THERE were a couple of interesting gatherings in town last week. On Monday, the town council conducted their usual parochial business of finance and planning before getting down to the thorny question of the church hall. Like almost everyone else, I thin

THERE were a couple of interesting gatherings in town last week. On Monday, the town council conducted their usual parochial business of finance and planning before getting down to the thorny question of the church hall.

Like almost everyone else, I think it would be a shame if the town lost the use of the church hall, but, on reflection, we lost the use of it several years ago, and life has carried on. The town council was told that the church needs large amounts of revenue fairly quickly to repair the roof of the church as well as to carry out improvements to the building. The Church Commissioners insist that the site be sold a full market value so the PCC cannot meet the town half way if they want to.

Having taken these points on board the council passed a resolution asking the church to hold fire for three months so that other avenues of saving the site for the town can be explored. It is due to be discussed at the district community services committee tomorrow and probably by the full council on February 20.

On Wednesday, the second meeting of the Soham area neighbourhood panel met at Beechurst. Sometimes we in Soham feel a bit swamped by Ely, everything seems to revolve around and be centred on our neighbour on the hill. There could be a danger of something similar happening with the neighbourhood panel. It is there to represent the villages of Isleham, Wicken, Fordham, Snailwell and Chippenham as well as Soham, but as there are more of us we tend to make most noise.

At the last meeting, the policing priorities were speeding boy racers throughout the area and anti-social behaviour in the Thirlwell Drive area of Fordham.

Inspector Gallop reported that there had been little evidence of active support for the campaign in Fordham and recommended that it be dropped as a priority.

The panel decided that anti-social-behaviour in The Weatheralls School and Ten Bell Lane area of Soham should be substituted. The speeding boy racer problem remained as the other priority.

The next gathering of the panel will be in The Pavilion on Wednesday, March 21 at 7pm.

Tonight (Jan 25) there is a meeting of the Soham Forum at The Pavilion at 7.30pm.