The Local Plan: tell them what you think 

The Greater Cambridge Local Plan is being described as “the most important document you’ve (probably) never heard of.” Tens of thousands of new homes are proposed, among many other items. The plan’s authors, the local councils’ Greater Cambridge Shared Planning team, want residents’ feedback on their first proposals in the next couple of weeks. It’s important that we let them have it.
The plan, once finalised, will affect the vast majority of changes to this area over the next 20 years, and once it’s done, it’s done. The Queen Edith’s Community Forum will be producing some step-by-step guides on how to find out more and how to respond to tailored issues – this will go live next week on our website and will be linked to here. In addition, everything will be explained in a major article in the next Queen Edith’s magazine, which should be delivered to your home next weekend (see below). The planners are also making a presentation to the City Council’s South Area Committee next Monday evening (see below), which you can watch online. If you want to press on with finding out more before then, the Local Plan website is the place to start.

Transport and Development at meeting next Monday 

The next council area committee meeting is on Monday (29 November) at 7.00pm, broadcast online for all to watch. There are two major presentations: one on the Making Connections plan for transport in Greater Cambridge, and the other on the Greater Cambridge Local Plan (see above). Needless to say, these are both very important if you want to find out more on massive local issues such as road charging, better bus services, new housing estates, the future of the Green Belt and much more. Do make a note to watch. The link to the broadcast can be found here – it can be watched in your web browser and no sign-in is required.

Want to help deliver the magazine? 

The Winter edition of Queen Edith’s magazine is at the printers, and will be ready for delivery at the end of next week. We’ll be contacting all of our 100+ previous delivery volunteers in the next few days to see if they’re available for this one, but if you haven’t helped out before, and would like to do so, we’d love you to join the team! It’ll probably only take an hour of your time, posting copies to maybe 50 or so homes near you. If you’d like to join this amazing community effort, just let us know here.

COP26: What Next?

The next event in St John the Evangelist’s Climate Change events programme is a panel discussion with three experts to explain the implications of COP26 and what we can expect from it. The panel brings together expertise on international climate change negotiations from Dr Joanna Depledge, on climate change strategy, the reform of energy markets from Professor Michael Grubb, and an insight into the relationship between climate change and poverty in the Global South from Robin Greenwood. Each analyst will give their own perspective and then the floor will be opened to questions. The event takes place next Friday (3 December), from 7pm to 8pm, with refreshments available from 6.30pm. Admission free – just come along.

Free Beaujolais pop-up tasting

Cambridge Wine Merchants on Cherry Hinton Road has a free Beaujolais wine tasting from 2pm to 5pm this Saturday afternoon (27 November), followed by the wonderful Guerilla Kitchen food van cooking up a storm from 5pm to 8pm.

Forest of Imagination moves to Sunday

Wandlebury’s ‘Forest of Imagination’ event has moved to this Sunday (28 November). Come and see new artworks created by communities of all ages from across Cambridgeshire, suspended across the natural cathedral made by the avenue of beech trees. Open 10.30am to 3pm at Wandlebury Country Park; free, no need to book. More information here.

An evening of cello music at St John’s

Cellist Georgia Morse will be performing Bach, Bloch, Vaughan Williams and Cassadó in a free evening performance at St John’s Church on Hills Road, next Saturday (4 December) at 7pm. All are welcome, and refreshments are included too! Put it in your diary today…

Christmas Trees just around the corner

If you’d like a genuine Nordmann Fir or Norway spruce Christmas Tree this year without having to travel miles to collect it, you can order one through the Morley School’s long-established system. Order online by tomorrow night (27 November) and collect from the school on Sunday week (5 December). Full details here.

Opportunities at Homerton Early Years Centre

Homerton Early Years Centre in Holbrook Road has a vacancy for an Office Manager and also opportunities to work in its holiday club. There are more details on the centre’s website.

Creative Apprenticeships at Cambridge Junction

Cambridge Junction is offering offer different routes for young people between the ages of 16 – 24 to become a highly skilled and employable member of the Arts. All of its apprenticeships are non-graduate entry routes into the arts and are in partnership with the National College of Creative Industries. Operations Apprenticeship and Technical Apprenticeship opportunities are available now, with a deadline of next Friday to apply. More details here.

