Latest news with #Huntingdonshire
BBC News
4 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Cambridgeshire fire service records five-year high in incidents
A fire service has said incidents across the county have been at a record five-year and Fire Rescue Service (CFRS) said it attended to more than 160 fires in March, compared with 111 the previous year, and more than 200 fires in April, compared with 131 in 2024. It recorded a 13% increase in incidents overall in the last 12 months, with 1,911 across the Ball, the head of community fire safety at the service, said: "This is a sharp rise and certainly a cause for concern." The service added the five-year average for incidents recorded for March was about 135 and 162 for April. CFRS said many of these fires had happened in a house, mostly starting in the kitchen due to cooking or from appliances. It added its firefighters had responded to 200 outdoor fires over this period of time, many of which were started attended a fire recently in Huntingdonshire involving a vanity mirror, which reflected the sunlight and had started a fire that caused significant damage. Mr Ball said: "One way residents can help keep themselves and their families safe in their homes is to use our online home fire safety check tool."We often see fires increase as the weather changes, with people getting their gardens ready for the summer."We have seen a few incidents recently where appliances, such as air fryers, are being heated up by a hob being accidentally switched on."There are precautions people can take to help reduce the risk of a deliberate fire."Things like making sure that lighters and matches are kept well out of reach of children, as well as making sure [children] stay clear of disused or derelict buildings, can also make a big difference." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
St Neots market square reopens after multi-million pound revamp
Businesses say they are already seeing signs recovery after the reopening of a town's Market Square. A multi-million-pound revamp of the square in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, began in January last year as part of a wider £15m Aslan, from the Market Cafe, said the disruption caused businesses to "suffer a lot," but he was positive they could "rise from that". The square is open but contractors will return over the summer for some final finishing touches, Huntingdonshire District Council said. The project removed all car parking on the square itself, which is fully pedestrianised, with some new disabled bays on the roads around and plants have also been added to the square."It looks much more vibrant, more versatile, more spacious. It looks like a town centre after a long time... so it is quite a relief," Mr Aslan said."I do believe it looks much better and is something that the town needed but I can't say if it was worth the wait because it took four months more than it should have. "We have been seeing people come from other towns and I'm already seeing signs [of recovery]."The project for Cambridgeshire's largest market town includes bringing the long-empty Old Falcon Inn back into use as homes, revamping the market square and renovating the Priory Centre. It has been funded by bodies including the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Huntingdonshire District Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and National Highways. Liz Owen, who runs Access in St Neots, was unhappy that disabled parking at the square was not obviously said: "People are up in arms including me because [the council] basically have very small signage and there's no painted lettering on the ground. "What we can see is people parking without a blue badge; if you are disabled and want to park you haven't really got much chance." Mike Gildersleeves, corporate director of place at the district council, revealed contractors would line-mark the disabled bays during the summer."These [few final finishing touches] have been carefully scheduled to avoid disruption to key events and market days, ensuring the square remains vibrant and open to all throughout the season," he said."We encourage everyone to make the most of the new square and the opportunities it offers." The Mayor of St Neots, Richard Slade, said the space was previously a cobbled car park and residents told him it was difficult to cross without tripping added new businesses had opened on the square but he was aware of a bakery and a cafe that had closed."Now there may be other reasons why they closed, but having all the works done has impacted that," he said. "There is always going to have to be a time where you do these works - you have to look to the future." Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
