Issue - meetings

To welcome representatives from the Greater Cambridge Partnership who will provide a presentation on the Making Connections Consultation. This will then be followed by a Question and Answer Session.

To find out more or to take part please go to https://www.greatercambridge.org.uk/making-connections-2021

The Chair welcomed Peter Blake, Transport Director, Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership (GCP) to discuss the Making Connections Consultation which could be viewed at the following link:

https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/A9TjCgp1SG01AWHZ9-tJ?domain=greatercambridge.org.uk

The Transport Director said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.         An Impact assessment had been published based on the principles of better bus services and charging, highlighting the issues concerning protected characteristics.

    ii.         A final publication would be available before a decision would be made by the board; the report would outline what those impacts were likely to be.

   iii.         Investigation into the installation and use of light rail had been undertaken in 2018. The current assessment had determined a lack of flexibility and the relative cost in terms of the Greater Cambridge area and population, but this could not ruled out post 2030.

A member of the public asked the following question:

What policy risk assessments have GCP officers made on their proposals that led to significant public protests several years ago, including but not limited to the Cambridge end of the Cambourne-Cambridge proposed busway, and congestion charging?"

"What analysis have GCP officers undertaken/commissioned on elasticities of demand regarding congestion charging? Have they read any literature on the likely reduction in traffic from different levels of charging both with light-rail-based substitutes, and bus-only substitutes available? Do they have contingency plans in place if revenues from charging are much higher or much lower than forecast?

The Transport Director responded with the following:

      i.         The integrated assessment would outline the benefits and form part of the decision-making process.

    ii.         A final decision had not yet been determined and assessments were being undertaken on many areas such as congestion and air pollution.

   iii.         Several consultations had taken place including a citizen’s assembly. There would also be a final round of consultation after the current consultation had been concluded and analysed. 

  iv.         Some of the congestion charges had been published and further publications would be forthcoming while working towards a single proposal.

    v.         Concerning the light railway-based substitutes, previous assessments had been undertaken by the GCP and the Combined Authority. This mode of transport had been discounted as it was costly and inflexible in terms of delivery for this period of time.