Readers have been sharing their views on the proposal to build a lifelong learning college at the Cambridge Airport site, with strong opinions on education, housing, and transport
Cambridgeshire Live readers have shared their opinions on suggestions for a new college at the Cambridge Airport site, with many contributing views on education, housing, and transport. The discussion reveals stark divisions over what the city requires and its future direction.
Cambridge is “already extremely well provided” amid calls for a new “lifelong learning” college on the Cambridge Airport site, the combined authority has stated. Homes England and The Hill Group announced their purchase of the land earlier this month, with plans to construct thousands of homes and a railway station.
A regional training hub is amongst the options the developers are exploring before finalising a masterplan for the site. Antony Carpen, a local resident who operates the Cambridge Town Owl blog, has urged Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to begin discussions to “explore the possibility” of establishing a new lifelong learning college near the proposed Cambridge East station.
He argued this “could help reverse the decline in enrolment in adult skills” and “provide the much-needed facilities that might enable adults looking to retrain in areas with chronic skills shortages to make the change”.
One of Jemima3 says: “The idea of a lifelong learning college is long overdue in Cambridge. Oxford already has a specific site. Cambridge has always been rather blinkered in its approach, and Counsellor Nethsinga typifies this. Madingley Hall used to be brilliant – now given over mostly to conferences and weddings. Plenty of degree associated stuff but not enough to reach Joe Bloggs.
“Otherwise, lifelong learning is spotty, through schools and U3A. Having one focused complex would be a huge boost for the wider population. N.B. not only pensioners. Lifelong learning should mean exactly that, as promised by Blunkett at the turn of the century – that lasted c. 2 minutes, like most Labour Party promises, sadly.”
Over on our Facebook page, Philip C comments: “Since St Neots is the third largest urban area in the county (after Peterborough and Cambridge), with 34,000 residents and growing fast, why not site a new college there?”
Kevin S says: “If anyone wants to build a new xyz they are free to buy the land, get permission etc. Developers will only do more than their requirements if it is financially worthwhile for them, just as those potentially running a service (doctors/dentists/shops) won’t normally jump in from day one and will wait until a large % of development is done. Look at Cambourne and how long it took to get past just Morrisons.”
Adam B adds: “Expensive but they could reroute the railway line from Coldhams Common across Marshall airport, enabling the closure of multiple level crossings, plus allowing Coldhams Lane Bridge to be demolished to allow HGVs to travel this way rather than constantly being made to go through Cherry Hinton.”
Simon W believes: “That whole site will probably get as much as Northstowe has. Maybe a doctor and dental hub like Trumpington, but that’s it. Property brings profit, play parks, social hubs, and education don’t.”
Would you like to see the lifelong learning college built? Comment below or HERE to have your say.
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