One person said the high street had ‘nothing’ to offer

Residents in a rural town say their hometown is relaxing, but most are disappointed with its “dying” high street. The rural market town of Ramsey is home to around 8,800 people, according to the 2021 census.

It’s a town full of history and beautiful surrounding countryside, but some of its residents have mixed views on their hometown. As part of our Exploring Cambridgeshire series, we spoke to people about what it’s like to live there.

Jeff Kinpton, who lives in Ramsey Forty Foot with wife Jane, thinks Ramsey is “lovely”, but “that was about it”. Jeff described the town’s high street as “crap”.

He added: “It’s full of barbers. We had a fruit shop which was lovely, but it went within a few months. There is a coffee shop which is brilliant, but other than that, we don’t use anything because you walk down the high street and there is nothing. There is nothing to come here for.”

Jane believes there isn’t “enough footfall” to bring people to Ramsey’s high street. She added: “They are on about taking away parking, which is going to kill the shops. The footfall is going to be worse and we are going to lose more shops. There is not a lot of reason to come into town.”

Elaine Baxter lives in Scotland, but regularly visits Ramsey to visit her elderly parents. She likes Ramsey, describing it as a “calm and nice” place. She believes the high street has a “reasonable amount of shops”, but finds it a “shame” that the town has “lost a lot of banks”.

She added: “There used to be a few nice ladies’ clothes shops, but that was about 20 years ago. Do they really need as many tanning shops? But, then if they want to attract younger people, maybe they do.”

Debbie Lowther is a long-term resident of Ramsey, but also volunteers at the Sue Ryder charity shop in the high street. On the state of the high street, she said: “It’s always a shame because any new shop tends to come and go very quickly, just because they don’t have the customers. You would think with all these houses it would bring more people in?

“Shops only last a few months. I think people need to research more, some shops aren’t going to work in Ramsey.”

One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, described Ramsey as a “relaxing place”, but it is better for people who want a “quiet life”. She said: “I wouldn’t scream about Ramsey, it’s just average.

“If you want a quiet life, then this is the place. But if you want somewhere that has a bit more happening and more on offer, this isn’t the place.”

The woman described the high street as “dying”. She added: “It pulls down the town. It’s made up of mostly barbers and vape shops, but then I think a lot of places are now.

“There is the odd nice café, and we do have big shops like B&M and Tesco, but that’s about it. The high street needs a good boost if they want more people to come here, but that is never going to happen.”

Despite some shops only opening for a few months at a time, Martin Law has proven how to run a long-running business in the town. He has run Crafty Ideas for around 35 years. On running his business in Ramsey, he said: “It’s ok, considering I get no help. The high street could be better.”

Martin believes he has made his business work as he “turns up everyday”. He added: “You can’t just show up one day and not turn up the next. If you support the people, they will support you. If you have time for people, then they are going to be there for you.

“It is difficult though when you are up against online. If someone came to me now and said they wanted to open a shop here, I would say don’t.”

Martin believes Huntingdonshire District Council don’t help local businesses in Ramsey. He added: “The people at HDC are not business people. They don’t know how to run a business or help with the issues of running a business. They seem to make decisions that are not good for Ramsey.”

A spokesperson for HDC said supporting towns such as Ramsey remains a “key priority” for the council. They added: “We are working with partners to strengthen the town centre and increase footfall.

“Through our Market Towns Programme, we are developing plans to enhance the Great Whyte area, including improvements to public spaces, a proposed timed pedestrianised area (subject to consultation), and potential retail pods to diversify the town centre offer and support independent businesses.

“We have already delivered improvements such as upgrades to Mews Close car park and supported enhancements to the Rivermill area, including better accessibility and environmental works. Our Economic Development team continues to support local businesses through initiatives like the Ramsey Business Booster, offering one-to-one advice, access to funding and wider networks to help businesses grow.

“We are also working to boost footfall through events, including festive activities in December 2025 and the recent Mother’s Day Market, which recorded the highest footfall day in March. In addition, Ramsey is promoted through the Discover Huntingdonshire platform to help attract more visitors. We will continue to work with residents, businesses and stakeholders to shape future improvements and support a more vibrant and resilient town centre.”

The monthly cost of £16.88 equates to 56p a day, when split across an average 30-day calendar month

Gamers and bargain-hunters can find an unmissable offer on a Sony PlayStation 5 at a lesser-known website. MusicMagpie is a tech-focused platform that buys, refurbishes, and resells devices to customers at a more affordable price point.

Currently, musicMagpie is selling a Sony PlayStation 5 for £464.99. In addition to paying for it outright, customers can also pay £15.25 per month.

