You're Invited for MacMillan Cake and Coffee Morning

September is known for “The Biggest Coffee Morning” from MacMillan Cancer and Spotted in Ely is hosting its own event at The Market Street Brasserie, next Saturday 24th from 10am till midday and you’re all invited. We also need cakes. Our kitchen is busy with preparation but the more the merrier. For more information see https://www.facebook.com/events/1640932182885379 …

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New pet supplies shop opening in Ely

A popular Ely veterinary surgery will be opening up a shop in October. The Isle Vet Group on West Fen Road has started ordering stock for its new Isle of Pets store, which plans to sell pet food, healthy treats, toys and accessories. For more information click here.  

Take care on wet roads, warn police after a spate of Saturday smashes

Take care on wet roads – particularly in rural areas, warn police, following 11 smashes in under eight hours last weekend. With tomorrow (September 16) forecast to be a wash out for some of the afternoon, motorists and cyclists should take extra care during Friday rush hour. Last Saturday, 11 crashes were reported to police …

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Happy Birthday, Roald Dahl!

What do Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Tales of the Unexpected have in common? They were all penned by Roald Dahl. Schools across Cambridgeshire have been taking part in celebrations to mark the much loved author’s centenary this week. Children at Spring Meadows School and The King’s School in Ely …

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Littleport could move to SW Norfolk in radical electoral shake-up

Littleport could become part of South West Norfolk in a radical shake-up of Parliamentary boundaries. The Boundary Commissions for England and Wales have announced plans for sweeping reforms which would see the number of MPs in the the House of Commons slashed from 650 to 600. In its proposals, the Boundary Commission for England recommends …

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Blogging – not blobbing out in front of the telly – creates glorious challenges for adventurous mum

Two years ago, exhausted Ely mum Emma Smith decided she’d had enough of vegging out in front of the telly and wanted to push herself out of her comfort zone. Since cancelling her pay TV subscription, she’s taken part in 10km races, acted as an extra in MacBeth, been part of the team behind Cambridge …

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Modified car meet called off, organisers promising a "bigger and better" legal event

The organisers of a local car enthusiast group has called off their End of Summer Meet at an Ely car park, following warnings from police to stay away. Last night East Cambs Modified posted on their Facebook page that the controversial event would be changed to a different day at a “legal location”, as police …

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Tracy Allgood makes heartbreaking decision to close successful deli: "The last six weeks have broken me"

The owner of a successful Ely delicatessen says the difficult decision to close down her business was cemented after an exhausting summer. With just over a week to go until Allgoods of Ely shuts its doors for the last time, Tracy Allgood told Spotted in Ely she will miss the people coming into the shop …

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Car park closed to deter boy racers, opinions divided

An Ely car park will be closed tomorrow night in an unusual step to prevent boy (and girl) racers from congregating there, following complaints from local residents. Yesterday East Cambridgeshire District Council announced that Angel Drove Car Park would be closed from 7pm on Saturday, September 10, until 7am the following day, apologising for “any …

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Rose Barn owners may appeal after planning application rejected by council

The owners of a popular Sutton events venue are disappointed that an application to operate as a mixed use premises has been rejected by East Cambridgeshire District Council. Speaking to Spotted in Ely afterwards, Sally Bibby said she and her husband Sid were “disappointed” that the Rose Barn off Ely Road had been refused the …

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Sew creative: young stitchers on the cutting edge of budget design win fabulous prizes!

Fabric-cadabra! Two girls are celebrating their sewing skills after winning a Summer Stitch competition, run by Sew Much to Do. Over the summer holidays, the Ely High Street Passage shop asked budding young stitchers to submit their sewing, knitting and crochet projects. Entries had to contain a summer theme and all material had to cost …

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CCTV VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED

The monitoring and recording of the CCTV in Ely and Soham is a local responsibility. The City of Ely Council, Soham Town Council & Ely Constabulary are working in partnership to provide this service. We are preparing to recruit more volunteers to assist and play an important part in the monitoring and recording of the …

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Ely hopes to host its own Pride party, joining cosmopolitan cities around the world

