Category: Conversations

Vernon Coaker on the Cuts to the Police Budget

17:40 Thursday 21st July 2011
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY BURROWS: Top story this afternoon, here on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, and it’s the news that 34,000 police jobs in England and Wales could go by 2015. That’s according to a new report. The figure includes over 16,000 police officers, almost 2,000 fewer Community Support Officers, and more than 16,000 fewer civilian staff. Now earlier on today we heard from Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary for the East, who says Cambridgeshire Police’s partnerships with neighbouring forces on things like firearms, major crime and road policing, will help protect front line jobs. But as you heard earlier on in the programme, Shaun Ryan, who’s the Chairman of the Cambridgeshire Police Federation, the police officers’ union effectively, said it confirmed his members’ worst fears. Well a short time ago I spoke to the Shadow Police Minister, Vernon Coaker. Continue reading “Vernon Coaker on the Cuts to the Police Budget”

Cowgate Rent Reduction Call to Kickstart Revival

08:19 Thursday 21st July 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Plans to regenerate Cowgate, Bridge Street and Long Causeway are going on show today. The aim is to make the areas more pedestrian-friendly, restore historic buildings and encourage independent shops. Now Steve Bowyer is Head of Economic Development at Opportunity Peterborough, He was on earlier. He said the plans are designed to increase footfall on Cowgate. (TAPE)
STEVE BOWYER: I have shown investors down Cowgate, and they liked the street, they think it looks good, it works well, but a lot of the comment is about footfall. So anything we can do to drive footfall, to make it a more interesting place .. and we’ve seen what footfall’s done in Cathedral Square. If we can get that down Cowgate, and attract the businesses, because businesses as we’ve said before, businesses follow people. And if this really inspires that area, it’s got to be good news. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Well John Drewnicki is Chairman of the Cowgate Traders Association. Morning John.
JOHN DREWNICKI: Good morning.
PAUL STAINTON: What do you think of the plans? Continue reading “Cowgate Rent Reduction Call to Kickstart Revival”

NHS Peterborough – £100 Million in Cuts Means Job Losses

08:15 Wednesday 20th July 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Well just how do you save £100 million on health care in this city without affecting patient safety and patient care? Well there was a big meeting last night. Russ Platt is the Interim Chief Operating Officer from NHS Peterborough. Russ, you were there. You spoke to the Scrutiny Committee. Were they happy with your plans? Continue reading “NHS Peterborough – £100 Million in Cuts Means Job Losses”

Jack Izzard on the Murdochs

17:40 Tuesday 19th July 2011
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY BURROWS: James and Rupert Murdoch have finished giving their evidence to MPs over the handling of the alleged phone-hacking saga. They’re used to running one of the world’s most powerful media organisations of course, but how did they do after the media spotlight was turned on them? Let’s speak to communications consultant Jack Izzard. Hello to you Jack.
JACK IZZARD: Evening Andy.
ANDY BURROWS: It was quite a spectacle. How did you think they did, especially given that rumpus just before five o’clock? Continue reading “Jack Izzard on the Murdochs”

Waterbeach Barracks Closure – Housing Development Possible

11:21 Tuesday 19th July 2011
Mid-morning Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY HARPER: Thank you for your responses to this decision to close Waterbeach Barracks .. It’s part of a restructural change which will see the UK relying more on the Territorial Army to fight on the front line, as announced by Defence Secretary Liam Fox. James Hockney is the Conservative councillor for Waterbeach on South Cambridgeshire District Council. James, good morning to you.
JAMES HOCKNEY: Good morning.
ANDY HARPER: Dave there says, “This is a bit of a shock for Waterbeach.” Was it a bit of a shock for you?
JAMES HOCKNEY: Well certainly we’ve been taken aback by this news. Definitely. Waterbeach Barracks was a very important part of our community, going all the way back to the Second World War, and the Engineer Regiment are doing a fantastic job representing this country. Continue reading “Waterbeach Barracks Closure – Housing Development Possible”

Peterborough Blighted by Street Drinkers

08:21 Tuesday 19th July 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

Residents in Fletton say proposed non-drinking zones don’t work, and the Designated Public Place Order shouldn’t be extended. Fletton was one of the first places in Peterborough to get one of these DPPOs, but people living there say it hasn’t really helped. The Safer Peterborough Partnership are now proposing to extend the bans across the areas of New England and the North Ward. Charles Swift is the councillor where these changes will be brought in, and our reporter Sam Appleby has been to meet him. (TAPE)
CHARLES SWIFT: Every morning you’ll find about forty or fifty on here. Anytime, empty beer cans, and things like that, vodka bottles and Jack Daniels whisky bottles. I stopped counting at 450 the other morning, when I was cycling round on my bicycle. Continue reading “Peterborough Blighted by Street Drinkers”

Who Else Sells Stories to the Media?

08:08 Monday 18th July 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Let’s get some more now on the phone-hacking scandal. As we’ve been hearing all morning, the Met Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has become the latest casualty, after resigning over Scotland Yard’s handling of the crisis. That dramatic development came just hours after the former head of News International Rebekah Brooks was arrested. That only 48 hours after she’d quit her post. Now in a carefully worded resignation speech, that appeared aimed directly at Downing Street, Sir Paul Stephenson the Commissioner said he felt he had to step down, because his role in the scandal had become a distraction. (TAPE)
SIR PAUL STEPHENSON: I have seen at first hand the distractions for this organisation when the story becomes about the leaders, as opposed to what we do as a service. I was always clear I would never allow that to happen. We the Met cannot afford this, not this year. If I stay, I know that the inquiry outcomes would reaffirm my personal integrity. But time is short, before we face the enormous challenges of policing the Olympics. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: John Elworthy is the Editor of the Cambridgeshire Times and Wisbech Standard. Morning.
JOHN ELWORTHY: Hello there. Good morning to you again.
PAUL STAINTON: Yes. There’s always plenty to talk about isn’t there, with this story? Every day there’s another big bomb. Continue reading “Who Else Sells Stories to the Media?”