The monthly cost of £16.88 equates to 56p a day, when split across an average 30-day calendar month. The Sony PlayStation 5 on offer is refurbished and is a disc edition with 825GB storage.

READ MORE: PS5 owners race to grab PRAGMATA for £26 instead of £42 as it launches in the UK

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MusicMagpie’s Certified Refurbished products undergo a comprehensive in-house refurbishment process, including extensive quality checks and rigorous testing, to ensure they are of ‘fantastic quality at a fraction of the original price’. For comparison, the Sony PlayStation 5 (1TB) is sold directly on the PlayStation website for £569.99 – this is a brand new model, and has a slightly higher storage capacity.

PlayStation does not offer consumers the option to purchase the device via a cost-split payment plan. musicMagpie’s Sony PlayStation 5 comes with a 12-month free guarantee and a 14-day money-back guarantee, and there’s also free delivery on all orders.

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The Sony Playstation 5 Disc Edition 825GB can be bought from musicMagpie for £16.88 per month, working out at 56p a day.

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Younger children may prefer this Tamagotchi Paradise Blue Water, now £32, down from £40 at Argos. This retro device is for kids aged 6 and over and features the new Tamagotchi Planet.

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City of York Council planning officers refused a change of use application for the three-bedroom end terrace in Vine Street, off Bishopthorpe Road.

Plans stated its owner sought to rent out one bedroom to holidaymakers while they are away on business after doing so occasionally since 2023 without receiving complaints.

But five objectors claimed multiple holiday lets already operating nearby and were harming the quiet street and the established local community.

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A council report on the plans stated one bedroom in the house had been let out for 131 nights in the last year.

Only one bedroom has and would continue to be rented out, with the other two locked while the owner is away.

Plans stated the house would only be partially and occasionally rented out and it would not operate as a full commercial holiday let, minimising the impact on neighbours.

They added approving the change of use application would provide the owner with clarity and legal certainty.

The home subject to the holiday let plan in Vine Street (Image: Google)

But objectors claimed approving the plans would result in residential housing in the area being lost and that there was little economic justification for allowing another holiday let.

They added guests who were coming and going would not take care of the home’s garden.

One objection stated: “There are multiple holiday lets in the street and area which cause a nuisance to residents.”

Council planning officers stated the owner living at the property for much of the time meant it would not have the same impact on neighbours as a commercial holiday let.

But they added there was no guarantee it would continue to be occupied in that way in the future and any conditions restricting lets would be difficult to enforce.

Leaders of Reform and the Conservatives joined the Labour Prime Minister in saying that Britain’s sovereignty of the islands, which are 8,000 miles away, is not in question. LibDem leader Sir Ed Davey even suggested the king’s visit to the US should be pulled in protest.

Donald Trump is doing what he does best: he is trying to bully people into falling in meekly behind him. He is trying to provoke a reaction.

But this can’t just be dismissed as “Donald being Donald”. The Argentinian president, Javier Milei, is very close to Trump and, even if the US president doesn’t really mean what is in the memo, it will encourage Milei.

And, as usual, Mr Trump has failed to consider those who matter most: the people. Where do the Falkland Islanders want to live?

In a 2013 referendum, 99.8 per cent of voters, on a 92 per cent turnout, chose to remain a UK Overseas Territory. Only three out of the 1,517 votes cast were against staying with the UK.

It should be up to them where and how they want to live, just as it should be up the Ukrainians to decide how they want to live.  Or indeed the people of Greenland.

As leader of the free world, on a point of principle, Mr Trump should be supporting fair and democratic societies,  not using them as bargaining chips in an attempt to get his own way.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will change some benefit payment dates next week due to the May bank holiday – here’s what you need to know

Thousands of benefit claimants will see their payment dates brought forward next week due to the upcoming bank holidays. The forthcoming May bank holiday, falling on Monday, May 4, is the cause of the change.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) does not process benefit payments on bank holidays — instead, claimants will receive their money on the last working day beforehand. This means that anyone due a benefit payment on Monday, May 4, should expect to receive it on Friday, May 1, instead.

A second bank holiday falls on Monday, May 25 — again, those due a payment on this date will be paid early. Benefits should be paid on Friday, May 22, instead.

However, receiving payment early does mean a longer gap before the following payment. Money will be deposited into the usual bank account where benefits are regularly received, reports the Mirror. The amount paid will remain unchanged unless personal circumstances have been altered.

The payment adjustment will also affect certain HMRC benefits, including Child Benefit.

Television presenter Graham Norton has been married to husband Jonathan McLeod since 2022

Graham Norton is a regular face on our screens, with ITV show The Neighbourhood and Eurovision representing just two of his ventures this year.

