Category: Conversations

New Northstowe Plans Mean More A14 Madness

17:17 Friday 15th July 2010
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY BURROWS: Possible changes to the Masterplan for a new town in Cambridgeshire are back on the agenda. Billed as a flagship Government eco-town, Northstowe was due to be built on land near Oakington and Longstanton, just off the A14. There could be a number of potential changes though, to the original plans, including increasing the number of homes by five to ten thousand. We could also see two secondary schools and not one. Independent councillor for Longstanton, Alex Riley, questions the development’s location. Continue reading “New Northstowe Plans Mean More A14 Madness”

Julian Huppert on the Hacking Scandal

17:38 Thursday 14th July 2011
Drivetime BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY BURROWS: Just before five o’clock it was confirmed that alongside News International’s Chief Executive Rebekah Brooks, who is set to appear before a committee of MPs to answer questions about phone hacking next Tuesday, will also be Rupert Murdoch and his son James, who own News Corporation. They’d initially declined to appear on the same day as Rebekah Brooks, but then a summons was issued, and everyone seems to have rather changed their minds. They’ll appear before a group of MPs who make up the Home Affairs Select Committee. They heard evidence from those senior members of the Met Police earlier this week. One member of the committee is the Cambridge MP Julian Huppert. Mr. Huppert is on the line now. Hello to you.
JULIAN HUPPERT: Hi Andy. How are you?
ANDY BURROWS: Very well, thank you very much. Perhaps slightly surprised that you’ve managed to convince Rebekah Brooks, Rupert Murdoch and his son James to appear before you. Continue reading “Julian Huppert on the Hacking Scandal”

Recovering the Iceland Cash

08:25 Wednesday 13th July 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Back in 2008 you may remember the Icelandic banking crisis? It saw Peterborough City Council lose about £3 million’s worth of investments. Well a year ago it was announced that two of the three million pounds had been recouped, and that the other £1 million would also be recovered. Has it? Let’s speak to John Harrison, who’s Director of Strategic Resources for Peterborough City Council. Morning, John.
JOHN HARRISON: Morning.
PAUL STAINTON: have we got it back? Have we got the extra million back?
JOHN HARRISON: We didn’t say a year ago. I think you’re being slightly disingenuous. We never said we would get the whole lot back. Where we are at the moment .. Continue reading “Recovering the Iceland Cash”

Luke Clark on the Psychology of Gambling

17:54 Tuesday 12th July 2011
Drivetime BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY BURROWS: If you can’t get yourself a big payout, or have not got a massive pension pot, maybe you can try and win the Euromillions lottery. It’s up for grabs tonight, £166 million. I think it would mean, if you won it, you would become one of the top 500 most wealthy people in the UK, if you managed to bag all of the cash. Last Friday it was reported that there was a massive rush on tickets just before the deadline. Organisers are expecting the same again tonight. But why do we decide to enter, even when we know there’s next to no chance of winning? Let’s speak to Dr Luke Clark. He’s from the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge. He’s done a fair bit of work, looking at gambling and risk-taking. Hello to you Dr Luke.
LUKE CLARKE: Good evening Andy.
ANDY BURROWS: Will you be spending your two quid? I think it’s two quid, isn’t it, for Euromillions? Will you be popping out and buying a ticket? Continue reading “Luke Clark on the Psychology of Gambling”

Wind Turbines – What Makes the Fens So Attractive?

11:35 Monday 11th July 2011
Mid-Morning Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY HARPER: Local people who campaigned against new wind turbines in the Fens are unhappy, after plans which were rejected by planners at Fenland District Council have been approved by the Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles. Eight turbines will be put up in total, five at Boarding House Farm to the west of Wimblington, and three at Burnt House Farm near March. Further plans are in the pipeline. So, are the flat open spaces of the Fens especially appealing for promoters of wind energy? Nick Medic is from Renewable UK, which represents the wind wave and tidal energy industry. Nick, Good morning to you.
NICK MEDIC: Good morning.
ANDY HARPER: So, one assumes that the flat lands of Cambridgeshire lend themselves to be prolific when it comes to wind turbines. Is that the reason? Or is it because there is acquirable land available? Continue reading “Wind Turbines – What Makes the Fens So Attractive?”

Public Told to Stop Asking Questions at Neighbourhood Council Meetings

07:13 Monday 11th July 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: There’s more criticism of Neighbourhood Councils in Peterborough, which are designed to promote democracy in the city. The way they are run was reviewed, but Dale McKean went to one of the revamped meetings the other night, and thinks actually they’re worse. Let’s speak to him. Morning Dale.
DALE MCKEAN: Good morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: What happened at this Neighbourhood meeting then? Continue reading “Public Told to Stop Asking Questions at Neighbourhood Council Meetings”

NHS Peterborough – MP Condemns Consultancy Spending

07:28 Friday 8th July 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Millions of pounds to consultants. NHS Peterborough spent more than £1.3 million on consultants in the last year, the second highest out of all the PCTs in England, even though they had to make a £2 million reduction in running costs by April 2012. The figures have been revealed through an FOI, Freedom of Information request, submitted by medical magazine Pulse. Richard Hoey is the Editor. Morning Richard.
RICHARD HOEY: Good morning.
PAUL STAINTON: That’s a heck of a lot of cash. Tell us more. Continue reading “NHS Peterborough – MP Condemns Consultancy Spending”

Peterborough City Council and Geoffrey Osborne Limited

07:20 Friday 8th July 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: A Peterborough City councillor is querying why the Council has paid over £1 million to one company in just a month. Construction company Geoffrey Osborne Limited worked on the Cathedral and St Johns development, as well as doing work on the parkways and Northey Gravel Bridge. Liberal Democrat councillor Darren Fower wants to know exactly what work the company Geoffrey Osborne Limited did for the Council in January, and what the payments are for. Darren’s with us now. Morning Darren.
DARREN FOWER: Good morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: How did you come across this information?
DARREN FOWER: It was while I was doing a little bit of reading up on how the City Council decided to ahnd the work for introducing solar panels on to the Town Hall building to a Leicestershire company. I happened to come across this openly local website, which does quite a good job at being open about the financial figures.
PAUL STAINTON: Right. So you’ve spoken to the Council, and asked them why they paid this company a million pounds in January. What’s been their response? Continue reading “Peterborough City Council and Geoffrey Osborne Limited”