Author Archives: Cambridge Town Owl

In one of the least surprising decisions of year, DEFRA Secretary Steve Reed continued the pattern of Cabinet Ministers going against the advice of planning inspectors and approving large infrastructure developments in the name of growth You can see: “The recommendation was for refusal – so why did the Secretary of State go against it?”Continue reading “Government approves Cambridge sewage works move to Honey Hill”

This post in part looks at some of the things that can bring people together but not involve politics or religion. One of the best ideas I’ve seen is The Rebel Badge Club who are coming to Cambridge on 26th April 2025! (Hence the image!) Call for ideas from former Abbey Ward Councillor Alex Bulat You canContinue reading “Labour’s Dr Alex Bulat asks: What should councillors do to be more visible?”

For the first time – and last time ever, each seat is being contested by five candidates from parties represented at Westminster. TL/DR? Type in your postcode to https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/ and email your questions to the candidates! The candidates’ lists have been disaggregated by district-level council areas below. “Who can I vote for?” The more convenientContinue reading “Cambridgeshire County Council candidates for 2025 local elections declared”

Such is the size of the University of Cambridge that you’ll inevitably find examples of excellent practice swimming against the cultural tide of an institution reluctant to open up Image – Cambridge Past Present and Future – who objected strongly to the Beehive Redevelopment plans. Founded by a partnership of town and gown people, someContinue reading “Two tales of one University?”

The Patron of the RSA made a series of comments introducing her guest speaker Prof Robert T Putnam at the RSA’s Annual Patron’s Lecture You can watch to the Princess Royal’s introduction here, followed by Prof Putnam’s lecture. The event was also accompanied by the publication of an interim academic paper: “Prof Putnam’s books haveContinue reading “The Princess Royal on Social Capital”

Is this a symptom of the University of Cambridge expanding far too quickly – beyond the capacity of its own resources and those of the city it gets its name from? You can read the article by Apeike Umolu here. It should lead to tough questions being asked by politicians of the big decision-makers holdingContinue reading ““Many PhD students don’t live here” – Varsity Newspaper exposes Cambridge University’s housing crisis”

So why are ministers choosing to cut budgets rather than raising taxes on those with the broadest shoulders in this grossly unequal society of ours? You can see the press release from the WEA – the Workers’ Educational Association, here. The successive cuts to lifelong learning budgets over recent decades has had a devastating impactContinue reading “*It’s time to protect adult learning* says the WEA”

While Labour did not include nationwide reform of local government in their manifesto, there’s nothing to stop them bringing in a new policy so long as Parliament supports them. You can watch the videos of the debates by the following councils as hyperlinked: The joint letter that the above-five councils have co-signed can be foundContinue reading “Councillors voice concern about pace and principles of local government reform”

In a motion to Cambridge City Council (ultimately amended by the Labour ruling group), Cambridge Greens raised a host of issues related to the limits to growth in what was inevitably a highly-partisan meeting due to it being the last one before the local elections. You can listen to Councillor Elliot Tong (Greens – Abbey)Continue reading “Cambridge Greens ask the Chancellor to reconsider her plans for Cambridge”

…says the Carnegie Foundation’s report on Life in the UK 2024 for England You can read the report here. On the four different categories of wellbeing measured – Economic, social, environmental, and democratic, it’s the last of these that England scores the worst Above – Carnegie (2025) p5 “Everyone had the chance to vote inContinue reading ““Put repairing democracy at the centre of plans for English devolution””