OVER GARDENING CLUB On Wed 15th January at 7.30pm in the Main Hall of OCC, we have our next gardening club evening. We have a talk by Liz Porteous with the intriguing title… ‘Deadly, dangerous & downright annoying! Are garden plants friend or foe…?’ That’s a very good question… This month we start back with our ongoing monthly ‘Flower of the Month’ competition. Please bring in 1 stem of a flower or flower head. It should be an interesting month… unless the cold weather has taken its toll. Last week I noticed I had Pelargoniums, Osteospermums, autumn Cyclamen and Snowdrops all flowering outside in my garden. I am as confused…

We would like to wish our subscribers, readers, advertisers and supporters a wonderful Christmas-time and very Happy New Year! Thank you for your support during 2024. If you have ideas for how we can continue to serve our village and build on the Over Village News, we would welcome your feedback. Please also keep sending your updates and news to submit@overvillage.co.uk. If you would be interested in volunteering with us, please reach out to our team: submit@overvillage.co.uk.

Dear Residents, I hope that you’re all well and enjoying the festive season. I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please find below my latest report which is an edited version of my ward report to parish councils. LOCAL GOVERNMENT Funding On 28 November, the Government released its Local Government Finance Policy Statement for 2025-2026. This outlines funding principles for local authorities for the financial year starting in April. Council tax caps remain at 3% for core tax and 2% for adult social care. The police precept cap is £14, and £5 for fire and rescue authorities. There are no caps for…

Over Village News is proud to be supported by a number of local businesses who help make it possible for our volunteer-led organisation to continue to serve our village. Over the coming weeks, we’re excited to feature these local businesses in our ‘Business Spotlight’, to share a little more about their work and their place in our community. For the full list of local businesses supporting Over Village news, click here. Introducing local business: Visual Creations Limited Visual Creations is a small local firm, offering a complete design solution to realise a client’s dream for their home. They create bespoke solutions to improve the quality of living space, through architectural…

You might have noticed something different this week: the Over Village News weekly round-up email newsletter is now scheduled to reach your inbox on Friday evenings. We hope this change will mean that details of local events reach you ahead of planning your weekend, as well as providing the chance to catch up on local news at leisure. Thank you for your support this year – we hope you continue to find the Over Village News a valuable service to our community, and as always, we appreciate any feedback – you can reach us at submit@overvillage.co.uk. Wishing you all a lovely Christmas and New Year ahead!

Visit the Mustard Seed Cafe on 19th December for a warm, welcoming and wonderful start to the festivities. Mince pies, hot chocolate, live piano and more!

Over Village News is proud to be supported by a number of local businesses who help make it possible for our volunteer-led organisation to continue to serve our village. Over the coming weeks, we’re excited to feature these local businesses in our ‘Business Spotlight’, to share a little more about their work and their place in our community. For the full list of local businesses supporting Over Village news, click here. Introducing local business: A R Aspinall & Sons Ltd Situated on the Norman Way Industrial Estate, this builder’s merchant is not only one of very few independent businesses of this nature in Cambridgeshire, but also the only one nearby.…

Christmas 2024 – Surgery Opening Hours Please note that we will be CLOSED at the weekends in addition to the bank holidays on Wednesday 25th December, Thursday 26th December and Wednesday 1st January. Normal opening hours on all other days during the holiday period. Please plan ahead and make sure you have enough medication. The last date for ordering repeat prescriptions in time for the Christmas holidays is Thursday 19th December. The last date for collection before Christmas is Tuesday 24th December by 4pm at Longstanton Surgery and 6pm at Willingham.   The last date for ordering repeat medication before New Year will be Tuesday 24th December. The last date for collection before the New Year is…

At our latest meeting, we were fortunate to hear from Caroline Shenton, the former Director of the Parliamentary Archives, who shared the gripping story of “The Day Parliament Burnt Down.” On the fateful evening of October 16, 1834, a catastrophic fire broke out at the Palace of Westminster, the iconic home of the British Parliament for nearly 800 years. The fire ravaged the building, which had witnessed pivotal moments in British history, including the trial of King Charles I in 1649, the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, debates on the English Civil War, the rise of the British Empire, and the abolition of slavery. While the fire may be largely…

Dear Residents, Please find below my latest report which is an edited version of my ward report to parish councils. BE WINTER WISE ‘Be Winter Wise’ returns for the winter season, helping Cambridgeshire residents keep warm, safe and healthy throughout the colder months. The focus of the campaign is on preventing winter illnesses, coping with the cost of living, and staying safe during the winter weather. It will provide practical help and guidance with the issues that face so many people at this time of year. The Cambridgeshire County Council led campaign will have advice on: Supermarket vouchers will once again be available for children eligible for free school meals…