This week's diary

WHY some are targeted and others left alone, is a constant source of bewilderment in our office as we hear of enforcement against some illegal signs on the highway, but others go unchallenged.Well I have to tell you that from Monday there's going to be all-out war on all illegal signs. Transport chiefs at Shire Hall, Cambridge, tell me they will be launching a crackdown on illegal signs on the highway from next week in response to calls from Government to make roads and paths safer.People who put up illegal signs, including advertising boards, on paths or roadside verges, are being advised to remove them before the campaign starts."Although these signs often advertise local businesses they can clutter up pavements and cause a hazard to people with disabilities or using pushchairs," says a council spokesman. "They are also a distraction to drivers and pose a threat to road safety."Don't say you haven't been warned.PUBLICATION of a full page advertisement in Estates Gazette - the developers' 'bible' - inviting bids to develop the Nene Waterfront at Wisbech is a tangible declaration of confidence in the £47m project.Bidwells of Cambridge is pitching for "expressions of interest" to undertake the development, and the first phase is now expected to start later this year with full completion set for 2010.The work already done is commendable, and Bidwells is also indicating very competitive rents for shops of £25 per square foot, and £10 per square foot for office space along the waterfront.The aim, says Bidwells, is to attract niche occupiers and with rents of £45 at the Horse Fair for shops and £10 for "second-hand space above town centre shops", the Nene is surely a development whose time has come.GIVEN Brakespeare's affinity with those of a certain age, he will be following with considerable interest a meeting next week in South Holland, where the district council's licensing committee will be deciding if a taxi driver nearing 70, and another who is already 70, can retain their Hackney Carriage/private hire licences.Given the competency of many drivers into their 80s, Brakespeare wishes both applicants bon voyage.IT may no longer be the great feast day it was in the 15th century and treated on a par with Christmas Day, but there is growing enthusiasm for celebrating St George's Day next month.However, I do take issue with some of the protagonists keen on commemorating the day, particularly the Fenland branch of UKIP which plans a St George's day dinner "at the home of UKIP and English patriotism".In case you didn't know this happens to be the Three Tuns in Doddington although UKIP chairman Len Baynes insists it is not a political event and open to all Englishmen.It all sounds terribly xenophobic to me; so most definitely count me out of that gig.SOME days Brakespeare curls up in disbelief at the gullibility of his fellow man (or woman).Take this as an example. In Cambridge last week two people were approached in the street by two men claiming to be selling laptop computers."In both cases those approached agreed to the sale and withdrew money from a cash machine," says a police spokesman.They paid the men £500 each and a laptop case was duly handed over. When the buyers opened the cases, they discovered they were filled with newspaper and did not contain a computer. With a remarkable line in understatement, and a reluctance no doubt to say what he really felt, Pc Phil Enderby contented himself with the remark: "I would urge people not to purchase goods from strangers in the street."But they will, Phil, they will.And then no doubt come crying to you again when it all goes horribly pear-shaped. A COLLEAGUE tasked with researching a nostalgia item, phoned a woman to ask if she could recall the date a particular shop closed."Well I do remember it was after Mrs **** had a hysterectomy." And that was the nearest we got to establishing the date.