Open Cambridge 2013

17:52 Thursday 12th September 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: Right now, let’s discuss tomorrow and Saturday, when you can have a sneaky peek behind the doors of all sorts of Cambridge buildings not usually open to the public. Examples include Christ’s College Gothic library, Cambridge University’s real tennis court, and the chance to try a formal dining at Corpus Christi’s 19th century hall. To explain more, here’s Dane Comeford from Open Cambridge.
DANE COMERFORD: We’ve got a whole bunch of different activities that are put on at University buildings, college buildings, and places around the city, so people can have a look around interesting things that they don’t normally have a chance to see. From beautiful libraries .. the mosque is open just off Mill Road. Museums are doing special tours. Libraries are doing special tours. Theatres are open. John Lewis is open. There’s a punting tour. All sorts of stuff.
CHRIS MANN: So things that people don’t normally get to look at, or some of it anyway. How difficult was it to persuade people like Christ’s College with their Gothic library. How difficult was it to persuade them to open up? Continue reading “Open Cambridge 2013”

David Whitebread On Formal Education And Early Years Development

17:48 Thursday 12th September 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: A Cambridge academic has joined over 120 other education experts to say introducing formal education to young children can cause profound damage. Instead they want children up to six or seven to learn through play. Let’s hear from the University’s Dr David Whitebread, who signed a letter with the other experts which was sent to the Telegraph. He’s a developmental cognitive psychologist, and an early years specialist.
Continue reading “David Whitebread On Formal Education And Early Years Development”

Captured Markets

08:20 Thursday 12th September 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: Senior managers at Cambridgeshire County Council could soon receive a pay rise, if proposals being discussed on Monday are approved. The news comes a few months after the Cabinet told staff they needed to reduce staffing costs by 3%. LibDem councillors are urging officials to reject the pay increase and say the proposal is devastating for staff morale. Well speaking to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire’s Drivetime show, their Spokesman for Resources Ian Manning urged council officials to show leadership when considering the proposal to increase some Council officers’ pay. (TAPE)
IAN MANNING: This is about what does the Council have control of. The Council has, it individually has, direct control of the wages of the management and senior management staff. And that is why I think they should be showing leadership, in the same way that we did when we voted against giving councillors a pay rise. They should be showing leadership and saying we know how tough it is. We’re not taking more money. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Well that’s what the LibDems had to say. Let’s get reaction from the Leader of UKIP on Cambridgeshire County Council, councillor Peter Reeve. Morning Peter.
PETER REEVE: Good morning.
PAUL STAINTON: We’re not talking about a big pay rise here, are we?
Continue reading “Captured Markets”

LibDems Call In Cambridge Park And Ride Charging Plan

08:22 Tuesday 11th September 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: Conservative county councillors in Cambridgeshire have voted in favour of bringing in parking charges of a pound at Cambridgeshire’s five council run park and ride sites. The decision has been called in or challenged if you like by the County’s Liberal Democrats, who claim it’s been brought in without consultation and without adequate scrutiny of the risk. Last night Andy Campbell the boss of Stagecoach who runs the park and ride bus service said they’d previously offered to run the sites for free at no cost to the Council. Now David Jenkins is the LibDem’s spokesman on Planning and Environment and Enterprise and is with us now. Morning David.
DAVID JENKINS: Good morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: So you’ve asked for this decision to be called in or challenged. Why? Continue reading “LibDems Call In Cambridge Park And Ride Charging Plan”

The Latest BBC Controversy

17:45 Monday 9th September 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: The former BBC Director General Mark Thompson has been questioned by MPs today about large payoffs for executives. Seven BBC managers past and present are being grilled about this highly controversial issue by members of the Public Accounts Committee. Our political reporter Robin Crystal has been listening to the exchanges. Continue reading “The Latest BBC Controversy”

A14 Toll Comments – Steve The Trucker

08:48 Monday 9th September 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Our milkman Jethro says “Road tax money Paul has always gone into a central pot to finance the country” he’s talking about the A14 of course. “Rumour has it that it will be abolished altogether soon and toll roads will become an unavoidable norm“. A bit like France where it takes an inordinate amount of time to get anywhere. You stop and you start and you stop and you start. This from Gerry who says “I live in Fenstanton Paul. I use the A14 regularly. A few thoughts here on the proposed tolls. I cannot believe the solution to the A14 congestion is just to charge people to use it. It solves nothing. It just pushes traffic back onto the back roads and adds some extra money to the coffers. It’s a ridiculous idea. What are the lorry drivers going to do?” says Gerry. Well let’s speak to one. Steve the Trucker’s here. Morning Steve.
STEVE THE TRUCKER: Hello Paul. How are you?
PAUL STAINTON: I’m alright. Are you going to pay the toll?
STEVE THE TRUCKER: No. No I’m not. No.
PAUL STAINTON: What are you going to do? Continue reading “A14 Toll Comments – Steve The Trucker”

Dr Aled Jones On Water Resources Regional Conflicts And Civil Unrest

17:42 Friday 6th September 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: Cambridge researchers say water shortages and not oil are at the root of many of the Middle Eastern crises, including Syria. As global leaders gather at the G20 summit in St Petersburg to discuss the alleged atrocities of the Syrian government, Anglia Ruskin University is exploring the underlying drivers of the Syrian crisis. Here’s Dr Aled Jones, Head of the Global Sustainability Institute. (TAPE)
ALED JONES: So water is critical for a range of different things, infrastructure, food, the way we live. And as it’s becoming more scarce in particularly unstable regions, then we are more likely to see conflict over it.
CHRIS MANN: And do you think specifically the conflicts in, for instance, Syria, Libya, Egypt, Afghanistan and so on, they all have their root causes in water? Continue reading “Dr Aled Jones On Water Resources Regional Conflicts And Civil Unrest”

Bourn Airfield Development Debate

07:22 Friday 6th September 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: Campaigners opposing plans to build over 3,000 homes on Bourn Airfield say they’ll protest tonight outside a Council exhibition in the village. The proposals are part of South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Local Plan, which is currently being consulted on. Des O’Brien is the Chairman of the group Stop Bourn Airfield Development, and is joined by Cllr Tumi Hawkins, the LibDem councillor who represents the area of Caldecote. Morning. Morning to both of you. So what’s the problem then Des with this development?
Continue reading “Bourn Airfield Development Debate”