Category: Conversations

Nick Clarke and the Guided Busway Launch Date- The Andy Burrows Interview

17:06 Thursday 9th June 2011
Drivetime BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY BURROWS: A date has finally been set for Cambridgeshire’s £180 million Guided Busway to open. After two years of delays, and contractual disputes between the County Council and the builders BAM Nuttall, it will be operational on August 7th. The project, designed to ease congestion on the A14, will carry passengers on buses run on guided trackways between Cambridge and St Ives. Let’s speak to Nick Clarke, who’s the Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council. Good afternoon to you.
NICK CLARKE: Good afternoon to you Andy.
ANDY BURROWS: So why have you set this particular date? What’s ready? What’s been completed? Why now? Continue reading “Nick Clarke and the Guided Busway Launch Date- The Andy Burrows Interview”

The Use of Anti-Psychotic Drugs for Alzheimer’s Sufferers

07:34 Thursday 9th June 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: A campaign has been launched for an end to the inappropriate use of anti-psychotic drugs for people with dementia. The campaign, by the Dementia Action Alliance, includes 50 prominent health and social care organisations. Eric Berger from Cambridgeshire  looked after his wife when she developed Alzheimers. She died just over two years ago at the age of 77. Sarah Varey went to talk to Eric up amongst the windy treetops on his fourth floor balcony. Continue reading “The Use of Anti-Psychotic Drugs for Alzheimer’s Sufferers”

Longthorpe Tower Peterborough

12:20 Monday 6th June 2011
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

LIZ RHODES: Longthorpe Tower is receiving, and you might have seen this from national newspaper coverage at the moment, it’s been named as one of the 100 places that made Britain, in a new book, which is quite something, isn’t it? It’s in there alongside Canterbury Cathedral, Runnymede, Blenheim Palace, all sorts of places. So why is Longthorpe Tower so important? Well, our very own Glenn Jones popped along yesterday to find out exactly why. Continue reading “Longthorpe Tower Peterborough”

Health Consultation – PCT Probity Questioned

08:35 Monday 6th June 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Cllr Marion Todd, earlier on in the show, said certain wards in Peterborough are only offering residents the equivalent health care of a third world country. We spoke to her earlier this morning. She said if the threatened Parnwell Medical Centre itself gets closed, then residents will have to visit Dogsthorpe or Paston to get help from a GP. She said it was unacceptable for some people. Peter Whiteman came on, Interim Director of Primary Care at NHS Peterborough and said that everything was going to be hunky-dory. We were going to get this new lovely health centre for the people of Paston and Dogsthorpe, and it was all going to be fine. Let’s speak to Cllr. John Peach, who’s with us this morning. John Good morning.
JOHN PEACH: Good morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: One of them’s right. Or are they both right? They seem to be polar opposites at the moment. Peter Whiteman’s one side, Marion Todd’s at the other side. They’re way apart. Who’s right John? Continue reading “Health Consultation – PCT Probity Questioned”

Wansford Station Ticket Hall Restoration Bid

07:25 Friday 3rd June 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: The original ticket hall at Wansford Station is on a list of most at-risk buildings organised by the organisation Save British Heritage. Nene Valley Railway want to buy the building from the haulage company that currently owns it, and restore it back to a ticket hall. The station’s been there since 1845. Over the years though the historic site has featured in a number of classic films. We’ve been to have a little look around. Continue reading “Wansford Station Ticket Hall Restoration Bid”

Secret Deal Fears on Hospital Site

07:07 Thursday 2nd June 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

SUZIE ROBERTS: The Trust who runs Peterborough’s hospital has announced plans to cut around 300 jobs. The news came at a budget meeting yesterday, as Peterborough and Stamford Hospital Trust look to address a possible £38 million overspend this year. Well speaking on yesterday’s Drivetime programme, John Randall, Medical Director at Peterborough City Hospital explained how the Trust had come into difficulties. (TAPE)
JOHN RANDALL: It’s come about for a variety of reasons really. Our income has remained relatively static, if not gone down. Our costs have actually increased, and we’ve increased the numbers of staff over the last two or three years. We’re also having some services commissioned less from our purchasers, and also the additional costs of moving in to our new PFI hospital. (LIVE)
SUZIE ROBERTS: So now the The Trust could be forced to arrange a loan or extension of its overdraft to help address the issue. That could then be paid off using funds raised by the sale of the old PDH site. Well here to explain the situation and give us his thoughts is the MP for Peterborough, Stewart Jackson. Morning to you Stewart. This is a very tricky situation, isn’t it. We’ll get to the proposed solution in a minute, but first of all, your reaction to the news of job losses, 300 job losses. Continue reading “Secret Deal Fears on Hospital Site”

Peterborough Library Hours Cut

07:20 Wednesday 1st June 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

SUZI ROBERTS: New opening hours, as we’ve been hearing in the news, have come into effect at Peterborough’s libraries, or they will come into effect later on. Every library in the city will see their hours cut, except Central Library. Well Vivacity hopes the changes will save them £171,000 a year. So Heather Walton is Head of Libraries at Vivacity, and she joins me now. Heather, let me just get this right. Central Library hours aren’t affected, but the big libraries at Orton, Bretton and Werrington are being reduced in terms of their hours. How will their times be reduced from today?
HEATHER WALTON: Their hours will be reduced from forty four and a half hours opening per week down to thirty seven opening hours per week. The Central Library hours remain the same, because they get over half a million visits every year, and make up nearly half of all the visits to all the libraries across the city. Continue reading “Peterborough Library Hours Cut”

Free Kicks Foundation – On the Road Again

17:20 Friday 27th May 2011
Drivetime BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY BURROWS: The League One play-off final is just a couple of days away, and we first talked to this group of Posh fans last night. They’ve decided to kill some time with a walk round the football grounds of London. It was organised long before the final was switched to Old Trafford, but they’re doing it anyway. Let’s see how they’r getting on. It’s all in aid of the Free Kicks Foundation. The founder of the charity is the Posh fan Steve Thorpe. He’s on the line. Hello to you Steve.
STEVE THORPE: Hi Andy.
ANDY BURROWS: So where are you? What can you see? Continue reading “Free Kicks Foundation – On the Road Again”