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Our Environmental Health Commercial Team are investigating hygiene issues we found during a routine inspection of Barkers Bakery at Units D And E
so they could carry out work to rectify the issues.
We’ve contacted local food businesses believed to be supplied by Barkers Bakery in Cottenham
any products supplied by Barkers Bakery in Cottenham
or Kings Cliffe Bakery which operates from the same address
© South Cambridgeshire District Council 2025
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Seven people have been referred to the immigration service after they were found in the back of a lorry wedged between containers of cucumbers
Police were called at about 3.15pm on Tuesday (9 January) by a man who said he had been in the vehicle for 18 hours with five other men and a woman
Officers located the lorry in Cottenham and the individuals were checked over by the ambulance service
They have since been referred to the immigration service
was arrested on suspicion of assisting illegal entry into the UK and has been bailed to return to Parkside police station in April
A Cottenham couple who sexually abused a child have been sentenced to a total of 13 years in jail
They arrested Robinson for making indecent images of children following a tip-off to the National Crime Agency about the sharing of indecent images of children online by authorities in New Zealand
Examination of Robinson’s devices uncovered a video of Eason Edge abusing a child
Robinson was found to have 537 indecent images of children across his electronic devices
He was jailed at Cambridge Crown Court last Friday (27 September) for nine years
having pleaded guilty to five counts of making indecent images of children and two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13
He will serve a further six years on extended licence and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 20 years
having pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a child under 13 and making indecent images of children
She will serve six years on extended licence and was also handed a 20-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order
Det Insp George Neal said: “This was an horrific case which has ended in long sentences
“I am pleased it has been recognised how dangerous these two are
and that they can no longer inflict that harm on others”
For more on child abuse, including the signs and how to report it, visit the dedicated section of Cambridgeshire police’s website
A public inquiry will decide whether permission is granted for a number of Gypsy and Traveller homes near Cottenham
South Cambridgeshire District Council refused planning consent in 2022 for the nine pitches on land south of Chear Fen Boat Club
raising concerns including whether a nearby quarry would impact the health of the families living on site
An appeal has been lodged and a planning inspector will now hear from both sides
the council argued the pitches - each with space for a static caravan and a day room - would lead to a “significant urbanisation” of the land
“The proposal would result in the encroachment into the open countryside and incremental growth in an unsustainable location,” the council said
adding: “To access local services and facilities the future occupiers of the site will have to travel a significant distance via a car.”
It said not enough evidence was presented to show that Mitchell Hill Quarry would not cause “unacceptable amenity issues or adverse impacts to human health” for those living on site
adding that dust and noise were of “particular concern”
The council also noted that the land was contaminated land and said no assessment had been made to explore the “extent of contamination and any possible risks”
A representative of the applicant refuted these conclusions in an initial statement of case published following the launch of the appeal
The representative said: “As a matter of principle Gypsy sites are acceptable within the countryside
provided they do not dominate the nearest settled community
“It will be demonstrated that the proposed development is not in open countryside.”
The applicants plan to show the site was not in an unsustainable location
arguing the council had “failed to take into account” the distances to places that can be reached by bike or public transport
The representative said the development would “not have an urbanising effect” and that the “limited impact” could be mitigated with “appropriate landscaping”
And the inquiry will be told by the applicants that the site is far enough away from the quarry
while any potential contamination could be “adequately addressed”
The representative added that there were no alternative available sites
adding: “There seems little likelihood that there will be in the foreseeable future”
The council is unable to show a five-year supply of land for Gypsy and Traveller sites
A date for the inquiry has not yet been set
A drink-driver had five open cans of Stella Artois lager in his car when he was caught more than three times the legal limit in Cottenham High Street.
Police were called by a concerned member of the public on 14 December to report a man sitting in a grey Volkswagen Passat drinking a can of beer while parked up.
An officer caught up with the driver, 33-year-old Kirils Sidorovs, as he arrived at his home in King Street, Rampton.
Sidorovs provided a roadside breath test of 114 microgrammes, more than three times the legal limit of 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath.
In custody, he provided an evidential sample of 90.
At Cambridge Magistrates’ Court last Thursday (16 January), Sidorovs pleaded guilty to drink-driving and was disqualified from driving for 23 months and fined £507.
PC Rob Tindall, who investigated, said: “Thanks to an observant member of the public, this man was stopped from putting any more lives at risk with his drink-driving and now has 23 months to consider his actions.
“Members of the public can contact us if they suspect a drink or drug-driver, through our 24/7 hotline on 0800 032 0845.”
WATCH: Conservative MP Sir Gavin Williamson reacts to outrage over the number of hotels being used to house migrants
Seven migrants were rescued from a lorry carrying cucumbers in Cambridgeshire after one of them made a desperate call to police for help
The group was discovered in Cottenham after being trapped inside the vehicle for 18 hours
following an emergency call from one of the men inside who had become trapped
The group consisted of six men and one woman who had been hidden among the cargo of cucumbers
All individuals were located and removed from the vehicle
The ambulance service attended the scene to check on their condition
the migrants were referred to the immigration service
The driver of the lorry was arrested on suspicion of assisting illegal entry into the UK
following an emergency call from one of the men inside who had become trapped (stock image)
Police have since confirmed the driver has been released on bail
A force spokesperson said: "The individuals were checked over by the ambulance service and have since been referred to the immigration service."
