The MP-Candidate for Cambridge Liberal Democrats, Cllr Cheney Payne (Castle Ward on Cambridge City Council) on what residents are telling her about our city You can ‘Residents are telling me that Cambridge is starting to feel run down’ Above – Cllr Cheney Payne (LibDems – Castle) 19 August 2026 “Starting? It already is and hasContinue reading “‘Cambridge is starting to feel run down’ Cllr Cheney Payne of Cambridge Liberal Democrats”
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Climate grief in face of droughts and wildfires
And in my case, climate despondency. Because I can’t see how things are going to get any better climate-wise in my lifetime. Image: Nightingale Rec off Queen Edith’s Way, Cambridge. 09 August 2026 I took this photo of Nightingale Rec on 09 August 2026. I’ve not noticed any rain since then, and the amount neededContinue reading “Climate grief in face of droughts and wildfires”
Government confirms plans to allow building close to existing railway stations
This follows a consultation from ages ago (December 2025) which set out new standards to enable medium-high density developments to be built in places where sustainable rail transport links already exist You can: Also, I wrote about it here which listed 12 points in the consultation document “Under the government’s new National Planning Policy Framework,Continue reading “Government confirms plans to allow building close to existing railway stations”
‘Significant’ drop-off in busway passengers – put your Qs to councillors
Some of you may have seen the article in BBC Cambridgeshire here – there are a couple of council/committee meetings coming up for you to put questions to councillors on this Talking of buses, the Cambridge Bus Users have posted an update following their AGM which you can read here. Buses and extreme heat LondonContinue reading “‘Significant’ drop-off in busway passengers – put your Qs to councillors”
‘We didn’t start the fire’ – but our economic system poured fuel on it
The footage of Holme Fen in northern Cambridgeshire taken by the firefighters of Biggleswade Community Fire Station (down the from Peterborough) is more than a wake-up call informing the public of the age we are now in. Image – From Biggleswade Community Fire Station via BBC Cambridgeshire Before I start, just a quick note aboutContinue reading “‘We didn’t start the fire’ – but our economic system poured fuel on it”
Sir Patrick Geddes combines civics education with town planning
The book is Cities in Evolution, published in 1915 but written before the outbreak of the First World War, and within it he makes the case for citizens and cities Image: an old crest of the Royal Institute of British Architecture – RIBA The crest is from this digitised copy the transactions/report of a majorContinue reading “Sir Patrick Geddes combines civics education with town planning”
Overhauling UK industrial supply chains to mitigate climate change
The combination of periods of heavy, intense rainfall and the extended drought with periods of extreme heat are forcing politics and industry to face up to unpredicted challenges Image: Full report of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Commission on Climate Change, published October 2021 Cambridge has another amber heat warning for extreme heat this week.Continue reading “Overhauling UK industrial supply chains to mitigate climate change”
Waterbeach New Town’s proposed bland and ugly blocks by the lakeside
That familiar phrase: “the residents deserve so much better than this” (such as here with North Cambourne) also applies here. Some of you may have seen the report in the Cambridge Independent here, which relates to the press release from Urban and Civic on Waterbeach New Town of 04 August 2026 here Above – CGIContinue reading “Waterbeach New Town’s proposed bland and ugly blocks by the lakeside”
Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 8) Student accommodation and ARU’s expansion
A longstanding controversial topic that has become more acute as higher education institutions expanded their student numbers faster than the accommodation they could provide for. I’ve written about this before As I wrote in 2023: Most of you will be familiar with my repeated references to Parliamentary reports on unsustainable council finances (Commons LUHC 2021)Continue reading “Draft Gtr Cambridge Local Plan: 8) Student accommodation and ARU’s expansion”
Economic and policy drivers of loneliness – going beyond individuals
The article “Cambridge widow left feeling ‘isolated and alone’ as more HMOs pop up on estate” by Local Democracy Reporter for Greater Cambridge Eoin McCaul highlights broken economic structures and enfeebled local government not just in Cambridge but nationwide IMAGE: Loneliness Strategy 2018 from Theresa May’s Government. “A widow in her 80s said the spreadContinue reading “Economic and policy drivers of loneliness – going beyond individuals”
The Cambridge Town Owl 