Defending Cambridge’s Countryside: Updates on the Busway Inquiries.
A significant amount of our effort is going into participating in public inquiries that will determine whether controversial bus roads should be built through the Cambridge countryside.
Cambourne to Cambridge Bus Road
We are objecting to plans to build a road through Coton Orchard Wildlife Site and against the compulsory purchase of our charities land (which was bought to prevent development and protect the historic village of Coton and the setting of Cambridge). Our case is that that bus transport can be improved by building an in-bound bus lane next to the A1303 on Madingley Hill, so that buses can bypass congestion. This would avoid destroying the orchard. The government has recently announced £2.5billion funding for East West Railway, which is planned to stop at Cambourne before travelling to Cambridge.
A public inquiry into the Cambourne-Cambridge Busway will take place from mid-September to the end of October. Last week we attended the Pre-Inquiry Meeting with the government inspectors. We have until mid-August to submit our evidence to the inquiry. A professional team is representing our case, this includes Buxton’s Solicitors, a barrister, transport consultant and ecologist. We are also incredibly grateful to several volunteers who are also working on our case and will be attending the inquiry, with a special mention to Edward Leigh from the CPPF Planning Committee.
The fundraising appeal to pay for professional fees now stands at an amazing £129,800 but we will need more. Thank you so much to everyone who has given to this appeal and enabled us to get this far. If you would like to help, please donate here.
Cambridge Southeast Busway (CSETS)
The government has recently announced that a public inquiry will also take place to determine plans to build a controversial 5-mile bus road through open countryside to the south of Cambridge. A date for the inquiry has not yet been set but is likely to take place at the end of this year, or early 2026.
A coalition of parish councils, charities, community groups and landowners will be objecting to the plans because there is a viable alternative scheme for bus roads next to the A1307 which would achieve similar journey times and economic benefits, would be much less damaging to the environment and countryside and would cost £100m less.
Cambridge Past, Present & Future is part of the coalition, and we are raising funds to pay for legal and professional costs to make the case for the alternative scheme and save the countryside.
Thank you so much to everyone who has given to this appeal so far. If you can help, please donate here.
