Archive for category: Local News

HAVE YOUR SAY before the 20th July

An email received from – Communications at Huntingdon District Council

Dear town and parish councillors,

We are writing to let you know that today, alongside partner councils,  we have launched a public engagement exercise to gather opinions on the future of local government in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

As you know, in December last year the Government announced plans to move towards a new system of local government, removing the two-tier system of district, city and county councils (town and parish councils are unaffected).

Since then, all seven existing county, district and city councils in Cambridgeshire have been working collaboratively to identify viable options for new single-tier councils across the region.

We now want to hear the views of residents, prior to proposals being developed further and submitted to Government in November.

The survey asks people what is important in terms of services, what they would like to see delivered by their new unitary authority, and where in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough they visit to socialise, work or access health services. A series of focus groups are also being arranged.

We want to reach as many people as possible with the survey, enabling them to share their opinions and help inform the future of local government in the area. As well as alerting you to the survey for your own completion, we are therefore also asking if you could share information with your residents and any other interested groups, such as businesses and community organisations.

There is both a public survey and one that is tailored for stakeholders, and these are available here on HDC’s website. Hard copies are also available at the reception desk in Pathfinder House, Huntingdon.

The survey will close at midnight on 20th July 2025.

 

 

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough-Pills linked to recent deaths

Pills-linked to recent deaths
In Cambridgeshire, green pills (seen in visual) were linked to a death of a young adult in Cambridge in March 2025.
Two people were found dead in Ealing (London) following attendance at a nightclub on Saturday 24th May.
Both sets of deaths were linked to similar green pills with an ’80’ on one face and ‘OP’ on the other face. The pills are believed to be sold in loose or in clear plastic packaging. We don’t know what type of drug people thought they were buying.
• The pills have been found to contain a potent synthetic opioid.

Colne Parish Council seek residents’ support for a bid for funding.
The Council propose providing a Modular Pumptrack, for BMX, Scooters and Skateboards, at the church end of the playing field, on the recently cleared area.

Please show your support by completing the consultation form below before the 31st May 2025.
Thank you, David Parsons, on behalf of Colne Parish Council 

Designated driver scheme returns

A designated driver scheme organised to support the force’s crackdown on drink and drug drivers this Christmas will return next month – and we need your help.

‘I am DES’ is a national initiative where licenced premises sign up to offer an incentive to encourage customers to have a ‘designated driver’ within their party. The campaign ran for the first time since Covid in December 2023 across Cambridgeshire, with more than 60 businesses sign up in support (the most we’ve ever had!).

Consequently, we also saw a reduction in the number of people killed and seriously injured through road traffic collisions for that month compared with the previous year (with more than a 20 per cent reduction).

If interested in taking part, your business and venue location will be included in a press release highlighting this year’s police drink and drug drive campaign, and mentioning the I’m DES initiative, where drivers within a group can benefit from a discount on soft drinks only.

The terms and conditions will be within your control – you decide which soft drinks to provide an incentive on, such as draught only. Free soft drinks have been offered in the past but the economy is in a very different place than it was years ago, and therefore any kind of incentive through a discount will still be very welcome and allow you to take part.

Members of the public taking part are asked to say to venue staff “I am Des” or words to that effect and show their car keys. It’s up to yourselves if you wish to add anything additional to that. I know some of you have used wristbands or a stamp system to keep track of designated drivers before.

If you are interested or would like to know more, please email stating that you are interested or with any questions. Please do not reply directly to this eCops message.

Please also spread the word and forward to anyone you think would be interested in supporting this year’s designated driver campaign.

Kind regards,