ing for an event, group or activity? W ISBECH TOWN MATTERS ISSUE 17 Christmas 2013
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The Community Newsletter for Wisbech
IT’S CHRISTMAS & I’M ON MY WAY TO WISBECH!
Wisbech
Christmas Lights The Market Place, Sunday 1st December Entertainment from 3pm-6pm The Mayor of Wisbech, Samatha Hoy will switch on the Christmas Lights at around 4pm
Come and meet our special guest,
Santa!
Sunday 1st December
Wisbech
Christmas Lights This year’s event sees a change with Wisbech Switch On celebrations taking place at the weekend on Sunday 1st December. Come along and join in the fun in Wisbech Market Place from 3pm-6pm. Wisbech’s favourite fire engine, Vivien will be in attendance and of course the children will have a chance to meet our special guest, Father Christmas. Before the lights are officially switched on by the Mayor, the town centre will be full of opportunities for pre-Christmas bargains with Wisbech’s shops and traders entering into the spirit. Shops will be open from 10am - 4pm, so make sure you’ve signed up to the Wisbech Loyalty Card scheme to qualify for your discounts and special deals. There will be a Fairground in the Market Place in the afternoon, with rides and fun for all, and from 3pm onwards the Wisbech Town Team have organised Christmas entertainment including singing, dancing, the Christmas movie countdown, snow machines, Panto pandemonium and of course traditional Christmas carols. Special guest Father Christmas will be there with free sweets for children from 4.15pm (kindly donated by Wisbech Lions). Free mince pies will be handed out to visitors (kindly donated by Asda, Aldi, the Co-op, Lidl, Morrisons and Tesco), and delicious mulled wine will be on sale to give you that warm, Christmassy feeling.
There’s something for everyone including a thirty-five foot Christmas Tree decorated with hundreds of LED lights adding to the glitz of the occasion.
So come and enjoy a wonderful afternoon and evening on Sunday 1 December from 3pm-6pm, Wisbech Market Place! The
Wisbech Loyalty Card Get yours from one of these locations: • Kodak Store (Horsefair Shopping Centre) • Wisbech Information Centre • Wisbech library • Fenland Citizen Office or, for more information visit:
www.my-loyalty-card.com/wisbech/
Welcome to the Christmas edition of the Wisbech Town Matters Newsletter. This year has seen many changes for me. I was delighted to be elected Mayor earlier this year and have really enjoyed representing Wisbech. I also started a new job, caring for people with learning difficulties. In my travels and work I have been impressed by the number of organisations working so hard for their town. I have attended many functions, near and far, although not as many as I would wish. 2013 saw another outstanding Rose Fair, and the Wisbech Festivals were again wonderful occasions where the people of Wisbech were able to get together and enjoy the town. I am now looking forward to the Christmas Lights Switch On on 1 December, and the Wisbech Christmas Market on 16 December plus attending all the forthcoming civic events for the remainder of my Mayoral year. I hope everyone continues to work hard in making Wisbech a wonderful place to live. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and a successful 2014 Cllr Miss Sam Hoy – Mayor of Wisbech
Looking for an event, group or activity? Wisbech Town Council What’s On Fenland District Council Tourism Cambridgeshire.net
www.wisbechtowncouncil.org.uk www.visitcambridgeshirefens.org www.cambridgeshire.net
Healthwatch Cambridgeshire is the new champion for people using local health & social care services; we launched in July 2013. We work to ensure that people’s voices are heard in making important decisions about local NHS, social care and public health services. We talk to people in the local community about their experience of the care they receive to help us understand how well local care services are working. We make sure we feed this information back where it matters to the people buying, providing and regulating local care services. Tell us about your health & social care experiences. We want to hear about the good and not so good, as this feedback can help improve care for everyone. Join our Consultation Network, which will connect you with organisations that should know about your experiences and opinions of care