"The driver of the lorry was arrested on suspicion of assisting illegal entry into the UK and has since been bailed," the spokesperson added
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Cottenham Racecourse held its first meeting in the 1830s – hosting regular fixtures until its closure in 2020
The 202 acre (82 hectare) property is being sold through Savills in Cambridge and is available as a whole or in up to four lots
Last year South Cambridgeshire District Council approved plans to transform its main grandstand into a detached four-bedroom home
associate director in the rural agency team at Savills in Cambridge
said: “Steeple Chase Farm has long been the setting for both national hunt and more recently point to point horseracing
“In the 1880s the meetings proved so popular that special trains ran from London to nearby Waterbeach station – even prompting a visit from the then Prince of Wales (latterly Edward VII)
“The racecourse reverted to being managed as farmland in 1928
amateur point to point racing taking place three times a year – attracting up to 6,000 spectators at its peak in the 1950s
“However the meetings’ popularity decreased over time and following the pandemic the operation became financially unviable
“Now primarily agricultural arable and grazing land
it is offered for sale following the retirement of the current longstanding owner and represents a unique opportunity to acquire a property with a rich sporting history.”
the plans for the grandstand feature four ground-floor bedrooms
while the upstairs will have an open-plan kitchen and living room with a large patio looking out over the old racecourse
The main structure of the building will be retained
as will doors and windows – repurposing as many racing artifacts as possible
The planning permission also allows for the former masters hut to be demolished and replaced by a home office
added: “The quite unique home to be created will retain the appearance of the grandstand and will very much reflect its historic connections with horse racing and Cambridge University.”
For more information about the sale of Steeple Chase Farm, contact Oliver Carr at Savills Cambridge on 01223 347 274 or OCarr@savills.com
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Plans to build up to 34 new homes in Cottenham have been approved despite concerns over flooding and building in the green belt
The outline application to develop the site off Histon Road was approved by South Cambridgeshire District Council’s planning committee on Wednesday (September 14)
Concerns had been raised over flooding and how sewage from the proposed homes would be managed
as well as whether the application met the special circumstances needed to warrant building in the green belt
As an outline application further detailed plans will need to be submitted to the district council for approval before building work can start
the plans include the provision of up to 34 homes as a social housing rural exception site
This means that all of the homes would be ‘affordable housing’
however whether this would be shared ownership or affordable rent was not set out
The application had been recommended for approval by planning officers
who said there was an identified need for affordable housing in the village
They added that the site was considered to be a “sustainable location” and that the plans met the exception tests for development in the green belt
The district council’s housing officer explained that there were 108 people on the housing register waiting for a home with links to Cottenham
said she believed the identified housing need met the special circumstances needed to build in the green belt
Whittlesford) said the plans breached the district council’s planning policies
highlighting that policy required exception sites to be ‘small and limited’ which he said the plans were not
Cllr Williams argued that allowing a development in the green belt that breached policies
based on housing need in the area would be “declaring open season” in the rest of the district
explaining that there was a housing need in many villages
Opposition group leader Cllr Heather Williams (Con
The Mordens) raised concerns over the density of the site exceeding the council’s policy
She said social and market housing should have “equal standards” and did not want to see more “crammed in” just because it was affordable housing
Cllr Williams also questioned whether other sites had been looked at
and after the selection process was explained said she did not believe the special circumstances to build in the green belt could be met while there was a potential alternative
One of the planning officers explained that while other sites had been considered
as well as being more visible from the village
They said they were happy the proposed location was the more appropriate site
The officer recognised that while the plans proposed more homes in the space than the authority’s policies said there should be
he highlighted that as an outline application there could be a chance to reduce this number in later applications
Cllr Richard Williams said developers did not normally come back offering fewer homes
adding that the committee had to be “realistic” about what was likely to happen
vice chair of the council and vice chair of the planning committee
said that compared to other development taking place in the village
the proposals in his view were small and also limited as it would only meet some of the recognised housing needs in the village
He added: “I think the question really for this committee is
how serious are we in meeting the local affordable needs within our villages and in particular within Cottenham
“If we are serious about that then we have to look very seriously at giving consent in this particular case.”
Cottenham Parish Council had objected to the application amid concerns over drainage
The parish council said the site often had standing water on it and that most years the gardens of nearby homes would flood
Cllr Hawkins said drainage was a “constant issue” for the planning committee
adding that while Anglian Water had not commented about drainage said this “did not negate the concerns” of neighbours who said their gardens tended to flood
She added that as the internal drainage board had said it was happy with the proposals
the committee “might be treading on unsafe grounds to refuse on that point”
Cllr Hawkins did highlight that Anglian Water had said there was not currently capacity in the area to deal with the foul water that would come from the development
but that it would be the company’s responsibility to make sure it could take it if the plans were approved
She said this was a “standard statement” and that it worried her as this responsibility had ‘not always been fulfilled’
Councillors also asked whether they could make a condition to require the roads in the development to be built to an “adoptable standard”
meaning Cambridgeshire County Council could ‘adopt’ and take responsibility for the maintenance of the roads
The highways authority had said the planned access road would be too small to meet the standards needed in order to be adopted
Councillors highlighted that people living there in the future would face extra costs to maintain the roads if they were not taken on by the county council
Questions were raised by councillors from both parties as to whether this was appropriate given the proposed development was for people who qualified for affordable housing
The district council legal officer advised that it would be hard for the authority to add a condition for the access to be designed to an “adoptable standard”
but suggested that one could be added requiring further details to be submitted and approved by the council
