Category: Peterborough

Great Haddon Approved

norman_cross07:18 Wednesday 20th March 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: Plans to build 5,000 homes as part of the Great Haddon development just south of Peterborough have been given the go-ahead. Lucia Serluca is the Chair of the Planning Committee at Peterborough City Council. Great debate apparently yesterday, because not everybody wants these houses built, do they?
LUCIA SERLUCA: Yes it was a great debate. We debated it for over four hours, because it is a very important part of the growth agenda within Peterborough. And it was almost unanimous, the vote yesterday. There was one abstention. But the debate was very good.
PAUL STAINTON: The houses themselves, to just explain to people who are not too au fait with where Great Haddon is. It’s round the back of Yaxley and the back of Hampton.
LUCIA SERLUCA: Yes. That’s right.
PAUL STAINTON: So what are we going to get? We’re going to get 5,000 houses, and some new roads?
LUCIA SERLUCA: We’re going to get 5,000 houses, three new primary schools, a secondary school, there’s going to be a retail area. There may potentially be a cemetery built there as well. There’ll be new infrastructure with reference to the roads around there. So there’s going to be a lot happening over there. It is a major major development for Peterborough.
PAUL STAINTON: What were the concerns about? What did the residents bring up at the meeting? What are the big concerns? Continue reading “Great Haddon Approved”

Peterborough Council Friday Special – The Gasman Cometh

17:19 Friday 15th March 2013
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: Let’s turn our attention to another story, one that we’re breaking I think. It’s one of the first deals of its kind, but in the next few hours, Peterborough City Council will go into partnership with British Gas. It means up to £20 million could be invested into city for energy efficiency schemes. It’ll affect 7,000 homes across the city, and they say create around 600 jobs. Well the Leader of Peterborough City Council is Marco Cereste of course, and he’s with me now. Hello Marco.
MARCO CERESTE: Hello. How are you.
CHRIS MANN: I’m very well thank you. Are you doing something for Red Nose today?
MARCO CERESTE: Ah hah(?) I’ve been doing it all day. (THEY LAUGH)
CHRIS MANN: Enjoying it then .
MARCO CERESTE: I’ve been abolishi .. a politician all day. Isn’t that red nose enough?
CHRIS MANN: Yes. Yes. Fair point. So Marco, tell us what you’re announcing tonight. Continue reading “Peterborough Council Friday Special – The Gasman Cometh”

Council Talks Cast A Cloud Over London Road

08:08 Friday 15th March 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: According to our sources, talks have been held with the landlords of Nene Park in Northamptonshire, to consider whether Peterborough United might relocate there. Since we’ve been on air, Posh Chief Executive Bob Symns has been in touch to deny that they are currently considering a move to the former home of Rushden and Diamonds, and that they are not currently in negotiations. Peterborough United’s lease of course at London Road, which is owned by Peterborough City Council expires in 2014, and discussions over a new lease have been described as ongoing. And none of the building work which was supposed to happen on the Moys End has actually happened yet. Paul Froggitt is Board Member of the Posh Supporters Trust. He’s with us this morning.
PAUL FROGGITT: Morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: Are you surprised that according to our sources talks have taken place on something like this? Continue reading “Council Talks Cast A Cloud Over London Road”

Peterborough Hospital Faces Multiple Issues – Dr Peter Reading

08:12 Wednesday 13th March 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: Now there are accusations this morning that Peterborough City Hospital just isn’t big enough. The claims by Unison follow the cancellation of 38 operations this week due to a shortage of beds. It’s not just Peterborough City Hospital that’s affected. It’s Addenbrookes too that says that due to an exceptionally busy Emergency Department earlier this week, 37 operations have had to be rearranged. Well Phil Green is the Regional Organiser for Unison. He says that Peterborough Hospital is not fit for purpose. (TAPE)
PHIL GREEN: The Peterborough City Hospital was always built too small. And considering the cost of it that’s unforgivable really. We said at the time that the Hospital was going to be too small, that being funded by PFI it was going to cost far too much. And we said again the same recently. .. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: We’ve got Dr Peter Reading, Interim Chief Executive at Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals with us right now. Let’s get to the bottom of this. What is going on? Because that’s not acceptable, is it? Continue reading “Peterborough Hospital Faces Multiple Issues – Dr Peter Reading”

