Category: Cambridgeshire

New NHS data has revealed that waiting lists across Cambridgeshire are improving and the national waiting list target has been metDavid Dubas-Fisher and Hunni Haynes Trainee multimedia reporter05:12, 01 Jun 2026NHS waiting lists are improving across Cambridgeshire, new data has revealed(Image: Getty)NHS waiting lists are improving at a Cambridge hospital, with patients getting the treatment they need quicker than they were two years ago. New NHS figures have revealed the NHS has met its national waiting list target of having at least 65 percent of patients on the waiting list for no longer than 18 weeks by March 2026.It has met that target with new data revealing that the actual proportion was 65.3 percent. Back in November 2024 – the baseline month set for comparisons – only 59.1 percent of patients on the waiting list had been waiting for less than 18 weeks. In July 2024, when Labour came to power, only 58.8 percent of the waiting list had been waiting for less than 18 weeks.Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) has also seen big improvements. Some 62.9 percent of those on waiting lists at the trust have been on them for 18 weeks or less, just behind the national average. However, that’s up from 59.1 percent in November 2024 and 58.9 percent in July 2024. The number of people waiting over a year for treatment has also seen a sharp decline.A total of 3,026 had been on the waiting list for over a year in June 2024. That has since fallen to just 941 as of March of this year. Meanwhile, the overall waiting list at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has fallen from 64,117 to 58,435 over the same time period.Using our gadget, you can see how things have improved at your local trust. Simply enter your postcode in the search box below and select a trust from the dropdown:Elsewhere in Cambridgeshire, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust had 37.2 percent of patients on waiting lists for less than 18 weeks as of May 2026. This marks a small improvement from November 2024 when 34.1 percent of patients were on waiting lists for less than 18 weeks.The North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust has 61.3 percent of patients on the waiting list for less than 18 weeks, marking a significant improvement from November 2024 when the figure was 52.3 percent. The Royal Papworth NHS Foundation Trust has the best figures of all NHS trusts in Cambridgeshire, with 78.8 percent of patients being on the waiting list for less than 18 weeks. The figure in November 2024 was 64.5 percent.Nick Kirby, interim Chief Operating Officer at CUH, said: “Teams across our hospitals are working hard to ensure more patients are seen sooner and we are pleased to see this reflected in these latest figures. Reducing long waits is key to delivering excellent care for our patients.”The overall size of the national NHS waiting list fell by over 110,000 in the last month to a total of 7.1 million. That’s also down from 7.4 million in March 2025 and 7.5 million in March 2024.NHS Chief Executive Officer, Sir Jim Mackey said: “This is a huge moment for the NHS. Hitting our targets for the first time in years hasn’t happened by accident – it’s been down to an absolutely enormous effort from NHS staff up and down the country.“Today’s achievement goes beyond a set of remarkable statistics – it shows that we’re making real inroads on the things that matter to our patients and communities.”

Heavy rainstorms are forecast to sweep across the UK on Monday (June 1)16:03, 31 May 2026Updated 16:11, 31 May 2026Heavy rain is forecast for Cambridgeshire on Monday (June 1)(Image: Met Office)Cambridgeshire’s heatwave is due to come to an abrupt end, with heavy rain forecast for Monday (June 1). Heavy rain is due to sweep across the UK, with rainstorms forecast throughout the week, bringing an unsettled start to the summer.Met Office weather maps indicate heavy downpours are predicted across most of the UK over a 30-hour period, initially striking Wales and parts of the north-west of England before spreading across the country, where 34 counties are in for a thorough drenching.While the maps display a wave of blue across the UK indicating light showers, yellow markers highlight areas bracing for heavy downpours of 4 to 8mm per hour, while orange denotes even heavier rainfall of 8 to 16mm.From Monday (June 1) at 1pm, rainfall is set to sweep across England, stretching well into Tuesday night at around 7pm, before clearing, affecting the vast majority of the country.The warning comes just days after the UK recorded its hottest-ever May day, with temperatures reaching a scorching 35.1C at Kew Gardens, London, on Tuesday, reports the Mirror.The Met Office’s long-range forecast up until Wednesday (June 3) paints a markedly different picture, with meteorological summer beginning on an unsettled note. Spells of rain on Monday could well be followed by further heavy and thundery showers on Tuesday.”The widespread heatwave will gradually reduce in intensity in the coming days,” with a transition to more unsettled and cooler weather for many, the Met Office said. Chief Forecaster Chris Bulmer said: “We’re now starting to see this spell of very hot weather break down.”While parts of the southeast could still reach highs of 32C on Thursday, many areas will begin to feel fresher conditions moving in through Friday and into the weekend as a weak cold front moves southeast and becomes more established across most of the UK by Saturday. As the heat starts to ease, the weather will also turn more changeable, with some showers and thunderstorms possible.”By the weekend, temperatures should be much closer to average for the time of year with accompanying rainfall for many through the weekend and into the start of next week.”The Met Office has indicated that from Monday onwards, further periods of rain or showers are likely to sweep across the UK, albeit potentially interspersed with brighter spells. Temperatures are expected to be closer to average than they have been in recent days,” it adds.

