Category: NEWS

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A14 Planned road closures w/c 21 September

A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire: major improvements

We are currently carrying out finishing works for which we need to close lanes or carriageways on the A1, A14 and some local roads at times, usually overnight between 8pm and 6am, unless otherwise stated. A clearly signed diversion route will always be in place for closures.
For this week, the planned closures are:

Full closures
Monday 21 to Saturday 26 (six nights)
• Hinchingbrooke Park Road loop
• Swavesey junction overbridge southbound, between A14 eastbound junction 24 entry slip and A14 westbound junction 24b exit slip

Vehicles on the A14 wishing to access Boxworth and the Services will be diverted to continue on the A14 to Bar Hill junction 25 and return westbound to exit at junction 24a. Vehicles from the A1307 or Swavesey wishing to access the A14 westbound can travel east on the A1307 or A14 to Bar Hill and return westbound

Wednesday 23 to Saturday 26 (four nights)
• A14 westbound Swavesey junction 24b exit slip

Vehicles will be signposted to exit the A14 at junction 24a for Boxworth and the Services

Saturday 26 (one night) 9pm – 8am
• Brampton Road B1514 between station car park and Edison Bell Way

Vehicles on the Huntingdon town centre side will be diverted onto the ring road, St Peters Road to A141 west to Brampton / Brampton Racecourse junction and into Brampton via B1514. Vehicles on the Brampton side of the closure will follow this diversion in reverse.

For more information about this scheme, visit https://highwaysengland.co.uk/a14-cambridge-to-huntingdon-improvement-scheme-home/ , or stay updated by following us on https://twitter.com/a14c2h

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16 Sept 2020 – Weekly Police Update – Fenstanton District

Weekly Policing Update – Fenstanton District

Good Afternoon, Fenstanton District Members –

Before getting onto the details of local incidents this week, we start with a reminder of the new Coronavirus legislation announced by the Prime Minister that came into effect on Monday 14th September:

‘The Rule of Six’

We must not meet with members of other households in groups of more than 6 people. This applies both indoors and outdoors, including in private homes.

There are some exceptions to this new law. Places that are Covid-19-secure, such as places of worship, restaurants and hospitality venues, can still host larger numbers in total, but groups of up to six must not mix or form larger groups.

The rule does not apply to individual households or ‘support bubbles’ of more than 6, who will still be able to gather together.

Education and work locations are unaffected, and organised team sports will still be able to proceed, as will weddings and funerals of up to 30 persons.

From  Monday 14th September, the new limit will be enforceable by law.

Full details are on the Government website at: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Now here is our summary of offences and incidents affecting your community, covering the period 8th to 15th September:

London Road, St Ives – Police stopped a suspicious car on London Road on Tuesday evening, 8th September. A road-side drugs test returned a positive result and a search of the car revealed substances believed to be cannabis together with a large amount of cash. The driver was arrested and the car seized and towed away. Investigations are continuing. (Ref 35/60967/20)

A14 Fenstanton – Police received calls reporting a black BMW car stopped at a lay-by on the A14 near Fenstanton, obtruding onto the nearside lane and causing a hazard to traffic, with a person slumped at the wheel. Officers attended and found the driver the worse for alcohol, failing a road-side test. The car was seized and towed away and the driver was taken to hospital as a precaution. (Ref CC-13092020-0225)

And Finally – Police Appeal for Witnesses to Road Collision:

Police are appealing for information following a serious collision involving two cars on the B1040 Ramsey Road near Wistow on Saturday (12 September).

The head-on collision involving a red Volkswagen Polo and black BMW 530D happened at just before ‪6.15pm.

The driver of the Volkswagen, a man in his 30s, was taken to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge where he remains in a serious but non-life threatening condition.

The driver of the BMW, a man in his 60s, was taken to Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon with a serious arm injury. He has since been discharged.

Anyone who saw the collision or the vehicles in the lead up to it, or has dash-cam footage, is urged to make contact via web-chat or by calling 101, quoting incident number 412 of 12th September.

To see details of Policing Summaries for neighbouring areas, please click on the following link and scroll down the page to select areas of interest:

https://www.ecops.org.uk/alert_archive

Please be aware that these reports do not contain all details of all reported crime. We do not publish details of domestic related offences or anything which may put a person at risk if information regarding the crime was made public.

As always, if you have information relating to any offence, or are concerned about any suspicious activities, please contact police by using any of these methods:
the ‘101’ non-emergency telephone number;

  • the on-line web-chat tool on the new Cambridgeshire Constabulary web-site – click on the green icon;
  • Alternatively, you can use ‘Crimestoppers’ to make a report anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or by using their on-line contact form.

In an emergency, or if you witness a crime in progress, always use ‘999’.

