Martin Wheatley
@martinhwheatley
Public service reform, housing, environment, active travel
...and now, albeit specifics of how it will work not clear, they will make all the difference between marginally-altered BAU and strong effective change.
Some speculation on here whether new PM means (at last) proper attempt to sort out centre of government. Since I was cog in it, I thought I'd wave the flag for the Commission for Smart Government! www.civilservant.org.uk/library/2021...
Bridge over the railway near Cambridge station. Combined width of 4m. At busy times, it does feel quite congested. If everyone is sensible, it is fine, but unfortunately some riders are reckless and aggressive and some walkers don't look where they're going.
Postponing our return to tropical Cambridgeshire as long as possible, Aysgarth Falls, Wensleydale.
Periodic reminder that there has always been immigration. Somehow 1800 years ago a Greek-speaking Syrian teenager called Hermes met untimely end at Brough Roman fort. Family put up tombstone, copy in church, original in Fitzwilliam Cambridge.
Away in E, non-Lake District, part of Westmorland and far north west of Yorkshire. So peaceful compared with Lakes and so beautiful. Hamlet of Gawthrop, in Dentdale.
Does not the PM nor anyone in the No10 comms team recognise the cognitive dissonance and lack of credibility in posting condemnation of online incitement *on X*? Let alone not going beyond condemnation to doing something practical about it.
Oddly today's Telegraph piece doesn't refer back to their estimates a couple of years ago 🤔
They should *get rid* of the cycle lane markings at the north end of the Regent Street bus gate. They disappear into a pavement build-out! The only safe position to ride through the bus gate is central in the lane, this should be communicated to riders and drivers by cycle symbols.
#Cambridgeshire folks do come to a nice little occasion tomorrow morning in Swaffham Bulbeck. In particular, a most excellent gardener is donating loads of wonderful garden plants.
Weird weather. Sharper frost forecast for 10/11 May here than all but a couple of nights last winter. Fortunately most tender plants still in pots.
Another day, another piece of evidence that the Telegraph is a comic. The slightly higher price of heat pump dryers is more than offset by lower running costs. Attempted furore a bit like incandescent light bulbs a few years ago.
#Bluebells hard to find in E Cambs. But 20 miles west and they are magnificent, Waresley Wood
First #bluebell sighting of 2026. ( @midsandeastnt.bsky.social Sutton Hoo)
On to the next topic, rural cycleways encourage hare-coursing, apparently...
Truly LinkedIn moves in mysterious, and, in this case, disconcerting, ways.
Riverside, Cambridge. Not on a boundary, but similarly a short section of cycleway between two sections of street open to traffic. NB also protecting junction between two active routes (bridge descending to the right).
Surely there is room there for footways and stepped cycle tracks such as are quite widespread round Cambridge now? (Maybe slightly less total width than this picture, but still do-able?)
Two people, five wheels, and an exploration round the back lanes and reserves of the southern Fens
Meanwhile, dire BBC "balanced" reporting setting unevidenced assertions against expert evaluation, but not mentioning the specific S Cambs evaluation which directly disproves government's claims.
Trump placing "interesting" account of his presidency on the walls of the White House. Augustus had similar put up all over the empire. It tends to be seen as somewhat of a partial view, but tbf it is probably a lot closer to history than Trump's.
*Complete* fabrication by Mail here. Very vague discussion in DCMS doc of potential extension of current 75+ concession but no commitment and tone doesn't suggest enthusiasm.