Mark Williamson
@markrwilliamson
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Journalist based in Cambridge. Formerly news editor @BBCCambs , now freelance. Views here my own unless reposting. markwilliamson.journo @protonmail .com
Cambridge UK
Joined June 2010
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The wildflower meadow established in front of Cambridge’s
@Kings_College
Chapel, supported three times more plant species and three times more spider and bug species, than the lawn - study finds
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Today, Addenbrooke’s Hospital is treating just one Covid patient (not in critical care). Three months ago it was 244
#COVID19
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1/ Michael Gove visited Cambridge today, for the first time since announcing plans to ‘turbocharge’ Cambridge, and build up to 250k new homes by 2040.
The Key challenge remains, where is the water coming from - a thread.
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Hedgerow regulations now law.
Includes a hedgerow cutting ban from 1 March to 31 August (inclusive).
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‘Michael Gove’s plans to dramatically expand Cambridge by 2040 with 150,000 new homes are “nonsensical” because of the city’s lack of water infrastructure, the leaders of three Cambridgeshire councils have warned.’ - FT
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‘Coldham's Brook has run dry due to a combination of the current drought and existing water abstraction pressures." - Environment Agency
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Hadn’t seen this amazing map before - it shows the undrained Fens ‘as it lay drowned’, from about 1652. It’s ‘upside down’ so the Wash is at the bottom
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Very much the end of an era tonight, as after 16 years
@JanineMachin
presents her last
@BBCLookEast
late news from Cambridge
She’ll be missed.
Final programme at 18:30 on Friday
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Oxford’s Leonard Jenkins told the BBC quite a few in the crew had been hit by E Coli.
#boatrace
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Evironment Agency objects to new developments in ‘Greater Cambridge’ over water concerns.
‘We have objected…on the basis that the water supply for these developments will pose a significant risk to our local water environment."
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Very sad news. Simon Dobbin was left with brain damage after being attacked following a match in Southend, in 2015. Twelve men were jailed over the assault. RIP Simon.
It is with a heavy heart that Cambridge United can confirm we have received the devastating news that Simon Dobbin sadly passed away at home this morning.
Sweet dreams Simon. Forever a U 💛 🖤
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Half a million trees have died next to one 21-mile stretch of road, National Highways admits | Climate News | Sky News
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‘Cambridge to become Europe’s Silicon Valley — with 250,000 extra homes’ - reports
@thetimes
.
It says the plans include, a ‘planning ‘hit squad’ and rewriting eco rules are among schemes to boost building’
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On Thursday,
@numenini
highlighted near-zero visibility under water in the River Cam near Cambridge, describing it as "one of the most disappointing swims".
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“We found that the meadow was strikingly beneficial for biodiversity. I was really surprised, actually, at the magnitude of the change for such a small area.”
Dr Cicely Marshall,
@Kings_College
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Poppy postbox topper in Newton, near Cambridge.
The knitted boots and helmet are rather impressive.
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Large number of fish seen dead found dead in River Cam.
Simone Chalkley, who lives in the city, saw "maybe 100" dead fish while walking along the river in Ditton Meadows.
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Personal news klaxon: I’m leaving the BBC. Big changes are happening in local broadcasting, and my role, had I stayed, would have changed significantly. So, time to move on from the brilliant team at
@BBCCambs
- to whom I wish the very best of luck… (1)
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‘Visitors to Cambridge are being advised not to dip their hands into the River Cam if they go punting after dangerous levels of E.Coli bacteria were discovered.’ The Express
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The River Welland has breached its bank near Crowland - video by farmer
@mhssly
, who says this is the first time this has has happened since the great flood of 1947.
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Anglian Water along with Severn Trent and South West Water, have made the biggest cuts to investment in sewage network - Financial Times
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Blue plaque replaced at the Eagle, where Watson and Crick announced they had discovered the structure of DNA, to recognise the contribution of Rosalind Franklin
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TV presenter and naturalist Iolo Williams has recorded a message calling for Coton Orchard to be saved from the axe for Cambourne to Cambridge busway.
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Irrespective of the measures contained in the new Water Bill, building 1m homes by the end of this Parliament is a going to need a major overhaul of the sewer and drain system, in areas of high growth such as South Cambs, if it is to cope.
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The sights along the River Cam not on the postcards.
