Bronze Age settlement preserved by fire and water

The best preserved Bronze Age settlement ever discovered in Britain.

17:51 Tuesday 12th January 2016
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: It’s been described as the best preserved Bronze Age settlement ever discovered in Britain. An excavation project in the Cambridgeshire Fens has unearthed two prehistoric wooden round houses, thought to be around 3,000 years old. It’s thought several families lived in the settlement at Must Farm near Peterborough, in wooden houses on stilts, above the banks of a river. To tell us more, here’s Barney Sloane from Historic England.
BARNEY SLOANE: Well it was originally discovered in 1969, as long ago as that. There was a hint from some chance discoveries, I think during a drain excavation or something, although we really only got our first decent look at it during quarrying works in 2004. A timber was spotted by an archeologist, and a trial trench in 2006 revealed just a hint of the magnificence of the site. We then tried to preserve the site in situ rather than excavate it, and we monitored it from 2007 through to last year. Thereafter, looking at the monitoring, we thought actually we think there’s a risk here that this magnificent site would be lost for ever. So we made the decision to fund the excavation jointly with Forterra, who are the landowners and the building products makers.
CHRIS MANN: So the best preserved Bronze Age settlement ever discovered in Britain. Describe its magnificence. What is it that’s so exciting for you Barney?
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Whittlesey – the forgotten town of the Fens

Supermarket saga ends in calamity..

10:40 Tuesday 12th January 2016
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Many of you getting in touch this morning with regard to Whittlesey. David earlier saying, “Whittlesey has become the forgotten Fenland town.” Stewart Hill says, “Hi Paul. As I’ve been living in Whittlesey for 37 years it’s true. We’re bottom of the pecking order when it comes to having anybody thinking about our small town. Fenland District Council, shame on you.” says Stewart Hill this morning. The reason we’re talking about Whittlesey of course is because first there were two. Then there was only one. Now, there are no new supermarkets coming to Whittlesey. Sainsbury’s have announced they’re not building one there despite promising to do so, despite promising that beautiful country park. And apparently the sign is still up saying Country Park Coming Soon. About time you took it down I think. The people of Whittlesey, how do they feel this morning? Hard done by? Forgotten in Fenland? Is there a Cambridgeshire pecking order? Are you bottom of the list? Brian has called in, Brian Parker. Morning Brian.
PAUL STAINTON: What’s going on in Fenland?
BRIAN PARKER: Let me just go back to the sign, because I was involved with the people who were putting it up. It will come down obviously, but it only happened yesterday. (LAUGHS) Things move slowly in Fenland.
PAUL STAINTON: Yes I was talking metaphorically really.
BRIAN PARKER: Yeah I know I know.
PAUL STAINTON: It’s a sad .. I remember we were on Breakfast doing this story. It seems like it’s been going on as long as North Westgate in Peterborough, another promised development.
BRIAN PARKER: It’s been going on for years Paul, and to say we’re disappointed is an understatement. We feel let down. We feel angry. I’ve been on the Whittlesey blog this morning, speaking to so many people, and the people are just up in arms about the whole situation.
PAUL STAINTON: For those people who don’t live in Whittlesey, what have you got at the moment? What facilities have you got?
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Gauging support for the junior doctors

Out on the streets, testing the mood of the nation.

10:26 Tuesday 12th January 2016
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Dee says

“Paul I heard you picking on me earlier. I’ve been all behind this morning. When it comes to the doctors which we were talking about earlier, I’m in full support of them going on strike today. I don’t want someone who’s mentally and physically worn out making a decision on my loved one’s life or my own. This government is messing up all the emergency services in my opinion, and the armed forces. They got one over on the police as they can’t strike. It’s time we looked after those who look after us. If this carries on, we’ll end up with all the doctors and nurses who can’t speak English making decisions on our lives. It’s too late to complain when it’s happened.”

says Dee this morning.” Yes, doctors are on a 24-hour strike. It started at 8am this morning. Many many people across Cambridgeshire have had their operations and hospital appointments cancelled because of the strike. The doctors say it’s about pay, it’s about working hours, it’s about safety. The Government say they’ve offered more money, they’ve offered better conditions. But the two sides are way way off, and that’s why the strike’s been called today. Poll for the BBC suggests two-thirds of people support the strike, as long as emergency care is being provided, which it is. Well Johnny D has been out on the streets of Cambridgeshire gauging support.
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Leader accused of surrender to developers

Affordable housing quotas halved to incentivise development

17:19 Thursday 7th January 2016
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: In East Cambridgshire some councillors are angry they weren’t consulted about changes to rules on affordable housing. An announcement was put on the Council’s website that the amount developers have to build on site has been reduced by 50%. It’s being discussed at a Council meeting which starts in the next hour. In a moment of two we’ll hear from the Leader of the Council, but first of all to the person making the complaint, who is the LibDem councillor for Sutton, Lorna Dupre, who has proposed a motion. Lorna hello to you.
LORNA DUPRE: Good evening.
CHRIS MANN: So what’s the problem?
LORNA DUPRE: Well I was somewhat surprised to receive on November 5th an email telling me that the Council had decided to tear up its expectations for affordable housing development in East Cambridgeshire, and to halve the amount of affordable housing it was expecting developers to provide across the district, and that instead it would be asking developers to make a financial contribution to the Council, which could then be used for its community land trust, and to oil the financial wheels of its new local authority trading company. It seems to me that given the amount of consultation that Local Plans go through when they’re being drawn up, and given the urgency of the need for housing of all types, but particularly affordable housing in East Cambridgeshire, that to tear up our expectations like this, without a public discussion, is quite bizarre and quite inappropriate.

