Category: News

  • Wake up and smell the coffee – Stir CB24 opens for business!

    As Stir’s brand new Histon outlet opens on School Hill, Amanda Borrill has been talking to owner, Judith Harrison, about the excitement of reaching opening day and what delights this family owned business has in store for us all…

    Friday 2nd July will see the doors opening at Stir’s first new outlet since its launch on Chesterton Road Cambridge in September 2015. The arrival of Stir in Histon has created quite a buzz locally and the ongoing work to transform School Hill into a stylish new plaza is proving to be a welcome sight on our vibrant High Street.

    Exciting times

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    Having spoken to Judith back in April as contracts were first signed for this new venture, I have no doubt that it is a huge relief for the family to now be finally at the point of opening. I asked Judith to share how it feels to be throwing open the doors at 7.30am this Friday and what we can expect to find when we visit:

    “We cannot wait to show you our new cafe. As with any new opening, reaching this point has been pretty stressful but meeting so many of you along the way has made everything so much nicer. We are very much looking forward to getting to know you, and your coffee and brunch choices, better!

    “Stir in Histon will have exactly the same drinks and brunch menu as the Cambridge site but the big difference between the two is that we will also have all our own freshly baked bread, pastries, cakes and other goodies on display every day too. 

    “With the social distancing restrictions in place for now, we will need to continue to apply our COVID safe practices which have all been risk assessed by a Health & Safety consultant. There will need to be some partitions between tables but we will also have plenty of outdoor seating too. Our plans for more permanent outdoor seating area at the side of the property are currently going through Planning and hopefully we will be able to share news on progress soon. In the meantime, we will use the outdoor space with some tables and chairs but please excuse the appearance until we have our new planned seating area in place”.

    “We really hope that you love the space just as much as we do and look forward to meeting you all soon!”

    Stir Histon external sketch. Copyright Stir Histon.

    What’s on offer

    As reported in April, Stir Histon will be open seven days a week – starting from 7.30am on weekdays and from 8.00am at weekends. On offer daily will be a wide range of food to cater for all tastes; including their award winning brunches, Butterworth & Son coffee, smoothies and freshly baked bread from their bakery in CB4. In addition, as a weekend treat, they will be offering cinnamon knots, Babka and doughnuts!

    The new menu, along with full details of opening hours, can be found on their dedicated Stir Histon website here.


  • Challenges ahead for Histon FC following FA league ruling

    An unsuccessful appeal against the Football Association’s decision to move Histon FC out of the Isthmian league and into the Northern Premier League has left the club considering how it will tackle the problems arising from its new opponents being located much further away from home.

    The club will from now on be competing in the Northern Premier League (NPL) Midlands Division, and the club had explained its fears about the implications of this to the Appeal Board. These include the additional costs, loss of players, recruitment difficulties, weakened squads, reduction in away support, and impact on sponsors, volunteers, and youth structure.

    The area where first team football will be played has moved from the south and east of Cambridge to the north and west, and the club is concerned about the implications of fewer local fixtures and therefore fewer opportunities for generating income. The Histon FC Board explained: “…the practical implications relate not just to the additional travel, but to where our new opponents are situated – away from our connections in East Anglia, and away from the home and work locations of our players”.

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    “Disregard” of club needs

    The club argued for financial compensation if it could not remain in the Isthmian League, but the Appeal Board has not only firmly rejected the claim, but also made clear that, because of the club’s geographical position, it could potentially face the disruption of being moved between leagues every season from now on.

    The Board is highly critical of the Football Association’s handling of the whole process. In a statement, they said: “This appeal was not about the club not wanting to be in the NPL, it was about the disregard the FA has shown to clubs like ours who have been ignored whilst the FA announce the wide-ranging benefits for other clubs at the expense of those in a similar position to us. We wanted to make our point and have now done so.”

    Addressing the losses

    The club now faces bridging both an income gap and the loss of experienced, talented players. The Board explained: “The move into the Northern Premier League Midlands Division really will have a significant negative impact on our costs, and has already resulted in the loss of a number of senior players from our playing squad. We will of course face these problems head on, and the Board remains 100% committed to ensuring that the club continues on a solid financial footing.

