While welcoming City Deal proposals to improve public transport access to Cambridge, this Council reiterates its opposition to a congestion charging scheme. A congestion charge would have the effect of selectively penalising those residents of South Cambridgeshire who currently have no realistic alternative to the car for travel into Cambridge for work.
Decision:
Council
AGREED the following motion:
While welcoming City Deal proposals to improve public transport access to Cambridge, this Council reiterates its opposition to a congestion charging scheme. A congestion charge would have the effect of selectively penalising those residents of South Cambridgeshire who currently have no realistic alternative to the car for travel into Cambridge for work.
Minutes:
Councillor David Bard proposed this motion by stating that the Council had passed a motion in 2010 opposing a congestion charge in Cambridge. The situation had changed since then and he was asking the Council to confirm this position. He stated that only two cities in Britain had a congestion charge: London and Durham. London had an excellent transport system and Durham’s congestion charge was restricted to a single road. Proposals for congestion charges for Manchester and Edinburgh had been rejected by 78.8% and 75% of the public respectively. Councillor Nick Wright seconded the motion.
The following points were made against the motion:
· The authority needed to wait and see the exact terms of any congestion charge before deciding whether to oppose it or not.
· There was insufficient evidence to make a definite decision.
· Funds generated by a congestion charge could be used to improve alternative modes of transport, including free parking at Park & Ride sites.
· Instigating a congestion charge could remove the need for other less palatable charges.
· The Council should be open to considering the wider benefits of a congestion charge to avoid the allegation of nimbyism.
The following points were made for the motion:
· Motorists in our villages have no viable alternative to get to Cambridge.
· The cost of the charge would have to prohibitively high for it to make a difference to congestion in the city.
· A congestion charge would be a tax that would fall disproportionately on our residents.
· Infrastructure needed to be improved before a congestion charge could be contemplated.
· Concern was expressed at the cost of a referendum on this issue when residents’ opposition was clearly known.
· Steps to improve traffic flow should be considered to reduce congestion.
· A congestion charge would not work in a city the size of Cambridge.
· A congestion charge could have a negative impact on Cambridge’s economy.
· Congestion in London had not been reduced by the charge.
Regret was expressed on both sides of the debate that this issue had been politicised, although there was disagreement on who was responsible for this.
A vote was taken and were cast as follows:
In favour (31)
Councillors David Bard, Val Barrett, Brian Burling, Tom Bygott, Grenville Chamberlain, Graham Cone, Simon Crocker, Christopher Cross, Kevin Cuffley, Simon Edwards, Sue Ellington, Andrew Fraser, Roger Hall, Lynda Harford, Mark Howell, Caroline Hunt, Mervyn Loynes, Ray Manning, Mick Martin, David McCraith, Charlie Nightingale, Tony Orgee, Alex Riley, Tim Scott, Ben Shelton, Edd Stonham, Peter Topping, Richard Turner, Robert Turner, Bunty Waters and Nick Wright.
Against (8)
Councillors Henry Batchelor, Philippa Hart, Janet Lockwood, Bridget Smith, Hazel Smith, Ingrid Tregoing, Aidan Van de Weyer and John Williams
Abstain (2)
Councillors Doug Cattermole and Cicely Murfitt.
Therefore Council
AGREED the following motion:
While welcoming City Deal proposals to improve public transport access to Cambridge, this Council reiterates its opposition to a congestion charging scheme. A congestion charge would have the effect of selectively penalising those residents of South Cambridgeshire who currently have no realistic alternative to the car for travel into Cambridge for work.