Author Archives: Cambridge Town Owl

A sobering statistic from Claire Stoneham of Cambridge University Hospitals Trust at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus forum of 03 Dec 2024 at the start of a major organisational overhaul. (See the slide pack here) It was a strangely intense gathering full of people mainly older than me in the audience (I think may have beenContinue reading “Addenbrooke’s Accident and Emergency deals with 4 times the volume of people it was designed for”

The Co-op Group (who have convenience stores dotted about all over Cambridge & beyond) recently appointed Naomh Campbell as their membership pioneer for our part of the world (Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire) in what could be the start of the re-emergence of the Co-operative Movement as a social force in local communities. I should declare anContinue reading “The Co-operative Movement’s Cambridgeshire Comeback?”

John Elledge asks: Why do so many British towns basically suck?. Shortly before the re-post of that article, the House of Lords Built Environment Committee published its report on the future of UK High Streets. And the scenario to avoid? Coming up in any future editions/volumes of Crap Towns UK. Because when the first editionContinue reading “Ensuring 21st Century New Towns do not become future entries into the next volume of Crap Towns UK”

…and have it based on non-fiction books about the world around us that are found in the children’s and young adults sections of bookshops The idea of a ‘general studies’ course for adults, or a series of informal talks on contemporary local issues was one I got from the old Adult School Union’s annual schemesContinue reading “An alternative book group for adults – on what the world has discovered since we left school…”

In a sort of reverse of this headline, Transport secretary resigns following media storm over spent conviction over a decade old as the Westminster media bubble goes into an orgasmic overdrive over ‘further information emerging’. On the face of it, this was a big and unexpected blow – and not just for Labour but forContinue reading “Lou Haigh fixed/repaired things and moved [on] fast”

“The Department for Transport is developing a strategy which will set the high-level direction for how transport should be designed, built and operated in England over the next 10 years.” (Image from Unite Ayrshire – public transport for everyone!) See the consultation landing page here See the Transport Secretary’s speech here See the Transport Secretary’sContinue reading “Transport Secretary asks for your input into new national transport strategy”

I missed this significant paragraph in a letter from the Minister for Local Government, Jim McMahon (Formerly Leader of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council in Gtr Manchester) to councils on the Oxford-Cambridge Partnership Also, a quick reminder of The Trials of Democracy: Who Gives a XXXX? the third of three workshops this weekend at the MillContinue reading “Minister for Local Government proposes regional councils”

Coming up on 28th November – likely to coincide with the Devolution White Paper, these two major policy announcements will have a huge influence on the future of Cambridge & Cambridgeshire. The Transport Secretary Lou Haigh posted this on Sunday morning Above – Lou Haigh on Birdsite 24 Nov 2024 If trams become a bigContinue reading “Tram-tastic! Lou Haigh to set out Government’s vision for an Integrated National Transport Strategy”

The Government’s new major policies on the governance of England (including local government) are expected to be published in a White Paper – a statement of new or major changes to government policies, is expected in the next week. What’s interesting is that before the general election, Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner said the impression thatContinue reading “The Government’s vision for devolution in England – and the looming White Paper”

The looming Devolution White Paper has to overhaul over-complicated and convoluted structures described in the document published earlier this week. You can discuss how to improve these at The Trials of Democracy project on 23rd and 30th November at the Central Library and the Mill Road Community Centre respectively – see here Above – startingContinue reading “The Cambridge Biomedical Campus’s travel and transport plan will fail under current governance structures”