It was also highlighted that the internal roads will still need to be approved in a reserved matters application later on
When put to a vote the application was approved
Care Home Professional
home manager at Bupa’s Cottenham Court Care Home in Cambridge
talks about her round-the-clock dedication to her residents
How did you join the home?My background is in nursing and I have been working in care home management roles for 13 years
I joined Bupa in March 2013 after meeting the managing director who made me feel so welcome
I had initially applied for a regional support role
however due to study commitments I opted for a home manager role
My first impressions of Bupa made me realise that I could fulfil my potential here
What is special about the home?The people I work with make the home special
and families make the home a special place to work
always willing go an extra mile to keep the residents happy and safe
Our residents and their loved ones are appreciative of our efforts
As home manager I try to make sure everyone is working together towards the same goals – I think teamwork is really important to help us provide high-quality care
I also try to make sure that everyone at the home lives our Bupa values of being brave
I am so proud of the fact that our hard work has been recognised and that we were one of the finalists in Bupa’s Care Home of the Year competition this year
What do you find most rewarding about your current job?Making a positive impact on people’s lives
Caring is something that comes from the heart – it’s a real vocation
So whether that’s helping a resident get better to return to their own home or helping someone to enjoy a fulfilling life with us – that is what is most rewarding to me
What has been your greatest challenge and how did you overcome it?Recruitment is a big challenge at the moment – and that’s for everyone in the sector
so even when using agency staff I request the same staff to cover shifts each time
This also benefits staff members as everyone gets to know each other and understand everyone’s routines
they transfer their happiness to the residents
And now with the support of Bupa’s recruitment team we are making good progress with our recruitment goals
Tell us the three things you need to provide great care?Honesty and integrity in leadership always create an engaged team
An environment with an open culture where people feel valued and listened to and able to challenge the status quo
Training provides staff with the right tools to carry out their duties safely and efficiently
How do you relax?I like to walk in my free time
But my mind is always on my residents and my Cottenham Court family too
and website in this browser for the next time I comment
plans are afoot to turn a former grandstand into a family home
And now for something completely different
we have the former Cottenham Racecourse near Cottenham in Cambridgeshire
Have you ever wanted to live on a former racecourse
and it was at a track near my parents house in Essex
I had been conscious of horse racing only on television
principally the Kentucky Derby when I was younger
and then the Grand National when I’d moved to England
after betting a whole £10 on the favourite for the final race of the day
only to watch it fall at the last fence while in the lead
For sale as a whole with Savills for £2.375 million
which consists of 202 acres of land and farm buildings that include the aforementioned racecourse
Of particular excitement to use here at the Country Life Online Property Desk (CLOPD) is the plans for turning the former grandstand into a four-bedroom home
Nick Dakin of Dakin Estates was granted permission on behalf of the vendor to convert the stand into this home
which would also include a home office and garage
it ‘retains a memory of its former use’
but also is quite a nice looking family home
We particularly enjoy the tannoys being included in this CGI-generated image
allowing parents to recall their children in the style of an announcer calling a race
The ground floor of the property will consist of the bedrooms
The first floor will include an open-plan kitchen
dining and living room and a very nice looking terrace
is classified as Grade 2 with ‘areas of Grade I towards the western boundary and Grade 3 towards the southern boundary’
The soils are described as being of the ‘Milton Series’ but are variable
with most being a freely-draining loam with some clay towards the south
The land also includes plenty of former farm buildings
which could offer potential for conversion and renovation with the correct permissions
and the property is situated equidistant between the village of Cottenham and the village of Waterbeach
Steeple Chase Farm is for sale with Savills for £2.375 million. For more information and pictures, click here
Grade II-listed Homebush Cottage might be a shell
you can live a fairytale life in this seven bedroom home that's positively bursting with
Grade I-listed Dorfold Hall in Cheshire was supposedly built for a visit by James I and is one of the
Ven Ayr in Lelant is a six-bedroom beauty in the village of Lelant that boasts beautiful interiors and south-east facing
James FisherDeputy Digital EditorJames Fisher is the Deputy Digital Editor of Country Life
A historic former racecourse grandstand is set to get a new lease of life as a family home
Approval has been given to convert the Cottenham Racecourse Grandstand into a four-bedroom home
The grandstand was originally built around 1925
said the historic building has become “neglected” and has been vandalised in recent years
The developer said the conversion of the grandstand into a house would be done ‘sympathetically’ and would preserve the building for the future
In planning documents submitted as part of the application
the developer said: “The grandstand is a solidly built edifice which dates back nearly 100 years
there are already elements similar to domestic accommodation and infrastructure
“This building maintains associations with the long history of amateur horse racing at Cottenham
and is therefore deserving of preservation by sympathetic conversion to become a fitting memorial to local history
the history of horse racing as well as to the sporting heritage of Cambridge University.”
South Cambridgeshire District Council has approved the plans to convert the grandstand
A report published by the authority said the redevelopment would “bring the buildings back into use”
It said: “The buildings are not currently in use and have suffered from a lack of general maintenance
“This proposal will repair and restore the buildings and their setting and secure their long term preservation.”
A fundraising campaign in memory of Cottenham firefighter Danny Granger will help buy iPads for the intensive care unit at Addenbrooke’s so families can communicate with patients
Danny, 52, died after a four-week battle with Covid-19 on Thursday
He was described as the “life and soul of the station”
where he was an on-call firefighter for nearly 22 years
a close friend and colleague at Cottenham fire station
has set up the GoFundMe campaign on behalf of Danny’s family
Matt explained: “Danny received the best care at Addenbrooke’s intensive care unit
The doctors and nurses were amazing and so compassionate
“The current restrictions in place due to Covid mean that families cannot visit loved ones in the hospital so they had to rely on the nurses video-calling so they could see and speak to them
However the hospital struggles with enough iPads so nurses were kindly using their own phones
“Danny’s mother and sister would like to raise enough money to buy several iPads for the hospital to help others see and speak to patients in the unit
“Danny was always doing things for other people and we think he would feel really proud to know that he will be continuing to help others in this way.”
