Cambridge South East Transport study

The Greater Cambridge Partnership launched their consultation on the Cambridge South East Transport study (formerly known as A1307, Three Campuses to Cambridge) on 9 February.

https://www.greatercambridge.org.uk/transport/transport-projects/cambridge_south_east_study/

The deadline for you to submit comments is 3 April. 

We were assured leaflets would be delivered to all homes in Queen Ediths and all of Hills Road up to the railway station but so far nothing has materialised. There is now less than five weeks left for people to comment; note government guidelines are 3-6 months.

Given the possible impact of the proposals on the Magog Hills and the city’s southern approaches, Babraham and Hills Roads  I asked the charity Cambridge Past Present and Future for their view of the proposals that have been put forward.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gog_Magog_Hills

CPPF have now posted a summary on their website ( see link below) and have made public their position . They will be refining this later.  I will keep you posted.

https://www.cambridgeppf.org/wp-content/uploads/CambridgePPF-Position-on-A1307-consultation-Feb18.pdf

The route starts at the Biomedical Campus (the Addenbrooke’s site). It runs along the A1307 to Haverhill. Route Options under consultation include

Strategy 1 –

• A fully segregated ‘Mass Rapid Transit’ off-highway bus route across the green belt land between the A11 and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
• Skirts Sawston, Stapleford, Great Shelford with onward connection to the city centre.
• Appears to follow an old railway line close to the A505 and a County wildlife site.
• Impacts the Nature Reserve Nine Wells, the Gogs Landscape and its views.
• Opens up Green Belt sites round Sawston, Great Shelford and Stapleford for potential development. (The next Local Plan starts 2019).
• Like the controversial Cambourne to Cambridge off highway bus route through the West Cambridge Green Belt, this Green Belt route is the GCP’s lead option.
• A new Park and Ride site close to the A11.

Strategy 2 –

• A segregated off-highway bus lane from the Babraham Road Park & Ride
• Again across Green Belt land, the field next to Nine Wells owned by the County Council. ( Note Cambridgeshire County Council have plans to develop land they own).
• Enters the Biomedical Campus halfway along the Campus’s southern edge.
• There is an inbound-only bus lane alongside the A1307 from the Babraham Research Campus to the Babraham Road Park & Ride.
• A new Park and Ride site close to the A11.

Strategy 3 –

• An on road 6m-wide inbound-only bus lane alongside the A1307 from the Babraham Research Campus to the Addenbrooke’s Hospital roundabout
• A new Park and Ride site close to the A11.
• CPPF do not believe there is a case for a new bus lane between Babraham Research Park and the dual carriageway close to Wandlebury. This section of the A1307 will remain free flowing (ie no queuing traffic) and therefore the damage to roadside hedges and trees cannot be justified.
• The charity also say if this section of bus lane from the Babraham Campus was removed from the proposal, of the strategies currently on the table thisoption is the least damaging to the landscape and represents the best value for money.

The proposals also include recommendations for smaller projects:

• Widening Granham’s Road  junction to provide a right-turn lane from Babraham Road into Granham’s Road
• extra covered cycle storage and electric car  charging points at the Babraham Road Park & Ride site
• a multi-user cycle path between the Biomedical Campus and the Babraham Research Campus for cyclists, pedestrians and horses, that is segregated from  the road
• a right-turn lane for the Gog Farm Shop entrance, and a staggered junction to replace the crossroads
• an underpass at Wandlebury to make it easier for walkers, cyclists and equestrians to cross the road.

 

To have your say fill in the on-line survey. 

https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/TEKOY/

If you are not happy with any or all of the three proposals it is important to object.

Note

• Significant residential and commercial development within and outside of Cambridge is likely to put even more pressure on existing transport links and future development. (The next Local Plan is due to start in 2019).
• Big development proposals are only likely to be approved if they tie in closely with a big expansion of existing transport infrastructure.
• Equally, the need for new transport links is driven by changes in where people live and work, so new development may also justify new transport links. 
• Many people, both in the villages and in the city are asking how much more development can the region take. This view was echoed in a question asked by the former Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council at the last Combined Authority meeting
• Given all the rapid growth pressures does Cambridge need a Cambridge Landscape and a Historic Environment Strategy and for key strategic viewpoints to be protected? See John Preston, the City’s former Historic Environment and Conservation Manager. http://fecra.org.uk/local-plan-update-12th-feb/
• You can find out more information at the drop in public exhibitions.

The local Queen Edith’s drop in event is 

4-7pm, Thursday 15th March, St John’s Church, Hills Road. 

The Babraham Road 28 Feb drop in event was cancelled. GCP say they will advise on an alternative date.

Linton Village Hall	Monday, 26 February	16.00 – 19.00
Babraham Road Park & Ride	Wednesday, 28 February	8.00 – 9.30
Stapleford Pavilion	Wednesday, 7 March	16.00 – 19.00
Haverhill Tesco Superstore	Saturday, 10 March	9.30 – 12.00
The Abington Institute	Tuesday, 13 March	16.00 – 19.00
Sawston Village College	Wednesday, 14 March	16.00 – 19.00
St John the Evangelist, Hills Rd, Cambridge	Thursday, 15 March	16.00 – 19.00

There will also be a presentation of the plans at Queen Edith’s Community Forum AGM, 8 March, at St Johns’s Church, 7pm – 9pm. (If  you are attending please be prompt as this is not a drop in event). More details are on their website. 

In summer 2018, the Executive Board will consider how to proceed with the project and whether to choose a preferred strategy to develop in more detail.