News from Great Paxton St Neots

A man was taken to hospital after a falling shop sign hit him in St Neots town centre.

The man was hit by the Clinton sign from the card shop along the High Street at around midday as he walked down the path with a woman.

An eyewitness, who was working in the British Heart Foundation charity shop opposite when the incident happened, said as the sign fell it also smashed the shop window, which has since been replaced.

He added: "After I heard the crash, I came downstairs and I saw a man with a bleeding head go inside the shop. Another man rang for an ambulance.

"As soon as it happened they put ladders around the sign to keep people away from it. I don't know if they closed the shop, I couldn't tell."

.
Ladies Night - Friday 11th July 2008

An evening of pampering to raise money for Great Paxton Pre School. More events...

Businesses based near the site of a new recycling centre in St Neots have expressed concerns about the impact of increased traffic on the busy commercial area.

Companies in and around Cromwell Road have revealed their concerns to Cambridgeshire County Council during a meeting with council officers.
The area is well used by lorries turning in and out of business sites and this could cause problems once the new recycling centre is up and running by the late summer of 2009.

The present recycling tip in Huntingdon Street will close down next year, with operations being transferred to the redesigned and revamped former Collins and Aikman building in Marston Road, just off Cromwell Road.

The issue was discussed during a meeting between the St Neots Town Centre Initiative's (TCI) Manufacturing Club – which represents companies in the area – and members of the county council's waste management team.

The council officials sought to reassure the TCI that the authority would take on board concerns about the new set-up, including fears that a bottleneck of traffic will be created as people drive in and out of the new centre.

Chairman of the TCI John Davies, who organised and chaired the meeting, said it had been very positive and it had allowed members of the manufacturing group to set out their concerns.

The county council's communication manager for the waste team Simon Lacey said the authority was keen to speak to the business representatives and listen to what they have to say prior to the start of any planning process.

Mr Lacey said: "What we have is a three-acre site. One acre will be for waste operations in the existing building with another acre allowing us to manage traffic on site and not on the road.
"The entrance to the site will be much further down Marston Road than is the case now."

The council official pointed out that hauliers had started to park in the road on the opposite side of the site to be developed.

Mr Lacey added: "Our relationship with local businesses is critical and we are working with them as closely as possible. The site is being designed to manage as much traffic off road as possible and, if necessary, we will be doing some work to see if any speed and parking restrictions are needed."

Plans for the site were submitted to the county council's planners with the 'plan base' being sent to the district council. There will be a formal consultation period of approximately six weeks before the proposal goes before the county council's development control panel which, after examining any feedback, will make the final decision.

Website sponsored by:
>

Airport style security for St Neots club.
Source: Hunts Post July 08

THE fight against late-night crime was to the streets of St Neots as police set up airport style metal detectors and used sniffer dogs to search pub goers.

The operation was the first of its kind in the town for more than 10 years and was aimed at tackling the nationwide problems of knife crime and drug use.

Officers set up a scanning arch at the entrance to the Priory bar in Market Square, with partygoers also facing sniffer dogs on the door.

More than 700 people passed through the police searches between 9pm and 1am in the operation that involved 24 officers working with CCTV operators and pub door staff to catch people trying to avoid the searches. SEARCHED: Door staff and security keep a watchful eye as customers file through the mobile metal detector at the Priory in St Neots.

Fifteen were caught out by sniffer dogs and one person was arrested for possession of Class A drugs and another cautioned for possession of a 'bladed article'.

Sgt Rachel Gourlay and Pc Neil English, of the St Neots and District Neighbourhood Policing Team, led the operation and said it had been a success.

"This operation has gone some way in deterring people from carrying offensive weapons and offered public reassurance in relation to the growing concern over knife crime," said Sgt Gourlay. "We are happy with the response we received from the public and will be looking at running it again."

She added: "Last year the drugs issue in the town was highlighted with a series of high profile arrests and we do not want to let it get to that stage again. St Neots is a safe place to live but like any other town it does suffer from drugs and we are here to stamp that out." ON THE SCENT: Police dog Jasper sniffs for drugs.

Priory manager Mark Kretay said he supported the police operation, despite it having an impact on trade.

