Supermarket Visible From Cathedral Window

17:24 Thursday 7th November 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: Plans for a new supermarket and retail park on the outskirts of Ely have been approved by East Cambridgeshire District Council, despite objections from its Conservation Officer and English Heritage. The design of the park was described as disappointing. Well our reporter Emma Howgego has been to Ely.
(TAPE)
EMMA HOWGEGO: The proposals will see a new Tesco superstore built on land near Angel Drove, just south east of the existing industrial unit. The plans also allow for a number of smaller retail units, a petrol station, a DIY store, and over 1,000 car parking spaces. Now in the past there have been objections from parts of the local business community. They thought it would take customers away from the city centre. However, at yesterday’s planning meeting it was the design of the proposed development that caused a lot of concern. East Cambridgeshire District Council’s own Conservation Officer said that the design of units was neither modern nor contemporary, and replicated existing retail units around the country. She also said it would not enhance or preserve the quality of the setting of Ely as a cathedral city. And English Heritage have raised similar concerns, saying development would erode the relationship of the Cathedral with the surrounding fens, in particular, the view from the Cathedral’s West Tower. So what do local people think?
(VOXPOP)
PUBLIC ONE: I’ve only been in Ely for, what, four and a half years. My entire time in England actually. And from what I’ve noticed, people are a bit picky about what things look like. In Australia everything looks the same. It’s all newer buildings. So for me, it doesn’t really matter what it looks like.
EMMA HOWGEGO: Would you like to see a design more in keeping with Ely’s historical nature, and taking into account the views of the Cathedral?
PUBLIC TWO: I don’t think it matters on the outskirts of Ely. I really don’t. I think people just want good value for money, and they’ll go there.
PUBLIC THREE: I think they should. Things should be tasteful in any case, and they shouldn’t be bland, shouldn’t be garish. I think in a place like Ely things should be similar. Maybe not similar, but in keeping.
EMMA HOWGEGO: Do you think when they’re building new buildings they should think about the setting they’re in, and pay heed to the historical nature of a city like Ely?
PUBLIC FOUR: To a certain extent. A bit of sympathetic building wouldn’t go amiss. But other than that, fine.
PUBLIC FIVE: Definitely. Yes. Ely is an historical city, isn’t it, so it should be in keeping with the area.
PUBLIC SIX: I think the need is more important than design, if it’s needed, which I don’t think it is. But if it’s needed, that’s fine. Where’s it going to be?
EMMA HOWGEGO: It’s going to be out on Angel Drove, past the train station towards the A10.
PUBLIC SIX: Oh. Well out there there’s no historical buildings out that way, is there?
EMMA HOWGEGO: Well some people say it might spoil the view from the Cathedral, when you look out from the West Tower, you’re going to be able to see it. Does that bother you at all?
PUBLIC SIX: Hadn’t thought about it to be honest.
(LIVE)
CHRIS MANN: Emma Howgego there reporting from Ely. Well let’s bring in Mike Rouse now. Hello Mike.
MIKE ROUSE: Hello Chris.
CHRIS MANN: Councillor for Ely North, a Member of the East Cambs Planning Committee. Now English Heritage have made some objections to this. They talk about a blot on the landscape, apart from other things. What do you make of that?
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Peterborough Energy Park Debate Janine Machin Talks To Marco Cereste