And this is what it looks like as it all leaks out from the pumping station and into the Cam's tributary
(Luckily no smellovision on Twitter yet...)
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Ship heading to Wisbech runs aground in River Nene.
A lot of people aren’t aware Cambridgeshire has a port.
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Developer to demolish 36 unoccupied newbuild properties in Cambridge because of issues.
Barratt and David Wilson Homes Cambridgeshire said a "small number" on the Darwin Green site in Cambridge "did not meet our usual high standards".
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2/ To give an idea of the scale - Cambridge currently supply water to about 138,000 homes and 8,000 businesses.
Building up to 250k homes by 2040 requires a massive increase in supplies - in an area of ‘severe water stress’.
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If all water management and pumping in the Fens stopped, they would have completely reflooded within seven to 12 years,
@MLC1862
estimate.
The map of Cambridgeshire would look much like it did in the 17th century, pre-drainage.
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National press picking up on the Sawston hedge
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Catherine Judkins, chair of Say No to Sunnica, is "gutted" about the decision to turn farmland into giant solar farm.
Campaigners say the scheme takes some of the most productive land in the UK out of use, while ignoring alternative sites - BBC.
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Housing: The number of homes in Cambridge increased by 16% between 2011 and 2021.
The population of the city increased by 17.6%, 2011-21
House prices have increased by 78% - pay by 23%
Between 2010/11 and 2020/21, the number of homes in Cambridge increased by 16% - ‘a greater proportion than any other city in England’.
House prices increased by 78%, pay by 23%.
From
@camcitco
State of the City report, published last week.
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Sawston hedge chopping leaves 'devastation and horror'
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The Sawston hedge, chopped as part of new development, features in this report by Alex Thompson for Channel 4
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Storm clouds over Cambridge.
Amazing light on the way home this evening. This will be the last crop grown in this field - set to be tarmacked over for the new ‘travel hub’.
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With concerns over food security being raised, here’s map of agricultural land classification in England and Wales - most Grade 1 and 2 farmland is in Cambs and this area of the country (map via Natural England)
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Addenbrooke's Hospital is keeping Covid measures in place until at least August 2nd - this includes mask wearing and current visiting restrictions.
#COVID19
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The thousands of visitors to Cambridge, who go punting on the Cam, would probably be surprised to learn that a sewer storm overflow spilled 172 times for a total of 2,935 hours, just up river, last year.
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So, ended up spending last night being looked after by members of the Covid-19 team at
@CUH_NHS
- who were hugely impressive. As was the whole set up at Addenbrooke’s. I’m fine, checked out and back home - but many many thanks to them.
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Older trees are able to accelerate their rates of absorbing planet-warming emissions, scientists at the University of Birmingham have found.
An aspect that BNG doesn’t really take into account.
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River Cam turns 'bright blue' in Cambridge - Cambridgeshire Live
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11/ If you’re interesting in reading more, the Cambridge Water Draft Water Management plan is here:
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The latest weekly report by the Environment Agency grades the River Cam as ‘below normal’ for the time of year.
The Granta, a chalk stream and tributary of the Cam appears somewhat worse than that. (1)
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Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge reporting today (June 1) that it still has no Covid patients. It’s now had zero cases for a week
#COVID19
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Not much water coming through at Hauxton. As Alex says in the thread: ‘This is the output of the River Cam and Granta chalk streams barely a mile from Grantchester Meadows!’
The weir on the River Cam at Hauxton Mill is a sorry sight.
Further video below of the sluice and mill race.
There is some water going through but not a lot.
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5/ Also: All the water supplied by Cambridge Water is extracted from the chalk aquifer.
The Environment Agency has set targets for a substantial reduction in abstraction, because it is environmentally unsustainable.
CW say this equates to about half the current supply….
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Worth adding, the River Cam has been deteriorating for some time now.
(From State of the City report)
Weekend repost: E-coli found in River Cam at new swimming spot.
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Councillors are reviewing the
@SouthCambs
four-day working week trial, today.
Since the start of the trial, it says, staff turnover has reduced by 36%.
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The hedge will not be allowed to grow up again but will be kept at 0.6m from now on - according to the conditions of the section 278 agreement.
