ing for an event, group or activity? W ISBECH TOWN MATTERS ISSUE 20 Christmas 2014
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The Community Newsletter for Wisbech
Speciality food, market stalls, entertainment, activities – throughout Wisbech Town Centre (Market Place and Horsefair)
Wisbech Market Place - Entertainment 3pm – 6pm
Lighthouses – Sunday 30 November @ Wisbech Baptist Church Opportunity for children to make a working model lighthouse. All the parts will be provided and help on hand. Parents are welcome to stay (drinks provided). Two sessions starting at 3.15 and 4.15 (30 children per session). It is FREE and there is no need to book. Look for the large lighthouse outside in the Horsefair. It is also hoped to have a restored vintage Fire Engine on display which has interesting local history. If you would like to be informed of events we plan in the future please give us contact details on the day. Christmas Greetings My civic year so far has been filled with visits and events throughout Wisbech and beyond, and it has been most enjoyable for the Mayoress and I to meet residents of, and visitors to, our lovely town. I was pleased to be asked to attend the opening of several new business, including the Light Cinema, Burger King, the Nottingham Building Society and Poundstretcher. It is encouraging to see businesses coming to our town and hope they will inspire economic activity and compliment the services of the town, such as our delightful Luxe Cinema ranked No.1 on TripAdvisor among attractions in Wisbech. In this poignant year of 2014 we have attended events commemorating the start of WW1 by the ACF at Waterbeach, the presentation of the colours to the Royal Anglian Regiment at IWM Duxford by HRH Duke of Gloucester, as well as our own commemoration in the park organised by the RBL and other community groups. Our uniformed groups within Wisbech are a credit to the town and there was an excellent turnout, as usual, on Remembrance and Armistice. Other community events have shown the support that the people of Wisbech give to their town, from Halloween spookiness to assistance and support to those in need, like the Prince’s Trust. I am looking forward to visiting schools and community centres over Christmas and welcome everyone to attend my Carol Service on Sunday 30 November to be held in St Peter’s Church (2pm), to be followed by the Wisbech Christmas Lights Switch On entertainment.
Cllr Michael Hill & Mrs Jane Hill Mayor and Mayoress of Wisbech It is the time of year when we’re enjoying a tipple with friends, cooking heaps of delicious food and decking the halls. The fire service has these messages to make sure your festive cheer doesn’t go up in smoke: Kitchens are a fire hotspot, so take care while cooking festive fancies. Never leave cooking unattended and turn off appliances when not in use. Switch off fairy lights and unplug them before you go to bed or leave the house. Make sure they confirm to the British Standard and never overload plug sockets. Be careful when drinking alcohol while smoking or cooking. Finally, make sure you have a working smoke alarm which is correctly fitted and works. And NEVER take the batteries out to power presents! Call 0800 917 99 94 to find out if you are eligible for a free home fire safety check, Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @cambsfrs
Wisbech Town Council contact details You may contact council officers or members at the Council Chamber Wisbech Town Council, Council Chamber, 1 North Brink, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE13 1JR Tel: 01945 461333 email wisbechtc@aol.com Website: www.wisbechtowncouncil.org.uk Office hours 9.00am – 3.00pm Monday to Friday inclusive Find us on Twitter and Facebook Cllr Mrs CR (Carol) Cox Cllr Mrs Cox is also a Fenland District Councillor for Clarkson Ward
33 Bowthorpe Road Wisbech PE13 2DX 01945 465588
Clarkson
Cllr Mrs VM (Viv) MacRae
12 Bowthorpe Road Wisbech PE13 2DX 01945 489602
Clarkson
Cllr Miss S (Samantha) Hoy Cllr Miss Hoy is also a Fenland District Councillor for Hill Ward
Cllr SJ (Stephen) Brunton
Cllr Ms M (Michelle) Tanfield Cllr D (David) Hodgson Cllr Hodgson is also a Fenland District Councillor for Staithe Ward Cllr Hodgson is Deputy Mayor of Wisbech Town Council for civic year 2014-2015 Cllr R (Robert) McLaren
Cllr DR (David) Patrick Cllr Patrick is also a Fenland District Councillor for Kirkgate Ward
7 Sybil Road Wisbech PE13 3NG 01945 466387
Hill
7 Railway Road Wisbech PE13 2QA 01945 476269
Hill
86 Elm Road Wisbech PE13 2TB 07908707129
Hill
Whitehaven 141 Elm Low Road Wisbech PE14 0DF 01945 465126
66 Kirkgate Street Walsoken Wisbech PE13 3QZ 01945 474270 12 Limes Avenue Elm Wisbech PE14 0BS 01945 861334
Hill
Kirkgate
Kirkgate