"It might be a bit quieter [on Friday] but if it shows people that we will not tolerate drugs then it's worth it," he said. "We do not get much trouble here but we want to make it clear that drugs and weapons will not be tolerated inside the Priory."

In addition to the searches, police walked around the town centre visiting pubs and breathalysing drivers on the Market Square and High Street.

The operation was a direct response to concerns from residents about late night disorder in Market Square and South Street. The problems were highlighted at a meeting of the St Neots and District Neighbourhood Policing panel meeting.

Pc English said the success of Friday's operation means metal detectors and sniffer dogs could become a regular sight in the town centre: "We did this to be seen and to show the public that we are directly responding to their concerns. This is the first time an operation of this kind has taken place in St Neots in the 11 years I have worked here. We will hopefully be able to do this every other month and could even try it covert. We are responding to what the public want and a highly visible operation such as this will act as a deterrent to those who are tempted to break the law in St Neots.

St Neots Dentist's plan to expand surgery
Source: Cambridge News July 08

A £500,000 investment could see nearly 10,000 extra NHS dentist places become available in St Neots.

Priory Park Dental Surgery, in Almond Road, has submitted a planning application to Huntingdonshire District Council to move to larger premises at 29-31 New Street.

The move would mean the practice could open five suites at the new premises.

Gawain King, who co-owns the surgery with Jaco Craig, said: "There is a lot of expansion going on in St Neots at the moment with about 4,000 new homes planned for the region. If these come to fruition we would be able to expand our services.

"At the moment in St Neots we have two surgeries, running eight until eight every day in Almond Road. We have no space at all, so that's why we want to expand."

He added: "I'd like to think that it would be very good news for St Neots and the community.

"We are wholeheartedly committed to the NHS."
Mr King stressed that the plans for the move were still very much in their early days and that it all depended on whether or not the Primary Care Trust (PCT) deemed there was a need for such an expansion in the town.

Mr King said: "We have in the region of about 9,000 or 10,000 patients on our books at the moment.

"We're still accepting new patients so there are still spaces for NHS patients. When we reach capacity we want to expand our services."

If the plans are accepted, the new surgery could open early next year.

Jeremy Wallman, Cambridgeshire PCT lead for dentistry, said: "We are aware that the Priory Park Dental Practice is seeking to move to different premises in St Neots that will provide more space and better access for patients."

The surgery is one of the largest in Cambridgeshire in terms of provision of NHS dental treatment and currently has sufficient capacity to continue to accept new patients.

"Overall, access to NHS dental services in the St Neots area is good.

"The PCT will continue to review levels of access on a county-wide basis including taking into account population growth."

A decision on the planning application is due to be made by Huntingdonshire District Council by August 8.

To view the planning application in full visit www.huntsdc.gov.uk and search for planning application 0801637.

Good homes needed for abandoned cats.
Source: June 2008

Many may remember the story earlier this year regarding the elderly gentleman with over 60 cats who called in St Neots & District Cats Protection to assist him as he was no longer able to cope.

Whilst the work has been ongoing and over 20 of the cats have been re-located or re-homed, the situation has taken a dramatic turn with the unexpected death of the owner. The branch has now been given only 2 months to remove the remaining 40 cats from the property before the estate is settled and the buildings demolished.

Dawn Cooke for St Neots & District Cats Protection said, "Our branch works tirelessly to re-home approximately 120 cats per year. To be given a deadline of only 2 months to find owners for nearly of third of our annual figure leaves us in an almost impossible position particularly in the holiday season. Unless homes are found for these animals, the property owners may have no choice but to have the cats put to sleep. Our pens are full with cats already on a waiting list to come in. We desparately need homes for adult cats and in some cases homes for more than one cat. Please contact us as soon as possible if you are able to offer a safe and loving home for any of these cats. There are many garden/farm/working cats at the property which will need re-locating, so if you have large grounds, a small holding, farm, nursery or factory where we can place these animals, we will provide an outdoor shelter and regular food - subject to availability of donated supplies. These animals provide a beautiful and natural pest control service so if you can help please contact us urgently"

The numbers to call are - 01480 476696, 07900 257061 or 07966 282005. Please leave a message if there is no reply - we will call you back

Burglary and fuel thefts in St Neots area.
Source: Hunts Post/Local source - June 2008

Homes in St Neots have been broken into and fuel is being stolen from vehicles.

