King’s Ely Triumphant in Photography Competition for Fifth Year Running

Creativity and passion have resulted in a King’s Ely Sixth Form student snapping her way to victory in a prestigious photography competition. Jessica Harding, 18, has been crowned the International Winner of the ‘2023 ILFORD PHOTO Student Photographer of the Year Competition’, beating hundreds of young photographers from across the world with her poignant black …

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Ben’s Yard: Visit Local British Businesses at New Retail Village

Ben’s Yard is the new dynamic retail village located in Ely (near Cambridge), set to open in Summer 2023. The new go-to destination is halfway between London and Norfolk, making it the perfect stop-over for Londoners heading out of the city. With universal access, Ben’s Yard plays host to retailers including local businesses and great …

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King’s Coronation Poetry Competition Launched for Young People

Young people across East Cambridgeshire are being given the opportunity to write a poem to help celebrate King Charles III’s Coronation. The competition is being run by East Cambridgeshire District Council over the Easter Holidays, with under 18s being asked to compile an illustrated poem entitled “If I were King Charles for the day.” Twenty …

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Council leader ‘Seriously Worried’ about the basic safety of the district’s roads

The poor state of repair and the safety of roads across East Cambridgeshire is being highlighted in a letter from District Council leader Anna Bailey. Writing to Lucy Nethsingha, the Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, which is responsible for highways, Cllr Bailey said she was “seriously worried” about the basic safety and “alarmed” about the …

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Council to invest in new veg-fuelled recycling vehicles

Recycling lorries across East Cambridgeshire could soon be running on vegetable oil. East Cambridgeshire District Council plans to buy 10 new eco-friendly recycling vehicles – which will be converted to run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). HVO generates 90 per cent less carbon than a traditional diesel fuel vehicle helping the Council make significant savings …

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Council Celebrates the Planting of 28 New Community Orchards

East Cambridgeshire now has 28 new orchards thanks to a district council initiative to give away free trees to community groups. Churchyards, schools and public open spaces are just some of the many areas across East Cambridgeshire to receive a share of approximately 300 native fruit trees made available under the East Cambridgeshire District Council’s …

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Register to Vote Now to Have Your Say in District Elections

Anyone who has not yet registered to vote is being encouraged to do so now in time for the district council elections on 4th May. East Cambridgeshire District Council is writing to more than 1300 people it believes are eligible to vote but have not registered. John Hill, Electoral Registration Officer at East Cambridgeshire District …

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District Council to Install Energy-Saving Solar Panels on E-Space North

East Cambridgeshire District Council is funding a £50,000 project to add solar panels to the roof of E-Space North in Littleport – helping save up to 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. It is anticipated the panels could provide around 60 per cent of the power needs for the business hub, which supports start-ups, …

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Extra services added on some Greater Anglia routes on Thursday 16th March

Greater Anglia can confirm that it will now be able to operate some later trains than originally planned on some routes during this Thursday’s industrial action. The additional details for Thursday 16th March are as follows: Please note that on the other Greater Anglia routes which have some services operating on Thursday all trains will …

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Homeowners Asked to Help out Ukrainians on One Year Anniversary

East Cambridgeshire District Council is launching a renewed appeal for homeowners to help support people from Ukraine on the first year anniversary of the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. Since it was launched on 14th March 2022 extraordinary people from across our district have helped support more than 183 men, women and children from Ukraine fleeing …

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Industrial Action to Affect Greater Anglia Services on 16/18/30 March and 1 April

Rail passengers in East Anglia are advised to check before they travel on 16th, 18th, 30th March and 1st April when strike action will affect Greater Anglia services. On 16th March there will be a reduced service operating on a limited number of routes between 07.00 and 19.00, with all last trains reaching their destination …

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Council continues support for Sutton residents following announcement of GP closure

East Cambridgeshire District Council is continuing to push for support for Sutton residents following the announcement of the closure of the GP practice. The Council, along with many local residents, is concerned about the impact closing the GP facility in Sutton will have on the local community. This week it has been working with partners, …