The initial target of £1,200 has already been smashed
with more than £2,500 raised by Wednesday afternoon to help buy the iPads and holders
there was a socially-distanced round of applause outside the station from colleagues and friends in memory of Danny
The Go Fund Me page can be found at https://gofund.me/4c900e7f
Tributes to kind-hearted Cottenham firefighter Danny Granger after he dies from Covid-19
Racing fans could get a unique opportunity to live in a near century-old racecourse grandstand
with plans in place to turn the closed building at Cottenham racecourse into a four-bedroom home
The Cambridgeshire track had held point-to-point fixtures since Victorian times but closed in 2020
and the grandstand was built in 1925 as part of ambitions – which did not come to fruition – to turn Cottenham from a point-to-point track into a professional racecourse
The stand is now set to be converted into a two-storey house designed to create a "fitting memory" to Cottenham's racing history
The plans feature four ground-floor bedrooms
a sick bay and female changing room are set to be knocked down and replaced with a garage and home office
while an unpaved track will be upgraded to a road
It has been designed by locally based NP Architects for Michael Gingell
the land owner and long-time chairman of the track
He inherited the racecourse from his parents and retired when the track closed
his work there having also included clerking
through property developers Dakin Estates Ltd
were to turn the stand into an office building
although the advice was against that project due to a lack of demand
Developer Nick Dakin said: "The grandstand itself was built around 90 years ago in an attempt to turn Cottenham into a professional
but the attempt failed due to the proximity of courses at Newmarket and Huntingdon
so Cottenham returned to its amateur point-to-point status
"Far from being just a viewing platform
On racedays its interior was a hive of activity
"The design of the proposed conversion will honour the grandstand’s previous use
retaining the same build form and reusing existing windows and doors
It is earnestly hoped the finished conversion will keep alive the memory of
the long tradition of racing at Cottenham."
Cottenham staged three meetings a season and was so popular in the 1800s that special trains ran from London to nearby Waterbeach station
Attendances of around 6,000 were recorded in the 1950s
but the track's popularity decreased over time and only 1,200 were there for its final fixture
The racecourse has had issues with vandalism in recent years
with one incident before its closure causing £14,000 worth of damage
The redevelopment is subject to approval from South Cambridgeshire District Council
Debunking some palpably untrue claims about female riders
Roger Varian to give King Of Steel 'more time' and miss York in favour of Irish Champion Stakes
Racing Post Members' Club: subscribe for just £9.99 this summer
Do you want £200+ of free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more
Published on 17 August 2023inBritain
Copyright © 2025 Spotlight Sports Group Limited or its licensors
A village pub will not reopen as plans to turn it into a home have been agreed on the second attempt
South Cambridgeshire District Council has approved the conversion of the former Jolly Millers pub in Cottenham into a house
Outbuildings will also be demolished at the back of the former pub so a second house can be built there
A previous application to convert the pub had been refused by the council
and the decision was upheld by the Planning Inspectorate on appeal
an inspector only dismissed the appeal due to concerns about how demolishing some of the outbuildings would impact protected species of bats
The council had raised concerns about the impact of the loss of the pub on the community
the impact on the character of the conservation area and on highway safety
The inspector did not think there would be any harm through the loss of the community facility
At a planning committee meeting on Wednesday (August 9) officers told councillors the inspector’s decision carried “significant” weight when considering the latest application
said the latest application resolved the remaining issue around the information requested relating to bats
Addressing concerns that had been raised about the pub sign being taken down
Mr Barker said the applicant would be happy to put up some sort of board explaining the building’s history as a pub
The application was objected to by both Cottenham Parish Council and the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA)
Parish councillor Tim Jones said the proposals did not meet the requirement in the village neighbourhood plan to discourage parking on roads
He also said the Jolly Millers had been a popular pub before it closed
He said the parish council believed it was still a useful amenity to the village and that it could be viable as a business if it reopened
CAMRA said often when communities lose a pub they “rarely
regain them” and warned if the application was approved there was “little or no chance that the north of Cottenham would ever get a pub back”
Over and Willingham) said he “hated it” when a pub closed as they are “important” to communities
he said the committee had to be “realistic” and could only consider if the issue relating to bats had been resolved
Whittlesford) said in light of the inspector’s decision
Caldecote) said: “Planning is not common sense
“The one issue the appeal was dismissed on has also been addressed
we need to follow the planning rules and from what I can see there is no material reason really for us to refuse this
“The inspector’s decision carries significant weight
but we need to learn from it going forward.”
eight councillors voted in favour of approving the plans
30 enthusiastic volunteers and 121 super-keen parkrunners made for a fantastic inaugural junior event at Cottenham Recreation Ground
with over half of the runners participating in their first ever junior parkrun
Ellie received her ultra wristband (50 events) before going on to lead a rigorous warm-up with Paige
Sam and Will were the first and second ever finishers of the Cottenham Recreation Ground junior parkrun
while Martha and Amelie finished first and second in the female field
who bravely completed his run with a broken collar bone
And we were delighted to welcome first-time parkrunners
who have very recently arrived in Cottenham on the Homes for Ukraine scheme
Of course, we were thrilled to see every single runner register a PB for this event! You can see the full results here
Thank you to our wonderful team of volunteers who all helped to create a brilliant and encouraging atmosphere for our runners
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone again next week – and maybe even more new faces
© parkrun Limited (Company Number: 07289574)
No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner
By InYourArea Community · 14 April 2022
A mum from Cottenham, Cambridgeshire
died of a rare incurable spinal cord tumour has honoured her short life in a heart-breaking film
paid tribute to her daughter who died on May 6 last year
just six months after being told her cancer was incurable
The broadcast featured as part of ‘The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer’ on Tuesday
The series sees celebrities put their baking skills to the test and is dedicated to raising funds for life-saving research
Emily raised more than £100,000 to support Cancer Research UK’s Children’s Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge
Lisa hopes to continue Emily’s legacy by supporting Stand Up To Cancer
the joint fundraising campaign with Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 that aims to accelerate new cancer tests and treatments
Lisa said: "Emily was incredibly kind and caring
She was completely selfless in everything she did
and she was just finding her place in the world
"Emily committed the little time she had left to helping others and now I hope to do the same in her memory for Stand Up To Cancer
It's the hardest thing ever to say goodbye to your baby.”
