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Listen to the special documentary broadcast on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
on Thursday 28th November.
 The
Cambridge Phenomenon - a city at a crossroads»
Your comments »
Cambridge's
position as the centre of the high tech industry has been largely
unchallenged since the early 70s, but the city has reached a critical
point and risks becoming a victim of its own success.
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Your
Vote
In our special vote we asked if you thought Cambridge has
grown enough. Here's the result:
Has Cambridge grown enough?
Yes:
64.4 %
No:
35.6 %
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Will
soaring property prices, traffic overload and lack of infrastructure
bring an end to what has been dubbed 'The Cambridge Phenomenon'?
In a special Radio Cambridgeshire documentary we look at
how the situation arose and what the solutions might be, through
the eyes of some of the key players in Cambridge’s academic and
commercial life.
Have
your say
If you want to have your say about the growth of Cambridge, email
us at: cambridgeshire@bbc.co.uk
Your comments
Instead
of trying to stifle success we should embrace it and adapt our infrastructure
to accommadate it. If we don't, investment will dry up and go elsewhere-probably
permanently.
Howard Thomas, Ramsey
Because
of it's historical value it was stated when I was growing up there
in the 30's and 40's, that the population should never excede 100
000. What is it now? I think Cambridge has been totally destroyed
because of tourism. It was supposed to be preserved. Prices were
always high for houses but from what I see and what my friends tell
me, they are out of hand. To be quite honest, I feel sad the city
of my birth is no longer quaint.
Patricia, Australia
Build more houses on the outskirts of Cambridge and stop using the
surrounding towns/villages as dormatories for Cambridge workers.
People would then be able to bus or bicycle to work.
Ann Cosgrave, Great Gransden
As
parents with three children my wife and I are concerned that currently
there is no way that they will be able to afford to live in the
area they were brought up. Our eldest graduated from Nottingham
University and has decided to remain inthe area (house prices start
at £26k / rents half the Cambridge value), my youngest son will
be going away to University next September and we fully expect him
not to return. We both feel that a) NIMBY is alive and well in Cambridgeshire
b) if we are not careful the employment of trade staff will not
be possible as manual workers will not be able to afford to live
here.
Graham Pink, Cambridge
Cambridge needs to halt building of new corporate premises so that
housing demand can catch up. Let other more needy towns and cities,
such as Corby, share in the success now. Cambridge is FULL!
Richard Bagnall, Cambridge
Soham has been campaigning for a train station since it was closed
in the early 1960's but any new station has always been declared
as unviable even though the population has doubled, not to mention
the increase in housing and car traffic since that time. With two
new by-passes proposed near Fordham and the southern approach to
Ely ammounting to around 7 miles on 15 mile stretch of road at an
initial estimated cost of £14 million but in reality probably more
like £30-35 million. The last estimations into building a new station/platform
and the track changes needed between Ely and Newmarket was estimated
at £12 million and would enable commuters to travel from Ely, Soham,
Newmarket, Cambridge and vice versa taking cars off the road. Which
of these proposals are more viable and sensible??? I personally
don't think this will alleviate any traffic as most communters still
need to get to Cambridge to work via the A10 & A14, there is desperate
need to take cars off the road and building these by-passes will
not help in the long term as well as the house building program
for the next 10-15 years it will only create a rat-run. Visit www.soham.org.uk/features/index.htm
for more details of the Soham Train Station Campaign.
Chritopher Scurrah, Soham, UK
Would it be better to retrain people who live in Cambridge rather
than bringing outsiders?
Krysia Brown, Over Cambridge
Travelling and journey times in Cambridge are getting unbearable.
The train station is poorly located for trips into the city centre,
traffic congestion is absolutely DREADFUL and buses are still not
reliable enough to leave your car at home. I would like to see Cambridge
continue to grow, but for this to happen more affordable property
needs to be easily available, and infrastructure improvements must
be made a priority.
Tim Read, Cambridge
Development of Cambridge Phenomenon across the county should
be encouraged. MUCH more housing needs to be built, in market towns
and villages (with transport improvements) and in Cambridge (even
at the expense of the Green Belt). Affordability is key for academics,
students, and the rest of the community alike.
Alan Ball, Waterbeach
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