So lucky to have had 3 good visits to the Iguazzu Falls, this week, so lucky to have visited Nigera Falls (twice) and the Victoria Falls.
One more maybe on the bucket list?
Ghosting Elsewhere…..
Saxon Pit on the BBC – Health Review, Enforcement & Fast-Moving Permit Process
Many residents will already be aware of this week’s BBC and TV coverage on Saxon Pit, reflecting long-standing concerns about dust, noise, smell and health impacts. This puts Saxon Pit under a public spotlight at a critical regulatory moment.
BBC Look East Lunchtime and Evening News 09/10/25. You can watch again for 24 hours.
Screenshot – credit BBC News Look East
They also ran this story: “Whittlesey dust and noise is miserable, says resident” – BBC News. Whittlesey dust and noise is miserable, says resident – BBC News
Behind the headlines, several important developments are converging:
1) The planning application to expand operations and we now know is seeking to allow open-air IBA crushing has been live since 2024 and will not be heard by CCC’s Planning Committee until 2026.
2) The EA permit variation for the same activity was launched suddenly on 17 September, with a short consultation period. It was only extended to 31 October following public pressure and a letter from our MP–
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1WBTBuLDNi/?mibextid=wwXIfr
3) A planning breach involving unpermitted IBA contaminated metal processing near the lagoon (pumped into Kings Dyke without a permit) has already been confirmed by CCC.
4) The UKHSA health review is under way but, according to the regulators’ own minutes, its scope is limited: It will not examine whether regulatory exposure limits are adequate.
There is no public consultation element.
Only a summary of findings will be released.
We still don’t know what samples have been taken or what
tests are being carried out.
This means the review may focus narrowly on whether operators meet existing rules, not whether those rules are fit for purpose.
In the BBC story the operators chose not to comment. Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC’s) communications team also suggested some noise complaints may relate to other sources such as the railway and roadworks. While that may be factually accurate in isolated cases, we believe these are the exception, not the rule.
Does it look like Whittlesey’s roads are being repaired overnight on a regular basis to you?
It is now more important than ever that residents report issues and comment on the permit and planning applications.
This is a critical moment for public engagement. If you care about how this site is regulated, please use your voice.
We’ll continue to track the process closely and share verified updates as they emerge.
EA consultation link: PE7 1PJ, Johnsons Aggregates and Recycling Limited, EPR/DP3131NM/V002: environmental permit consultation – Environment Agency – Citizen Space CCC planning portal link: Simple Search (Search for CCC/24/091/VAR).
The usual small print, how to report issues and a help request: –
We will never give your data to third parties and will only email you relevant information about Saxongate. If you wish to be removed from the mailing list just reply to, stop or remove to this email.
We also need to grow our membership so please do pass on our details. People can contact us on this email or via Facebook if they wish to join :- https://www.facebook.com/SaxonGatePE7 or email saxongate2022@gmail.com
If you have any photos or videos or logs of issues (from your homes, gardens, roads or public land) please let us know and share them with us.
If you suffer any noise, smells or dust please continue to report it to the Environment Agency 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60.
You can also email envhealth@fenland.gov.uk or call 01354 654321. This can be the best route for long term issues.
See = https://www.fenland.gov.uk/nuisance for noise, smoke, smell, dust.
AB Ghosting.
Taking a recouperation and rest for a day or two, after my somewhat very challenging health issues over the past 12 months…been carrying on as best as possible.
Update – EA Consultation Extended.
Please note that since our earlier statement, the Environment Agency has extended the consultation period on Johnsons’ permit variation to 31 October 2025 (previously 15 October).
This gives residents an extra two weeks to review the proposal and submit comments.
Follow This Link To Consultation Enviro Agency
Ghostbuster AB.
Read the complete article on the BBC – Click Here….
Tony Ellingford has lived in Whittlesey for nearly 50 years
A resident says the dust and noise generated by industry at a nearby former brickworks site is “miserable”.
Saxon Pit in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, processes incinerator bottom ash (IBA), but neighbours have spoken of hosing down cars and window sills because of dust they believe is coming from the site.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is investigating public health concerns and the site’s owners have recently been reprimanded for a planning breach.
Two companies linked to the site, East Midlands Waste Management (EMW) and Johnsons Aggregates, have yet to respond to requests for comment.
Clive Vaughan, who lives opposite the site and questions whether IBA is safe.
Mr Vaughan said: “This stuff, if it’s poisonous, and if it gets released into the environment, is a couple of hundred metres from our homes.”
