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News from before July 1997

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[index] Over 600 must hand over guns - (26/6/97)

620 people in Cambridgeshire will have to give up their combined arsenal of 1,790 hand guns due to a new Government ban on ownership.

Cambridgeshire police have already made arrangements to deal with high calibre weapons. Arrangements for less powerful weapons will be made when the legislation comes into effect.

The weapons must be taken to police headquarters in person by the license holder in order for compensation to be payable.

- based on information published in the 'Cambridge Evening News' of 25th June 1997

[index] Ely rail prices reduction on some routes - (26/6/97)

According to last Tuesday's 'Cambridge Evening News' some off-peak rail fares to Peterborough and Norwich from Ely have been cut.

It will be possible, for instance, to purchase an evening return ticket to Peterborough for about Ł3 .

The new fares, due to come into effect in the Autumn, were arranged after talks between district councillor Donald Adey and the rail operator 'Central Trains' at a Norfolk Rail Policy Group meeting.

[index] Excellence at Soham St. Andrew's School - (26/6/97)

St. Andrew's School in Soham has been awarded high marks by the Office of Stantards in Education (OFSTED) for the behaviour of its pupils and achievement in National Curriculum tests.

- based on information published in the 'Cambridge Evening News' of 24th June 1997

[index] Mildenhall aircraft in service in the African Republic of Congo - (26/6/97)

A Special Operations MC-130H Hercules transport plane from Mildenhall USAF base is reported to have evacuated 56 people and a dog from war torn Brazzaville in the African Republic of Congo and taken them to Libreville in Gabon. 30 of the evacuees were American citizens.

- based on information published in the 'Cambridge Evening News' of 20th June 1997

[index] Council diverts money to education - (26/6/97)

The ruling Conservative group on the county council has promised up to Ł800,000 to be spent on Education in a bid to try and save up to 90 jobs. Ł300,000 of this money will be taken off the Social Services budget in a move justified by the claim that money allocated for extra Social Services staff will no longer be needed.

- based on information published in the 'Cambridge Evening News' of 20th June 1997

[index] Whitemoor prison commended - (26/6/97)

The Whitemoor prison in March has been given a glowing report by inspectors

The prison made notorious in 1994 by the escape of IRA prisoners is said to have achieved a "wholesale change to its culture" and to have become "unrecognisable" with respect to how it was at the time of the break-out. However, the report says there was still a problem of bullying amongst the prisoners and that too many of the inmates (of whom 155 are serving life sentences) are "psychiatrically disturbed" and would be better treated in hospital.

- based on information published in the 'Cambridge Evening News' of 19th June 1997

[index] Council sky-rockets price of bus passes - (19/6/97)

Conservative county councillors last week succeded in raising the price of concessionary bus passes by 80 per cent in spite of wide spread opposition.

- based on information published in the Cambridge Evening News of 13th June 1997

[index] Energy Group 'probably' going to be taken over - (19/6/97)

Last Thursday's 'Cambridge Evening News' reported that Energy Group which owns the Eastern Group power company is likely to be taken over by the American company PacifiCorp.

Energy Group is thought to be resisting the takeover bid thought to be in the region of Ł3.6 billion

- see also archived 'Eastern Group' news

[index] Newmarket short of fire fighters - (19/6/97)

A fire brigade Assistant Divisional Officer has warned that lives could be in danger unless retained fire fighters can be recruited to fill vacancies.

- Information about becoming a retained fire fighter is available on 01638 663298.

[index] Foster parents needed in Ely - (19/6/97)

The Cambridgeshire County Council's Homefinders Service has started a campaign to find 50 foster and adoptive families. The service is particularly keen to find placements for children in the Cambridge and Ely areas.

- based on information published in the 'Cambridge Evening News' of 12th June 1997.

[index] Cycle route plans - (19/6/97)

A cycle route passing across Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Lincolnshire going through Peterborough, March, Wisbech and Littleport has been proposed by 'Sustrans' a national cycling charity. Funding for the scheme is being sought from the Government and it is hoped that the European Union will also part of the funding.

It is also hoped that the old Cambridge - St Ives railway line can be converted int o a cycle path.

- based on information published in the 'Cambridge Evening News' of 17th June 1997.

