FENLAND: Work starts on Goosetree traffic light scheme

WORK STARTS ON GOOSETREE TRAFFIC LIGHT SCHEME

FENLAND: Work has started on the Goosetree junction traffic light scheme, which is replacing the roundabout originally promised for the busy junction.

Cambridgeshire County Council decided in February to go for the cheaper option of traffic lights after predicted costs for a roundabout rocketed to around £2.2m.

Councillors, including those representing Fenland, also said they felt advances in traffic light technology made the scheme a safe alternative at the A141/A605 junction.

At the end of last month work was carried out to identify positions for the signal poles and the main phase of the £330,000 project has now started.

A county council spokesman said: "The major part of the civil works will include new kerbs, resurfacing at the junction and the approaches, traffic signals and street lighting.

"The project should be completed by July with the signals in operation."

The road will have to be closed for short periods of five to 10 minutes when chippings are rolled into the asphalt - that part of the work should be completed in about three days and will not be carried out during peak periods. It is possible that work could take place at night.

FENLAND "FAST BECOMING A FAVOURITE" DUMPING GROUND FOR FLY-TIPPERS

FENLAND: Council officers have announced they are monitoring fly-tipping in Fenland, with the district "fast becoming a favourite" dumping ground.

The move comes after Fenland District Council's rapid response team collected a vehicle-load of rubbish which spread for a mile along Graysmoor Drove, between March and Coldham, on Wednesday.

Council spokesman Terry Brownbill said afterwards: "This is fast becoming a favourite area for dumping and we shall be keeping an eye on it.

"Rather than risk getting caught dumping rubbish, it seems people are throwing it from their vehicles while driving.

"If you can see anybody fly-tipping, take their vehicle plate and send it through to the rapid response team at the council by calling 01354 654321."

The rubbish - which included a mattress, up to 30 car tyres and asbestos - was reported to the council the previous day by Rob Phipps, owner of the Pet Shop in Station Road, March.

Mr Phipps said: "I moved most of the rubbish to the side of the road because drivers were swerving around it. It just looked as if it were thrown out the back of a van or off the back of a lorry."

PIGEON CLUB RECEIVES £9,000 LOTTERY GRANT

WISBECH: Almost £9,000 has been spent on providing state-of-the-art electronic timing systems for pigeons in Wisbech.

Wisbech Town Pigeon Club's application for a Lottery grant was successful.

The system has been put on the market by a company called UNIKON and cost around £600 each.

The club has bought 17 and members used them for the first time in Saturday's race at Great Driffield, Yorkshire.

The system replaces the traditional method of using a rubber tag and manual timer.

An electronic tag is put on the pigeon's leg and registered on an electronic pad when the bird arrives home.

Members receive text messages on their mobile phones to let them know when a pigeon has arrived home.

TWO HUNDRED YEAR OLD BARN CONVERTED INTO MUSIC STUDIO

EMNETH: A 200-year-old barn has been converted into a state of the art music studio, attracting local and national musicians to Fenland.

Grange Farm Studio, near Emneth, is now recording and producing tracks after two years of reconstruction work.

The studio also plans to provide a platform for local music by holding monthly forums for people to meet and discuss Fenland talent.

The barn itself has been designed by specialist architects who managed to modernise the building with the latest technology without interfering with the original character.

Owner, Lucy Ryan, said: "It would have been such a waste if the building had fallen down, which would have been the case if we had done nothing for a few months longer."

Isi Clarke (SIC), the resident producer and sound engineer said: "I'm so excited at the opportunity to work in this fantastic facility that combines the best new technology with the inspiring character and beauty of rural settings," she said.

• Visit www.grangefarmstudio.com for more information.

COUNCILLOR RESIGNS FROM PRIMARY SCHOOL BOARD OF GOVERNORS

FENLAND: A councillor has resigned from the board of governors at a village primary school after attending one meeting.

Councillor David Markinson says the huge workload with his current commitments led to him stepping down from his short role as a Tilney St Lawrence Primary School governor.

"My sheer workload has meant I had to take a back seat as a governor," he said.

"After attending one meeting I decided I couldn't commit myself to the school.

"My public work not only takes up my days and evenings, it had started to eat away into my weekends as well."

Cllr Markinson, who serves the Mershe Lande ward, added that he is heavily involved with the areas parish plan and residents association. He is also an active anti-wind turbine protestor.

• Police are still investigating an arson attack on an outbuilding at the Marshland St James home of Cllr Markinson last weekend.

MAN JAILED FOR CONTINUOUSLY MISSING UNPAID WORK SESSIONS

MANEA: David Horner was jailed for 28 days this week, after magistrates heard that he had continuously missed unpaid work sessions so he could work six days a week at his job.

Horner, 40, admitted breaching his 150-hour work order for a third time, because he worked long hours for a quarrying company.

Solicitor Roger Glazebrook said the court order was unworkable, and asked magistrates to fine him instead.

But Fenland magistrates decided to jail Horner, after hearing that he had been given the original work order for driving while disqualified last summer - he was given a five year driving ban in 2005 for his third offence of drink driving.

Presiding magistrate Margaret Angood told Horner: "There is no other appropriate sentence. You chose to carry out paid employment rather than unpaid work, and failed to make alternative arrangements with your employer."

Horner, of Byall Fen Drove, Manea, had already had an extra 38 hours of work added to his order for previous breaches, and had completed 35 hours of work.

DARTS NIGHT AT WORKING MEN'S CLUB FOR MARIE CURIE CANCER CARE

CHATTERIS: Marie Curie Nurse Donna Morgan will be attending a Darts Fun Night tomorrow at Chatteris Working Men's Club, being held to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The night is being organised by the North Witchford Darts League and will start at 8pm.

"It is a great fun night and people are being invited to just turn up on the night to take part," said Donna, who lives in Chatteris but nurses terminally ill patients in the East Cambs and Fenland areas of the county.

She added: "I am grateful to everyone who has helped organise this event.

"I feel privileged to be invited into a family's home at the end of a loved one's life but I believe that people should be allowed the choice of where they die and very often, if they choose their own home, the family and carers really benefit from the respite Marie Curie Nurses give them at this very difficult time.