Reason/ Options Considered: Cycling England (CE) have been tasked by the Government to deliver a national programme to increase cycling levels, create examples of best practice, and demonstrate what could be done with the sort of levels of investment in cycling that is found in much of continental Europe.
The County Council, in partnership with Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council was successful in its bid to become one of the new CE ‘Cycling Towns’, not only for the City, but also for the necklace villages within a five mile radius of Cambridge.
Initially CE provided funding of £3.6M up until April 2011, which is to be match funded. In addition, a further £210,000 has been secured, with further funding likely.
The provisional programme to spend this money was approved by Cabinet on 04/11/08, and was discussed by Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire’s Area Joint Committees (AJCs) and In Your Patch meetings, as will as the Cambridge City, South Cambridgeshire and Cambridgeshire County Council Joint Transport Forum. It was submitted to CE early in 2009 and subsequently received approval.
Works have commenced, or will start shortly, on schemes from Histon to Cambridge, Harston to Cambridge, Babraham Road Park & Ride to Wandlebury, and Fen Ditton to Horningsea. In addition, further schemes are proposed for Cottenham to Histon and Milton to Impington.
A number of schemes totalling £1.3M have been identified in the city that will be of great benefit to cyclists in terms of improved provision, directness, quality and safety, in a bid to further increase the number of cycling trips and to attract new cyclists. Specific schemes have been developed for Cherry Hinton Road, Gilbert Road, Madingley Road and The Tins. Consultation took place in January on the proposals for these locations. These schemes have been generally well supported, with the exception of Gilbert Road: whilst there is strong support from Cambridge Cycling Campaign, a significant number of residents of Gilbert Road did not support the proposals. Petitions were presented to Cabinet from Cambridge Cycling Campaign, supporting the proposals for Gilbert Road, and a counter-petition was presented by residents of Gilbert Road, opposing the proposals. |