Camcycle has welcomed the decision today by Cambridgeshire County Council to support the installation of the Mill Road Cambridge bus gate. Anna Williams, head of campaigns and engagement at Camcycle, said the group was appreciative of the “many more who sent messages of support in response to the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO)”.
She said: “The community has been calling for restrictions on Mill Road bridge for over 50 years and waiting for a new bus gate for over three years now.
“It essential that the county council moves quickly to implement the scheme.
Cllr Count clutching at straws arguing that buses will be travelling at speed – up to 20mph – when bus gate is introduced. @MillRoad4People . Buses not being delayed = benefit of bus gate.
— John Morris (@johnmbrampton) October 4, 2024
“It must also work with the community on the accompanying public realm improvements such as pavement widening, additional cycle parking, delivery bays and new planting.
“This will ensure that all those who love this street can enjoy maximum benefits to their walking, wheeling and cycling journeys and their time spent living, working, shopping and socialising on the street.”
At a meeting of Cambridgeshire County Council’s highways and transport committee, councillors voted 9-5 in favour of a new bus gate on Mill Road bridge in Cambridge.
The filter will be installed in November 2024 and aims to reduce congestion and associated air and noise pollution, improve road safety and encourage active travel.
Restrictions on through-traffic will be enforced with ANPR cameras and will apply to all motor vehicles, except buses, emergency services, taxis, and blue badge holders.
The bridge will continue to be a through-route for people walking, cycling, and wheeling.
Councillors had unanimously agreed to proceed with a Traffic Regulation Order for a bus gate in July 2022 following a public consultation in which 72% supported traffic restrictions on the bridge; this was approved in March 2023.
Supporters of the TRO for Mill Road bridge filter assemble outside New Shire Hall Alconbury ahead of today’s Cambridgeshire County Council committee meeting.However, following a legal challenge, this was quashed and replaced with a newly published TRO in August 2024 when the council ended its defence of the court case.
4,049 comments were received in response to the current TRO, of which 53% were in favour. More than half of the responses were received from residents in Petersfield and Romsey wards, the areas each side of Mill Road bridge: of these, 68% of these were in favour.
Elisabeth Whitebread of Cambridgeshire Families for Sustainable Travel said: “Speaking today, our group was really glad to be able to bring some of the voices of young people into the meeting today.
“We hope to see the bus gate implemented quickly now so that families in and around Mill Road can start to benefit from cleaner air and safer streets.”
Committee chair Cllr Henry Batchelor said: “Today, as the chair of this special committee, we heard from all sides and listened to the concerns raised.
“There has been a lot of engagement on this project and whilst this was not an easy decision, we agreed restricting most of the traffic over the bridge would be beneficial and give local people more improvements.”
The county council says that work on the scheme is expected to start in November and be completed in December.
It is exploring public realm and active improvements in collaboration with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and the Greater Cambridge Partnership.
They will include general improvements such as additional cycle parking, signage and decluttering the highway.
More information can be viewed via these links
The agenda for the meeting can be read here.
The meeting recording can be viewed on the county council’s YouTube channel.
The county council’s press release is here.
FACT FILE
Camcycle, a local charity with over 1,700 members, works for more, better, and safer cycling for all ages and abilities in Cambridgeshire. www.camcycle.org.uk
Cambridgeshire Parents for Sustainable Travel campaigns for cheaper, easier, faster, fairer, and greener travel for Cambridgeshire.
