Category: Conversations

Council Merger Talks

17:12 Friday 4th February 2011
Drivetime BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY BURROWS: Reports today that three district councils in Cambridgeshire could merge. Fenland, East Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire District Councils are said to be considering coming together in a bid to save money. We can speak to the Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council now. He’s Cllr. Fred Brown. Evening to you Fred.
FRED BROWN: Good evening Andy.
ANDY BURROWS: Well, I suppose, are you considering combining some services? Continue reading “Council Merger Talks”

Peterborough City Council Consultants “on £1,300 a day”

07:08 Friday 4th February 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show BBC Radio Cambridge

PAUL STAINTON: A report into Peterborough City Council’s use of consultants has been delayed again. It was due last November, then again this week. But it’s findings have now been pushed back to mid-March. The review started after local councillors expressed concern over the authorities’ £6.6 million spend on consultancy, over a period of nine months in 2009. Councillor Mike Fletcher submitted questions about consultancy use to the Council last January, and they still haven’t been answered. He’s with us this morning. Morning Mike. Continue reading “Peterborough City Council Consultants “on £1,300 a day””

Mary Beard on Events in Egypt

17:09 Thursday 3rd February 2011
Drivetime BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

ANDY BURROWS: We’ve spoken over the last few days to Raph Cormack, who’s from Cambridge, and has been studying in Arabic in Cairo. He’s been keeping us updated on what it’s been like out there for the last few days. .. His almost daily dialogue with us has been rather compulsive over the last few days. We can now speak to his mother, Mary Beard, who’s a professor at Cambridge University. Good evening to you Mary. Continue reading “Mary Beard on Events in Egypt”

O&H Hampton Progress on Community Centre

07:51 Wednesday 2nd February 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Work on the Hamptons community centre was delayed by the recession. That’s according to the developers, who have now cleared the site for the new facility. Suzy Roberts met Roger Tallowin from O&H Hampton at Hampton Vale Neighbourhood Centre. Continue reading “O&H Hampton Progress on Community Centre”

John Bridge on the A14

10:40 Wednesday 2nd February 2011
Andy Harper Show BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY HARPER: Well, it is chaos on Cambridgeshire’s roads again this morning, because of this accident on the A14. And it has a massive knock-on on the lives of people across the county. When the upgrade of the road was abandoned by the Government, it was proposed to improve it using private investment, possibly even a toll road. In November, John Bridge from Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce, who was working on it, gave the chances of success as 50%. I wonder what they are now. John, good morning to you.
JOHN BRIDGE: Yes, good morning Andy.
ANDY HARPER: We often seem to speak to you John, when there’s chaos on the A14, which is of course far too often. And once again, people are saying look, something has got to be done. We know the Government aren’t going to spend any money on it, so what are our alternatives? Continue reading “John Bridge on the A14”

Business Link for Beginners- A Client’s Story

10:10 Thursday 27th January 2011
Andy Harper Show BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY HARPER: Yesterday, if you remember, we heard from Jan, who’s life took a completely new path after she took voluntary redundancy, starting a successful new career as a mature model. With hundreds of jobs set to go from local councils alone, we wanted to hear the stories of people who have already got through being made redundant. Can it sometimes be a blessing in disguise, as it was in Jan’s case? Well John Cafferkey from Cambridge contacted us, and I’m delighted to say he joins me in the studio. John, good morning to you.
JOHN CAFFERKEY: Hi, Andy.
ANDY HARPER: So tell us your situation. What was your work situation prior to redundancy? Continue reading “Business Link for Beginners- A Client’s Story”

Cambridgeshire Villages Against HGV Traffic

10:30 Tuesday 1st February 2011
Andy Harper Show BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

ANDY HARPER: We’ve been talking about HGVs and large farm vehicles driving through our villages this morning. This was sparked by the tractor crashing into a home in Wilburton yesterday. Residents in the village were not surprised. (TAPE)
RESIDENT: There’ve been times when I walked past my next-door neighbour’s house, and if I’d just stick my elbow out and a lorry had gone by, I’d have had my arm ripped off, because the pavement is no more than about 2ft wide at that point. (LIVE)
ANDY HARPER: Well there has been work going on behind the scenes to try to bring relief to some villages in the County. Owen McLaughlin from Earith is Secretary of the Heavy Commercial Vehicle Forum, which represents nine villages affected by heavy lorry use. Owen, good morning to you.
OWEN MCLAUGHLIN: Good morning.
ANDY HARPER: So tell us about the Forum. Continue reading “Cambridgeshire Villages Against HGV Traffic”

Stewart Jackson MP Calls on Osborne for the Fuel Duty Stabiliser

07:20 Tuesday 1st February 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Fed up with the current price of petrol? Fed up with being ripped off at the pumps? Fed up with putting £60/£70 worth in your car? Fed up with seeing the price go up and up and up? Well so is our MP Stewart Jackson, so much so that he’s written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne asking him to review the Conservative Party Manifesto pledge for a fuel duty stabiliser. It comes as the price of petrol is at a record high, oil is going through the roof, over $100 a barrel, and around Peterborough many stations now over £1.30 a litre. It really is hard for your every-day folk. Morning Stewart.
STEWART JACKSON: Good morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: Are you breaking ranks here? Continue reading “Stewart Jackson MP Calls on Osborne for the Fuel Duty Stabiliser”