in Cambridgeshire. Get problems resolved… We can make sure you know where to go if you need to sort out a problem with a local care provider. We can give you information about how different complaints systems work and who can help you get your complaint resolved. Find out about local care. We are developing a Signposting & Information Service, to help you find out about your choice of health & social care services. Find out more about Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and get involved by calling us on 01480 420628, emailing enquiries@healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk or visit our website www.healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk Follow us on Twitter @HW_Cambs
at Healthwatch Cambridgeshire
St Peter & St Paul’s Church 24 December 5pm – Candlelit Carol Service 11.30pm - Midnight Mass
25 December 10am - Christmas Day Service
Our Lady and St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Queens Road Christmas Eve Children's Mass at 3pm Midnight Mass with carols from 11.30pm Christmas Day 11.15am Carol Concert followed by mince pies and wine on Sun 15 Dec at 3pm
St Augustine’s Christmas Tree Festival Friday 13th December (viewing 6-9pm) Saturday 14th December (viewing 10 til 4pm inc stalls & refreshments) Bell Folk concert @ 7pm Sunday 15th December Christingle Wednesday 18th December with Orchards School children/parents/staff Christmas Eve Tuesday 24th December - Midnight Mass 11.30pm Christmas Day Wednesday 25th December - 9.00a.m. Wisbech Baptist Church, Hill Street Saturday 21st 10am Sunday 22nd 10.30am Sunday 22nd 5.00pm Christmas Day 10.00am Sunday 29th 10.30am
Come along and enjoy a mince pie Start of the Real Christmas Christmas Tea a bit of fun with Lessons and Carols United Free Churches Christmas Day Service at the Salvation Army, West Street Christmas Reflection including Communion
BOX OFFICE 01945 474447
PERFORMANCES Tuesday 10th – 7.30 Wednesday 11th – 7.30 Friday 13th – 7.30 Saturday 14th – 2.30 Saturday 14th – 7.30 Tuesday 17th – 7.30 Wednesday 18th (SOLD OUT) Friday 20th (SOLD OUT) Saturday 21st – 2.30 Saturday 21st – 7.30 (SOLD OUT) Monday 23rd – 7.30 Friday 27th – 2.30 Saturday 28th – 2.30 Sunday 29th – 2.30 Monday 30th – 2.30 Tuesday 31st – 2.30 Tickets: £10 (£8 concessions) £34 for a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children)
A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from staff and councillors at Wisbech Town Council
School term dates 2013/2014 Autumn term ends 20 December 2013 - Spring term starts 7 January 2014 Voluntary aided, foundation and academy schools may differ, so please contact schools directly for confirmation.
Care workers required Be rewarded every day Care UK is looking for dedicated Care Workers to offer support to people in their own homes in Wisbech, March, Chatteris, Whittlesey & surrounding areas No experience necessary, however own transport essential. In return we offer: Competitive hourly rates & mileage allowance Full training to diploma level II ......... Flexible hours to suit your needs 28 days paid holiday per year Free uniforms & PPE CRB paid Please call Amanda Gilgil on 07501 224 345 or email: Amanda.gilgil@careuk.com www.careuk.com/careers All appointments are subject to full enhanced disclosure Care UK is an equal opportunity employer
Did you know there is free WiFi in the Horsefair Shopping Centre, Wisbech Library and many other places around Wisbech? It’s easy to get connected
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING Wisbech town centre is a bustling place. The market has stalls selling a variety of goods and local produce during the week, from the regular to the exotic. Complimenting the shopping offer within Wisbech it is full of bargains throughout the year. Traders on site throughout the week Major markets on Thursdays and Saturdays. There is one hour FREE parking on the south side of the market place most days (a ticket must be obtained). The Market Place is closed to all traffic on Thursdays and Saturdays (through town traffic via Hill Street and High Street only (one-way). The Horsefair side of the Market Place is pedestrianised at all times
Traders in the Christmas Spotlight
Russell’s Butchers Rout’s Fishmongers
Supplying fresh meat, eggs, game, fish, shellfish plus seasonal specialities
Thursdays and Saturdays CHRISTMAS DINNER SPECIALS!