39 West Parade Wisbech PE13 1QB 01945 587437
Medworth
Cllr M (Michael) Hill Cllr Hill is Mayor of Wisbech Town Council for civic year 2014-2015
Melrose Villa 23 Alexandra Road Wisbech PE13 1HS 01945 584971
Medworth
Cllr S (Steve) Tierney Cllr Tierney is also a Fenland District Councillor for Medworth Ward
6 Alexandra Road Wisbech PE13 1HQ 07831616127
Peckover
Cllr DC (David) Oliver Cllr Oliver is also a Fenland District Councillor for Peckover Ward Cllr Oliver is Leader of Wisbech Town Council for civic year 2014-2015
39 West Parade Wisbech PE13 1QB 01945 587437
Peckover
Cllr Miss JA (Jessica) Oliver
Cllr GP (Garry) Tibbs
Cllr R (Reginald) Mee
Cllr MG (Michael) Bucknor Cllr Bucknor is also a Fenland District Councillor for Waterlees Ward Cllr Mrs VM (Virginia) Bucknor Cllr Mrs Bucknor is also a Fenland District Councillor for Waterlees Ward
Cllr R (Ray) Griffin
Cllr DA (David) Wheeler
258 Norwich Road Wisbech PE13 3UT
46 Clarkson Avenue Wisbech PE13 2EH 01945 465132 11 St Martin’s Road Wisbech PE13 3EX 01945 584207 11 St Martin’s Road Wisbech PE13 3EX 01945 584207 53 Waterlees Road Wisbech PE13 3PG 01945 463164 86 Mount Pleasant Road Wisbech PE13 3LH 01945 464386
Staithe
Staithe
Waterlees
Waterlees
Waterlees
Waterlees
Your council meets regularly at the Council Chamber, 1 North Brink. Council and Committee Meetings are usually held on Mondays in the Council Chamber. Meetings dates may change due to unforeseen circumstances, please look at the Agendas page for up-to-date information. If further meetings are held details will be put on the website and noticeboards. All meeting agendas are published at least 3 clear days before meeting is held - on the website www. wisbechtowncouncil.org.uk or on the notice board outside 1 North Brink FORTHCOMING WISBECH TOWN COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR 2014-2015 (dates of all meetings can be found on the website) Full Council Meetings Civic Amenities and Mayors Charity Fund Monday 10 November 2014 Members of the committee: Councillors Monday 8 December 2014 Brunton, Hill, Hodgson, Mee, Oliver, Monday 12 January 2015 Tibbs and Wheeler. Monday 8 February 2015 Monday 5 January 2015 Monday 9 March 2015 Monday 13 April 2015 Staff and Policy Committee Committee members: Councillors Hill, Resources Committee Hodgson, Miss Hoy, Mee, Oliver, Ms Members of the committee: Councillors Tanfield and Tierney. Brunton, Mrs Cox, Hill, Hodgson, Miss Monday 5 January 2015 Hoy, Mrs MacRae, Oliver, Tibbs and Tierney. Planning Committee Monday 26 January 2015 Members of the committee: Councillors Monday 27 April 2015 Brunton, Griffin, Hill, Hodgson, Mee, Oliver and Tibbs. Allotments Committee Monday 10 November 2014 Members of the committee: Councillors Monday 24 November 2014 Mrs Cox, Hill, Hodgson, Mrs MacRae, Monday 8 December 2014 Mclaren, Oliver, and Wheeler. Monday 22 December 2014 Monday 23 February 2015 Monday 12 January 2015 Monday 26 January 2015 Market Place Committee Monday 9 February 2015 Members of the committee: Councillors Monday 23 February 2015 Mrs Bucknor, Hill, Hodgson and Oliver. Monday 9 March 2015 Monday 22 December 2014 Monday 23 March 2015 Monday 13 April 2015 Monday 27 April 2015 NEWS - Wisbech Town Council welcomes new councillor A by election held on 16 October saw Miss Jessica Oliver elected to represent Medworth Ward on Wisbech Town Council. Cllr Steve Tierney was also elected to Fenland District Council for Medworth Ward Council officers: Clerk & Responsible Officer: Mr Terry Jordan Deputy Clerk & Operations Manager: Mrs Susanah Farmer Asset Manager: Mr Michael South Administrator: Mrs Tracy Bidwell-Hazell
Get involved with your local Our job is to make sure that you have a say when decisions are made about local health and social care services. We are local, independent and here for you. We can link you up with the organisations that provide health and social care locally, and try make sure your opinions are listened to. We can help you find out about local health or care services that might be able to support you. If you have a concern or complaint about any local health or care service, we can tell you where you need to go to sort this out and who could help you do this. We need to know what it is like for you to use any health or care service in Cambridgeshire. Please talk to us about your experiences. We share this information with the people who make decisions about local health and care services, to help improve care. We make sure you cannot be identified, when we share this information. Right now, we are very interested in your experience with: Your GP Surgery Urgent Care (including 111, the ambulance, and out-of-hours care) Mental health services Sexual health services If you have used any of