The development also includes land to extend the local primary school.The new development in Eye will feature 265 new homes(Image: Allison Homes Central)More than 250 homes are set to be built in a Cambridgeshire village after a Peterborough-based homebuilder acquired land in the area. Allison Homes Central is set to build a total of 265 new homes off Eyebury Road in the village of Eye.The development, which will be called Colliers Rest, will feature 185 open market sale homes and 80 affordable homes. There will be a mix of two, three, four, and five bedroom properties with “spacious, contemporary interiors and stylish exteriors”.The development will also consist of over three hectares of public open space with play areas and allotments on the site. There will be some land for an extension to Eye CofE Primary School as well as works carried out to improve pedestrian and cycle paths on Thorney Road and Eyebury Road.Over £1.3 million worth of contributions will be made to support local infrastructure. Work on the site is set to start before the end of May with show homes set to open in early spring next year.Sophie Kendal, Land and Partnerships Director at Allison Homes Central, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have secured land in Eye and to be bringing our brand-new, high-quality homes to the area.”We’ve put a lot of care into the design of our Colliers Rest development, ensuring future residents are provided with a wide variety of homes and a sustainable community that promotes their health, wellbeing and happiness.“This milestone is a great testament to the hard work of our team. We’re now looking forward to working closely with our partners and stakeholders to bring Colliers Rest to life and deliver these new homes to a standard we can all be proud of.”Other Allison Homes Central developments are being built in Thorney, Somersham, and Whittlesey. Another development in Sawtry is set to be launched in the coming months.To get more news and top stories delivered directly to your phone, join our new WhatsApp community. Click this link to receive your daily dose of CambridgeshireLive content.We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .

The village itself has a few local amenities including a shop and a social hubThe village of Toft in Cambridgeshire(Image: Google Street View)A charming little village situated around six miles west of Cambridge is the only Cambridgeshire village that saw all of its World War One soldiers safely return home. Toft has a small community with a big history including having more than 20 listed buildings of special architectural or historic interest.The name ‘Toft’ derives from an old Viking word meaning ‘curtilage’ or ‘homestead’. The quaint village has approximately 600 residents and is ideally located for commuters within four miles of the M11 motorway.Among the village’s listed buildings is Toft Manor, on Church Road, formerly the Rectory, which was built in 1844 along with several cottages. Toft holds a remarkable history of fortune and bravery as it is one of the rare ‘Thankful Villages’ in England and Wales where all those who served in World War One returned safely.The term ‘Thankful Village’ was promoted by the writer Arthur Mee in the 1930s; in Enchanted Land. He wrote that a ‘Thankful Village’ was one which had lost no men in the war because all those who left to serve came home again.The village consists of a few local amenities including a village shop specialising in South African cuisine with a Post Office, a hairdresser, a village hall known as ‘Toft People’s Hall’ and Toft Social Club that acts as a popular meeting point among the community.Close by, on the outskirts of Comberton and reportedly within Toft Parish Boundaries, there is Comberton Village College which offers education to years seven through to 11.House prices in Toft had an overall average of £442,468 over the last year, according to Rightmove. The majority of properties sold in Toft during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £340,000. Meanwhile, detached properties sold for an average of £647,405.Compared to South Cambridgeshire as a whole, it is slightly more pricey. According to the Office for National Statistics, the average house price in South Cambridgeshire was £430,000 in March 2026, similar to the figure for March 2025.

