A Councillor's Comments - March 2001

Firstly may we wish our usual correspondent, Anne Tuite, every good health and hope to see her back amongst as soon as she is fit. 
Looking round the town, what a lot is happening! I am so pleased as someone who drives along Sand Street at school time to hear of the plans to put in a refuge to help parents and children cross what is a very busy road, and this will add support to the Lollipop Lady!
Next, The Millennium Capsule. Please remember the size of the capsule, 18 inches by 10 but also please think about anything which you think should go into this which in some fifty years plus will remind people of what the town was like in the year 2000. Anything which you feel would be worth remembering should be with the Town Clerk by April 12th and then the committee will be able to make their choice.
As the town’s population grows, so does the extra pressure on the Health Centre. I am therefore pleased to see that steps are being taken to cope with the extra numbers of patients. Not only could there be new consulting rooms, better admin and dispensary facilities, but also increased parking spaces. I am amazed by how the caring staff has increased in recent years!
Concerns have been expressed about shopping in Soham and the burden of rates and rents on ‘the small traders’. I share these concerns and I would urge all Soham residents to shop in the town as much as they can. I personally find Soham a good place to shop and don’t feel the desire to go out of town. Besides, it is good to meet long time friends and acquaintances as I go about the town.
More concerns have been expressed about the lack of gritting in bad weather on the busy road across East Fen Common and also the approach to the Health Centre. These problems are being tackled, but let’s hope we don’t need to have much need for this now we are approaching Spring!
Policing matters. There has been an increase in theft of and from cars, so please look after your trusty companion and do not leave it exposed to interference. Secondly, Spring is coming and this is traditionally a time when garden sheds are liable to be raided, so make sure your shed is safe and garden equipment is post coded.
I am moved by the amount that has been raised for Jenny Watson through the collection at the Co-op but saddened at the theft of some of this money earlier on in the year. Now let us celebrate the new stained glass window in the church and all that it stands for.
Finally it was good to see the town celebrated in a recent edition of the Cambridge Evening News

Lionel Hart
Soham Town Council - Chairman