these services in the last three months, then please do get in touch to tell us about your experience. Volunteer with us We need volunteers to help us talk to people across the county about their health and care experiences. We have launched some fantastic new volunteering opportunities this autumn. Our Street Reporters will help us investigate local health & care issues that are important to people in Cambridgeshire and report back on them. Our Research Volunteers will help us research local health & care services. We still need more Outreach Volunteers, to help us promote Healthwatch and talk to local people about their experiences. Help us develop more volunteer roles by telling us what you would be interested in doing as a volunteer. We provide training, support and pay out of pocket expenses to all our volunteers. To find out more information call us on 01480 420628 or visit our website at: http://www.healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk/volunteering
St Peter & St Paul’s Church
Our Lady and St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Queens Road
Big Crib Festival 28- 30 November
Wednesday 24 December 3pm Nativity Mass
Sunday 30th November 2pm - Civic Carol Service (followed by entertainment and Christmas Lights Switch On in the Market Place) Wednesday 24th December 5pm - Candlelight Crib Service 11:30pm - Midnight Mass Thursday 25th December 10:00am - Christmas Eucharist
Wednesday 24 December 11.30pm Carols followed by Midnight Mass Thursday 25 December
11.15pm
Friday 26 December
10 am
Saturday 27 December
6pm
Sunday 28
11.15pm
December
St Augustine’s Annual Christmas Tree Festival 5 - 7 December 2014 10am to 4pm 7th December at 3pm, Christmas Carols and Readings, in midst of the beautiful lighted Christmas Trees. 17th December at 7pm Traditional 9 Lessons and Carols Service. 24th December at 11.30pm Midnight Mass 25th December at 10am Christmas Morning Eucharist Service. Wisbech Baptist Church, Hill Street
Open for refreshments and on the Sunday 21st Monday of the Yule Fayre. 10.30am Preparing for Christmas Service 5.30pm Café style service with a light tea carols and readings. Christmas Day 10.00am Free Churches Christmas Morning Service at the Queen Mary Centre, Queens Road Sunday 28th December 10.30am Christmas Continues, It’s Not just For Christmas Day! Also on Saturday 20th Dec we will be giving out individual mince pies at about 10.00am until stocks are exhausted.
Thinking of others this Christmas Eddie’s is looking for reliable volunteers to join their Befriending Scheme and make a difference to someone’s life. As a Befriender you will provide vital one-to-one support to an adult with a learning disability by helping them to engage in activities they enjoy. From organising a trip to the cinema to participating in a Zumba session, Befrienders help build their friend’s confidence, social skills and sense of independence. This Befriending Scheme is a vital part of the work done in helping adults with a learning disability enjoy life as much as possible. The direct interaction between the Befriender and the adult allows a strong bond to develop as trust and understanding grows between each pair; which encourages interaction with other people and development of social and communication skills. Befrienders can arrange activities such as meeting up for lunch, going shopping or anything that the pair can enjoy together. Additionally, they can participate in one of Eddie’s own regular activity sessions which can include barbeques, picnics and discos. The Scheme carefully matches volunteers, based on location and personality, and encourages each pair to meet at least once a month. The ability to drive and have access to a car is preferred. Travel and activity costs will be reimbursed by Eddie’s. Jo and Tommy Kelly have been a befriender with Eddie’s for almost 4 years and in this time they have developed a great friendship with Stephen. Jo and Tommy said, “The Befriending Scheme allows and encourages people to meet to enjoy common interests and share fun times in a safe, controlled but flexible way. We very quickly became friends with Stephen and have a great relationship with him. We felt very early on that our friendship was as natural as any other and the Befriending Scheme was simply the initial facilitator in this although we know if we need any help or guidance that support is only a phone call or email away.” Volunteer Befrienders do not need any previous experience as full training will be given including; learning disability awareness, autism and makaton training to name but a few. You will also gain invaluable experience within the care sector which would be essential if this was a career path you were interested in. As recognition