The New Listener – Page 188

Mel Collins on Cancelled Projects and School Places

Mel Collins Peterborough City Council’s Assistant Director for Learning and Skills tells the BBC’s Paul Stainton how they intend to cope with a rise in the school intake resulting from housebuilding when Government has cut funding for at least two planned expansion and refurbishment projects in the pipeline for Peterborough schools in the South of the city. Broadcast at 08:12 on Wednesday 7th July 2010 in the Peterborough Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

Plenty of Water in Peterborough

Sarah Rowland from Anglian Water brings news that that despite the dry weather there is no water shortage in Peterborough and a hosepipe ban is not necessary at this time. Broadcast at 08:25 on Wednesday 7th July 2010 in the Peterborough Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

The Destruction of Wildlife Habitats

LibDem councillor Nick Sandford questions the economic benefits claimed for Peterborough City Council’s policy of replacing trees and shrubs with grass, and both he and Gardening Guru Geoff Stebbings question the policy itself on ecological and aesthetic grounds. Broadcast at 07:27 and 08:51 respectively on Wednesday July 7th in the Peterborough Breakfast Show hosted by Paul Stainton on BBC Radio Peterborough.

Peterborough News 7th July 2010

A summary of the Peterborough Breakfast Show from BBC Radio Cambridgeshire broadcast from 07:00 to 09:00 on Wednesday 7th July 2010. News travel weather and interviews.

Topics:
In the wake of Government’s decision to cancel funding for the remaining school building improvement schemes concerns are expressed over adequate usable space for the rising intake.
Peterborough City Council come under fire over their policy of removing shrubs and replacing them with grass.
Anglian Water report no problems despite the dry weather. A hosepipe ban is not currently necessary.
Continue reading “Peterborough News 7th July 2010”

John Holdich on School Funding Cuts

The Coalition Government has cut many millions of pounds worth of school building project funds in Peterborough. John Holdich Cabinet Member for Education Skills and Universities Peterborough City Council attempts to draw some comfort from the strength of Peterborough’s case and the efficiency of its procedures, and the fact that they still have £30 million of their own money to mitigate the harm done. Broadcast at 08:13 on Tuesday 6th July 2010 in the Peterborough Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. The interviewer is Paul Stainton.

Ferry Meadows as a Concert Venue

The Nene Park Trust has been given a licence to use Ferry Meadows Country Park as a venue for up to 5000 people to see concerts plays and other events. Locals are uneasy but James McCullock Chief Executive allays their fears. Broadcast at 07:36 on Tuesday 6th July 2010 in the Peterborough Breakfast Show hosted by Paul Stainton on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

Peterborough News 6th July 2010

A summary of the Peterborough Breakfast Show from BBC Radio Cambridgeshire broadcast from 07:00 to 09:00 on Tuesday 6th July 2010. News travel weather and interviews.

Topics:
The Coalition Government’s cut to the Future Schools Fund sees an end to many school rebuilding programmes and school IT improvements in Peterborough.
400 Farcet residents turned out last night to listen to plans for travellers’ sites in the village.
Nene Park Trust has been given a licence to hold open air events on Ferry Meadows against the wishes of some local residents.
Continue reading “Peterborough News 6th July 2010”

When Brian Was King

Here’s a spinny article from Nick Cohen written in 1995 at the tail end of the last Conservative Government, when Brian Mawhinney was MP for Peterborough and featuring the ET headline: “Boy saves turkey from oven by buying the bird with his pocket money”. Here is one of the more timely quotes:

“No one’s spending any money,” complained Robbie, barman at the Lion in the city centre. “Trade has been so slow the boss is not even going to get his bonus from the brewery.”

Read the Full Independent Story.