Exam invigilators needed

The Oakes College on Queen Edith’s Way is looking for enthusiastic individuals to join its team of Exam Invigilators. Previous experience would be an advantage but is not essential as training will be provided. You’ll need clear and effective communication skills and enjoy working in a busy environment with young people. Details here and application form here.

Christmas period bus services

Stagecoach has released its Christmas period bus service information and you can see the details here.

This Week at The Light Cinema

Our multi-screen cinema’s films this week include A Boy Called Christmas; Anything Goes – The Musical; Dune; Encanto; Eternals; Ghostbusters: Afterlife; House of Gucci; King Richard; No Time To Die; Pirates; Ron’s gone Wrong; Spencer; The Addams Family; The Boss Baby: Family Business; The French Dispatch; and Venom Let There Be Carnage.

• Film times and other details can be found here.

This week at Cambridge Junction

Another full lineup at Cambridge Junction this week includes Bad Manners; Beans On Toast; Bess Atwell; Gary Delaney: Gary In Punderland (sold out); Hybrid Minds & Bou(sold out); Jesterlarf Comedy Club: December; Kanda Bongo Man; Kimberley Rew’s Marvellous Music; My Baby; Nyjo Celebrates Amy Winehouse; Robin Morgan: What A Man, What A Man, What A Man (Say It Again Now); Spontaneous Potter; The Trials Of Cato; and We Are Not Shellfish.

• More details on all upcoming Cambridge Junction events here

Open Consultations

• Greater Cambridge Local Plan First Proposals from Greater Cambridge Shared Planning – “Tell us what you think today. Explore the Plan, view the map, answer our quick questionnaire, or comment on the detail – it’s up to you” (open until Monday 13 December). Full information here.
• Making Connections from the Greater Cambridge Partnership – Have your say on greener travel in Greater Cambridge and give your thoughts on our proposals for transforming public transport, cycling and walking and reducing pollution and congestion (until Monday 20 December). Full information here.
• The Local Transport and Connectivity Plan from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority is a long-term strategy to improve transport in the whole county (until Sunday 28 November, we think). Read about it and have your say here.
• Cambridge City Council’s Public art commissioning consultation is designed to help develop a ‘Public Art Strategy’ to define how it will support and commission public art in the future (until Saturday 4 December). More information here.
• Cambridgeshire County Council is gathering residents’ views on the future direction of spending as the authority sets its budget for next year, and its key priorities for the years afterward – as well as understanding views on any changes to council tax. This Business Planning Survey is for residents, despite the title (until Friday 10 December). More details here.

Traffic disruption

One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here.

Prescription collection

The Queen Edith’s Community Forum’s ‘Happy To Help’ scheme has now closed, but the Patients Participation Group at the Queen Edith Medical Practice is providing prescription collections for local residents who find themselves unable to leave home – telephone 07968 538783 or email ppg@queen-ediths.info.

How to contact our local councillors

The Queen Edith’s Community Forum guide to our local councillors will ensure you contact the right one depending on your problem and the street where you live. Find it here.

Queen Edith’s city councillor Sam Davies writes a weekly email discussing what she’s been doing and what issues have come up in the area. You can add yourself to the circulation of Sam’s free email here. If our other councillors produce anything similar we will also highlight it here.

• Queen Edith’s News is produced by the Queen Edith’s magazine team, part of the Queen Edith’s Community Forum, chaired by Sam Davies. Contact Sam by email at hello@queen-ediths.info
• Email us at hello@queen-ediths.info if you have any news you’d like to see included, or any updates to the information above.
• Previous issues of Queen Edith’s News can be read here.
• All issues of Queen Edith’s magazine can be read online here.
• All the best advice and information we can offer is updated frequently at the Queen Edith’s Community Forum website.
• Our friends in Cherry Hinton have a similar email newsletter which you can read and subscribe to here.

OBE and MBE for Queen Edith’s residents 

Two local residents were among those receiving national honours this week at Great St Mary’s Church. Sam Davies (left) and Dr Sally-Ann Forsyth (right) were awarded the MBE and OBE respectively by the Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen. They are pictured above after the ceremony with the mayor of Cambridge, Cllr Russ McPherson.

Are road charges on the way? 

