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News from January 1996

[archive index] Councils join 'Streets Ahead' - anti car dependence network - (31/1/96)

Cambridge City Council and the county council have joined a scheme involving a network of local authorities committed to reducing the public's dependence on cars.

The city and county councils are currently working on park-and-cycle projects, a cycle-friendly employers' club, a reduction in workplace parking spaces, research into car-free residential areas and, for Cambridge, traffic restraint measures.

The 'Streets Ahead' scheme is aimed at promoting communication on these issues between councils.

- based on a story in the 'Cambridge Evening News' of 25/1/96.

[archive index] Irian Jaya hostages - (28/1/96)

Yesterday's 'USA Today' reported that an officer has said military forces have surrounded rebels holding 13 Indonesian and European hostages including 4 recent Cambridge graduates.

See - Concern for Cambridge graduates in Irian Jaya - (23/1/96)

[archive index] Will the Internet ever be accessible via digital television services - or is it just heavily hinted at in order to get people to buy yet another information source strictly controlled by large corporations? - (26/1/96)

Last night's 'Matter of Fact' program on BBC2 bandied the word 'Internet' around while it described two major digital television trials being undertaken in East Anglia.

Is it likely that potential customers of these services will understand the difference between these local information and entertainment services and the Internet? Do programs such as 'Matter of Fact' mislead them?

If you have an opinion about this - please contact ECOLN.

[archive index] Cambridge Grafton Centre cycling ban stays permanent - (26/1/96)

The cycling ban in Fitzroy and Burleigh Streets between 10am to 4pm, Mondays to Saturdays has been made permanent by county councillors.

55 per cent of cyclists were found to have ignored an experimental ban.

[archive index] Concern for Cambridge graduates in Irian Jaya - (23/1/96)

BBC Ceefax today said that a letter from a Dutch hostage held with four recent Cambridge graduates by the Free Papua Movement warned that time is crucial to ensure both his and the other hostage's safety.

He wrote that the kidnappers feel their message is not being taken seriously enough by Indonesia or the rest of the world.

In contrast, tonights 'Cambridge Evening News' said that the release of a German and a local man by the kidnappers had boosted hopes of a speedy and bloodless solution to the two week old drama.

[archive index] Cambus takes back Comberton to Cambridge bus route - (23/1/96)

Haddenham based company Pullman Coaches has said it will be stopping its service between Comberton and Cambridge because the revenue it takes from it has fallen. This follows the return of a service by Cambus to the route last November. Pullman took the service over from Cambus in 1994. Since then Cambus has become part of the countries largest bus company, Stagecoach.

The managing director of Pullman said, "Pullman believes that in being successful in restoring 'unviable journeys', Stagecoach Cambus was attracted to restoring its monopoly."

- based on a story in tonights 'Cambridge Evening News'.

[archive index] Four Cambridge graduates held hostage by inhabitants of one of the last wildernesses - (18/1/96)

Last week four recent graduates from Cambridge University were taken hostage by people described as 'Stone Age rebels' in the Irian Jaya region of Indonesia. The young scientists were on an expedition documenting flora and fauna in an area unvisited by Western scientists since 1911.

The rebel group known as the 'Free Papua Movement' or 'OPM' is concerned about the encroachment of a huge American copper and gold mine into the mountains which they believe to be the home of the spirits of their dead. For them, the mine is a focus of tribal resentment over Indonesian rule.

- based on stories in recent editions of 'The Electronic Telegraph'.

[archive index] No St. Ives rail link - (15/1/96)

Local authorities have favoured a route through Newmarket, Cambridge and Royston for the proposed rail link from the East coast ports including Felixstowe to the Midlands and the rest of the country.

It had been hoped that the scheme would strengthen the case for the old railway line between Cambridge and St. Ives to be reopened (Map showing the route of the St. Ives line courtesy of 'Focus') but the cosultants who investigated this option said that the cost of extending the line to Huntingdon would be prohibitive.

David Kellaway, Labour's transport spokesman on the county council said that he did not believe the consultant's decision would jeopardise 'the Cambridge-St. Ives development, which is a local, not a strategic route.'.

- based on a story in the Cambridge Evening News of 9/1/95

From last June - Discussions of the Future for the Region's Rail Network - (2/6/95)

[archive index] Tory quits - (15/1/96)

A former vice president of the South East Cambridgeshire Conservative Association has resigned his membership due to the party's lack of 'any principles, either moral or political'.

Mr. Barker, a member of the association for 26 years, has said that he has not been tempted to join any of the other political parties.

- based on a story in the Cambridge Evening News of 10/1/96.

[archive index] MPs argue over Saudi dissident expulsion - (10/1/96)

Yesterday the Conservative MP for South East Cambridgeshire accused the Labour Cambridge MP, Anne Campbell, of jeopardising potential orders won by local engineering company, Marshalls, from the Royal Saudi Air Force.

Mrs. Campbell had argued that Mohammed al Mas'ari should not be deported from Britain, even if his presence does upset trade between the British defense establishment and the Riyadh regime.

An article in last Saturday's 'Guardian' described how al Mas'ari has demonstrated that there is a front on which the Saudi regime is open to challenge. 'He has countered the extraordinary Saudi dominance of the Arab press, much of which they own outright and nearly all of which they influence.' He has achieved this 'by his skilful exploitation of the fax machine and his ability to feed the information hunger of a society starved of reliable news.'

Al Mas'ari will probably be deported to Dominica.

[archive index] Cambus takeover may be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission - (4/1/96)

The takeover of the region's main bus company, Cambus, by Stagecoach last month is being investigated by the Office of Fair Trading - the results of which could lead to involvement by the MMC.

The MMC have received referals concerning Stagecoach eight times since 1990 and have described the company's actions as 'against the public interest'.

- based on a story in the Cambridge Evening News of 2/1/96

See - Cambus bought out by Stagecoach - (11/12/95)

[archive index] Museum to open in Ely's Old Gaol - (3/1/96)

The 15th. century Old Gaol building on the corner of Lynn Rd. and Market St. which retains immaculately preserved cells complete with chains, manacles and barred windows will soon be opened as a museum dedicated to the history of Ely.

The building, originally a residence, was bought by the Bishop of Ely who converted it into a gaol in 1679. It was used up until recently by the City of Ely Council and city's registrar.

The Ł250,000 cost of the conversion of the building will be payed by the East Cambridgeshire District Council.

The chairman of the Old Gaol Working Party, Alf Pope, is thought to be a great great grand son of one of the gaol's last inmates.

- based on a story in the Cambridge Evening News of 2/1/96

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