    Danny Gould – sadly leaving Histon FC following the league reshuffle

    “We are working hard to bring new sponsors to the club and are involved in a number of negotiations over deals with various potential suppliers to try to mitigate the financial impact as much as possible. There will inevitably have to be some savings made somewhere however and to that end we are currently reviewing all areas of club operations and will take any actions necessary where and when appropriate.”

    Although some players in the First Team squad are now leaving, the club is sympathetic with their reasons for doing so: “… the huge increase in travel times for those affected is just too much for them to be able to deal with, and… our thanks go to them all.”

    Looking ahead

    Recruitment plans for new players are now being pursued “with renewed vigour” and the club will be holding First Team trials shortly.

    The Board is keen now to draw a line under the problems related to the league and move ahead with confidence: “We look forward to getting back to playing the game we all love, making new friends and visiting clubs we’ve never visited before whilst welcoming new clubs to The Bridge.

    “We remain optimistic and excited for the future and look forward to seeing you all back at The Bridge soon.

    “We thank all of you who have shown us so much support during this process, it is good to know that you are behind us.”

  • New facilities for the village as forty-year vision is realised

    Histon Salvation Army Church have reopened their new and refurbished halls this week after a major building project which was first envisioned around forty years ago and finally got underway just weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic began.

    The Salvation Army Divisional Commander for Central East, Major Martin Hill, led a service to mark the re-dedication of the worship hall and the opening of a brand new multi-purpose hall.

    New facilities, new opportunities

    The worship hall has been refurbished with a new carpet, ceiling, decoration throughout and new sound desk.  The premises have been extended at the back where there is a large and airy multi-purpose hall. This has bi-fold doors across the back wall opening out onto the garden area with artificial grass and ample space for children and others to be in a safe, enclosed environment. The building project has also included a much larger kitchen area than before, an office and plenty of storage areas. The whole building is accessible to the disabled including the new toilets in addition to the existing one.

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    The refurbished Salvation Army worship hall

    The Ladybird Playgroup have already started using the new hall which will also be available for wider use including hire by the community for certain events and conferencing. Both the worship hall and multi-purpose hall have excellent audio visual and networking equipment installed with motorised drop down screens. The screens can be linked so if one hall is full those in the other hall are able to join in via the screen.

    From vision to reality

    Captain Rob Symons explained “The vision for this building project was initially conceived about forty years ago with the plans of the current work having actively started around seven years ago”.

    A new kitchen and multi-purpose hall will be used by Ladybird Playgroup. Photo: Val Robson

    Going from detailed plans to the start of build involved a large fundraising exercise with the vast majority of the funding being raised by The Salvation Army in Histon and Impington with the balance of the funding coming from the Divisional and Territorial Headquarters of The Salvation Army. The Histon Salvation Army Care and Share Shop gives 100% of its profits for work by the local Salvation Army. Some of this has gone into funding the building project and any excess goes into the ongoing ministry and mission work.

    The building work was done by Gybe Build Ltd who The Salvation Army have worked with on many projects and have a good relationship. It started in February 2020 and was forecast to take 22 weeks. Just weeks later the arrival of the pandemic changed all this. Since the back wall of the original building had been demolished the building work was allowed to continue all be it at a slower pace due to fewer contractors being permitted onsite and delays in getting supplies.

    The new multi-purpose hall and garden. Photo: Val Robson

    The basic design was done by architects at Rider Levett Bucknall with a few refinements by church member Edd Stonham and a project steering group that has overseen and installed the audio visual and communications equipment through his company Avanit Systems Ltd. 

    Deeper community engagement

    Captains Rob and Georgina Symons are delighted with the outcome of the project which has more than doubled the size of The Salvation Army premises and allows them to engage in new and exciting ways with the local community.

    One new use of the building will be a Make Lunch Club starting in August. This is a new scheme where, in partnership with the local Transforming Lives for Good team, families with a low income will be warmly welcomed and invited to join in with meal preparation, fun activities and encouraged to form friendships with one another in a safe, welcoming space while eating lunch. The Salvation Army will initially make contact with families via referrals from the Brook Primary School but they hope to widen this scheme to others once it is successfully up and running. They have received funding to cover their first year from local sources including HI Friends.