The Greater Cambridge Partnership has organised an online community meeting next Tuesday (23 November) to explain its latest plans, focusing on the south of the city. This should give residents enough information to respond to the GCP’s current consultation, which proposes dramatic changes, including a new bus network, better cycling and walking routes, a road user charging zone and changes to parking costs. This will impact almost everyone, and we think everyone will want to have their say on this. If you want to find out more, do make a note to watch. Sign up to get details of the event here.

Stay safe from burglary call 

Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s Southern Burglary Team is urging residents to be vigilant, review their home security and look out for any suspicious activity following a string of burglaries in Cambourne, Sawston and Trumpington. It’s just a reminder to lock doors, keep keys and valuables out of reach and ensure outbuildings and rear entrances to properties are also secure. Keep an eye on your neighbours’ property and report anything that doesn’t feel right to police: if a crime is in progress, call 999. Otherwise, please call 101 or report it online. Further burglary prevention advice is available here.

Cycle Path users asked to be vigilant 

City Councillor Sam Davies has received reports that there have been some attempted thefts taking place on the ‘DNA Path’ in the evenings when Biomedical Campus staff are returning home. The incidents have been at the same spot halfway to Shelford, with two young males signalling bicycles or scooters to stop while blocking the path in order to grab the handles and take possession. Users of the route are asked to please be vigilant of such suspicious activity, reporting anything to the police and the Hospital security team.

Have your say 

There are an extraordinary number of consultations open at the moment, including on transport (see above), new housing developments, public art and council services. See the list of ‘Open Consultations’ at the end of this and every week’s newsletter for details.

Apple and Pear Celebration

The Pop-Up Fruit Stands will be open, for the last time this year, tomorrow (Saturday 20 November) at 253 Hills Rd (from 10.30am) and at 36 Kinnaird Way (from 2pm). They will be selling a range of apples and pears from local farms with all profits going to the Community Food Hub. Do drop by!

Scandalous Women!

The Friends of Blue Smile are putting on an evening of talks called ‘Scandalous Women’ next Thursday (25 November) at St John’s Church. In what promises to be a fascinating event, Anne Sebba and Carole Pook will talk about the lives of Wallis Simpson and Winnie Mandela. Tickets are £15, including a glass of wine and nibbles. For details, call Mary-Louisa Glynn on 07801 748455 or email randmglynn@btinternet.com

Turkish Barbers comes to Cherry Hinton Road

The latest new business in the area is Maccas, a traditional Turkish Barbers, which opened its doors yesterday on Cherry Hinton Road. Its owner has been running a successful mobile service for several years, but is now bringing Queen Edith’s the full Turkish experience, including wet and hot towel shaves, and head and scalp massage. Walk-in, no appointment necessary, open Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 6pm (Thursday 7pm) and Sunday 10am to 4pm.

Wellbeing Walk

The next Nightingale Wellbeing Walk is next Thursday (25 November) – join a small group of gentle paced walkers to connect and exercise in nature. Walk leader David Lynch tells us: “If you’d like to exercise and socialise more, but lack confidence or motivation to start the process, this group could be a springboard to improving your wellbeing.” More information and book your free place here.

‘Puppetry, music, and fantastic staging’

What if you were made of wood? What adventures wood you have? This weekend only, Cambridge Junction presents Pinocchio, with Stuff & Nonsense adding their hallmark hilarity, cleverness, puppetry, music, fantastic staging, outstanding performers and extraordinary physical tricks to the classic elements of this tale. Suitable for ages 3+. At the time of writing, tickets are still available for the 1pm performance on Sunday. More details here.

Slippery problem sorted

The RedCross Areas Residents Association has been tackling wet leaves on the road this week, as visitors to the hospital on foot and cycle had been finding it difficult. RARA joined up with the City Council SOS Team, the Biomedical Campus, the NHS and Bell School to deal with the problem and has since been thanked by many people using the route.

This Week at The Light Cinema

Our multi-screen cinema’s films this week include Dear Evan Hansen; Dune; Encanto; Eternals; Ghostbusters Afterlife; King Richard; Last Night in Soho; Mothering Sunday; No Time To Die; Paw Patrol: The Movie; Pitbull – Exodus; Rocky IV; Ron’s Gone Wrong; Spencer; The Addams Family 2; The Boss Baby: Family Business; The French Dispatch; and Venom Let There Be Carnage.

• Film times and other details can be found here.

