Almost all of Syd Barrett’s life was spent here in Queen Edith’s, from his childhood on Hills Road to his long retirement in St Margaret’s Square. It would have been hard to make a film about him without showing a lot of the locality, and the film-makers didn’t disappoint. We saw half a dozen local houses and buildings, even – rather curiously – The Rock pub. Looking around at the audience, I wondered how many of them had a connection to Barrett?
Read the full article...Dodgy Politics
I’m a bit annoyed with some of our local political parties’ campaigning, especially the way they’re preying on less informed voters.
Read the full article...Middle of the road politics
I am sure our MP Mr Browne is quite aware that the only reason he can stand in the road on Nightingale Avenue is because it’s been closed to through traffic for the past two years, as residents have been quick to point out.
Read the full article...Help make the case for a railway line to Haverhill
There’s still a consultation where we can object to the white elephant busway south of Queen Edith’s, and I encourage you to do so. It only takes a couple of minutes. Here’s how.
Read the full article...Big changes to local roads proposed
The GCP has come up with six new road classifications, and made a recommendation of how these could be applied across the city. Some could profoundly change the characteristics of neighbourhoods in Queen Edith’s.
Read the full article...Thoughts on the 2022 Cambridge City Council elections
There are local elections this week, including for a third of the councillors on Cambridge City Council. Here’s a preview for Queen Edith’s.
Read the full article...My presentation to the Boundary Commission about revised parliamentary constituencies
I presented to the Public Hearing held by the Boundary Commission for England my case that if two Cambridge city wards must be put in the brand new South Cambs constituency, they should be Trumpington and Cherry Hinton.
Read the full article...The future of the Luard Road point road closure
In a public consultation, the Luard Road point closure scored the highest level of ‘strong support’ of all the similar schemes in the city, yet council officers have announced that they are thinking of removing it. We need our county councillors to make a case for retaining it, especially after its contribution to reducing traffic accidents on Hills Road.
Read the full article...New parliamentary boundary recommendations keep Queen Edith’s out of the city
Why Cherry Hinton and Trumpington should be the wards put in a parliamentary constituency outside of Cambridge city.
Read the full article...Fix Campus problems before any expansion
We do not want to hear excuses; sorting out existing problems must come before any further expansion is allowed.
Read the full article...What do the 2021 election results mean for us?
Last week’s election results in Cambridgeshire had some big surprises, but I think they were the result of electoral systems and clever political campaigning. Here’s a look at the three ‘upsets’ that will affect us in Queen Edith’s.
Read the full article...Local Elections Preview – Part 3 (of 3)
Of all the elections we have, those for Mayor and Police & Crime Commissioner are the two where our individual votes are the least significant, because they take place as one giant election over the whole county. Here’s a guide to the third and fourth ballot papers we’re being confronted with on 6 May.
Read the full article...Local Elections Preview – Part 2 (of 3)
Today’s instalment is shorter, you’ll be pleased to know, as I look at the election for our solitary County Councillor here in Queen Edith’s. I also discuss what might be quite an exciting election in the county as a whole, although the action will be elsewhere!
Read the full article...Local Elections Preview – Part 1 (of 3)
In this first instalment, I take a look at the most ‘local’ election of all, the one for our councillors who will make up the City Council.
Read the full article...How do we get better local councillors?
Once again this year, expect to see some names on the ballot paper who barely know where Queen Edith’s is at the moment, never mind actually live here.
Read the full article...Some thoughts on 2021 in Queen Edith’s
If you’ve ever thought you’d like to be a local councillor, this coming year is the best chance you will ever get. And you won’t need to join a political party either.
Read the full article...First update for Netherhall Farm housing estate plans
Read about what the group behind the estate between Worts’ Causeway and Beaumont Road (‘GB1’ or ‘Netherhall Farm’) has submitted in its first update.
Read the full article...Are experimental road closures at least worth a try?
The ideas were at least partially informed by input from the public and local organisations, but it’s a shame that side of things couldn’t have gone further.
Read the full article...The new Wort’s Causeway housing estates: what now?
We need to demand improvements. And, it should be said, the developers will expect us to do so. That’s the way the game is played.
Read the full article...Cambridge to be stripped of say in its own transport issues
Why Cambridgeshire County Council needs to suspend a cynical proposal, and how you can show you agree.
Read the full article...This blog succumbed to coronavirus too
I’ve been devoting my spare time in the last month to being part of the Queen Edith’s Community Forum team. I’m sure regular readers will understand.
Read the full article...Cambridge City Council elections 2020 – a long range forecast
Normally I’d only write about the Cambridge City Council elections a couple of weeks before they took place, but this May’s elections are a bit different!
Read the full article...The Prospects for South Cambridgeshire in the 2019 General Election
Both Ladbrokes and William Hill have suddenly written off the Conservatives’ historical dominance and have the race almost too close to call. Suddenly, it’s all quite exciting. Our vote could actually make a difference!
Read the full article...Heidi Allen joins up with the Liberal Democrats
Last night our MP Heidi Allen announced that she was joining the Liberal Democrats. Will it be possible for her to be re-elected at the next General Election? Or is Queen Edith’s destined to have a Conservative MP once more?
Read the full article...Plans for ‘Newbury Farm’ development released
The planning application for the southern half of the huge new housing development off Worts’ Causeway is now available for our inspection.
Read the full article...Planning Application News: Queen Edith’s Way
Almost inevitably, after this house was hugely extended, comes the application to make it into a “house of multiple occupancy”.
