Elections
Local elections, May 2007: Arbury
Summary: | Elections to Cambridge City Council (and South Cambs District Council) in May 2007. |
Polling date: | Thursday 3rd May 2007 |
Ward: |
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Candidates (by surname): |
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Questions for Arbury ward candidates (7 questions)
Jump to question: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
# Question 1
Cycling offers a huge opportunity to reduce motor traffic and free up road space. Do you have any suggestions for additional cycling promotion activities that the Council could do?
Responses to this question from all wards…
Alan LEVY (Liberal Democrat) |
My own employers provide secure cycle parking facilities and showers to encourage staff to cycle to work. The city council is already supporting similar measures through its membership of the Cambridgeshire Travel For Work partnership http://www.tfw.org.uk which operates an initiative called “Take a Stand”. I also want to explore other ways which the city council can encourage employers to make suitable provision for employees who cycle to work. |
Shapour MEFTAH (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Michael Walter SMITH (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Mike TODD-JONES (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 2
Cambridge suffers from a huge shortage of on-street public cycle parking, and a staggeringly high rate of cycle theft - 10% of reported crime. We want to see a formal strategy to get on-street cycle parking provided around Cambridge, with a target of say, 100-200 spaces per year initially. Do you support this?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all wards…
Alan LEVY (Liberal Democrat) |
Getting more employers to make suitable provision will go a long way to achieving adequate provision. |
Shapour MEFTAH (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Michael Walter SMITH (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Mike TODD-JONES (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 3
Do you support our view that traffic policing (including fining of cyclists without lights or using pedestrian-only pavements) should become a police priority?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all wards…
Alan LEVY (Liberal Democrat) |
The police do have periodic clamp downs on specific traffic offences, including cyclists riding at night without lights, and I would certainly encourage them to continue doing this. The public also have a part to play in setting police priorities. At a recent North area committee for instance, local residents requested police representatives to enforce traffic regulations more actively in the area. |
Shapour MEFTAH (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Michael Walter SMITH (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Mike TODD-JONES (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 4
Following the remarkable success of 20 mph zones in Hull, we wish to see many more 20 mph zones around Cambridge for both safety and environmental reasons. Do you support this objective?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all wards…
Alan LEVY (Liberal Democrat) |
Cambridgeshire county council is currently undertaking a review of speed limits generally and local Liberal Democrat councillors are working to ensure that 20mph zones can be set up where they are needed within the city. I entirely support their efforts to do this. |
Shapour MEFTAH (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Michael Walter SMITH (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Mike TODD-JONES (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 5
Many cycling schemes effectively force cyclists onto the pavement, resulting in an inadequate cycling environment, and in resentment from pedestrians. Do you support our view that the Council's priority should always be to improve the general road environment first, including the provision of cycle lanes at least 1.5 metres (5 feet) wide?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all wards…
Alan LEVY (Liberal Democrat) |
In such a historic city as Cambridge there are many competing demands and it is always difficult to balance the needs of all interested parties. My own view is that the only way to safeguard the unique environment of Cambridge is to reduce car usage significantly. This should be the priority of all local authorities and everything should be done to make this happen. If we succeed in achieving such a modal shift, the environment for everyone, including cyclists, will improve. |
Shapour MEFTAH (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Michael Walter SMITH (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Mike TODD-JONES (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 6
Some cyclists have told us they feel unsafe riding over the A14 Histon junction, because of crossing the exit roads down onto the A14, and along Histon Rd, because of its narrowness. Do you support measures to improve safety for cyclists in these two areas?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all wards…
Alan LEVY (Liberal Democrat) |
Opportunities should arise to improve provision for cyclists along this route when work to provide the guided bus route reaches Cambridge and as the plans for the new development on the NIAB site are finalised. I will encourage the County council to ensure that adequate safe provision is made for cyclists as these works proceed. |
Shapour MEFTAH (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Michael Walter SMITH (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Mike TODD-JONES (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 7
Do you have any other general cycling-related comments or points?
Responses to this question from all wards…
Alan LEVY (Liberal Democrat) |
I encourage all road and pavement users, whatever their means of locomotion, to show consideration for one another and to pay attention to what is happening around them at all times. |
Shapour MEFTAH (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Michael Walter SMITH (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Mike TODD-JONES (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Camcycle is a non-partisan body. All candidates are given an equal opportunity to submit their views. Information published by Camcycle (Cambridge Cycling Campaign), The Bike Depot, 140 Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0DL.