In poker terms James you blinked in this stand-off with the developers.

CHRIS MANN: So it’s a watering down of the amount of affordable housing. And I guess, at the start of the process, it’s one of the things that gets you hooked, isn’t it? Ah, there’ll be good houses here for people who need to get on the housing ladder. But by the time it gets to the end of the process, that number has changed significantly.
LORNA DUPRE: Well that’s right. The Council has itself admitted that it’s only overseeing in total the building of something like a quarter of the extra homes we need each year. We need huge numbers of increased housing across East Cambridgeshire, and not only now but we’ve also just embarked on the process of developing a new Local Plan that will see us through for the next twenty years. And if we wave a great big white flag at developers now and say oh look, we’re halving our expectation of the affordable housing you’re supposed to build, just give us some money instead, that seems to me a big white flag that is going to mean it’s very difficult to insist on more affordable housing for the foreseeable future.
CHRIS MANN: By a big white flag, are you saying in effect that the Council has surrendered in its negotiations with the developers?
LORNA DUPRE: That appears to be the implication of what’s being said, if you’re only expecting them to build half of what we originally said we wanted. And there’s all sorts of implications for this, but we really need a public debate about it.
CHRIS MANN: I’ve seen the minutes of the meeting that you’re holding later on.
motion_1I know this is the first item up on business, which will be announced by the Leader of the Council I imagine in just over an hour’s time, and he is James Palmer, councillor James Palmer from Soham, and he joins us now. James, evening to you. Thank you for joining us.
JAMES PALMER: Good evening.
CHRIS MANN: I know you’ll be debating this in the hallowed halls of East Cambs later but for public consumption first. Now, you’ve heard the complaint. What do you say? Continue reading “Leader accused of surrender to developers”

Cambridgeshire councils freeze council tax

East Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire District Councils pledge no rate rise..

09:23 Thursday 7th January 2016
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: In town halls right across the county councillors will be putting the finishing touches to their budgets for the next year, including having to make a decision on whether or not they should increase their council tax too. Many are predicting that record numbers of councils will increase their tax, because the Government has withdrawn the incentive to freeze council tax. So they could put it up by up to 4%, just under 4%. So add that to the other two bits (police and fire precepts) and your bill could go up by over 6%. I’m pleased to say that councils are ringing us left right and centre this morning to tell us exactly what they’re doing. Bill Hunt the Conservative councillor in East Cambridgeshire, morning Bill.
BILL HUNT: Good morning to you.
PAUL STAINTON: What’s going on in East Cambs Bill?
BILL HUNT: Well we listened to the people. We’re cutting bureaucracy and we’re retaining our free car parking. And we’re not putting council tax up this year.
PAUL STAINTON: That’s a definite.
BILL HUNT: It’s the East Cambs element of course as you say. Other people might, the County Council and the fire services. But East Cambs will not. We’re confirmed. We didn’t do it last year. We think that people who go to work are paying more than enough tax already. And we’re looking at slimming down our council and having a can-do attitude, and delivering what the people want.
PAUL STAINTON: Yes. How are you making ends meet though?
BILL HUNT: Well cutting out bureaucracy.
PAUL STAINTON: People say that. That’s a trite phrase, isn’t it? What does that mean?
BILL HUNT: We’ve done away with one tier of management, and we’ve encouraged youngsters to come up, with their new enthusiasm. And we’ve changed the management structure.
PAUL STAINTON: Yes but no good if the County Council stick 4% on, eh?
BILL HUNT: Well, you know, we in East Cambs., we’re doing our bit for East Cambs.
PAUL STAINTON: Yes. You’re doing what you can do Bill is what you’re saying, isn’t it?
BILL HUNT: Yes. And we’re the only city in East Anglia without car parking charges in the centre.
PAUL STAINTON: Yes. Apart from Fenland of course.
BILL HUNT: Pardon?
PAUL STAINTON: Fenland is free as well.
BILL HUNT: Yes I’m talking about a city. Ely is a city.
PAUL STAINTON: Oh. No. Apologies. I’m there. I’m there Bill. I’m there Bill.
BILL HUNT: The only city in East Anglia without charges.
PAUL STAINTON: You’ve planted that flag for East Cambs. this morning Bill I think. You really have.
BILL HUNT: Well we’re doing the job. We’re asking the people what they want. We’re doing the best we can to do what they want, and we think they’re paying enough council tax as it is.
PAUL STAINTON: Well Bill, thank you for that. That’s Bill Hunt. He’s county councillor. There’ll be no increase from them on your council tax bills in and around Ely in that part of Cambridgeshire. But of course the County Council could still add their bit. Let’s move over to Huntingdon. Jason Ablewhite is the Leader of Hunts District Council of course. Morning Jason.
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Peterborough park and ride plans quietly forgotten

City’s Environment Capital costume looking increasingly threadbare.

