Author Archives: Cambridge Town Owl

Once the final sets of devolution deals are completed, ministers should commission a major evaluation project to see if they are functioning as intended – and if they are not, whether the policy response needs only minor changes or an overhaul of governance nationwide This follows the publication by the Institute for Government of aContinue reading “I’m still not convinced by Combined Authorities for England”

The Chair of the New Towns Task Force said some things on the radio which worried a few of us given the intro into the news item! It wasn’t a formal statement of government policy, rather a short soundbite that actually didn’t add anything new. But things like this can set the political cat amongstContinue reading “The Government needs to get much better at managing expectations on the future of Cambridge”

Several of you have asked me to pick up on the recent Greater Cambridge Assembly Meeting – noting my position is that the GCP should be abolished (and to get Cambridge Connect Light Rail built) “As Assembly members, your roll is to scrutinise and question the proposals presented to you. In your report, why isContinue reading “Cambridge to Haverhill Rail vs CSET busway (let’s face it, it’s a road) again”

It’s very rare for a local council to commission a formal legal opinion from a senior barrister, but that it what they did prior to approving this controversial application which I last wrote about a few weeks ago here TL/DR? See BBC Cambridgeshire here, and see https://cherryhintoninnovation.co.uk/ by the developer For those of you whoContinue reading “Sci-tech park on old Cambridge landfill site gets go-ahead after council commissions formal legal opinion”

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust sends out another high-demand warning as the Greater Cambridge Planning Service publishes an independent report on demand for sci-tech space. Image – get involved with Together Culture if you’re interested in the future of our city – as one of the sci-tech sites is The Grafton in The Kite TL/DR?Continue reading “Addenbrooke’s Accident and Emergency under strain as new report assesses Cambridge’s sci-tech bubble”

I’ve been buying cheapo old books on buildings and things again…while being house-bound with chronic fatigue and post-exertional malaise. (No, I don’t know why I stayed up until 02.30am to finish this when I started it before midnight!) It might seem strange to follow a post that featured one of the most famous brutalist structuresContinue reading “More on building design through the words from a previous age”

I ask only they’ve admitted me into hospital twice, and every time I get a minor pain somewhere in my chest or on my arm I fear I’ll end up there again. Or worse When I was in A&E earlier this year after one-too-many chest pains, I got talking to one of the long-serving portersContinue reading “What happened to the plans for expanding A&E at Addenbrooke’s in the 2000s?”

The problem is there is only so much that Dr Ian Sollom can do under the existing system and structures of local government. So how can he both demonstration action & results, while helping his constituents become more informed about how local government functions & malfunctions in Cambridgeshire? Image – a map from the oldContinue reading “‘Vote for change demands action – new St Neots & Mid-Cambs MP told’”

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised with what has been put forward given my blogpost back on 09 November 2022 – which is nearly two years ago. “Does the revamped building look any better?” You be the judge. Above – from the Design & Access Statement in the application now out for public consultation WheneverContinue reading “RailPen propose a bland block on Newmarket Road”

The failure of central government to enable local councils not only to designate sites for essential city functions, but also to provide them with the means and resources to turn plans into reality is excruciatingly visible in Cambridge’s limited nightlife I still find it astonishing that Cambridge has fewer night clubs today than in theContinue reading “Cambridge needs to designate the site for second urban centre”