This week at Cambridge Junction

Another full lineup at Cambridge Junction this week includes Mother Culture & The Megan Show; Elles Bailey; Hayseed Dixie; Hybrid Minds & Bou (sold out); Ishmael Ensemble; Myles Sanko; Pinocchio; Shame; Slipped Disc All Nighter; Spontaneous Potter; The Fiver – November; and The Wedding Present.

• More details on all upcoming Cambridge Junction events here

Open Consultations

• Greater Cambridge Local Plan First Proposals from Greater Cambridge Shared Planning – “Tell us what you think today. Explore the Plan, view the map, answer our quick questionnaire, or comment on the detail – it’s up to you” (open until Monday 13 December). Full information here.
• Making Connections from the Greater Cambridge Partnership – Have your say on greener travel in Greater Cambridge and give your thoughts on our proposals for transforming public transport, cycling and walking and reducing pollution and congestion (until Monday 20 December). Full information here.
• The Local Transport and Connectivity Plan from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority is a long-term strategy to improve transport in the whole county (until Sunday 28 November, we think). Read about it and have your say here.
• Cambridge City Council’s Public art commissioning consultation is designed to help develop a ‘Public Art Strategy’ to define how it will support and commission public art in the future (until Saturday 4 December). More information here.
• Cambridgeshire County Council is gathering residents’ views on the future direction of spending as the authority sets its budget for next year, and its key priorities for the years afterward – as well as understanding views on any changes to council tax. This Business Planning Survey is for residents, despite the title (until Friday 10 December). More details here.

Traffic disruption

One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here.

Prescription collection

The Queen Edith’s Community Forum’s ‘Happy To Help’ scheme has now closed, but the Patients Participation Group at the Queen Edith Medical Practice is providing prescription collections for local residents who find themselves unable to leave home – telephone 07968 538783 or email ppg@queen-ediths.info.

How to contact our local councillors

The Queen Edith’s Community Forum guide to our local councillors will ensure you contact the right one depending on your problem and the street where you live. Find it here.

Queen Edith’s city councillor Sam Davies writes a weekly email discussing what she’s been doing and what issues have come up in the area. You can add yourself to the circulation of Sam’s free email here. If our other councillors produce anything similar we will also highlight it here.

• Queen Edith’s News is produced by the Queen Edith’s magazine team, part of the Queen Edith’s Community Forum, chaired by Sam Davies. Contact Sam by email at hello@queen-ediths.info
• Email us at hello@queen-ediths.info if you have any news you’d like to see included, or any updates to the information above.
• Previous issues of Queen Edith’s News can be read here.
• All issues of Queen Edith’s magazine can be read online here.
• All the best advice and information we can offer is updated frequently at the Queen Edith’s Community Forum website.
• Our friends in Cherry Hinton have a similar email newsletter which you can read and subscribe to here.

Greenlands sets an example on hedge maintenance

Overgrown hedging in Greenlands was recently rectified by the RedCross Areas Residents Association, after a long wait for “something to be done about it”. Unfortunately the City Council no longer has resources to trim back hedges, so it really is now down to all of us to be considerate of our neighbours and take responsibility for sorting it out. Greenlands is an important access road to the hospitals for cyclists and pedestrians, who were being forced into the middle of the road. Councillor Sam Davies is encouraging residents elsewhere in Queen Edith’s to get out and do likewise now, at a time where it’s not the nesting season, and while there are still fortnightly green bin collections. If you’ve got a neighbour whose hedge is causing a pavement obstruction, and they can’t or won’t do anything about it, why not offer to help them? There’s more information from the RSPB about hedge cutting here.

Remembrance Sunday events

The Mayor of Cambridge, Cllr Russ McPherson, will lead a procession from Station Road to the war memorial on Hills Road to mark Remembrance Sunday (14 November) this weekend. There will also be the usual Armistice Sunday Service at the War Memorial, Cherry Hinton Recreation Ground. Both events start just before 11.00 am.

Get your apple and pear orders in

The pop-up fruit stands at Hills Road and Kinnaird Way will be back for an apple and pear celebration on 20 November (note that’s next weekend, not this one). However, to avoid over-stocking they’d really like to take as many pre-orders as possible. To get a list of what’s going to be available, just send an email to martin.roach1@outlook.com now to receive a list of the wide range of varieties on offer and then place your pre-order. All profits will go towards the Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub.

