Latest news with #CambridgeCityCouncil
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cinema owner appeals decision to stop demolition
The owner of a long-disused cinema has lodged an appeal with the local council in his attempt to get the building demolished. The old Central Cinema on Hobson Street in Cambridge has not shown a film for more than 50 years. In November, councillors refused an application by owner Mark Richer to knock it down to make way for an office block after planning officers said this would result in "significant harm" to the conservation area. Mr Richer said the building was a "dead end" and could not be converted into anything else. The Central Cinema was opened in 1930 with 1,069 seats. It closed in 1972 and reopened as a bingo hall, but it has been unused since 2009. Mr Richer wanted to create retail units, "community space", and refurbish Hobson's Passage as part of his application. Concerns about the proposals were raised by planning officers at Cambridge City Council, who said the complete demolition of the "iconic 1930s Egyptian art deco style" building would result in "significant harm". Mr Richer bought the building from a nightclub operator in 2011 and said the previous owner had wanted to turn it into a burlesque club. He explained that particular plan "fell apart through a combination of high development costs and local opposition". He added: "I've talked to cinema operators, restauranteurs, gym operators, religious groups, and hoteliers [about possible uses] and we haven't made any meaningful progress in 14 years. "Everyone acknowledges the pressing need to do something on this site, to stop the rot and breathe in fresh life." He said he had now been "forced to make our case on appeal, rather than achieving planning permission from the council, who appear to have set their face firmly against any demolition". "A position we consider to be wholly unjustified," he added. A decision on the appeal is expected later this year. The council has been contacted for a response. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Disused art deco cinema needs 'magic money tree' Plans to demolish former art deco cinema refused Memories shared of Art Deco cinema frozen in time Cambridge City Council
BBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Cambridge rugby club allowed to host events despite noise fears
A sports club has been told it can continue to host large events at its grounds, despite objections from neighbours who complained about "invasive" Rugby Football Club, in Grantchester Road, has been granted permission to stage live music shows and plays, and screen films. Promoters previously had to acquire a licence themselves to hold such events at the site, which the club believed gave it less overall control and opposition from residents, Cambridge City Council agreed to grant the event licence to the club but imposed certain conditions, such as curfews. Martin Barker, a representative for the club, said the licence would allow the club to "take a closer eye on the detail of all potential events" and be "accountable for all activities held on their grounds".He also said it hoped to "allay fears" by putting in place a "finite upper limit" to provide assurance that there would not be a "never-ending spiral of outdoor events"."This is about the club taking responsibility and accountability, about making the community asset responsible and accountable as opposed to external people of various sizes coming in and doing that," he said. The decision was made after 55 neighbours urged councillors to throw out the application over concerns about the impact the events would have on their lives, according to the Local Democracy Reporting resident, Jane Langley, said Newnham was "not Glastonbury, Ibiza, or Nashville", claiming previous events had been "invasive, tuneless, ugly and incessant".Natasa Sutta, meanwhile, claimed events at the club had negatively impacted her health, arguing "only small rugby events should take place" and any others with music and alcohol were "unsuitable". She added: "This is a quiet residential area, housing many vulnerable elderly and children, as well as eminent academics, writers and artists, who require peace and quiet."Ratna Beresford described the club's events as "nightmarish" and said her teenage daughter's exam study would suffer due to the "pounding noise".And Mary Kempski said the club was "no longer the quiet neighbour" it once was, having lived near to it for 40 years. "The events have grown exponentially, and I find large events where 5,000 people descend on the same area intimidating," she said."I'm not against people enjoying themselves at all, but the rugby club is not a suitable place for festivals and events." 'Not seeking to cause disruption' While the council approved the licence, it did impose certain restrictions on the club. Small events of up to 999 people could be held up to ten times a year, medium events of between 1,000 and 2,499 people four times a year, and large events of between 2,500 to 4,999 people three times a or large events could only take place on a maximum of two consecutive days across Friday, Saturday and the small events, alcohol could be sold between 10:00 BST and 21:30 from Monday to Thursday, between 10:00 and 22:30 on Friday and Saturday, and between 10:00 and 19:30 on the medium and large events, meanwhile, alcohol could be sold between 11:00 and 22:30 on Friday and Saturday, and between 11:00 and 19:30 on city council said the club could keep its club licence that covered indoor events, which the authority said was "working well for current rugby events".Mr Barker assured those concerned that the club was "not seeking to cause disruption"."We are looking to work alongside all parties, authorities, and community to ensure safe, responsibly run and well-managed events," he said."We hope that the conditions proposed are proportionate and reasonable and fair and will deliver that outcome." Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