    Captains Rob and Georgina Symons

    Captain Georgina Symons said: “We are also excited to be able to welcome families into our new space at our new parent and toddler group in the autumn”. This is complementary to the Ladybirds Playgroup which has been operating from their premises for many years and they remain committed to supporting Ladybirds Playgroup into the future.

    A video including a montage of photos of the new hall and the project from conception to completion can be found at https://youtu.be/o18TAcxSA5g

  • Feast Week 2021 : a celebration of our community

    Event organisation is well known for being stressful but organising an event in COVID times guarantees many difficult decisions. HI HUB shares the latest news on what’s on and what’s not during Feast Week from Steve Cox, Feast Chair:

    We’ve been on a rollercoaster ride since the Feast AGM in January!  A fabulous organising committee has put together a wealth of Feast Week events.  Until recently, we had planned some large scale gatherings and opportunities for the community to come together.  But for reasons we are all aware of, these have been cancelled..or have they? We highlight the difference between cancelled and postponed because the concerts, the indoor events, the market will all run again. Maybe in Feast Week 2022, maybe sooner?  We are looking at options and will keep the community informed.  Safety in these final weeks of lockdown is paramount, but there is an end in sight.

    So as in every other year before, Feast Week 2021 will celebrate the villages, the community and its businesses.

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    Summer Feast loyalty card

    In these difficult times, loyalty is more important than ever. We’ve been trying to organise a few feel-good events, but local business has had to adapt beyond recognition in many ways this year. The Feast Loyalty Card asks you to shop and use local businesses in Feast Week to show your loyalty, with the chance to win prizes for completing the card – see http://hisimp.com/feast/feast-loyalty-card/ for full details.  We thank the 26 local businesses for getting involved and offering profits made on special products to Feast Funds and a range of prizes.  Due to the number of prizes available, the number of purchases needed on the Loyalty Card to enter the Prize Draw has also been reduced from ten to five!

    Our Feast Week local loyalty card partners

    HI Trees green canopy

    Feeding into a national initiative, this is a chance to plant new trees in our community. See the dedicated article on HI HUB this week for the full story.

    HI Doughnut Awards

    A chance to celebrate and recognise people who have altered the social foundation or environment of our villages, in collaboration with the Parish Council, Council of Churches and HI Friends –  see http://hisimp.com/feast/hi-doughnut-awards/ for more details.  All five group awards have been funded by our Beer Festival Committee  who unanimously voted to fund the awards and all group award winners will nominate Local charities or groups to receive the money they have won.

    Broaden your mind

    With a range of online talks including the HI Trees’ Green Canopy, the impacts of flooding, the excavation of a Spitfire in the Fens, guided walks and an open air quiz, there are many opportunities to get involved safely this year.  Our Feast website along with the What’s On pages on HI HUB are being kept up to date with events and links throughout the week so do remember to check in online over the coming days.

    Thank you!

    This year the committee has been amazing; bursting with ideas and pushing ahead with the organisation of events that have altered the shape of Feast Week.  This has allowed us to celebrate the community and reflect on the last 18 months.  The committee members deserve a huge thanks for having the vision to plan and the integrity to respect the current situation.

    We invite you, please, to join us in celebrating Feast Week 2021 – these events are for our villages, our businesses and our community.

    A dedicated JustGiving page has been established to aid fundraising for this year’s Feast. You can find full details of how to donate here.

  • Vision turns into reality for Histon Opticians as School Hill moving in date announced

    As the date for their relocation into brand new premises on School Hill is finalised, HI HUB shares news from Histon Opticians about this eagerly anticipated move…

    After nearly 30 years above Tyler’s Estate Agents on our High Street, the move to a ground floor, easily accessible, unit in the new development on School Hill is being met with eager anticipation by the owners at Histon Opticians. Branch Manager, Natasha, tells more:

    “We are very excited to announce a date for our move to 8 School Hill. We will be closing our High Street practice at 2pm on Monday 28th June and re-opening from the brand new School Hill premises at 9am on Wednesday 30th June. We are still available to take bookings throughout the move, so please do not hesitate to contact us on 01223 237438.

