events, email histonmanor@gmail.com
19/01/2023
From little acorns to mighty oak trees – planting volunteers needed
From tiny acorns… a growing oak tree near the community orchard. Photo: Dan Mace
HI Trees Action Group is looking for volunteers to help with the planting of 15-20 oak saplings as part of the Histon & Impington Green Gateway restoration project.
It is hoped these saplings will grow to replace some of the trees that failed during the long hot summer of 2022. The group would like to recruit a few extra volunteers to help get the job done more quickly. Sharing a request on their Facebook page, team leader Dan Mace wrote: “We have been offered some oak saplings. Can anyone help with planting and, possibly if enough volunteers come forward, also some weeding and mulching?”
The planting will be in the field adjacent the A14/Holiday Inn Impington, starting at around 2pm on Saturday 4 February. Volunteers will need to bring:
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– a spade for planting and mulching
– trowel or fork for weeding
– wheelbarrow for mulching (optional)
– boots and weather-appropriate clothes
– their own refreshments
If you are able to help with this project, or would like more details, contact Dan Mace on dan.r.mace@gmail.com
19/01/2023
Shoppers warned to remain vigilant after reports of targeted thefts
Police have responded to reports of theft from the car park at Tesco, Bar Hill. Photo credit: South Cambs Police.
Supermarket shoppers are being targeted by thieves operating in the car park at Tesco, Bar Hill. Three reports were received by local police last week, describing a group of males and females targeting lone female shoppers loading shopping into their cars.
The group distract lone shoppers in order to steal bank cards and other valuable items.
Local police are working with the community in the area to raise awareness and have been making CCTV enquiries in an attempt to identify those responsible.
Shoppers are asked to call the police if they are approached by these individuals and to make Tesco Security Officers aware of any suspicious behaviour.
Staying safe
Cambridgeshire Constabulary has also received multiple reports of shoppers being pick-pocketed in central Cambridge last weekend.
Visitors to the city should be aware that pick pockets may attempt to steal mobile phones and wallets from coats and trouser pockets, and from bags left slightly open.
Police are urging the public to take extra care of their belongings when in the city and to report anything suspicious.
18/01/2023
Start early to plan Coronation street parties, says Council
Photo: Pete from Pixabay
Communities hoping to hold street parties and events to mark the coronation of King Charles III on 6 May 2023 have until 10 March to apply to Cambridgeshire County Council to close residential streets. These are the streets where the closure would only affect residents of that specific street.
10 February is the deadline for applying to close a highway, where the closure would have an impact on the wider road network. This includes roads on a bus route, or where there are high volumes of through traffic, or where there are businesses or places of worship.
Documents that will have to be submitted in support of a closure include a traffic management plan, a risk assessment and evidence of consultation with other residents showing support the event.
Details of how to apply for a road closure order is included in guidance on Organising a Street Party Event and Organising an event that impacts the public highway.
For more information see the County Council website
18/01/2023
Fundraising success brings support for Alzheimer’s charity
Photo: rennes_i on VisualHunt.com
A coffee morning held in Impington in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society has raised £836. Friends and neighbours of Judy Wilson, the organiser whose husband Dick is affected by Alzheimer’s, baked cakes and biscuits for the event, which was sponsored by Histon Co-op, Tesco, Bramley Court Care Home and Histon Country Market.
“Information and support are so badly needed for people with a family member affected by dementia”, explained Judy. “Forty years ago, when I was working with support groups, there was so little of both. But though the situation has improved, more resources for both are essential.”
Firs House surgery reports having 177 patients aged 65+ on the dementia register – 6% of all patients in this age group. A further 4 people under 65 years old are also on the register.
Histon & Impington is working achieve the Dementia Friendly Community designation and making progress in raising awareness and providing services for local residents with dementia, and their families.
18/01/2023
Court proceedings begin after police bring murder charge
Photo: Michael Grimes on Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
A Histon man has been charged with murder after the body of Gabriella Rudin, 75, was discovered at a house in Melvin Way, Histon, on 31 December.
Martin Rudin, 81, also of Melvin Way, was arrested on 9 January and appeared at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court the following day. He was remanded in custody to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday 12 January for a preliminary hearing.
12/01/2023
Bus fares to Cambridge increase as Stagecoach reacts to rising costs
Passengers across Cambridgeshire are facing fare increases for 2023. A ticket from Histon and Impington to central Cambridge (Town Zone) will now cost £4.50 per day with the DayRider option, or £2.25 per day with the best value option, a MegaRider Xtra.
From Cottenham to Cambridge (Plus Zone), a DayRider ticket will increase to £7 per day, while the 28-day value ticket rises to £3.50 per day.
Across the region, the hikes add an average of 39p onto the cost of daily adult bus travel.
Network price rises take effect from January. Photo: David Berry
Each of the region’s zones has the same ticket options available as before, but pricing structures may vary to reflect the distance travelled in each zone.
There is better news for passengers travelling via Park & Ride from sites around Cambridge, with prices there remaining frozen for the seventh year in a row. Return tickets at all sites, including Milton, start at £3.50 and children under 16 can still travel for free with a fare-paying passenger.
Also, despite the hikes, all single bus fares are capped at £2 across the network between January and March 2023 as part of a Government scheme to help combat the rising cost of living.
Stagecoach commented: “Fares contribute to the day-to-day running of our services as well as investment in improvements for our communities. While part of this is down to rising costs, we’ve also been making important investments to give you an even better experience”.
For more information visit Guide to East England Bus Tickets & Prices │Stagecoach (stagecoachbus.com) and www.cambridgeparkandride.info
12/01/2023
Plans submitted for conversion of landmark property on The Green
Proposed changes to a property facing the brook (pictured right) would affect views of The Green. Photo: David Berry
A planning application for a building project at number 17 The Green is being drawn to the attention of local residents due to the visual impact it could have on the area.
The application requests permission to build a two-storey rear extension; replace a part single-storey part two-storey side extension; and construct a loft conversion with front and side facing dormer windows.
It has been reviewed by the Parish Council Planning Committee, who are keen for members of the public to be made aware of the application and supply comments, both positive and negative.
The property is located within the Conservation Area and the application includes a proposal to restore some historic features of the house. These include a central entrance door at the front and a thatched roof with dormers.
Planning Committee Chair Simon Jocelyn told HI HUB: “This proposal could affect views across The Green, so the committee would like the general public to have an opportunity to express their views on it. For this reason we have arranged a 3-week extension to the application, to enable us to gather the views of the community.”
He continued: “As with all Planning Applications in our villages, the views of residents is important and any comments made on an application are reviewed by the committee before a recommendation is made to South Cambridge Shared Planning.”
Find full details of the planning application here. Submit your views on the application to admin@hisimp-pc.gov.uk. Alternatively, submit comments online direct to Greater Cambridge Planning.
12/01/2023