Tag: University of Cambridge

Tim Bick On The City Deal For Cambridge

09:37 Thursday 12th December 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[A]NDIE HARPER: Nick Clegg the Deputy Prime Minister is visiting Cambridge today, and he’s expected to announce that the Government is to make more money available to be spent on roads in the county. This is in addition to spending on the A14. So what can we expect? Well joining me is Tim Bick. Tim is the Liberal Democrat Leader of Cambridge City Council. Tim, good morning to you. Thanks for coming in.
TIM BICK: Good morning Andie.
ANDIE HARPER: So what is this money all about? We’ve been talking about the A14 money for some time, and obviously other main roads need work on, but this specific announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister, how much and where is it to be used?
Continue reading “Tim Bick On The City Deal For Cambridge”

US Ambassador Matthew Barzun Visiting Cambridge

17:48 Monday 18th November 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[J]EREMY SALLIS: The US Ambassador to the UK Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Matthew Barzun, is in Cambridge today. He’s giving a speech at the Cambridge Union this evening, and has spent the day visiting businesses, Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge, and also the American Cemetery at Madingley. And I’m very happy to say he’s taken a little time out of his busy schedule to join me in the studio this afternoon. A very good afternoon to you Matthew. Thank you so much for coming along.
MATTHEW BARZUN: Thank you. It’s great to be here.
JEREMY SALLIS: And have you had a productive day?
Continue reading “US Ambassador Matthew Barzun Visiting Cambridge”

Peterborough Solar Farm Setback But A Glimmer Of Hope For North Westgate

07:49 Friday 25th October 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[D]OTTY MCLEOD: Council plans to build a solar farm on tenants’ farmland in Peterborough have been thrown into doubt, after archeologists discovered a number of artefacts believed to be from the Roman and Saxon eras. The findings were made earlier this week, but have been kept under wraps by the City Council officials. The archeological digs are being undertaken after experts from English Heritage and Cambridge University warned that the three sites being earmarked for the energy project could be riddled with remains. Peterborough City Council archeologists are now conducting tests to find out how old the finds are. Joining me now is Dr Francis Pryor, the man who discovered Flag Fen. Francis, does this surprise you at all?
Continue reading “Peterborough Solar Farm Setback But A Glimmer Of Hope For North Westgate”

Cambridge Enters Negotiation On City Deal

17:20 Thursday 4th July 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: Five local representatives have been meeting the Deputy Prime Minister this afternoon for the latest round of negotiations of the Greater Cambridge City Deal. If their bid is successful, it will unlock a billion pounds worth of investment in local infrastructure. Our reporter Henrietta McMickey is here to try to explain a bit more about it. A billion pounds That’s a big deal.
HENRIETTA MCMICKEY: It is a big deal. This is part of the idea from central government that gives local areas more say over planning and infrastructure. The Government acknowledges that while London is always crucial, it will be the heartbeat of the UK economy, certain powers need to be devolved to other cities in a bid to increase growth elsewhere.  Cambridge was chosen to be one of the twenty cities that would go forward to the next stage in the negotiations. This is what’s been happening today. The idea is that councils plus local enterprise partnerships (and) representatives of the business community all work together. And to be successful each area must demonstrate a strong local plan that’s going to increase jobs and push industry. Here in Cambridge the Greater Cambridge group is made up of three councils, Cambridge City, Cambridge(shire) county and South Cambridgeshire, the University, and the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise partnership.
CHRIS MANN: Well we’re going to be talking to two of those representatives in just a moment. But what happened today?
HENRIETTA MCMICKEY: Well earlier this afternoon five representatives from that group had to go and pitch to Nick Clegg at the Cabinet Office, together with a cross-departmental ministerial group, armed with their plan. What was this bid? Well, as I mentioned, it has to increase jobs and boost growth. So they said let’s have a new and enlarged rail station at Waterbeach, improvements to the A10 down to Cambridge, more buses and bus-lanes in and out of the city, better transport links along the A428 between Bourn and Cambourne, more dedicated cycle paths, and a new park and ride. And the goal, as you said, more than one billion pounds to unlock funding to local government from the centre. So there’s a lot riding on it. And one official described the whole process as kind of Dragons Den.
CHRIS MANN: A bit of a Dragons Den eh? Well let’s find out two of those that had to go into the Dragons Den today. We’re joined live from our Westminster studio by Martin Curtis, Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council. Hello Martin.
MARTIN CURTIS: Hi Chris.
CHRIS MANN: And Jeremy Sanders, who’s the Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University Hello Jeremy.
JEREMY SANDERS: Hello Chris. Pro Vice Chancellor.
CHRIS MANN: Pro Vice Chancellor. I do apologise. So, how were the pitches gentlemen? Martin first of all. How do you feel it went? Continue reading “Cambridge Enters Negotiation On City Deal”