A council’s children’s services were rated inadequate in 2024 after a ‘deterioration in the quality of practice’Peterborough Town Hall(Image: Copyright Unknown)A council has been praised for “driving improvements” in its children’s services, after it was deemed inadequate in 2024. Peterborough City Council’s children’s services were rated as inadequate after an Ofsted inspection at the end of 2023.Previously rated good in 2018, inspectors said there had been a “deterioration in the quality of practice”, following the 2023 inspection. Since then, Ofsted has been carrying out monitoring visits into the council’s children’s services.The latest took place on February 24 where inspectors reviewed the council’s response to children experiencing neglect. Inspectors praised the council for remaining “committed and ambitious for children and families”.They added: “There is strong corporate and political support and children’s services have benefitted from significant financial investment. The director of children’s services and the stable leadership team continue to drive improvements across the service.”The reports also said the overall response to children experiencing neglect had improved. While there was praise for the council’s improvements, there continued to be delays in responding to some children in the multi-agency safeguarding hub due to “capacity issues”.During the visit, inspectors said staff made “appropriate referrals” to children’s services for children requiring help and protection due to potential neglect. Social workers were also praised about their “robust analysis of children’s needs” when looking at the functioning of a family.When dealing with children out of hours, the commissioned emergency duty team (EDT) were praised for having an “effective interface”. Social workers were also praised for children having “positive and enduring relationships” with them.Inspectors also said action was taken “appropriately” when children continued to experience harm due to neglect from their parents. The report added that leaders had focused on recruitment and retention to “improve the stability of the workforce”.Inspectors said: “This is showing promising results, with some social workers converting from agency to permanent posts, citing a positive work environment as informing their decisions.”Councillor Katy Cole, cabinet member for children and young people at Peterborough City Council, said: “We are pleased with the outcome of this latest monitoring visit which acknowledges the ongoing progress we have made to achieve better outcomes for all children.”We remain committed and ambitious for children and families and we continue to drive improvements across the service, including for children who have experienced potential neglect.”I want to thank practitioners and staff for their hard work and continued dedication to the children and families of Peterborough. Our administration is fully focussed on working collaboratively and effectively to continue to improve this vital service.“As we now build to our next full ILACs inspection this Labour led coalition is determined to make the changes needed to ensure all children in this city thrive, are safe and able to succeed in life.”

Residents feared the development would destroy a ‘valued asset’ and overwhelm ‘limited services’The field in Isleham seen from Sun Street(Image: Google Maps)A developer has lost an appeal to build 49 affordable homes in a village which residents feared would overwhelm the local school. Isleham Parish Council said the site is “one of the few remaining open spaces” in the village with “a strong reflection of its rural setting, nature and agricultural connections”.They said the land is a “valued asset” and the village has seen “significant recent growth” and has “limited services”. East Cambridgeshire District Council agreed and rejected the plans in 2024 – but an appeal was launched by Abbey Properties Cambridgeshire Ltd and Robin Diver.A hearing was held by The Planning Inspectorate on March 24 and 25, 2026. Inspector P Hanna visited the site on the second day.The council said that two other planning applications would likely already meet Isleham’s need for 47 new homes. The inspector said it “cannot be presumed” these “will respond directly to the local need, unlike the current proposal”.They added: “Indeed, even the council only go as far as saying that identified need is ‘very likely’ to be met by the two approved developments. Whilst the levels of local need may fluctuate, I am satisfied that the proposal would meet an identified need that may not be delivered by the sites within the settlement boundary or by existing planning permissions.”They said the farmland was formerly a chalk pit and is lined with “dense hedgerows and woodland” and “high distinctiveness habitat”, some of which would be lost if developed. Though a replacement was suggested by the developer, the council were concerned this hedgerow “would not represent like for like replacement under the trading rules”.The inspector added that even with the developer’s “own final metric calculation” it would fail to meet the minimum requirement. It was also noted that Isleham has “relatively poor existing public transport” with just one return bus service per day from Monday to Saturday and two on Tuesday and Saturday.Inspector Hanna said the plans fall short in terms of “reducing car usage” but the rural location would “justify a more pragmatic approach”. They also said the village itself “contains a wide range of services and facilities” including two industrial estates which still makes it “highly sustainable” in terms of employment.Commenting on school capacity, they said the lack of places at the primary school was “a matter for the education authority to deal with”. Inspector Hanna added that if children were unable to attend Isleham Primary, “there is no substantive evidence before me to suggest that a sustainable form of school transport could not be provided, such as a school bus”.The inspector concluded that the benefits of the proposal would not outweigh the harms and dismissed the appeal.