New Labour leader elected to run Cambridge City Council
A new Labour leader of a city council has been elected after the previous post-holder stepped down to concentrate on being a ward Holloway, who represents the Newnham ward on the authority, was formally elected during the council's annual meeting on Davey, the authority's former leader, announced his intention to step down in March, in order to also spend more time with his family. Holloway, who served as the executive councillor for community safety, homelessness and wellbeing, said his priority "will always be to serve our community to the best of my abilities". He added that he would "work tirelessly to ensure that every resident's voice is heard, to empower and support our communities, and to protect the environment – now and for future generations". Recent appointments The Labour Party runs Cambridge City Council with 24 councillors; there are 12 Liberal Democrat councillors, five Green Party councillors and one Conservative member. Rachel Wade, a Labour councillor who represents West Chesterton, was also appointed deputy leader of the council on Thursday. Dinah Pounds, a Labour councillor who represents Romsey, was elected as ceremonial mayor of Cambridge at the same meeting. Her deputy mayor will be Richard Swift, a Labour councillor for West Chesterton. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Cows given ‘virtual fence' collars to stop them falling in river
Cows have been given special collars which use virtual fence technology to stop them falling into a river. Livestock that graze on commons in central Cambridge have been given GPS collars which create a virtual boundary. The technology is solar-powered and controlled by an app, and the cattle are trained to turn around when they hear an audio warning. The warning sound starts at a low pitch and gradually gets higher as the animal moves through the boundary zone, with a mild electric pulse delivered if the whole scale has been played. Animals then learn to recognise the warning sound and turn around to avoid the electric pulse. Cambridge city council said an average of two to four cows fall into the River Cam during a grazing season. Last year, a farmer voiced fears that the centuries-old tradition of cows on the city's commons could be under threat if a council budget for out-of-hours rescue was cut. But the authority has given reassurance that it will 'continue to fund grazing' and has 'improved animal welfare with a technology that keeps the cows from falling into the river'. Cattle back on the commons Martin Smart, executive councillor for open space and city services for Cambridge city council, said: 'The council recognises the symbolic importance of the cows grazing on the commons. 'This is a special and unique feature of the city that is much loved by residents and visitors alike. 'Last year, the council carried out a public consultation on a range of options to make savings to ensure the council's financial sustainability. 'The consultation included proposed changes to a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week rescue service for cows, as between two to four cows fall into the river during the grazing season. 'In response to residents confirming their support for cows grazing on the commons, the council committed to continue to fund grazing and improved animal welfare with a technology that keeps the cows from falling into the river.' Cattle were back on Cambridge's commons this week. In a statement on its website in November, after reports that the tradition of grazing could be under threat, the city council said it had 'no plans to stop grazing'. It said the authority funds a '24-hour pinder service to recover cattle, mostly after falling in the river'. 'This service, which costs around £10,000 of the annual budget, deals with two to four incidents annually, but often the fire and rescue service assist,' the statement said. 'To help design out the problem and costs, the council has introduced a geo (virtual) fence system that keeps cattle away from the river bank, off the footpaths and within defined grazing areas. 'It enables the graziers to check the whereabouts of their livestock via a mobile phone app.' Cambridge's famous urban cattle graze the commons from around April to October, in a tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cambridge cows get GPS collars to stop them falling in river
Cows have been fitted with GPS collars to try to stop them falling into a City Council said up to four ended up in the River Cam during grazing season between April and October each GPS devices emit a high-pitched sound as the animal moves through a boundary zone towards the water, with a mild electric pulse delivered if it fails to turn council spends about £10,000 a year funding a team to recover cattle from the river, and said the new technology would help with costs. Cows can be seen roaming on council-owned green spaces such as Midsummer and Stourbridge commons, Coe Fen, Lammas Land and Sheep's Green.A team of animal rescuers employed by the council, known as pinders, are deployed if an animal gets into difficulty, such as getting stuck in the River year, Cambridge City Council carried out a consultation on whether to pass the cost of the out-of-hours animal rescue service on to graziers. However, the authority has given reassurance - after public support for cows grazing on the commons - that it will "continue to fund grazing" and has "improved animal welfare with a technology that keeps the cows from falling into the river".Martin Smart, executive councillor for open space and city services, said: "The council recognises the symbolic importance of the cows grazing on the commons."This is a special and unique feature of the city that is much loved by residents and visitors alike." Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