Lisa’s world was turned upside down in the months after Emily returned home from university in March 2020
who was studying business psychology at Loughborough University
hoped to become a primary school teacher after graduation
but started to talk about having pins and needles in her feet that she put down to exam stress
As symptoms continued Emily went to see her GP and was referred for an MRI scan in September of that year
Lisa said: "We were called in to see the scan and we could see there was a really large tumour within her spinal cord
"We came out of the room and I just burst into tears
Emily’s first reaction was to say ‘I’m so sorry’ – but she had nothing to be sorry for
Emily’s tumour was a diffuse midline glioma
This meant there were no curative treatment options available to her
Lisa added: "One of Emily’s greatest fears when they were going to operate was that she would be paralysed from the neck downwards
"When we came out of hospital after her surgery in November
then lost the use of one of her legs and had to be readmitted to hospital
Further scans revealed the tumour had continued to grow rapidly and we were told Emily only had weeks to short months to live
"She was in a wheelchair and quickly lost the use of all her limbs
her worst fears came true and she was totally paralysed from the neck downwards
I can’t imagine how terrifying that must have been."
Lisa said: "The consultant said to me that she thought she was coming to the end of life and I don’t think even at that point Emily knew she was going to die that day
She said to me ‘Why’s everyone coming today?’
"I think she only really knew when her brother was there because I heard her say to him ‘Look after mum’
Emily sadly passed away shortly after that."
Lisa hopes sharing her daughter’s story will drive others to join the fight against the disease
Through ‘The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer’ supporters are being encouraged to donate to the cause, host their own baking fundraiser or buy special Star Baker-themed merchandise available online or at Cancer Research UK shops across Cambridgeshire
Stand Up To Cancer has raised more than £93 million to fund 59 clinical trials and research projects across the UK
Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Cambridgeshire
said: "We’re so grateful to Lisa for helping us continue our mission after losing young Emily to her rare tumour
"One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime
but all of us can play a part to help beat it
That’s why we’re asking everyone to Stand Up To Cancer and raise money this spring
"Every penny will go directly to cutting-edge research
helping our tireless scientists to speed up progress and save lives."
Emily’s film is available to stream on demand via All 4
To donate or fundraise in support of Stand Up To Cancer, visit here.
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Arriving at the recreation ground this sunny morning
it was great to see lots and lots of smiling faces ready to run in the third Cottenham junior parkrun
It was particularly wonderful to see 22 first time parkrunners
Ellie and Paige once again enthusiastically led the warm up
getting everybody involved in fun exercises
A few of these children decided to do one lap and build up to the full distance over the coming weeks and it will be amazing to see their progression
The fastest time of the week belonged to Adam Wright with a time of 08:45 and the quickest girl (for the third week running) was Martha Tarlow with a new PB of 09:15
There were 40 children who broke their personal best time today - a real achievement
many children go to the playground to spend time with friends
none of this would ever happen without our growing army of volunteers
especially Jessica (this week’s tail walker)
who was complete with a unicorn horn and rainbow tail
We will see you - and hopefully some new faces - in weeks to come
if slightly weary-looking field of 81 runners arrived to face their Waterloo at our fourth event
after tense Eurovision results had kept many up well past their bedtimes
An overcast morning greeted those who Made Their Minds Up to come along
they were off with a Boom Bang-a-Bang around our two-lap course
while for the fourth week in a row Martha Tarlow was the first female into the finish funnel
But we'll Save Our Kisses for the 29 volunteers who made this event happen
Now will someone please give that wolf a banana
in short perfect running conditions which inspired 104 juniors plus countless adults to join us for our second event
We welcomed 22 children to their first ever junior parkrun and as they started my view from the rear of the pack was amazing
There were the colourful T-shirts spread out around the field
the many non-running family and friends applauding from the sides and a wonderful cheer home for every participant
I’ve been to a few new events and this one truly feels special
which has never been more evident than during the past 2 years
Last week the first children from Ukraine came for the inaugural and by this weekend
but they had new school friends to chat to and run with
Will Robinson and Sam Brook swapped places this week to come in as first and second finishers respectively and Martha Tarlow again came home as first girl whilst over a third of the runners got a pb this week
Sunday mornings at 9am need that level of enthusiasm
High standards and academic success were highlighted by Ofsted inspectors when they visited Cottenham Village College
The secondary school has been graded ‘good’ overall after previously being rated ‘requires improvement’ in 2019
Inspectors describe Cottenham as “an aspirational and inclusive school where pupils enjoy learning” and says that “pupils value education and work hard to achieve the high standards the school sets for them”
The school was also praised for its well-designed curriculum which the report said supports pupils to achieve well
Inspectors also acknowledged that exam results in 2022 were “impressive
placing the school in the highest 20 per cent of schools nationally for progress and attainment in many subjects”
with pupils praised for behaving well and the school recognised for its “pleasant atmosphere”
Inspectors commented that pupils follow teachers’ routines and focus on their learning in lessons
The inspection report also noted that pupils “understand the school’s behaviour policy and appreciate the rewards they receive for good conduct”
The report also praised how Cottenham has “prioritised pupils’ wider development” with an “expertly delivered and extensive” personal
health and economic education (PSHE) programme through lessons
Principal Zoe Andrews said: “A lot of dedicated work has gone into improving Cottenham from everyone in our school community from Astrea
“While we are committed to improving on areas highlighted for improvement in the report
we are delighted with the conclusions of the inspection team
“I am very pleased that the report highlighted that our staff have “confidence in the leadership of the school and appreciate leaders’ support to maintain positive workload” and that our “governors and members of the trust board know the strengths and weaknesses of the school” and “challenge leaders effectively to ensure the school continues to improve”
“We remain committed to developing and enhancing the education we provide for our students in the aspirational
safe and inclusive environment we have been praised for in the report.”
