Queen Edith’s news

Rock Road Library

The Friends of Rock Road Library have opened their first World War I exhibition. Go along and see what was happening in this area 100 years ago, discover the stories of the people from this neighbourhood who served in the war, and see the cards soldiers sent to their sweethearts back home. The Friends are also keen to hear from anyone who has mementoes they can lend to the exhibition.

The Friends also have a talk this week: on Thursday 4 December, Richard Young will be talking about life as a children’s librarian and sharing the secrets of which books children borrow most often. Visitors are invited to take along the first book they read or the first book that started their interest in reading.

Christmas Lights Switch-On

The Christmas Lights event outside the shops in Wulfstan Way is becoming a popular annual event. This year, it’s next Wednesday, December 10th, and the Mayor will switch on the lights at 6pm. Afterwards there will be carols from the local choirs, and a visit from Father Christmas.

By-election result

For those who haven’t already heard, Viki Sanders is the new city councillor for Queen Edith’s. The result was as follows:

Viki Sanders, Liberal Democrat: 933

Rahima Ahammed, Labour, 790

Andrew Bower, Conservative, 614

Joel Chalfen, Green 222

Turnout 37%

Viki will be on duty at the next councillor’s surgery, on Saturday 13^th December in Wulfstan Way, 1030-1130am.

Would you like your street to have a 20mph speed limit?

Cambridge City Council is running a consultation on whether to reduce the speed limit on residential streets and shopping streets in this area, as in the north of the city. You should receive a mailing and questionnaire through your door but you can also comment on line at www.cambridge.gov.uk/20mph-speed-limit

You can discuss the plans with council officers at two drop-in sessions, one at the Cherry Hinton Village Centre this Thursday, and another at Castle Street Baptist Church next Tuesday, both 4-8pm.

Another recycling advance

Did you know you can now recycle plastic bags, wrap and film in your blue bin? This could be useful at Christmas,when bins get extra full. Here is a link to the City Council website explaining it all: https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/updates/2014/11/27/you-can-now-recycle-plastic-bags-wrap-and-film-in-your-blue-bin

Got a grotspot?

Graffiti, grime and rubbish – not the most glamorous of subjects, but these things make the area look a mess if they are not dealt with. The City Council’s Environmental Services Department is asking councillors to nominate areas for special attention, as well as to propose locations for new bins (general waste, recycling and dog bins). The decisions take place at the South Area meeting next Monday, and as the agenda is short, there should be time for a good discussion. The meeting is open to the public, and takes place at the Cherry Hinton Village Centre starting at 7pm next Monday, 8^th December. More details here: http://amandataylor.focusteam.org/2014/12/01/gota-local-grotspot/#page-content.

More news?

At the risk of losing my readership, I can recommend two other local grapevines for those of you who enjoy blogs and social media:

http://queen-ediths.co.uk/ run by local resident Chris Rand; covering, in his own words, ‘local planning, developments and elections

https://www.facebook.com/QueenEdiths, run by myself and a few other local residents; covering community events, mainly in the Queen Edith’s area

Th Queen Edith’s News provides brief news items about events in, and decisions relating to, Queen Edith’s. As a newsletter and not a ‘views letter’: it is not explicitly political in its content. If you would like to receive the newsletter by email, please contact me at [email protected]. Should you know of other people who wish to receive this newsletter, please let me know or ask them to contact me themselves. Thank you.