18:35 Tuesday 5th November 2013
BBC Look East West

[J]ANINE MACHIN: Good evening. First tonight, “it’s full of flaws, subterfuge and a risk to the taxpayer”. What the Energy Minister has been told today about plans for a giant solar and wind farm near Peterborough. The accusation came from the city’s MP Stewart Jackson, who organised a special debate in Westminster. The Council’s plan is to turn nine hundred acres of farmland into an energy park. Emma Baugh reports.
(TAPE)
GREG BARKER: When I hear of monster projects which potentially can turn what is a popular, intuitive and increasingly affordable technology, to turn that into something that is unpopular, that is inappropriate, I become very very worried indeed.
EMMA BAUGH: Energy Minister Gregory Barker in Westminster today. And this is what he’s talking about. Peterborough City Council’s plans to turn this farmland into one of Europe’s largest solar farms. But today the city’s MP claimed this development could jeopardise the city’s finances.
STEWART JACKSON: There is a chance that this project will be a financial disaster and actually make a loss, and even bankrupt the City of Peterborough. But it’s the way they treated local people, frankly with disdain.
EMMA BAUGH: The City Council insists it is listening, and says the plan could mean fewer cuts. So while the energy farm is being planned for fields away from here, it will have a direct impact on services in the city itself. The Council wants to borrow more than £100 million to build it, and they say that will give them more than £30 million profit. And if it doesn’t go ahead, they’ll have to find that money from somewhere else.
EMMA BAUGH: In Peterborough today, the jury is still out.
(VOXPOP)
EMMA BAUGH: Meanwhile, the Government has said it could call in the plans if they’re given the go ahead locally, and may call a public inquiry. Emma Baugh BBC Look East.
(LIVE)
JANINE MACHIN: So how does Peterborough City Council feel about the MP’s public criticisms of its energy park plans? I asked the Leader earlier.
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Peterborough Council Solar Ambitions Debated At Westminster

07:07 Tuesday 5th November 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: The MP for Peterborough is raising the row over plans for a renewable energy park for Peterborough in the House of Commons. The City Council wants to build solar and wind farms on farmland it owns near Newborough and Thorney. The project will see the Council invest over £280 million, and could create over £30 million profit, which would be income for front line services. But MP Stewart Jackson is concerned about prime farmland being used for the project, and wants the Council to look at other options. His debate comes as local councillors and residents criticise the City Council for a lack of transparency with the plans. Let’s speak to some of those who are concerned right now. Mike Greene is part of the Newborough Landscape Protection Group and he’s with me this morning. Mike, morning.
MIKE GREENE: Morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: What are your prime concerns? We know what your concerns are about the solar farm. But what are your concerns about transparency, particularly from Peterborough City Council.
MIKE GREENE: It’s increasingly frustrating when we ask for information and we get half answers back, or when the team attended a scrutiny meeting, that they had faulty systems that meant that there wasn’t a full and complete copy of public records in effect.
PAUL STAINTON: There wasn’t a copy in public record of what was said.
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Tory Defectors Join UKIP On Hunts District Council

17:12 Monday 4th November 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: Two councillors at Huntingdonshire District Council have announced they’re joining the UK Independence Party. Cllrs. Ken Churchill and Rod Farrer were originally elected as Conservative members. They both left the Tories early this year. Now they’ve announced jointly they’re joining UKIP. It comes six months after that party won twelve seats in the Cambridgeshire County Council elections. Well I’m joined on the line now by one of those two, Cllr Rod Farrer. Hello.
ROD FARRER: Hello.
CHRIS MANN: Why have you decided to join UKIP?
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The Peterborough Plan To License Private Landlords

07:07 Friday 1st November 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: Our big question this morning, is enough being done to regulate landlords behind houses of multiple occupancy? It’s a problem in Peterborough, in Wisbech and even in the relatively affluent Cambridge. But only just over 400 houses of multiple occupancy in Cambridgeshire have to be automatically licensed. It’s thought the actual amount of HMOs in the county is in the thousands. .. In Peterborough they’re considering going one step further and making all private landlords in specific problem areas get a licence. And on each individual licence will be a people limit specific to that house. .. Peterborough City Council says in a statement:
“We’re currently consulting on selective licensing to raise standards in the private rented sector, and tackle problems including rogue landlords, overcrowding, anti-social behaviour and poor property conditions for tenants. It’s important to note that whilst there are many good landlords, we recognise that poor management practices by others are having a negative effect on the areas. Selective licensing would enable the Council to direct more resource to the area, to bring about significant improvement to properties in the wider community, and give tenants more information about who they rent from. The licence fees would cover the costs of implementing and administrating the scheme.”
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Shailesh Vara On Filming In Court