Bidwells said the current staff common room at King’s Ely was “located away from the main teaching block” and “under-utilised as many staff do not have the time to walk there and back in school breaks”.According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Joe Moor, who was campaigning to save the pub, called it a “very significant moment for The Fountain and for Ely”.The 41-year-old said: “Hundreds of people spoke up because The Fountain is not simply an old building but a nearly 200-year-old Grade II listed pub with real heritage and community value.”We are hugely grateful to everyone who supported the campaign, and pleased that King’s Ely has listened to the strength of feeling within the community.”At the same time, important questions remain about what happens next, including whether any revised proposals may emerge in future.”King’s Ely has been contacted for comment.

The tanker needs to be recovered before the road is reopened17:24, 28 May 2026Updated 17:30, 28 May 2026The tanker overturned on Prickwillow Road(Image: Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service)A road in Cambridgeshire will be closed overnight after a tanker overturned. The B1104 Prickwillow Road near Soham will be closed tonight (Thursday, May 28) after a tanker overturned at the junction with Great Fen Road this afternoon.Cambridgeshire Police and the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service have attended to the scene. The road is closed to allow for the vehicle to be recovered. Drivers should find alternative routes when travelling in the area.A spokesperson for the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Crews are currently responding to an incident near Soham where a tanker has overturned at the junction between Prickwillow Road and Great Fen Road.”The road will be closed overnight whilst the vehicle is recovered so please find alternative routes when travelling.”To get more news and top stories delivered directly to your phone, join our new WhatsApp community. Click this link to receive your daily dose of CambridgeshireLive content.We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .

The FOI also revealed that drivers were caught reaching speeds of up to 106, 100 and 97mph on the A605.Ken Simpson, from Whittlesey, said he travelled along the road to work.”It is a self-explanatory road, it is well marked, and the speed limits are well signed,” he said.Simpson said he saw people overtaking “daily”, adding: “If you obey the speed limit there is no problem.”Talking about the amount of speeding tickets issued over the past five years, he added: “It doesn’t surprise me one little bit, but it [the road] has a good surface, you can see well ahead and people will speed on it.”

A court injunction has been granted, meaning no further works can be carried out at the siteMoor Drove, Cottenham, is subject to a High Court injunction(Image: South Cambridgeshire District Council)Work on a suspected Travellers’ site in Cambridgeshire over the bank holiday weekend has been done without a planning application, according to a councillor. Illegal work on the site near Moor Drove, close to the Cambridgeshire villages of Cottenham and Histon began on Saturday (May 23).Hardstanding ground has been laid alongside at least 16 caravans in the green belt protected area. It remains unclear who owns the land.South Cambridgeshire District Council secured a High Court injunction late on Sunday evening (May 24). Mr Justice Mansfield acknowledged there was no planning application for the works.In court documents, Cllr Dr Martin Cahn said he visited the site on Sunday, May 24, and witnessed “plant and machinery [moving] newly imported materials”.He added: “The materials had been brought to the site via large HGV tipper trucks. I sought to engage with the gentleman in the white shirt […] to determine what works were being carried out. He advised me that he did not know anything about the project.”The Judge granted the injunction which means no further works can be carried out on the grounds it was reasonable to suspect further units would be bought onto the land. The injunction was made under s187B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.Mr Justice Mansfield added: “The practicalities of not being able to serve individuals who are carrying out the works as their identities cannot be ascertained at a time when there is an already urgent problem. I have no doubt there is a serious issue to be tried.”The site at Moor Drove is just five miles away from Smithy Fen where Travellers bought land around the village of Cottenham and fought to stay there in 2003. They appealed their eviction under the Human Rights Act and won – despite lengthy legal battles and headline news.Lead Cabinet Member for Planning at South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cllr Henry Batchelor, said the council had acted swiftly to secure the injunction. He said: “This required significant work by the Council over the bank holiday weekend, and we are grateful to the Judge for making themselves available out of hours to hear our case.”It is important that everyone abides by planning rules, which are in place to protect our communities. Council officers have visited the site and will continue to monitor the situation closely. The council expects to return to the High Court for a further hearing on this matter shortly.”