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“Cambs Spotlight: Traffic Tantrums, Theatre Thrills & The Chippy Wars”
“Cambs Spotlight: Traffic Tantrums, Theatre Thrills & The Chippy Wars”
“Cambs Spotlight: Traffic Tantrums, Theatre Thrills & The Chippy Wars”
Roadblocks, rowdy buskers, and why your chippy tea might just spark the county’s biggest debate this week.
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Oct 10, 2025
Cambridge vs Cars: The City’s New Traffic Battle |
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If you thought the school run was the most stressful part of your day, try navigating Cambridge’s latest traffic experiment.
The City Council has fired up another round of “active travel” measures, trialling road closures, one-way tweaks, and a possible congestion charge that’s already set group chats ablaze.
Cyclists are thrilled. Small shopkeepers? Not so much.
On Mill Road last week, queues of cars met queues of opinions.
“I cycle everywhere,” says student Izzy, balancing a basket of Sainsbury’s bags. “Anything that makes it safer is a win.”
Contrast that with David, who runs a deli near Parker’s Piece: “My deliveries are late, and customers are circling for parking instead of buying croissants.”
Even the mums’ WhatsApp groups are divided.
Some cheer for cleaner air near schools, while others mutter about juggling nursery drop-offs, Tesco runs, and after-school clubs that don’t exactly fit a cycle lane schedule.
For drivers, the city can already feel like a maze. Add experimental bollards and surprise diversions, and satnav voices are basically sighing at you.
Why it matters:
Air quality is improving, but small businesses warn customers will “vote with their feet… straight to retail parks.”
A county-wide consultation on congestion charging is still pending, but insiders say “nothing’s off the table.”
It’s not all gridlock gloom. On Jesus Green last weekend, families zipped past on new e-bikes while the ice cream van reported “record takings.”
And if you’re brave enough to swap the Fiesta for a fold-up, the city’s flat landscape is made for cycling.
Just don’t expect your hair to survive the fenland wind.
Would you pay a few quid to drive into Cambridge if it meant quieter streets and cleaner air?
Or is it one traffic trial too many? Drop us a line we’ll feature the best grumbles (and giggles) next week. |
No Drama: The Cambs Theatre Scene Is Alive (and Less Than an Hour Away) |
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Yes, the Arts Theatre is dark until late 2025 but there’s no drama in saying Cambridgeshire hasn’t lost its stages.
You just have to know where to look (and sometimes a drive less than an hour for your culture fix).
In Cambridge, the Corn Exchange is holding court with the big names. Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra are in on 1st November a proper knees-up night where the sequins are out and pre-theatre dinners book up fast.
Comedy tours, tribute acts and musicals fill the gaps.
Meanwhile, the ADC Theatre is buzzing. It’s the student-led powerhouse with 130+ shows a year raw, risky, and often brilliant.
Productions like The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Abridged) prove they’ve got laughs as well as ambition.
And if you’re up for a short trip, Peterborough’s Key Theatre is shut for repairs until the end of the year but the spotlight hasn’t dimmed. Its shows are being hosted at the New Theatre, which is keeping the city’s drama alive with touring productions and big-ticket acts.
Add in the Mumford Theatre at Anglia Ruskin or Commemoration Hall in Huntingdon, and you’ve got options across the county. Why it matters: theatre is stitched into Cambs life, whether it’s glitzy, gritty, or just a cheeky night out.
The Arts will reopen, but until then, there are plenty of seats waiting to be filled.
Where do you get your theatre fix these days — Corn Exchange sparkle, ADC grit, or a dash to Peterborough’s New Theatre? |
Cambs Guided Bus: Slowed to a Crawl |
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If you thought the guided bus was your speedy shortcut into Cambridge, think again.
From this week, new 30mph limits (20mph at crossings) have landed after safety failings, and Stagecoach is warning delays of up to 45 minutes on some journeys.
That’s practically enough time to walk or at least grab a flat white and still beat the bus into town.
The changes come after Cambridgeshire County Council was slapped with a £6 million fine over safety issues, including past accidents.
Permanent fencing and barriers aren’t due until 2026, so the slow crawl is here to stay.