However, his personal life remains precisely that, with the broadcaster known for maintaining privacy regarding his romantic life throughout the years, reports the Mirror.

While he’s experienced his share of romantic ups and downs – previously joking that he’d be “single forever” – Graham did discover true love and has been wed to Jonathan ‘Jono’ McLeod since 2022, with the couple poised to mark their fourth anniversary this summer.

So what does their life together look like? And what has Graham revealed about their marriage?

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Meeting partner transformed star’s view on marriage

During a 2022 appearance on Ireland’s The Late Late Show, talk show host Graham chatted about how marriage hadn’t been on the cards and hinted that meeting Scottish filmmaker Jonathan was what altered his outlook.

“As you get older, having had a string of failed relationships, you appreciate when something is right, you treasure it, you don’t take it for granted and so put a ring on it,” he was quoted as saying on the programme.

Talk show host wed in Ireland

Graham and Jonathan married in Cork in 2022, reportedly a few years after they met for the first time.

The pair exchanged their vows in a ceremony at Bantry House, a historic estate that was built in the early 18th century. They are then thought to have returned to Graham’s harbour residence in Ahakista to carry on the celebration.

Reports at the time suggested approximately 120 guests attended, with singer Lulu believed to have entertained those at the event. Panti Bliss was understood to have provided the DJ duties, while Irish dancing troupe Cairde are thought to have performed as well.

Rare glimpse into married life

In 2023, Graham – who was in his late 50s when he tied the knot with Jonathan – offered fans a rare glimpse into his marriage while speaking with The Guardian.

Recalling a moment from their wedding day, he said: “I had a joke in my speech: the vows are much more manageable. ‘Till death do us part’ seems more achievable at our age.”

He added: “If you get married at 23, that’s a big ask. We only have to put up with each other for a couple of decades. And then I’ll be out of here.”

In 2024, he told Attitude he was “enjoying” married life. “I was older, so I went into it with my eyes wide open,” he said. “You know the pitfalls of relationships, the dangers. But I met someone who I was willing to take a bet on.”

The Neighbourhood starts at 9pm on ITV on Friday April 24.

​Banks Lounge Bar, at 5 Murray Street in Filey, will not be allowed to create an outdoor drinking area at the rear of the Victorian-era bank, which was converted in 2018.

​Tracy Fleet applied to remove a condition that was originally put in place to prevent noise disturbance to nearby residential properties, especially during the evening and nighttime hours.

​The outdoor site could have been used until 9.30pm and would have had space for up to 35 people.

​Officers noted that the rear yard is in “close proximity to dwellings, and its use as an external drinking area is likely to result in elevated noise levels from patrons, including raised voices, laughter, and general social activity”.

​A council planning report highlighted that “these types of noises are difficult to control and can be particularly intrusive during quieter hours”, adding that “the removal of this condition would significantly increase the risk of loss of residential amenity due to noise, and environmental health considers this to be unacceptable”.

​One representation was received from a member of the public who supported the proposal on the grounds that the bar is “a well-run establishment and should be encouraged to support businesses”.

​Planners said the proposal to remove the condition prohibiting the use of the external area had the potential to introduce levels of disturbance to the area not previously experienced from the site.

​Officers concluded that “given the direct proximity of the seating area to the residential neighbours to the rear, it is considered that the capacity would be excessively high, and in combination with the proposed operation hours late into the evening, the proposed removal of the condition from the original permission restricting the outdoor area would have an unfavourable relationship with the residential dwellings”.

​They said that approval of the plan would result in “undue noise and disturbance, the sum of which would be to cause significant harm impacts on the occupants of these neighbouring dwellings”.

​The application was rejected by North Yorkshire Council.

The family is waiting for a domestic homicide review to be completed by the Home Office

The sister of a woman killed by her partner said she “feels in limbo”, as the family awaits a homicide review to be completed in order for her inquest to go ahead. Simone Smith, 35, was found dead at her flat in Saunders Close, Huntingdon, on February 26, 2025.

Simone was killed by her partner Cody Parker, who was found dead the following day in a toilet cubicle at Hinchingbrooke Hospital. An inquest on Thursday (April 23) found that Mr Parker died by suicide.

Simone’s sister Karina, who asked to use only her first name, was at Mr Parker’s inquest, alongside her partner and a representative from Peterborough Women’s Aid. While the coroners’ court could only deal with Cody’s death, the court heard about events leading up to him being found, including Simone’s death.

