Busway plans are to go to the Government - but the fight goes on

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On 28th September, the Greater Cambridge Partnership's executive board agreed to a formal request to Cambridgeshore County Council to submit their proposal to the Department of Transport for approval. It was good to see the Cambridge Independent giving full-page coverage to the story, and reporting on some of the searching questions put to the board.

It was just rather a shame that the accompanying photo was an old one showing a bleak and barren-looking field, rather than woods or flourishing hedgerows or the 100-year-old orchard.

The article ends with Elisa Meschini's justifications for the scheme:

• "traffic levels are beginning to increase again"
• "this is without the additional growth in Cambourne and Bourne airfield"
• "that people in Cambourne have "abosolutely zero ways to sustainably commute into Cambridge"

However…

• The first assertion is not supported by the evidence.
• The second is not supported by the GCP's own reports.
• The third is not true as there is already a bus service from Cambourne to Cambridge, which is reportedly under-used.

But most importantly, if a different/better/more frequent bus service into Cambridge is required, there is absolutely no need for it to veer away from the A428, cut across green belt and destroy a priority habitat. It can perfectly well follow existing transport networks. Yet the GCP have consistently refused to even consider this option, and have never properly explained why. Full facts and figures here.

The outcome of the vote was disappointing but fully expected. The next stage will be a public enquiry in which the application will be considered and objections can be presented. With CPPF, we are now raising funds for to ensure full professional representation at the enquiry.

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