A Councillor's Comments - May 2004

Dear Readers, this will be my last `Councillors Comments'. I have been writing the council's column for two years, Councillors take it in turns to do this and it is now time for me to hand on the pen! It will be my turn again (if elected) in 2032! I have tried to let you know about what we are up to, on your behalf, in a light hearted way. I hope this column has raised the occasional smile when at times there seemed less and less to laugh about. But as the old saying goes `you either laugh or cry' - Or you think about George W Bush being elected to a second term and you do both! Anyway on to Town Council business:

Soham - The `Makeover' Continues
We are to have beautiful hanging baskets back by the beginning of May 2004 and plans are afoot to extend the display to cover the Soham Festival week. You may have noticed that some of the buildings in the High Street and Churchgate Street have already had a `paint job' and already Soham is beginning to look smart. The Pavilion has a new floor but Gloria our assistant town clerk was a bit under-whelmed to discover scuff marks already - rest assured she will be calling the firm back to re-seal the floor!

Soham Town Forum
Robert Peacock (Chair of Soham Town Forum and Soham Association of Commerce & Trade - he is a busy man!!) came to inform the  Council what the forum has been up to:
Soham Festival - The auction was a great success on 1st April 2004, and a programme of events will be produced shortly, many thanks go to Peter Beer for his hard work and unstinting enthusiasm for this project.
Soham Healthcheck - this is ongoing, but James Talbot, the coordinator needs our help. There is a questionnaire to be completed to indicate what we, the people of Soham would like to see in our town. An incentive has been offered, all completed questionnaires will be put into a hat, the winner will receive a computer. Questionnaires will be available from the Library, Pavilion and local shops - you can also complete it On-line via www.soham.org.uk or www.eastcambs.gov.uk.
Soham Market - A co-ordinator is needed to get the market up and running again, if you or anyone you know has time to spare and feels a market would enhance our town - please get in touch with Robert.
Soham Tribune - the forum are keen to get a community newsletter up and running but this is still in the early planning stages. Robert would like to see more members of the public at the Forum meetings. Please go along, find out what they are up to and have `your say',

Donations
I am happy to report that the Town Council (on your behalf - I know many of you like to know where the money goes!) has donated £300 to Cambridgeshire Libraries to run another summer holiday reading scheme in Soham. This was hugely successful last summer; many children and, dare I say, parents really benefited from this initiative last year. Also the Council have again supported the Viva Youth Theatre to the tune of £500 - again I think money well spent!

Annual Town Council Meeting
Finally, if you would like to find out what the Town Council has been up to over the past year as well as our District & County Councillors you are most welcome to attend Soham Town Council's Annual General Meeting being held at The Pavilion on the Recreation Ground on Monday 10 May 2004 from 8.00pm onwards.

Goodbye & Kindest Regards

Fiona Ross
Soham Town Councilor