London, New York, Paris, Tel Aviv and Teipei all have gay Pride parades – so why not Ely? The founders of the newly formed Pride in Ely and Cambridge group hope a fundraiser on September 10 will set the wheels in motion for Ely’s first Pride event in 2018. A spokeswoman said: “We are all …

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Ely's post office could move for the third time in as many years

Ely’s current Post Office may have to relocate once a new postmaster has been selected, Spotted in Ely can reveal. A Post Office spokeswoman said today that the company had received two applications from applicants interested in running the Ely branch, which is currently being operated by a temporary postmaster, with reduced opening hours and …

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Council defends scaled down pool design, responding to accusations of it being “a sub-optimal, boring, out of town swimming box”

Ely’s new swimming pool will not have water flumes due to costs – but it will have transferrable play equipment for children’s activities instead, the councillor responsible for the development has told Spotted in Ely. Councillor Richard Hobbs, of East Cambridgeshire District Council, was responding to criticisms about the scaled down design for the new …

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Ely's first Health and Happiness Day planned for this month

Try a new form of exercise, sample a mocktail and learn about healthy living at East Cambridgeshire’s first ever Health and Happiness Day. The day, planned at empowering residents to make healthier lifestyle choices, will take place at Ely Country Park on Sunday, September 25, from 11am to 3pm. Organisers from East Cambridgeshire’s Health and …

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Food! by Lizzi goes fully vegan

A popular stall holder at Ely Farmers Market, locally famous for her vegetarian Scotch eggs, has just moved over to selling completely vegan homemade goodies on her stall. Elizabeth ‘Lizzi’ Flaherty, the creative force behind Food! by Lizzi, announced last week that she would be selling her last batch of veggie Scotch eggs that weekend. …

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Injured rider thanks rescue crews, urging fellow riders to support the air ambulance

A horse rider who suffered a fracture after falling off her horse near Witchford has written a heartfelt message to the medics who treated her at the scene. Clare Andrews publicly thanked the East Anglian Air Ambulance on their Facebook page on August 23, a fortnight after the accident. Her friend raised the alarm after …

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The Robins give The Brecklanders a helping hand in taking all 3 point

Ely came into the game after two successive away wins while Thetford after a good start had narrowly lost both of their last two games. Ely City manager Brady Stone was forced into one change from the Hadleigh starting line up with Liam Griffin not being available so central defender Ollie Brookes came back into …

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Bon appetit! The Continental Market returns to Ely tomorrow.

Ely Markets will play host to a range of continental delicacies and delights over the long bank holiday weekend. From tomorrow (Saturday August 27) until Bank Holiday Monday (August 29), visitors to Ely Market can indulge in what the visiting continental market has to offer. An array of food stalls will hold everything from freshly …

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Turn out at MIU public meetings "exceeded our expectations", CCG says, announcing more

More public meetings about the future of three threatened minor injury units will take place in Ely and Fenland, following the huge turnout at meetings held over the past fortnight. Today Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Health Group, which makes financial decisions about the NHS in our area, announced four further meetings planned for next month, …

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Paradise (Pools) lost when new leisure centre opens but existing gym to remain

The opening of Ely’s state of the art leisure centre will signal Paradise lost for lovers of the existing swimming pools – but pool staff employed by the council will get to keep their jobs, enquiries by Spotted in Ely reveal. This week Councillor Richard Hobbs, chair of East Cambridgeshire District Council’s commercial services committee …

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Ely Progressives blame government underfunding and "poor management" for minor injuries debacle

Underfunding of the NHS and “poor management” by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group are to blame for the potential closure of Ely’s minor injuries unit, according to Ely Progressives. The group, a coalition of Labour, Green, Liberal Democrat and non-aligned members, today added its voice to organisations calling for the unit at the …

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"No decisions" made about future of minor injury units, CCG says, calling further public meetings

More public meetings are planned regarding the future of three threatened minor injury units and other outpatient services, following the large turnout in Ely this week. Today Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group, responsible for making financial decisions about NHS services in our area, announced that it would be holding further meetings in East Cambridgeshire …

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East Cambridgeshire Leisure Centre boosted by £1.5M Sport England grant