Wisbech Loyalty Card - register your email to enjoy fantastic savings throughout the town http://www.my-loyalty-card.com/wisbech @MLCWisbech Wisbech loyalty card saves you money, supports local business, & is sponsored by the Horsefair shopping centre, Wisbech Town Council & Fenland District Council Fully supported by the Wisbech & District Chamber of Commerce
Thursday 31 October Launch of Wisbech Loyalty Card scheme Wisbech Market Place with Susanah Farmer, Deputy Town Clerk, Cllr Miss Sam Hoy, Mayor of Wisbech, Kevin Smith, Horsefair Manager, Chris Seaton, Fenland District Council Portfolio Holder for Economy, Inward Investment, Business and Skills Development, Clive Gibbon, Fenland District Council Economic Development Manager, and Stuart Hopkins of My Loyalty Card © Fenland Citizen
Official launch of Wisbech Loyalty Card - Wisbech Market Place The free scheme is hoping to encourage people to shop in the town centre by offering discounts and incentives in local businesses. A total of 26 businesses have signed up so far, including Specsavers, Holiday With Us, Brian Hardy, Trespass and the Fenland Citizen. As well as being a distributor for the loyalty cards, the Citizen is offering 15 per cent off photo orders made in the office. Mayor Sam Hoy was in town on Thursday, keen to sign up as many people as possible to the scheme which is being backed by the town council. Cllr Hoy already has her own card and said: “I think this is really good. We have to try something new and it’s worth it to try and get people into town.” The loyalty card is free to use and free for businesses to sign up. There is no complicated collection of points either. Showing your card gets you the discount, if applicable, in the businesses taking part. In some shops, this could be a percentage off your bill when you spend a certain amount or a free gift. For more information about the loyalty card scheme, visit www.my-loyalty-card.com/wisbech or Twitter @MLCWisbech Pick up your card and information leaflet from the Kodak Store in the Horsefair Shopping Centre, Wisbech Information Centre, Wisbech Library and the Fenland Citizen office. If you are a business and would like to sign up, contact Stuart Hopkins of My Loyalty Card Ltd on 07794 222156 or email admin@my-loyalty-card.com
Voter registration forms were delivered throughout October and November 2013 and Fenland District Council urges you to confirm your details as soon as possible They require a response from every household, even if your details have not changed. You may not realise that you have to register every year and that you are not automatically registered even if you pay Council Tax. You may also find that not being on the electoral register can affect your credit rating. Canvassers have now started door knocking non-responding properties to obtain information and they will continue visits until the end of January 2014. All canvassers will carry official ID. To ensure your details appear on the register, you need to respond by 10th February 2014 at the very latest. If once you have responded your circumstances change, or you do not receive a form, or you have a query about registration, please contact the Electoral Services team. To contact Electoral Services call 01353 654321 or email: elections@fenland.gov.uk
Update from Parliament - Steve Barclay MP Progress continues to be made in Wisbech and surrounding areas in cracking down on illegal gangmasters. At the time of writing, ten people have been arrested and three gangmaster agencies suspended. The operation, code named Operation Endeavour, involved the police and other agencies, including the National Crime Agency and the Gangmasters Licensing Authority. It is an important step in halting the exploitation of migrant workers in the Fens and sending out a message to potential criminals thinking of targeting our area. I called for action on the exploitation of migrant workers in June 2012, seeking more effective multi-agency working. I have worked behind the scenes on the issue throughout this Parliament and am delighted that some of this is now visible through the recent raids. I extend my thanks to Cambridgeshire Police and the agencies involved. Congratulations are also due to Wisbech PCSO Lisa Mann, whose bravery in detaining a woman at North Cambridgeshire Hospital in Wisbech has rightly been recognised. It is a real pleasure to know that we have such brave and dedicated PCSOs serving in the community and that this is reflected in dropping local crime rates. I was buoyed to hear the details