Tag: Marco Cereste

Network Rail, Neglect and the Peterborough Station Quarter

08:08 Monday 9th May 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: A local Neighbourhood Watch group is blaming a rise in fly-tipping at the door of Peterborough City Council. The Park Farm Neighbourhood Watch Group says their area of Stanground has been blighted by fly-tippers. Their member Chris Harper, who’s also a local councillor, was on the show earlier. He said residents need to take more pride in their local area. And another area blighted by fly-tippers at the moment is the old Dairy Crest site on Midland Road, just near the hospital there, the old hospital. Continue reading “Network Rail, Neglect and the Peterborough Station Quarter”

Nick Sandford Reflects

08:22 Friday 6th May 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Trying to bring you interviews with all the main protagonists this morning in the local elections. in Peterborough. But unfortunately none of them are answering their phones. It was a late night last night, I think, for Marco Cereste, who regained his seat in Stanground Central with an increased majority, and some would say a vindication of what he’s been doing in Peterborough as Council Leader. We’ve been trying to get hold of him this morning. Not picking up. Charlie Swift, re-elected in North ward, heading towards 60 years as a councillor. Not picking his phone up. And it’s goodbye to Graham Murphy, Mark Collins and Yvonne Lowndes. Not picking her phone up. Yes, they’re all in bed this morning. Yes, there’s a common thread. The one man who is picking his phone up and taking it on the chin this morning is Liberal Democrat Nick Sandford, of course the former Parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats in Peterborough. Morning again Nick.
NICK SANDFORD: Morning. Hi.
PAUL STAINTON: I won’t keep kicking you while you’re a bit down …
NICK SANDFORD: That’s extremely kind of you. Continue reading “Nick Sandford Reflects”

Labour Back in Force in Peterborough

07:08 Friday 6th May 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: Now, last night, passion, turnout, jubilation. (AUDIO: CHANTING AND CLAPPING) Who says local elections don’t count? Who says nobody cares? Jubilant scenes last night in Peterborough. 19 seats up for grabs. Leader Marco Cereste increased his majority in Stanground Central, but he watched in agony as his Tory Party lost 4 seats to Labour. Continue reading “Labour Back in Force in Peterborough”

Local Elections Tomorrow- Radio Cambridgeshire Coverage

07:50 Wednesday 4th May 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY GALL: Tomorrow many of you will be voting in local elections across the county. 477 candidates are competing in 154 seats across 5 District Councils and Peterborough City Council. That’s as well as the Alternative Vote referendum. With the latest news, and looking ahead to tomorrow, I’m joined by our political reporter Steve Titman, who’s with us. Good morning Steve.
STEVE TITMAN: Good morning Andy.
ANDY GALL: Now what are we expecting to happen in the local elections in Cambridgeshire? Continue reading “Local Elections Tomorrow- Radio Cambridgeshire Coverage”

Winner Takes All in Stanground

10:12 Tuesday 3rd May 2011
Mid-Morning Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

ANDY BURROWS: Time now for the latest in our local election debates. Local elections of course coming up on Thursday. Today we focus on Peterborough, and in particular the ward of Stanground Central. I’m joined by four of the candidates who are standing in that particular ward. First of all, Marco Cereste is the incumbent Conservative candidate, and Leader of Peterborough City Council. He says he’s passionate about making Peterborough a city where everyone has the chance to fulfil their potential, and enjoy high-quality public services. As Leader, his priorities have included promoting and attracting new investment in the city. In the ward, it is currently the refurbishment of Stanground College. Hello to you Councillor Cereste.
MARCO CERESTE: Good morning. Hello.
ANDY BURROWS: Stephen Goldspink is the candidate for the English Democrats. Although standing in Stanground Central, he was first elected to the Council to represent East Ward in 2002, first as a Conservative, and then as an English Democrat, after switching parties. He says he decided to get involved because he wants to make a difference in the local community. Good morning to you Stephen.
STEPHEN GOLDSPINK: Good morning Andy.
ANDY BURROWS: John Swallow is standing as an Independent candidate. He’s a bus driver. He hit the headlines last year when he stood against MP Stewart Jackson at the General Election. He began in politics as a Member of the Labour Party, but left after becoming disillusioned. Good morning John Swallow.
JOHN SWALLOW: Good morning Andy.
ANDY BURROWS: And Chris York is the Labour candidate. Chris lives in Stanground, and has been active in the community for several years, currently working on setting up youth projects to tackle anti-social behaviour. He says the difference between him and the other candidates is that he’s the only one who lives in the ward, working all year round for the people of Stanground. Hello Chris.
CHRIS YORK:Yes. Hi. Good morning.
ANDY BURROWS: Gentlemen, thank you for joining me. We’ve got lots to be talking about between now and 11 o’clock. That’s for sure. And what I’m going to do in the next few moments is give you all a chance to sell yourselves. You’ll have 30 seconds each to tell us what you’re standing for, before we get into the debate about Stanground, and of course Peterborough in general. We’ll be back with you in just a moment
(TRAVEL) (TRAILER)
ANDY BURROWS: 16 minutes past 10. It’s Tuesday morning. On Thursday Peterborough and everywhere else goes to the polls for the local elections. In the latest debate we’re having on the local elections across Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, we’re focusing on the Peterborough ward of Stanground Central. It’s a key-battleground, not least of all because the Leader of Peterborough City Council is trying to hold on to his seat. He joins me this morning, alongside Stephen Goldspink, candidate for the English Democrats, John Swallow, the Independent candidate, and Chris York, the Labour candidate. Mark Williamson is here as well in the studio, because gentlemen, I’m going to give y ou 30 seconds each to sell yourselves, and your policies. We’ll go in alphabetical order, so Marco Cereste .. we’re doing it on surnames, before you start arguing between yourselves. We’re doing it on surnames, so Marco Cereste, you get to go first. Mark’s got the stopwatch. In your own time Marco, off you go. Continue reading “Winner Takes All in Stanground”