Sport England’s Project Committee has approved a conditional lottery award of £1.5M towards the development of the East Cambridgeshire District Leisure Centre. At its full council meeting in June, East Cambridgeshire District Council agreed to proceed with the new District Leisure Centre project, subject to receiving £1.5M funding from Sport England. Confirmation of lottery award …

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Council leader throws support behind minor injury units

The fight to save minor injuries units at Doddingham, Wisbech and Ely has won the support of the leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, who expressed concerns that public consultations were just a “box ticking exercise”. Councillor James Palmer, who leads ECDC, has backed Northeast Cambridgeshire MP Steve Barclay, who was handed secret documents by …

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Lib Dem councillor slams CCG over handling of minor injury unit plans

“Anodyne”, “bland” and “dreadful” are the words that Liberal Democrat councillor Lorna Dupré has used to describe the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group’s blueprint for health in our area. On her blog, written after the public meeting in Ely to address the future of minor injury units and outpatient services, the county councillor for …

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We should expand local health services, not axe them, Ely Mayor tells public meeting

Rather than slashing services at the Princess of Hospital, we should be looking at boosting them as our city continues to grow, Ely Mayor Ian Lindsay told a packed public meeting yesterday. A former RAF physician, Mr Lindsay said expanding services at the hospital would make more sense than scrapping them, saying that none of …

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"No options have been ruled out" – Lucy Frazer on future of Minor Injuries Unit

No decisions have yet been made about the future of Ely’s minor injuries unit, Southeast MP Lucy Frazer says. Ms Frazer last week attended a meeting set up by East Cambridgeshire District Council cllr Anna Bailey (Conservative, Downham Villages ward) to discuss the threatened units at Ely’s Princess of Wales Hospital as well as at …

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"There was a loud metal bang and then a lot of debris" – passenger describes moment train smashed into car

A passenger on a train involved in a collision with a car at Stretham this afternoon has praised staff for their quick actions following the crash. A man was airlifted to hospital with head injuries following the horrific smash at Nairns Level Crossing, near Stretham, just after 2.30pm. The passenger, who Spotted in Ely has …

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Owner of land used for largest Cambs cannabis factory told to pay back over £400,000

The owner of land used to grow Cambridgeshire’s largest ever cannabis factory has been ordered to pay over £400,000 by a court. Neil Badcock, 48, was convicted of conspiracy to produce cannabis in October 2013 following a trial at Cambridge Crown Court and jailed for seven years. He was arrested following a police raid on …

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Only GPs to issue repeat prescriptions in new cost-cutting scheme

Patients used to ordering repeat prescriptions at their local pharmacy may be in for a surprise: a new scheme due to be rolled out across Cambridgeshire will require GPs rather than chemists to authorise repeat medications. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group says this would cut down on the £7.5 million worth of medicines …

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Two businesses interested in running Ely Post Office

Two businesses have expressed an interest in running Ely Post Office, which is currently being operated by a temporary postmaster. Today a Post Office spokeswoman told Spotted in Ely that the organisation was waiting for the two interested parties to submit formal applications so that it can hopefully move forward with appointing a permanent postmaster. …

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Allow extra time for tractors – and only overtake when it's safe, say police

Think tractor when driving around East Cambridgeshire is the message from police – and only overtake when it is safe to do so. The A142 is particularly congested with agricultural traffic and high sided vehicles at this time of the year. Police are advising drivers to be extra patient and take special care along this …

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The purrrr-fect welcome for Mr Sainsbury's – from Mr Sainsbury's!

Garfield’s “less than prrrrrr-fect” behaviour may have got earned him the equivalent of a cat ASBO from Ely’s Virgin Holiday store – but the new manager of Sainsbury’s was clearly thrilled to be greeted by the famous feline on his first day of the job. A black cat crossing your path may be seen as …

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Cheers! Or should we say "kanpai"! UK's first sake brewery will be in the Fens

East Cambridgeshire is earning itself a reputation for brewing booze. Quality booze, that is. The Fordham Abbey Estate has just been given the green light to set up the UK’s first sake brewery and an application has been submitted to set up a tiny micro brewery in Little Downham. With The Ely Gin Company becoming …

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Take it to the hoop! East Cambs' best basketball players awarded

