From our District Councillor
SINCE THE INTRODUCTION of the new concessionary fares scheme thousands of
residents have been travelling free on buses.
The scheme, introduced across the county in October, has seen more than 2000 people apply for bus passes in a single month - that is nearly 1500 more than in the whole of October and November last year. The new concessionary scheme, a joint initiative between ECDC and the Cambridge County Council, provides free travel on local bus services within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough for those aged 60 and over, ort eligible people with disabilities.
David Archer, executive director for development services at ECDC, said "The number of people who are using buses in our district has been rising last year, but the increase since we implemented the new scheme in October is staggering. We would encourage anyone-else who is eligible to come forward."
Information about the scheme can be obtained from Cris Beer on 01353 665555.
ECDC is running an additional trial for fortnightly waste collection in the district. It will cover Bottisham, Lode and Longmeadow. The trial will follow on identical one in Witchford, where villagers recycled 77 per cent of their waster over the summer.
Under the fortnightly scheme, normal rubbish is collected in black bags one week, while villagers put out a bag for garden and food waster, and a black box for bottles, cans and paper the following weeks. Before the trial begins in February 2007, officers from environmental services will be meeting with residents, businesses and schools to explain the scheme. There will be public exhibitions, visits from the recycle bus, and other opportunities for residents to ask any questions they may have.
Councillors on the environmental and transport committee have agreed the purchase of a parcel of land at Angel Drove Ely, near to Tesco's for a 180 space car park for rail commuters. It will be pay and display and its purpose is to draw long term commuter parking away from the town centre car parks, freeing them up for people working in Ely.
A Saturday park-and-ride scheme will operate from the new car park.
Once again, rural post offices are under the threat of closure./ In the last few year's we have lost our post offices at Reach and Swaffham Prior. Rural communities need convenience sorters and post offices, they are of particular use to the elderly and those without cars.
We are lucky in that in Swaffham Bulbeck we have an excellent store and post office. So as I said in the past, it really is a case of Use It of Lose It.