Month: December 2011

Peterborough “Most Affordable”

07:05 Tuesday 27th December 2011
Breakfast News
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

EMILY BALL: The Halifax says that Peterborough is the most affordable area in the South of England for first time house buyers. It is estimated the average property in the city costs nearly four times a first time buyer’s gross annual earnings. With more details, Here’s Dottie Mcleod. (TAPE)
DOTTIE MCLEOD: The bank’s first time buyer review claims that across the East of England only 7% of houses are affordable. That compares to 100% in the North East, and 79% in the East Midlands. A house was deemed to be affordable if it cost less than four times an average first-time buyer’s yearly earnings. The average house in Peterborough therefore only just qualifies for the description, costing 3.98 times an average first time buyer’s gross income.

Jim Paice on EU Hen Welfare Measures and the Consumer

CHRIS MANN: The Agriculture Minister Jim Paice is today issuing advice to British consumers, so they can be sure they don’t buy battery eggs, once the EU-wide ban comes in on New Year’s Day. Mr Paice, the MP for South East Cambridgeshire, talked to me about the ban during a visit to Cambridge today. 13 out of 27 nations in the EU say they will not comply with the ban. The Government says it has taken steps to protect UK farmers from being undercut, by gaining agreement by supermarkets not to sell illegal eggs, as Mr Paice explained to me. (TAPE)
JIM PAICE: Well in the UK we’re very certain that it’s almost 100%. There will be a small number of producers still in the old battery systems, but in the UK they will virtually all have gone by the end of January. Simply they just need to clear the hens out and arrange for them to be slaughtered, as always happens. Continue reading “Jim Paice on EU Hen Welfare Measures and the Consumer”

Julian Huppert on Trains

17: 40 Tuesday 20th December 2011
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: Train companies have defended their decision to raise fares by an average of 5.9% in the New Year. They say the money raised will help pay for new trains and better services. The Government has limited the increase in regulated fares at 1% above inflation, which is currently 5.2%, and remaining fares have now been set. Passenger groups say some of the rises are shocking. The MP for Cambridge, Julian Huppert, is Chairman of the Liberal Democrats’ Transport Committee, and he joined me earlier to give me his reaction. Continue reading “Julian Huppert on Trains”

Cereste Wurzel Pledge

PAUL STAINTON: Are you backing our Wurzel campaign by the way?
MARCO CERESTE: Whatever. Yeah. (LAUGHS)
PAUL STAINTON: You know it makes sense.
MARCO CERESTE: I’m sure it does.
PAUL STAINTON: Gillian’s behind it. C’mon Marco. Give us the backing. The Wurzels, this summer, Cathedral Square. C’mon! Continue reading “Cereste Wurzel Pledge”

Rowen Squibb on Peterborough and the Portas Report

CHRIS MANN: What do you feel should be done would help particularly bring businesses and shoppers to Peterborough:
ROWEN SQUIBB: Well, going back to the market point, it would be sensible now I think for Peterborough Market to move out of what is our Laxton Square business district, and move on to what we know in Peterborough as the North Westgate site. Continue reading “Rowen Squibb on Peterborough and the Portas Report”

Stewart Jackson on Europe

07:13 Tuesday 13rd December 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridge

PAUL STAINTON: Have you seen Nick Clegg?
STEWART JACKSON: No. I did see a rather unflattering picture of him in his shorts yesterday in the London Evening Standard, which quite put me off my tea.
PAUL STAINTON: Yes. That was a bit odd yesterday, not turning up in the House of Commons, wasn’t it?
STEWART JACKSON: Well it was a bit ridiculous. I think he should have sat down next to the Prime Minister and kept a stiff upper lip, and kept his chin out, and just taken the brickbats. But that’s for Nick Clegg to make a decision on. Obviously I wouldn’t have done it. I think it’s a bit of a PR mistake, not to turn up to a very important statement by the Prime Minister. But I sadly am not responsible for Nick Clegg’s actions. Continue reading “Stewart Jackson on Europe”

A14 Challenge – Suggestions Invited

The Government launched a major consultation exercise, to find out just what to do with the A14. They have made it very clear that no more public money will be available to fix the problem road, but they think that private companies will be interested in financing a new project. The Department of Transport’s so-called A14 Challenge calls on motorists, businesses and residents to submit proposals for delivering quicker more reliable and safer journeys, on the road between Cambridge and Huntingdon.

17:06 Monday 12th December 2011
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire:

CHRIS MANN: The Government launched a major consultation exercise, to find out just what to do with the A14. They have made it very clear that no more public money will be available to fix the problem road, but they think that private companies will be interested in financing a new project. The Department of Transport’s so-called A14 Challenge calls on motorists, businesses and residents to submit proposals for delivering quicker more reliable and safer journeys, on the road between Cambridge and Huntingdon. The consultation will help to shape recommendations, which will be presented to Ministers next summer. Of course Chancellor George Osborne has already announced a £20 million package to fund quick win measures to reduce congestion. Mike Penning the Roads Minister made the announcement today, and he joined me from his offices a short time ago to tell me what he hoped would happen. Continue reading “A14 Challenge – Suggestions Invited”

Peterborough’s Solar Ambitions Baulked

08:08 Friday 9th December 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Peterborough City Council could end up losing out on about £6 million over the next 25 years when it comes to solar panels. Earlier this year the Council installed panels on the roof of the Town Hall, and the Freemans building, hoping to make money from the energy they produce. But changes to tariffs means although the Council applied for a higher return in energy, they’ll end up with a lower one. The figure comes from calculations made by Richard Olive, co-ordinator of Peterborough Friends of the Earth. (TAPE)
RICHARD OLIVE: Well over a 25 year period, it’s going to be £6.52 million. Of course we could do a lot with that money, couldn’t we? (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Councillor Nick Sandford from the Liberal Democrats said if the figure is correct, it’s a huge blow to the city. (TAPE)
NICK SANDFORD: This feed-in tariff was introduced in April 2010, and it had been advertised for about six or twelve months previous to that. It was always envisaged that the feed-in tariff would be cut as the cost of the technology dropped. Now if Peterborough City Council had got in right at the beginning, we could have had not just panels on the Regional Pool. the Freemans building, the Town Hall, as Richard was saying we could have had them on social housing. We could have had them on other Council buildings. Continue reading “Peterborough’s Solar Ambitions Baulked”