BBC Peterborough Local Election Analysis

07:58 Monday 18th April 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: The city’s going to be going to the polls of course on Thursday May 5th. This year’s local elections the first big test for the Coalition. And as if one election wasn’t enough, you’ll also be able to vote on a change to the way we vote of course. But what about Peterborough City Council elections? Our political reporter Steve Titman looks ahead. Continue reading “BBC Peterborough Local Election Analysis”

Cereste Pleads Ignorance and Blames Others for Purdah Breach

08:06 Monday 11th April 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

PAUL STAINTON: The English Democrats have accused the ruling Conservative Party of electioneering ahead of next month’s local elections. It follows the news on Friday that Stanground College and Orton Longueville Schools would share £34 million pounds for major rebuilding works. Jonathan Lewis from the City Council broke the news on the show. (TAPE)
JONATHAN LEWIS: When we started the Building Schools for the Future programme, we put aside £40 million to support the overall building of the school, assuming then Government funding was coming on top. We still have around £34 million of that money left, and now we feel is the right time to start the build work with the money we have, and an expectation that there will still be money from Government, and you know, we’re fairly confident we will get something. But we want to get on. We want to transform the schools. And we want to make a difference. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: However, Opposition parties have questioned whether this announcement should have been made at such a politically sensitive time. Earlier, we heard from Councillor Stephen Goldspink. He’s standing in Stanground Central ward for the English Democrats. (TAPE)
STEPHEN GOLDSPINK: They’ve known about this money being in the budget since back in February, when it was published. They were apparently going to spend £73 million on the schools. Now they’re only going to spend £34 million, and hope they get some Government money on top. But why announce it now? They’ve known all about this for a long long time, and there was no reason to announce it right in the middle of an election period. It came from the schools, but it also came from the Education Department. You’ve spoken to Jon Lewis. And they rang up the schools, told them the news last Wednesday, because I checked with the schools. They could have said to the schools, keep this to yourselves please. It’s an election period, and there’s a convention that we do not make major announcements during election periods. They didn’t do that. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: We also heard from the Labour candidate Chris York in the first hour of the show. Also standing in Stanground central, John Swallow for the Independents, and Marco Cereste for the Conservatives, Leader of Peterborough City Council, who joins me now. Morning Marco. Continue reading “Cereste Pleads Ignorance and Blames Others for Purdah Breach”

Stanground Central: Goldspink Targets Cereste

07:00 Tuesday 22nd March 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

EMMA MACLEAN: The Leader of Peterborough’s English Democrat Party has decided to run against the Leader of the City Council in the forthcoming local elections. Councillor Stephen Goldspink will stand in the Stanground Central Ward against Marco Cereste. Ben Stevenson reports.
BEN STEVENSON: Councillor Stephen Goldspink used to represent the Conservative Party in the East Ward of the city, but left after Marco Cereste was elected as the new Leader. He and fellow councillor Graham Murphy then defected to the newly-formed Peterborough English Democrat Party, back in October 2009. If Councillor Goldspink isn’t elected in the Stanground Central election, then he will still remain as a councillor for the East Ward.
EMMA MACLEAN: And Paul Stainton will be talking to Stephen Goldspink on the Peterborough Breakfast Show after this bulletin. Continue reading “Stanground Central: Goldspink Targets Cereste”