Some commuters say they’ll give up and drive (as if Milton Road needs more cars), others are considering dusting off their bikes.
Parents on the school run are the most frustrated: “By the time the bus turns up, the kids could’ve cycled themselves!” one mum groaned at Trumpington stop.
Why it matters: the busway was built to speed Cambridge up.
Right now, it’s doing the opposite and everyone’s watching to see if patience lasts until those barriers finally arrive.
Reader nudge: Have you been caught in the new delays and is the busway still worth it, or are you jumping ship?
Image prompt: Sponsor fit: cycle shops, e-scooter rentals, taxi firms, car share apps. |
Post-Baby Check: When “All OK?” Feels Anything But |
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They say the six-to-eight week check is a safety net in theory. In Cambridgeshire, new mums are telling a different story.
A local survey found one in 10 said they never got that postnatal check.
Among those who did, almost half said it barely touched mental health and nearly a third said their GP never asked about it.
That hurts because those checks are meant to catch issues early: physical trauma, feeding challenges, mood swings, postnatal depression. Instead, many mums say they left feeling brushed off.
But there is support. CPSL Mind runs Connecting Mums, a six-week group for pregnant or new mums to share, recharge and bring baby along.
They also run Mums Matter, an eight-week programme tackling anxiety, low mood, and the “am I enough?” questions.
Across the county, midwives and health visitors say they’re stretched thin.
The pandemic, staffing issues, and admin demands mean check-ups sometimes happen over the phone not ideal when you’re trying to speak through postnatal haze.
Why it matters: if those early checks fail, mums can feel invisible, isolated, or ignored exactly when they need the most connection and care.
Did your six-to-eight week check feel rushed or deep? Did they ask about how you were doing or just check baby? |
Apple Days Are Back: Cambs Gets Crunchy |
It’s October, which means one thing: orchards across Cambridgeshire are flinging open their gates for Apple Day events. These aren’t just about fruit — they’re part harvest festival, part family day out, and part eco-education rolled into one. At Burwash Manor in Barton, visitors can stroll the orchards, press their own juice, and let the kids loose on hay bales while sampling local cider.
Over in Ely and Wisbech, community orchards are hosting “apple pressing days” with old-fashioned scratters and crushers that leave everyone sticky but smiling.
The National Trust at Anglesey Abbey also marks Apple Season each October, with guided orchard walks and heritage varieties you’ll never find in Tesco.
Why it matters: Apple Days celebrate more than fruit.
They’re about reminding families where food comes from, keeping rare varieties alive, and raising funds for local causes from playground repairs to conservation projects.
Plus, nothing beats the smug feeling of turning up to Sunday lunch with a bag of apples you picked yourself.
Custard, cream, or ice cream which really belongs on apple crumble? Vote with your spoon. |
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Cambs Schools: Still Short-Changed on Funding |
This isn’t gossip it’s in the books.
As of spring 2025, 37 maintained schools in Cambridgeshire were running a deficit, up sharply from the year before.
Council officers admit around a third of local schools are now in serious financial trouble.
Headteachers are facing “unpalatable decisions” trimming staffing, axing clubs, and delaying repairs just to stay afloat.
Rising special needs demand and spiralling energy costs are piling on the pressure.
Locals say:
This squeeze isn’t just about balance sheets it shapes what families get for their council tax, and even where house-hunters choose to live.
A school’s budget health can matter as much as its Ofsted badge.
Has your child’s school warned of cuts, asked for donations, or axed clubs? Tell us we’ll spotlight the toughest cases in next week’s edition. |
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Property Snapshot: Fenland vs Cambridge — Worlds Apart |
House-hunting in Cambridgeshire is really a tale of two wallets.
In Fenland, the average home changes hands for about £221,000.
That’s why you’ll meet people like Karen in March, who swears she’ll never leave: “We’ve got a garden, the dog’s happy, and my mortgage is less than my sister’s rent in Cambridge.”
Head 30 miles south to Cambridge, and it’s a different planet.
The city’s averages hover above £500,000, with family homes easily nudging £580k.
James, a software engineer renting off Mill Road, says: “It’s £1,600 for a two-bed flat, but I cycle to work and can be in the pub within ten minutes. That’s the trade-off.”