Remembering loved ones over the festive season

Arthur Rank Hospice Charity’s Light Up A Life is returning for 2021, and if you’d like to remember your loved ones and support hospice care at the same time, you have until next Wednesday (17 November) to submit their names. When you make a donation to Light Up A Life, you do so in memory of your own loved ones. Their names will be included in this year’s Commemorative Booklet, a copy of which will be posted to everyone who makes a donation. You’ll also be welcomed to the hospice for a live event on 5 December with the switch-on of the Hospice’s magnificent Christmas tree lights, and live music. There’s full information here or go straight to the donation page here.

Home delivery from Cambridge’s finest

Indie food delivery service Foodstuff has a new app to make it easier to get great indie food options and await your takeaway – delivered in eco-friendly fashion of course! It’s the best way to get home deliveries from the likes of Al Chile, Al-Casbah, Aromi, Bedouin, Bread & Meat, Charlie’s Coffee Company, Chi Restaurant, Dot’s Hot Chicken, Fin Boys, La Latina, Little Petra, Maurizio Dining, Nanna Jude’s Bagels, Pizza 1889, Scott’s All Day, Sea Tree, Smokeworks, Steak & Honour, Taj Tandoori, Taste of Cambridge, Tawa Kitchen, Tokoko, Tzatziki Cambridge and Vegan Vice Club. Get the app here on the Apple App Store or here on Google Play.

Science Centre branches out to the city centre

Queen Edith’s-based Cambridge Science Centre is ‘on tour’ with a pop-up exhibition in the Grand Arcade, upstairs opposite Ed’s Easy Diner. Science Communicators are on hand each day to help children discover all things STEM. Explore interactive exhibits, have a go at launching your own seed heads into a wind tunnel and watch how they disperse, watch online shows, or get involved with an imaginative activity. It’s open 7 days a week – see here for times and more.

Port Tasting at Cambridge Wine Merchants

Cambridge Wine Merchants has a Port tasting next Tuesday (16 November) which promises to guide you through the various styles of this wonderful winter tipple. It’s at 7pm and is £30 per head. “From dry to super-sweet, there’s something for everyone”, they say. “Come along and find out why we’ve been chosen as this year’s Decanter Sweet and Fortified Specialist of the year – you won’t be disappointed!” Email cherry@cambridgewine.com for details.

Join The Ol’ Boys Club

The Ol’ Boys Club is a social group for men aged 55 and over, and has been going for some six years. It has talks by members and guest speakers. Other activities include indoor curling, dominoes and of course, ‘putting the world to rights over tea and biscuits’. It meets every Monday afternoon from 2pm to 4pm at the Village Leisure Centre in Cherry Hinton, and occasionally at the Red Lion pub in Mill End Road for a relaxed lunch and a social chat. To find out more, call 01223 414171.

Feed a Cambridge family this Christmas

Cambridge Fruit Company, whose owner Neil Bharadwa lives in Queen Edith’s, has been supplying fruit and veg at cost to the Queen Edith’s Community Food Hub since May 2020. Last year his company set a target of feeding 100 vulnerable families a Christmas Day meal – and thanks to its amazing customers, smashed that target and fed 167 families! This year they want to do even more. Local residents and businesses are invited to purchase a £75 box to feed a family of 6, by Friday December 10th, and these will be delivered just before Christmas. Find out how you can help here.

This Week at The Light Cinema

Our multi-screen cinema’s films this week include Cry Macho; Dune; Eternals; Ghostbusters Afterlife; Mothering Sunday; No Time To Die; Paw Patrol: The Movie; Ron’s Gone Wrong; Spencer; The Addams Family 2; The Boss Baby: Family Business; The French Dispatch; tick, tick… BOOM!; and Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

• Film times and other details can be found here.

This week at Cambridge Junction

Another full lineup at Cambridge Junction this week includes Black Midi; Cambridge (Northern) Soul Festival 2: The Flirtations With The Signatures; Còig; Double Bill: Whole & Power; Fish; Harry Hill: Fight!; John Osborne: My Car Plays Tapes; Michael Spicer; New Routes: Bernard Hoskin & Max Bianco And The Bluehearts; Robin Ince: A Billion Thoughts; Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventure For Kids; The Fiver – November; and The Pride Experience.

