The Fenlander is a regular bulletin from Fenland District Council updating on council news, events and services. |
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We're also reminding our communities of grants available to help spruce up forgotten corners of Fenland towns and villages. We've recently improved the changing rooms at one of our leisure centres while securing funding to support all of our pools and celebrated five years of partnership with leisure centre managers Freedom Leisure. You can discover details of all of these things and more in this The Fenlander, the final edition of 2023. During the festive season we'll be continuing our work with a few tweaks to waste and recycling collections and opening hours, detailed below. We'd like to take this opportunity to send seasons greetings to everyone in Fenland and beyond. |
March's Christmas tree made national headlines
This Christmas will be remembered as the one that March's tree made national headlines. The tree (pictured top of page), which was put up and decorated by the volunteers and dedicated fundraisers of March Christmas Lights Committee, is wonky viewed from some angles. Initially it attracted criticism, but many residents then took it to their hearts. Broad Street regeneration contractor Octavius Ltd donated £2,000 towards the tree. See more: Community embraces March's wonky Christmas tree |
Fenland District Council Christmas and New year opening times
Over the Christmas and New Year holidays there will be some changes to our services, including contact centre opening hours and customer service appointment availability as well as changes to normal waste and recycling collection days. Our online services will be available as usual over the festive break. You can continue to make payments, report issues and make applications all via our website (please be aware that some reports or applications will not be processed until Tuesday, January 2, 2024). In case of an emergency, you can also find helpful advice and contacts on our 'Emergencies' webpage. See more: Christmas and New year opening times |
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Work to bring empty homes back into residential use
As the number of long-term empty homes increases nationally, work is continuing apace in Fenland to help address the issue. With housing in short supply, Fenland District Council has been taking action in a number of ways to help bring unused properties back into residential use. The council's dedicated Empty Homes Officer, with support from the Private Sector Housing team, has assisted in bringing over 280 properties back into use in Fenland since April 2020. And it is offering further support to ensure more empty homes become habitable once more. See more: Council working to bring empty homes back into residential use |
Fifty new affordable homes for March
Addressing the pressing need for accessible and quality housing, Burmor Construction proudly introduced its latest project on Norwood Road, March, to esteemed guests from Fenland District Council in a 'breaking ground' ceremony. The development is poised to bring 50 new affordable homes to the heart of March, comprising of all affordable rent properties. Completion on the site, supported by grant funding from Homes England, is expected in November 2025. See more: Work underway on 50 new affordable homes for March |
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Grants to support improvements to forgotten Fenland corners
Is there a vacant or derelict corner of your town or village that you could spruce up a little with a bit of grant funding? Fenland District Council is reminding voluntary and community groups it provides grants of up to £500 to help to improve the public view of derelict, vacant or forgotten patches of land, buildings or other sites. Over the years, with the permission of site owners, 'Changing Views' grants have supported the costs of developing murals, banners and posters to cheer up the hoardings and windows of vacant buildings and enabled planting on patches of uninspiring land. See more: Grants to support improvements to forgotten Fenland corners |
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Entries open for 2024 Fenland Poet Laureate Award
The hunt is on for Fenland's next Poet Laureates, as the district's prestigious, annual poetry competition opens for entries.
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The Fenland Poet Laureate Award and the Young Fenland Poet Laureate Award have returned for the sixth year - and writers from across the district are being invited to take part. The competition is open to anyone who lives, works or attends school in the administrative district of Fenland, and is completely free to enter. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, 31 January 2024. See more: 2024 Fenland Poet Laureate Award |
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Looking to start, grow or relocate your business? Our Fenland for Business team can offer free and impartial advice. |
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Fenland businesses urged to bid for grants totalling £400k
Business owners and people with a plan for a new start-up in Fenland can apply for a slice of a grant pot totalling £400,000.
Two new Fenland grant schemes are now open for bids, with a total of £150,000 earmarked to support start-up businesses in the district and £250k to help established businesses of all sizes thrive and ultimately sustain and create jobs.