    “We can’t wait for you all to see the new practice and would like to thank you for all your continued support”.

    This family run clinic will be open six days a week with a full range of testing available including glaucoma, diabetes and hypertension. You can read more about the family behind the business at their website, here.

  • Sadness as The Geographer announces closure

    The popular café will be closing for good in July, but maintaining an online presence for selling its eco-friendly products.

    News that The Geographer café and deli store on Station Road Histon will be closing its doors for good has generated an outpouring of sadness on Facebook and a flow of best wishes to owners Caroline and David Child.

    The café will be closing on 17th July – 8 years exactly since it first opened.

    After the first lockdown in Spring 2020, the popular village venue reopened with Covid-safe procedures in place and an even deeper emphasis on environmentally friendly menus, ingredients and products for sale.  

    Although the enterprising owners – who have also spent five years running a deli in Cambridge – have decided to step away from the hospitality industry, they are going to continue with The Geographer as an online business, selling products and gifts that align with their eco-friendly values.

    READ ALSO: After the lockdown: The Geographer reopens

    Saying goodbye

    In a social media post they explained: “As for many people, the last year or so has given us ample thinking time to consider what we want to be doing in the years ahead. And with this in mind, we have taken the decision to close the doors at The Geographer.

    “… We know we speak on behalf of our staff too, to say that it has been an absolute joy to be part of this community and meet so many people: many of whom have become friends. To be part of your lives has been a real privilege and we really hope that we have made a positive impact on yours.

    Our biggest sadness is saying goodbye to our wonderful staff and we hope that you will join us in wishing them all the best for the future.

    “… we will miss you and you have until 17th July to stock up on Rocky Road!”

    Customers can keep up to date with their special offers and get sneak previews of their new gift boxes by joining their mailing list at https://www.thegeographer.uk and follow them on social media.

    Café culture continues

    Although the loss of The Geographer will be keenly felt by so many of us, it certainly won’t spell the end of café culture in Histon & Impington.

    Barkers’ Bakery and the St Andrews Centre café have been joined more recently by the café at the Methodist Church on the High Street and the Smokehouse opposite the Green. They in turn will soon be joined by Stir, opening in the new development on School Hill, and a new brunch café at Station House, Histon – just down the road from The Geographer.

    One thing’s for sure. The village won’t be going hungry or thirsty.

  • Planning permission refused for Station Stores site

    Planners have firmly rejected proposals for demolishing Kendal Court – the buildings around Station Stores on Cambridge Road, Impington – and redeveloping the area with high density residential accommodation.

    Developers had applied for permission to develop the whole site with a building containing 28 apartments and two commercial units, in an L-shaped configuration at the corner of Cambridge Road and the guided busway.

    But planning officers for South Cambridgeshire have provided 7 grounds for planning permission to be refused.

    Objections

    The Parish Council has been a vocal objector to the proposals. On behalf of the community, it made 27 objections to the original plans, and 24 objections to the revised version submitted to planners when it became clear that the initial proposal failed to adequately address local needs and concerns, or meet the requirements of the Village Design Guide.

    Among the issues it raised were the absence of affordable housing; inadequate parking provision; and the density of residential accommodation that would be created in the area surrounding the former railway station, where more than 50 new properties have either been built or are under construction on the former Bishop’s site opposite. It also commented on the strain a development of this scale would place on the already-overstretched doctor’s surgery, and the loss of business premises in the area, which was formerly home to Anglia Fireplaces as well as Station Stores and Richard Stebbings Funeral Service.

    Others who objected to the plans included the Local Highway Authority, which expressed concerns about vehicle manoeuvring from the site to the road, and the Local Flood Authority, unhappy about surface water drainage arrangements.  

    35 residents responded to the public consultation, commenting on issues including inadequate provision for cyclists and the visual impact of the four-storey development on the area.

    Planners also felt that the private and communal outdoor amenity space available to residents in the properties would be inadequate.

