Global Air Dynamics

Following some debate about whether this story should be open to comments, @PeterboroughTel have kindly switched on comments.

Because it has already scrolled away from the front page there, here is a viewing window. To visit the story directly, right click and open frame in new window.

The story is interesting as it relates to openness and transparency in the allocation of funds from a Government award.
The recipient of the money happens to be a long time business associate and co-director with the Leader of Peterborough City Council, but it is not immediately evident how the dormant company shown here displays the expertise and experience to justify the award.

Wasteful industry – domestic appliance manufacture in the 21st century

17:23 Monday 1st September 2014
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: Electrical repairs have seen a surge in business, ahead of new EU rules which came into force today meaning you can no longer buy vacuum cleaners more powerful than sixteen hundred watts. Johnny D has been talking to repairmen in Peterborough. He discovered more people are getting their old ones mended, rather than throwing them away. But he was also told many electrical items are almost impossible to repair these days, leaving us with little choice but to splash out on new ones, even when relatively minor things go wrong.
(TAPE)
JOHN DEVINE: Mike Harris, you own Rudkins, a domestic appliance repair shop in Peterborough. You’ve got some concerns over the way manufacturers are making their appliances these days. What’s your beef? What’s your gripe?
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Economic Crime – the Cambridge International Symposium

07:27 Monday 1st September 2014
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[D]OTTY MCLEOD: Over a thousand of the world’s top experts on economic crime will be coming together in Cambridge today. The Cambridge International Symposium will see diplomats, judges and prosecutors gathering at Jesus College. In the past the annual event has led to changes in international policing, and changes in the law. Joining me now is the founder of the Symposium, Professor Barry Rider. Morning Barry.
BARRY RIDER: Good morning.
DOTTY MCLEOD: What exactly do we mean by economic crime? What comes under that heading?
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Watching Bardarbunga

08:21 Thursday 28th August 2014
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

DOTTY MCLEOD: A Cambridgeshire scientist is preparing to head out to Iceland’s Bardarbunga volcano, which it’s thought could be on the point of erupting. If it does, the resulting ash cloud would disrupt air traffic in a similar way to what happened after the last big Icelandic eruption in 2010. People were stranded all over Europe because they couldn’t catch their flights. Professor Simon Redfern from the Department of Earth Science at the University of Cambridge is part of a team monitoring the situation after several earthquakes in the past few days, and he joins me now. Is it going to blow, Simon?
SIMON REDFERN: Well, the trouble with earthquakes is we don’t really know.
DOTTY MCLEOD: Right. (LAUGHS)
SIMON REDFERN: It’s showing all the signs.
DOTTY MCLEOD: What are the signs?
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Linda McCord from Passenger Focus comments on disruption on the East Coast rail line over the Bank Holiday weekend

17:18 Tuesday 26th August 2014
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: A difficult twenty four hours for rail users across Cambridgeshire; that’s probably an understatement for many. Overhead wire problems between Peterborough and Stevenage caused huge problems on the East Coast MainLine overnight on Monday and into this morning, some delays two hours long. .. Linda McCord is from the campaign group Passenger Focus. She gave me her reaction a little earlier.
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Rupert Read on Scottish Independence

11:20 Wednesday 20th August 2014
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[A]NDIE HARPER: This morning we’re talking about Scottish independence, not which way people are going to vote, but generally looking at it in terms of business. Because if people do have concerns, north and south of the border, it is all to do with finance, the pound, membership of the EU and how business would thrive. Ross Clark the commentator thought that it wouldn’t have too much effect . On the other hand we heard from one of our listeners Richard a few minutes ago who felt that he’d got it completely wrong, and it could be a catastrophe. Simon says “In the Times on 18th of this month it showed that if Scotland voted for independence, the size of the Scottish economy would rank 43rd in the world. They would be behind the Philippines, Finland and Greece, and just ahead of Pakistan in 44th place, Portugal 45th and Ireland 46th. So much for independent Scotland being a major player in the world.” That was Simon’s take on it. Well let’s talk shall we to Rupert Read from the Green Party in the East of England who gave us a call. Rupert, good morning to you.
RUPERT READ: Morning Andie.
ANDIE HARPER: Do you feel that it would be disastrous for the countries both sides of the border if Scotland were to vote yes? And I’m talking now in purely business terms.
RUPERT READ: I don’t think it would be disastrous. Not at all. I think we have to calm the debate down a little bit here. I think some people on both sides are getting a bit het up. The first thing really I’d like to say as a Green Party person about this issue is I do think it’s a matter for the Scottish people, and we in the Greens think that if the Scots decide they want to go their own way, then well, good luck to them. And I think we should be looking on the bright side of that, and not just on the dark side. I think it could have all sorts of positive consequences.
ANDIE HARPER: And those would be what?
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Ross Clark on Scottish Independence

09:09 Wednesday 20th August 2014
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[A]NDIE HARPER: English voters overwhelming favour Scotland remaining in the UK, but if it opts for independence, they want to exact a heavy price, by rejecting a currency deal and opposing its membership of the EU and NATO. That is according to the Times today. In a month’s time we’ll know the result of the referendum. My question to you: do you feel the vote either way will have any effect on your life? For example, will it make any difference to the economy here? Let’s talk to the Cambridge business journalist Ross Clark. Ross, good morning to you.
ROSS CLARK: Good morning.
ANDIE HARPER: Interesting to hear that the majority of English voters overwhelmingly favour Scotland remaining part of the Union. I suppose the status quo is the easiest thing to settle for. But if Scotland does go it alone, the there won’t be too much co-operation from the English if they have their say.
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Darrell Goodliffe – a Vision for Peterborough

[I] was born in Peterborough and have lived here for a significant amount of my adult life. It pains me to see the City governed in the way it is; to see the City being run into the ground and to see the people of Peterborough with an uncaring, autocratic leadership.

Councillor Marco Cereste will tell you that the City is growing. He is right, however at the same time the city’s social infrastructure, its social capital is being diminished and the growth we are experiencing is far from nailed down in a sustainable way. The priorities of the current administration are totally wrong, and rather than grow Peterborough in a way that preserves and enhances its natural character it is all being done in a slapdash and thoughtless way.
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