Crisis Support – Oil heating and Cambridgeshire Local Assistance Scheme update 

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We have been made aware of the following support:

Crisis Support – Oil heating and Cambridgeshire Local Assistance Scheme update

Heating oil

As from Monday 30 March, low-income households reliant on oil for heating and hot water will be able to access support via Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, who will be administering the government scheme on behalf of the council. https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/council/communities/support-with-the-cost-of-living/crisis-payment

Cambridgeshire Local Assistance Scheme (CLAS)

As from Wednesday 1 April Citizens Advice Rural Cambs and Cambridge Citizens Advice will be providing interim support to deliver CLAS. As Universal Access providers, they will be able to support households throughout Cambridgeshire who are in need of essential household items and crisis support. To be awarded a crisis grant, households must meet the eligibility criteria and provide evidence of financial need.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

•    Have lived in Cambridgeshire for at least six months (unless they have moved to the area for safety reasons)

•    Be facing hardship or exceptional financial pressure (evidence must be provided)

•    Have no savings

•    Be in receipt of, or eligible for, one of the following means tested benefits:

  • Universal Credit
  • Pension Credit
  • Income based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

How Households Can Access Support

Households can access CLAS support in the following ways:

•    Through one of the Citizens Advice websites

•    By calling their Adviceline service

•    By dropping in to one of the listed outreach services on their websites

 

Websites

www.citizensadviceruralcambs.org.uk

www.cambridgecab.org.uk

 

Adviceline phone numbers

Cambridge Citizens Advice – 0808 278 7808

Rural Cambs – 0808 278 7808

 

Home composters for sale – subsidised by HDC

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From HDC:

 

Would you like to have a subsidised

Home Composter?

You only pay £10 and the delivery costs directly to GetComposting.

The subsidy applies to a maximum of 2 compost converters per household.

Please visit GetComposting,

enter your postcode, select Blackwall 220 Litre Black Compost Converter

and the discount will be automatically applied.

Apply for your free concessionary bus pass

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CCC have asked us to publicise this:

Free concessionary bus pass

New group – St Neots Stroke Support Group

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We have been asked to share the following. 

Please RSVP to attend. Meetings will continue on the last Monday of each month. 

Poster for St Neots Stroke support group meeting April 2026

Slides from East West Rail’s presentation on 5th February 2026

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We invited East West Rail to our meeting, specifically to answer the response the Parish Council made to their consultation in January 2025.

East West Rail attended on 5th February 2026 and gave a presentation.

Here are the slides from their presentation at the meeting held 5th February 2026.

Hover over the first slide and you will be able to click to move on through the slides.

Slides from EWR's presentation 5.2.2026

Update – Mobile coverage for Abbotsley – Atlas Tower Group

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We would like to share the following update with you:

Atlas Tower Group (Atlas) approached Abbotsley Parish Council in early 2025 to explore improving mobile coverage for the village. This involved a detailed overview of the area, discussing key considerations and potential locations.
In July 2025, a questionnaire was circulated via the Parish Council website to gain early feedback from the community on whether a mast would be welcomed. Locations were not shared at this time. Following a mostly positive response to the questionnaire, letters were then sent to the landowners of the identified locations.
A number of locations were initially considered and later discounted due to reasons such as unviability, lack of landowner interest, visual amenity, unsuitable terrain. This ultimately led to the proposed location being taken forward. The mast will be shareable by all mobile network operators and benefit not only the village but the nearby transport routes, including the B1046. Further details on the location, including photomontages, can be found in the attached slide pack.
The Parish Council are supportive of the proposal in principle, recognising the need for better coverage across the village and surrounding area. However, community views are an important part of this process and as such we would be interested to hear from our residents and visitors, to allow us to gauge the levels of support in order to continue.
Feedback can be given via Atlas’ questionnaire: https://form.jotform.com/251843851054356
Should responses be largely supportive, Atlas will submit a planning application in early 2026.

Wood Green’s Outreach

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We have been asked to share the following:

Wood Green’s Outreach at the charity offer free home-visit based health and wellbeing checks for dogs, cats and small pets where we are able to give advice and support on any of the following.

  • Basic pet health and wellbeing checks
  • Microchipping* (recommended donation of £5 per pet)
  • Neutering
  • Behaviour
  • Senior pet care
  • Any other general pet advice or support

*Please note we are unable to chip kittens or puppies under 20 weeks old or litters, but we can still provide health checks and lots of fuss!