said: "I am so pleased for the team at Cottenham
who have worked hard to turn the school around and to realise the high
scholarly expectations that students deserve."
The Liberal Democrats have retained their control of Cottenham following the South Cambridgeshire District Council by-election
held off a challenge from her closest competitor
Cllr Wilson joins fellow Liberal Democrat Annika Osbourne in representing the Cottenham ward
The turnout for the by-election was 39.33 per cent. It was called following the death of the former Liberal Democrat councillor Dr John Loveluck
The by-election was seen as a test of the support for the ruling Liberal Democrats amid controversy over plans for a congestion charge in Cambridge
The district council is one of the authorities that make up the Greater Cambridge Partnership
In the Northstowe by-election in November 2022
the Conservatives won one of the two seats from the Lib Dems
The Tories called it a “political earthquake” and a clear verdict on proposals for road charging in Cambridge
In Cottenham, the Conservatives significantly narrowed the gap from the 2021 election
compared to which the Lib Dems’ share of the vote was down 21 per cent
while the Conservatives’ share rose 12 per cent - a swing of 17 per cent
which may have benefitted the Lib Dems then
It was not enough for the seat to change hands and Cllr Wilson returns to represent the ward following earlier service
Cllr Wilson told the Cambridge Independent: “I am very pleased to have been elected to serve on South Cambridgeshire District Council and to represent the residents of Cottenham and Rampton alongside my colleagues Cllrs Osborne (district) and Cllr Gough (county)
“During my previous term as district councillor from 2018 to 2022
I strove to be open and to keep residents informed
I listened to their concerns and acted on them
“I intend to build on this and on the work of the late and much missed Cllr Dr John Loveluck.”
the party’s Parliamentary candidate for South Cambridgeshire
added: “This was a much deserved by-election win in Cottenham
Congratulations to fellow Liberal Democrat
and commiserations to all those who stood for election
“The results show the huge respect that the community has for Eileen and this is very much a result of her hard work previously as a former district councillor
“It is so good to see her representing Cottenham and Rampton once again at the district council together with Cllr Annika Osborne; and also with county councillor Neil Gouch
“This result also honours the memory and legacy of much-loved John Loveluck who sadly passed away only months after being elected last May
John loved being a district councillor and was particularly passionate about conserving nature and green spaces in and around Cottenham
“We are all reflecting on the many conversations we had on the doorsteps during the last few months
There is definitely no sense of entitlement among us Lib Dems and we are listening very hard to the issues being raised by local residents.”
describing him as an “outstanding man whose passion and commitment to his community and residents was second to none”
The win for the Liberal Democrats means the district council is now made up of 35 Liberal Democrat councillors
Cllr Smith said: “I am absolutely delighted that Eileen Wilson is going to be a district councillor in South Cambridgeshire for the second time
“I think it demonstrates the faith and confidence people in Cottenham have in the Liberal Democrat-run administration
“I know that Eileen was a fabulous district councillor last time she did it and I know she will be fabulous again
and will go on to provide a suitable legacy for Cllr Dr John Loveluck who very sadly died in the new year; he had left a large pair of boots to step into.”
Here's the result in today's Cottenham by-election - a hold for the Lib Dems with a reduced majority. pic.twitter.com/4qwYq55n4g
Cllr Wilson will represent the ward until May 2026 when all of the seats on the district council will be up for election again
A car rental outlet in Histon is set to close
with an application submitted for a replacement site in a neighbouring village
Enterprise Rent-a-Car is seeking permission from South Cambridgeshire District Council to open in Cottenham to replace its Histon site
The new shop is proposed for the former B&C Motors car showroom off the village High Street
Enterprise Rent-a-Car wants to refurbish the front of the existing building that faces the High Street
explaining that the rear part of the site will continue to be used by B&C Motors as a garage for MOT and servicing
The company said it expects to employ six staff at the site
In documents submitted with its application
the company said providing car rental services would help to reduce car ownership in the area
allow “local residents and businesses to transition from private vehicle ownership to shared access to vehicles
with many different people using the same car over a week or month”
It added: “Where private car ownership induces residents to use their cars for short trips
car rental acts to reserve car use for longer journeys or specific occasions of need
“This then supports public transport or active travel modes as the favoured option for shorter
“It can therefore be concluded that the use of the site as a car club and car rental facility will support sustainable transport patterns in the wider area and will make a real and positive impact on air quality and congestion in the local area surrounding the site.”
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19th Century, 20th Century, American Civil War, Race, Slavery, USA
Green Cottenham went down to the railway station in Columbiana
It was there that he would pick up casual labour transporting crates or picking cotton
In between shifts he whiled away his day playing dice and smoking tobacco with his fellow African-Americans
Cottenham was seized by the local sheriff’s chief deputy and accused of riding a freight train without a ticket
He appeared before a judge the following day
so the judge declared him guilty of ‘vagrancy’ instead
a crime so vague that there was no defence
“The leasing of prisoners to corporate interests by the state was a well-established activity in 19th-century America.”
