Home   News   Article Conservative candidate Paul Bristow was elected mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough on Friday (2 May) The former Peterborough MP won the election with 60,243 votes Labour’s Anna Smith was unable to succeed her party colleague Dr Nik Johnson Liberal Democrat Lorna Dupré was just behind Here’s what the candidates had to say after the election result was announced at the Ross Peers Sports Centre in Soham The newly-elected mayor began his winner’s speech by thanking his team and his wife He went on: “It’s a shame that on this good day we’ve seen so many committed Conservative councillors lose their seats but I think we can turn around and say that we’re getting Cambridgeshire and Peterborough moving.” Mr Bristow was critical of Labour’s campaign which focused on the fact that he owns a house in St Albans “It seemed perhaps one of the most vindictive wicked and personal elections we’ve seen in Cambridgeshire by the Labour Party He thanked outgoing mayor Dr Nik Johnson for his service Dr Johnson decided not to stand again for health reasons Mr Bristow reassured his voters that he will deliver on all his pledges and signed off his speech saying: “There is lots to do and we start that work straight away I’m going to kiss my wife and have a drink.” Read our interview with Mr Bristow here Reform UK candidate Ryan Coogan congratulated Mr Bristow on his win He beat us fair and square in this election we are the official opposition to the mayoral candidacy here in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and we will certainly be holding the manifesto to account.” Mr Coogan thanked everyone involved in his campaign and said it was an “absolute pleasure” to take part we have seen a phoenix rising and we will be here to hold all of the various Parliamentary big guns to account in the coming years also congratulated Mr Bristow on his victory as well as all the other candidates for putting themselves forward She also thanked the election teams across the county She said: “I’m proud of my record at the Combined Authority - helping to turn it around after a rocky start and delivering making my contribution to so many fantastic projects from ARU Peterborough to the Centre for Green Technology from Chatteris Museum to Cambridge bus station introducing pre-9.30 travel for concessionary passes and taking our buses back under public control.” “I would’ve liked to have seen these things through and implemented my plan for change but I will always be proud of what I have contributed.” Ms Dupre began her speech thanking her partner and team She also thanked the residents of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who voted for her she said: “You have made a large number of very expensive promises to the population of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough “We’ll be watching carefully to see how you move forward in the coming months and years.” She also addressed Reform UK candidate Ryan Coogan Ms Dupré stated that the first past the post system “no longer stands up as the representative system of government” Dr Johnson was elected at the last election in 2021 using a supplementary vote system which meant that voters expressed a first and second choice When the leading candidate did not get 50 per cent from first choice votes the lowest candidate was eliminated and second choice votes were counted That proved enough for Dr Johnson to oust the favourite Ms Dupré said that the Labour governments needs to “think again about electoral reform and a fair voting system” She signed off her speech saying: “Mr Bristow Green party candidate Bob Ensch was not present for the speeches   ‘Speed is what you need’ said Grandmaster Flash on a lesser-known album track from 1985 and while there may be some fast frontrunners fishing for first place that is decidedly not what this report is all about Soham Village College’s attendee numbers were slightly inflated this week by the latest group of Ely Runners (ER) Beginners choosing Soham as their graduation parkrun of choice Having spent the last ten weeks under the tuition and guidance of the ER coaches today was the day for the latest cohort of new runners There was an impressive show of strength from Ely Runners so the by now trademark pre-run photo-op under the club flag was a must and featured the best part of 50 Ely Runners Run Director Justin SMITH welcomed all to SVC parkrun event # 209 and extended a special welcome to all the Beginners (an ER course that he has been involved with since 2018 Speed wasn’t of concern to the Beginners today but a willingness to take on the 67 corners of the SVC parkrun course hopefully resulting in a great sense of satisfaction and enjoyment was The Beginners had all completed the 5k distance before but not necessarily under the watchful eyes of marshals supporters and cake sellers (SVC regular Josh LEAFORD below fundraising for a voluntary-work trip to Borneo) While the legendary scratch DJ Grandmaster Flash was certainly outstanding in the field of turntablism and the inventor of the Quick Mix theory today’s parkrunners went one better as they were out running in the fields of Soham Village College (putting their own quick kicks theory into