THERE was a piece in last week s Standard about Ely joining up with the Cittaslow movement which, apparently, promotes a much slower way of life. Anyone who has sat in traffic waiting to turn right out of Market Street will tell you that things can t pos

THERE was a piece in last week's Standard about Ely joining up with the Cittaslow movement which, apparently, promotes a much slower way of life.

Anyone who has sat in traffic waiting to turn right out of Market Street will tell you that things can't possibly get any slower.

The idea of a continental-style two-hour lunch break will probably go down well with everyone except the boss, and taking your time over eating out should upset fast-food take-away owners.

As with a lot of other things, Soham has beaten Ely to it yet again.

There was evidence of Soham's relaxed attitude on Friday from the road sign outside Ladbrokes. It certainly wasn't rushing anywhere, and was almost totally laid back.

Of course, this could have been something to do with the lorry that ran into it!

COMING CLEAN

WE'VE had another edition of ECDC magazine through the letterbox telling us how lucky we are to have East Cambs District Council looking after us.

I think some of us would need more than 32 pages to convince us of that.

At last they have come clean about the district's Jubilee Gardens.

I never could see how yet another facility for Ely was an asset for the whole district. People from Bottisham and Dullingham may have flocked to see it, but, somehow, I doubt it.

Anyway, in the latest bundle of propaganda they finally come clean and call it "Ely's Jubilee Gardens."

One piece in the pamphlet doesn't seem as straightforward as it might be. Apparently, the income of the council is made up of 37 per cent Council Tax, 37 per cent Government grant and 26 per cent business rates. That makes 100 per cent, nothing wrong with that.

So where do all the extra charges go? Where does the money they raise on planning applications, rat catching, collecting large items of rubbish and other services that we thought we'd paid for already show up?

If they are taking money it must be income, so where is it? Even if it goes straight in and straight out it should be accounted for.

Perhaps it pays for 32-page in-house magazines.

BRIGHTENING UP

SOMETIME soon, if a final wrinkle or two can be ironed out, Soham will have a market again.

Mrs French has been running around in all directions on behalf of the Forum and has got several stallholders committed to giving it another go.

Once the final Ts are crossed and the Is are dotted we can, once more, get a bargain or two from the Market Place on a Friday.

The Market Place area is certainly undergoing some changes. Carole and Jonathan have left the Fountain after 17 years and have handed over the reins to Zoë.

On the opposite side of the road, scaffolding has gone up outside Fuller's Bakers. Knowing their expertise in cake making we wonder if the shop is to be covered with marzipan or icing.

There is no question, of course, that there will be a cherry on the top!

DRAMATIC EFFECT

YOU may not have noticed, but today is national poetry day, so here goes.

As actors come and actors go

The College Players went

But now there is another group

To keep thespians content.

Dan Schumann (he's the Viva man)

Who runs the junior group

Is starting one for adults

A grown-up, senior troupe.

INFO: To find out more, telephone Dan on 07974 303464 or e-mail him on danielschumann@hotmail.com