Katie Thornburrow – Cambridge City Councillor for Petersfield and Leader of Cambridge City Council

Joining the dots between water, food, and a growing city

Each month I write a column for the Cambridge Independent (online here but it will ask you to acccept coookies or pay) that’s also published on the City Council website.

However I believe in a principle known as POSSE, which stands for Publish (on your) Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere. You never know when someone else’s site will go away or add a paywall, so it’s worth having your own copy, under your control.

So here it is.

As the leader of Cambridge City Council, I often find myself reflecting on the issues that keep us up at night, not just as politicians, but as neighbours, parents, and members of a vibrant, interconnected community. And the recent hot weather, which has made it hard to sleep for many of us, has given me lots of time to consider the connections between climate change and two of the issues which got me into local politics in the first place – water and food.

Before I became a councillor I studied food policy and campaigned for food security. In 2024 the council’s support for the Cambridge Sustainable Food Partnership helped the city obtain a Gold Award from Sustainable Food Places, recognising Cambridge as leading the way in transforming local food systems to better serve our communities, the environment and the local economy.

However, it was always clear that water supplies in Cambridge were limited and precious, and the needs of farmers, developers and residents sometimes came into conflict. In 2019 I organised awater crisis forum with experts and local people to talk about the wider issues of how to get enough water to support the city as it developed, and the use of water for farming was one of the issues we discussed.

The future of Market Square

I was on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire with Dotty McLeod this morning, where I was joined by long-standing market trader Zoe Hardinge to talk about the future of the market, as a planning application is coming to the planning committee next Wednesday.

I know how important the market is to Cambridge, and go there regularly myself. In thinking about its future we want to preserve its vibrant, colourful character of our market while ensuring our stallholders can trade there successfully for years to come. We also want to make sure that the market square itself is a great civic space for everyone, especially in evenings when the market isn’t operating.

During our conversation, Zoe highlighted several practical concerns from experienced traders, particularly around future rent structures and the proposed balance between fixed, open, and demountable stalls. I agreed with her that traders need clarity on these rates so they can plan ahead with confidence. Retaining our existing stallholders and helping them run successful, profitable businesses remains central to our vision, which is why we’re putting in special arrangements to relocate stalls while the work is being carried out.

To make the square fit for modern use, we are also delivering essential background infrastructure. We are upgrading water supplies, drainage, and power across all stalls, replacing the current uneven surfaces with a single level floor for improved accessibility, and moving commercial bins underground to create a cleaner, more hygienic environment. Environmental sustainability is embedded throughout the design, featuring insulated roofs and solar panels on fixed stalls, green roofs on semi-permanent stalls, new tree planting along the northern edge, and the full restoration of the plumbing of the central fountain.

And the layout of the market stalls themselves will adapt as needs change. If future demand shows we need a different proportion of open or demountable space, we have the flexibility to adjust.

Beyond daily trading, Market Square is the civic heart of Cambridge, sitting directly in front of the Guildhall. By using stalls that can be put aside during quieter winter months or special events, we can create an adaptable, welcoming space for wider community gatherings while ensuring permanent traders continue to operate seamlessly year-round. Our ultimate goal is to create a safe, bustling, and beautiful civic space that honours our heritage, supports local businesses, and serves everyone in our community.

Listen here – scroll forward to 2:07:45

“The Soul of Chinese Music”

On Saturday I was at a fabulous concert of Chinese music held in Trinity College Chapel as part of the extensive Cambridge Chinese Music & Culture festival, which is co-hosted by the Cambridge Qin Society, Cambridge University Chinese Orchestra Society and Cambridge Chinese Community Centre.

The concert lived up to its name, The Soul of Chinese Music, and it was a real pleasure to hear the wide variety of musical styles, played on instruments from the guqin, the ehru and the yangqin to the piano and flute, and I especially enjoyed the Guqin Ensemble’s performances.

My good friend and former councillor and mayor Dinah Pounds and her husband Adam were also there to perform, with a beautiful meditation on passing time composed by Adam also on the programme.

Remembering Jason Arday

This evening there was a vigil to remember Jason Arday, who died on Friday after being hounded by the press and online attackers and was forced to resign his Professorship at Cambridge University.
I am away from Cambridge and couldn’t be there, and I’m grateful to my colleague and friend Councillor Rosy Moore for reading some words on my behalf.

Like every one of my fellow councillors I am shocked and profoundly saddened by the death of Dr Jason Arday. We send our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

As a community we will grieve his death and try to learn from what has happened. Nobody should face the pressure Jason was put under, particularly by the excessive, racially-motivated and cruel press coverage. And there are serious questions to answer for the organisations that had a duty of care towards Jason, and whether they did enough to protect him.

We know that much of the coverage was motivated by an attempt to destroy the career of an exceptional black man, and we must not allow those who tormented him to hide behind false protestations of shock or sadness.

Like many of you, I am left wondering what we have lost now that his voice is absent from the academic debate about race and inclusion, and that he will no longer be heard by the Runnymede Trust, the British Sociological Association and the many other places where he brought his insights and expertise. While we grieve Jason’s death today, we also remember and celebrate his legacy.

Thank you

Great to see the new Carter Bridge Murals

There was a lovely event this morning to mark the official launch of the Carter Bridge murals, commissioned by the city council and designed and painted by the team at Art Streets based on a series of community workshops.

