The University of Cambridge has announced it will be funding and establishing a new Centre for Music Performance. (CMP). This represents a chance to make good the missed opportunity in the 1960s to build a large (2000+ capacity) concert hall for the city. 

The Cambridge Corn Exchange is our largest indoor venue, revamped in 1986 at a time when our population was just under 100,000. By 2030 it will be closer to 150,000 with more growth outside. Numerous council-funded studies have revealed the need and demand for a new larger venue. (See my blogpost here). 

Establishing a permanent Mayor's Capital Fund for Cambridge would enable residents without links to The University to leave bequests that could contribute towards the concert hall that could also host the CMP. The University already owns a suitable site (Harvey Road/Cambridge assessment) with a footprint 3x that of the Corn Exchange. The hall could also be shared with & include Anglia Ruskin University's music department. 

Harvey Road was where Florence Ada Keynes, our first woman town councillor & former Mayor, lived for over 70 years with her family, including son John Maynard Keynes the economist. Name it after her?