BRASS PLAQUE STOLEN FROM ARCHITECT S PRACTICE WISBECH: Peter Humphrey has described thieves stealing a brass plaque from the front of his architect practice as a reflection of the times we are in . The newly elected county councillor and former di

BRASS PLAQUE STOLEN FROM ARCHITECT'S PRACTICE

WISBECH: Peter Humphrey has described thieves stealing a brass plaque from the front of his architect practice as a reflection "of the times we are in".

The newly elected county councillor and former district councillor's comments come after the theft from his practice in Old Market last Tuesday.

Cllr Humphrey said: "I do believe this reflects the times we are in and some of the low class people who derive such rewards for cashing in a brass plaque for scrap for a few pence.

"Why should I bother to try and improve the town with the built form or as a county councillor when this happens?"

BUFFS CLUB CLOSED, BUT COULD RE-OPEN AS A PUB

MARCH: A club has closed just a few months after a £40,000 refurbishment, but could re-open as a pub.

Businessman Geoff Lord revealed this week he will be applying for a full premises licence allowing him to re-open the former Buffs Club in Robingoodfellows Lane as a pub.

Mr Lord bought the club from The Locomotive Lodge of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes last year for his son, Tom, with the intention of running it as a private members' club.

But after closing the doors Mr Lord described the reality of running it as a private club as being "unworkable". Difficulties recruiting suitable staff added to his problems.

His aim when he bought the club was to welcome Buffs members back, charging them a nominal rent, but they are now meeting elsewhere claiming the rent was too high.

Mr Lord said: "After taking professional advice I offered them the facilities for £50 a week but they said they couldn't afford it, I think it was a very fair price."

Lodge secretary Dick Knock said: "When we found out what the rent was it wasn't nominal and there was no way we could afford it."

POLICE APPEAL AFTER FARM MACHINERY FALLS FROM VEHICLE

UPWELL: Police are appealing for information following an incident on Saturday, when a piece of farm machinery fell from a vehicle.

A police spokesman said that at around 10pm a Gang Harrow - a piece of farm machinery - fell from the back of an unknown vehicle in Town Street.

"The driver made off from the scene and the harrow was left blocking the carriageway, embedded in the garden wall of a house," said the spokesman.

"It is unclear whether the item had been stolen or was part of an insecure load."

If anyone has knowledge of the incident or has noticed such a piece of machinery missing it is requested they contact Pc276 Sainsbury at Swaffham Roads Policing Unit.

CORSA FLIPPED ONTO ITS ROOF AFTER COLLISION

WISBECH: Police are appealing for witnesses after a collision in Wisbech at around 10.15am yesterday (Monday, April 21).

The collision happened in Cromwell Road at the junction with Weasenham Lane.

A light coloured vehicle towing a trailer collided with the rear of a silver Vauxhall Corsa travelling towards town.

The Corsa flipped onto its roof and the other vehicle did not stop and carried on the direction of South Brink. The driver of the Corsa suffered minor injuries.

Anyone with any information can contact PC Will Pentelow at March Roads Policing Unit on 0845 456 4564.

THIRD OF FENLAND'S TEN AND 11 YEAR OLDS OBESE OR OVERWEIGHT

FENLAND: A third of 10 and 11 year olds in the district can be categorised as either obese or overweight.

That's the shock finding from a Government programme which has weighed and measured fourth fifths of children in the first and last years of their primary school.

Fenland youngsters are now, officially, the fattest in Cambridgeshire and the obesity rates for the area are among the worst in the country.

EXTRA SHOPS AND FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE PLAN FOR CROMWELL PARK

WISBECH: Extra shops are planned for the new Cromwell Retail Park in Wisbech after developers failed to find an operator to run a 10 pin bowling centre.

A revised planning application is now before Fenland Council setting out the proposed alterations.

A report from the developers says there have spent two years trying, unsuccessfully, to find a company willing to run the bowling alley.

It now means extra shops but there will also be a "new family entertainment centre."

This, they say, will be promoted for laser quest or children's entertainment including 'Totally Brilliant', 'Tiny Tots' and 'Kiddies Zones' concepts.

However the company says the cinema planned for the site is safe and "the floorspace of the cinema will increase significantly. The cinema now proposes over 1,000 seats within six auditoriums."

FIRE CREWS CALLED TO TWO CAR FIRES

WALSOKEN: Arsonists set fire to two cars in neighbouring streets in Walsoken in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday, April 22).

A fire crew from Wisbech was called at 12.10am to reports of a car fire in Wistaria Road and, on arrival, found a second car ablaze in Kirkgate Street.

They extinguished both fires by 1.20am, using hose reels and breathing apparatus. Police have appealed for information to the fires.