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Should we have a petition system in Cambridgeshire similar to the 10 Downing St one where once a certain number of signatures are recieved the subject matter has to be considered in the House of Commons or in our case the County Chambers or if local, by our respective councillors?

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If you would like the opportunity to get involved in local decision making by acting as a sounding board for future policy or service proposals, then why not join the Council’s Register of Consultees and give us your views about the decisions we make and the services we provide. The Council posts information on ShapeYourPlace about current consultations but to be sure that you don’t miss your opportunity to have your say then you can sign up to the register of consultees and receive the information directly.

What will this involve?

If you would like to act as a consultee, whether as an individual or a group, then your name will be added to the Council’s Register of Consultees and you will be allocated a consultee reference number. As changes are proposed to develop the Council’s policies or services, the ‘nominated officer’ will select a number of individuals or groups from the list of consultees who could be affected by, or may have an interest in, the policy/service proposals.  Through the online application process you can select your areas of interest to be consulted on. The ‘nominated officer’ will be the Council Officer who will be leading the change proposals. If you are selected, then you will be sent a copy of the proposal (in your preferred format – paper or electronic) together with a covering letter and feedback form. You will then have a set period of time to consider the proposal and to offer your feedback using the form provided.

All completed forms will then be returned to the Council for consideration as part of the consultation process.

The Council may publish a summary of responses to a particular consultation exercise on the Council’s website for public inspection. If this is done, no individual responses will be identifiable.

If you would like the opportunity to join the Council’s consultee register, then please complete the online application form.

James@ ECDC Community Engagement

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Earlier this evening I was told about the “world pea shooting championships” being held right here in East Cambs. I knew nothing of this, let alone it is the 43rd year – it is being held in witcham on Saturday 13th July.

Having 3 young children I am a sucker for a fun (cheap) day of entertainment and it doesn’t get better value than £2 an adult and £1 a child to enter a world championship.

I haven’t told the children that they are entering yet – but let the training commence – I have read the rules, now just need to buy some peashooters. I have compared eBay to amazon, and found out that “peashooter” was a plane of which you can buy many model kits. People who have previously bought peashooters also, apparently, bought spud guns – buying stuff with a parcel to wait for – this gets better.

Once we have all the gear (and no idea) I will let you all know how the training is coming along.

Who needs the Olympics or commonwealth games? The cromptons will be peashooting.

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As a dog owner who clears up after my dog I find it highly disturbing the number of people that do not clear up their dogs poo!

I live in Soham and am always out walking with my 4 years old and my dog, the amount of dog muck on paths is dreadful. I find myself constantly looking at the path to avoid the poo for myself and my daughter. What’s worse is when people allow their dogs to foul right outside your house.

The problem is that I never see people openly allowing their dogs to foul on the path so I never ever catch the culprits because I would most definately say something so who are these people that allow the poo to appear from nowhere for you to tread in or for your child to fall over in? Its disgusting.

Do we need more bins? Do we need more people reporting others? I’m tempted to leave a box of poo bags outside my house. People in my road actually have signs outside their houses saying ‘please don’t let your dog foul my drive’ – thats when you know its a problem.

Please East Cambs help with this matter. I’m quite frankly sick of the poo.

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I recently became a dog owner and I absolutely love the freedom and enjoyment he has given me. He gives me a reason to get out and about. In the 9 months since I have had him I have lost just over a stone and a half in weight. Who needs the ‘Cambridge’ Diet?!
Around Soham there are a number of dog walks that I take him on that last between 45 mins to an hour. I regularly bump in to other dog walkers and stop to chat while the dogs chase each other frantically round and round the open fields.
My gripe is this. I often stand talking to other dog walkers thinking, “What on earth is that smell?” only to discover that they have got a bag full of dog waste in their hand, have probably had to carry it for the last couple of miles, and on a hot day it does not take long for this small bag to start to stink! I’m not going to go in to my dogs’ toilet habits but he generally ‘goes’ as soon as I get him out of the car before we start our walk. I then have one of two options. Bag it up, leave it in a discreet location and pick it up on my way back or carry it around the entire walk with me.
All I am asking for is for some ‘dog waste bins’ to be located in the more rural locations, near to the start and end of these lovely dog walks. I haven’t carried out a survey but it would be my guess that more than 30 dogs a day go walking on the ‘Horse Fen’ at the end of Mill Drove, Soham and there is not a dog bin in site. I’m sure I am not the only dog walker that has noticed this problem and hope that through this post something may get done.

