Month: March 2013

Waiting For A Train

17:57 Wednesday 20th March 2013
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: The Times newspaper today published it’s list of the thirty best towns to live in Britain. The top three were Alnwick in Northumberland, Arundel in West Sussex, Cranbrook in Kent. And down at number twenty four is Wisbech in Cambridgeshire. Yes, Wisbech named as one of the thirty best towns in Britain by the Times newspaper. Jonathan Farmer moved there, moved to Wisbech in 2000, and was Mayor until recently, and he joins us now. Hello Jonathan.
JONATHAN FARMER: Hi there.
CHRIS MANN: What’s your reaction? Continue reading “Waiting For A Train”

Great Haddon Approved

norman_cross07:18 Wednesday 20th March 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: Plans to build 5,000 homes as part of the Great Haddon development just south of Peterborough have been given the go-ahead. Lucia Serluca is the Chair of the Planning Committee at Peterborough City Council. Great debate apparently yesterday, because not everybody wants these houses built, do they?
LUCIA SERLUCA: Yes it was a great debate. We debated it for over four hours, because it is a very important part of the growth agenda within Peterborough. And it was almost unanimous, the vote yesterday. There was one abstention. But the debate was very good.
PAUL STAINTON: The houses themselves, to just explain to people who are not too au fait with where Great Haddon is. It’s round the back of Yaxley and the back of Hampton.
LUCIA SERLUCA: Yes. That’s right.
PAUL STAINTON: So what are we going to get? We’re going to get 5,000 houses, and some new roads?
LUCIA SERLUCA: We’re going to get 5,000 houses, three new primary schools, a secondary school, there’s going to be a retail area. There may potentially be a cemetery built there as well. There’ll be new infrastructure with reference to the roads around there. So there’s going to be a lot happening over there. It is a major major development for Peterborough.
PAUL STAINTON: What were the concerns about? What did the residents bring up at the meeting? What are the big concerns? Continue reading “Great Haddon Approved”

The Northstowe Poker Game And The Missing Millions

17:23 Monday 18th March 2013
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: South Cambridgeshire District Council is set to agree the budget for the first phase of the new Northstowe town with the developers, but at many millions less than was first suggested. Developers Gallagher Estates’ latest offer for infrastructure such as transport and schools now stands at £30 million. That’s less than half the original amount. It will be voted on at a Council meeting tomorrow. So where have the missing millions gone? And what will it mean for the new town? Tim Wotherspoon is Cabinet member for Northstowe, and a councillor for Cottenham. Tim joins us now. Hello Tim.
TIM WOTHERSPOON: Good evening. Yes.
CHRIS MANN: So, how did we get from sixty five million to thirty? Continue reading “The Northstowe Poker Game And The Missing Millions”

Vince Cable Cambridge Business Week

08:09 Monday 18th March 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: The Government must do more to push the Cambridge brand to help technology start-ups compete on the world stage. That’s what companies have told us this morning, as Cambridge prepares to welcome Vince Cable, the Secretary of State for Business this morning to the city’s first ever Business Week. Jeremy Cooke runs independent games developer Gameware Europe. (TAPE)
JEREMY COOKE: Vince Cable has a lot on his plate, obviously. But if we are to emerge as a major global powerhouse of digital creativity, then of course there needs to be investment in the digital creative sector. And right now there simply isn’t. There’s not a great deal going on in the UK to support the creative industries. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Well Donald McGarva is the CEO of Amino Communications, which is based in Swavesey. (TAPE)
DONALD MCGARVA: He seems to be talking a lot about these other clusters, when actually we’ve got one here that we could actually expand much much faster, and much more successfully as well. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Dr Andy Harter spoke to us earlier, the CEO of RealVNC, which is based in Cambridge, and one of the organisers of today’s event. (TAPE)
ANDY HARTER: This is the most significant technology cluster in Europe. There’s 1,500 companies, 53,000 people employed directly by it, and a current combined turnover of over £11 billion. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Well as we mentioned the Business Secretary Vince Cable is on the show this morning. Morning Mr Cable.
VINCE CABLE: Good morning to you.
PAUL STAINTON: First of all let’s take their points. Is enough being done for this industry? Is Cambridge itself, as a major hub in this sort of industry, being ignored? Continue reading “Vince Cable Cambridge Business Week”

Peterborough Council Friday Special – The Gasman Cometh

17:19 Friday 15th March 2013
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: Let’s turn our attention to another story, one that we’re breaking I think. It’s one of the first deals of its kind, but in the next few hours, Peterborough City Council will go into partnership with British Gas. It means up to £20 million could be invested into city for energy efficiency schemes. It’ll affect 7,000 homes across the city, and they say create around 600 jobs. Well the Leader of Peterborough City Council is Marco Cereste of course, and he’s with me now. Hello Marco.
MARCO CERESTE: Hello. How are you.
CHRIS MANN: I’m very well thank you. Are you doing something for Red Nose today?
MARCO CERESTE: Ah hah(?) I’ve been doing it all day. (THEY LAUGH)
CHRIS MANN: Enjoying it then .
MARCO CERESTE: I’ve been abolishi .. a politician all day. Isn’t that red nose enough?
CHRIS MANN: Yes. Yes. Fair point. So Marco, tell us what you’re announcing tonight. Continue reading “Peterborough Council Friday Special – The Gasman Cometh”

Slow Down Cambridge

17:08 Friday 15th March 2013
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: Speed limits on some of North Cambridge’s busiest roads could be reduced, under a city-wide scheme, to 20mph. A map of the half of the million pound project’s first phase has been published. Gilbert Road and Arbury Road are included in the plans, as well as Green End Road and Chesterton’s High Street. But does the city need these speed restrictions? In just a moment I’ll be bringing in a campaigner, Dr Henry Tribe, who lives on one of the streets, but first joining me in the studio is Ian Manning, a county councillor for East Chesterton. Hello to you.
IAN MANNING: Hi Chris.
CHRIS MANN: Why do you think this scheme needs to be brought in? Continue reading “Slow Down Cambridge”

Council Talks Cast A Cloud Over London Road

08:08 Friday 15th March 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: According to our sources, talks have been held with the landlords of Nene Park in Northamptonshire, to consider whether Peterborough United might relocate there. Since we’ve been on air, Posh Chief Executive Bob Symns has been in touch to deny that they are currently considering a move to the former home of Rushden and Diamonds, and that they are not currently in negotiations. Peterborough United’s lease of course at London Road, which is owned by Peterborough City Council expires in 2014, and discussions over a new lease have been described as ongoing. And none of the building work which was supposed to happen on the Moys End has actually happened yet. Paul Froggitt is Board Member of the Posh Supporters Trust. He’s with us this morning.
PAUL FROGGITT: Morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: Are you surprised that according to our sources talks have taken place on something like this? Continue reading “Council Talks Cast A Cloud Over London Road”