Soham On-Line - Local News 2010

Soham Masterplan Vision - Public Consultation

East Cambridgeshire District Council is in the final stages of preparing a Masterplan for the town of Soham. The Soham Masterplan Vision has been developed over the past 18 months including two previous public consultation events on issues and options.

The Masterplan is now in draft form and is subject to a final six-week consultation period to obtain people's views. The consultation period will run from the 17th February 2010 until 31st March 2010. For more information on the draft masterplan consultation and to view the draft Soham Masterplan Vision please visit: Draft Soham Masterplan Vision Public Consultation

We need someone with basic admin skills (such as filing, letter writing, typing, photocopying, postage) to help out in our busy, friendly office at the Viva Centre on Churchgate Street in Soham.

Please apply in writing to: Martha Waterhouse (Projects Co-ordinator), The Viva Centre, 7 Churchgate Street, Soham, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5DS or Telephone 01353 722228 for further details. Applications Deadline - Monday 22nd March 2010.

Children’s Centres are places where parents and carers of children under five years old can receive information and advice about support, services and activities. There are two Children’s Centres in Soham, located at The Weatheralls Primary School and St. Andrews CE Primary School. Services and activities will be delivered at the centres in Soham but also in all of the surrounding villages including Fordham, Kennett, Wicken, Isleham, Chippenham and Snailwell. Activities that are currently running are as follows:-

Play Sessions
Speech & Language Drop-ins & Courses
Dads’ Groups
Young Parents’ Groups
Family Fun Days
Other Services & Activities

Visit www.cambridgeshirechildrenscentres.org.uk or call 07827 230891 for further details and information. It is planned to have regular informal get-togethers for parents and carers who would like to be involved in the development of the children’s centres. If you would like to come, please contact Mary Barnes, Children’s Centre Manager on 07827 230891, E-Mail mary.barnes@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or alternatively pop into the centre during opening hours:- Monday to Friday from 1.00pm - 4.00pm.

Want to communicate with your local Neighbourhood Policing Team???
Do you want to know what is happening in your local area???
Would you like to receive regular crime and community information that is local to you???

E-Cops is an E-Mail scheme from Cambridgeshire Constabulary for your community. Cambridgeshire Constabulary is extending its successful E-Cops scheme to cover the Soham area. Your local Neighbourhood Policing Team would like to inform you what is happening in your area. E-Cops gives us an opportunity to do just that and gives you an opportunity to communicate with us.

When you sign up you will receive an E-Mail confirming that you have joined E-Cops. From then on you will be sent regular E-Mails from your local Police Officer. You will be able to respond to these e-mails with information and feedback.

CCTV has been involved in partnership working for some time, but one of the most important partners we need to work with are members of the public. It is generally agreed that the most effective way of tackling crime, anti-social behaviour and terrorism is through a vigilant public who report suspicious activity. Members of the public, who see something wrong within an area covered by CCTV, will be able to contact the CCTV Control Room in Cambridge directly by texting 62288.

All messages will be acknowledged and CCTV Control Room Operators will prioritise the messages received and then carry out follow up action.

A couple of points to remember: always call the Police first to report a crime on 999 when life is in danger, a serious offence is in progress, a suspect is at the scene, there is danger of violence or damage to persons or property or there is a serious road accident.
0845 456 4564 should be used to contact the Police in all other cases, only then text the CCTV Control Room.

The text to CCTV should include the location (Street/Town) and what is going on e.g. 'High Street, Soham, Fight'.
Text messages to 62288 cost 12p on Vodafone and 10p on other mobile networks.

Giving up smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health, and the benefits will start to show very quickly. Smokers who want to kick the habit can now get access to NHS services by contacting their local GP surgery in East Cambridgeshire & Fenland Primary Care Trust, or by calling the new ‘Quit Smoking’ Freephone Number - 0800 1690169. For the first time, all 17 GP surgeries within the local Primary Care Trust area now provide advice and support to any patient who wants to give up smoking through trained smoking cessation counsellors. If you are a smoker why not contact your local surgery to find out more, or call the helpline on 0800 1690169. Alternatively please call: Claire Mead, Healthy Lifestyles Co-ordinator on: 01353 654208. For further information about the Healthy Living East Cambridgeshire (HLEC) initiative please contact Kate Nichols on 01353 616349 or alternatively E-Mail: .

LOCAL NEWS 2010

Soham Masterplan Vision - Public Consultation