The campaign to save independent punting in Cambridge
Not the terrible reality tv programme… (sorry Spencer)
The Cambridge City Council are obviously taking a keen interest in this site. We’ve had 4 visits in the last 2 days from gwa.cambridge.gov.uk Hi guys!
Any chance of a link from visitcambridge.org ? No? Didn’t think so…
With this website live for fewer than 12 hours we have already received a phone call from Phil Doggett, not happy with the wording of the 5th March section. He asked what was meant by ‘shut down’.
We stated that the council are planning to commence enforcement action on Jesus Green and with no where else to load or unload that independent punt operators would effectively be unable to trade.
He confirmed this but stated that it is not his department’s responsibility to provide punt stations nor was he able to confirm whether the start of the season meant 1st April as it was originally taken to be or prior to Easter weekend as now seems to be the case.
He requested that the wording be changed and that the new wording be emailed to the him for approval by the council prior to being published. He also wanted to know the name of the independent punt operator who was involved in the conversation.
Independent punt operators are currently seeking legal advice on the anti-competitive nature of the Cambridge City Council’s proposals and behaviour with reference to the Competition Act and a view to taking further action.
To paraphrase a telephone conversation an independent punt operator had with Phil Doggett (Consultant Senior Estates Surveyor, Property & Building Services, Cambridge City Council), when asked what independent punt operators should do about renewing their commercial licences in April it was stated that we would be shut down prior to Easter weekend 2008.
Anyone continuing to operate from the Green would get a ‘black mark’ against them that would prejudice their ability to get a space on the La Mimosa station.
Given that the La Mimosa station is still not in vacant possesion and that no alternative to Jesus Green has been offered, it would appear that far from attempting to licence and regulate independent punt operators, the council are simply attempting to shut us down in response to the constant pressure from Scudamores Punting company and their lawyers. (see the letters page for an idea of the kind of pressure they have been applying).
Two CCTV cameras have been installed in the old bowling green building on Jesus Green.
They are recessed into the building and directed towards the river, one facing towards the lock and one facing towards the boardwalk.