The purpose of this legal charade was not to lock Cottenham up in prison
Instead he was sentenced to work for the Tennessee Coal
Iron and Railroad Company for three months of hard labour
plus an extra three months and six days’ work to pay off the costs of his arrest and sentencing
paid the county the considerable sum of $12 a month
Life in Pratts coal mine was a desperate affair
working underground ‘in a vast labyrinth of black rock tunnels
shared only by dozens of dirty mules and squadrons of desperate men’
and vicious punishments were regularly meted out by the overseers
Cottenham entered this environment a strong
The harrowing demise of Green Cottenham is a tale that becomes all too familiar in Douglas A Blackmon’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book
previously the Wall Street Journal’s bureau chief in Atlanta
has delved deep into the archives to paint a detailed and powerful picture of neo-slavery in the American South between the end of the Civil War in 1865 and the Second World War
The leasing of prisoners to corporate interests by the state was a well-established activity in 19th-century America
it developed into a widely practised and often extra-legal means of providing free black labour to a rapidly industrialising Southern economy
The war had ended the specific institution of slavery
but there was no strategy for cleansing the South of its ‘economic and intellectual addiction to slavery’
Rather than face up to the task of creating an equal society
the most racist elements of Southern society went about turning the region into what W E B Du Bois called an ‘armed camp for intimidating black folk’
Elements of this armed camp included the Ku Klux Klan
Through his diligent investigation into forced labour
Blackmon has unearthed and examined another important strand of post-Civil War Southern white hegemony
African-Americans would be accused of any number of petty and often unprovable crimes
such as speaking loudly in the presence of a white woman or selling cotton after sunset
Their convictions were hurried through the local magistrate and their labour sold to local industrialists
thus ‘knitting together the interests of capitalists
Such was the labyrinthine and often unofficial nature of this system that it is difficult for Blackmon to produce exact statistics
the end of the Reconstruction period after the Civil War
‘every former Confederate state apart from Virginia had adopted the practice of leasing black prisoners into commercial hands’
He estimates that by the end of the 1880s at least ten thousand black men in the South were slaving in forced labour
The numbers do not compare to the four million who were kept in slavery during the antebellum period
But the system was an important means of ‘terrorizing the larger black population into compliance with a social order in which they willingly submitted to complete domination by whites’
There were attempts to temper the most brazenly illegal excesses of this system
The use of forced labour continued well into the 20th century
until eventually a combination of changing social attitudes and increasing impracticality caused it to peter out
The period covered by Blackmon’s book saw post-Civil War America grow from a divided nation into a global superpower
a large and prosperous middle class emerged
deprived of access to the vote and a fair justice system
and forced to work without wages or freedom
Douglas Blackmon’s long catalogue of suffering does not make easy reading
and would be improved by removing the occasional rhetorical flourishes in which he imagines the fate of the convict labourer a little too creatively
it is an extremely valuable piece of history
and Blackmon sums up its importance for contemporary America effectively in his conclusion
only by acknowledging the full extent of slavery’s grip on American society – its intimate connection to present-day wealth and power
the depth of its injury to millions of black Americans
the shocking nearness of its true end – can we reconcile the paradoxes of current American life
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Peter York: Deluxe Editions - When the Going Was Good: An Editor’s Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines by Graydon Carter
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Designed and built by Sam Oakley
Cottenham Parish Council in Cambridgeshire is searching for an architect to redevelop its village hall
The winner of the £5,000 contract will regenerate an existing 50 year-old building which is ‘currently inflexible and not fit for purpose.’
The 120m² facility on Lambs Lane –featuring a stage
kitchen and car park – is currently used for wedding receptions
According to the contract notice: ‘Some minor works are anticipated over the next 12 months but it is time to consider the feasibility of a more radical approach
possibly involving demolition and rebuilding of the hall
‘This project seeks expressions of interests from architects who can convert our outline requirements into an outline planning concept for a viable multi-purpose two-storey building empathetic to the style of the nearby recently-expanded primary school.’
Located around 10 kilometres north of Cambridge
the Fen Edge village features around 2,500 households and is home to 6,200 people
View the contract notice for more information
Tel: 07768 713084 Email: Cllr.Morris@cottenhampc.org.uk
Hutchison Ports is recruiting a design team for its new £9 million…
An open international contest is being held for a major €27.5 million…
An international design and build contest is being held for 25 new…
The UK Research and Innovation Science and Technology Facilities Council (UKRI-STFC) has…
The future of a former village pub remains uncertain after an appeal to turn it into homes was dismissed
Proposals have been put forward to convert The Jolly Millers pub in Cottenham into a house
and to demolish the outbuildings at the back to construct a second new home
The pub has been closed for more than four years
and those behind the plans said running a pub at the site is no longer viable
But permission was refused by South Cambridgeshire District Council in January last year to convert the pub after concerns were raised about the loss of the pub
as well as around the impact the changes could have on protected bat species
The district council also said it had concerns about the impact on highway safety and on the character and appearance of the Cottenham Conservation Area
An appeal was submitted to the planning inspectorate by the applicant Gary Jackson
who had hoped to overturn the council’s decision
In the documents submitted as part of the original application
it said attempts had been made to find someone new to run the pub after it closed
or to use the building for any other commercial or community use
It said: “The applicant has demonstrated that reopening as a pub is not viable and furthermore
as well as a wealth of other social facilities
the ‘loss’ of the pub is policy compliant and that policy also acknowledged that residential reuse and new dwellings are both acceptable
“This modest proposal will bring new use and life to the pub
remove the existing outbuildings and create a new small detached dwelling
The functional requirements of each can be met and they will not impinge upon existing neighbours or each upon the other.”