of your commitment and success, you could also receive a reference from the Volunteers Support Coordinator to help with future volunteering or employment. Aiding someone to grow in confidence by encouraging them to become more involved with activities and make new friends makes the whole Scheme worthwhile for both volunteers and their friends. In addition, the time you spend with someone with a learning difficulty also allows their families and carers to enjoy a well-deserved break. Guided by the Befriending Coordinator, you will be given the support necessary to get the most out of your own voluntary experience as well as the time spent with your friend. If you have a caring and understanding attitude, with a genuine desire to help people, then please contact Eddie’s today. Suzanne.lombardo@eddies.org.uk or call 01354 651166. Eddie's - Fenland Branch, 87 High Street, March Cambridgeshire PE15 9LB
BOX OFFICE 01945 474447
DECEMBER PERFORMANCES Friday 12 – 7.30pm Saturday 13 – 2.30pm Saturday 13 – 7.30pm MONDAY 15 – 7.30pm Tuesday 16 – 7.30pm Wednesday 17 – 7.30pm Friday 19 – 7.30pm Saturday 20 – 2.30pm Saturday 20 – 7.30pm Monday 22 – 7.30pm TUESDAy 23 – 7.30pm saturday 27 – 2.30pm Sunday 28 – 2.30pm Monday 29 – 2.30pm Tuesday 30 – 2.30pm Wednesday 31– 2.30pm
School term dates 2014/2015 Autumn term 2014 4 September to 19 December 2014 Half term: 27 October to 31 October 2014 Spring term 2015 6 January to 27 March 2015 Half term: 16 February to 20 February 2015 Voluntary aided, foundation and academy schools may differ, so please contact schools directly for confirmation.
A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from staff and councillors at Wisbech Town Council
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING Wisbech town centre for daily groceries to special treats. The market has stalls selling a variety of goods and local produce during the week, from the regular to the exotic. Complimenting the shopping offer within Wisbech it is full of bargains throughout the year. Traders on site throughout the week - Major markets on Thursdays and Saturdays. There is one hour FREE parking on the south side of the market place most days (a ticket must be obtained). The Market Place is closed to all traffic on Thursdays and Saturdays (through town traffic via Hill Street and High Street only (one-way). The Horsefair side of the Market Place is pedestrianised at all times.
There is also long term FREE parking around town - come and look round the shops, search out those bargains, rest your feet and have something to eat, visit a Christmas Tree Festival.
Traders in the Christmas Spotlight Jackie’s Fruit & Veg Coldham Fruits Norfolk Produce Batchelor’s Fruit & Veg
For all your everyday needs and Christmas specialities! Excellent quality at excellent prices
Christmas at the Horsefair Shopping Centre Located in the very centre of the town with excellent road and transport links, the Horsefair Shopping Centre offers a wide range of outlets to meet all your Christmas shopping needs. From the weekly supermarket shop, to fashion, to something for a special occasion the Horsefair Shopping Centre has 26 retail units to cater for all requirements and budgets and many are open 7 days a week. Seasonal music while you shop Sat 29th November (morning) Chatteris Town Band Sat 6th December (morning) March Brass 2000 Sunday 7th December (midday) the Salvation Army Band Sat 13th December (morning) Manea Silver Band Sat 20th December (morning) the Salvation Army Band
Town centre events Look out for events in Wisbech Town Centre during 2015 Wisbech Town Council is looking to deliver a number of different types of event and activity using Wisbech Market Place in 2015 and, given the success of the first ever Wisbech Heritage Fair held on 14 September 2014, one of the events for 2015 will be a repeat of that (again, as part of the annual Fenland Heritage Open Days programme). The town council’s overall aim is to enhance the use of Wisbech Market Place so that it becomes a space for community activity and not just a trading area. To assist the council in providing events and activities which best meet the needs and aspirations of the local community, the Town Clerk would like to hear from the public any ideas they have for such use of Wisbech Market Place.
Looking for an event, group or activity?
Wisbech Town Council What’s On Fenland District Council Tourism Cambridgeshire.net
www.wisbechtowncouncil.org.uk www.visitcambridgeshirefens.org www.cambridgeshire.net
Volunteers wanted – would you like to assist residents and visitors with enquires and promote our lovely town of Wisbech? The Information Centre is always pleased to hear from people to assist with this volunteer run service.