International mural artist ATMA led the design work and we now have two wonderful murals, one on the base of the bridge on the station side and one covering the panels on the left as you cycle down into Romsey.

The mural on the Romsey side.. with foxes!

I couldn’t be there today to hear Iona and ATMA talk about the project and its inspiration, but I’ve watched the work progress over the last two weeks and will see it often in future. The Mayor and some of my fellow councillors, including Tim Griffin, were there to represent the city council.

Iona and ATMA from Art Streets in front of the mural

During the project thirty-eight local residents volunteered to help, and they got a well-deserved round of applause to thank them for their work on behalf of their community. And I’d like to add my thanks as a local councillor.

Art Streets are open for commissions: https://www.artstreets.co.uk/

Talking toilets

If you watch yesterday evening’s Look East on BBC iPlayer then there’s a report on the new Silver Street toilets from Mousumi Bakshi where I’m interviewed (it starts at 17:15 if you scroll forward)

It was good to see that the bat box and squat toilets appeared, because I’m very pleased that we have an inclusive space that also supports nature, but I can understand why there’s a focus in the cost, and going from ‘spending a penny’ to spending a pound makes a great headline.

However if we want to keep our toilets clean, safe and well-maintained we have to pay for it. Providing public toilets isn’t a statutory duty for local authorities – though the British Toilets Association has a “Legalise Loos” campaign to change that – and so we have to balance the costs with all the other things the council needs to do.

Some public toilets are free, like those in Lion Yard, and we felt that £1 was a reasonable cost in a place where a lot of visitors to Cambridge are passing. As one person says in the interview, in other European countries paying €1 or €2 for the loo isn’t unusual. We will review the costs regularly.

We are also going to make sure that the signs on the toilet make it a bit clearer that you need to go downstairs, and that the ground floor is the disabled toilet.

You can also read about it on the BBC News website in Phil Shepka’s story or in my blog post from last week. There is also coverage on the City Council website.

A new mural for the Carter Bridge

I’ve just been to see work starting on the new murals being painted on the Carter Bridge which crosses the railway line between Devonshire Road and Sturton Street.

It’s a really exciting project funded by Cambridge City Council and overseen by the Creative Partnerships team within Cultural Services. The murals have been developed by the community arts organisation Art Streets working with the local community through several workshops and other events.

The lead artist on the project, ATMA, is an international mural artist and participation specialist, and between now and the official opening of the murals on August 15 he will be working with a team that includes local volunteers to transform the base and interior of the bridge.

Katie and Iona talking at the base of the bridge while Matt from Art Streets works on the outline of the mural

It was a real pleasure to talk to Iona Hodgson from Art Streets, and to see ATMA’s vision start to take shape on the base of the bridge. I am looking forward to seeing the murals every time I cycle across the bridge or go to the railway station.

More about Art Streets: https://www.artstreets.co.uk/
More about the artist, ATMA: https://www.atma-art.com/

Bats, swifts, bees.. and squat toilets

It’s been an interesting few days. Last Monday I was with the King to commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of Cambridge becoming a City, and this Monday I was at the opening of the new public toilets on Silver Street. In between there have been a lot of meetings and calls.

I am really pleased that the refurbished toilets are finally open, because the old toilets here were in a very poor condition and really unsuitable for such a busy site where lots of visitors to Cambridge pass by every day.

Accessibility, safety, and inclusivity sit right at the heart of the new design. We wanted to make sure that everyone felt welcome, so underground we have separate women’s and men’s facilities with a universal toilet situated between them.

Both the women’s and men’s sections feature Cambridge’s first squat toilets in a public loo. They aren’t the only squat toilets in Cambridge, as there are some at Cambridge Central Mosque, but there are a thoughtful step forward in catering to international visitors and local residents alike.

Above ground, a large universal accessible toilet has been provided that also incorporates comprehensive baby-changing facilities. The integrated help points, clear layout, and carefully considered management arrangements will help ensure a welcoming and safe environment for all users.

Cambridge has been a City for 75 years

On Monday July 20th King Charles visited Cambridge and unveiled a plaque to commemorate seventy-five years since we were granted City status. It was a very special occasion, and I was really pleased to be there as Leader of the City Council, accompanied by Cllr Gerri Bird.

The King visited the Cambridge Central Mosque on Mill Road for the unveiling, and it was good too see the press coverage focusing on the building’s eco credentials which heat pumps, solar panels and the collection of spare water from bathroom sinks and rainfall.

It was also an important moment for His Majesty to reaffirm the diversity of Cambridge and our support for those of all faiths and none, at a time when so many people seek to divide us.

The photograph shows me with King Charles, and Julie Spence, Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire. It was taken by Shahida Raman.

Read more about the day on the Cambridge City Council website.

Cambridge South: a special station

One of the best things about the new station is that is has been designed to be sustainable, to enhance local biodiversity, and to use modern building materials, working to the BREEAM standards – that’s the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, the world’s leading sustainability assessment and certification method for masterplanning, infrastructure, and buildings.

Hear Katie explain why she thinks the new station is special

And read the government’s press release with more detail. As they say the station is

Designed to blend in with its surroundings, the station integrates with the existing Hobson’s Park nature reserve, helping to protect valuable green space, recreational areas and wildlife habitats.

Its ‘green roof’ includes a wildflower meadow environment and a rainwater catchment system that will store and slowly discharge rainwater back into the environment and the nearby brook, while the station’s overall design and construction efficiencies have reduced the station’s carbon footprint by over 22%.