Hunts Post Letters: bus routes and charging points

I understand that the sale of electric cars are declining. This has been put down to the lack of charging points.

While those houses with drives can obviously install there own charging points, (I gather it costs about £1,000) there are many areas in St Neots where houses don't have driveways and people need publicly available charging points.

What concerns me is the lack of potential sites for charging points where they are needed.

The car parks are owned by HDC or CCC so presumably they will profit from the charging points, and there seems to be no spaces in the older part of the town.

Does anyone know how many charging points would be needed in St Neots once petrol type cars are no longer available for sale.

Who is responsible for ensuring they are installed. While there is still seven years before only new electric cars are sold new, this potential problem needs to start coming under consideration now.

Bill Hodges

Eynesbury, St Neots

Thanks to men who helped after fall

I would like to thank the two gentlemen who very kindly came to my aid, when I tripped and fell in Fairfields on January 28 at 9.30am.

As I tried to think how was I going to get to my feet I heard voices calling “don’t move we are coming”.

They came and got me to my feet, gathered my stick and bag, and asked where I lived and where was I going?

I was concerned for their backs when getting me to my feet, however they seemed well and one gentleman went to the shop and purchased a paper for me and delivered it to my door. 

Gentlemen, your kindness is much appreciated, thank you.

Jean

St Ives

The lake where the fishing club meets to trout fish. (Image: RICHARD HYDE)

Fishing society welcomes new members

We are a small band of fly fishermen who would like to see our membership grow.

The new season starts on March 1, 2023 and if trout fishing is your passion, why not come and join us. If you are interested, then contact Bill Buchanan on: 07730 896704 for more details.

Richard Hyde

Ramsey 

Please use 'friendly' and 'efficent' service

Following the withdrawal of the Stagecoach St Ives town 22a service from local routes, the very helpful work carried out by the CAPCA, resulted in Dews Coaches taking over this route. 

My letter is an attempt to encourage more people to use this efficient and friendly service. 

The service runs Monday to Saturday, and the bus leaves St Ives bus station at hourly intervals from 9.50am to 13.50pm. 

Its route covers the town’s major supermarkets – with stops near Waitrose, Morrisons and The Co op. The bus route goes around the Quadrant, up Needingworth Road, after calling at Morrisons, continue up Somersham Road, Nuffield Road, Burrell Road, Marley Road, Constable Road, Burleigh Road, Ramsey Road, Kings Hedges, Burstellars, Pig Lane, Broad Leas and East Street.  

It covers many areas and residential roads not covered by any other bus service, usually arriving back at the bus station at 25 past the hour.  Drivers will pick up passengers at any point en route, even where the bus stop signs have not been replaced, providing it is safe to do so.

For those people who still use their own transport why not save fuel and parking costs and let the bus take the strain.   It also has the advantage of taking traffic off our busy roads.

Give it a go, unless we use it, we will lose it.  It is a vital link for many passengers with no other way of doing their shopping or getting out.

Anthony D Barraclough

St Ives

Little Paxton Village Hall has received generous funding of £24,324 from Biffa Award, as part of the Landfill Communities Fund, to replace the main hall floor.

This was supported by Aggregate Industries of Little Paxton Quarry and G. Webb Haulage Ltd of Long Stanton who contributed five per cent each to the total cost.

The existing floor was laid over a thin layer of pitch, something contractors used as a damp proof barrier in the 1970s. But recently, the floor had become a danger to the weekly users, and without replacement, the hall could have been forced to close.

The replacement will include a new moisture barrier and rising damp protection which will guarantee quality flooring for many years to come.

On February 14, at 2pm reresentatives of all three organisations will be at the hall for the official opening ceremony presided over by Cllr. Kathy Bishop, chairman of Little Paxton Parish Council.

There will be hot drinks, non-alcoholic cold drinks and nibbles, courtesy of the Little Paxton Co-op Community Member Pioneer Claire Holdaway.

The building has functioned as a village hall since 1975 and is used by the whole community of Little Paxton and the surrounding areas.

It is an important space for a wide range of weekly community groups, including art club, toddlers, weekly social events, indoor bowls, various sporting groups, and for congregational activities.

The refurbishment allows the village hall to continue as a community hub, bringing people of all ages together.

For further information about using the hall, contact Malcolm Whale at: malcolmwhale@gmail.com or call: 07803 756151.

Malcolm Whale

Trustee of Little Paxton Village Hall