This means that on Saturday 5th December 2009 Mill Road will be closed to all traffic between Tenison Road and Sedgwick Street from 10.30am – 4.30pm.

Access to Tenison Road and Sedgwick Street will remain available. All other roads off Mill Road within the closure area remain open, but it will not be possible for vehicles to access them from the part of Mill Road that is closed.

The Stagecoach Citi 2 buses will be diverted via Coldhams Lane. All other vehicles will be diverted via the Hills Road/Cherry Hinton Road loop.

We strongly recommend that you arrange for any deliveries on Saturday 5th December to be completed by 10am, even if your business is not actually within the road closure area. And if you are bringing a stall or participating in the Fair in some other way, bear in mind the closure when you are planning how to deliver the things you need to your destination.

If you have questions or feedback please e-mail mrwf-safety@mill-road.com

We apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused and hope this will be more than compensated for by the increased business you will receive as a result of Mill Road Winter Fair and by the knowledge that visitors and local residents will be safe to enjoy everything Mill Road has to offer on the day. more...

Contact Alex at millroadwinterfairplinth@hotmail.co.uk to book your place. You can view the full timetable of events at http://www.mill-road.com/winterfair_timetable.aspx and more at http://millroad09.wordpress.com/

Dates: 11th, 12th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 31st December.
Full details at http://www.krispywaves.com/partynights e-mail Michelle or Roz at partynights@krispywaves.com, or tel: 07778 575288.

If you know someone who has left it too late to book their office party into somewhere, tell them about this. It really does look great.

The events will take place over the next few weeks and include a Mill Road history tour with local historian, Allan Brigham, photography and drawing competitions, and the chance to get the society’s staff to come and work for you – for free!

“Mill Road is a unique, bustling location; full of independent shops with lots of different things going on,” comments Miranda Wheatcroft, Marketing Officer at the Cambridge Building Society. “The community is at the heart of everything the Society does so it’s a very good fit.

“Our history tour with Allan Brigham, which is free, takes place on Wednesday 9th September at 6pm. It starts at Ditchburn Place, ends at our Mill Road branch and is guaranteed to tell you things you didn’t know about the history of Mill Road.

“We’re also running a drawing competition for children up to 11 years old who live in and around Mill Road. And for older children, we’re holding a photographic competition and asking 11-16 year olds to get out and about in the local community to capture Mill Road on camera.

“And if that wasn’t enough”, adds Miranda, “Our Mill Road Task Force have agreed to dedicate a day to making a difference in the locality.”

“All they need now is to be given a task to do so if you’ve got a community centre that needs painting or a park that needs weeding, they’re here to help.”

If you live in the Mill Road area and would like to enter the competitions, sign up for the free history tour or make suggestions for the Task Force, simply call in to see David Radcliffe and his team at the Cambridge Building Society’s Mill Road branch at 208 Mill Road, Cambridge or phone 01223 727875. The branch’s opening hours are Monday – Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 9am-12pm.

One will be at Romsey Mill on 20th August and the other will be at St Barnabas Church Hall on 8th September. Both will run from 11.00 am to 7.00 pm.

There are various interesting things available at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Walking from Parker’s Piece you walk past Cherry Tree having a closing down sale after eight years in business; then Mike’s Bikes. Apparently 11 flats are going to be built there; next there is the Locomotive though that is re-opening in July (see: www.calcutta-club.co.uk). Beyond that a big hole is left by the departure of Smart Cartridge. It looked for a moment as though a fish and chip shop was going to open at Royal Fast Food opposite Al-Amin’s but that seems to have gone quiet, and now Mr Stacey’s Video Emporium has joined the list of empty premises.

Over the bridge in Romsey a group of solicitors has moved into the property vacated by Matthews Winter & Bullock, which is good news. However, still empty are the East Anglia Children’s Hospice shop, the RSPCA shop (where the guys from Smart Cartridge were going to to move in but a sign has gone back up to say it is To Let, so perhaps this fell through). Next the old G.A.N. shop, though people say there is some activity again now. The old Wilco site is still not operating as a business, though, again, some activity has been seen in there recently with attention being paid to cabling. On the other hand, not too many people are unhappy about that particular shop being empty!

Opposite, the old Regali shop and the old Gold Centre are all still empty, though Zero Point seems to have had a reprieve. But further along, the new Regali shop has also closed. And thanks to Simon Coleridge who wrote in to point out that NCH is still closed,and that Hands Up Nail Bar next to the Earl of Beaconsfield has also gone.

By my count we are now up to 14, though a couple of those may re-open in due course.

The other thing Simon points out is that two more premises have gained A3 planning so will be able to have sit-down eating and take-aways. Well, there’s a thing!

11/06/2009

In near record time, the Cambridge Building Society has given its popular Mill Road branch a complete makeover including a ramp to give easy access to wheelchair users and those with pushchairs.

In just two weeks, the branch was given a top to toe freshening up including better lighting, new paintwork, carpeting and a redecorated meeting room.

To celebrate the launch of the revamped branch, the society trawled its archives and discovered that local resident, Christine Prime was one of the first customers to open an account at the branch on 31st May 1974 – almost thirty five years ago to the day.

Christine was invited to the branch to join the celebrations and receive a bouquet of flowers and officially open the improved branch.

Commenting, branch manager David Radcliffe, Branch Supervisor said:
“Our Mill Road branch is very popular with customers; however we noticed that access was a little difficult for wheelchair users, the elderly and people with pushchairs. We decided to put in a ramp and at the same time give the whole branch a facelift.”