Great Paxton is among the places listed below, having suffered, two buglaries in th the last 3 weeks. Residents are advised to be vigiliant. A white van is suspected of being involved in the buglaries. If you see an unknown van driving slowly or parked in the neighbourhood, take down the registration and inform the police.

All homeowners are being urged to review their security following the 47 burglaries in the surrounding villages since March 1. Police said the majority of homes - 30 of them - had been broken into by burglars who forced open either patio doors or a rear window. While officers has stressed there is no need for residents to worry, they have asked the public for any information that will help them catch the culprits.

Out of the 47 break-ins, 14 took place in Eynesbury, 12 in St Neots, eight in Eaton Socon, three in Little Paxton, two in Great Paxton and eight in the surrounding villages such as Buckden, Kimbolton, Southoe, Offord Cluny and Tilbrook. Roads targeted include Prince Close in Eaton Socon, Potton Road in St Neots, Navigation Walk in Eynesbury, Skipper Way in Little Paxton and High Street, Great Paxton.

Thieves struck twice in Duloe Brook, Eaton Socon, Eayre Court, St Neots, Cumberland Way, Eynesbury, Hampdon Way, Eynesbury and three times in Andrew Way, Eynesbury. Items taken include a passports, ID cards, prescription drugs, credit cards, clothes, cash, CDs, games consoles, digital cameras, DVD players, jewellery, televisions and mobile phones.

Furthmore, average diesel prices across the UK have hit an all-time high of £6 per gallon and have sparked a wave of thefts. Thieves are targeting lorry drivers and companies as fuel prices rocket. Cambridgeshire police are advising truckers and businesses which store fuel to be vigilant after seven thefts in two weeks. Between 80 and 400 litres have been stolen in each case. Incidents occurring throughout Cambridgeshire in the last two weeks have included theft of £1,300 worth of diesel from an articulated lorry parked in Alpha Drive, Eaton Socon, more than 400 litres of red diesel stolen from building machinery in Block Fen, Mepal, and £400 worth of petrol siphoned from a white Scania lorry in March.

"Lorry drivers and companies who store fuel on their premises need to be aware these offences are taking place and we would advise them to be extra vigilant."There are a number of anti-theft/siphoning devices available on the market which may be worth considering. Always lock your vehicle fuel caps and, if possible, park vehicles 'fuel tank to fuel tank' which should limit access. Where possible try to limit the diesel left in a vehicle overnight. Hauliers are also being advised to consider using fuel dyes, which act as a deterrent and allow the police to link petrol and diesel back to the premises or vehicle it was stolen from. The offenders are not opportunist thieves. They know where to look and have the right equipment. An HGV holds in the region of 1,000 litres of diesel so theft of this kind can be very costly to victims," said the community engagement and crime reduction manager.

David Webb, of Longstanton-based hauliers G Webb, said: "When fuel is stolen it is a huge cost to replace - 300 litres would cost £330 without VAT at current prices. All our lorries have welded guards clamped over the fuel filler, but the problems are now widespread with gangs even attacking lorries with drivers asleep in the cab - it's quite frightening. High fuel prices are obviously one of the reasons for the increase. It has been going on for the last four of five years as prices have grown steadily each year, but now it's a very lucrative market for thieves, I would imagine."

Commenting on the effect high fuel prices have had on motorists, Edmund King, president of the AA, said: "The £6 gallon would have been an unrealistic nightmare to motorists only one year ago, yet today (Thursday, 26 June) it is a reality. Two thirds of motorists have already cut back on their journeys and many are slowing down to conserve fuel."

The community engagement and crime reduction manager, said residents should take some simple steps to help reduce the risk of being burgled. She said: "Ensure that windows and doors are closed and locked at all times even when the house is occupied. "You can fit locks and window alarms to windows and fit additional locks to patio doors to enhance security of doors. "Remove temptation by taking valuable and portable items away from windowsills. Never leave keys on view or near to doors or windows. "You can even take the role of an opportunist thief and look at your property through their eyes. Consider enhancing the security of your home by installing devices such as an intruder alarm, exterior lights and locks on gates and sheds."

INFORMATION: Anyone with information is asked to contact DS Swash 0845 4564564 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

If you have story or an announcement that you'd like to add to Greatpaxton.com, send us an email.