Until Wednesday, this was a huge hedge in Sawston, South Cambridge, that was a haven for sparrows and other birds and wildlife. Why did you chop it down,
@Redrow
? Why in the middle of the nesting season?
@ChrisGPackham
,
@RSPBEngland
,
@SouthCambs
,
@RobGMacfarlane
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Calls for new town for up to 350,000 people to be built at Tempsford , near St Neots.
A new station would be built here under EW Rail plans.
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Concerns about River Granta drying up.
Listen here (1hr in):
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4/ Cambridge Water’s supply plans are based on a forecast population rise of 89k people by 2050, about 46k new homes - an increase of 32% in connected households.
They say this presents ‘significant challenges’.
The 250k by 2040 are not part of their plans.
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6/ So alternatives are being looked at - at the centre of these future supply plans is the Fen reservoir,
Cambridge Water say it will provide HALF of future local water need - based on growth of 46k homes by 2050.
There is no excess for ‘turbocharging’ Cambridge.
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Plans to limit water use for residents at proposed redevelopment in Cambridge.
@camcitco
say water useage will be restricted to less than 99 litres per person per day, ‘to reduce the impact on local water resources’. 🧵1
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At the age of 80 my dad has had surgery for the first time. Thanks to the staff at Addenbrooke’s
@CUH_NHS
spending their bank holiday weekend in the operating theatre.
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New build properties on Cambridge developments are being marketed in Hong Kong as having a rental yield of up to 5.0% p.a.
‘Cambridge rent becomes less affordable every year as costs reach record high’ - Cambridgeshire Live
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Cambourne to Cambridge busway threat to hundreds of orchard trees - BBC News
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Today is Lammas Day, the celebration of the wheat harvest.
Its name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon hlafmaesse or ‘loaf-mass’.
In Cambridge…🧵1
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It all went a bit Turner after the rain this evening.
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The Sawston Village Design Guide says: ‘Existing hedges and trees should be retained within new developments as landscape features.’
Sawston hedge chopping leaves 'devastation and horror'
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In 1965 my grandmother and my ex-pow step-grandfather set out from Cambs and drove across Europe - across the Iron Curtain - to visit his village in Transylvania.
The only record of that trip is an old box of slides, I’ve finally got round to converting into digital pics…
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A&E at Cambridge’s Addenbrooke’s Hospital is currently seeing about 135,000 attendances a year - it was built to manage 35,000.
From Board of Directors meeting in November.
#ICYMI
@RCEMpresident
on
@BBCNewsnight
describing images of patients waiting on beds in corridors due to hospital overcrowding as a "national shame" 🏥
(From 21m25s)
#ResuscitateEmergencyCare
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Regarding today's Cambridge development announcement - the Environment Agency recently formally objected to five planning applications, in the Cambridge area over water - or rather lack of it.
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Latest monitoring info also
shows the storm overflow into the river at this location has been active for the past 10 days.
The river is the Rhee, a tributary of the River Cam.
Outside the water recycling centre between the villages of Barrington and Foxton near Cambridge.
Water appears to be coming from inside the site. (1)
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‘In light of the reducing Covid-19 prevalence’ mask wearing for staff and visitors at Addenbooke’s Hospital is now optional, apart from some high risk areas - update to staff, today.
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Really pleased to see the sign back up at Queen’s Head, Newton
@Brownsouppub
- not least because I painted it
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New government says it wants to remove the barriers to Cambridge realising its ‘full potential’.
There’s one barrier they’d probably get a lot of support for.
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Housing developers accused of failing to deliver vital infrastructure, from GP surgeries to green spaces - The Independent
‘In Northstowe, 76 per cent of residents said they were fairly or very dissatisfied with facilities’
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My mother has a broken hip which is set to be operated on at Addenbrooke’s later today.
I didn’t get their names but a big thank you to the two paramedics from
@EastEnglandAmb
who were excellent. 🙏
So, my 80–year-old mother has had a fall - can’t move, ‘excruciating pain’, throwing up. Told ambulance will be ‘hours’. Would take her to A&E at
@CUH_NHS
but can’t move her as she’s in too much pain.
Fun times.
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The sights of Cambridge not on postcards: The King’s Parade barrier.
