Community Matters

Matters

VOLUNTEERS BRING PRIDE

BACK TO PLOUGH GARDEN Whittlesey Street Pride volunteers have transformed Plough Garden in Plough Road which had seen better days with the rotten wood surrounds making it look a sorry state. A successful bid for funds from Whittlesey Town Council enabled it to be renovated with ecofriendly recycled plastic surrounds. After much backbreaking work, surplus earth was removed and the new surround built and secured around the area. It took in total five Whittlesey Street Pride volunteers six hours to transform it into that which is seen today. Everything was performed under strict COVID-19 conditions, hence there were only five people involved. Whittlesey Street Pride members, who have thanked Whittlesey Town Council and David Palmer, Dick Green, Chris Nicholas, Peter Davies, and Alan Hobbs, hope to resume litter picking and plan to publish dates, times, and locations soon.

FREE NHS

COUNSELLING SESSIONS Free NHS counselling is available now for issues including anxiety, depression, stress, bereavement, self-harm, relationship issues and many more. Weekly sessions will be held online via Zoom or via telephone. You can self-refer direct by calling 01733 767279.

Discovering Whittlesea, Benwick Road Ind. Est., Benwick Road, Whittlesey, Peterborough, PE7 2HD editor.whittlesea@discoveringmagazines.co.uk

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YEAR’S GARDENING DUTIES Gardeners are being urged to sign-up for Fenland District Council’s garden waste service. More than 22,500 residents across the district are now benefitting from the clean and costeffective way to dispose of their garden waste, with easy, fortnightly brown bin collections throughout the year. New direct debit subscriptions for the 2021/22 service were due to go on sale on December 1st, 2020, with card and cash payment subscriptions going live on January 4th, 2021. Existing direct debit customers will have their subscriptions automatically renewed in February 2021, ready for the garden waste service to start in April 2021. The £40 annual fee first introduced in 2017/18 is set to increase to £45, which the council says remains one of the lowest priced authority garden waste services in the East of England. However, the discount offered to all new and existing customers paying for the fortnightly service by direct debit has been increased from ten to more than fifteen percent making the direct debit cost just £38 for the coming season. For more information on the garden waste service and to sign up, visit www.fenland. gov.uk/gardenwaste

or call 01354 654321.

POPPY BLITZ MAKES A

MEMORABLE SIGHT

With Remembrance Day parades cancelled, it was important for Whittlesey to show its respect for those who lost their lives fighting for our country. The Whittlesey Poppy Blitz took almost seven months to complete. More than 120 people helped create 10,000+ poppies and thousands of hours work resulted in a magnificent display. Children in pre-school, local groups, crafters, and pensioners in care homes all contributed, some with just a few poppies, with others taking on daily tasks. Poppies were made out of wool, plastic, wood and felt. The good work was shown on social media and reached 43,000 people with more than five hundred shares, and it was also highlighted by ITV. Sue Kitchin said: “At a time when we have spent months trying to stay in touch but through a safe distance, the sight of 10,000 colourful and unique poppies connecting Whittlesey’s past and present community has been both welcome and spectacular. “I have nothing but admiration for those whose creativity, resilience and collaboration have produced such a poignant display, dedicated to those who gave up their own lives and opportunities so that we could have ours. Thank you to everyone who has made it possible for us to show our respect and walk amongst the Whittlesey Poppy Blitz in 2020.” HELP TO STAY SAFE Fenland District Council is continuing to work with local businesses to help them keep their premises, staff and customers safe amid the ongoing coronavirus challenges. The authority’s environmental health team has been on hand throughout the pandemic to help businesses follow COVID-19 guidance, helping protect local people and giving the public muchneeded peace of mind when out and about. Businesses can now be fined up to £10,000 for failing to abide to the Government’s coronavirus regulations, while fines for individuals breaking the ‘rule of six’ or failing to wear a face mask have been doubled to £200 for the first offence. Any businesses which need advice and support can contact the team on (01354) 654321 or via email at: envhealth@fenland.co.uk