The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) want to build an off-road busway from Cambourne to Cambridge (C2C), at an estimated cost of at least £200 million.
We fully support the development of much-needed infrastructure and better transport links from the west of Cambridge into the city and other key destinations. But it is clear that, for many reasons, the GCP's off-road scheme is not a good solution. The proposed route will cut through Green Belt land and the county's largest traditional orchard. It will irreversibly damage landscape, views and habitats. But there is a viable, cost-effective alternative route, which:
URGENT APPEAL Although Cambridgeshire County Council have submitted their Transport and Works Act Order application, it has not yet been formally approved by Cambridgeshire County Council. This is required in order for the Public Inquiry to proceed, and a vote will take place at the Council Meeting on Tuesday 11th February. On Thursday, we wrote to every County Councillor, urging them to vote against the approval – saving millions of pounds of public money, and the County Council from certain financial and political risk. We are asking our County supporters to get in touch with their Councillors before this Tuesday, encouraging them to read the letter and look again at the facts. Public Inquiry confirmedOn 12th November 2024, Cambridgeshire County Council submitted their Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) application to the Secretary of State for Transport. The TWAO grants planning permission and gives powers to compulsorily purchase land owned by those who oppose the scheme.
On 5th February, The Department of Transport sent notification that there is to be a Public Local Inquiry into the application. The date for the Inquiry will be announced in due course. Coton Busway Action Group plan to give oral evidence at the Inquiry, so we are now preparing our Statement of Case, to be submitted by 19th March. Other organisations and individuals, including lawyers jointly representing Cambridge Past Present and Future and Coton Parish Council, will be doing the same. This is not a done deal. With Cambridge Past, Present & Future and an alliance of other organisations, we are raising funds to pay for independent experts and legal representation at the forthcoming Public Inquiry. A substantial amount has now been raised, but we do need more.
You can support our campaign by The on-road alternative will:
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The GCP's C2C busway scheme would be a disaster:
For the environment
For local heritage and landscape
For people in and around Cambridge
Moreover, the GCP and the County Council have failed to take into account:
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For background information, more of the detail behind the argument, and links to key documents, see our longer briefing document
The on-road alternative will save millions of pounds, cause minimal environmental damage,
and provide more direct journeys to most key destinations.
and provide more direct journeys to most key destinations.
What our supporters are saying
"You can put a bus route anywhere you like, but you can’t mitigate for cutting down hundreds of trees like this."
Chris Packham on ITV News “The threat to the historic orchard at Coton is a sign that the urge among planners in the country to override environmental concerns in order to promote GDP growth remains undiminished.” Sir Partha Dasgupta GBE FRS FBA Frank Ramsey Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Cambridge “The National Trust continues to object to the proposal for an off-road busway between Madingley Mulch and Cambridge city centre because of its impact on a valued landscape which has intrinsic visual, historic and cultural significance, and which is fundamental to preserving the setting and special character of the historic city of Cambridge in accordance with its Green Belt purpose.” The National Trust "The open green spaces of Cambridge need protection." Sir David Attenborough "These ecosystems are developed over many many decades, and you can’t replant your way out of this kind of destruction." Joel Ashton, wildlife gardnening expert and TV presenter "Leave Coton Orchard alone!" Iolo Williams, wildlife expert and TV presenter Vertical Divider
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"“The climate crisis requires careful analysis before any investment into future-proofing our country is made. Where we need better public transport, care must always be taken that existing facilities are adapted before adding additional infrastructure across greenbelt land. In this case there is a far less destructive alternative, making better use of the nearby existing N-S highway. I join those who have stated very clearly that the proposed investment would prove to be a costly environmental tragedy.”
Sir David King, Founder & Chair, Centre for Climate Repair, University of Cambridge "Coton Orchard has such enormous riches. I can’t think of anywhere else quite like it. And it’s big enough to be significant, and its connected to the surrounding countryside – and that connectivity is absolutely vital." Brian Evesham, CEO Wildlife Trust BCN “These veteran trees in Coton Orchard are protected through the National Planning Policy Framework, and are a vital and treasured part of the UK’s natural and cultural landscape.” Jack Taylor, Lead Campaigner at the Woodland Trust "The proposed C2C busway might, in the fullness of time, make a small contribution to combating the global climate crisis, but it would be a great shame if this could only be achieved at the cost of worsening the biodiversity crisis. It is not in our long-term interests to remove the trees of Coton Orchard, and the irreplaceable habitats in and around them, which, once lost, are lost forever." Clive Anderson, TV and radio presenter, former barrister, President of The Woodland Trust |