Owners can register their interest by using the booking link below, scanning the QR code on the leaflet attached, emailing outreach@woodgreen.org.uk or calling 0300 303 9333

https://woodgreen.org.uk/events/free-health-and-wellbeing-checks/

We currently offer these on a monthly basis in both the PE29 and PE19 postcodes and the next sessions will be:

  • PE29 (Huntingdon) – Tuesday 13th January (visits will be between 10am-2pm)

  • PE19(St Neots including Buckden, Abbotsley, Eaton Socon, Eynesbury)

    Thursday 15th January (visits will be between 10am-2pm)

Please also notes that these monthly pet health and wellbeing checks are also currently offered by my colleagues in the following postcodes:

PE1 to PE4    

  • PE1: Peterborough city centre, Dogsthorpe, Eastfield, Eastgate, Fengate, Newark, Parnwell.
  • PE2: Alwalton, Fletton, The Ortons (Longueville, Goldhay), Stanground, Woodston.
  • PE3: Bretton, Longthorpe, Netherton, Ravensthorpe, Westwood.
  • PE4: Gunthorpe, Paston, Walton, Werrington
PE15 
March and surrounding areas in Fenland
 
CB4-CB6 
Cambridge City and suburbs
 
MK40 & MK42 
Bedford

Thank you in advance and if anyone would like to find out more about the services, clarify any of the above, enquire about services our community team can offer, please do not hesitate to reach out.

0300 303 9333
woodgreen.org.uk

HDC Cabinet approves Option E for Local Government Reorganisation submission to Government

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From HDC:

24th November 2025

Cabinet approves Option E for Local Government Reorganisation submission to Government

Cabinet members at Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) approved Option E being sent to Government as one of the options for Local Government Reorganisation across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough at a meeting on Monday 24 November.

The Cabinet meeting followed meetings of Overview and Scrutiny and Full Council where members were able to comment on the five proposals being drafted for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) locally.

Cabinet reviewed all the options, with most members supporting the submission of Option E to Government. The Option E proposal looks to create three new unitary councils to replace the current two-tier system, with Huntingdonshire becoming one standalone authority, Peterborough, Fenland, and East Cambridgeshire forming a second unitary council, and Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire forming a third unitary council.

Cllr Sarah Conboy, Executive Leader of Huntingdonshire District Council, said: “This is a pivotal moment for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Huntingdonshire is committed to playing an active role in shaping a future that meets the needs of every resident, business, and community.

“After carefully considering all the points raised by Overview and Scrutiny and Full Council, Option E is the one we will be submitting to government. As well as maintaining existing district boundaries, Option E provides an opportunity to create councils that are connected to the communities they serve, financially robust, and forward-thinking in how they deliver services.

“Huntingdonshire has a strong identity, deep heritage and a growing national role. With major opportunities in defence and innovation, and significant housing and employment growth underway in Huntingdon, St Ives, St Neots and Ramsey, along with our strategic position in the Ox–Cam Growth Corridor, becoming a standalone unitary council would enable us to better support regional economic strength, unlock development, champion sustainability, and improve outcomes for local communities.

“This option also reflects the rapid growth of Peterborough as a major city, Cambridge’s position as a national centre for innovation, and Huntingdonshire’s emergence as a major economic and defence hub.

“Ultimately, the Government will decide which proposals progress based on the evidence presented. Our role is to provide a clear, robust and data-led case that demonstrates long-term viability and benefits for the region.”

The other six councils across Cambridgeshire will also make decisions on which of the five proposals will be presented to Government ahead of the 28 November deadline.

The Government will make the final decision on Local Government Reorganisation in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough following consultation, which is expected to take place next year.

 

A428 project – HGV ID cards/magnets

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We have been aware that many of you have been concerned about HGVs working on the A428 Project travelling through Abbotsley. This has never been allowed, but has been an on going issue.

We have been working with the A428 Project Team to stop this and we are pleased that the Team have just let us know about new measures that have been put in place to hopefully resolve this issue.

Mick George lorries are required to display ID papers:

ID to be displayed in drivers cab of HGVs on A428 project

 

Mick George HGVs required to display this logo in HGVs on A428 project

As a clear reminder to drivers, on the reverse is a list of villages that they are not allowed to travel through, Abbotsley being one of them.

 

G Webb have magnets for the sides of the cab:

HGV showing magnet on cab side reading Skanska A428

Mick George and G Webb do have other business, and drivers are still allowed to travel in HGVs through Abbotsley. However, if you see HGVs with this signage in the village, you will know that they are breaching the agreement and this can be reported to the Parish Council and/or National Highways.

Phone – 0300 123 5000 – National Highways Customer Contact Centre

Email: info@A428.co.uk