See more: Fenland businesses urged to bid for grants totalling £400k |
Successful applicants from first round of Investment in Business grants encourage applications for new funding round
Cllr Ian Benney (left) with representatives from businesses successful in securing a total of £190k in the first round of Shared Prosperity Fund backed Fenland grants as the new application round is launched.
More than £190k of funds were awarded in an initial phase of Investment in Business grants. An official acknowledgement event was held on November 30th for the eight businesses that received funding. Those awards are expected to create 17 jobs and safeguard 12 roles.
Nick Osborn, of FRP Group Holdings, which secured one of the grants, said: "This will enable us to boost employment within our team and increase the range of services we offer to our customers.
"I would actively encourage other local SMEs to apply for the next round of funding as the process is really straightforward."
See more: Successful applicants from first round of Investment in Business grants |
Discover business opportunities created by drive to make social housing more energy efficient
Businesses are invited to discover the opportunities available to them created by a push to make social housing more green.
A free webinar is being held 3.30pm to 5pm, Wednesday, January 17, providing information on how businesses can get involved to support the push to cut emissions from social housing homes - and improve the housing for residents and help them make fuel cost savings.
See more: Discover business opportunities created by drive to make social housing more energy efficient |
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Business Premises
Starting or expanding your business? Looking for affordable offices or factory units? We can help! Our Business Premises and Industrial Units are ideal for small and start-up businesses. |
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- The Boathouse Business Centre
The Boathouse overlooks the marina in the vibrant market town of Wisbech in Cambridgeshire. It is just a short walk from the town centre and is easily accessible from the A47.
- South Fens Business Centre
South Fens is located in the small market town of Chatteris. It is next to the A141 and A142 - offering easy access to Ely, March, Huntingdon, Cambridge and beyond.
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Traffic surveys to help with development of business case for Whittlesey relief road
Traffic journeys through Whittlesey town centre were monitored as evidence was gathered for the Whittlesey relief road project. A series of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) surveys took place on key routes in Whittlesey between 27 November - 2 December, to assist with the development of a Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) for the long-running relief road plans. See more: Traffic surveys to help with development of business case for Whittlesey relief road |
Subscriptions to Fenland's 2024/25 garden waste service now on sale
Want to avoid several trips to the tip to dispose of your garden waste next year? Save time, money and hassle (and creepy crawlies in your car!) with Fenland District Council's annual Garden Waste collection service. Direct debit subscriptions for the 2024/25 service, which runs from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, are now on sale for £44 - saving 20% off the standard price. See more: Subscriptions to Fenland's 2024/25 garden waste service now on sale |
We want your feedback on waste collection services
We want to hear what you think of our waste collection and street cleansing services. Help us improve and let us know what we're getting right. See: Feedback surveysWe're always ready to listen to your compliments, complaints and comments on all aspects of the services we provide. |
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Active Fenland promotes and provides informal and fun sport and physical activity sessions in community settings in Fenland. Discover the latest timetable. |
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Free supportive age and dementia friendly exercise classes come to Fenland
Specialist age and dementia friendly chair-based exercise classes are being offered free in Fenland as the latest in a package of sessions to help people overcome barriers to physical activity. Fenland District Council's Active Fenland has supported the specialist training of several instructors to deliver the British Gymnastics Foundation Love to Move programme. Love to Move classes are one of a range of sessions for people who might face additional barriers to accessing exercise, funded by Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care Systems (ICS). Classes are on offer initially in March and Chatteris. See more: Free supportive age and dementia friendly exercise classes come to Fenland |
New changing rooms unveiled and lifeline leisure centre funding confirmed
There's been double good news for Fenland leisure centres with confirmation of lifeline Government funding to offset excess energy costs - and the completion of a changing room refurbishment. Fenland District Council was successful in securing £191,000 from the Government's Swimming Pool Support Fund, administered by Sport England, to offset the crippling energy costs faced by its Freedom Leisure-managed leisure centres in Chatteris, March, Wisbech and Whittlesey. See more: New changing rooms unveiled as lifeline leisure centre funding confirmed |
Five years of Freedom Leisure partnership was marked with special offers
Celebrating five years of partnership between Fenland District Council and Freedom Leisure - representatives of both organisations
Free day-passes and a special offer for new members were available for a limited period at Fenland leisure centres in celebration of five years of management by Freedom Leisure.