Best Wishes,

Chris Shaw, PSV

St Ives Police Station

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A14 Planned road closures w/c 14 September

We are currently carrying out finishing works for which we need to close lanes or carriageways on the A1, A14 and some local roads at times, usually overnight between 8pm and 6am, unless otherwise stated. A clearly signed diversion route will always be in place for closures.

For this week, the planned closures are:

Full closures
Monday 14 to Friday 18 (five nights)
• Hinchingbrooke Park Road loop

Wednesday 16 to Friday 18 (three nights)
• A1 northbound Brampton Hut exit slip
Vehicles will be diverted north to Alconbury to then use A1 southbound and either continue south or exit for access to Brampton Hut roundabout

• A1 northbound Brampton Hut entry slip
Vehicles will be diverted east along A141 and then north at Spittals roundabout to the A1307 spur road to re-join the A1 northbound at Alconbury

• A141 eastbound link New Ellington junction 21 to Brampton Hut roundabout
Vehicles will be diverted east on the A605 at junction 13 then south on the A1(M) to the A605 to re-join the A14 at junction 21

Thursday 17 (one night)
• A14 eastbound Godmanchester/A1198 junction 23 exit slip
Vehicles will be diverted to continue on the A14 to Swavesey junction 24 and exit here for the A1307

Saturday 19 (one night) 9pm – 8am
• Brampton Road B1514 between station car park and Edison Bell Way
Vehicles on the Huntingdon town centre side will be diverted onto the ring road, St Peters Road to A141 west to Brampton / Brampton Racecourse junction and into Brampton via B1514. Vehicles on the Brampton side of the closure will follow this diversion in reverse.

For more information about this scheme, visit https://highwaysengland.co.uk/a14-cambridge-to-huntingdon-improvement-scheme-home/ , or stay updated by following us on https://twitter.com/a14c2h and .

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8 Sept 2020 – Weekly Policing Update – Fenstanton District

Weekly Policing Update – Fenstanton District

Good Afternoon, Fenstanton District Members –

Here is our weekly summary of offences and incidents affecting your community, reported to police during the period 1st to 7th September:

Chequer Street, Fenstanton – Officers on routine patrol in Fenstanton on Tuesday evening, 1st September, noticed a strong smell of cannabis when they encountered a group of three youths in a children’s play area at Chequer Street. Searches revealed that the suspects were in possession of small quantities of a green herbal substance together with other drugs paraphernalia. The suspicious items were seized and investigations are continuing. (Refs 35/59505/20, 5/59537/20 and 35/59556/20)

Chequer Street – Police received a call from a resident of Chequer Street on Thursday lunchtime, 3rd September, saying that a ‘Nottingham Knocker’ had called at their house trying to sell household items. The resident had declined to buy anything and the cold-caller had left, but had not been happy to be turned away.

‘Nottingham Knockers’ are cold-callers who often claim to be ex-offenders on a rehabilitation scheme, and to be selling the goods to make a new start in life. However, there is no such legitimate scheme and the cold-callers may be part of a criminal operation. Police advice is never to encourage cold-callers by buying any of their items. (Ref CC-03092020-0208)

And Finally – More About ‘Nottingham Knockers’:

Police have received several reports of ‘Nottingham Knockers’ calling at houses in St Ives, Fenstanton, Houghton and Hilton this week.

What Are ‘Nottingham Knockers’?
They are door-to-door traders who try to sell goods on the doorstep, often low-quality household items. They will often claim to be on a rehabilitation scheme trying to find work and may have a false trading permit or some other kind of official-looking identification.

However, they are not part of any legitimate rehabilitation scheme. There is a Government-backed ‘Community Payback’ scheme for offenders who have been sentenced to carry out community work, but this does not involve door-to-door sales.

The Problem with ‘Nottingham Knockers’
They are con-men who will cover a number of streets looking for a vulnerable victim who they can scam. Police say that streets that have been targeted by them often see an increase in distraction burglaries. The con-men themselves often have long criminal histories and people who give them money may find themselves the target of other scams involving rogue-traders and other criminal groups.

There is more information and advice on the Cambridgeshire Police website at:
https://www.cambs.police.uk/A-Z/Cold-callers

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To see details of Policing Summaries for neighbouring areas, please click on the following link and scroll down the page to select areas of interest:

https://www.ecops.org.uk/alert_archive

Please be aware that these reports do not contain all details of all reported crime. We do not publish details of domestic related offences or anything which may put a person at risk if information regarding the crime was made public.

As always, if you have information relating to any offence, or are concerned about any suspicious activities, please contact police by using any of these methods:

• the ‘101’ non-emergency telephone number;

• the on-line web-chat tool on the new Cambridgeshire Constabulary web-site – click on the green icon;

• Alternatively, you can use ‘Crimestoppers’ to make a report anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or by using their on-line contact form.

In an emergency, or if you witness a crime in progress, always use ‘999’.

