This is the third blog on the subject of the Cambridge University Boat Club’s misguided plans to erect their new boathouse on a county wildlife site on the edge of Ely.
Today the Duke of Edinburgh visits Cambridge to be at the launch of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative. Prince Philip was the Chancellor of Cambridge University until a couple of years ago when Lord Sainsbury took over.
Prince Philip will be attending the launch of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative. Sir David Attenborough will also be attending. No doubt there will be a lot of talk about Cambridge being a great centre for conservation knowledge – and n0-one can argue strongly against that. But as with other organisations it is important to make sure that theory and practice are completely aligned and that’s where the plans of the Cambridge University Boat Club for a new boathouse (though it is much more than just a boathouse) might pop into people’s minds now and again.
Opposition to the University’s plans is strong and growing. Not only are many Ely locals shocked by the impact that this large new development will have on their views and wildlife but there is widespread concern within the University too although you won’t find much of that concern reaching the public’s eyes or ears because the grip of the University is pretty strong.
Although there are voices raised against the boathouse plans within the University it is easier for independent voices to point out the damage that will be done by pushing ahead in an arrogant manner. I’m grateful to the following people for putting their names to this letter (which the Sunday Telegraph did not publish).
Will these blogs sink just like the ones on that great moor up north where anger seemed to be calmed by Natural England agreeing to pay the owner £ millions of our money after trying to take him to court for damaging the SSSI?
John – if you mean Walshaw Moor then this blog takes pride in the fact that it ‘helped’ the RSPB to decide to make its ongoing complaint to the European commission on this subject. Watch this space.
It is a sad reflection on our press that a letter signed by so many eminent environmentalists cannot get past the thought-police at the Sunday Telegraph. I wonder why you chose the Telegraph however, maybe because you thought that there would be greater exposure than in the Observer, for instance? Worth a try though, well done.
Richard – it’s a bit of a lottery but i hoped that the interest from The Telegraph’s environment correspondent (there was a piece in the paper on Saturday) might spill over into the letters page on that day or Sunday. But, it didn’t. As you can imagine, it is a bit of a lottery. At the RSPB I was always surprised that some letters were published and others were not.
Let’s hope Sir David has a word or two to say on this subject at today’s launch of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative!
Well done Mark,you try extremely hard to use your considerable influence to enhance wildlife,in this instance by at least getting important people to sign a letter(perhaps my assumption)but at the very least you obviously put your name on the letter.
I agree Mr Ames. It also helps if your name begins with A and you get to the top of the correspondents list!
No Mark No
Not a hit but very much a miss !
You may have a good cse but …
NOT
“Sir
We the undersigned want Oxford to win the Boat Race ………'”
You all sound like children !
Rather
Cambridge University Boat Club wishes to build a vast new boathouse in Ely. This will disturb a site valued for its rare and threatened wildlife – perhaps most notably otters and bitterns. etc etc
A attention
I interest
D Desire
A Action
Methinks you’re ‘too close’ to this one Mark!
Cheers
What do you expect, with sainsbury as chancellor. He of the GM crops!
I look forward to seeing (IV) and learning if the police kept objectors from the public highway so the great and good would not be upset by those phlebian spoilsports objecting to their plans.
Will the Uni marketing and press office be making the most of the notoriety? What counter claims have they promoted, or perhaps that’s why the CCI launch was today?