A county council spokeswoman added: “Following previous concerns raised by the community in relation to the Saxon Pit site, and reported breaches of planning and environmental control at the site, our public health team is working closely with partners including Fenland District Council, the UKHSA and the Environment Agency to carry out a risk assessment.
“This will determine whether there are any current risks of harms to public health from on-site operations.
“The results of this will be finalised and published in due course.”
The council said some of the complaints, “particularly around noise, have been traced to other local activities – for example nearby roadworks and the railway line”.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crrjy2gpl8eo
©® BBC.
©® Photos BBC.
For far too long – various agencies have made life ‘not easy’ is somewhat an
understatement, however with the limited resources and ‘some’ support from ‘some’ Councillors, the agencies now apppear to have got the message- All is not it should be at the industrial site.
Without Saxongates determination and accountability of the site this would not have happened.
(Ghost for RG.)
Below the latest public release by The Saxongate Residents Group.
(click in bottom left corner to advance or retard pages).
2025 09 Saxon Pit Regulators Meeting Minutes (No Attendees)
Ghoster.
New Scam Alert: Protect yourself from payment diversion fraud when buying a new property.
City of London Police and Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, are urging the public to remain vigilant following a rise in payment diversion fraud – commonly known as conveyancing fraud. This type of fraud often involves criminals impersonating solicitors or estate agents to intercept large financial transfers during property transactions.
Between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, 143 cases of conveyancing fraud were reported to Action Fraud, resulting in £11.7 million in losses. The vast majority involved residential property transactions, accounting for 140 reports and £10.97 million in losses, with an average loss of £78,393 per case.
What is conveyancing fraud or payment diversion fraud?
Conveyancing fraud, also referred to as lawyer or solicitor impersonation fraud, occurs when criminals gain access to email chains between property buyers, sellers, solicitors, and estate agents. Once inside, they impersonate a trusted party and send convincing messages requesting that funds, such as deposits or final payments, be transferred to bank accounts under their control.
These scams are often timed to coincide with the final stages of a transaction, when large sums are expected to be moved quickly. Fraudsters apply pressure, claiming urgency, and convincing victims that delays could jeopardise the deal.
This type of fraud isn’t limited to home purchases – it has also been reported in rental agreements and probate transactions, where funds are transferred as part of estate settlements. Fraudsters will often use hacked or spoofed email accounts so that their messages can appear highly authentic. Victims may not realise they’ve been deceived until the money is gone.
How to protect yourself from conveyancing fraud:
What to do if you are a victim of conveyancing fraud:
Do you want to learn more about payment diversion fraud? Check out
theGhosterPolicing.
As we head into the colder months, you may be tempted to leave your car running unattended in the morning in order to de-ice and warm it up!
This can leave your vehicle vulnerable and could end up attracting opportunistic thieves.
Here’s some tips to help you protect your vehicle from theft this autumn:
🔐 Make sure your vehicle is always locked and any windows are shut, even if you are just leaving it for a short time
🏠 Keep your keys safe, out of view and away from your front door when at home
🚙 Have a keyless car? Prevent your signal being cloned by keeping any keys in a faraday pouch
💡 Park in well-lit and busier areas
🚘 Look at protecting your vehicle from the inside by using steering wheel locks, and gear stick locks
You can find out more about how to keep your vehicle safe from theft here.
Ghostwriter.
Being the chairman of Whittlesey & District Neighbourhood Watch for the past 14 years, I am proud we have a very good team of co-ordinators (32) who look after their local community.
Our AGM is this weekend, and we also have an executive committee for the whole of cambridgeshire which I am Robin Sutton both are part of.
Reminder: Cambridgeshire Neighbourhood Watch Association Annual General Meeting 2025
We are pleased to invite Neighbourhood Watch members in the Cambridgeshire Police Force Area to attend the Annual General Meeting and Conference for the Cambridgeshire Neighbourhood Watch Association which will be held on Saturday 11th October 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
The meeting will be held online this year using Teams. Copies of the Minutes from the 2024 AGM, Agenda, Executive Committee Nomination Form and the Accounts for the year will be available to download prior to the meeting.
Click this link to Register for the AGM
A presentation and Open Forum follows the short formal part of the meeting. This year we have invited John Greenwood to give a talk on Cybercrime.
Ghostwriter.
A reminder that we would like to hear from you!
You could also be in the chance for winning a £100 shopping voucher!
Take part in our Community Intelligence Survey and help shape how we gather and respond to information.
Fill out the survey here.
Ghostwriter.
Fens Reservoir Autumn 2025
Ghostwriter.
