Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from the Cycling Projects Team Leader.

 

The report informed SAC Members about the emerging proposals for traffic and road safety improvements on Trumpington Road, between Chaucer Road and Bateman Street. The proposals aim to improve conditions for pedestrians, bus users and cyclists. Public consultation is due to take place in May 2014.

 

The Cycling Projects Team Leader circulated a map of the area affected.

 

The Committee raised the following concerns in response to the report:

       i.          A lot of money was being spent on a project that was unlikely to solve many problems.

     ii.          The impact on local communities due to the relocation of the bus stop and loss of parking spaces near the Botanic Gardens.

   iii.          Lack of join up between infrastructure projects.

   iv.          Cyclists riding on the pavement due to their road safety concerns, and the impact on pedestrians.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Cycling Projects Team Leader said the following:

       i.          Funding for cycle lane work came from the Department for Transport (DfT).

     ii.          The relocated bus stop would be sited close to the Botanic Gardens.

 

Members of the public made comments and asked questions, as set out below.

 

1.       Mr Lowson asked how the Trumpington Road scheme fitted into a wider plan of city cycle routes.

 

The Cycling Projects Team Leader said DfT timescales limited when the County Council could apply for, and use funding. The County Council had to undertake projects that were practicable to complete within timescales allowed by DfT, or risk losing the funding. As such there was no overarching scheme as funding was bid for on an adhoc basis, so individual projects could be completed.

 

2.       Mr Lucas-Smith (Cambridge Cycling Campaign) made the following comments:

·       Raised safety concerns regarding cycling near the Botanic Gardens.

·       The DfT has a lot of short term funding, so the County Council has to bid to use it when it can.

·       People cycling on the pavement showed that they had road safety concerns.

·       Supported a Dutch style layout.

 

3.       Mrs Higgs (North New Town Residents Association) raised the following points:

·       North New Town Residents have not been consulted on proposals affecting local schools.

·       Raised safety concerns regarding the Bateman Street junction.

·       Suggested the Trumpington Road scheme would have little impact on the majority of people travelling to the New Town area eg commuters.

·       Asked for a traffic impact assessment to be undertaken on the cycle lane scheme. Suggested there was little point in undertaking the scheme if it made minor safety impact improvements in Trumpington, but caused greater problems elsewhere due to the cumulative impact on traffic flow and parking.

·       Suggested the scheme would exacerbate existing traffic flow and parking issues in the New Town area.

 

The Cycling Projects Team Leader apologised that residents were not included in the planning day with schools and undertook to liaise with Mrs Higgs after the meeting.

 

4.       Mr Butt raised the following points:

·       Supported Mrs Higgs’ comments.

·       Queried the impact of the cycle scheme on residents.

·       More people could be attracted to the area if cycle lanes were improved.

·       Parking is an important consideration when undertaking work.

·       Raised cycle safety concerns.

·       Cycle infrastructure projects should join up, not be undertaken piecemeal.

 

5.       Mr Carpen raised the following points:

·       Raised concerns regarding the consultation process to date.

·       More ‘big picture information’ was required, such as a strategy/map to join up transport issues, instead of undertaking work piecemeal.

·       Undertook to raise concerns regarding short time frames to use DfT funding with civil servants.

 

Councillor Ashton encouraged people to respond to the County Council consultation and reminded SAC delegates the document before them tonight was an introduction to the process.