This is a recent update from County Council about Residents’ Parking Passes:

“As you are no doubt aware Resident Permit Fees increase from this coming Monday. As part of the change we have had to amend our application forms and web pages.

“We have also taken the opportunity of reviewing the documentation required from residents to support their permit application. From Monday we will no longer require sight of the vehicle registration document but will require the Certificate of Motor Insurance in the name of the resident applying for the permit. The usual temporary arrangements will apply for those who need to amend documents or, say, for lease cars need further proofs.”

For more information click here.

Cambridge City Councillors teamed up with a new police patrol unit on the city centre’s streets to see first hand how they are cracking down on alcohol-fuelled crime.

Liberal Democrats Tim Bick, Andrea Reiner and Colin Rosenstiel joined the officers after pushing for more police action on the large number of incidents in the city centre.

They were worried about the level of crime late at night and in the early hours of the morning when drinkers leave pubs and restaurants.

But since the new 15-strong city centre police unit was set up three months ago crime has reduced by 12.4 per cent over the same period last year. Violent crime has fallen by 19.2 per cent, anti-social behaviour is down 25.5 per cent and alcohol-related incidents fell by 12.4 per cent. There have also been reductions in cycle theft (29.2 per cent) and shoplifting (14.2 per cent).

“It was very clear that the visibility of the police on foot patrol is an invaluable deterrent and a sign of security,” said Cllr Bick, Cambridge City Executive Councillor for Community Safety. “To have a team dedicated 24 hours a day to the city centre means that relationships get built and knowledge accumulates.

“Early signs that the unit is having a real impact on crime figures are extremely encouraging. We will be reporting back to the city and county council on several ideas we picked up to improve the situation such as providing better positioned bins to avoid the build up of litter in some places.”

Cllr Rosenstiel said: “We saw the officers dealing with people who had been excluded from licensed premises, first trying to talk them away from further trouble, sometimes having to resort to a dispersal order.”

Cllr Andrea Reiner said: “We were able to get a real understanding of what the police are facing and how they deal with incidents.”

The ParkThatBike project has been launched to improve cycle parking in Cambridge.  They are offering local voluntary sector groups, charities, social enterprises and small businesses up to two high quality cycle stands free of charge.  Each stand holds two bikes neatly and securely.

Businesses, community groups, shops, pubs, offices, surgeries or churches are encouraged to apply for free stands.

The stands are available on a first-come, first-served basis during 2010. The stands are free of charge, but recipients must install them, on their own premises, in a location that we have checked and approved.

Applications and further forms can be downloaded from the ParkThatBike website http://www.parkthatbike.com/freeStands.cfm or phone 01594 564 344 and they will mail you paper copies.