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Ely has a great High St and market. It’s good to see independents thriving and the market looks great today in the sun.

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Want to become actively involved in a major, Heritage Lottery Funded, landscape project?

This summer role gives an opportunity to undertake work experience through becoming involved in a major landscape programme’s development – this is the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership scheme.

You would be working with a small team of experienced Cambridgeshire ACRE staff and will benefit from on-the-job mentoring across a number of different elements of the programme. There will be fieldwork including interviewing members of the public about their visitor experiences, as well as desk based work to record data and writing up consultation findings. You will be involved with a partnership which includes a large number of local, regional and national conservation and heritage organisations such as the RSPB and WWT.

The placement is unpaid but all costs relating to undertaking the role will be covered. These days employers look for evidence of work experience and examples of relevant achievements in that chosen career field. This role will give someone the chance to gain valuable practical experience in landscape/heritage management.

To download the job spec and information on how to apply, please visit bit.ly/12iq7DD

For more information about the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership, please click on the link.

This weekend may well see some rather good weather and for many, it will be an opportunity to have your first BBQ of the year. While you maybe a responsible person accidents can and do happen. Please be mindful of others if you are having a BBQ in a public space and have a great weekend.

 TEN TIPS
Barbecues can get out of control if you are not careful. Follow these simple guidelines to enjoy a safe barbecue.

1) Check your barbecues for serviceability including gas pipes.
2) Ensure that your barbecue is placed on level ground, is sited away from sheds, fences, overhanging foliage, the house and where people have to pass closely by it.
3) Use only sufficient fuel to cover the base to a depth of about 5 cm (2 inches) and store the charcoal sack well away from the fire.
4) Use a proprietary firelighter or starter fuel NOT PETROL, and use the minimum necessary to start the fire.
5) Keep children and garden games well away from the cooking area and never leave the barbecue unattended.
6) Take care when cooking fatty foods. Lots of fat spilling onto the coals may cause them to flare up.
7) When cooking is finished ensure that the barbecue is quite cool before attempting to move it. Empty the spent ash onto bare garden soil – never put it in the bin. For Gas barbecues turn off the gas cylinder before the barbecue controls, this ensures that any residual gas in the pipeline is used up.
8) Make sure the barbecue controls and the cylinder valves are turned off before changing the cylinder. Open doors and windows, if possible, to provide good ventilation, otherwise change gas cylinders in the open air.
9) If you suspect a leak to the gas cylinder connections or pipe work, brush soapy water around all joints and watch for the bubbles if a leaky joint is found. Try to tighten connections but do not over-tighten.
10) Store gas cylinders in sheds/outhouse protect from frost and direct sunlight. Do not keep more spare cylinders than you need.

Mark Coupar
Ely Fire Station

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Day duty and Retained Fire crews from Ely, have been heavily involved at a large fire related incident in an industrial recycling plant on the A10 near Waterbeach. In zero visibility crews wearing breathing apparatus worked tirelessly inside the vast building, using water jets to restrict the spread of the fire. This large and complex incident has finally been resolved with Ely crews having an instrumental role in its conclusion.

“Ely Fire crews serving our community”
Mark Coupar

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The Environment Agency have fenced off, preventing access, to the northern half of Roswell Pits. They have stated it is due to Health and Safety Reasons and the possibility of damage to fossils.

In a country whereby the public are constantly being encouraged to get out, be more healthy and use our green open spaces, how can the closure of this popular walking area be justified? This area was supposed to be part of ECDC’s Country Park.

Someone maybe should let the EA know that Roswell Pits is a former industrial site, whereby huge cranes were used to excavate clay. I doubt dog walkers or fishermen will cause more damage than those machines (or rogue developers installing service trenches around the whole site….).

Fossil hunters have been going there since the early 1800′s, a bit late in the day to close it now.

Surely a sign advising caution about the banks would suffice rather than outright closure?

Ace

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