17:51 Tuesday 13th September 2011
Drive BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.
ANDY BURROWS: As we were hearing earlier on, the seat of North East Cambridgeshire will go altogether, and it will be divided up into four different constituencies, including the new seat of Wisbech and Downham Market. But people in Whittlesea, they will be moved to the seat of the new constituency of South Peterborough. Johnnie Dee went out into Whittlesea today and spoke to a number of people, including Kay Mayor, who is the appropriately named Mayor of Whittlesea. Continue reading “Whittlesea Fen Town Lobby”
Tag: Stewart Jackson
Green Bank – Peterborough’s Capital Aspirations Under Scrutiny
07:07 Thursday 8th September 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
PAUL STAINTON: A year ago, we exclusively revealed on this show that Peterborough City Council wanted to adopt the slogan “Home of Environment Capital”. But have they managed it? How far have they managed to push the green agenda for the city? Well our reporter Kerry Devine has been out and about in the city, looking for signs that Peterborough is the home of environment capital. Continue reading “Green Bank – Peterborough’s Capital Aspirations Under Scrutiny”
Radioactive Dumping – Government Puts Augean Profits First
08:07 Monday 13th June 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
PAUL STAINTON: It was only a few weeks ago that Communities Secretary Eric Pickles ignored local planning objections, including a referendum, as he gave the go-ahead for low-level nuclear waste to be dumped near the village of Kingscliffe, just off the A1. On Saturday the site’s operators Augean PLC held an open day, and our reporter Tim Alba went along to have a look round. Continue reading “Radioactive Dumping – Government Puts Augean Profits First”
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 Development Partnership – Who are They?
07:22 Friday 13th May 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
PAUL STAINTON: You came on to talk about the old PDH site on Thorpe Road.
STEWART JACKSON: Yes I’ve got worries, because although the Council has looked at the site, and produced a supplementary planning document, I am very concerned that there might be a move to go for a monopoly developer on the site, instead of what could be achieved. It’s a very prestigious site. You’ll remember, the last big prestigious site was actually turned over to a prison, about six, seven years ago. It could be the key to the aspirational regeneration of Peterborough. And it’s crucially important, I think, that we, the Hospital, gets the best independent advice. They’ve had advice from King Sturge, I believe, the Trust. I’d like to know what they’ve actually provided, and what they’ve done for their fee, for the Trust.
PAUL STAINTON: Who are these people? Continue reading “Peterborough Development Partnership – Who are They?”
School Places and Broken Promises
08:13 Tuesday 10th May 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
PAUL STAINTON: 14% of parents didn’t get their first choice primary school for their child in Peterborough. 95% of Peterborough schoolchildren will be going though to one of their 3 preferred primary schools, from September 2011. Earlier we spoke to Cabinet Member for Education Councillor John Holdich. He admitted to us there was a shortage of school places in Peterborough. Well the new councillor for Ravensthorpe Ed Murphy has been in touch. He says a lack of school places is a big problem in his ward, and the West ward. Ed Murphy is on the line now. Morning Ed.
ED MURPHY: Good morning Paul.
PAUL STAINTON: When you say a big problem, can you quantify that for us? Continue reading “School Places and Broken Promises”
Stagg at Bay – MPs Want Answers
08:07 Tuesday 12th April 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
PAUL STAINTON: Now the MP for Peterborough says he doesn’t believe the amount of money being spent on salaries by Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is sustainable. Stewart Jackson is joining two other Cambridgeshire MPs in calling for a review of how the county’s fire service spends its money. He’ll be meeting the Chief Fire Officer Graham Stagg to discuss the matter later today, with a couple of other MPs. He explained earlier his concerns. (TAPE)
STEWART JACKSON: When we’re all being told that we’ve got to tighten our belts and reduce public expenditure across a lot of areas, to learn, for instance, that this fire service, which serves 750,000 people, has four members of staff on £600,000 between them, has six people in their media and communications department, including a full-time web co-ordinator, a design and communications officer, a full-time PR officer, and a media and communications assistant, that they are spending £128,000 on car allowances for the coming year, for instance, and that they’re spending for instance £300,000 this year on new laptops and desktop computers, these are figures which would cause eyebrows to be raised in a very good benign year, but given the circumstances we’re in financially, I just don’t think they’re sustainable. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Well that’s MP for Peterborough Stewart Jackson. I’m pleased to say we can speak to the county’s Chief Fire Officer Graham Stagg now. Morning Graham.
GRAHAM STAGG: Good morning.
PAUL STAINTON: It feels like and seems like, from what Stewart was saying, that there’s an air of profligacy at the top of the fire service in Cambridgeshire. Continue reading “Stagg at Bay – MPs Want Answers”
The Mysteries of AV
07:35 Thursday 31st March 2011
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
PAUL STAINTON: To AV, or not to AV, that is the question. On May 5th we’ll be asked to vote in a referendum on changing the way we elect MPs. The choice is between keeping the current system, or switching to Alternative Vote, where you can rank candidates in order of preference, rather than just putting one cross in one box, the old traditional way. A series of TV and radio adverts to promote the referendum is launched on Friday, and from next week all of us will get an information pack posted to us. But we’re going to give you the low-down first, starting with these five facts from our political reporter Alan Soady. Continue reading “The Mysteries of AV”