Read the full article...Campaign to save 291 Hills Road is defeated
Queen Edith’s may be a special part of the city, but the most important lesson in this campaign has been that almost all these properties could be demolished, and there is nothing the residents or planners can do to prevent it.
Read the full article...Why we all need to keep an eye on Worts Causeway developments
GB1 and GB2 could easily become yet another disastrously-managed piece of Cambridge property development. We all need to be watching.
Read the full article...Queen Edith’s City Council Election Results 2019
George Pippas re-elected as a city councillor for the ward After one of the more interesting election campaigns of the past few years in this ward, Liberal Democrat former mayor George Pippas (above right) was tonight elected for a further year as one of Queen Edith’s three city councillors. Independent candidate Sam Davies was runner-up,
Read the full article...Queen Edith’s City Council Hustings Event, 25 April 2019
Queen Edith’s Community Forum held its traditional “Meet The Candidates” event before the 2019 election, and here’s what happened.
Read the full article...Queen Edith’s City Council Election Preview 2019
It’s that time when this blog looks at the forthcoming Cambridge City Council election in Queen Edith’s, and tries to work out what’s going to happen.
Read the full article...200 Student Rooms at the Bell Language School
Plans have been submitted for a major redevelopment of the Bell Language School on Red Cross Lane, with up to 200 student accommodation rooms.
Read the full article...Planning Application News: Queen Edith’s Way
The owners of the former “Hollies” residential care home on Queen Edith’s Way have notified the council of their intention to demolish the building.
Read the full article...Yellow lines for Baldock Way to be discussed next week
I hope the council committee approves these proposals. It’s a shame that motorists couldn’t be community-minded or considerate enough to avoid having to implement them, but that’s the way it is.
Read the full article...The community’s ‘Saving Raylands’ campaign continues
Many people have asked for an update on the threatened demolition of the house at 291 Hills Road and its replacement with two unpleasant blocks of flats by local company Gibson Developments. After the refusal of permission for the development by the City Council’s Planning Committee in April, the company has returned with a whole
Read the full article...Celebrate a local family house before it’s destroyed forever
The historic family homes at 291 and 292 Hills Road may be about to get demolished. On Sunday afternoon, neighbours and other local residents will be gathering outside 292 Hills Road to celebrate its distinguished history.
Read the full article...Stay of execution for 291 Hills Road …but now it’s 292
The history and sheer class of 292 Hills Road (York House), built by Cyril Ridgeon in 1924, clearly doesn’t mean enough to stop the current owner from wanting to destroy it. Neighbours have tried to get the house listed, with support from CambridgePPF, but their request was rejected.
Read the full article...Queen Edith’s City Council Election Preview 2018
There are plenty of people on social media suggesting that we should vote on national issues, such as Brexit, to indicate our support or otherwise for the government. Please don’t do this. Local elections are about local authority services, and Queen Edith’s needs great councillors to stand up for our area. Here’s my summary of the choice we face in next week’s city council election.
Read the full article...It’s 291 Hills Road – The Video
Local residents campaigning to save 291 Hills Road from developers have produced a video making their case.
Read the full article...5 observations on the Cambridge South East Transport proposals
Here are my thoughts on the Cambridge South East Transport project. It seems to me that the authorities consider this to be more about the people out in the countryside who they want to get into and out of Queen Edith’s more quickly. We need to make sure that our voices are heard.
Read the full article...Is A Busway To Queen Edith’s Coming Down The Road?
The authorities reckon they can solve congestion coming into Queen Edith’s by building a new Park & Ride, right out at the A11, the other side of Babraham, then creating a bus service from there which will be good enough to get people out of their cars. This will have a big impact on us for many years to come, but they’ve only given us a few weeks to work out what it all means and have our say. Here’s everything I know, and what we can all do.
Read the full article...Campaign to save 291 Hills Road: the latest news
This is not NIMBYism. Many of the supporters of the campaign (including me) accept that we have an affordable housing shortage in the area. But more three-quarters-of-a-million-pound flats is not what the area needs – there are plenty of unsold examples of those. Here’s how you can help.
Read the full article...Surprise yellow lines on Baldock Way to join new ones on Cav Ave
A surprise proposed new section of double yellow lines has been unveiled by the county council for the stretch of Baldock Way between Blinco Grove and Cavendish Avenue.
Read the full article...Planning Application News: Nightingale Avenue
Another application to demolish a house and squeeze two new ones in its place.
Read the full article...How to have your say on the latest Cambridge Local Plan changes
This may be of interest to you if you’re of strong constitution when it comes to reading administrative documentation, and are concerned about subjects including the Wort’s Causeway development, cycle parking, on-street deliveries, tall buildings, parking stress, traveller sites, student accommodation, access to the railway station, and more. Grab a coffee and read on.
Read the full article...Updates to current local development applications
Several of these local developments will be coming up at this month’s City Council Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday 10 January.
Read the full article...Planning Application News: Queen Edith’s Way (yet another one)
Here we go again on Queen Edith’s Way. This time it’s a bungalow which they want to demolish to build four blocks of flats.
Read the full article...Planning Application News: Mowbray Road
Another application to demolish houses and replace them with apartment blocks, this time on Mowbray Road by the Budgens roundabout.
Read the full article...Planning Application News: Queen Edith’s Way
Another application to demolish a 4 bedroom detached house and replace it with a “residential development of flats” (2 one-bedroom and 3 two-bedroom).
Read the full article...Planning Application News: Mowbray Road
Application to extend and convert a detached house to form 7 ‘residential units’. There is far less information given than is usual with applications like this.
Read the full article...