Picture captions (L to R): Sales Manager Andy Jukes with Christine Prime and Branch Manager David Radcliffe

June 2009

Can you do an hour or two’s stewarding between 10am and 5pm on the day (Saturday 6th December)? You do not need specific experience to take part, but you must be over 18.  more...

The following day, a number of people crossing the pelican crossing nearby were descended upon by an aggressive, wild cyclist who mowed through them and then turned back to stare fiercely at the scattered ninepins. We are all accustomed to dodging cyclists when it is our right of way and on pavements, but this was unnecessarily aggressive behaviour. Perhaps it was the same young man – dressed in high grade sportswear, shouting in middle-class accents and riding a shiny bike.

And then, walking down Mill Road again, a group of cackling girls shrieked with mirth at the sight of a man choking and falling to the ground. A young man with them did turn round and say 'You all right mate?' but walked on without waiting for an answer. It fell to a passing pedestrian and one of the streetlife to sit with him, make sure he was okay and then get him to his feet.

24/10/2008  more...

This book will be on sale at Mill Road Winter Fair, 6 December 2008 by Sam Motherwell in person at Café Brasil, Mill Road.

Book available direct from Sam Motherwell, 165 Gwydir St, Cambridge CB1 2LJ sammotherwell@hotmail.com  more...

There were wonderful things to be seen including demonstrations of how life was lived in medieval times and steam engines puttered about. A hurdle maker showed how to weave them and a man made chairs. Small children staggered about under the weight of teddy bears tweice their size.

There were several marquees full of stalls, some of which we will be seeing at Mill Road Winter Fair. A few people from Mill Road had stalls, including Taank Optometrists, who were giving away the most delicious strawberries and cream.

The music was hotting up as I came away, and met this cheerful dog showing off his excellent training (thanks to this owner for letting me take his picture). This was soon after the 'Sheep Show' exhibition of a collie rounding up some hilarious Indian Runners, a breed of duck...

Many trees and shrub species derived from the Mediterranean grow perfectly well around Romsey and the Mill Road area. One of these is the Judas Tree - a small, but colourful and interesting tree. A young specimen can be found in flower now (8th May) along Mill Road - next to Mickey Flynn's snooker hall, by the precint between the Bath House. Other trees can be found in by Parkside swiming pool (near Mortimer Road) and there is one in Coleridge Rec.

In May it produces beautiful vivid lilac, pink flowers in clusters on bare branches before the leaves fully open. These resemble small sweet peas - the species is actually a member of the Leguminosae (pea) family. Apparently the fresh-picked flowers taste delicious in salads! Large round leaves are formed in summer. These seem to be a favourite of a solitary leaf-cutter bee species - they cut small, very neat semi-circular notches out of the leaf edges to construct their nests - look for these signs later in the summer! Conspicuous, flat seed pods (3-4 in. long, crimson colour) are formed after July. These can persist well into the following spring and summer. You can easily grow your own tree from seed, as I did. The tree derives its common name from an old belief that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from one of the branches after betraying Christ. The tree is a native of the eastern Mediterranean to Western Asia but was introduced into Britain in the 16th century. (With thanks to Keith Jordan)

Rukshana Begum works as the Open Out Co-ordinator along with the Hate Crime Unit in Parkside Police Station. Part of Rukshana's role is to carry out surgeries which will operate once a month in the Ross Street Community Centre. These will be held between 12 - 1pm on the following dates:
· Tuesday 6th May
· Tuesday 3rd June
· Tuesday 1st July
· Tuesday 5th August
· Tuesday 2nd September
· Tuesday 7th October
· Tuesday 4th November
· Tuesday 2nd December

Rukshana's contact details are: Rukshana Begum
Open Out Co-ordinator
Hate Crime Unit
Telephone: 01223 823552 or 07736086700 (mobex - 7111117)
rukshana.begum@cambs.pnn.police.uk

A Romsey Wildlife Stroll

Keith Jordan will be leading a 2-hour Sunday afternoon stroll around part of Romsey to explore some of the wide range of trees and wildlife living in our area

** Find out about the many native and introduced trees and shrubs growing in Romsey – from Nashi Pears, Turkish Hazels, Cherry Plums, Cappadocian Maples to Hazel, Hornbeam, Oak and Yew.** Many species of birds, amphibians and mammals live alongside us – Long-tailed tits, Kingfishers, Great-crested Grebes, Chiff Chaffs, Toads, Foxes, Muntjak Deer are just some of the species.

(refreshments afterwards at the centre, approx 4pm)

The theme is Northern Italy. This is a fascinating and diverse region, and as usual your guides will make the evening fun, informative, and above all, impart essential knowledge for any wine enthusiast. Appropriate Italian nibbles will be served.

They will be taking a look at why the North is considered to be the producer of most of Italy's finest wines.

Explore the regions of Piedmont, Friuli, Veneto, Soave, Valpolicella, and taste some Amarone, Barolo, innovative and interesting whites (no, not a Pinot Grigio in sight) perhaps a Prosecco, oh and what about a shot of Grappa to finish?

Tickets will be £15 per person. Please book up for this event as it will fill up extremely quickly. Call 01223 568993, or email mill@cambridgewine.com

The fight is by no means over. There will be a meeting on Wednesday, 26th March at 7.00 in the Baptist Church Mill Road. All are welcome.

They will be able to update you on the latest situation regarding planning matters as well as discussing the next steps for the campaign.

And please let us know if you would like to put something in the newspaper, or let us know about a local event, by e-mailing us at info@mill-road.com.

If you have images of the Mill Road area to add to the gallery, please e-mail them to info@mill-road.com or let us know that you have them and we can arrange to scan them for you.