Category: Conversations

Peterborough Conservatives Up in Arms Over Council Cuts and Rate Rise

08:15 Monday 23rd January 2012
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

BBC PAUL STAINTON: Lollipop ladies .. it’s caused an absolute furore, and your proposals to get rid of lollipop patrols across the city, in particular in places where it’s incredibly dangerous to cross the road. I’m thinking Newark Hill Primary, I’m thinking Eastfield Road, with cars whizzing up and down there. The first time a child gets knocked down, it’s on your heads, isn’t it, as councillors? Are you going to row back from that now? Is the Council going to see sense on that?
DEPUTY LEADER CLLR MATTHEW LEE: These proposals are all out for consultation ..
BBC PAUL STAINTON: But who came up with that idea?
DEPUTY LEADER CLLR MATTHEW LEE: What we did last year was we put forward a number of proposals. We listened to what the public said, and where we could maek changes we did make changes.
BBC PAUL STAINTON: Do you expect that to go through? Do you expect that to be a proposal that actually gets through? Continue reading “Peterborough Conservatives Up in Arms Over Council Cuts and Rate Rise”

Live Music Bill is Good News for Bands

17:50 Friday 21st January 2012
Drive BBC Radio Cambridge

CHRIS MANN: A Private Members’ Bill which could radically change the live music scene in the county passed through the House of Commons successfully today. The Live Music Bill proposes relaxation of the licensing rules around small scale live music events, making it easier for grass roots gigs to happen. Many argue that new bureaucracy put in place by the 2003 Licensing Act has made staging such events so tricky that many pubs and small venues that previously staged live music have stopped doing so, to the detriment of the grass roots music community. Earlier I spoke to Richard Brown, a lecturer at Comberton Village College, and Chair of Cambridgeshire’s Strawberry Fair event. Continue reading “Live Music Bill is Good News for Bands”

Cambridge Camera Club

17:52 Thursday 19th January 2012
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: A story now that may have taken many of you by surprise. Kodak, the company that invented the hand-held camera, has filed for bankruptcy protection in America. Although Kodak was one of the original inventors of digital photography, it failed to compete with the likes of Nikon and Canon, and now the digital camera business is on the decline, as people are moving to smartphones with built in cameras. Ann Miles, who runs the Cambridge Camera Club, joined me earlier to remember how Kodak was the camera of choice for amateurs. Continue reading “Cambridge Camera Club”

Full Marks for a Good Answer

08:25 Wednesday 18th January 2012
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridge

PAUL STAINTON: Much talk about your salary Malcom. Are you worth £1000 a day?
MALCOLM NEWSAM: I would be the last person to be able to comment on that. I hope I am, but you’ll have to ask Cllr. Sheila Scott, and the Chief Executive and the Leader as we go on through this year. And I hope that I will be able to demonstrate that. What I do bring I think is experience of having done this in a number of troubled authorities. And we have been successful. I have to say that’s primarily not about me, it’s about the people who are inspired and engaged to deliver improvements, and there are already many many people in Peterborough who want to deliver that improvement, and have just been crying out for the leadership to actually deliver that improvement.

MP Jackson Wins Extra Cash for Peterborough Schools

17:12 Monday 16th January 2012
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

CHRIS MANN: As you’ve just heard in the news, it looks like schools in Peterborough will be given money to help with the growing number of pupils who don’t have English as the first language. The city and its surrounding areas has become a mecca for many Pakistani families, and a growing number of Eastern European families, looking to settle down. It’s made the city one of the most multi-cultural in East Anglia, but has led to pressures in the classroom, with many teachers unavailable to offer extra help to children. So, how badly is this money required? Well joining me now is John Holdich, the Cabinet Member for Schools at Peterborough City Council. John, good evening to you.
JOHN HOLDICH: Good evening.
CHRIS MANN: So this is something you’ve been asking for for a while. Continue reading “MP Jackson Wins Extra Cash for Peterborough Schools”

Stargazing at Flag Fen

PAUL STAINTON: Now, as you’ve been hearing all week, Stargazing Live takes place on Monday night, and one of the places that the night will focus on is Flag Fen, right here in Peterborough. But why go to the site of an ancient civilisation, when so much modern technology is used in stargazing? Well, with us is Dr Francis Pryor, archaeologist at Flag Fen. Morning.
FRANCIS PRYOR: Morning.
PAUL STAINTON: So we’ve got all this huge expensive technology these days, and we’re going to plant it right in the middle of one of the oldest places in Peterborough. Why? Continue reading “Stargazing at Flag Fen”

Astronavigation and Stargazing

(STARTREK MUSIC)
PAUL STAINTON: This week we’re looking to the skies. It’s all part of Stargazing Live, which returns for a second three night series on BBC2. Events have been organised right across the country, while the main one here will be in our very own Flag Fen. Boldly looking where no-one has looked before. And this morning we’re talking to someone who uses the starts quite a lot to navigate from one place to another. A very good morning to Lt. Cdr Roy Malkin from the Royal Naval Reserve. Continue reading “Astronavigation and Stargazing”

Local Chamber Pledges Council Support For Inward Investors

CHRIS MANN: The good news of 400 new jobs being created at Babraham Institute where the Government has put in £44 million to the research campus, and we have to contrast that with the bad news, particularly in Peterborough, where 1,500 temporary winter contracts have come to an end, and people there are seeking new work. Let’s put it in perspective now. The Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce John Bridge joins me live. John, good evening to you.
JOHN BRIDGE: Yes. Good evening Chris.
CHRIS MANN: Quite sharp, isn’t it, the contrast between the top end where skilled workers are very much wanted in this county, and the bottom end where others, well, their work comes and goes? Continue reading “Local Chamber Pledges Council Support For Inward Investors”