Best Wishes,

Chris Shaw, PSV

St Ives Police Station

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Nottingham Knockers – It’s a scam

How Nottingham Knockers work their scam

There have been reports of these people operating in Fenstanton and surrounding villages over recent days. Don’t get taken in it’s a scam. Here’s some more information on them courtesy of SafeLocalTrades.com

The principle purpose is not to sell anything – but get an idea of whether a future burglary might be worthwhile – read on!


What are Nottingham Knockers?
They doorstep callers who target areas offering small household products for sale. Sometimes called ‘Nottingham Knockers’ these callers may claim to be ex-convicts attempting to mend their ways, however Nottingham Knockers are not part of any recognised rehabilitation scheme.

Please warn your neighbours, particularly elderly or vulnerable neighbours, not to open the door to strangers or buy or sell on the doorstep. Some doorstep callers may offer poor quality goods at inflated prices and if a caller is not genuine, they may be gathering information for future crime.

Please keep in mind that if cold callers don’t get any sales in your area, they are less likely to return.

How they work
The sellers may say that they are on a “rehabilitation course” arranged by probation services or other organisations trying to find people work. This is not the case and often they are known criminals. Probation services do not run such schemes.

They may show a card which claims to be a “Pedlars Licence” or work permit. The following is an example of one that has been frequently seized by the police. This is not valid and they are breaking the law if they are using anything like this.

They may also hand over a card saying they are deaf or dumb.

According to the police, the bag of household products is supplied by someone who employs them (originally a man from Nottingham – hence the name), but now they are recruited from anywhere.

The lads are supplied with a full bag of household products (including the typical tea-towels!) and charged a minimal sum for the contents – it used to be £35. They can keep whatever they make, above this amount.

Usually they are deposited in an area from a transit van and given a list of streets to work. An hour or so later they are picked up and dropped off in another location. They often work from 9am to 9pm.

They will knock on a door, offering cleaning items which they know are cheap and of very poor quality; the householder also knows they are rubbish but that is part of the scam. Many people will purchase items and pay them something, just to get rid of them. There have been cases of elderly residents handing over large sums as these lads can be very persistent and confrontational.

The price for whatever has been purchased usually comes to a note – usually £10. The householder disappears to get this – this is when the scam begins, according to the police.

When the note is handed over, the lad examines the condition and how long it took the person to get it.

If it is crumpled, they accept it and move on. If it is crisp flat and new – they are much more interested and may engage the person in more conversation, to obtain details about them. As they leave they will smell the note. If it is slightly musty – this is an indication that there is more in the property. Those addresses are noted. The addresses of elderly / vulnerable / gullible people are all noted.

These are handed to the employer and there is a small amount of cash handed over for each one.

These addresses are then sold in prisons and pubs. If there is a later break-in, the employer expects a further cut of the proceeds.

These lists are purchased by all sorts of people including – tarmaccers, tree workers, roofers, dodgy builders etc., and can be shared amongst the travelling community. Once on a list, your address could be sold on and on. Hence the repeat nature of these persistent callers.

Police advise that in almost every case of a stop check – the lads have long strings of convictions for burglary and violence. They use the skills learnt during their criminal activity to identify possible targets.

TURN THEM AWAY – REMEMBER if cold callers don’t get any sales in your area, they are less likely to return.

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Highways Agency – Changes to A14 social media pages

Changes to A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme social media pages

With the main A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon scheme now open to traffic, our Facebook and Twitter pages have changed to become pages for the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet scheme. We know many of you will also be affected by this upcoming scheme and we hope you find this a useful way to stay informed.

There is still finishing work to be completed on the A14 project and we also have ongoing work to improve links in Huntingdon town centre, so we’ll still continue to share any useful updates on the A14 with you there. For general information about the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon scheme, you can:

The new page details are:

Twitter – @A428Cat

          Facebook – @A428BlackCat  

A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet Scheme

As well as our updated social media pages, you can also get further information about our A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet scheme by:

Thank you for following us on social media, we hope that you will continue to find these pages useful.

The A14C2H team

 To contact your A14 sections stakeholder manager, please use the email addresses below or our A14 helpline.

 For all queries in relation to the main scheme Section 1 & 2: Alconbury to the East Coast Main Line, Section 3: East Coast Main Line to Swavesey & Section 4 & 5: Swavesey to Milton, please email: [email protected]

 Section 6: Huntingdon town centre
Samantha Kedie – [email protected]

 A14 helpline 0800 270 0114 – This will be answered by a team member during site hours 8am – 5pm and messages can be left at other times. Further updates as the scheme progresses can be found on our website.

