Author Archives: Cambridge Town Owl

A new report from an unfortunately-named think-tank (due to a political party/limited company with the same name) provides a template to work with You can read the report here Before I start, for those of you departing birdsite and heading over to BSky, I’m at the latter too. Achieving ‘the devolution revolution’ The publication isContinue reading “What might devolution for Great Cambridge look like?”

The tragic news of the death of a teenager just after the hottest day of the year in Cambridge comes at a time a new set of planning documents have been published by the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Authority You can see the news report from BBC Cambridgeshire here. I’m not going to comment furtherContinue reading “The dangers of wild swimming in the East Cambridge Lakes”

And does the history of the institute hint at the re-establishment of the old CCAT – The Cambridge College for Art and Technology? When I look at the course list within the bright fuchsia coloured pages of the 1950s course catalogue for CCAT’s predecessor institution, the Cambridge Technical College and School of Art, I sortContinue reading “The Bishopsgate Institute shows what a lifelong learning centre for Cambridge could be like”

Just as the feeble, underpowered, poorly-resourced and fragmented local government sector tied up in ideological red tape created by Westminster and Whitehall is in no state to create an inclusive city, neither are private institutions. But the reasons are different. Pictured: Cambridge City Council’s Cultural Strategy 2024-29 Cambridge City Council’s vision for the future ofContinue reading “Cambridge’s exclusive institutions will struggle to create an inclusive city on their own”

The existing systems of local development plan making, and county transport planning inhibit rather than enable this process – along with the weak, feeble, and over-complicated mess of governance structures created by successive governments. This is why we can’t have nice things in and around our city I was in Together Culture on Fitzroy StreetContinue reading “The City of Cambridge needs a Great Cambridge Masterplan to reach its potential”

There have been a few updates on the redevelopment titled Cambridge East. I wrote about it in 2023 here. TL/DR? Click here and start droppin’ those pins! Above – from Cambridge East There are other things to comment on too. Above – From Cambridge East on the themes of place given that this is theContinue reading “Cambridge East (Marshall’s Airport) more digital pins to drop on online maps”

This is what happens when you come up with too many ideas and you crash the system Especially when some of them come from 2-3am digital scribblings from the previous evening ***I know! All of you can fill out your ideas instead!!!*** Because the system has (quite understandably) done the equivalent of singing this songContinue reading “*You’ve submitted too many comments*”

It might work! The joys of ADHD (or what I think of as ND+) which makes your mind most productive at unsociable hours. (You can also play with these old rail lines superimposed onto G-Maps here) Some of you will have seen the news of the proposed ApartHotel at the old Staples site on Mitcham’sContinue reading “Playing with tramway maps for Great Cambridge at 2am”

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycock MP spoke to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire following the housing policy announcement on Newtowns You can listen to the interview here from 1h43m The Government has made ***lots*** of new announcements The challenge is keeping up with them – and then working out how they are linked to each other. Then you’veContinue reading “What the new Housing Minister said about Cambridge”

Insights from an old report from 1981 can provide insights for future education and skills policies for adults and the lifelong learning sector You can browse through the report here I found the report in Plurabelle Books of Coldham’s Road in Cambridge – you can search their online catalogue on ABE Books here. As always,Continue reading “Basic science education (refreshers) for adults”