I have been talking to residents all over South Cambridgeshire and listening to what they are saying about the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) proposals for improving the buses, cycleways and creating a Sustainable Travel Zone (aka congestion charge).
One thing that everyone whom I’ve talked to agrees on: we need Better Buses! We need a sustainable, high-quality public transport system for the future. However, there is a lot of disagreement about how this can best be achieved.
So I am listening and, yes, I too am concerned.
There are many voices in South Cambridgeshire and this is a complex problem that needs a fair solution. There are different ways to reach the desired outcome. Some proposals are on the table in the GCP consultation - and this consultation seeks to find out from residents, workers, businesses and charities what the pros and cons are. We really do need an important debate on this, to hear each other and make sure everyone has a voice.
I feel that the GCP needs to listen to residents, be open to any outcome of the consultation and make changes as needed.
So, yes, I am listening. Why am I concerned?
I’m concerned for the many people I’ve been talking to who depend on the buses to get to work, to hospital, to school and college, to the shops, to meet friends and have a social life and to care for elderly relatives. They are paying a terrible price (as well as mental and physical impacts) for the disgraceful failure of the government to invest in public transport because of yet another U-Turn, this time on the 2019 Conservative manifesto pledge to transform the buses. Why did the government refuse bus money for Cambridgeshire recently?
I’m concerned for the many people who are worried about the fairness, in particular, of the proposed 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. congestion charge and the inclusion of the hospital; their worries about the economic impacts on them of the charge, for example, as unpaid carers, small businesses, volunteers, outpatients, key workers and residents within the zone.
I’m concerned for the many parents who are worried about their children and their safety when getting to school and about the worsening air pollution. As many others, I share their concerns about increasing congestion, about the need to take action on climate change and improving the environment for all.
These are some of the different views of all residents across South Cambridgeshire; there are many more. I'm really interested in us all finding a way to provide better buses and fund them fairly. It's hard to see this as a simple yes or no because this is about buses, cars, bikes, vans, motorbikes, pedestrians and a vision for Cambridgeshire and funding. I hear some mistrust with people thinking this is a done deal or that this should rather be a referendum; some people want me to say now whether I am for or against the charge. But I wouldn't want to say what should happen before the consultation ends because we should be listening first. Everyone deserves to be heard. Then changes will be needed to the GCP proposals.
I will be making sure that the views of South Cambridgeshire residents are heard loud and clear in these discussions.
Have your say: https://consultcambs.uk.engagementhq.com/making-connections-2022
Pippa Heylings urges local authorities to "pause and rethink" the Making Connections scheme on the day of the publication of the consultation response, to which over 24,000 people contributed.
