Tag: Geoff Heathcock

Papworth Transfer Concerns Raised

10:24 Friday 2nd May 2014
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[A]NDIE HARPER: The planned move of Papworth Hospital to the Addenbrookes site was given the final approval yesterday, after over a decade of planning and deliberation. The plans looked uncertain earlier this year when it was proposed that it be moved to Peterborough City Hospital site instead. Peterborough’s MP Stewart Jackson gave his views on the move to the Bigger Breakfast Show.
(TAPE)
STEWART JACKSON: I generally support the proposals, and I can understand why people like the local MP and others in the South of the county are very pleased with it. My problem comes back to under-utilisation of the facilities at Peterborough, particularly the fourth floor of Peterborough City Hospital. How are we going to continue to scrub our face financially and keep clinical services going at Peterborough City Hospital? That’s an ongoing issue which the Department of Health and the Treasury obviously need to keep addressing.
(LIVE)
ANDIE HARPER: But what does this move mean for people living near the Hospital now? Geoff Heathcock, the former Cambridgeshire county councillor lives in the area, and he’s on the line. Geoff, good morning to you.
GEOFF HEATHCOCK: Good morning to you Andie.
ANDIE HARPER: So, most people would agree that Papworth needed updating, if not completely rebuilding. There were a choice of sites, but Addenbrookes it is, as we all suspected when we first talked about it eleven years ago. What about the area? What impact is this going to have?
Continue reading “Papworth Transfer Concerns Raised”

Queen Edith’s Ward

10:36 Tuesday 23 October 2012
Mid Morning Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY HARPER: On the line is Geoff Heathcock. Geoff is the Liberal Democrat county councillor for Queen Edith ward in Cambridge. Or is it? Because under the boundary changes it would now be in the newly redrawn South East Cambridgeshire constituency, along with Soham and Fordham. I’ve looked at this map Geoff, and I seriously just wonder if somebody just got a felt-tip pen and went round, and then thought, ooh, Queen Edith. We’ll go round that bit as well.
GEOFF HEATHCOCK: Well yes it’s one conclusion. I’ve made the observation that I think this is utterly and completely nonsensical. We have been shunted around now for some years. When we came out of the Cambridgeshire constituency, many years ago, when they were looking to create a seventh seat in the county, because (of) the population, we were then called South West Cambridgeshire, which stretched the other side of St Neots to the Bedfordshire border and all the way round. Then we were played with again on the last shunt, when they decided that they would bring Trumpington, if you like, in from the cold so to speak, and put them back in the city. And we are the forgotten ward of the city. Continue reading “Queen Edith’s Ward”

Geoff Heathcock Joins LibDem Rebellion Against Coalition Policy

09:21 Thursday 10th February 2011
Andy Harper Show BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY HARPER: Over 90 prominent Liberal Democrat councillors, including the Leaders of 18 local authorities, have criticised the scale and pace of the cuts being implemented by the Coalition Government. In a letter to The Times, they say the spending reductions are too big, and are being implemented too quickly. One of the signatories is Cambridge City Council Leader Sian Reid. (TAPE)
SIAN REID: I think Eric Pickles has upset local councils throughout the land, of all colours really, through his approach. Local authorities recognise that there is just a massive national debt, and we are really keen to play our part constructively in cutting it. But Eric Pickles has really front-loaded the cuts onto councils, so they’re facing across the country very heavy cuts in the first year of these programmes. And it’s important in local authorities that we don’t just swing the axe in a blunt way, that we think about our savings, service by service, intelligently, thoughtfully, consult with people, so that we can respect what communities need, and not deliver blows to them right at the start.(LIVE)
ANDY HARPER: Councillor Sian Reid speaking on our Cambridgeshire Breakfast Show earlier today. So, are the cracks beginning to show in the Coalition? Liberal Democrat County Councillor Geoff Heathcock, who represents Queen Edith’s ward, and he has been an outspoken critic of the cuts. Geoff, good morning to you.
GEOFF HEATHCOCK: Morning to you Andy.
ANDY HARPER: .. You have been an outspoken critic of the cuts, and the way they’ve been implemented. But you are, and have been for some time, a member of the Liberal Democrat Party. But as I was saying earlier on, to both of our Breakfast presenters, the Liberal Democrats are nothing if not a grass roots party. That has been their strength for so many years. And there must be many good people very worried. Continue reading “Geoff Heathcock Joins LibDem Rebellion Against Coalition Policy”