full effect Barnet & District AC latecomer Rory DILLON (caught out by the roadworks at the Fordham end of town) effected a one-man rolling start having unwittingly given everyone a two-minute advantage but impressively made up for lost time to come in 16th overall in 22:55 had he not been delayed by the diversion Rory may well have seen a 1 second improvement on his best time Peter ROYLE and Justin SMITH found time for a selfie (above) but a big shout out to all the volunteers today including Heather ALDHOUSE who doubled up on hi-viz duties by starting as marshal on the science block corner (seemingly knowing everyone by name calling out personal encouragement to all) to then effortlessly move over on to Finish Token duty - nicely done Heather ER coach David MOULD (dressed top to toe in orange and looking like he’d been Tangoed) was seen making Moves like Jagger as he danced past the speaker spot before heading on to laps two and three and a finish time of 22:31 he was uncertain if the 20:00.84 that the timekeepers captured for him would be rounded up or down but the results when published would pleasingly go on to show Ted recording 20:00 and a new PB to boot Bearing down on young Beardon but unable to catch him was Graham CHAPMAN (Ely Runners) in 20:17 that elusive sub-20 still just out of reach so far in 2025 Ely visitor and SVC first timer Montague PERREN (JM10) had a great run in 21:26 Ely Runners) crossing the line 1 second later as was (Auntie) Camilla CHEUNG in 23:30 with a new 28 second PB securing her No 1 time after 234 parkruns the timing of Timekeeper (and ER coach) Lauren THOMAS’s workout playlist was ever so slightly off-centre as Jon Bon Jovi’s 1987 chart-topper ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ (featuring the rousing singalong chorus of ‘Whoa we’re halfway there…’) kicked in as most started lap three causing concerned looks from a few I noticed Parkrun is such a boost and a great way to start the weekend as Beverly M (38:24) could be heard enthusing: ‘I always feel SO much better for having done parkrun’ while Louise IVEY (Chatteris Running Club) on checking her watch in the finish funnel and clocking her time of 38:26 with arms aloft simply let out a Crossing the line in 100th place was ER Beginner and a man with a plan Aman Kumar CHOURASIA (34:40) who in a bid to lighten the load my phone on lap two and my jacket on lap three.’ Amen to that Aman and with those kinds of tactics being employed so early on in your running journey I’m sure we’ll see you at parkrun again soon seen below) who having thoroughly enjoyed her run was much more upfront and stated with some certainty ‘I will definitely be continuing with parkrun and also joining Ely Runners’ For Justin and all the other Ely Runners coaches who are also part of the parkrun team that’s a real endorsement and a definite win/win but crossing the finish line to huge cheers and with great style and finesse was Simran PARTI who in a time of 55:31 knocked some two minutes off her ER Beginners 5k time recorded on Monday – way to go Simran And good work ER coach Ann THORNTON (55:32) for being party to Simran’s success these past ten weeks and today From Tail Walker John BURBIDGE in position 131 spinning back on the table in a way that the Grandmaster would approve congratulations to those at the sharp end of today’s run with Kevin VAUGHAN (Thetford AC) and James FISHER (Ely Runners) finishing in first and second place but both with the same recorded time of 19:16 and Jamie CARTER (Ely Runners) getting third spot in 19:30 Well done also to Laura TODD (Ely Runners) being first lady home in a PB of 21:52 JW15-17) in 23:15 and Laura UPSTONE (Ely Runners) 23:19 What a fun Saturday morning of running and supporting We finally reached the first parkrun of British Summertime so the hats and gloves can now be put away and t-shirts become the norm There is definitely a warmer feel on Saturday mornings now making it a much more enjoyable experience trying to achieve those PB’s With the arrival of the inaugural parkrun at Ben’s Yard Stuntney we hoped it wouldn’t distract our regulars but variety is the spice of life and we welcome the addition of more Fenland countryside events We still had the hardcore regulars with 58 finishers and 21 volunteers Today's fastest was Keith McCarthy with a new PB of 18:59 Thanks also to the 10 first timers who avoided Ben's Yard and visited Soham today It was also a somewhat melancholy event today as yesterday was the funeral of former councillor and Soham Parkrun legend George Ginn George had been a regular since 2020 and had completed 127 parkruns even completing a run on his 90th birthday just 4 days before Christmas and several months after hip replacement surgery He was there in the cold and wet but always finished with a smile He was often seen on his early morning training runs and it was on one of these that he sadly passed away He was an inspiration to all of us at Soham Village College Parkrun and his presence will always be felt here © 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 two of which had been hidden inside a water butt Rural patrols attended Long Dolver Drove in Soham after a farmer reported hare coursers near the A142 last week After a