Ely

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 …

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

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 …

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

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 …

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

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, …

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

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 …

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

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 …

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

"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 …

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

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 …

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

"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 …

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

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. …

Two businesses interested in running Ely Post Office Read More »

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 …

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

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 …

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

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 …

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

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 …

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

"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 …

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

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 …

Our Minor Injuries Unit – the story so far Read More »

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 …

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

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 …

Petition launched to save Minor Injuries Unit Read More »

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 …

Fury over closure recommendation for Ely's Minor Injuries Unit Read More »

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 …

Hollywood blockbuster Assassin's Creed being filmed in Ely today Read More »

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 …

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

Get creative, have your art displayed at Kings College – and raise cash for local charities

Get creative with a canvas, get your masterpiece displayed and raise money for local charities in the process. For the first time, the charity art exhibition, organised by Cambridgeshire Timebanking Partnership, has been opened up to entrants across Cambridgeshire. A similar contest has previously run in the south of the county. Entrants of all ages …

Get creative, have your art displayed at Kings College – and raise cash for local charities Read More »

Charity bingo night to raise cash for Angie and Marlene's favourite charity

Two friends who recently raised over £500 in a memorial walk to remember two fellow Tesco employees who tragically died within a day of each other are holding a bingo to raise even more money for their chosen charities. Shirley Hammond and Mel Starling, who both work at Tesco Ely, have organised the charity bingo …

Charity bingo night to raise cash for Angie and Marlene's favourite charity Read More »

Week with Ely Police "the best experience of my life", says Ely College student

An aspiring cop who recently spent a week at Ely Police Station got to help store seized drug equipment, accompany a PCSO on a school visit and show a blind visitor around the station – and almost as importantly, he learned how to make a “perfect cup of tea”! Ely College student William Andrews, 14, …

Week with Ely Police "the best experience of my life", says Ely College student Read More »

Selfless Sophia gets the chop for kids with cancer

Ely’s Little Princess Sophia Isaacs went for the chop last weekend, raising an incredible £765 for kids battling cancer – more than seven times her initial target. When you factor in Just Giving donations, her sponsored haircut has so far raised £882.50 for The Little Princess Trust, a charity supplying real hair wigs to youngsters …

Selfless Sophia gets the chop for kids with cancer Read More »

Wonder Women complete London to Cambridge Ultra Challenge in under 10 hours

Singing and laughing has helped five East Cambridgeshire supermums complete a gruelling 50km trek through the Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire countryside, escaping with just one blister each. Team Wonder Women were among 1000 adventurers walking, jogging or running in the London to Cambridge Ultra Challenge on Saturday to raise money for several good causes. The team …

Wonder Women complete London to Cambridge Ultra Challenge in under 10 hours Read More »

Lantern pupils help make summer fete the best ever

An Ely primary school fundraising for a lifesaving defibrillator is £4000 better off, following its most successful summer fete in history – and its success is largely down to its pupils. Members of Friends of the Lantern School, the Lantern Community School’s fundraising committee, are thrilled by the support their Summer Fete received on June …

Lantern pupils help make summer fete the best ever Read More »

Calling Tigers! Places available at popular pre-school

One of East Cambridgeshire’s top performing pre-schools has rare spaces for the next academic year. Rainbow Pre-School, graded ‘Outstanding’ in all 17 areas after its last Ofsted inspection in January, has places for its Tigers group, aimed at children turning four during the next academic year. Manager Debbie Reed said: “People assume Rainbow’s waiting lists …

Calling Tigers! Places available at popular pre-school Read More »

Heart attack survivor thanks lifesaving crew at emotional reunion

An Ely heart attack surviver has thanked ambulance staff and volunteers for giving him a “second chance” after saving his life six months ago. Father of three Peter Swan had an emotional reunion with his life-savers on Wednesday. Peter, who can’t remember anything from the experience, is “eternally grateful” and January 13 has become his …

Heart attack survivor thanks lifesaving crew at emotional reunion Read More »

Green space closed for summer – Anglia Water says it had no choice about the timing

An Ely mum who lives by a park closed to the public for three months has questioned why Anglia Water has chosen to carry out sewage works during the busy summer period. Work began today to lay a new sewer pipe within the green space between Downham Road and West Fen Road. As reported in …

Green space closed for summer – Anglia Water says it had no choice about the timing Read More »

Fit and fun: Ely mum says Ely bootcamp makes her face each day with a smile

Party animal and fitness fanatic Jenni Homent can’t bear to miss out on socialising or exercising. So when the Ely mum of two discovered a full-on fitness regime that combined both, she was instantly hooked. Since joining JTS – which prides itself on being “the toughest bootcamp in Ely” – back in January, the dedicated …

Fit and fun: Ely mum says Ely bootcamp makes her face each day with a smile Read More »

Children urged to think about plight of refugees in poster contest

Looking for something creative and thought-provoking to do with the kids this half-term? Children across East Cambridgeshire are invited to consider the meanings of the words “home” and “refuge” in a poster competition aimed at increasing awareness and compassion for Syrians escaping war and persecution. The competition, organised by the Ely Refugee Resettlement Campaign, is …

Children urged to think about plight of refugees in poster contest Read More »