Author Archives: Cambridge Town Owl

Ministers have responded to MPs who have raised the Forest City Concept with them. The Combined Authority Mayor for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Paul Bristow was also asked about it at his public questions event at Cambridge Guildhall on 25 June 2026 (see my previous blogpost) and he was dismissive of both the concept and ofContinue reading “Cambridgeshire MPs debate Forest City proposed for West Suffolk”

Two sets of question-and-answer sessions for CPCA Mayor Paul Bristow in the continuing heatwave You can listen to Chris Mann’s cross-examination of the CPCA Mayor on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire here. (Available till end of July 2026) I’ve not yet listened to the above, but one thing journalists are able to do that most councillors don’tContinue reading “CPCA Mayor faces questions at Cambridge Guildhall – and BBC Radio Cambridgeshire’s Chris Mann”

The Town and Country Planning Association publishes a page of guidance and links on involving children and young people in town planning – as two large planning applications land at Greater Cambridge Share Planning Service’s desks. You can browse through the TCPA’s resources here One of the resources included is the UN Convention on theContinue reading “Two large planning applications – hearing the voice of young people”

Cambridge City Council announces on social media it is bringing in its Red Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (they need also to put this on their website landing page as at the time of posting, there isn’t anything informing local residents about the extreme weather conditions). #IAgreeWithPuffles – and everyone else who thinks something should beContinue reading “Cambridge Greens call for urgent council meeting on extreme heat alert”

Suddenly 1999 seems a very long time ago, and the extreme heat that we were warned about is now here. So why are we so badly prepared? Interesting day to ask such a question given the Prime Minister resigned earlier this morning following Andy Burnham’s election to Parliament with a huge majority last Thursday. IfContinue reading “Red Alert for Extreme Heat – and retrofitting cities for extreme climate events”

Also on supporting community projects, and coming up with something that does not mention the word ‘school’ Not least because one of the biggest barriers to people taking part in anything involving education and learning are their negative experiences at school during childhood. Cambridgeshire has a new Local Democracy Reporter Hence my surprise at seeingContinue reading “Why combined authorities are not set up to deal with disconnection in society”

The proposals have come to the fore in their recent publication on overhauling how local government is financed, but the idea has been around for some time. With Andy Burnham having participated in the work of the think tank in recent times, will this proposal finally come around after over a century of waiting? InContinue reading “Re:State’s proposals for a Land Value Tax in devolution overhaul”

The Sutton Trust published new data as Cambridge Ahead held a discussion about inequalities in the city, concluding that ‘opportunities are not enough‘ Is citizenship/civics education part of the solution? See Young Citizens (formerly the Citizenship Foundation) here “At Young Citizens, we want young people to leave formal education with a strong grasp of the political,Continue reading “Sutton Trust quantifies inequalities young people face in Cambridgeshire”

The new strategy for 2026-29 will also need to account for the restructure of local government which inevitably means splitting up the service into at least two new ones You can read the papers at Item 7 of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Community Services committee here. Around one in seven of us have a library cardContinue reading “Councillors to debate the future of Cambridgeshire Libraries”

Which is splendid news and contained in meeting papers I didn’t dare read See item 7 of Cambridgeshire County Council here. “The centre would operate daily as an inclusive hub for arts, culture, volunteering and social programmes, with partnerships already established with local organisations.” Above – from BBC Cambridgeshire’s Phil Shepka, 17 June 2026 WhichContinue reading “Mill Road Library saved for community”