of a new Wisbech Loyalty Card scheme that offers discounts to shoppers, officially launched by the town’s Mayor Councillor Samantha Hoy at the end of October. It will be welcome boost to retail in the area. Coupled with the Christmas Lights Switch On on 1st December, and the festive fun on show at the Wisbech Christmas Market there are many opportunities this Christmas to celebrate all that Wisbech has to offer. I will be officially opening the Christmas Market at 11am on 16 December and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible there. With the parliamentary session back in full swing I have had the opportunity to participate in debates regarding a number of issues, including HS2. I took the opportunity to call for greater scrutiny of spending associated with the project, to ensure value for public money. I also hosted a thoroughly enjoyable Q&A session in Parliament with sixth form pupils from Wisbech Grammar School. Who knows, perhaps we will see one of them in the House of Commons one day? I continue to campaign on a number of issues, ranging from transparency in the NHS to better broadband in rural areas, and encourage residents with any concerns or comments to visit stevebarclay.net for further news on my work in North East Cambridgeshire and in Parliament. You can also follow me on twitter at @stevebarclaymp or like me on facebook at facebook.com/stevebarclaymp
Christmas at the Horsefair Shopping Centre THE WISBECH SALVATION ARMY BAND WILL BE CAROLLING IN THE HORSEFAIR ON SUNDAY 8TH DECEMBER AND SATURDAY 14TH DECEMBER Located in the very centre of the town with excellent road and transport links, the Horsefair Shopping Centre offers a wide range of outlets to meet all your shopping needs. From the weekly supermarket shop to fashion to something for a special occasion, the Horsefair Shopping Centre has 26 retail units to cater for all requirements and budgets and many are open 7 days a week
Wisbech Town Council contact details You may contact council officers or members at the Council Chamber Wisbech Town Council, Council Chamber, 1 North Brink, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE13 1JR Tel: 01945 461333 email wisbechtc@aol.com Website: www.wisbechtowncouncil.org.uk Office hours 9.00am – 3.00pm Monday to Friday inclusive Cllr Mrs CR (Carol) Cox Cllr Mrs Cox is also a Fenland District Councillor for Clarkson Ward
33 Bowthorpe Road Wisbech PE13 2DX 01945 465588
Clarkson
Cllr Mrs VM (Viv) MacRae
Haverholme 12 Bowthorpe Road Wisbech PE13 2DX 01945 489602
Clarkson
Cllr Miss S (Samantha) Hoy Cllr Miss Hoy is also a Fenland District Councillor for Hill Ward Cllr Miss Hoy is Mayor of Wisbech Town Council for civic year 2013-2014
Cllr SJ (Stephen) Brunton
Cllr Ms M (Michelle) Tanfield
Cllr D (David) Hodgson Cllr Hodgson is also a Fenland District Councillor for Staithe Ward Cllr R (Robert) McLaren
Cllr DR (David) Patrick Cllr Patrick is also a Fenland District Councillor for Kirkgate Ward
7 Sybil Road Wisbech PE13 3NG 01945 466387
7 Railway Road Wisbech PE13 2QA 01945 476269 86 Elm Road Wisbech PE13 2TB 07908707129 Whitehaven 141 Elm Low Road Wisbech PE14 0DF 01945 465126 66 Kirkgate Street Walsoken Wisbech PE13 3QZ 01945 474270 12 Limes Avenue Elm Wisbech PE14 0BS 01945 861334
Hill
Hill
Hill
Hill
Kirkgate
Kirkgate
Cllr JR (Jonathan) Farmer Cllr Farmer is also a Fenland District Councillor for Medworth Ward
18 South Brink Wisbech PE13 1JQ 01945 580239
Medworth
Cllr M (Michael) Hill Cllr Hill is Deputy Mayor of Wisbech Town Council for civic year 2013-2014
Melrose Villa 23 Alexandra Road Wisbech PE13 1HS 01945 584971
Medworth
6 Alexandra Road Wisbech PE13 1HQ 07831616127
Peckover
39 West Parade Wisbech PE13 1QB 01945 587437
Peckover
Cllr S (Steve) Tierney
Cllr DC (David) Oliver Cllr Oliver is also a Fenland District Councillor for Peckover Ward Cllr Oliver is Leader of Wisbech Town Council for civic year 2013-2014 Cllr GP (Garry) Tibbs
Cllr R (Reginald) Mee
Cllr MG (Michael) Bucknor Cllr Bucknor is also a Fenland District Councillor for Waterlees Ward Cllr Mrs VM (Virginia) Bucknor Cllr Mrs Bucknor is also a Fenland District Councillor for Waterlees Ward
Cllr R (Ray) Griffin
Cllr DA (David) Wheeler
258 Norwich Road Wisbech PE13 3UT 46 Clarkson Avenue Wisbech PE13 2EH 01945 465132 11 St Martin’s Road Wisbech PE13 3EX 01945 584207 11 St Martin’s Road Wisbech PE13 3EX 01945 584207 53 Waterlees Road Wisbech PE13 3PG 01945 463164 86 Mount Pleasant Road Wisbech PE13 3LH 01945 464386
Staithe
Staithe
Waterlees
Waterlees
Waterlees
Waterlees
WISBECH TOWN MATTERS ...
