Community Matters

Matters

FENLAND TO GO AL FRESCO Al fresco dining spaces and street cafes could soon become a more familiar sight in Fenland as local food and drink businesses are invited to apply for a free pavement licence. Fenland District Council has launched a fast-track process to apply for the new licence, which will allow pubs, cafes and restaurants to place tables and chairs outside their premises, without the usual need for planning permission. The pavement licences, made possible following the introduction of the new Business and Planning Bill 2020, aim to help licensed businesses bounce back from the coronavirus lockdown and operate safely while social distancing measures are in place. The council has waived the fee for the licences until the end of the year, and will determine applications in just fourteen days including a seven day consultation period. In addition, the Bill has amended the Licensing Act 2003 to allow operators with existing alcohol onsales licences to also serve alcohol for consumption off the premises and to make deliveries. The temporary pavement licences will be available until September 30th, 2021 and may be issued for between three and twelve months. For more information and guidance, and to apply for a pavement licence, visit: www.fenland.gov.uk/ pavementlicence

SECOND ‘CALL FOR SITES’ Landowners and developers are being given a second opportunity to suggest where new homes and space for business could be created in Fenland as part of preparations on the new Local Plan. Fenland District Council is in the process of updating its Local Plan, which shapes how Fenland will be developed in the future and outlines the planning policies that will be used to make decisions on planning applications over the next twenty years. In October last year a ‘call for sites’ exercise was held inviting people to suggest those that could help to meet the district’s future housing or employment requirements. Then in early 2020 work commenced on a draft version of the plan ready for public consultation this summer.

We bring you items of interest for your home and community. If there is something you’d like us to cover or you have something to say please get in touch at: Discovering March, Benwick Road Ind. Est., Benwick Road, Whittlesey, Peterborough, PE7 2HD editor.march@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

LOCAL DUO STEP IN TO

HELP MARCH RESIDENTS

Two local residents have stepped in to help following March Community Car Scheme being a casualty of the coronavirus pandemic. Wimblington co-ordinator Jo James and Chatteris co-ordinator Phil Couldridge are helping to cover March in the short-term until they can come up with a more permanent solution. Jo said: “The way it works is that you call one of the numbers, speak to me or Phil, and we will try and find you a driver who can get you where you are heading to. The hospitals have started giving out more appointments now, and despite social distancing other things have started opening up too, for instance the hairdressers and places to eat and drink. “And while the medical appointments are the essentials, I believe some of the other things starting to open up are very important for mental health too, especially as so many of us have been staying at home or shielding, and social appointments are very much as important in my opinion.” The charge for the service is 30p per mile, with a minimum charge of £3, which covers just expenses. The numbers to call are: 07563 782938 for Wimblington; the phones are live between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday; or 07944 814156 for Chatteris and this is an answerphone.

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, work on the plan has been delayed as further evidence gathering tasks needed to support its publication, such as site visits and traffic studies, have not been possible during lockdown. The call for sites consultation will run until Tuesday, September 8th. For more information and to take part, visit: www.fenland.gov.uk/newlocalplan

SYLVIA HELPS YOU STAY SAFE March widow Sylvia Mansfield is helping people stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic by making non-medical facemasks. She said: “Up to recently my garden took up most of my time, but the weather has not been kind to my various health problems, so I got a friend to deliver a note to every neighbour in Oliver's Way as I had a large stash of cottons and was able to offer a choice of patterns. All the masks cost me then was my time and I was happy to produce them free of charge. “Having run out of my stash, I have now bought in more than forty patterns (including nursery pictures) and, at the last count I had made over 350 masks, all one hundred percent cotton, washable up to sixty degrees, with firmly attached elastic loops for the ears, in two sizes - for adults, or for youngsters aged 11 plus, at the cost of £2 per mask. Some people have slimmer faces than the average, so I now include adjustable elastic toggles in my orders and anyone with a small nose can ask for a wire nose clip to be included at an extra price of 50p.” Sylvia says she is now providing Christmas patterns. Anyone interested can contact her at (01354) 651821 and she will deliver free of charge to customers in March. Pictured is our very own Discovering Magazines publisher Claire, modelling one of Sylvia's masks!

ROTARY RALLIES ROUND March Rotary Club has inducted John Lattimore as its president for 2020/21; he last served in this position ten years ago. During the lockdown, the club has not been able to meet, but has been busy supporting the local community during the pandemic. It has provided donations to Neale Wade’s project for its COVID protective mask manufacturing, Doddington Scouts for scrubs bags, and £200 to each of the five local primary schools as Rotary members were unable to run the annual ‘Kids Day Out’. It also gave £400 to the local doctors’ practices in order that they could purchase PPE when it was unavailable through normal channels. In addition, many March Rotarians personally gave donations to March Food Bank, amounting to £1200. For further information, email: marchrotaryclub@ gmail.com or call 07394 533858.

Walk 5k or 10k this October, in memory of a loved one to raise funds and support people through the most difficult times of their lives.

Get together with family and friends and choose your own walking route, which might include a place that is special to you.

You can take part on any day this October or on our official walk day 17 October.

Sign up now:

call: 0808 164 4572 email: events@sueryder.org visit: www.sueryder.org/walktoremember

Sue Ryder is a charity registered in England and Wales (1052076) and in Scotland (SC039578). Ref. 07210. © Sue Ryder. August 2020.

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RUN TO RAISE MONEY

FOR SUE RYDER

06/08/2020 13:05

Local people are being encouraged to take part in a 5k or 10k walk next month to raise funds for the Sue Ryder charity’s Thorpe Hall Hospice. They are being urged to get together with family and friends and choose their own walking route, which might include a place that is special to them, on any day this October or on the official walk day of Saturday, October 17th. Local fundraiser Lisa Hylton said: “In previous years, our Starlight Hikes, Forget Me Not Walks and other physical walking events have been a key fundraising event for Sue Ryder, but with uncertainty surrounding the current situation, we have unfortunately had to cancel these walks for the foreseeable future. “However, we know these events are important occasions to join others in memory of loved ones and pause for thought or celebrate cherished moments, so we wanted to continue to offer the opportunity for our supporters but in a different format.” You can sign up today at www.sueryder.org/support-us/fundraise/events/ walk-to-remember-2020