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Soham Carnival – 70th Anniversary Great Family Fun Day

The Soham Benevolent association, organisers of Soham Carnival, are looking forward to bringing you their 70th Great Family Fun Day on Sunday 30th April 2023 at the Recreation Ground in Soham. From 9am until 1pm in the main arena is the renowned heavy horse show. The parade of floats commences from 1.00pm from Holmes lane in …

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Record Amount Raised for Charity by Ely Fireworks Team

On Saturday 5th November 2022, at Cherry Hill Park, Ely, a crowd of several thousand experienced an annual firework display later described by people as “amazing” “excellent” and, for one individual, one which London on New Year’s Eve could learn a thing or two from. Organisers Ely Community Events Team (ECET) were hugely grateful to …

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Downham Feoffees Primary Academy – Celebrates World Book Day

World Book Day was a big success at Downham Feoffees Primary Academy (DFPA) yesterday and this special event saw a huge range of wonderful costumes from the children’s favourite books.  From Reception to Year 6, the school (which is part of Meridian Trust) had Matildas, Dumbledores, Christmasauruses and everything in between! The children delighted in …

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Older People Encouraged to Plan Now for May Elections

Older people in the district are being encouraged to start thinking now about voting in the local elections this May. This year, for the first time, residents will need to show identification when casting their votes. This can include passports, driving licenses, disabled badges and bus passes. But it is widely recognised many pensioners, especially …

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Giant 3D Wetland Mural to Visit Ely Cathedral on UK Tour

A 20ft long interactive wetland mural will visit Ely Cathedral this weekend (Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th March) during its tour of the UK. Commissioned by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) and originally unveiled in Bristol on 2nd February 2023, the mural highlights this year’s World Wetland Day theme of wetland restoration. Members of …

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Ely Swimmers Show that Competitive Swimming is Not Just for Children

Not to be outdone by the success of the youngsters in the recent County Championships, the Masters squad of City of Ely Swimming Club competed at the West Suffolk Masters Swimming meet at Bury St Edmunds on Sunday 26th February 2023. Top performer for Ely was Barry Schultz with 6 gold medals in the men’s …

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Sternberg Charitable Foundation Active Life Award 2023

On Thursday 9th February Margaret Clark attended an event at 11 Downing Street, London jointly organized by The Times and the Sternberg Charitable Foundation Active Life Award.   Margaret was recognized as one of 5 runners up for this prestigious award as she volunteers at VCAEC for the social car scheme, and has done since 1999.   …

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Electronic Vehicle Charging Points in Council Car Parks

East Cambridgeshire District Council will be installing 24 electric vehicle charging points across its district car parks from today (Tuesday 28th February). The 7kW chargepoint units will be located at Barton Road Car Park and Newnham Street Car Park in Ely and Clay Street Car Park in Soham. The council successfully applied to the Office …

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Council Pledges Support for Residents Following the Announcement of the Closure of the GP Surgery in Sutton

East Cambridgeshire District Council is urgently looking into the announced closure of the GP practice at Priors Field on 31st March 2023.  We understand this is due to the current GPs retiring and the practice being unable to find new doctors who want to take on the surgery. While we expect to be formally notified …

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Greater Anglia joins Samaritans to remind public that small talk can be lifesaving

Greater Anglia has joined Samaritans to remind the public that we all have the potential to be lifesavers by simply striking up a conversation, as part of the charity’s latest Small Talk Saves Lives campaign. Samaritans are relaunching their Small Talk Saves Lives campaign today to empower the public to trust their instincts and start a conversation if they …

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What’s The Story

Well, quite a lot if February’s meeting was anything to go by! With a(n almost!) full house, welcoming more new members, Ely City WI has certainly been busy…. and we are only two months into 2023! Not only have members been actively contributing to raising awareness on the effects of climate change by showcasing crafted …

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Style and Comfort at Gravel Farm Self-Catering Cottages