Even in Wisbech or Chatteris, you’ll still find two-beds for under a grand a month.
Compare that with £1,700+ in Cambridge, and you can see why first-time buyers, landlords, and growing families often head north.
Why it matters: Cambridge’s prestige and tech jobs keep the prices lofty, but Fenland remains one of the last affordable footholds in the county.
As one Ely agent laughed: “You can still buy a whole house in Fenland for less than the Cambridge deposit.”
If you had £250k, would you take the Fenland family pad — or blow it on a Cambridge shoebox just to keep the cycle-commute bragging rights? |
Market Square Melodies: Cambridge Buskers Turn Up the Volume |
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Head into Cambridge Market Square on a Saturday and you’ll get a live playlist for free.
From acoustic guitarists on King’s Parade to violinists outside the Guildhall, buskers have the city humming again this autumn.
Highlights this month?
A saxophonist outside the coffee stalls who had shoppers swaying, a guitarist near Lion Yard giving Ed Sheeran a run for his money, and a jazz trio that pulled a proper lunchtime crowd.
Not everyone’s convinced. “Some Saturdays it’s three different songs at once, and none in tune,” joked Anna, who runs a nearby gift shop.
But for most, the sound is part of the city’s soul tourists filming, kids dancing, and buskers earning tips that sometimes rival a café wage.
Why it matters: street music keeps Cambridge lively, adds colour to a shopping trip, and for some young musicians it’s the first rung on the ladder to bigger stages.
Spotted a standout act? Share a clip — we’ll feature the best in next week’s Spotlight. |
Sickie Central: One in Three Admit Post-Pub “Flu |
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A new survey says one in three UK workers have called in sick after a night of work drinks.
And if you think that’s just a London thing, think again Cambs offices,businesses and even building sites have seen their fair share of mysterious “24-hour bugs” after a pint too many.
Locals don’t deny it.
“We call it the Friday flu,” laughs Sarah, who works in finance in Cambridge.
“Half the team are out for ‘client drinks’ Thursday and mysteriously vanish on Friday.”
Over in Peterborough, Raj who manages a warehouse team says it’s the same story:
“If England are playing and the pub’s busy, I already know I’ll be down three staff the next day.”
Why it matters: bosses complain about productivity, but younger workers say skipping rounds can feel like career suicide.
The survey found those in education and healthcare were among the most likely to pull a sickie hardly comforting if you’ve got a lesson or an op booked.
Have you ever “pulled a Friday flu” after drinks?
Or are you the one left covering for everyone else? |
Huntingdon High Street: Shops, Shoppers… and a Surprise Discovery |
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Huntingdon’s High Street has been through the wringer lockdown closures, empty units, and locals muttering
“it’s not what it used to be.”
But lately, there’s been a flicker of revival.
A clutch of independents have moved in, big names are holding on, and the council’s trial of free weekend parking has given footfall a bump.
Shoppers seem cautiously optimistic.
“It finally feels like a reason to pop into town again,” one resident told us while juggling a new handbag and a latte. I
ndependent cafés are busy too proving you can still lure people off Amazon if you mix flat whites with friendly service.
And yes — there’s still the occasional eyebrow-raiser.
This year’s discovery of a cannabis farm hidden behind a shopfront had half the town talking.
It’s the sort of surreal twist that gets mentioned in the same breath as new charity shops and nail bars.
Why it matters: a lively high street isn’t just nice for Saturday mooches it’s jobs, pride, and a boost to house values.
If Huntingdon pulls this off, it could be a model for market towns across Cambs.
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Chippy Wars: The Great Cambs Debate |
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Fish & chips isn’t just dinner in Cambridgeshire, it’s a loyalty test.
Ask ten locals their favourite and you’ll get ten answers (plus a few muttered insults).
Locals say:
Why it matters: chippy tea is british ritual. It’s about portion wars, secret sauces, and the Friday night smell drifting through every Fenland high street.
What did we miss?
Which chippy deserves the crown and what’s your must-have side: mushy peas, curry sauce, or battered sausage? |
Pubs Under Pressure: Quiz Nights to the Rescue |
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Bills are brutal, but Cambs pubs aren’t rolling over. They’re packing midweek with reasons to leave the sofa: quiz nights, curry deals, charity fundraisers, open mics anything to keep the doors swinging.
