A new taskforce has been created to root out people who are incorrectly claiming support with Council Tax payments and discounts for living alone.

Cllr Jan French, Fenland District Council portfolio holder for revenues and benefits, said: "Single Person Discount and Council Tax Support are very important schemes that are rightly in place to help people with the cost of Council Tax in specific circumstances.

"People who claim support and benefits fraudulently reduce the resources available to local and central government to support people who really need it."

The recent crackdown has included the prosecution of a Whittlesey resident.

• wild play sessions for families
• a community art project where benches around the bandstand will get a new look
• dance fitness classes
• kickboxing
• a Victorian themed theatre show and circus workshop to celebrate the park's Victorian roots.

Work starts at Wisbech High Street 'gap site'

Contractors have begun work on filling in 'The Gap' that has marred Wisbech High Street for most of the past 40 years.

Fenland District Council has secured the necessary funding to allow the former Cook's butchers site at 24 High Street to be brought back into use.

See more: Work starts at Wisbech High Street 'gap site'

Major employer urges others to grab benefits of free service

One of Fenland's major employers has urged others to access the free support and funding advice on offer in the district to businesses.

Operations Director Richard Hall, of Chatteris firm Suncrop Produce Ltd, a salad supplier to major retailers that employs up to 170 people in peak seasons, said the firm has gained massive benefits from working with Fenland District Council's Fenland for Business.

The free service has supported him to develop a long-term plan to combat business-threatening energy price hikes, in diversifying the use of his firm's Chatteris premises and to put into action ambitions to work with harder-to-reach employees, such as those with disabilities.

See: Major Fenland employer urges other businesses to grab benefits of free service

Back to nature: Advice and information event for Fenland community groups

Local residents, community organisations and landowners interested in developing nature restoration projects in Fenland will attend an advice and information event tomorrow.

Fenland District Council, Natural Cambridgeshire, PECT (Peterborough Environment City Trust) and Cambridgeshire ACRE have joined forces to host a Nature Recovery event tomorrow (Thursday 13 July) at March Community Centre.

See: Advice and information event for Fenland community groups

Wide range of free and low cost fitness sessions

Active Fenland has a packed summer programme of free and low cost fitness session across Fenland.

They include free 12-week football classes launching in Leverington in September and 'Let's Get Started' courses offering supported introduction to gym sessions and gym classes in Whittlesey.

There's also free tea dances and wellbeing walks in the four Fenland towns. 

Plus yoga, walking football, badminton and lots more.

See: Active Fenland summer timetable

Work on March fountain postponed to protect nesting birds

Planned work to dismantle March's Coronation Fountain as part of the ongoing town centre regeneration has been postponed to protect nesting doves.

Work to carefully remove the Grade II listed fountain was due to begin on Monday, 26 June, ahead of it being stored and later relocated once the town centre works are complete.

However, as Broad Street regeneration contractor Octavius prepared to start work on site last week, workers were alerted that the historic structure is often used by nesting doves and a nest was discovered.

See: Work on March fountain postponed to protect nesting birds 

Regular newsletters detailing the progress of the project can be found at: Broad Street regeneration newsletters

Fenland businesses unite to develop, succeed and be inspired - video and story

Around 40 business representatives came together for the 'Fenland - Develop, Succeed and Inspire' event and discovered the help on offer for them in the district.

Attendees heard from three local firms who have accessed grant funding after making connections with Growth Works and Fenland District Council's Fenland for Business.

Both organisations provide free advice and support to businesses to help them to grow, including by providing help around accessing grants and investment and skills.

See: Fenland businesses unite to develop, succeed and be inspired

Watch: Video - Develop, Succeed and Inspire event