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County councillors voted 33 to 26 in favour of the Cambourne to Cambridge busway
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3/ Cambridge Water are currently drawing up plans for supplying water to the area, up to 2050,
The government has also set up a local Water Scarcity Group, to look at how to support their ‘ambitious’ Cambridge 2040 growth proposals, including CW and the EA 👇.
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10/ Even with all this, CW say there is a ‘short term supply issue’ until new infrastructure like the reservoir come on line (earliest 2035), which they say may mean deferring the reductions to (environmentally damaging) abstraction.
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Addenbooke’s Hospital is experiencing capacity issues impacting the emergency department and planned surgeries. This is mainly due to ‘significant infection control issues’ - from latest staff update
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‘A £40m project to build flats in Cambridge was supposed to provide "much-needed local housing". But the development was not required to include affordable homes and BBC research has found at least a fifth have been sold abroad.’- report by
@benschofield
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Another reminder that the proposed new Fen reservoir will not provide the water to ‘supercharge’ Cambridge.
Cambridge Water say it will provide only HALF their future supply need, based on building 46k new homes by 2050 (from latest draft WRMP) 1
Building between 183,000 & 214,000 new homes in ‘Greater Cambridge’ by 2050, being suggested by Create Streets
One of their suggested 16 key actions the next government should take for more homes,
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The other winner this afternoon was the River Great Ouse which really proved a great
#boatrace
venue
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Not just an issue in Cambs according to the
@EnvAgency
: ‘In parts of Sussex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk, housing and business growth have been impacted, as there isn’t enough water without further abstraction that would risk environmental damage’
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Petition launched opposing plans to build student accommodation on part of Cambridge’s historic Fenner’s Cricket Ground.
The ground is a Protected Open Space - campaigners say allowing the development ‘will set a dangerous precedent for the whole city’. (1)
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A&E at Cambridge’s Addenbrooke’s Hospital is currently seeing about 135,000 attendances a year - it was built to manage 35,000.
From Board of Directors meeting in November.
The population of the area Addenbrooke’s Hospital covers has increased massively in the last 20 years - A&E and capacity at the hospital more generally has not.
How will it manage further demand from the 150k new homes planned for Cambridge? 1.
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Elisabeth Whitebread, from Parents for the Cambridge Sustainable Travel Zone, said it was fair that drivers pay for the pollution their car's produce.
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7/ Additional preferred supply options also already include bulk water transfers from Anglian Water.
Also, new abstraction from the Cam near Milton , which would be augmented by ‘recycled’ water from the wastewater treatment works.
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More than £25m has been spent so far on legal disputes related to a guided busway, but the true cost to the taxpayer is to remain undisclosed.
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‘This place has such enormous riches’ - CEO of
@wildlifebcn
, Brian Eversham, in video at Coton Orchard.
Joins Iolo Williams and Chris Packham, among other environmental figures publicly supporting it.
.
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8/ After that, it’s about increased efficiency - reducing leakages and demand, including a target or cutting domestic water use by 6% by 20205.
Also note, rainwater harvesting.
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The village pond in Barton has completely dried up. Residents were able to save about 700 fish from dying, which they hope to return when the water does
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Labour could drop Cambridge as focus for growth, says strategic planning expert - Planning Resource.
Today’s Planning Summit hears Labour could instead choose to promote the Midlands, the north of England and the wider South East.
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A different route, avoiding the 100-year-old orchard, will not be compared with the previously approved C2C plans.
The proposal - saving about 500 apple trees - was rejected by county councillors 33 votes to 21.
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Probably a good time to repost this thread on water for a ‘supercharged’ Cambridge’.
Michael Gove’s plans mean building more homes than Cambridge Water currently supply over their entire area.
Speeding up the building of the fen reservoir isn’t a solution.
2/ To give an idea of the scale - Cambridge currently supply water to about 138,000 homes and 8,000 businesses.
Building up to 250k homes by 2040 requires a massive increase in supplies - in an area of ‘severe water stress’.
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South Cambs MP
@ab4scambs
is calling for a ‘DEFRA Chalk Streams Task Force’ to be set up - copy of letter sent Under Sec of State
@pow_rebecca
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Observer article on Coton orchard and the C2C busway - the project is up before
@CambsCC
full council on Tuesday
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‘Just beneath the surface a bitter war is brewing over fears that the city once home to scientists such as Alan Turing and Stephen Hawking might soon run out of water.’
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