Cambridge city:
Ely & the Fens:
Out in the villages:
Why this matters (beyond bragging rights): midweek trade keeps pubs alive.
Quizzes and themed nights don’t just fill tables they help pay the energy bill and keep staff on the rota. Even the big chains admit costs are biting; independents feel it twice as hard.
Who’s smashing it near you best quizmaster, cosiest Monday deal, or clever family-friendly night? Or name the pub that needs a push — we’ll give them a shout next issue.
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From Prada to Peterborough: Cambs’ Charity Shop Jackpot |
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Forget fast fashion the real thrill is in the rails of Cambridgeshire’s charity shops.
In Cambridge city, the Oxfam Bookshop is a treasure chest where you can score a hardback for less than your latte.
Mill Road’s charity shops, meanwhile, are where students hunt for vintage coats and mums eye up winter boots without the high-street price tag.
In Peterborough, the British Heart Foundation and Sue Ryder shops are bustling. Locals swear the furniture finds can rival IKEA and you don’t have to queue for meatballs.
Over in Ely, some swear by the RSPCA shop, where even posh handbags pop up now and then.
Prices?
A good jacket for £8–£12, boots for a tenner, and books from £1.
That’s a bargain and a warm glow of supporting local causes rolled into one.
With household bills creeping up, charity shops are proving themselves not just thrifty but stylish and they’re keeping perfectly good clothes out of landfill.
What’s your best ever charity shop find in Cambs? (Bonus points for photos we’ll feature the quirkiest next week.) |
Two Plates of Cambs: Kale or Cow? |
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Cambridgeshire doesn’t half throw up some contrasts.
Take Vanderlyle on Cambridge’s Mill Road. No meat, no fish, no menu you can peek at online just whatever the chefs dream up that week.
“I dragged my other half there for his birthday,” laughs Anna from Chesterton. “He went in muttering about bacon sandwiches, came out plotting how to pickle courgettes.
” It’s that kind of place: candles, clever plating, and a waiting list that makes Glastonbury tickets look easy.
Then drive 40 minutes north to March and it’s a different story.
At the Black Rock Grill & Smokehouse you get a slab of sirloin, a volcanic hot stone, and the chance to cook it yourself.
“It’s like caveman dining but with cocktails,” says Tom from Whittlesey.
“I nearly set fire to my sleeve, but the steak was perfect.” Families pile in at weekends, and locals swear it’s the only place you’ll see teenagers fighting over broccoli… because it’s drenched in barbecue sauce.
Whether you’re lighting candles over kale or smoke alarms over steak, Cambs has your Friday night covered.
Tell us and yes, photos of charred sleeves are welcome. |
£18 Spin or £6 Squats: Who’s Winning Cambs’ Wellness War? |
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Cambridgeshire isn’t just about school runs and supermarket dashes — there’s a quiet wellbeing boom bubbling up.
In Cambridge, yoga studios like Camyoga and boutique gyms are buzzing.
Early risers are on their mats before 7am, and over at spin studios, a single class will set you back £12–£18 proof some of us will happily swap a glass of wine for a sweaty saddle on a Monday night.
Over in Peterborough, it’s more about value and community.
Budget gyms stay busy, but so do the local village halls:
Zumba in St Ives,
Pilates in March,
and “legs, bums and tums” in Chatteris, usually just £5–£7 a session. Less fancy lighting, same burning thighs.
Wellness is stretching to the spa scene too.
In Cambridge, the Varsity Hotel’s rooftop sauna has become a treat-yourself staple (Instagram shots included).
Peterborough answers back with the Lido’s seasonal sauna pop-up cheaper, cheerful, and right on your doorstep.
For many Cambs women, these spaces aren’t just about fitness — they’re about sanity, me-time, and community.
Are you a boutique-class devotee or a village-hall regular?