The planning inspector said they were not persuaded that the business would be viable in the “current post-Covid economic climate”
and said they did not think the loss of the pub would reduce the community or service provision in Cottenham to an “unacceptable level”
They also said they believed that the public benefits of converting the pub would outweigh the “less than substantial harm to the significance of the Cottenham Conservation Area”
The inspector added that they believed the impact on the highway would be less than when the pub was in use
and said keeping the existing tarmacked area and providing a parking space for each house “would not result in a severe impact on highway safety”
the inspector said the plans did not show that the redevelopment would not impact protected species
The inspector said: “In this case the Bat and Nesting Report (BNR) states that the building to be removed has a low roosting suitability for bats
which means there is potential for a bat roost
and states that the building has a moderate habitat connectivity which indicates there is continuous and connected habitat linking to a wider landscape
the BNR in respect of bat species is not conclusive and any necessary avoidance or protection measures cannot be determined
“I conclude that the proposed development does not adequately demonstrate that impacts on protected species and the extent they might be affected can be avoided or mitigated and compensated.”
Due to these concerns around the potential impact on bats
the planning inspectors dismissed the appeal
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A Cambridgeshire woman said her garden has flooded with sewage three times in the last month
Sam King said her Cottenham garden has flooded with sewage every time it rains since 2020
The 49-year-old has lived in her family home for 15 years and said the flooding she's seen in the last few years is the worst it has ever been
She said it has been 'stressful' and has had an impact on her personal life and work life
"I'm at the lowest point in our cul-de-sac and the water backs up and has nowhere to go," Miss King said
Miss King said she was not able to use the toilets in her home or do any laundry for three days after Storm Babet in late October
She said it took Anglian Water 10 days to disinfect her garden after she had reported flooding with sewage caused by Storm Babet
"I could smell it for 10 days," she said
"It's just ridiculous – I have to watch the weather," she added
I have to work from home the day before or a couple of days before and I just do washing to make sure I'm on top of everything because as soon as it rains I can't do anything for three to five days."
She said she is on a first-name basis with Anglian Water's field engineers because they have come out to her home so often
sewage water has been coming onto her driveway and into her garage
An Anglian Water spokesperson said: "After the extreme weather we saw last week with Storm Babet
we sympathise with the customers who've been affected across our region
Upheaval to homes through flooding is very difficult for all concerned and the aftermath can last for a while
"Our local teams responded quickly to all reports of flooding in the area and will arrange clean ups of any sewage debris as required as soon as the flood water levels go down
With the increasing likelihood of even more extreme weather conditions due to climate change
we know that long term solutions are needed for Cottenham
"The torrential rain that fell last week put pressure on the flow that our sewers are designed to take – something that can happen from time to time as a result of exceptional weather
So we're looking at how we can improve the systems to cope with the kind of weather we're now experiencing."
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Home Lifestyle Article
created by Joe ‘King of Snowdrops’ Sharman of Cottenham-based Monksilver Nursery
has fetched a record £1,850 in an eBay auction
The bulb – full name Galanthus plicatus or ‘Golden Tears’ – was from the same variety as ‘Golden Fleece’
which took 18 years to develop and was sold on eBay for £1,390 in 2015
Mr Sharman has been growing and breeding snowdrops for 35 years and selling rare varieties on eBay for 15
The eBay listing read: “A narrow-flowered yellow pterugiform with a very large mark and bright yellow ovary
“The result of a deliberate cross by me using the same parents that created Golden Fleece
Gardening writer Val Bourne told MailOnline that the bulb bought on eBay will likely “go under the knife”
She added: “They’ll cut it into 20 pieces and start selling individual plants
“They’ll get their money back in three or four years
‘Galanthomania’ – an obsession with snowdrops – began in the 1980s
The season lasts just four or five weeks in January
Where to enjoy the snowdrops in and around Cambridgeshire
A Cambridgeshire village Co-op store was broken into by four masked men in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday
Police were called to the shop on the High Street in Cottenham just after 2.30am following the break in
An investigation into the burglary has begun and police are asking anyone with information about the incident to come forward
A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Constabulary said: “We were called at 2.35am on September 5 with reports of a break in at a branch of Co-op in High Street
“Four men with their faces covered broke into the store and damage was caused to the till area
It is unclear at this stage what was taken
“Anyone with information is urged to contact police via online forms at cambs.police.uk/report
“Anyone without internet access should call 101.”
Home Sport Article
Olympic bronze medallist Sam Oldham was an inspirational guest of honour at Cottenham Primary School’s sports day
The 26-year-old former Huntingdon Gymnastics Club competitor was the youngest member of the British men’s artistic gymnastics team that won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics
He was the special guest at Cottenham thanks to Persimmon Homes East Midlands and the company’s partnership with Team GB
commitment and enthusiasm associated with sport are really important to both staff
“It was a pleasure to welcome Sam to our school and seeing the children’s excitement when talking to him and getting to hold his medal was great – not to mention the delight of ones who competed against him in the 100m sprint and javelin throwing
“Thank you to Persimmon Homes and Team GB for being a part of our sports day.”
who also won gold with England at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games
said: “Sports days are so important as they showcase the variety of different sports and it gets the children outside and active
“The partnership between Persimmon Homes and Team GB allows us to help inspire the next generation and it is a pleasure to attend events such as Cottenham Primary School’s sports day.”
sales director for Persimmon Homes East Midlands
said: “The children were interested in Sam’s path to becoming an Olympic athlete
he may have inspired some athletes of the future
His determination and dedication to gymnastics was very evident and we wish him all the best for Tokyo 2020.”