Today I’m off to Cardiff to join the launch of the Public Map Platform, a project led by Cambridge University to create a mapping tool that captures and highlights what truly matters to communities. I’m very excited about this.
“Public Map is an open-source mapping platform that aims to show that a transparent and trustworthy planning system based on maps made by and for communities is really possible.” The wonderful Professor Flora Samuel will be there and speaking. What will I learn and are there lessons for Cambridge?
And I’m travelling to Cardiff by train. Through the magnificent Paddington station which has reminded me of the very many times I was here as I travelled to Bath during my student days. Will we be able to travel from Cambridge to Oxford and onto Bristol and Cardiff when the East West Rail arrives in our city? I think that we will!!
Regarding trains… I’m pleased that Rail Future East Anglia has been added to the statutory list for rail strategy consultation after I raised this at the July 2025 Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Combined Authority (CPCA) Transport Committee where I am the Cambridge representative.
I managed to catch a couple of speeches and a debate at the Cam Tech event that was held at the Cambridge Guildhall two weeks ago. At the event I met the new CPCA Mayor Paul Bristow and briefly discussed trains, local democracy and small businesses.
Tomorrow I have the planning committee, where we will consider three Minor applications.
The following Wednesday I will be chairing the Joint Planning Advisory Group which will be held at South Cambridgeshire District Council in Cambourne .
On Thursday 9th I will be attending the full Council meeting at the Guildhall.
In between all of this I know I’ll get many opportunities to meet residents and businesses, join their meetings, walk around some estates and gardens. A very varied few weeks.
And at the weekend I’m running the Town and Gown Cambridge 10K…