Peterborough Council Solar Plan – Site Investigation Requested

17:12 Wednesday 12th June 2013
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: A decision on whether the Morris Fen solar farm near Thorney can go ahead has been deferred. English Heritage have urged precaution, and want to investigate the potential for buried remains, the environment in past geological times, and whether changes in hydrology might impact on the preservation of buried remains. Let’s find out what all that means. Nick Harding joins me now. He’s from Peterborough City Council’s Planning Services. Hi Nick.
NICK HARDING: Hello. Good evening.
CHRIS MANN: So we’ve just received the news this evening about this deferrment. So is the Council going cold on it?
NICK HARDING: No, not at all. This is all part of the planning process. Unfortunately we didn’t receive this letter from English Heritage until yesterday evening, so what we’ve done is go through that letter in detail, and have a brief discussion with colleagues at English Heritage. And what we’ve decided to do is to put forward to Committee on Monday a revised recommendation. Originally the recommendation was essentially to approve the development proposal. But in the light of this letter, what we’re asking Committee to do is to formally defer consideration of the application.
CHRIS MANN: And how long might that be for? Continue reading “Peterborough Council Solar Plan – Site Investigation Requested”

Peterborough Wind Turbine Plans Condemned By Leading Experts

07:41 Friday 7th June 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Much heated debate on the show yesterday about this new proposed solar and wind energy farm at Newborough, and development of it on that land North of Peterborough could spoil archeological remains of international significance, unless proper work to preserve them is carried out. That’s according to a letter from Professor Charles French, Head of the Division of Archeology at Cambridge University. It was read out at a meeting on Wednesday, which urged  City Council to conduct archeological investigations before beginning any building work. To recap, Peterborough City Council wants to put solar panels and wind turbines on 900 acres of farmland they own at a cost of about £400 million. Well Dr Francis Pryor of course is the archeologist to Flag Fen, worked with Professor French in the past. Morning.
FRANCIS PRYOR: Morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: Do we know yet what the significance of this site could be? Continue reading “Peterborough Wind Turbine Plans Condemned By Leading Experts”

Cambridge Delegation On Visa Controls

08:07 Thursday 16th May 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Business leaders and academics in Cambridge are asking the Government for special dispensation when it comes to granting visas to non-EU workers. Businesses are meeting Immigration Minister Mark Harper today, and will explain how restrictions on immigration are restricting their work, Earlier we heard from Tim Hedger, Managing Director of a new school of English in Cambridge. His language school is one of the businesses meeting with Mark Harper. Earlier he told us the message he wanted to get across to the Minister today. (TAPE)
TIM HEDGER: To understand exactly where we’re going, whether we can refine out some of the more illogical aspects of the system, and hopefully he will hear that economically it makes no sense to restrict us. We’re an engine for growth. We’re exporters. We employ people. We’re everything they want to get us out of these difficult times. So I hope that he’ll listen to us, and see the industry as something that’s very positive for the country. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Well Professor Jeremy Sanders is the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Institutional Affairs at the University of Cambridge, and he’s hosting two of the meetings today with the Minister. Morning Jeremy.
JEREMY SANDERS: Good morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: And also with us this morning is Liberal Democrat Cambridge MP Julian Huppert, who’s concerned that the rules mean talent is being kept out of Cambridge. Julian’s here. Morning Julian.
JULIAN HUPPERT: Good morning. How are you?
PAUL STAINTON: I’m fine, thank you. Obviously there’ll be people listening to this this morning saying talent being kept out, more immigration, more people coming in. Oh no no no no. We don’t want that. Continue reading “Cambridge Delegation On Visa Controls”