Gravel Farm Cottages comprise four stylish and luxurious self-catering properties located on a family-farm near Stretham, just five miles south of the beautiful Cathedral City of Ely in Cambridgeshire. Close to local amenities, yet delightfully rural and secluded, it is perfect for holidays, business travel, family and friend celebration weekends and mini-breaks. Dog, wheelchair and …

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District Council secures three Changing Places toilets

Ely, Littleport and Soham are each to get a fully accessible Changing Places toilet after East Cambridgeshire District Council put in a successful bid for Government funds. The disabled toilets are special because they contain a hoist and a changing bench enabling people who need personal assistance to use the toilets or get changed without …

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City of Ely Amateur Swimming Club Excels at Cambridgeshire County Championships 2023

Over two weekends in January and February the counties’ top swimmers gathered in Cambridge to compete at the 2023 Cambridgeshire County Championships. Twenty one swimmers achieved the qualifying times and competed in the individual events, where City of Ely ASC finished 3rd out of all the clubs in Cambridgeshire. The swimmers achieved excellent results with exceptional performances …

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Cathedral Celebrates 1350 Years of Ely’s Foundation

2023 marks 1350 years since the foundation of Ely and the Cathedral and city will be celebrating this significant anniversary with a year long programme of events, exhibitions, creative storytelling, art, music and worship across the city.  The Cathedral have recently unveiled a visual interpretation around the life of Etheldreda, highlighting the four key stages …

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Hideout with the experts to experience winter wildlife this February half term at Welney Wetland Centre

Families can discover the UK’s greatest winter wildlife like never before this February half-term by joining WWT  Welney’s The Big Hideout. This half term the bird hides have become hideouts with activities available to take part in and the enthusiastic team at Welney on hand to help you discover the joy of birdwatching.  All the family can …

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Council approves £95,000 High Street Renewal Fund to help improve Littleport and Soham

Landlords, property owners, businesses and community groups in Littleport and Soham are being given the opportunity to apply for up to £20,000 worth of funding to improve the front of buildings or the general appearance of the town centres. Examples of projects that will be considered include minor structural or aesthetic repairs to frontages, new …

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King’s Ely musician awarded Scholarship at reputable London Conservatoire

A talented King’s Ely student has secured a place at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Lauren Peck, who is in Year 13 at King’s Ely Sixth Form, has been awarded a Scholarship to study BMus (Hons) – Classical Saxophone at the London conservatoire in September 2023. She also received offers of a …

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Local BBC Radio to Recognise and Celebrate Everyday Acts of Kindness with Make A Difference Awards 2023

Nominate local heroes in your community now  BBC Local Radio is once again honouring your great neighbours, super carers, and awesome volunteers for everyday acts of kindness where they live. For this year’s ‘Make A Difference Awards’ every local BBC radio station across England needs your help to find these remarkable individuals. We want to …

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Killer performances from Ely College students who blow the roof off their ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ whole-school musical

The new January term saw Ely College students take to the stage in their version of the B-moviesque dark comedy ‘The Little Shop of Horrors’. With audiences laughing and applauding the energised and talented company, these students laid on an impressive array of musical delights with familiar hits like ‘Somewhere That’s Green’ and ‘Feed Me …

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Grants Still Available to Local Organisations

Applications are invited from local, voluntary and charitable organisations that provide a service which benefits the parishioners of the City of Ely. This includes Ely and the villages of Prickwillow, Stuntney, Chettisham, Queen Adelaide and Shippea Hill. The Council has a small budget which is allocated to grants each year. It is still encouraging applications …

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Community groups encouraged to apply for grants up to £1000

Community groups are being urged to apply for grants of up to £1000 being offered by East Cambridgeshire District Council. The money can be spent on new or existing projects designed to improve the quality of life for residents. Cambridgeshire-based charity Blue Smile was recently successful in applying for a £1000 grant to help support …

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Spring Programme of Talks and Workshops Announced

