The inevitable outcome of the Cambridgeshire Conservatives’ decision to move the county council out to Alconbury, west of Huntingdon, in the face of over a decade of local government austerity imposed by their party in government.
You can see the papers at item 9 here
The preferred bidder at the moment is another hotel proposal – as highlighted by the CambsOnline’s John Elworthy here. Recall however that the last proposal for one by one of Cambridge’s most controversial firms back in 2019 fell through.
The area of land and buildings being sold of are as illustrated below.
Does local history matter?
“The wider site was the seat of government in Cambridge for over 1.000 years, with the first castle built on site by William the Conqueror in 1067, replaced by a much larger stone structure by Edward I in 1298, which survived until the English Civil War Historically, the site had a secondary function as a prison and later a police station”
Shire Hall, built in the 1930’s, is the largest building on site, laid out over five floors from basement to third floor level around two atria. The Octagon is a northern linked extension to Shire Hall, constructed in the 1960’s and arranged over four floors from basement to second floor level
For many years I have been calling for the site to be turned into a heritage attraction incorporating an expanded Museum of Cambridge.
This does not appear to be one of the options – hence why I asked whether there was any option to require any hotel operator to support financially any museum expansion on the site and/or other heritage provision.
The list of potential uses
- Offices
- Laboratory space
- Hotel
- Residential/build to rent
- Student
- ‘Senior living’ / care home
It feels like County Council [as an institution] have washed their hands of the Old Shire Hall
Should a freehold sale go through, it will be a reflection on so much that is going wrong with our city and county: The inability to raise revenue to protect and enhance our heritage assets, to educate residents and visitors about our shared local history, and the lack of desire to develop an alternative that incorporates the history and heritage of the site.
There may be a chance to persuade someone to come forward or the county council to invite heritage partners to step forward.
But that requires action by yourselves – the residents of Cambridgeshire.
With the new MPs in place, you can email them via https://www.writetothem.com/ and ask them to find out from the new Culture Secretary (responsible for Heritage) and the new Deputy Prime Minister (responsible for local government) what influence ministers can use to ensure that the site is not completely privatised and lost to the public. Which is the most likely of outcomes.
I have called for the old Assizes Court to be rebuilt and expanded to house an expanded Museum of Cambridge because back in 2019 Cambridgeshire County Council’s own archaeologists said they lack public display space. The current car parks – which are on the site of where the demolished court house (below) used to be could be built on again.
Above – the old Assizes Court House – Museum of Cambridge. Note the ornate street lamp and the bus stop outside – along with the lost statues on the roof representing Justice, Liberty, Power and Truth. I’d love to see them back up there.
You can also lobby your county councillors also via https://www.writetothem.com/ to make clear the importance of the heritage of the site – mindful that they are all up for re-election in under 10 months time. This is the sort of issue that might make for an interesting single issue independent candidate to make some noise about should anyone feel strong enough about it. (Although I’m sure there are other single issues around the county – not least the Coton Orchard and anti-busway campaigns that would attract similar protest candidates).
Food for thought?
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Below: Cambridge City Council has already started asking about having a unitary council for Cambridge
The Cambridge Town Owl 