short pursuit on foot, three men were detained and given community protection warnings by Cambridgeshire Police The seized dogs have been put into kennels Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X ShareSaveWatch: Cyclist films huge potholes on major roadHe warns there could be "a very serious accident" unless the potholed road near a hospital is fixed. Listen: Carer calls 999 after finding widow's bodyShe tells an operator she believed 86-year-old Una Crown had set herself alight in her bungalow. Meet the man who busks from inside a litter bin"I could fit in there," thought Charles Cavey, and the rest is history. Garden lights aim to show trees in a 'different way'Prof Beverley Glover says a university's famous garden aims to educate and provide a festive show. Police officer chased by man with knifeAaron Muxlow is jailed after the dramatic incident in Cambridge. Police catch drug dealer after chase into bushesThe man tries to run away from police after they pull his car over. Watch: Double-decker bus crashes into ditchSix children are rescued unhurt and a driver is taken to hospital as a precaution after the crash. Watch: Police chase men after shop smash and grabTwo men throw an object at the shop window and start to fill a bag with stolen goods. Traffic cone removed from Oliver Cromwell's headA cherry picker is deployed to the Lord Protector's statue after the local MP posts on social media. Pilot draws smiley face in sky after England winA giant number five also appears minutes after the side beat Switzerland 5-3 on penalties. Watch: Drug dealer jumps into river to flee policePolice use a paddleboard to retrieve a bag containing money and drugs from the branches of a tree. Posh fans 'disappointed' with play-off semi resultOxford United beat Peterborough United 2-1 on aggregate in their League One play-off semi-final. Bronze Age jewellery theft caught on CCTVThe gold items were 3,000 years old and taken during the middle of the night. Armed police arrest knife suspect in StarbucksPolice bodycam captures the moment an armed officer enters a coffee shop full of customers. Drink-driver breathalysed after hitting railingsPolice footage shows the driver, now disqualified, trying to explain what happened. Watch: Overtaking van narrowly avoids head-on crashDashcam footage shows other drivers swerving out of the way to avoid a collision. Watch: Driver punctures tyres at bus lane car trapThe council installed extra no-entry signs in October to stop drivers from using the lane. Watch: Demolition of 83 new-build homes completedDrone video shows flattened land where houses were knocked down over concerns about the foundations. Watch: 'Brazen' thief steals locked bike in secondsHe is seen removing a wheel to free the bicycle from a rack in a busy city centre. Police find nitrous oxide and illegal drugs in carPolice discover nitrous oxide and other illegal drugs in a man's vehicle in Essex. Approval has been given to a major development that will see up to 540 new homes built on the edge of Soham The Soham Eastern Gateway development has faced backlash from people in the town with over 280 objections formally lodged against it and fears shared about the impact it will have on the area councillors at East Cambridgeshire District Council highlighted the benefits the new development would bring including a new medical centre to replace the oversubscribed GP surgery One councillor suggested the development and its benefits would be “welcomed with open arms” in other areas The plans for the Soham Eastern Gateway development were put forward by This Land Development Ltd a company set up and owned by Cambridgeshire County Council The new 540 homes are proposed to be built on land west of the A142 between East Fen Common and Qua Fen Common The new homes are proposed to include 108 affordable homes and 27 self-build plots A ‘mixed-use neighbourhood centre’ is also proposed by the developer and a new medical centre to replace the existing Staploe Medical Centre The development is due to be built out over seven phases starting with the new roundabout and main access from the A142 told councillors at a planning committee this week (August 13) that the new development would provide “social He highlighted that the land had been allocated for new housing since 2015 Mr Seamark said the developer had made a lot of changes to the proposals since the original plans were submitted in 2019 and said it had been “worth taking the time to understand and find solutions for concerns raised” He highlighted that £70,000 would be given towards protecting and enhancing the Commons from Mereside Medical which runs Staploe Medical Centre said they had spent 13 years trying to find a way to get a “fit for purpose and fit for the future building” She said the existing medical centre was built to cater for around 13,000 patients but was currently serving around 24,000 people Ms Woods said they had looked at all the options and concluded that the “only viable solution” was to build a new facility She said the new centre proposed within the Soham Eastern Gateway development would offer the capacity to serve 32,000 people with the potential to expand in the future Ms Woods stressed that the project to build