High achieving (and reaching) basketball players from across the area were recently awarded during the East Cambs Warriors Basketball Club AGM. A number of players were recognised for their contributions to the club and were presented with trophies on July 20. The club’s Facebook page said: “It has been a long and successful season with …

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Garfield's "less than prrrrrfect" behaviour got him banned, say Virgin

Some “less than prrrrrfect” behaviour has got famous feline Garfield banned from Ely’s Virgin Holidays store, a company spokeswoman has confirmed. The Virgin Holidays spokeswoman today told Spotted in Ely: “We can confirm that Mr Sainsbury (aka Garfield) has been asked to leave our Ely store after some less than prrrrrfect behaviour recently. “As one …

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"Our young people deserve a better deal" – new Ely College principal speaks out on fairer funding blow

The new principal of Ely College has spoken out about his dismay at discovering that Cambridgeshire’s schools, which receive some of the lowest investment per pupil in the country, will not be getting fairer funding in 2017. Speaking to Spotted in Ely, Richard Spencer said: “In terms of fair funding, my view is simple: I …

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Ely celebrates its rich cultures at International Friendship Day picnic

Cherry Hill Park took on a carnival atmosphere as people from over 20 nationalities yesterday got together to celebrate International Friendship Day. The informal picnic, organised by Ely mum of two Kate Holmes, was a fun way of bringing together the city’s friendly, diverse community and celebrating its rich cultures. Yesterday marked International Friendship Day …

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Our Minor Injuries Unit – the story so far

Since news first broke yesterday about secret plans to axe minor injuries units in Ely, Doddington and Wisbech, things have been happening fast. Spotted in Ely’s #saveourminorinjuriesunit campaign – to keep the Minor Injuries Unit open at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Ely – has had an overwhelming response from local residents, with numerous …

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Minor Injury Unit closure risk "outrageous" says NE Cambs MP Steve Barclay

It would be “outrageous” to close Minor Injury Units at Ely, Doddington and Wisbech, North East Cambridgeshire MP Steve Barclay has told Spotted in Ely this evening. Mr Barclay said he had decided to publicise a leaked report by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group, recommending the closure of the three units. He has …

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Petition launched to save Minor Injuries Unit

A PETITION has been launched urging health bosses to reconsider secret plans to shut down Ely’s Minor Injuries Unit. As reported here, a leaked document by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) recommends axing the unit, due to financial pressure. Ely woman Emma Watson has launched a petition, calling on CHG petitioning clinical …

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Fury over closure recommendation for Ely's Minor Injuries Unit

Don’t even THINK about axing our Minor Injuries Unit is the message from local residents, following a leaked report recommending its closure. Patients from across East Cambridgeshire have reacted furiously to the news that the popular service at Ely’s Princess of Wales Hospital may be shut down due to a lack of finances. Speaking to …

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Is your Vehicle Secure

​A recent spate of vehicle crime in Ely City has underlined the need for people to check that they are locking their cars. Over the previous two weeks seven vehicles have been entered, and property stolen. Over night between 20th and 21st of July four vehicles were targeted in Cardinals Way, Gateway Gardens, and Broad …

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Hollywood blockbuster Assassin's Creed being filmed in Ely today

Ely Cathedral has been closed to the public today so that its interior can be filmed for Hollywood blockbuster Assassin’s Creed. The grounds immediately by the cathedral have been sealed off and visitors are being offered special deals to visit other tourist attractions, such as Oliver Cromwell’s House. Due for release on December 21, Assassin’s …

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Bad news for Cambs schools – no fairer funding for at least another year

Cambridgeshire’s schools have received some shocking end-of-term news: despite getting some of the lowest investment per pupil in the country, the government has temporarily put the brakes on fairer funding. As students and teachers prepared for the start of the school summer holidays, Education Secretary Justine Greening announced that plans to bring in fairer funding …

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KIDS OUT 2016

On 9 June the Rotary Club of Ely, with support from the Rotary Clubs of Soham and Littleport, took 64 children from Highfields School and 30 helpers and assistants to Wicksteed Park. Three buses from Grey’s of Ely, plus the school’s own minibus, took the excited children on a very sunny day to the Park. …

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