17:24 Thursday 31st October 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: After years of negotiation between the courts and the media, TV cameras have finally been allowed to broadcast proceedings in one of the highest courts of England and Wales, and that’s the Court of Appeal. With the exception of the Supreme Court, they’ve been banned from courts in England and Wales for nearly ninety years, would you believe. They’ve been allowed in Scotland since ’92, but only with the consent of everyone involved. It remains to be seen whether cameras are eventually allowed in Crown Courts and Magistrates Courts. Here’s the moment that history was made in Court No. 4.
(TAPE)
BARRISTER: My Lord I appear for the applicant in this matter. It’s a renewed application for permission, service having been passed on 21st May of this year, and permission refused by Mr Justice Stewart on 22nd July of this year.
(LIVE)
CHRIS MANN: So just to be clear, cameras will only be allowed in the Court of Appeal for now. But perhaps you might think this should be the start of something bigger. We shall see. Should cameras be allowed in all courts? Shailesh Vara joins me now. He’s the MP for North West Cambridgeshire, and of course recently appointed as Courts Minister. Shailesh, hello.
SHAILESH VARA: Good afternoon Chris, and a very good afternoon to all your listeners as well.
CHRIS MANN: Thank you. An historic day.
SHAILESH VARA: Oh, a truly historic day,and a landmark occasion for justice in England and Wales. The first time ever cameras will be allowed, as you said, in one of the highest courts in the land, the Court of Appeal. And the public will be able to see for themselves what lawyers are saying and what the judges are saying. And of course this is all going to help towards the process of an open and transparent justice system.
CHRIS MANN: Because you were a solicitor, weren’t you, before you became an MP.
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Victory For Cambridge Blogger As Pickles Rules On Filming Council Meetings

17:39 Thursday 31st October 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: Another blow for openness and transparency in public life has been struck, following a campaign led by a Cambridgeshire activist. People who want to film and report on council meetings will have new rights, allowing them to do so. The Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has just announced that a new law will be put before Parliament. He had been lobbied by the Cambridge based journalist who’s with me in the studio now, Richard Taylor. Hi Richard.
RICHARD TAYLOR: Good evening Chris.
CHRIS MANN: Last time you were in here, you had, not exactly stormed, but you tried to film I think it was the Huntingdonshire ..
RICHARD TAYLOR: Yes it was Huntingdon District Council. Because Eric Pickles had said that we could just go along to council meetings and film them. He’d given guidance and asked councillors to open their doors to people like me who want to film, tweet, photograph and blog from council meetings.
CHRIS MANN: And when you went there they obviously hadn’t had the message from Mr Pickles, because they threw you out. (LAUGHS)
RICHARD TAYLOR: That’s right. It seems like the Minister Eric Pickles now has got fed up with local councillors not considering his guidance, and not doing what he wants, and he’s decided to go ahead and pass a law.
CHRIS MANN: You’ve actually had hostility at meetings, and they’ve prevented you filming.
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Investing In Arable Land

07:38 Wednesday 30th October 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: This is a shock. Farmland in Cambridgeshire is apparently hotter property than some spaces in Central London. Savills Estate Agents in Cambridge say demand for arable land here in our county is proving extremely popular with big investors. Well Adrian Wilson is a Director at Savills. He’s with us this morning. Morning Adrian.
ADRIAN WILSON: Good morning.
PAUL STAINTON: We were talking about this in the office yesterday. Are we talking Mayfair? Are we talking prices around Park Lane, and that sort of thing?
ADRIAN WILSON: Not quite on the same scale, but what is of interest and what’s hit the headlines is the fact that the growth of values in agricultural land has been rising at a faster rate than parts of Central London. So on a per acre basis, Central London is more expensive than agricultural farmland. But the rate of increase and the amount of demand in farmland has been better, more exciting.
PAUL STAINTON: Why do people want to snap up farmland in Cambridgeshire? You can’t build on it, can you?
ADRIAN WILSON: You can’t build on it, but it’s all to do with comparable investments. And in the past, when the general economy was booming, other forms of investment produced more attractive results, both in terms of yield and capital growth. But as the recession kicked in, agricultural land has looked a better prospect, and for instance in East Anglia, the average price of land at the moment is about £9,000 an acre. And that’s seen a growth since 2005 when it was about £2,500 an acre.
PAUL STAINTON: Wow that’s quite a ..
ADRIAN WILSON: So it’s pretty substantial growth.
PAUL STAINTON: So it’s an investment for people, and they’re hoping that growth continues.
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