    READ ALSO: Urgent: feedback sought on public consultation for Kendal Court site
    Planners to decide on proposals for Station Stores site

    Next steps

    The developers who own the site are now faced with choices about how to proceed.

    While they could appeal the decision, success seems unlikely given the number of reasons given for rejecting the proposed scheme.

    They could adjust the proposal and resubmit, or alternatively – unless they choose to sell the site on to someone else – they will need to go back to the drawing board to come up with a scheme that addresses the points raised by planners.  

    Parish Council chair Denis Payne commented: “We are delighted that this particular scheme has been rejected. The site is designated as an area for mixed development, so that the area around the guided busway stop could become a gateway to the village, with destination businesses creating a lively 7am to 10pm area.

    “The proposed plans would have added a significant amount of residential accommodation but not provided the associated amenities and facilities that a growing village needs, and did nothing to address the serious problem of affordable local housing.

    “It seems likely that the developers will offer an alternative scheme, and we hope they will take this fully into consideration before resubmitting ideas for the site.”    

  • Consultation to establish leisure and recreation priorities

    The ways that Histon & Impington residents use their leisure time for recreation and other physical activity is the subject of a new survey examining the need for additional indoor and outdoor facilities in the village.

    The findings will help the Parish Council prioritise spending at the Recreation Ground and plan the long-term provision of recreation opportunities for the community.

    First announced in March, the survey will also provide evidence that the Parish Council will need to prepare for any future negotiations with Trinity College, which is hoping to extend Cambridge Science Park across the A14 and into the village.

    The questionnaire asks residents about the leisure and recreation facilities and spaces they currently use; how satisfied they are with them; and what facilities they would like to have in the community – and specifically at the Rec.  

    Neil Davies, Chair of the Recreation Committee at the Parish Council, is keen for the community to have their say. He said: “We recognise how important it is for people to be able to use their leisure time for recreation and other physical activity. It is recognised that this doesn’t just improve their physical health but it also contributes to better mental health.

    “We are fortunate in Histon & Impington to have such an excellent recreation ground and access to various informal green spaces. We just need to make sure that what’s provided is good for the future.”

    The survey, which runs until 18th July, can be found online at https://tinyurl.com/HandIRec or using the QR code. Hard copies of the questionnaire are available at the St Andrew’s Centre, Print-Out, Station Stores and the Parish Office. Call the Parish Office on 01223 235906 if you can’t pick one up, and for more information contact David Jenkins at jdj@davidjenkins.org.uk and on 07739 758859.

  • Continuing COVID restrictions curtail 2021 Feast Week plans

    With this week’s Government announcement that the 21st June easing of restrictions is delayed, our Feast Committee has been faced with having to re-evaluate some of its major events. Amanda Borrill reports…

    Feast week 2021 runs from 3rd to 11th July and, as in previous years, much work has gone on behind the scenes scheduling a series of events aimed to entertain and bring together the whole community. Steve Cox, Feast Committee Chair, tells more:

    “In January, we were trying to be as positive as possible in planning Feast Week events.  We really wanted Feast Week to be an ‘event’ but also as normal as possible and involving the community.  The primary aim was not to raise lots of money but to raise enough to cover costs, to support our beneficiaries and to provide a taste of normality.  Therefore, we are all incredibly disappointed that some events have been cancelled, but we don’t want to risk the health of the population of our villages or the financial situation of the Feast.  We ask you please to bear with us this week as we look at the full possibilities of re-scheduling events or running some under present restrictions”.

    Community collaboration

    It is very clear from talking to Steve that the focus this year has been very much on community collaboration. Behind the scenes is a team of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers along with HI Friends who have been working hard to create a varied programme of events and a comprehensive list of what is planned is due to be published next week by Histon & Impington Parish Council in their free and village-wide distributed HisImp News.

    Steve continues:

    “We had planned that as many events as possible would be run under Step 3 of the Government’s roadmap out of COVID, but hoped, for Feast Week, we would be in Step 4. The announcement by the Government on Monday was not unexpected but makes the organisation (and therefore financial risk) of the larger music events much more complicated.  The higher rate of transmission of the Delta variant is also a concern which prompted the Feast team to re-think some planned events. The sad fact is that we don’t want to risk transmission of the virus at crowd based events where managing social distancing is very hard”.