Kind regards and stay safe

 

A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme
Highways England | Woodlands | Manton Lane | Bedford | MK41 7LW
Web: http://www.highwaysengland.co.uk

Highways England Company Limited | General enquiries: 0300 123 5000 |National Traffic Operations Centre, 3 Ridgeway, Quinton Business Park, Birmingham B32 1AF | https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/highways-england | [email protected]

 

Registered in England and Wales no 9346363 | Registered Office: Bridge House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4LZ 

 

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A14 Planned road closures w/c 7 September

A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire: major improvements

We are currently carrying out finishing works for which we need to close lanes or carriageways on the A1, A14 and some local roads at times, usually overnight between 8pm and 6am, unless otherwise stated. A clearly signed diversion route will always be in place for closures.

For this week, the planned closures are:

Full closures
Monday 7 (one night)
• Hinchingbrooke Park Road loop

Tuesday 8 (one night)
• A1(M) southbound junction 14 to Brampton Hut

Vehicles will be diverted via A1307 spur to Spittals, and west on A141 to re-join the A1 southbound at Brampton Hut, or to travel west on A14

Thursday 10 (one night)
• A14 westbound to westbound link Girton junction 31
Vehicles will be diverted to continue on A428 westbound then north on A1198 to re-join the A14 at Godmanchester junction 23

Friday 11 (one night)
• A14 eastbound Bar Hill junction 25 entry slip
Vehicles will be diverted west on A1307 to Swavesey and join A14 eastbound at junction 24

Saturday 12 (one night) 9pm – 8am
• Brampton Road B1514 between station car park and Edison Bell Way
Vehicles on the Huntingdon town centre side will be diverted onto the ring road, St Peters Road to A141 west to Brampton / Brampton Racecourse junction and into Brampton via B1514. Vehicles on the Brampton side of the closure will follow this diversion in reverse.

For more information about this scheme, visit

https://highwaysengland.co.uk/a14-cambridge-to-huntingdon-improvement-scheme-home/ ,

or stay updated by following us on   Twitter   and   Facebook

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Weekly Policing Update – Fenstanton District

Good Afternoon, Fenstanton District Members –

Here is our weekly summary of offences and incidents affecting your community, reported to police during the period 25th to 31st August:

A14 Fenstanton – Police closed the new A14 between junctions 23 and 24 on Tuesday evening, 25th August, after a flatbed trailer carrying a large portacabin overturned on to its side in high winds. The road was closed for about 30 minutes. (Ref CC-25082020-0199)

Low Road, Fenstanton – Police responded to an intruder alarm sounding at a vacant business unit near the roundabout at the top of Low Road on Thursday evening, 27th August, and discovered a broken fence panel and four persons inside the compound. However, no other offences were discovered and the four were sent on their way with strong words of advice. (Ref 35/58173/20)

And Finally – Reminder: New Tougher Fines for Serious Breaches of Social Distancing Regulations:

Tougher measures came into force on Friday for the most serious breaches of social distancing regulations:

• Fines for not wearing face masks have doubled for repeat offenders, starting at £100 and doubling for each repeat offence to a maximum of £3,200.

• Organisers of illegal raves, unlicensed music events or any other unlawful gathering of 30 people or more may face a fine of £10,000.

Over the Bank Holiday weekend, officers from Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk police joined forced to shut down an illegal rave in Thetford Forest attended by over 500 people. Five people who refused to leave the area were arrested and fined, and officers seized audio equipment, generators and a large lorry being used to transport it all.

More information on the new measures is on the Government website at the following link:

https://bit.ly/2Eyxt2F

________________________________________

To see details of Policing Summaries for neighbouring areas, please click on the following link and scroll down the page to select areas of interest:

https://www.ecops.org.uk/alert_archive

Please be aware that these reports do not contain all details of all reported crime. We do not publish details of domestic related offences or anything which may put a person at risk if information regarding the crime was made public.

As always, if you have information relating to any offence, or are concerned about any suspicious activities, please contact police by using any of these methods:

• the ‘101’ non-emergency telephone number;

• the on-line web-chat tool on the new Cambridgeshire Constabulary web-site – click on the green icon;

• Alternatively, you can use ‘Crimestoppers’ to make a report anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or by using their on-line contact form.

In an emergency, or if you witness a crime in progress, always use ‘999’.

Best Wishes,

Chris Shaw, PSV

St Ives Police Station

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Fenstanton WI August 2020

The Women’s Institute was formed in 1915 to revitalise rural communities during the First World War. Today the WI is the largest women’s voluntary organisation in the UK and Fenstanton WI has been running since 1918.

During these current unprecedented and trying times, the safety of our Members is of utmost importance, therefore we have decided that we will not be resuming our meetings for the time being.

We had a full programme of meetings scheduled for this year but unfortunately we were only able to hold two. Hopefully all the speakers who were booked will be available when we start again.

We wish all of our Members well and look forward to seeing you all again and we would be delighted to see any new ladies, too!

We will keep you all informed.