... is produced and distributed free through local retailers and community facilities every three months, plus a copy is posted on Wisbech Town Council’s website free of charge If you have any events or items you would like us to consider publishing please let us have text and pictures (in electronic format if possible) to wisbechtc@aol.com as soon as possible Where possible we do ask for a small contribution towards the cost, which we are happy to discuss. If you are a statutory body or a profit-making organisation we would ask you to consider advertising rates to assist with printing costs. Wisbech Town Council. 1 North Brink. Wisbech PE13 1JR Give us a call 01945 461333 www.wisbechtowncouncil.org.uk FORTHCOMING WISBECH TOWN COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS Your council meets regularly at the Council Chamber, 1 North Brink. Agendas and Minutes are published on the website www. wisbechtowncouncil.org.uk or on the notice board outside 1 North Brink, Wisbech PE13 1JR or tel: 01945 461333 Council and Committee Meetings are usually held on Mondays in the Council Chamber Wisbech Town Council Monday 9 December 2013 Monday 13 January 2014 Monday 10 February 2014
Planning Committee Monday 23 December 2013 Monday 27 January 2014 Monday 24 March 2014
Market Traders/Retailers Forum Monday 20 January 2014
Staffing & Policy Committee Monday 23 December 2013 Market Place Committee Monday 6 January 2014 Resources Committee
Meetings dates may change due to unforeseen circumstances, Monday 27 January 2014 please look at the Agendas webpage for up-to-date information. If further meetings are held details will be put on the website and noticeboards. Please note that members of the public may have up to 15 minutes at the beginning of meetings to put comments and/or questions to the Council/Committee Meetings usually commence at 6.30pm or 7.30pm – please see agendas for details
Throughout the town centre - Come and join in the fun!
Wisbech Christmas Market Monday 16th December
Wisbech Christmas Market Monday 16th December 2013
Large variety of stalls within the town centre with Christmas fare Plus entertainment – come along to enjoy: The Market Place 10.45am 11.00am 11.05am 11.30am 12.15pm 12.45pm 1.30pm 2.00pm
Leverington Academy Official Opening by Steve Barclay MP with the Mayor of Wisbech, Cllr Sam Hoy March & District Operatic Association Wississippi Jazzmen March & District Operatic Association Wississippi Jazzmen Elm Road School Hereward Harmony (Barber Shop Choir)
Horsefair Shopping Centre Father Christmas and the Wisbech Lions
Wisbech Castle & Museum Square Art & Craft Stalls 10am – 4pm Come and meet the Reindeer (sponsored by Horsefair Shopping Centre)
St Peter’s Church Hall & Castle Pump Room FenCraft Arts & Craft Fair
Street entertainers – find them around the town centre Pedro the Clown Foolhardy Folk Phillipe and Phillope Victorian Strollers Living statues