    The, sadly unavoidable, casualties are listed below although the team is optimistic that these can be rescheduled for later in the year.

    Cancelled:

    • Riot on the Rec : Friday 2nd July
    • Big Band Concert : Saturday 3rd July
    • Little Histon Railway Display : Saturday 10th July
    • Sports and Funday : Sunday 11th July
    • 5-a-side Football Tournament : all week

    Colin Myles, organiser of planned live gig Riot on the Rec, told us:

    “Cancelling events is something that nobody wants to do, especially at this time when people are wanting to get back to some kind of normality. It is always a really tough call but with rising cases and the extended lockdown making some of the logistics difficult we didn’t want to put attendees, or the HI Friends charity at risk.”

    All other events for Feast Week are still under review and it is hoped that, in line with social distancing guidelines, it might still be possible to run the Feast Market on Saturday 10th July and the Explorer Society Piano Concert on Thursday 8th July.

    Remaining positive

    Steve is keen that we all remain focused on the positives – of which there are many – and adds:

    “Not everything is cancelled and next week’s HisImp News will be publishing the full list of planned events. You can also get more information on what is lined up via the 2021 Feast website, here“.

    This year also sees launch of The Feast Loyalty Card (see below). This new initiative aims to get people visiting our local businesses with the chance of winning a prize.  Further details can be found on the Feast website and will also be in HisImp News.

    Feast Loyalty Card Partners

    Also planned is a range of online talks and initiatives – all to be listed in the HisImp news and HI HUB What’s On.

    We finish with a final thank you from Steve who is immensely grateful for all the support received and says: “This year the efforts of the committee have been tremendous and I thank all of them for getting us to where we are today”.

    Remember to also check HI HUB What’s On for up-to-date information on all local events.

  • Boundary shake-up would link Histon & Impington with St Neots

    Proposed changes to constituency boundaries would see Histon & Impington voting for an MP who would cover a largely rural area stretching west as far as St Neots.

    The village is currently part of the South East Cambridgeshire constituency, held by Lucy Frazer MP for the Conservatives. It covers the eastern half of South Cambridgeshire district and the southern part of East Cambridgeshire and includes the city of  Ely, together with towns and villages including Milton, Over, Burwell, Fulbourn, Linton, Soham and Waterbeach.

    Under the new proposals, South East Cambridgeshire would disappear and Histon & Impington, and Orchard Park, would be at the far eastern boundary of a new constituency, provisionally named ‘St Neots’, in which St Neots would be the town with the highest population density.

    Villages in the new St Neots constituency would include Girton, Oakington, Longstanton and Madingley. Further afield would be Abbotsley, Bourn and Great Gransden in the south. But Cottenham, Milton and Waterbeach would all become part of a new East Cambridgeshire constituency.

    The public can view the proposed constituencies as part of an eight-week consultation process, and give online feedback on the proposed new boundary lines, the names of the constituencies and any other related issues. The outcome of this first consultation will be fed into two further consultation rounds in 2022.

    Why now?

    The Boundary Commission for England is the independent advisory body that is legally responsible for recommending the new constituencies to Parliament. It is required to ensure that the number of electors in each constituency is more equal.

    By law, its review must be based on electorate data from 2 March 2020 and each constituency must contain between 69,724 and 77,062 electors. To achieve that, ten new constituencies will be created in England, taking the total number to 543. More than 90% of existing constituencies will change.

    The Eastern region has been allocated 61 constituencies – three more than at present. Cambridgeshire, which has seen significant development since the last boundary changes in 2010, would be given one extra.

    Have your say

    The Commission will present final recommendations to Parliament by July 2023.

    Tim Bowden, Secretary to the Commission for England, said: “We want to hear the views of the public to ensure that we get the new boundaries for Parliamentary constituencies right… it is your local knowledge that helps us to shape constituencies that best reflect your local area.”

    To comment on the boundary proposals, visit the consultation website where you can view the maps showing the proposed new boundaries for the East. The consultation closes on 2 August 2021.