Nick Clarke on His Day in Wisbech

17:20 Tuesday 6th March 2012
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: Today the spotlight in Cambridgeshire very much on Wisbech, as the County Council held its Cabinet meeting there. Cllr. Nick Clark, Leader of the County Council, and Alan Melton, Leader of Fenland District Council, announced an ambitious vision for the town. Well Nick Clarke joined me a short time ago to explain. (TAPE)
NICK CLARKE: Wisbech, a vibrant town, the north of our county, the only port in the county, a place where we aim to help the economy grow, and somewhere that we’ve got a lot of trust and we’re making lots of investments in.
CHRIS MANN: One of the quotes attributed to you today is it’s currently “like driving through Beirut”. As bad as that, is it? Continue reading “Nick Clarke on His Day in Wisbech”

Government Changes Rules For Becoming a Brit

17:40 Monday 5th March 2012
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson has backed new Home Office rules which mean unskilled immigrants from outside the EU will no longer have an automatic right to settle in the UK. Until now, someone who had lived in the UK for five years was virtually guaranteed to be allowed to settle here permanently. Those who have settled in the past tend to be lower earners, more than those who have not. Now, in order to settle, workers must be paid at least £35,000. Stewart Jackson joined me earlier to give his reaction. Continue reading “Government Changes Rules For Becoming a Brit”

Peterborough Council and the Section 106 Money

08:08 Monday 5th March 2012
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: A City councillor has expressed his dismay after the City Council agreed a deal with a developer to accept a lower Section 106 contribution. Basically every time a development is built in the city, a fee is agreed between the developer and the Council for how much money needs to be given to accommodate the new facilities. And it means if you get something built in your ward, then you generally get something nice to spend on say a park, or a community centre, or something that your ward needs. This particular deal means that Central ward has missed out on around £39,000. Now earlier we heard from Councillor Nazim Khan. He represents Labour in Central ward. He explained what happened. (TAPE)
NAZIM KHAN: There was a development taking place on Lincoln Road. There was about 23 apartments that were to be built. And the money was allocated, £50,000 towards the Hobson site, that they were going to make use of for children and young people. And apparently, after the completion of the building and everything else, they have decided that they can’t afford to pay £50,000, and they can only make the contribution of £11,000. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Well the Council says the terms of the development has changed. Well last year the Council revealed that a total of £6.5 million of Section 106 money has yet to be spent, and was lying in Council coffers. Nick Sandford’s here from the LibDem group. Morning Nick.
NICK SANDFORD: Good morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: It sounds a bit odd to me, that you make an agreement with a developer. They agree to pay £50,000. Then they go at the end, I can’t afford that. What if we call it student accommodation, and we only pay £11,000? Continue reading “Peterborough Council and the Section 106 Money”

The BBC Cannabis Debate with Peter Reynolds

10:35 Thursday 1st March 2012
The JVS Show Three Counties Radio

JONATHAN VERNON-SMITH: Over a week ago I spoke to Jill about her son. Now he’s 23 now, and has been smoking cannabis since he was 14. It’s now dominating his life, and he’s become addicted to it. His wife has kicked him out, no longer able to cope with his drug taking. He’s stolen from his parents to fund his dependency, and he’s just not able to have a relationship with his young son that most fathers would want, as a result of his drug taking. Well when I spoke to Jill, I had Del Conlan, a drug rehabilitation counsellor from Trust the Process in Luton on the programme as well. After hearing Jill’s story, Dale made a staggering offer to Jill. He said that he’d arrange a 12 week rehab. programme for Jill’s son. This is what happened next. (TAPE)
JONATHAN VERNON-SMITH: Jill, I want you to tell him now. He’s sitting there next to you. Tell him now. You’ve got two options today. Either you go to Trust the Process counselling for three months now, or this afternoon he’s leaving the house. Tell him that now. Continue reading “The BBC Cannabis Debate with Peter Reynolds”

Wisbech Town Team and the Portas Initiative

17:50 Thursday 1st March 2012
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: Business people and town councillors in Wisbech, despairing at what they see as its decline, have launched a regeneration intitiative called Wisbech Town Team. It’s bidding for Government money to give the market square and town centre a boost. The Chairman of Fenland Chamber of Commerce, Jaqui Fairfax joined me earlier and got it going. (TAPE)
JAQUI FAIRFAX: The Wisbech Town Team are a group of residents, traders and landlords, members of the public, who have just come together to try and improve Wisbech Town Centre, and Wisbech in general.
CHRIS MANN: What’s wrong with it at the moment? Continue reading “Wisbech Town Team and the Portas Initiative”

WaterAid Peterborough

08:22 Thursday 1st March 2012
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: How much water have you already used this morning? .. Well we are the lucky ones, because 884 million people in the world this morning do not have access to safe water. That’s roughly one in eight of the world’s population. The charity WaterAid tries to raise funds to lower that number, and it’s now setting up a branch in Peterborough. Victoria Rose is the Community Fundraising Manager for WaterAid. Good morning Victoria.
VICTORIA ROUSE: Good morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: It’s a frightening statistic, isn’t it? Things that we take for granted. Continue reading “WaterAid Peterborough”

Leap Day Volunteering

17:55 Wednesday 29th February 2012
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: In 2008 The National Trust started a new tradition. It’s been encouraging companies to pay their staff for a day off, as long as they spend it doing something to help the environment. Well Rachel Huxley is the Chief Executive of the Peterborough Environment City Trust, and she’s been at the Langdyke Trust today, and joins me on the line now. Rachel, Hello.
RACHEL HUXLEY: Hello. Good afternoon.
CHRIS MANN: All of the above. And so, what have you been doing today? Continue reading “Leap Day Volunteering”