Local Authority leaders will meet with the CPCA Mayor Paul Bristow to try and digest the results of an eventful summer in Westminster The meeting papers for the Board of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority for 23 September 2026 are here But before we start, keep an eye on the Cambridge Water Scarcity GroupContinue reading “Combined Authority Board’s take on the new Prime Minister’s agenda”
Author Archives: Cambridge Town Owl
The Representation of the People Bill – Lords debate the merits of the proposed laws
Peers spent several hours debating the legislation that had passed its Commons stages before voting it through to the next stage You can: There’s ***lots*** I could say about this but instead I’ll highlight some of the speeches I picked out. Ones that stood out included: “”We as adults have made such a mess ofContinue reading “The Representation of the People Bill – Lords debate the merits of the proposed laws”
Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 9) Cultural Infrastructure Strategy says we need a new large music venue
Isn’t that marvellous!?! “What is cultural infrastructure? Sounds very woke to me! Could be suspicious!” It isn’t. The strategy itself is in the documents library for the current consultation – scroll down to the Wellbeing and Social Inclusion sub-heading which also contains a number of reports you may have missed. At the end of theContinue reading “Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 9) Cultural Infrastructure Strategy says we need a new large music venue”
Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 8) Community Infrastructure
This is one of the reports that will be worth referring back to as big planning applications come in – one for councillors and local residents to ensure developers provide more than the very bare minimum of community facilities There are some new and refreshed reports in the Wellbeing and social inclusion subheading in theContinue reading “Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 8) Community Infrastructure”
Huntingdonshire councillors approve local plan as it heads to planning inspectors
The proposals that extend to 2046 could result in 27,000 new homes following the increased house building targets imposed by ministers You can: “What does the map look like?” Like this: Above – you can browse through the map in detail here. Cambridge is located at the bottom right of the image above, and theContinue reading “Huntingdonshire councillors approve local plan as it heads to planning inspectors”
The Cambourne-to-Cambridge busway represents a failure in transport infrastructure decision-making
Which is quite a statement given that the ink from Lord Hendy’s ministerial pen is still not dry from granting ministerial approval for the controversial busway Yet even if Lord Hendy had declined the advice from the two transport inspectors and refused the application, I would have come to the same conclusion The systems ofContinue reading “The Cambourne-to-Cambridge busway represents a failure in transport infrastructure decision-making”
Eddington’s expansion is up before Cambridge City Council – any swimming pool progress updates?
The application requires the developers to make a contribution towards the cost and space of a new large swimming pool that would normally provide capacity for a population of a town for 50,000 people “Why does the University of Cambridge’s swimming pool at West Cambridge matter again?” Because they raised expectations ages ago – firstContinue reading “Eddington’s expansion is up before Cambridge City Council – any swimming pool progress updates?”
A&E waits unacceptable say bosses who have few means to deal with the problem
BBC Cambridgeshire published a headline in response to the Board of Governors meeting It followed the meeting earlier – you can read the papers here. Also, if you want to help support Addenbrooke’s and The Rosie Hospitals you can join as a member of the trust (I have) via https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/about-us/foundation-trust-membership/. You can do the sameContinue reading “A&E waits unacceptable say bosses who have few means to deal with the problem”
New public inquiry for *another* busway – CSET instead of Rail Haverhill
Another catastrophic defeat looms for me in this one – one that dates back to April 2014 when me and Puffles (pictured below) went by bus from Cambridge to Haverhill (it wasn’t pleasant) to learn about the town’s campaign to re-open the long-closed railway line to Cambridge. Failing that, see the CSET Public Inquiry PageContinue reading “New public inquiry for *another* busway – CSET instead of Rail Haverhill”
Rail Minister approves Cambourne-2-Cambridge Busway Application
Lord Hendy, the Minister of State for Rail approved the controversial application under delegated powers from the Secretary of State for Transport. Image: The announcement is filed under ‘Rail Infrastructure’ even though it will be a road with road signs saying ‘local buses only’. You can read the documents here The recommendation to the MinisterContinue reading “Rail Minister approves Cambourne-2-Cambridge Busway Application”
