Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report.

The Executive Board AGREED unanimously to:

a)    Note the progress to date on the scheme development and agrees that while the mass transit options appraisal takes place, work must continue in parallel to develop existing proposals to connect people between homes and jobs in Greater Cambridge, while ensuring they are future proofed so that they can be adapted for new solutions as they emerge;

b)    Approve a short list of Park and Ride (P&R) sites for further development work to enable a decision to be made at the September Board for a preferred site or sites to be consulted on;

c)    That further work be undertaken in respect of an Option 6 alignment; and

d)    Approve the next steps/ timetable detailed in the report.

Amendment to officer recommendation shown in italic text.

The Executive Board considered a report on progress with the A428/A1303 Better Bus Journeys Scheme.  The report included an assessment of potential park and ride sites along the Cambourne to Cambridge corridor.  Based on the outcome of this review, the Executive Board was being asked to identify a short list of sites for further development work.

The Chairperson reported that the Joint Assembly had supported the proposal but had suggested an amendment to recommendation (b), which was agreed with 13 votes in favour and 1 abstention and is show in italics below:

Agree a short list of Park and Ride (P&R) sites for further development work, excluding the site at Crome Lea Farm, to enable a decision to be made at the September Board for a preferred site or sites to be consulted on.

The Chairperson reported that Councillor Lina Joseph had asked to speak on this item as local Member and invited her comment on the proposals.  Councillor Joseph expressed concerns about the future proofing of the A428 Busway Scheme and made the following statement:

Given the preferred 3a route is quite likely to run right along the entire length of both Hardwick and Coton villages, and given such future-proofing seems quite likely to involve buses travelling at 100+ mph, I can only imagine that the infrastructure required to keep our communities safe will be visually very significant indeed. I therefore ask you to release details of what the worst-case scenario could be.

This is a major change from the scheme that has been consulted upon, so any decision that rules out alternatives should not be taken in September.  In any case, no decision should be made until the true facts are known.

The Chairperson then invited Helen Bradbury, Chairperson of the A428 LLF, to present feedback on the Forum’s views on these proposals.  She highlighted six issues and associated questions, details of which are summarised below:

·         The GCP is requested to defer decisions on the A428 Busway until such time as the both the high level mass transit study and the feasibility study on light rail has been completed and published, with adequate time given to allow the public to review and comment on  these proposals. To proceed as before regardless of these developments would be on the basis of insufficient evidence and lack of knowledge of alternative options that could be brought forward and would demonstrate a lack of co-ordination in terms of transport strategy.  If we proceed otherwise we may end up with something incompatible, irreversible and having cost the taxpayer dear.

·         The LLF does not consider option 3a to be a suitable alignment for rapid mass transit given its proximity to rural communities, the amount of infrastructure that would be required to keep those communities safe and its impact on sensitive green belt areas.  The LLF asked that consideration was given instead to developing a more suitable alignment.  She added this future proofing was a significant departure from the original proposals and something the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12