07:17 Thursday 7th January 2016
BBC radio Cambridgeshire

DOTTY MCLEOD: When you say park and ride in Cambridge everyone knows what you’re talking about. They’ve been huge successes these car parks based around the city centre in a kind of ring with then buses into town, huge success, thousands of people using them every day. Now there have been tentative plans for something similar in Peterborough for years now, but that could all change. Instead of progress being made on the plans, they could be removed. There was a special meeting of the City Council last night to look at the Draft Local Transport Plan for Peterborough. It was proposed that the year-round park and ride scheme proposals be dropped. Nick Sandford is LibDem Leader on the City Council and chaired that meeting. Morning Nick.
NICK SANDFORD: Morning Dotty.
DOTTY MCLEOD: So can you just outline for us first of all what a Draft Local Transport Plan is? What are we talking about here?
NICK SANDFORD: Well it basically sets out the transport vision that the Council has. They’re trying to project a long term vision forward to about 2030. But it also talks about some of the short term projects that they’re going to implement in order to take that forward.
DOTTY MCLEOD: Now it might be news to some people that there have even been plans for a park and ride scheme in Peterborough as part of this Local Plan for the past few years, but that’s the case isn’t it?

It is a proper tale of two cities this.

NICK SANDFORD: Yes it is. The Council’s been drawing up these Local Transport Plans since about the year 2000 and there’s always been a long term commitment to have a park and ride scheme. In fact the Council traditionally for a number of years had a park and ride scheme in the period running up to Christmas, but it only ran for quite a short period. The population of Peterborough is projected to grow by about 25%, so if we don’t actually do something fairly quickly there’s going to be an awful lot of congestion in the city centre.
DOTTY MCLEOD: So what happened at this meeting last night?
Continue reading “Peterborough park and ride plans quietly forgotten”

Cambridge City budget proposals for 2016 – securing the long term future

Revenue from assets, a healthy reserve, Cambridge City is in many ways more fortunate than other councils.

17:38 Wednesday 6th January 2016
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: Cambridge City Council’s ruling Labour group has just published its Budget proposals for 2016, and hot off the presses actually. They sent out the press release at barely four thirty. Joining me now is councillor George Owers, who is the Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources. Also councillor for Coleridge ward. George, evening to you.
GEORGE OWERS: Good evening.
CHRIS MANN: So some of the highlights you’ve put in this, street lighting funding will continue, the Shopmobility is going to continue. I know you’re putting some money into tackling homelessness and an anti-poverty strategy, and you want to help people like the Citizens’ Advice Bureau. For you, what’s the most important thing?
Continue reading “Cambridge City budget proposals for 2016 – securing the long term future”

County street lamp switch-off could be piecemeal

A councillor indicates that women in particular have real safety concerns.

07:38 Wednesday 6th January 2016
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

DOTTY MCLEOD: Cambridge City Council says it’s willing to stump up the cash to keep the lights on in the city centre if the County Council goes ahead with plans to switch them off overnight. Eight town and parish councils have also said they’d be willing to contribute, including Grantchester, where Dave Webster has been for us this morning.
DAVE WEBSTER: It’s very eerie out here. It’s almost like a Sherlock Holmes novel. There’s a lot of fog. There’s a lot of mist. It’s very dark. It’s very very cold underfoot as well. We counted about three streetlamps in the centre of the village. Well it would save £270,000 a year to turn even more off, but Cambridgeshire County Council’s plans to switch off most of the streetlights in the county between midnight and six am proved very very controversial, with people concerned about crime and also their safety. Well the County Council asked both the public what they thought of the idea, and other small authorities if they’d be willing to contribute towards the costs of the switch-off. Of the councils that responded, eight of the town and parish councils including Grantchester Parish Council said yes, they would be willing to contribute to all or some of the streetlights. Fourteen said that they wouldn’t consider it. Cambridge City Council has said it’s willing to pay two-thirds of the costs, between two am and six am, a proposal the County Council says it will consider. Well I’m joined by Cambridge City councillor Ann Sinnott. So Ann, why has the City Council decided to find the money for these streetlights?

The County Council has a duty of care to provide for the safety of residents in the city. And as I said, there are real safety concerns.

ANN SINNOTT: Well I think first of all you have to bear in mind that the Highways Committee haven’t yet met, and its decision hasn’t been formally made. We are at City hoping that even at this late hour they will reconsider this plan.
DAVE WEBSTER: So this is really important to you. Continue reading “County street lamp switch-off could be piecemeal”