the new medical centre depended on the wider Soham Eastern Gateway development getting approval While there was support for improving the health care services in the town many people raised concerns about the impact of the housing development One objector argued the application would be “the end of the Commons” and said the development “cannot be allowed to happen” The objector argued: “The Commons are unique special historically and currently valuable for wildlife Another opponent said: “We stay united in doing everything in our power to prevent our beautiful and well-loved Commons from being enclosed by modern-day developments that will change the Commons as we know them to nothing more than a green space bereft of wildlife wildflowers and the peace and tranquillity we love and enjoy.” Stretham) said there had been no mention of building on the actual Commons and highlighted the financial contributions proposed for facilities by the developer He shared his support for the proposed medical centre saying he had an “obligation” as an elected councillor to “keep the health and wellbeing of this district at a high level” Fordham and Isleham) understood the anger from residents who did not want to see the new homes built on the edge of the town she said other parts of the district had seen developments “inflicted on them without all the benefits” proposed in the Soham Eastern Gateway She said: “We would have loved to have a doctors’ surgery Anything like that would be fantastic and welcomed with open arms and if it had come with more housing we would have taken it.” Cllr Huffer said she also remembered the “dark days” when the district council did not have a five-year supply of housing and had seen developments “thrust” upon them “without any community benefits” She argued the authority had to “defend” its five-year housing supply and noted: “If we do not do this today it will be done to us by the government or some land agent who will challenge our five-year housing supply.” some councillors said they did have concerns about the development Bottisham) was “very concerned” the development would only be offering 20 per cent affordable housing and shared concerns that residents there would be “car dependent” Cllr Trapp said: “I know it is in the Local Plan but the point here is they are trying to shoehorn something in where it does not actually fit.” Woodditton) had concerns but saw the benefit of the medical centre Mr Seamark said 20 per cent affordable housing was the “maximum viable amount of affordable housing” the developer could provide due to the “significant amount of infrastructure needed” highlighting the new roundabout and medical centre Planning officers said there would be a review mechanism to see if it became viable for more affordable housing to be provided as the development progressed A majority of councillors agreed to approve the outline application More detailed plans will need approval before building can begin The committee also unanimously approved the detailed plans for the new medical centre said: “We are committed to delivering sustainable high-quality homes which benefit local communities “The Soham Eastern Gateway plans are designed to support the revitalised town centre of Soham one of the largest and fastest-growing market towns in the area and we are delighted that they have been approved “We have worked hard to deliver plans that offer a multitude of benefits for residents including new homes a much-needed new medical centre and community space while protecting and promoting biodiversity and green spaces that everybody can enjoy.” It was the last parkrun before Christmas day and our participants and our fantastic volunteers has embraced the fact and were wearing fantastic seasonal costumes It was to be special for another reason as well but we were getting slightly worried as RD for the day and the main attraction had not been spotted A short while into the brief and we all breathed a sigh of relief as the man of the hour was seen walking down the path to the start with a large entourage following in his wake George Ginn had arrived and was about to start his 119th parkrun all of which have been done at Soham Village College parkrun he reminded us he had set himself a goal when he went into have his hip replacement operation early in June this year that he would be doing a parkrun on 21st December his 90th birthday and he had informed the surgeon before his operation George had been back walking with us since the middle of October and he had been spectating with his walker before that while he was recovering Rob reminded George that he would have a new age category PB whatever his time George proceeded to power around the three laps with various members of his family and he crossed the finish line to rapturous applause Georges family brought cakes which we consumed after the finish and then his support party had a group photo taken George is truly an inspiration to everyone at Soham Village College parkrun and we were happy to be a part of Georges celebrations We look forward to seeing him in the future. I am sure there cannot be many people who can say they took part in a 5km event on their 90th Birthday just 6 months after a hip replacement