A Councillor's Comments - July/August 2002

Does anyone remember Dixon of Dock Green ? - No neither do I. Starsky and Hutch were the cult viewing law enforcers during my formative years !! However it would seem that there will be a return to old style community policing. I kid you not, we arc, from July, going to have our own 2 community policemen. I am confident that by having local police they will get to know us, we them & most importantly their presence on the patch will deter the less desirable individuals in the locality. The police are an important part of our community. The chair reported that following complaints from residents about youngsters riding their motorcycles on the commons and other pieces of land, the police together with the council are looking for land away from residential areas for these young people to enjoy riding their motor bikes in a controlled environment, with safety being a priority and without them becoming a nuisance to the non motor cycle loving public. This kind of approach where the council and the police are working in partnership can only be beneficial for our town. If anyone knows where a piece of land might be available would they contact either PC Bob Rouse at Ely Police Station - 01353 656641 or Chair of Soham Town Council, Anne Tuite - 01353 723472.
Travellers have successfully been evicted from Qua Fen common, The Town Council together with the Lord of the Manor of Soham took steps to have the people removed from the common. This order applies for the next three months and it is hoped that the mounding work will be completed shortly, thus helping to prevent access.
Unfortunately news is not so good when it comes to footpaths. In Soham we have the most public footpaths in East Cambridgeshire - as a bit of a walker I personally feel very fortunate to have this facility on my doorstep so to speak. All over the country people have battled for public footpaths to be reopened for walkers/ramblers etc - in Soham we have a plethora of lovely walks. However the amount of money available to maintain our footpaths has been significantly reduced. The grant from East Cambridgeshire District Council is not sufficient to even keep our red route millennium walk tidy. The Town Council came to the conclusion that this footpath should be number one priority and the grant should be used for this purpose. We are going to meet with representatives from Soham Footpath Society and the county council to see if alternative ways in which these well used footpaths within Soham can be maintained - albeit to a minimum standard. Sometimes, I have to admit being on the town council can be difficult, 99% of Schemes, initiatives etc are good things. However they all have one thing in common - they require money. As a council we have difficult choices to make and that is what you elect us for.
In conclusion I cannot sign off without mentioning the Jubilee Celebrations. The council have been inundated with phone calls and letters of appreciation and thanks. We very often get to hear when things are not as you would like them to be, it is so refreshing when you let us know when we have done something right. Thank you. Regards,

Fiona Ross
Soham Town Councilor