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Matters

FENLAND ACTS TO ENSURE SAFE RE-OPENING OF HIGH STREETS A recovery plan to support the safe and successful re-opening of Fenland’s high streets was put in place in June as the district took its first steps towards getting back to business. Fenland District Council drew up a blueprint of measures to help kick-start the local economy, keep people safe and encourage customers back to the shops as coronavirus lockdown restrictions eased. From Monday, June 15th, people have been able to visit non-essential retail outlets such as clothing stores and charity shops, which could reopen if COVID-19 safety guidelines were met. In the first phase of its plan, the council introduced a range of visual measures in and around March and Fenland’s other town centres, such as pavement markings, street signage and banners, to help shoppers observe social distancing. Signage was being installed at car parks, bus stops, and busy or narrow footways, to complement measures from local highways authority, Cambridgeshire County Council. There was also additional cleansing of town centres, council-owned public toilets and public open spaces, and council officers were set to regularly patrol each of the towns to offer guidance to shoppers and respond to any concerns. The measures will be reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure they remain relevant, with changes being made in response to public concerns or suggestions and business need. The council is also working with businesses to help identify areas where it can further support business recovery. Local businesses and market traders are being contacted, and a survey has been launched, to gauge the level of support needed. Any businesses that need assistance to re-open safely, such as help with signage or co-ordinating how people can queue and social distance safely, can fill in the survey at: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/ r/L7H8D3X In the second phase of the plan, the council will develop ideas to encourage people to shop locally and investigate how the recovery work can build on proposals to boost the economic fortunes of the towns as outlined in the Growing Fenland Masterplans.

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It will also use business survey feedback to provide more tailored support for businesses and develop its approach for the re-opening of food businesses ready for early July. The council is set to receive approximately £90,000 for the work from the Government’s £50 million Reopening High Streets Safely Fund. Leader of Fenland District Council Cllr Chris Boden said: “As lockdown measures are gradually eased it is imperative that our retailers, who have been significantly impacted by this pandemic, are given the opportunity to get back to business and people have the confidence to support them. “We welcome funding from the Government to start the careful process of reopening our high streets and look forward to working with businesses to make this happen, with customer safety as a top priority.” Cllr Ian Benney, the council’s portfolio holder for economic growth, added: “Essential shops, such as supermarkets and pharmacies, have already shown that while safe trading is challenging, it is achievable.” He added: “As we get used to a ‘new normal’ on our high streets it is also more important than ever for communities to shop local. By choosing to spend your money in a small business you are helping to support and protect our local economy.”

SUMMER CONCERTS: NEW

DATES CONFIRMED FOR 2021

The coronavirus pandemic has caused the cancellation of live shows at Newmarket Racecourses this summer. The Pussycat Dolls concert, scheduled for July 17th is a casualty as are the Jack Savoretti and Alfie Boe concerts set for August 7th and August 14th, respectively. New dates have been confirmed for 2021 with the appearance of The Script at Newmarket set for June 18th, Rick Astley on June 25th, and Bryan Ferry on July 16th.

GRANTS PAID TO SMALL BUSINESSES Fenland District Council has paid out the first grants from its new Local Authority Discretionary Grant Fund to help support small businesses during the coronavirus crisis. The council has been allocated £985,000 from the Government for the fund, which aims to provide extra support to small and micro businesses which missed out on the earlier premises-based funding.

POET’S CORNER… Local resident Keith Wilkinson has written a poem about the current coronavirus crisis: In 2020 a family wanted a holiday again, But Covid-19 caused them great strain The government banned unnecessary travel So, all they got was a picnic on the garden gravel No pubs or clubs, restaurants or church So, the family felt left in the lurch Hubby and kids were too much to bear How mum wished they could fly somewhere So, in desperation she turned to Gin As they had to stay at home, safely locked in Look forward to next year When the world should begin to cheer WHAT’S IN A NAME?... MONEY! There are many aspects that can lead to one’s success, such as knowledge, perseverance, and luck! But could your name play a big role in the way others perceive you? Could it even help you get a higher paid role? The experts at Resume.io sought to find how much money a person makes on average, based on their name. They looked at the most popular baby names from the year 2000 and used a ‘ValueMyName’ tool (which calculates the average salary of the person with that name) to see what recent graduates of today can expect from their pay cheques. When it comes to masculine names, it has been revealed that David earns the highest pay cheque – around £41,617! So, if that’s your name and you just got out of university, you are one of the lucky ones! Second on the list is Charles which could help a recent graduate earn approximately £40,890 a year from their chosen career. When it comes to feminine names, Lily seems to be the most valued name on a CV, at approximately £30,821. Following close is the name Anna, with £30,522, and Elizabeth, with £29,882. The research shows that if your name is Reece or Connor you are likely to earn less than £25,000/ year, making them the least successful masculine names for recent graduates. When it comes to feminine names, Paige is deemed the least successful earning on average only £20,190 a year.

SHOPPING TOPPED THE

'MISSED LIST' IN THE EAST A nationwide survey revealed that 61 percent of East of England residents missed shopping the most during the coronavirus pandemic. Wall's Pastry commissioned the online YouGov survey, which reached more than 1800 members of the public, to discover what people have missed from their everyday lives during lockdown. While a high number of people surveyed said they are missing shopping and leisure activities, the expected majority (80%) missed seeing friends and family, while 58% listed visiting a restaurant or pub in their top three. Results also showed that nationwide, 47% of Gen Y and millennials (25 to 34-year-olds) and 45% of baby boomers (over 55s) were missing hair and beauty treatments the most, with more than half of the votes from women (51%) and more than a quarter from men (33%).