CambridgePPF rallies Newnham residents

Local charity encourages Cambridge communities to have their say on the future of the City

The residents of Newnham turned out in force on Monday 8th March to a public meeting held by local charity, Cambridge Past, Present & Future (CambridgePPF). More than 60 people came along to learn more about the work of the organisation and it’s role in seeking to ameliorate the speed and scale of development planned for Cambridge between now and 2031 and discuss the threats and pressures that confront many communities in the City and surrounding villages.

As part of a plan to increase CambridgePPF’s direct engagement with local communities, the charity’s Chairman, Mr Robin Pellew OBE briefed local residents on projections for up to 40,000 new homes in Cambridge by 2021; outlining areas of the city where development is most likely to occur.

Together with Chief Executive, Carolin Göhler, he also spoke about the previous successes of the organisation, including
• Saving Grantchester Meadows from development
• Setting up Cambridge’s first Country Park at Wandlebury
• Saving the Gog Magog Hills from development
• Aiding the establishment of the Cambridge Green Belt
• Creating the new Coton Countryside Reserve

In support, Carolin Göhler also explained about the various other activities, events and educational programmes run by CambridgePPF at Wandlebury and Coton Countryside Reserve, as well as caring for a number of historic buildings.

The CambridgePPF team then called on the audience to get involved in the ongoing debate about the future of Cambridge and help CambridgePPF exert greater influence. Robin Pellew said;

“Cambridge is the leading high-tech city in the UK but this imposes enormous pressure for expansion. We need to ensure that this growth can be sustained by the local infrastructure and is of a quality that ensures Cambridge retains its special character and ambience. Local people can and should be having a real say in the local growth agenda”.

Contributions from the floor covered numerous topics including the role of planners and developers to create vibrant communities, the sustainability of the proposed new developments including carbon emissions and water supply, and the ability of hospitals and schools to cope with the numbers of new residents expected to move into the area over the next decade. Several audience members also expressed concern about transport related issues when congestion is already so bad in the city.

Following on from the recent CambridgePPF joint seminar with Cambridgeshire Horizons, the RSA, University, City Council and FeCRA there was also further discussion about the appropriateness and siting of tall buildings in Cambridge.

Chairman, Robin Pellew closed by emphasising that it was only by working together that the people of Cambridge could exert real influence over the future of their city. Cambridge Past, Present & Future could provide a platform to present people’s aspirations but greater leverage could be exerted if more people became involved. He stressed that by joining CambridgePPF

“your voice can be heard and we can make a difference to the shape of the city, now and for future generations.”