What’s worth the money the sweat, the stretch, or the social? |
March Fair: A Fenland Tradition That Still Thrills |
If you grew up anywhere near March, you’ll know the sound: thumping bass, shrieks from the waltzers, and the smell of candyfloss drifting down Broad Street. The March Fair has been running for centuries — it dates back to 1671 — and it still pulls in crowds every spring and autumn. This year’s autumn run didn’t disappoint. Dodgems were bumper-to-bumper, the ghost train rattled with questionable special effects, and teenagers strutted past the rides like it was a catwalk. One stallholder joked: “We’ve been serving hot dogs on this spot longer than half the kids have been alive.” Not everyone loves it, of course. Some locals grumble about noise and litter, while shopkeepers say footfall can be hit-and-miss. But for many Fenland families, it’s tradition — the night you wrap up warm, spend too much on hook-a-duck, and go home slightly sticky from toffee apples. Why it matters: in a county often overshadowed by Cambridge’s glamour, March Fair is pure Fenland identity. It’s noisy, messy, and completely unpretentious — and that’s exactly why people love it. Reader nudge: |
Thermostat Police or Blanket Burrito? Cambs Bills Bite Back |
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It’s October, the heating’s clicking on… and so are the complaints.
Across Cambridge and Peterborough, families are staring down average annual energy bills of around £1,900–£2,000 (dual fuel, Ofgem cap).
Add in Anglian Water’s 6% rise this year, and suddenly a “cosy night in” comes with a scary price tag.
Some are turning to warm hubs libraries, churches, even community centres in March and Huntingdon where free heating and a cuppa are on offer.
Others are doubling up on jumpers and joking that they’ll start charging the kids rent if they keep leaving lights on.
With food inflation easing but utilities still high, household budgets in Cambs are under real strain and that means less to spend on the local high street.
How are you keeping bills down this winter?
Are you team “thermostat police” or team “blanket burrito”? |
£580k vs £250k: Is a Season Ticket Cheaper Than a Cambridge Postcode? |
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It’s house-hunting bingo in Cambridgeshire, and the numbers tell the story.
In Cambridge, the average home sits at about £580k. That’s prestige, postcodes, and punishing mortgages. Renting’s no easier around £1,600–£1,700 for a two-bed flat.
In Peterborough, it’s a different planet.
With an average of £240–£250k, buyers can snag a semi with a garden and still have spare change for IKEA.
Rents are friendlier too, hovering at £850–£1,100.
Then there’s Ely once the quiet cousin, now the hot “halfway house.”
Average prices are creeping towards £350k–£370k, with London commuters and Cambridge overspill snapping up homes.
Add the cathedral views and 15-minute train rides into Cambridge, and it’s no wonder prices are climbing.
And yes, a Peterborough–Cambridge season ticket costs about £4,500 a year less than the difference between a Cambridge and Ely mortgage payment.
Why it matters: Cambridge brings the kudos, Peterborough brings the value, and Ely?
Ely’s the battleground where city meets countryside, and prices are only going one way up.
If you had £350k, would you go for cathedral charm in Ely, prestige in Cambridge (with less space), or double the square footage in Peterborough?
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Same Chair, New Price: Cambs Dental Shock |
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It’s the same dentist, the same chair — but suddenly you’re being charged private prices.
That’s the story cropping up across Cambridgeshire.
Patients who’ve been loyal to the same practice for years are finding out often only when they turn up for an appointment that their NHS cover has quietly vanished.
In Cambridge, several practices in Cherry Hinton and Chesterton have stopped offering NHS slots altogether.
One reader told us: “I was booked for a six-month check-up, only to be told the practice is now private.
It’s still my dentist, but now it’s £65 just to sit in the chair.”
Over in Peterborough, the shock is just as real.
A mum in Paston said her family of four suddenly faced a bill of nearly £250 for routine check-ups: “We thought it was a mistake.
Same dentist, same room, but suddenly it’s private care. We had no letter, nothing.”
The cost jump is brutal.
A filling that would’ve been £70 on the NHS can run £200–£250 privately.
Crowns or more complex treatments often climb well into the hundreds.
For many families, that means either paying up, joining a mile-long NHS waiting list, or simply going without.
Ely and the Fens aren’t immune either.
In places like Littleport, patients are being directed to Huntingdon or even further afield if they want NHS treatment and in some cases, being told flat out there are no local NHS spaces.
