Susan van de Ven

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Bassingbourn, Litlington, Melbourn, Meldreth and Whaddon Learn more

A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign progress

by Susan van de Ven on 12 June, 2016

Some good news to report:

1. On Thursday the City Deal Board approved funding to construct an off-road cycle path between the Frog End Shepreth A10 junction and the entrance to Melbourn Science Park in Cambridge Road, Melbourn.

We’ve asked if we could meet the officers – perhaps at the Green Man pub in Dunsbridge Turnpike Shepreth – to go over the plans and ensure that we understand the detail, particularly with regard to the crossing point: the path will actually run emerging out of Dunsbridge Turnpike, just near the Frog End junction, and run along the western side of Cambridge Road along the line of the existing narrow path. If you’d like to come along to such a meeting please let me know, and I will keep you posted.

It is very heartening to know that the owner of Melbourn Science Park is intending to create a new dedicated cyclist entrance to the site, to contribute to the encouragement of cycling to work now that a new safe link is being created along Cambridge Road.

2. As you will no doubt have noticed, the grass is growing tall alongside the stretches of new path. Cambs County Highways has budgeted for only TWO verge cuts per year, clearly inadequate. I did my best as a councillor to argue against a reduction from what was already a poor programme – three cuts per year – but not enough other councillors on the Highways committee saw things the same way.

Over the past few months we have had some good conversations with AstraZeneca, who need to encourage their workforce to take up cycling or other sustainable transport to work, in preparation for the move from Melbourn to their new Cambridge Biomedical Campus site, where there will be very limited parking. They have very kindly agreed to help pilot a sponsored maintenance programme, providing supplementary verge cuts, sweeping, siding out, etc, at £5K per year for two years. Maintenance costs are not high and this will make a difference. We need to figure out the nuts and bolts so apologies if things don’t happen instantly, but we’ll get there.

3. Work to apply the final surface to the new Foxton-Shepreth path will take place soon, in conjunction with work around Foxton Level Crossing itself.

4. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership is making a bid to central government for funding to connect Melbourn and Royston via path and bridge. We are working with local business and Herts County Council colleagues to organize letters of support.

Finally – yes it’s a strange world of funding. How can we build stuff but not afford to cut grass? Infrastructure funding comes from central government, but our council revenue budget is severely depleted because government has decided to switch off the revenue tap, and that’s where the grass cutting budget sits. This is frustrating and distressing.

Next meeting in September – date and venue to be announced.

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