This is a reminder that the 2013 Cam Cleanup will be taking place on Saturday 13 April from 10 am – 1 pm. We are once again calling for volunteers to give our much loved river a helping hand.

Last year more than 100 volunteers turned out for the event, filling many bags of rubbish, and we hope to exceed those numbers this year.

The cleanup will have much the same format as last year, with City Council staff placed on each of Sheep’s Green (near Mill Pond), Midsummer Common (near the Fort St George) and Stourbridge Common, to get volunteers started. City Council staff will hand out work gloves, litter pickers and litter bags.

We propose that volunteers meet up at the Fort St George after the cleanup to swap stories of the most outrageous items found.

If you are able to come, please confirm by emailing Andrea Reiner at andreareiner23@gmail.com, so that we have an idea of numbers. And please spread the word to other would-be volunteers! We hope to see many of you there.

The event is being organised by Mal Schofield, Becky Allen and Andrea Reiner.

From Monday 1 April Customer Services, including the switchboard, will have new opening hours, to fit in with the times most customers want to contact City Council, and to help the City Council save money.

Mondays: 8am-5:15pm
Tuesdays: 9am-5:15pm
Wednesdays: 9am-6pm
Thursdays-Fridays: 9am-5:15pm

A news release from City Council

Local elections will take place on Thursday 2 May 2013 in Cambridge to
elect 14 of the 69 Councillors that make up Cambridgeshire County
Council.

If you wish to vote at these elections, you must be registered to vote
by Wednesday 17 April. You are not automatically registered, even if you
pay council tax.

Antoinette Jackson, deputy returning officer for the County Council
elections in Cambridge, and Cambridge City Council’s Chief Executive
said: “Voting at the local elections means you will help decide which
local Councillors will represent your interests in your area. Local
Councillors make decisions about council services on your behalf and
decide how the money you pay as council tax gets spent.

“Even if you’re not sure you want to vote at the local elections, I
would encourage you to register before 17 April so you have the option
to vote on 2 May – there may be a local issue you feel strongly about
nearer the time.”

If you are already registered to vote but are planning to be away from
Cambridge on 2 May, you can apply to vote by post up to 5pm on Wednesday
17 April.

If you would like to appoint someone else to vote on your behalf you
can apply to vote by proxy up to 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.

Following the resignation of Cllr. Adam Pogonowski from Cambridge City
Council, there will also be a by-election in the Abbey ward on the same
date. Deadlines for registration and postal/proxy voting are the same as
for the County Council election.

If you have moved recently or know that you are not registered to vote
you can download a voter registration form from
www.cambridge.gov.uk/elections or request one by phoning 01223
457048.

East Road will be closed to all traffic from 8pm on Friday 12th April to 6 am Monday 15th April for long needed resurfacing. Footpaths will remain open for pedestrians and cyclists. Traffic will be diverted via Newmarket
Road, Barnwell Road, Perne Road and Cherry Hinton Road but access will be possible through Short Street and Emmanuel Road.

The County Council says: “residents who are unable to access their property by car would be offered the opportunity to park elsewhere, with the council offering to pay “any reasonable car parking charges.”

Anyone needing more details should contact Jon Clarke via the County Council call centre on 03450 4550212.