Author Archives: Cambridge Town Owl

A planning application strongly opposed by the residents of Romsey Town in Cambridge, but which received approval in 2019 has come back in late 2021 – something that will only anger local residents once more. And for what purpose? You can see the files on the Greater Cambridge Planning Portal at https://applications.greatercambridgeplanning.org/online-applications/ and searching forContinue reading “Ministers failing communities again – the serviced apartments planning loophole”

If you want to know why, have a watch of Cllr Sam Davies‘ presentation to the AGM 2021 of the Federation of Cambridge Residents’ Associations. If you’re interested in the long-form presentation of the issues, Cllr Davies has recommended this presentation by Dr Deborah Potts to the Cambridge Commons. The three massive policy changes neededContinue reading “The Greater Cambridge Local Plans will fail to meet housing demand and will under-provide for community facilities unless we see big policy changes in Whitehall”

One of a series of papers published today by the Combined Authority You can read the papers here for the meeting on 27th Oct 2021. It’s only nine pages, and is Appendix 1 of item 2.6. Cllr Bridget Smith (Lib Dems – Gamlingay), the Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council is the lead councillor forContinue reading “OxCam Arc publishes environmental principles”

Hang on – don’t we have to make sure that all of the other policy reports and documents are consistent with these climate commitments? And if not, which one has to show flexibility? If you’ve got a local government or climate change policy background, have a look at this vacancy – closing date 29 OctContinue reading “Now the hard part: Delivering on the county’s climate commitments”

As someone who normally moans about stuff to do with politics (exhibit A) I felt more than a little relief when our county’s youngest climate commissioner who is still at medical school went and delivered the public policy masterclass that I’ve seen very few people match. Soon-to-be Dr Rhiannon Osborne gave a hard-hitting talk onContinue reading “Rhiannon Osborne gives Cambridgeshire a much-needed Climate crisis masterclass”

“College Principals have escalated this serious concern to the County Council and to the Combined Authority, in its role as Transport Authority for the region.” Paper 2.3 to the Combined Authority’s Skills & Employment Committee here. Damning of how central government has utterly failed successive cohorts of young adults and students by failing to provideContinue reading “Cambridgeshire’s further education colleges spend £1.8m on providing transport & bus services that should be provided for by local government”

David Puttnam retires from the House of Lords – and stepped down with a powerful speech for the Shirley Williams Memorial Lecture on the dangers to democracy. You can read the speech at https://www.davidputtnam.com/viewNews/n/lord-puttnam-retirement-full-speech/ He had already written this before news of the shocking murder of Sir David Amess MP – only five years afterContinue reading “Indifference”

Why? To inform residents and the public of what was proposed previously, and compare what was in the plans versus what we actually got. Earlier in the Cambridgeshire Collection I looked at some of local plan documents from previous eras the 1970s-1990s. I made a short video so as to encourage people to visit theContinue reading “Local councils should digitise and make easily available recent past and historic local plans”

Just over six years ago, newly-elected Cllr Anna Smith (Lab – Coleridge, previously Romsey) made her first speech in the council chamber following the 2015 City Council elections. Last night her fellow councillors elected her to lead the Labour group – and thus the city council in succession to Cllr Lewis Herbert (also Lab –Continue reading “We have a new leader at the Guildhall”

Cambridgeshire County Council set a precedent in 1998 with their classroom materials for schools and colleges on the future of Cambridge. I found the materials in the Cambridgeshire Collection. They were woeful. By today’s standards. “Cambridge has an international reputation for quality, for style, and for civilised values.” Cambridge Local Plan 1996. I think mostContinue reading “Extended projects for further education students in/around Cambridge on social & civic issues – and local history”