• More details on all upcoming Cambridge Junction events here

Open Consultations

• Greater Cambridge Local Plan First Proposals from Greater Cambridge Shared Planning – “Tell us what you think today. Explore the Plan, view the map, answer our quick questionnaire, or comment on the detail – it’s up to you” (until Monday 13 December). Full information here.
• Making Connections from the Greater Cambridge Partnership – Have your say on greener travel in Greater Cambridge and give your thoughts on our proposals for transforming public transport, cycling and walking and reducing pollution and congestion (until Monday 20 December). Full information here.
• The Local Transport and Connectivity Plan from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority is a long-term strategy to improve transport in the whole county (until Sunday 28 November, we think). Read about it and have your say here.

Traffic disruption

One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here.

Prescription collection

The Queen Edith’s Community Forum’s ‘Happy To Help’ scheme has now closed, but the Patients Participation Group at the Queen Edith Medical Practice is providing prescription collections for local residents who find themselves unable to leave home – telephone 07968 538783 or email ppg@queen-ediths.info.

How to contact our local councillors

The Queen Edith’s Community Forum guide to our local councillors will ensure you contact the right one depending on your problem and the street where you live. Find it here.

Queen Edith’s city councillor Sam Davies writes a weekly email discussing what she’s been doing and what issues have come up in the area. You can add yourself to the circulation of Sam’s free email here. If our other councillors produce anything similar we will also highlight it here.

• Queen Edith’s News is produced by the Queen Edith’s magazine team, part of the Queen Edith’s Community Forum, chaired by Sam Davies. Contact Sam by email at hello@queen-ediths.info
• Email us at hello@queen-ediths.info if you have any news you’d like to see included, or any updates to the information above.
• Previous issues of Queen Edith’s News can be read here.
• All issues of Queen Edith’s magazine can be read online here.
• All the best advice and information we can offer is updated frequently at the Queen Edith’s Community Forum website.
• Our friends in Cherry Hinton have a similar email newsletter which you can read and subscribe to here.

Through-traffic closures made permanent

Cambridgeshire County Council’s Highways and Transport Committee yesterday agreed to make all of the city’s six experimental ‘modal filters’ permanent, including those in Luard Road and at the end of Nightingale Avenue. The meeting heard support from the schemes from local residents and from Queen Edith’s county councillor Alex Beckett, but also from residents objecting to the Nightingale Avenue closure, citing additional traffic on Fendon Road. This was the third and final meeting required to discuss the closures, and you can watch the half-hour discussion here.

Light up the garden for St Martin’s Day

St Martin’s Day – or Martinmas – is celebrated across Europe, especially in Germany, and there’s a free, family-friendly community event to mark the day at Nightingale Garden next Thursday (11 November) from 4 to 6pm. There will be (optional) stories and singing from 4.30pm and plenty of time to meet and chat before/after. We hope to have a coffee cart join us so bring some cash or a card if you like. There are full details on the garden’s ‘meet-up’ webpage: it will be weather dependent, so check the website before travelling far. You’re welcome to bring a lantern (see below) or a torch – it could be dark without them!

Making a lantern for St Martin’s Day

Nightingale Garden volunteer Julia Leong has created the most amazing lantern making guide for the St Martin’s Day event (above). The guide also has more background on St Martin’s Day, the legend behind it and how the event is celebrated. Making a lantern would be a great project for the family. You can see the guide here.

Fireworks tonight

Back in September, Cambridge City Council cancelled this year’s Midsummer Common fireworks display, which can attract 25,000 people, following the publication of the government’s Winter Plan. This is expected to lead to an increase in the number of private fireworks events. Note that it is illegal to set off fireworks after midnight on ‘Bonfire Night’ (tonight, 5 November). If you do plan on using fireworks at home, please ensure you consider this safety advice from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service. Note that there may also be celebrations for Diwali, which this year has been taking place from 2 to 6 November. The RSPCA has advice on how to keep your pets safe during this time.

New entrance proposed for Homerton College

Homerton College on Hills Road has announced plans for a new building at the front of the college, to house the Porters’ Lodge, Principal Entrance to the College and Children’s Literature Resource Centre. A public exhibition to review the scheme takes place next Thursday (11 November) from 2pm to 9pm at the college. More details here.

