Month: March 2013

Steve Hewlett On The Decline Of Printed News

07:39 Thursday 14th March 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: The company which publishes several of our local papers here in Cambridgeshire has announced a huge drop in profits. Archant Media, owner of the Cambs Times, Ely Standard, Hunts Post and Wisbech Standard has reported profits down by almost 40%. The company is also facing a multi-million pound tax bill. So what does it mean for the future of those local papers? Well Steve Hewlett is a media commentator, and presents the Media Show on Radio 4. Morning Steve.
STEVE HEWLETT: Morning.
PAUL STAINTON: We know newspapers are struggling at the moment, particularly local newspapers, but this is huge, isn’t it? Continue reading “Steve Hewlett On The Decline Of Printed News”

Bob Satchwell Society Of Editors On Press Regulation

17:40 Wednesday 13th March 2013
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: Today the best way to implement the Leveson Report on Press Regulation was discussed by the leaders of the three main parties at Westminster. It’s understood there is still argument about the idea of giving a new regulatory authority a legal base. Let’s get more reaction now on this from Bob Satchwell, who’s Director of the Cambridge based Society of Editors. We spoke to him last week when he was honoured himself. Bob, welcome to the programme again.
BOB SATCHWELL: Hi. Good to talk.
CHRIS MANN: Now, the three party leaders talking about how the press can be, is it corralled, marshalled, controlled? What’s the word? Continue reading “Bob Satchwell Society Of Editors On Press Regulation”

Bedroom Tax Will Hit Disabled People Hardest – Papworth Trust

07:20 Wednesday 13th March 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: From April, people living in social housing will be charged a fee if they have a spare room. But Cambridgeshire-based Papworth Trust believes the changes will unfairly impact on disabled people living in social housing. .. Yesterday the Government announced some changes. They announced that there would be exemptions to this’ armed forces personnel and foster carers would be exempt, but not the disabled. Well Nina Zamo is Policy and Campaigns Officer at Papworth Trust. Morning.
NINA ZAMO: Morning.
PAUL STAINTON: And that’s the rub here, isn’t it really? If you are disabled, and you need that spare room now and again, you’re going to be in a bit of bother. Continue reading “Bedroom Tax Will Hit Disabled People Hardest – Papworth Trust”

Peterborough Hospital Faces Multiple Issues – Dr Peter Reading

08:12 Wednesday 13th March 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: Now there are accusations this morning that Peterborough City Hospital just isn’t big enough. The claims by Unison follow the cancellation of 38 operations this week due to a shortage of beds. It’s not just Peterborough City Hospital that’s affected. It’s Addenbrookes too that says that due to an exceptionally busy Emergency Department earlier this week, 37 operations have had to be rearranged. Well Phil Green is the Regional Organiser for Unison. He says that Peterborough Hospital is not fit for purpose. (TAPE)
PHIL GREEN: The Peterborough City Hospital was always built too small. And considering the cost of it that’s unforgivable really. We said at the time that the Hospital was going to be too small, that being funded by PFI it was going to cost far too much. And we said again the same recently. .. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: We’ve got Dr Peter Reading, Interim Chief Executive at Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals with us right now. Let’s get to the bottom of this. What is going on? Because that’s not acceptable, is it? Continue reading “Peterborough Hospital Faces Multiple Issues – Dr Peter Reading”

Developing In Ely

CHRIS MANN: Ely is growing. It’s changing. For the better?
INTERVIEWEE: Indeed. I think it’s becoming a very diverse city. It’s a fantastic city.

17:45 Monday 12th March 2013 Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

Just a casual remark, conjuring up vivid memories of a time long ago.

And in an unbearably wry coincidence, the BBC fellow doing the second, linked interview now works for his interviewee.

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Tears Before Bedtime – Jail For Chris Huhne

09:10 Tuesday 12th March 2013
Andy Harper Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY HARPER: So, both Chris Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce have begun their sentences of eight months imprisonment for perverting the course of justice following a speeding offence. Now irrespective of your feelings for the pair, do you think this is an appropriate sentence, given the complaints about lenient sentences in relation to other crimes?.. There’s been a lot of talk recently about lenient sentencing for crimes regarded as being of a violent nature. For example, the man who kicked the Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson and smashed a bus shelter was given a twelve week jail sentence, suspended for a year. So, is jail the answer in this case? And what does it feel like, waking up on your first morning behind bars? Well Noel Smith was in Whitemoor between 2000 and 2003, after being jailed for bank robbery and possession of firearms. He’s now the Commissioning Editor of Inside Time newspaper. Noel, a very good morning to you. Continue reading “Tears Before Bedtime – Jail For Chris Huhne”

Peterborough Hospital Bed Shortage Again

17:22 Monday 11th March 2013
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: Ten planned operations have been cancelled today at Peterborough City Hospital. 24 planned operations have been cancelled for tomorrow. It’s after Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust declared a major internal incident and a shortage of available beds. The Trust says there’s still an unusually higher than usual number of people being admitted via A&E, and people are being admitted needing treatment for longer. It’s not the first time the Hospital has faced a shortage of this kind. Chris Wilkinson is Director of Care Quality and Chief Nurse at Peterborough City Hospital, and joins us now .. I spoke to someone I think just a couple of weeks ago, and again in January about a similar situation. Just explain what’s going on please. Continue reading “Peterborough Hospital Bed Shortage Again”

Hundred Houses Believes Bedroom Tax May Spell Ruin

08:24 Monday 11th March 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: A housing association in Cambridge says that the Government’s bedroom tax is threatening its very future. The Government’s defended the spare room subsidy, which it’s bringing in in April, insisting it will help thousands of people waiting for social housing in Cambridgeshire. Well Chris Jackson is Chief Executive of the Hundred Houses Society. Morning Chris.
CHRIS JACKSON: Morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: Why would it put you out of business? Continue reading “Hundred Houses Believes Bedroom Tax May Spell Ruin”