Mark Williamson
@markrwilliamson
Journalist based in Cambridge. Formerly news editor @BBCCambs, now freelance. Views here my own unless reposting. [email protected]
Government drought update: Recent rainfall not enough to reverse the dry conditions. Supplies still declining across most areas. Reservoirs in England are 71% full but some are at historic lows Warning of risk to root crop harvest if conditions persist into early autumn.
Build quality at the flagship CB1 development holding up just as well as the flagship Fendon Rd roundabout project. Have we lost the ability to specify and build roads?
Today's new fact about the rescue hens: they are disproportionately frightened of the wind. There is a 13mph breeze blowing (almost nothing by Norfolk coastal standards) and they have retired back into their coop, looking scandalised as only hens can.
Nothing special about Cambridge University versus any other university” - Monty Barlow, CEO of Cambridge Consultants tells @ComputerWeekly 1/2
People go on about Forton services, but let's not forget the McDonalds at Alconbury Services (the Megatron) was not only shaped like a flying saucer but was also reputedly haunted by a werewolf @MegatronMemreez
Publicity drawing for Forton services on the M6 near Lancaster, 1963.
My chilling decade on the front line of university culture wars. @rogermosey on the stifling of free speech and academic debate at Cambridge, as he reflects on his time as master of @Selwyn1882, Cambridge telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/2…
Paging the A14 replacement planting scheme.
🚩Government's proposed concessions to the Planning Bill don't protect irreplaceable habitats. The Bill *assumes* that replacement habitats are successfully delivered. Here, Barry Gardiner MP interrogates Matthew Pennycook on this:
Weekend repost: Abstraction from aquifer ‘unsustainable and already damaging the natural environment.’ From new report on nature strategy for Cambs
New nature strategy doc is blunt on chalk streams: Says, reliance on aquifer for water supplies is ‘unsustainable and already damaging the natural environment.’ No new infrastructure until 2030s and in meantime chalk streams ‘continue to decline.’
The New Model Army deployed in Cambridgeshire this afternoon! (Photo: @RobSetchell)
Study finds that every large land mass, except for Greenland and Antarctica, has experienced unprecedented drying since 2002. This includes the British Isles and Europe. nbcnews.com/science/climat…
Iran’s drought is creating a regime crisis - UnHerd unherd.com/newsroom/irans…
Weekend repost: ‘Greater Cambridge’ unitary authority backed by @SouthCambs and @camcitco x.com/markrwilliamso…
Full council at @camcitco will consider a motion supporting a ‘Greater Cambridge’ unitary authority as being best for residents of the city. 1/2
Cambridge council tenant passed 'from pillar to post' over leak - BBC News Almost half of Cambridge council homes do not have up-to date surveys on their conditions and carrying them out could cost up to £500k, say recent reports. bbc.com/news/articles/…
Weekend repost: availability of water to support regional ambitions for economic growth could be severely limited, 2023 report warned.
A warning from 2023: Even with full investment in the system available, there may not be enough water available to support ‘regional ambitions for economic growth.’
Pubs and venues to be protected from noise complaints - BBC News bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…
Postbox topper in St Ives. The knitted Roundhead helmet is excellent.
#postboxsaturday from #StIves #Cambridgeshire where this weekend they will be celebrating 600yrs of their town bridge with #CavaliersandRoundheads. #OliverCromwell was born at nearby #Huntingdon