Poetry Seminars at the library

A series of eight monthly seminar groups with widely-published poet Stav Poleg begins on 20 November, at Rock Road Library. These will feature close reading, in-depth discussion and feedback on participants’ poems-in-progress, as well as conversation around contemporary poetry and guidance on your next steps as a poet. Entry into the seminars is by application only. More information here.

Wandlebury Garden History Walk

“The House, the Horse, and the Holes in the Ground” – join the wardens for a stroll around Wandlebury and discover some of the Iron Age and 18th Century history of the scheduled ancient monument, country estate and stables. This free event (suggested donation £3) is next Wednesday (10 November) at 10am. Full details here.

Sherry Week tasting at CWM

It’s the perfect time of year to sample sherry, and a tasting next week at Cambridge Wine Merchants on Cherry Hinton Road will include light dry Fino, sea breeze matured Manzanilla through to more robust and fuller Paolo Cortado and Oloroso, as well as the sweeter Creams and “the wonderfully luscious world of Pedro Ximénez”. It’s on Tuesday (9 November) at 7pm, it’s £25, and to book please email the shop at cherry@cambridgewine.com and include a contact number.

Robot Appeal reaches milestone

Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust has reached its £250,000 milestone to buy a surgical robot for Addenbrooke’s. The charity is calling on its supporters and the public to come up with their suggestions to help raise more funds or take part in the ‘1000 Challenge’, or to donate, to help reach the £1.5 million target as quickly as possible. More details here.

Clothes and toys support the Rosie

The Friends of the Rosie charity’s Rosie in Stitches initiative has raised over £1,000, through a loyal team of knitters and sewers who make children’s clothes and toys to sell. See the group’s online store here.

This Week at The Light Cinema

Our multi-screen cinema’s films this week include Dune; Eternals; Halloween Kills; Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone; King Richard; Last Night in Soho; No Time To Die; Paw Patrol: The Movie; Red Notice; Ron’s Gone Wrong; Spencer; The Addams Family 2; The Boss Baby: Family Business; The French Dispatch; The Silence of the Lambs; and Venom Let There Be Carnage.

• Film times and other details can be found here.

This week at Cambridge Junction

Another full lineup at Cambridge Junction this week includes Cambridge (Northern) Soul Festival 2: The Flirtations With The Signatures; Jesterlarf Comedy Club: November; John Osborne: My Car Plays Tapes; Love Letter To A Liveable Future: Online At The Change Festival; Nigel Ng: The Haiyaa Tour; Nobody Panic Book Tour; Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys; Snapped Ankles; Subira Joy: Kill The Cop Inside Your Head; Talisk; The Hug; and This Is The Kit.

• More details on all upcoming Cambridge Junction events here

Open Consultations

• Residents are urged to give their feedback on the First Proposals for the new Greater Cambridge Local Plan, during a six-week public consultation which has just begun. The Queen Edith’s Community Forum will be organising a public event as well as extensive background in Queen Edith’s magazine. However, if you want to get stuck in now, here’s a good place to start. The consultation is open until Monday 13 December. A good introductory hour-long video has also just been published by the planning service. You can watch it here.

Traffic disruption

One.network is the website which shows current and forthcoming road works. You can see the map here.

Prescription collection

The Queen Edith’s Community Forum’s ‘Happy To Help’ scheme has now closed, but the Patients Participation Group at the Queen Edith Medical Practice is providing prescription collections for local residents who find themselves unable to leave home – telephone 07968 538783 or email ppg@queen-ediths.info.

How to contact our local councillors

The Queen Edith’s Community Forum guide to our local councillors will ensure you contact the right one depending on your problem and the street where you live. Find it here.

Queen Edith’s city councillor Sam Davies writes a weekly email discussing what she’s been doing and what issues have come up in the area. You can add yourself to the circulation of Sam’s free email here. If our other councillors produce anything similar we will also highlight it here.

• Queen Edith’s News is produced by the Queen Edith’s magazine team, part of the Queen Edith’s Community Forum, chaired by Sam Davies. Contact Sam by email at hello@queen-ediths.info
• Email us at hello@queen-ediths.info if you have any news you’d like to see included, or any updates to the information above.
• Previous issues of Queen Edith’s News can be read here.
• All issues of Queen Edith’s magazine can be read online here.
• All the best advice and information we can offer is updated frequently at the Queen Edith’s Community Forum website.
• Our friends in Cherry Hinton have a similar email newsletter which you can read and subscribe to here.