A major review of St Neots’ retail sector has revealed the town is “healthy during challenging economic times” – but hundreds of car park spaces are being left unoccupied.
St Neots Retail Club’s annual Benchmarking Exercise has confirmed that only 6.7 per cent of the town’s 179 shop units are standing empty – below the national average for middle-sized towns of 14.3 per cent.
Half the vacancies are more than a year old, with the High Street’s dilapidated Handyman store and the Market Square’s Old Falcon Inn put down to “wider development issues”.
But the survey – now in its third year – highlights that residents are not using the 1,276 parking spaces available to them in Cambridgeshire’s biggest town.
On a normal weekday, 38 per cent of spaces in the Riverside Car Park are unoccupied while 22 per cent are not used during Thursday market day.
John Davies, chairman of St Neots Town Initiative, who conducted the survey along with other members of the Retail Club, said the results were “pleasing” but admitted the “glass was still half full”.
Mr Davies said: “What is very pleasing about the survey is that if one retailer moves out, another moves in. And this is a very healthy sign in challenging economic times. This was exemplified by Westgate department store recently changing hands to Beales.
“The audit shows a small increase in the number of shops to 179, with very few vacant. For example, one unit, the Kings Head, is also now a carpet retailer and tattoo studio. But car parking is still a major issue and we need to find ways of getting the shoppers back into St Neots.”
Residents said they were put off from shopping in St Neots town centre due to a lack of quality clothes stores, according to the audit.
Mr Davies added the results will be used to help planners decide about the possible of redevelopment of St Neots Town Centre, with talks likely to be held next year.
He said: “The audit gives a valuable insight into how the retail sector in the town is evolving under the most difficult circumstances.
“It also provides a useful store of data as the town expands eastwards and we need to evaluate how we need to improve the retail offer for a bigger population.”
Mayor of St Neots Cllr Barry Chapman said: “The results are obviously very pleasing for St Neots and I hope people continue to shop locally and support local retailers.”
Five new jobs are being created with the opening of a £100,000 function room at a pub restaurant near Huntingdon.
The multi-functional room, at Hartford Mill, has been converted from an unused area and will be able to seat 70 people. Fayre and Square, which runs the pub near Hartford Marina, said the room would open on December 1.
Steve Gamble, general manager, said: “We expect it to be very popular over the Christmas season. We will then move on to weddings receptions and birthdays, all of which need to be supported by a great team who can ensure everything goes without a hitch.”
He added the pub was taking bookings for Christmas parties.
Information about the jobs or the room from Mr Gamble on (01480) 414311.
An inspirational mental health team has scooped a top regional prize for their work in a prison.
Hunts Mind and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) Mental Health In Reach Team has been awarded the NHS East of England prize for Inspirational Teams.
The group won the award for its Health Improvement Programme at HMP Littlehey which focuses on communication skills, mental health awareness and stress and anger management.
Sarah Hughes, chief executive of Hunts Mind, said: “The most extraordinary part has been the team work. The impact of the project has been amazing but unfortunately funding limitations now mean it has come to an end.
“We hope by fundraising we will be able to deliver this programme again.”
Developers working on building projects across Huntingdonshire may have to pay extra towards new infrastructure next year.
The district council is aiming to introduce a new Community Infrastructure Levy by spring 2012 and is inviting comments from the public.
Cllr Nick Guyatt, executive councillor for strategic planning and housing, said: “This new levy will benefit all Huntingdonshire residents by helping to raise funds towards different kinds of community infrastructure across the district in a fair and transparent manner.
“The funds raised will be used for a wide variety of projects – including roads, transport, education, health, sport and recreational facilities.”
Currently, developers pay towards specific infrastructure that is necessary to make their proposals acceptable in planning terms – a Section 106 agreement. This will remain.
A consultation on the new levy scheme started yesterday.
A secret waterway under the centre of Ramsey will come under the spotlight in tonight’s talk at St Ives Civic Society.
Keith Sisman, self-appointed keeper of the tunnel which runs under Great Whyte, will address the society in the Free Church from 7.30pm.
Visitors are welcome.
A dozen new traveller pitches will be provided in East Cambridgeshire within the next decade.
The district council needs to allocate 38 more pitches over the next 20 years in order to cater for the district’s growing number of gypsy and traveller families.
With 11 pitches already having been granted planning permission, the council has agreed to allocate a further 12 over the next 10 years.
The remaining 15 pitches will be allocated in the 10 years after.
With 157 traveller pitches already in East Cambridgeshire, council leader Peter Moakes says his authority has a “good record” for welcoming gypsies.
Cllr Moakes said: “In the case of gypsies and travellers, we have a good record of providing the right amount of pitches for our local population, ensuring we can meet the changing needs of our communities.
“We will always work hard to ensure as East Cambridgeshire develops and grows, the infrastructure is in place to meet the challenges that the future may hold.
