Update 10th June 2024
Dear all,
Election hustings opportunities to hear from and question local politicians on their plans.
Tues, 11th June 19:00 – 20:30 Climate and Environmental Hustings
Join Friends of the Earth at Wesley Methodist Church, Christ Pieces CB2 1LG
An opportunity to hear from and question local politicians on their plans to tackle the climate crisis and move towards a sustainable future.
Click here to get your free in-person ticket
Click here to get an attend online ticket
HUSTINGS on THE FUTURE OF CAMBRIDGE Wed 19th June
6.30pm, Friends Meetings House, Jesus Lane. Organised jointly by the Federation of Cambridge
Residents’ Associations and Friends of the Cam; no booking necessary and questions will be taken from the floor.
Blogger Phil Rodgers’ list of hustings
FeCRA petition to the Environment Agency to Save our Chalk Streams
https://www.change.org/p/save-our-chalk-streams-petition-to-the-environment-agency
This is gaining traction. Please support and share widely with your networks and use the election hustings as an opportunity to ask local politicians for their views on the environment. This is really important as central government will set the priorities for the environment and for the Environment Agency. Cambridge’s MP Daniel Zeichner is Shadow Minister for Defra. He is member of the Labour Party’s Environmental committee https://www.sera.org.uk/executive_committee
At the East of England All Party Parliamentary Group recent event Daniel Zeichner who co chairs the APPG said “We can’t wait for reservoirs and slow down growth because we’re in a global race”. Click on link below for short film clip
https://x.com/DanielZeichner/status/1767588899352617235
The East of England APPG is supported by Freeport East and Anglian Water.
APPG members https://eastofenglandappg.org.uk/about/
Anglian Water run and fund the Cam Ely Ouse Partnership with the Rivers Trust.
Cambridge University Vice Chancellor Deborah Prentice writing in the Financial Times has also cited the global race as the case for Cambridge growth.
https://www.cam.ac.uk/news/vice-chancellor-on-how-cambridge-can-drive-uk-economic-growth
Countryside campaigners CPRE Cambridgeshire criticise Cambridge growth plans
Countryside campaigners CPRE Cambridgeshire have criticised government growth plans for Cambridge – and urged voters to send a message to whoever assumes power at next month’s General Election.
CPRE Cambridgeshire say that proposals, put forward by housing secretary Michael Gove, to build up to 150,000 homes around Cambridge by 2050 would destroy the precious Green Belt – and make a nonsense of government claims that it wants to ‘level-up’ the country. Dr Alan James, CPRE chair: “The inference from government is that Cambridge is the only UK university delivering life sciences. We’ve done our research and many university cities across the UK are breaking boundaries in life sciences. Surely, the government should be investing in places like Teeside, Tyneside, Sheffield and Leeds, regenerating brownfield sites rather than doubling the size of Cambridge by destroying one of the country’s most important Green Belts with its surrounding areas of prime agricultural land?”
Re-Dedication OF RIVER RIGHTS FESTIVAL Friday 21st June, Jesus Green;4.30-9.30
Friends of the Cam invite you to join them on Midsummer’s Eve from 4.30 until 9.30pm There will be music, singing, dancing, painting, short talks, stories and a public declaration of the rights of the Cam at 6pm. Bring a picnic and invite friends. This is always a lovely, enjoyable event.
https://www.friendsofthecam.org/content/celebration-rights-river-cam
Substantial media reports on the poor water quality of the River Cam.
ITV Anglia report 5th June 2024. Click on link for short film clip
https://x.com/RussellB1ggs/status/1798402508676841841
https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/28366203/urgent-killer-e-coli-bug-detected-in-tourist-river/
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1908066/cambridge-river-cam-e-coli-warning
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/uk-ecoli-outbreak-sparks-urgent-32987273
Checking the water quality at Sheep’s Green on weekly basis
Local residents have highlighted to FeCRA that the last sample at Sheep’s Green was taken on May 24 “even though they’re supposed to be testing weekly”.
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Future of Cambridge Tourism survey 23th May- 26th June
https://engage.cambridge.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/future-of-tourism-in-greater-cambridge
The survey which opened on 23rd May, is being run by the members of Welcome to Cambridge cic, the business consortium that controls Cambridge city centre and green spaces, including the river. Consortium Directors include council officers and representatives of Cambridge Bid, Cambridge University (via Cambridge Enterprises “Curating Cambridge”) and King’s College, who own Grantchester Meadows. See
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/14174291/officers
Anglian Water Services Ltd found guilty of withholding information about pollution incidents, sentencing July 5.
In 2023 the Cambridge Independent reported Anglian Water was among six English water companies facing legal action over allegations that they under-reported pollution incidents and overcharged customers. See link below.
Who knew?
Board of Anglian Water Services Ltd https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02366656/officers
The board includes the founder director of Cambridge University Centre for Sustainable Leadership; a trustee of the nature charity running the River Cam CAN Project with local partners
https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/news/2023/09/15/river-cam-can-project-launched-with-local-partners
Questions about Anglian Water’s withholding of information asked Dec 2022
See Q & A for Natural Cambs meeting on Dec 2022; link below https://www.fecra.org.uk/docs/Natural%20Cambridgeshire%20Partnership%20Forum%2014.pdf
There was no mention of any investigations or pending legal claims from the Managing Director of WRE or from AW’s biodiversity lead Chris Gerrard. Yet 6 months earlier the Managing Director of WRE was Director of Policy at Anglian Water Services Ltd. Following the meeting Anglian Water’s Biodiversity lead wrote to inform FeCRA that information about compliance was on websites in the public domain.
Resilient Landscapes East of England Community Interest Company created to run LENs East of England
Anglian Water’s biodiversity lead is a director of the Resilient Landscapes East of England company created by Anglian Water and others to facilitate farmers and landowners’ bids for nature and agriculture funding.
Natural Cambs consultant Chris Bowden’s original report for the Defra OxCamArc Natural Capital Team chaired by Paul Leinster, WRE Chair (now chair of the govt’s Water Scarcity Group https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-case-for-cambridge/the-case-for-cambridge) refers on page P 133 to the entity Natural Capital East set up by the Head of Sustainability at Anglian Water Services Ltd. Link below.
GCP Hills Road Project Update
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKGCP/bulletins/39c2405
A proposal to prevent drivers turning at a major junction will be discussed at a consultation workshop for schools, businesses and residents’ associations affected by the controversial plan, the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has announced.
The GCP put forward the plan last year for the Catholic church junction at Hills Road and Lensfield Road in a bid to improve cycling and pedestrian safety.
The authority is now asking anyone who represents “a residents’ association, a local business, or school, further or higher education institute in the proposed scheme area” to email them at contactus@greatercambridge.org.uk to ensure an invitation to the workshop. See
Lots to ask questions about at Hustings events!
Best wishes,
Wendy
Wendy Blythe
Chair, FeCRA
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