Find out what’s happening at Ely Museum this spring Countless resolutions are made to kick off each new year, as we promise ourselves we’ll learn or try something new. At Ely Museum this spring, there are lots of opportunities to do just that! With a programme of evening talks and craft workshops, ideal for beginners …

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101 Year-old Celebrates Birthday With Help of Local Schoolchildren

A choir of primary schoolchildren has helped an Ely care home resident celebrate her 101st birthday, presenting her with handmade cards and singing Happy Birthday. Lily Hale, who has lived at Lily House care home in Ely for six years, was joined by pupils from Isle of Ely Primary School and family members to celebrate the …

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Industrial Action Affecting Greater Anglia Train Services on 1st and 3rd February

Passengers are being advised to avoid travelling with Greater Anglia, and to check before they do travel, if they do need to make a rail journey on 1st and 3rd February, when strike action will affect train services. Members of the train drivers’ union ASLEF and train drivers who are members of the RMT union, …

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Council achieves Bronze Investors in the Environment accreditation

East Cambridgeshire District Council has achieved bronze accreditation of the Investors in the Environment scheme within a year of signing up. The Council signed up to the scheme as part of its commitment to reduce the carbon footprint at its main head office in Ely, known as The Grange. To help achieve its goal it …

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Ely College secures £2960 ‘Love Rowing’ grant to build on their successful ‘Chance to Row’ programme.

In partnership with the Isle of Ely Rowing Club (IOERC), Ely College is pleased to announce that it has been successful in securing just under three thousand pounds of funding to continue and extend the reach of its successful rowing programmes. Building on the successes of the last three years which has seen over 250 …

Ely College secures £2960 ‘Love Rowing’ grant to build on their successful ‘Chance to Row’ programme. Read More »

Cambridgeshire to accept upholstered seating waste from Saturday

All nine household waste recycling centres in Cambridgeshire will accept upholstered household seating again from Saturday 7th January, the County Council has confirmed The council has apologised to residents affected by last week’s sudden temporary restriction on accepting upholstered seating while it worked at pace with its partners on a safe disposal method. An interim …

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Residents told items such as sofas and armchairs cannot be taken to Household Waste Recycling Centres in Cambridgeshire from 1st January

With effect from 1st January items such as upholstered sofas, upholstered chairs, cushions and beanbags will no longer be accepted at Cambridgeshire County Council-owned household waste and recycling centres, such as the one at Witchford. This is due to enforcement action now being taken by the Environment Agency from 1st January. As a result, also …

Residents told items such as sofas and armchairs cannot be taken to Household Waste Recycling Centres in Cambridgeshire from 1st January Read More »

Industrial action affecting Greater Anglia train services on 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 January

Passengers are being advised to avoid travelling with Greater Anglia and to check before they do travel, if they do need to make a rail journey, on a series of days affected by strike action next week, from 3rd to 7th January inclusive. Members of the RMT union members, including Greater Anglia’s conductors, train cleaners …

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‘Santa’s Toy Bank’ will be back for Christmas 2023 vows Peter

Ely’s “overwhelming” response to ‘Santa’s Toy Bank’ has convinced the man who came up with the idea that it should be repeated next Christmas. Peter Harris praised the support of individuals, church donors, shops, businesses and organisations and said he was deeply moved by the reaction of the families in need who came to the …

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Good Vibes Local – Great Little Giveaway Donates Funds to Local Organisations

Christmas came early to eleven local organisations last week, when Good Vibes Local (GVL), the Trustees responsible for managing Spotted in Ely and Ely Radio, chose the recipients of their Great Little Giveaway.  Back in November, GVL promoted its Giveaway of £100 to ten different organisations that met its criteria.  Applications were accepted throughout November …

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James goes for Gold

On Thursday – our last parade night of 2022- Flight Sergeant James Munday was presented with his Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award badge. James first joined the Squadron in October 2017 and has taken every opportunity available to him fully engaging across the whole breadth of the cadet experience. Since joining, James threw himself into …