“It is very important as we plan for the future of our district that we address the needs of all groups and cultures who live and thrive in our communities.
“Whether it is for families, businesses or gypsies and travellers, it is our duty to ensure we have the necessary infrastructure in place to allow for growth in the forthcoming decades.”
The decision to press ahead with identifying 12 new pitches was made by the council’s development and transport committee.
It comes following a study carried out by Cambridgeshire County Council’s research group, which found that 326 additional plots would be required in Cambridgeshire by 2031.
Of those, 114 should be located in South Cambridgeshire, 53 in Huntingdonshire, 30 in Forest Heath, 12 in St Edmundsbury, 53 in Peterborough and 23 in King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.
The need in Cambridge itself was identified as being just one.
A young rider who was badly injured when she was thrown from her horse helped to raise £4,700 for the emergency medical charity Magpas.
Susanna Cassidy, 12, and her mother Siobhan walked and ran nearly 20 miles between Gamlingay and Addenbrooke’s Hospital to raise the cash.
Susanna, from Kingston, near Bourn, was riding near Tetworth Hall when she was thrown and left badly hurt in April.
Magpas Helimedix team Dr Chris Adcock and paramedics Dan Cody and Jo Lambert treated her at the scene before accompanying her to Addenbrooke’s.
Siobhan said: “I can never put into words what the Magpas Helimedix did for Susanna.
“I still can’t believe it was a charity that saved my daughter’s life.”
Susanna, who has made a good recovery, had been a keen runner, but had only just felt strong enough to tackle the challenge. She and her mother set off from near where she had the accident to Addenbrooke’s.
Susanna said: “I was really looking forward to doing the run. After a few miles I did start to wonder why I was doing it, but I kept going.
“I did this to thank Magpas for helping me so they can carry on helping others.
“It felt really good to get to the main doors of the hospital, and having my family there made all the difference.”
Siobhan said: “I couldn’t let Susanna do it on her own.
“My husband and I did try and suggest she should travel the route on a horse or a bike, but Susanna was determined to run it.
“It was wonderful to watch her doing what she loves best, but I was pretty relieved when we reached the finishing line.”
It costs £750,000 a year to keep the Magpas Helimedix team flying, all of which has to come from fundraising.
A community will recognise its champion at an awards ceremony.
Eynesbury Village Association (EVA) will present the EVA Community Champion Award at their Christmas event on Saturday, November 26.
The award, in its third year, recognises an individual who has given exceptional time and effort to the benefit of the community, through charity or community work.
The event will be held at Berkley Street Methodist Church Hall from 2.30pm.
Visitors can enjoy a programme of live music, singing and dancing demonstrations as well as craft and gift stalls.
This year’s grand prize draw includes the chance to win a weekend break in a self-catering luxury holiday home. All are welcome.
For more information visit www.eynesburyvillageassociation.org
A meeting group for businesses in the St Neots area has been officially launched.
Business leaders from St Neots, Cambourne and north Bedfordshire attended the first meeting of The Business Club at the White Horse pub in Eaton Socon on Wednesday.
The Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire border group includes 39 companies ranging from High Street banks to local magazines. It helps owners network, share business skills and form strategic alliances.
The club, the ninth in UK, is led by the group’s joint chief executives Ralph and Jane Maloney.
Debbie Reynolds, director of the club, said: “The club is not about selling anything to anyone, it’s purely about helping businesses working together and making better connections.
“The local club is now the ninth in the portfolio and will now meet twice a month.
“It was great to see so many businesses signing up for what is an extremely worthwhile but more informal meeting event.”
Leaders gathered for a buffet and introductions before listening to a talk by guest speaker Martin Williams, a business consultant.
Brian Soanes, who in 1992 founded the organisation that runs the clubs, said: “At The Business Club our members’ success is paramount.
“We provide business opportunities for go-ahead businesses with a genuine service at a price that is affordable.
“In our founder club we still have original members from 1992 and they attribute a significant part of their business growth directly from their continued involvement with the club.
“In the current economy, even with the plethora of on-line and social media tools to make connections, there is still no better way to do business than face to face, developing a long-term strategy for building relationships and alliances, which is exactly what we focus on at The Business Club and is why our members report a fantastic return on investment.”
For more information visit www.the-businessclub.org/uk.
Golfers are raising cash for Help For Heroes.
Abbotsley Golf Club, near St Neots, is hosting a fundraising competition on Friday, December 9.
Players will enjoy coffee and mince pies before their 18 holes of golf and a Christmas lunch and raffle will follow.
Organiser David Rennie said: “The event is set to be a fun day and we are hoping to raise more than £500 for a great cause.
“There will be prizes for the first male and first female.”
Tee-off is at 8.30am. Entry is £30 for visitors, £20 for members.
For more information contact Mr Rennie on (01480) 470014.