What is Rainbow Saver Credit Union Ltd? A credit union is a cooperative financial institution that is owned and controlled by its members and operated for the purpose of promoting thrift, providing credit at reasonable rates, and providing other financial services to its members. Rainbow Saver Credit Union has thousands of members right across East Anglia who save when they can, and borrow when they need to. It is a financial co-operative which is owned and managed by its members, with many volunteers and a few paid staff, providing a safe place to save as well as low cost loans. Who can join RSACUL? Anyone who lives and/or works within East Anglia can join (see membership requirements). You pay a one-off joining fee of £3 and an initial £1 savings deposit (£4.00 in total). Anyone over 18 can join as a full member, and we have junior accounts for under-18s. Junior accounts can be opened at no charge Oasis Centre - St Michael's Avenue , Wisbech PE13 3NR Thursday 12.00 pm to 2.00 pm Rosmini Centre - 69A Queens Road , Wisbech PE13 2PH Tuesday 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm Barclays Bank - Old Market Square, Wisbech PE13 1NN By appointment
WISBECH TOWN MATTERS ... ... is produced and distributed free through local retailers and community facilities, plus a copy is posted on Wisbech Town Council’s website. If you have any events or items you would like us to consider publishing please let us have text and pictures (in electronic format if possible) to wisbechtc@aol.com Commercial advertising also welcome, please email for costs
A Word From Your Local MP Steve Barclay It is great to see work is finally underway to renovate Constantine House. I have repeatedly raised the issue of derelict buildings in Wisbech and the need for action to be taken on these eyesores and investigated ways of dealing with the problem. The original problem was the cost of repairs were greater than the value of the finished building, landlords preferred to leave the derelict building rather than lose any money doing it up. The council don’t want to compulsory purchase the building because the tax-payer would be left with the shortfall. Having researched this problem I identified a solution in the form of a court order requiring the landlord to carry out repairs, which if they failed to do, would leave them open to a fine of between £100 and £1,000 a day for breaching the court order. Following my representations to Fenland District Council they took action against the owner of Constantine House. Obviously this approach works because faced with the risk of a daily fine for breaching the court order the owner is now repairing the building. I now very much hope that Fenland Council will seek further court orders on outstanding derelict buildings, as Constantine House has shown that this approach does bring success, at minimum cost to the tax-payer. Meanwhile work is steaming ahead to ensure essential engineering studies on the reopening of the Wisbech rail-link are completed in time for the next round of funding. Cambridgeshire County Council transport bosses have agreed to fast track work on the GRIP 2 engineering study, which will look at how Network Rail can deliver the project. The county council affirmed it understood the urgency of completing the study by the end of February and agreed to push ahead with the work and promised that at the very least interim findings would be available by the spring deadline. In the meantime it was also agreed to look at proceeding with the Grip 3 study, which would look at more detailed costings of the project, alongside the Grip 2, as that will also be needed if the project. This is great news, we are making some very strong progress on this vital project. This time two years ago it looked very unlikely we would have a Wisbech rail-link. Since then we have secured funding for essential feasibility studies and momentum is building from all sides on working to make the railway a reality.” As you probably know I have been campaigning for better arts provision in Fenland since I was first elected. I have held ministerial meetings, raised the issue in Parliament and lobbied Arts Council England on the lack of arts funding for this area, and the poor provision of arts in Fenland. I was utterly shocked, when I started to investigate the issue, to discover that this area had received no arts funding and that there was a general acceptance that the area had little arts provision. So it was great that Wisbech won lottery funding through the Arts Council and Cambridgeshire County Council for an innovative project which saw professional artists working in the town during September. A bid by Aid & Abet, a Cambridge-based art organisation, received £19,000 to run a pilot project in the town which saw artists living and working in Wisbech. Father Paul West of St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church in Wisbech, who is himself an artist, worked tirelessly to ensure the Aid & Abet bid was successful.
Octavia Hill Commemoration Day Sunday 7 December 2014 Venue: Rose & Crown, Market Place, Wisbech PE13 1DG 11am Trumpet Hall nd 22 Annual Octavia Hill Memorial Lecture ‘More gardens for London’ by Margaret Willes (author of The Gardens of the British Working Class) 12.15pm Rose Restaurant lunch (pre-booked £15.95 two courses)
Venue: Octavia Hill Birthplace House 1pm – 3pm tearoom and garden open with ‘More Air for London’ carpet on view
3pm unveiling of Flt Sgt Charles Cox MM Memorial by Pat Cox
Venue: Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul 3.30pm A celebration of the life and work of Octavia Hill in words and music. Theme: Gardens, Parks and Open Spaces Service by Father Paul West Reader Keith Aplin With the Clarkson Singers Tea & biscuits serviced after the service courtesy of St Peter’s parishioners Open to visit Peckover House – National Trust garden and Christmas Tree Festival Elgood’s Brewery – Open Day with free brewery tours until 4pm St Peter’s School Octavia Hill Garden www.facebook.com/octaviahillsbirthplacehouse Twitter @octaviahillBH www.octaviahill.org