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Councillors voice concerns on Making Connections consultation

Councillors have agreed not to support proposals to introduce congestion charging in Cambridge during an extraordinary meeting on Thursday (15th December). The meeting was held to decide the Council’s response to the Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership’s (GCP) Making Connections 2022 Consultation. While the Council supports the GCP’s aim of making public transport, cycling and walking the …

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Everything you need to know about travelling with Greater Anglia this Christmas and New Year

Greater Anglia is reminding rail passengers to check before they travel if they are making journeys by rail this Christmas – so they’re not caught out by earlier last trains, engineering works or strikes. The general arrangements for Greater Anglia train services are as follows :  In the run up to Christmas, a normal timetable …

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Ely Museum is Selected as a Regional Finalist for a Civic Trust Awards

Ely Museum has been selected as a Regional Finalist for both the 2023 Civic Trust Awards and the Selwyn Goldsmith Awards for Universal Design.  A huge congratulations to architects, HAT Projects. Hana Loftus from HAT Projects said; “The Civic Trust Awards are rigorously judged through in-person visits, and set a high bar for projects that genuinely contribute …

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17,000 students join ‘Captain Carbon’s’ mission to reduce energy waste across their schools

Thousands of students across Meridian Trust’s schools in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Lincolnshire have signed up to ‘Captain Carbon’s’ mission to battle against energy waste – helping their schools to become greener. Almost 30% of all energy used in the UK is wasted, so the Trust has launched the imaginative campaign to encourage its schools, staff, …

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Biodiversity in East Cambs to increase with each new development site

Biodiversity should increase with each new development that takes place in East Cambridgeshire, after councillors agreed a new working document to help double land for nature. As part of its plan to reverse the decline in the natural environment, the Council is requiring developers to demonstrate how the overall level of biodiversity at each development …

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Soham Station Thriving One Year After Opening

Almost 50,000 journeys have started or finished from Soham station in the first year since its opening, Greater Anglia’s figures reveal. The new station, on the Ipswich to Peterborough line, was built to give residents and local businesses of the east Cambridgeshire town better connections to the wider area and saw passenger services restart for …

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East Cambridgeshire District Council proud to become White Ribbon Accredited

East Cambridgeshire District Council has become officially committed to working to end men’s violence against women by becoming White Ribbon Accredited. As an accredited organisation, the Council is developing and delivering a comprehensive action plan to change the cultures that lead to abuse and violence and promote gender equality.  Some of the actions that will …

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East Cambridgeshire District Council Improves the Property-Buying Process

From the 5th December, buying a property in East Cambridgeshire has become quicker and simpler for everyone. As part of our digital transformation, East Cambridgeshire District Council has worked with HM Land Registry to transfer its local land charges (LLC) service to the national digital register. The LLC Register allows users to search information online instantly, enabling …

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Project Complete: Last Two Properties Let at Ovins Rise, Haddenham

Haddenham Community Land Trust formed in June 2016, and on 1st December 2022, they finally handed the keys to their last two properties over to tenants. Initially, completion was planned for 2021 but was delayed due to COVID and building materials shortages. HCLT now owns 17 rental properties and have 2 further properties under shared …

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Businesses Warned to be Extra Vigilant Following Thefts of Air Conditioning Units

Businesses across East Cambridgeshire are warned to be extra vigilant following a spate of thefts of air conditioning units. Over the last week air conditioning units have been stolen in five separate incidents from Bartholomew’s Walk in Ely, costing local businesses in excess of £60,000. Police have been notified and are increasing the number of …

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The Lantern Community Primary School Celebrate
‘Good’ Ofsted Report

An Ofsted inspection of The Lantern Community Primary School found that it continues to be a ‘Good’ school. The school, part of Meridian Trust, was inspected by Ofsted on 5th and 6th October 2022 and inspectors found there has been no change to the school’s overall judgement as ‘Good’ – a rating it has had …

The Lantern Community Primary School Celebrate
‘Good’ Ofsted Report
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