Peterborough Hospital Bed Shortage Again

17:22 Monday 11th March 2013
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: Ten planned operations have been cancelled today at Peterborough City Hospital. 24 planned operations have been cancelled for tomorrow. It’s after Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust declared a major internal incident and a shortage of available beds. The Trust says there’s still an unusually higher than usual number of people being admitted via A&E, and people are being admitted needing treatment for longer. It’s not the first time the Hospital has faced a shortage of this kind. Chris Wilkinson is Director of Care Quality and Chief Nurse at Peterborough City Hospital, and joins us now .. I spoke to someone I think just a couple of weeks ago, and again in January about a similar situation. Just explain what’s going on please. Continue reading “Peterborough Hospital Bed Shortage Again”

Peterborough Council 2013 Budget Passed

07:40 Thursday 7th March 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: Boy was it a feisty Council meeting at the Town Hall in Peterborough last night. Councillors were gathering to vote on the Budget proposals for the next twelve months, which included the equivalent of 63 full-time redundancies, a reduction in adult social care services, and cuts to the city’s playcentres. The proposal was passed, but only just. 29 voted in favour, and 25 councillors against, with one councillor abstaining. But listeners to the show contacted us this morning saying that the meeting had to be adjourned at one point because the debate became too heated. Continue reading “Peterborough Council 2013 Budget Passed”

Immunis – Peterborough’s Zombie Apocalypse

07:50 Monday 4th March 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Now picture the scene. Zombies have taken over the planet, and very important landmarks and people in Peterborough are under attack. Well that’s the premise behind a new web comic called Immunis. It’s seeking funding. It’s been dreamt up by two people from Peterborough, Anthony Ashley and Sean Reidy. Morning chaps. So you’ve been dreaming about zombies.
CREATOR: Constantly.
PAUL STAINTON: And you’ve written it all down into a comic, but you need some cash.
CREATOR: Yes we do. We’re looking to raise money to kickstart it, if you like.
PAUL STAINTON: So tell us all about it. Tell us what happens. Tell us what’s going on in this comic. Continue reading “Immunis – Peterborough’s Zombie Apocalypse”

2015 A War Of Words

08:38 Friday 1st March 2013
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: So, the LibDems are cock-a-hoop this morning after holding on to Eastleigh in Hampshire in the Parliamentary by-election, caused of course by that resignation of former Cabinet Member Chris Huhne. Mike Thornton retained the seat with a much reduced majority, whilst their Coalition partners the Tories were pushed into third place by the rise of Ukip, who recorded their best ever Westminster result, made in Ramsey of course, master minded by Lisa Duffy. Labour finished an incredibly distant fourth. Well the LibDem’s Leader Simon Hughes was a relieved man. (TAPE)
SIMON HUGHES: I’m very pleased as well as relieved of course. We worked well. We didn’t squeak in by 50 votes or 500 votes. It was a majority of nearly 2,000. Mike was an excellent candidate. He had a credibility locally to fight a good campaign. It was a consolation that, in government, this was the first time since we’ve been in the Government, we defended one of our seats. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Well, victory for the LibDems, but Ukip are claiming the moral victory, annd Ramsey councillor Peter Reeve hailed the result as a huge step forward for the Party. (TAPE)
PETER REEVE: Before, Ukip was very much seen as a party against the EU. But people are actually paying attention to what we’re saying. The media’s giving the coverage to what we’re saying. And I think when people look at us and actually get a chance to really appreciate what it is that Ukip are saying, they suddenly realise that, oh my goodness, there’s a party saying exactly what I think. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Well as I mentioned, Labour finished a very distant fourth, a result they say is “impressive” considering their previous results in that constituency. So is this just a protest vote, or is it a defining moment in UK politics? Have people had enough of the status quo, and are beginning, like they are in Italy, to look for alternatives? Let’s speak to Stewart Jackson, the Conservative MP for Peterborough. Are you worried this morning Stewart? Continue reading “2015 A War Of Words”