Simone’s inquest cannot be held until the Home Office signs off a Domestic Homicide Review. Speaking after the inquest, Karina said she feels the delay is “silencing Simone”. She added: “Simone died over a year ago, and we are still waiting for her inquest. The closure will look different once that is done.

“We still feel no closure, and we are still in limbo.” Due to the delay of the homicide review, Karina added that she believes it could be “over a year”, before the inquest into Simone’s death is held.

A Home Office spokesperson told CambridgeshireLive that the review is “due to be sent out imminently” and it should be expected in the “next few months”.

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The new ITV series is set to be one of the station’s biggest shows of the year

Graham Norton’s new ITV series The Neighbourhood is finally here, but who are the families taking part in the programme? Premiering on Friday, April 24, the broadcaster are hoping The Neighbourhood is their next big hit.

The first season of the series will consist of 11 episodes. Airing the same day as the I’m A Celebrity South Africa final, the series sees families and households compete in a street-sized popularity contest.

Living in a neighbourhood specially created for the show, they will be seen battling it out for the chance to take home a life-changing £250,000 cash prize.

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ITV have teased that it ‘marries high-stakes competition, epic challenges and relatable domestic drama, to offer a completely fresh flavour of reality’. With the households consisting of real life friends and families, they will be seen trying to mingle and potentially sabotage their way to a major win.

Teasing why he joined the show, Graham said: “What was so refreshing about this was that it was an idea I hadn’t heard before. It taps into the minutia of daily life that we’re all fascinated by.

“The neighbours and what’s going on, I am Mr twitchy curtain. It super sizes it, the scale and ambition of it. It’s almost 200 cameras, I’ve never worked on anything of this size before. They are being filmed 24/7. There’s the game part and the reality of what’s going on inside those houses, which is equally entertaining.”

With the series set to become the talk of the nation over the coming weeks, here are the families looking to win the life-changing amount of money.

The Kandolas and Samra

The Kandolas and Samra are a blended family from Bedfordshire, made up of mum Sunita, 52 her husband Tony, 57 and Sunita’s 24-year-old son Ruben, the youngest of her three children.

Tony said: “We want to do our best to win the show so hopefully Ruben could move out!” Sunita stated: “For me, it was really important to represent our community and to highlight we’re a blended family. Between us we’ve got six adult kids and grandchildren. We wanted to break away from the stigma that Asian women should be a certain way.”

The Scouse Haus

Hailing from Liverpool, the Scouse Haus consists of twin sisters Louise and Lyndsey, both 25-year-old Baristas, and Lyndsey’s girlfriend Rosie, 28. The group decided to join the show because they ‘don’t want every day to look the same’.

Rosie noted: “I felt like all of us were sitting ducks in the way that our lives were. We hated our jobs, so something that was going to pluck us out of our everyday life and put us in this simulation for however long – why not?”

The Brandons

The Bradons are a household of five from Essex, across three generations. They’re made up of mum Faye-Marie, 69, her daughter 29-year-old daughter Alicia, sons Lucas and Nathan, 37 and 45, and Nathan’s 17-year-old son Zach.

“I think it was an opportunity for us all to be together, to spend that time intimately within the household because a lot of us are often away with work and things like that. We wanted that opportunity to have that time together, bonding and of course there was the opportunity to win £250,000 which would be very beneficial to all members of the family,” Nathan said.

The Pescuds

Hailing from Cambridgeshire, the Pescuds consist of Paul and Wendy, 51 and 55, and their children Grace and Harrison, 18 and 25. Paul stated that they wanted to go on the show as it’s ‘really interesting and something different to do’.

“We don’t know anybody who has been on a reality programme. It was interesting and exciting, and especially as it was as a family,” he said.

The Uni Boys

Proving that it’s not just families welcome in The Neighbourhood is The Uni Boys. The close group of friends made up of Hadi, 23 Kevin, 21, DJ, 21 and Fahad, 21, met during their first term at Nottingham Trent University.

“I think we’re all quite different, so when we have conversations we all have something to bring in. I feel like it enhances our dynamic because we’re all funny, we all roll off each other, we’ve got a really good friendship dynamic that other people can see,” Kevin said.

The Lozman-Sturrocks

The final household taking part in The Neighbourhood are the Lozman-Sturrocks. The close knit family from Darlington is made up of Christine, 72, her husband Dave, 67, her son Jordan, 34, and Jordan’s wife Katie, 29.

Christine said: “I’m growing old disgracefully. I’m still very, very competitive and that’s what I wanted to show. There is still life in us – we can still take part and have fun. Also, to represent the North! I wanted people to see we’re good people, kind and inclusive. When you get into your 70s, you don’t get many chances to do many firsts. We’re very sociable people and we love being with people.”