Fenland District Council and Freedom Leisure have been working in partnership to provide leisure centre facilities across the district since December 2018.
The two organisations entered into a partnership to maintain and improve leisure centre provision across the district at a reduced cost to the taxpayer.
See more: Five years of Freedom Leisure partnership |
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Jobs
Our current vacancies include a host of roles in our planning team - please do spread the link far and wide to help us find the brightest stars to join our team. |
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New Wisbech Park community pavilion nears completion
Pictured outside the progressing Wisbech Park community pavilion are, from left, Cllr Sidney Imafidon, town and district councillor for Wisbech; Terry Jordan, clerk of Wisbech Town Council; and Cllr Peter Murphy, Fenland District Council's Portfolio Holder for Environment.
Wisbech Park's new community pavilion is taking shape as construction work on the eagerly anticipated facility nears completion.
Project contractor Probus is finishing work on the £851,000 construction phase, ready for a hand over to Wisbech Town Council in the New Year.
The project has been made possible thanks to funding from Fenland District Council, Cambridgeshire County Council's Communities Capital Fund, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority's Market Towns Programme, and the Government's Changing Places initiative. See more: New Wisbech Park community pavilion nears completion |
Warning: Don't use cover of darkness as excuse not to pick up after your dog
Dog owners are being warned not to use the cover of dark nights as an excuse not to pick up after their pets - and the public urged to report offenders. Fenland District Council's Street Scene team notes a rise in dog fouling at this time of year. Last month (November), the council's cabinet agreed the renewal for another three years of a Public Spaces Protection Order that gives it powers to issue fines of £100 to people who don't pick up after their dogs. Fines can also be issued for allowing a dog in fenced off play areas or refusing to put a dog on a lead when asked due to it being a nuisance. See more: Warning: Don't use cover of darkness as excuse to not pick up after your dog |
Council delighted to fund recent Firebreak courses in Wisbech
Fenland youngsters have been benefitting from fire service training to help develop teamworking skills, increase self-esteem and confidence and develop understanding of the consequences of risk-taking decision making. The week-long Firebreak course has been delivered to two groups of students, with funding from Fenland District Council's Community Safety team using the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. In total 20 young people have attended the courses. See more: Council delighted to fund recent Firebreak courses in Wisbech |
Residents supported at Beat Your Bills event
Representatives of a range of organisations gather in Walsoken to offer ‘beat your bills’ advice and support.
Residents were offered advice and information on beating their bills this winter at their village coffee morning. Fenland District Council teamed up with Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Council to invite various organisations along to the event at Walsoken Village Hall. If you'd like help with the cost of your bills see: Cost of living supportDiscover more about the Walsoken event: Residents supported at Beat Your Bills event |
Temporary toilets for March as town centre regeneration continues
Work will begin imminently on the removal of the existing toilet block in March town centre to allow further progress on the multi-million redevelopment of the riverside and Broad Street. The toilet block is being removed and replaced with a new, permanent facility, as part of the overall plan to enhance and open-up the riverbank, creating a new town feature and attracting footfall to the town. The existing toilet block will close from this Wednesday, 13 December, when temporary toilets will become available. See more: Temporary toilets for March as town centre regeneration continues |
Thank you to supporters of Fenland Christmas events
A big thank you goes to everyone involved in supporting Christmas events in Fenland this year. Wisbech Christmas Fayre took place on Sunday (December 9) - a week after March Christmas Market. Both events were well supported by visitors, traders, sponsors, volunteers and the partnerships of committees, councils and community organisations that work together with Fenland District Council to make them happen each year. See more: Thank you to supporters of Fenland Christmas events |
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Don’t forget to Do It Online
The quickest and easiest way to apply, report, find or pay via Fenland District Council is usually our website. Available 24 hours a day whenever it’s most convenient for you. |
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