- see archive story 'Cycle Paths Wanted'.

[index] Ely's Ł90,000 renovation scheme receives lottery backing - (19/6/97)

The planned Ł90,000 improvements at Palace Green and Steeplegate in Ely has been payed for in part by Ł25,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The remaining Ł65,000 has been allocated from a Ł625,000 three year conservation budget by East Cambridgeshire District Council.

- see Ł90,000 to be spent on cosmetic work in cathedral area - (12/6/97)

[index] Soham school to appeal to businesses for money for facilities - (12/6/97)

Weatharalls County Primary School in Soham has unveiled plans to buy new facilities including an improved library, an IT area and a kitchen suitable for teaching children food technology studies.

The headteacher has said that the school has raised Ł4,000 already and will be raising an appeal which will involve fund raising events and asking businesses if they can help in any way to raise the Ł50,000 needed.

- based on information published in the Cambridge Evening News of 10th June '97.

[index] Ł90,000 to be spent on cosmetic work in cathedral area - (12/6/97)

A Ł90,000 scheme to improve the look of 'unsightly' areas of Ely has been agreed by the East Cambridgeshire District Council Resources Committee. The money will be spent on improving the look of lighting and pathways in the Steeplegate and Palace Green areas near the cathedral.

Ł25,000 of the money will be supplied by the Heritage-Lottery Fund on condition that a detailed plan is drawn up by September 30th.

-based on information published in the 'Cambridge Evening News' of 9th June '97.

[index] Bus pass price hike - to pay for waste services - (12/6/97)

The county council's Environment and Transport Committee will decide today whether or not to follow advice it has been given to nearly double the price of concessionary pass passes in order to make up Ł110,000 needed to cover an unexpected rise in the cost of household waste disposal.

It has been proposed that the cost of the bus passes used by disabled people and pensioners should be raised from Ł6 to Ł11 a year.

- based on information published in the Cambridge Evening News of 9th June '97.

[index] Oxford-Cambridge rail link talks - (12/6/97)

Plans to open a rail link between Oxford and Cambridge are being investigated by Railtrack. It would be part of a larger East-West rail link costing between Ł98 and Ł172 million.

The link would not use the same route as the previous line between the two cities closed down in 1968.

- based on information published in the 'Cambridge Evening News' of 5th June, 1997.

- see archived story - Discussions of the Future for the Region's Rail Network - (1/6/95)

[index] County council seeks Ł14 million for road schemes - (12/6/97)

The authority of 'New Cambridgeshire' which will be created when Peterborough splits away from the county next April has applied for Ł14 million from the Government for major road schemes. Ł3.64 million of this money has been allocated for work in Cambridge which includes schemes to increase vehicle occupancy and improve air quality and energy efficiency.

- based on information published in the Cambridge Evening News of 10th June '97.

[index] Solution for Ely's nightmare low bridge? - (12/6/97)

Railtrack and the county council have joined forces to implement a scheme to try and prevent large vehicles crashing into Ely's notorious railway bridge over the A142. The proposals consist mainly of the plan to build traffic islands on each approach to narrow the road. The idea is that larger vehicles will then be forced to turn off the A 142 and take the level crossing road.

The route under the bridge re-opened yesterday after having closed on 19th May when the bridge was struck by a lorry causing structural repairs costing Ł30,000 to have to be made

- based on information published in 'The Cambridge Evening News' of 11th June '97.

[index] Microsoft research campus planned for Cambridge - (3/6/97)

At the weekend the 'Daily Telegraph' news paper announced that Bill Gates is planning to build a multi-million pound research campus in Cambridge.

A secret deal was apparently struck between Microsoft executives and Cambridge University academics including Lucasian professor of mathematics, Stephen Hawking. Two sites on the West side of the city have been earmarked as possible locations for the campus. However, planning permission for any such project has not been applied for yet.

- based on information published in 'The Guardian' of 31st May '97.

[index] Early hedgehog baby at Cares - (3/6/97)

Last week animal rescuers at the Haddenham Cares centre were surprised when they were presented with a two week old hedgehog. The animal rescue workers said that hedgehogs are usually born in June.

5 cm. long Harriet the Hedgehog was found in a garden in Soham and taken to Cares when no sign of her parents or a nest could be found.

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