Category: Peterborough

Thumbs Up For Thurston House

08:20 Wednesday 12th December 2012
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: It’s been five years. It’s taken three planning applications. There’s been a year’s building work. People will soon though be living in a Victorian manor house in Peterborough. Plans to knock down Thurston House first went to the Council in 2007, but the developer Accent Nene was told it must be saved. On the line now is Margaret Randall. She lives near Thurston House, and was at first worried of course by the decision to turn it into affordable housing. Margaret, good morning.
MARGARET RANDALL: Hello there. Hello.
PAUL STAINTON: Are you still worried? Continue reading “Thumbs Up For Thurston House”

Peter Reading On The Financial Crisis At The Peterborough City Hospital

08:08 Tuesday 11th December 2012
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: A local MP and member of the Public Accounts Committee has revealed that theatres at Peterborough City Hospital could close,  as the Trust running the hospital continues to struggle with debt. The Hospital, which has been open for two years of course, was funded by that expensive PFI agreement, and has seen the Trust rack up over £50 million of debt, £1 million a month. Now, speaking to us earlier, MP for North East Cambridgeshire Stephen Barclay described the way the new hospital was funded and then managed as “disgraceful and shocking”. (TAPE)
STEPHEN BARCLAY: Well it was quite disgraceful, and it raises serious questions over the performance of senior managers in the NHS, many of whom are paid significant salaries, and their performance has been quite shocking. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Well the Trust has had to receive bailout money from the Government in order to stay open, and as Mr Barclay revealed earlier, the Hospital may have to close theatres just to stay afloat. Continue reading “Peter Reading On The Financial Crisis At The Peterborough City Hospital”

Middlesborough A Big Ask For Posh

18:45 Thursday 6th December 2012
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: Posh are facing a striker shortage ahead of the home tie with Middlesborough. Tyrone Barnett and Emile Sinclair are out on loan and can’t be recalled. Today it has been revealed that Saido Berahino has gone back to parent club West Brom, whilst Darren Ferguson told our Sports Editor Nick Fairbairn the young forward had picked up a serious injury. Continue reading “Middlesborough A Big Ask For Posh”

Peterborough City Hospital Is Pauperised Yet The PFIs Continue

08:38 Tuesday 4th December 2012
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

RONNIE BARBOUR: The Chancellor George Osborne is to announce a change to the way private finance initiatives are run in tomorrow’s Autumn Statement. Last week the National Audit Office criticised the private finance scheme at Peterborough City Hospital. The NHS Trust which runs it had a £46 million deficit last year. The Government says the new scheme will be quicker, more transparent and that the taxpayer will now share in any profits. Let’s speak to Dr John Lister from the pressure group London Health Emergency, who wrote a report looking into Peterborough City Hospital. Dr John Lister, good morning to you. Continue reading “Peterborough City Hospital Is Pauperised Yet The PFIs Continue”

Peterborough Hospital PFI – Who Signed It Off?

17:15 Thursday 29th November 2012
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

Note: Answer at foot of post

CHRIS MANN: Peterborough City Hospital’s crippling debt is being described as a very serious situation. An investigation by the National Audit Office revealed that Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Trust had a £46 million deficit last year, one of the worst debt-ridden hospitals in the whole of the Health Service. .. So let’s bring in Dr John Lister now from the pressure group London Health Emergency, who’s written a detailed report looking into Peterborough City Hospital’s PFI. John, hello to you.
JOHN LISTER: Hello there.
CHRIS MANN: You’ve looked at all the hospitals actually in the Eastern Region. So put Peterborough in perspective. It’s the worst, isn’t it? Continue reading “Peterborough Hospital PFI – Who Signed It Off?”

Coalition Plans Massive Green Field Building Programme

16:51 Wednesday 28th November 2012
The Jeremy Sallis Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

JEREMY SALLIS: The Planning Minister says a third more open land must be built on to meet the demand for housing. Nick Bowles believes building on another three per cent of land in England, bringing the total to about twelve per cent, would solve the housing problem. It would also mean an area more than twice the size of Greater London disappearing under concrete. But the Minister is giving this guarantee. (TAPE)
NICK BOWLES: We’re saying very clearly that we’re going to protect the Green Belt, we’re going to keep the Green Belt, but people, if they want to have housing for their kids, if they want to have people able to bring up their kids in a small house with a garden, they’ve got to accept that we’ve got to build more on some open land. Continue reading “Coalition Plans Massive Green Field Building Programme”

Peterborough Energy Scheme A Utopian Gamble

07:40 Tuesday 6th November 2012
Bigger Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: The fight against the closure of the two last Council-run care homes in Peterborough will continue, despite the City Council finally deciding they will shut. At a Cabinet meeting yesterday, it was agreed that Greenwood House will shut at the end of November, Welland House in March next year. But now five councillors are requesting a special Full Council meeting in the hope they can still change the ruling. It follows a huge public outcry from carers, residents, and their fanilies, who dispute the homes aren’t fit for purpose, and better care can be provided by the independent sector. .. The Council’s plans to use farmers’ fields to build a series of green energy plants were also approved and caused much consternation. Joining us now is Councillor Dave Harrington. He’s the Leader of Peterborough’s Independent councillors, and part of the group of councillors who are demanding that both of these issues are debated further at a Full Council meeting. Continue reading “Peterborough Energy Scheme A Utopian Gamble”