And here’s the clincher: according to recent surveys, one in five people in Cambridgeshire admit they’ve skipped dental treatment in the past year because of cost or lack of NHS access.
That’s not a gap — that’s a crisis.
Why it matters: Dentistry in Cambs has become a postcode lottery. Cambridge may be wealthier on average, but NHS options are still drying up.
Peterborough families, many already juggling bills, now face impossible choices.
And those in the Fens?
Often left with no realistic option at all. |
Hero of the Week: EACH Shines Bright |
If you want proof that Cambridgeshire has a big heart, look no further than East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
From its hospice in Milton to shops in Cambridge (Fitzroy Street, Milton Road, Histon Road, Cherry Hinton Road),
March’s giant superstore at Meadowlands, and Huntingdon’s Chequers Court, EACH is part of everyday Cambs life.
EACH supports families with children who have life-threatening conditions offering not just medical care, but also play, respite, and a shoulder to lean on when things get overwhelming.
Locals say walking into an EACH hospice is like being wrapped in a hug: bright playrooms, gardens designed for kids in wheelchairs, and staff who seem to have endless reserves of kindness.
And their shops?
Absolute treasure troves.
One minute you’re nabbing a £3 designer dress, the next you’re helping fund specialist nurses and vital equipment.
💬 “I only popped in for a book and came out with an armful of bargains — and the glow of knowing it all helps,” laughs Julie from Huntingdon.
In a week full of traffic jams, council squabbles, and bills, EACH is a reminder that this county still pulls together where it counts.
Have you picked up a bargain from an EACH shop lately? |
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Three Quirky Cambs Hacks to Save You a Tenner (or More) This Week |
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Four Days’ Work, Seven Days’ Bills? |
Who said saving money has to be boring?
Here are three cheeky Cambs ways to keep cash in your purse this week:
💡 Got your own Saver tip? Drop it in — Sally’s on the hunt for the best local hacks. |
Council tax in Cambridgeshire is creeping up, but are we really getting more for our money?
In Cambridge, a Band D home pays around £2,250 a year, while in Fenland it’s about £2,050. Not pocket change especially when the bins don’t get emptied on time.
But the controversy isn’t just the totals.
Peterborough City Council has already tested the limits by asking to raise bills above the government cap, insisting it’s the only way to balance the books. Not forgetting the millions invested in schemes that never quite seemed to deliver.
And in South Cambs, staff are trialling a four-day working week, while residents foot a seven-day bill.
The council swears productivity is up but locals aren’t convinced.
One reader joked: “My pothole must be on its long weekend too.”
The kicker?
You could be paying £200 more a year than your mate down the A10 and still waiting weeks for basic services.
Do you think fewer days at the council really means more gets done or is this a perk at taxpayers’ expense? |
Heating Off, Curlers On: The Beauty Boom Nobody Predicted” |
Just when you thought people were cutting back salons are opening up shop across Cambridgeshire, and business is booming.
Take Melanie Richard’s Hair & Beauty Salon in Peterborough.
They’re not content with just cuts and colours — they’re running Japanese head-spa treatments, luxury facials, lash & brow services, and more.
Their new spa-vision is pulling in regulars from Wisbech, Huntingdon, and even the Fens.
Over in Cambridge, indie salons are getting cheeky.
One new boutique offers “late-night blow-dries for the night-owl crowd” because who wants flat hair when you’ve got midweek cocktails?
Whispered in corners: the cost of heating the home is pushing people to treat themselves outside.
In market towns, the ripple is real. Ely’s salons say they’ve seen 30% more bookings year-on-year, even after the summer “bills backlog.”
And in villages, mobile stylists (hair & make-up vans) are quietly becoming the must-have service for mums juggling school runs.
We’re talking more than just haircuts.
These salons are creating local jobs, giving women reasons to be seen and pampered, and proving beauty isn’t just optional it’s essential.
Have you tried a new salon lately or seen one open near you?
Beacon of beauty or overpriced blowout?
Tell us. |
Outro & Sponsor CTA |
That’s a wrap for this week local chippies fought it out, fields were cut early, and the eternal thermostat standoff rumbled on from Cambridge to Peterborough.
Thanks for reading, sharing, and (lovingly) arguing with us.
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