Elections
Local elections (County), June 2009: Cherry Hinton
Summary: | Elections to Cambridgeshire County Council in June 2009. |
Polling date: | Thursday 4th June 2009 |
Division: |
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Candidates (by surname): |
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Questions for Cherry Hinton division candidates (5 questions)
# Question 1
There is a major shortage of cycle parking all around the city. Cycle theft is over 10% of all reported crime in the County. Do you have any suggestions for locations for cycle parking? Would you be willing to see a very small proportion of on-street car parking being replaced by on-street cycle parking in your ward? How will you progress towards a situation where every resident and every worker in each ward can keep a bike safe?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Christine M CARTER (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Keith EDKINS (Liberal Democrat) |
I think it will be of interest to cyclists living in Cherry Hinton to have adequate cycle parking at major destinations in the city centre. I am concerned that the authorities at the railway station are clamping down on "illegal" parking when there is never adequate space on the racks. More racks are also needed in the Market Square /Guildhall area. |
Neil A FORD (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Charles S HARCOURT (Conservative Party) |
Not applicable to Cherry Hinton. Plenty of cycle parking in my experience. Always an issue at the train station. Do you have any ideas for getting rid of bikes left there permanently? |
# Question 2
Do you support our view that traffic policing (including fining of cyclists without lights or using pedestrian-only pavements) should become a greater police priority?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Christine M CARTER (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Keith EDKINS (Liberal Democrat) |
Yes, also fining of cyclists going the wrong way in one-way streets with no contra-lanes. They are a danger to other cyclists and pedestrians as well as to themselves, and cannot expect to be exempt from the law. |
Neil A FORD (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Charles S HARCOURT (Conservative Party) |
I do support it. And being a daily cyclist, I'm appalled at the number of cyclists going through red lights. They don't observe the code of the road. More fines, please. |
# Question 3
We believe that 20mph should be the norm for local streets in residential areas (as distinct from main connecting roads). 20mph would: greatly encourage walking and cycling; improve the quality of life in an area for residents; and would not delay car journeys significantly (because only the start/end of a journey would be affected). Do you agree that 20mph should become the norm for local streets in Cambridge and surrounding villages?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Christine M CARTER (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Keith EDKINS (Liberal Democrat) |
I support this - of course to have any useful effect it will have to be properly enforced where the narrowness of the streets does not effectively limit speed anyway. |
Neil A FORD (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Charles S HARCOURT (Conservative Party) |
I am very much in favour. We still need more cycle paths. I feel very vulnerable cycling at night on Hills Road and Cherry Hinton Road. |
# Question 4
If the County Council's proposed Congestion Charge goes ahead, it is likely that the associated up-front money that would be received from the government to support prior improvements to public transport and cycling would be of the order of some £500m spread over five years. This is roughly ten times the amount the County currently receives for transport. If the scheme goes ahead, what would be your priorities for use of this up-front money?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Christine M CARTER (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Keith EDKINS (Liberal Democrat) |
I would hope to see a balanced provision of bus improvements and walking / cycling facilities, to encourage as many people as possible to abandon their cars on journeys of various lengths. I understand the idea of opening a railway station in either Cherry Hinton or Fulbourn has been floated in the fairly recent past, and would hope that the feasibility of this could now be revisited. |
Neil A FORD (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Charles S HARCOURT (Conservative Party) |
I don't believe in a congestion charge. Except for the centre of Cambridge. Priorities - cycle paths, tram system. |
# Question 5
Do you have any other general cycling-related comments or points? And what support have you given for cycling and walking, or sustainable transport more generally, in the past?
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Christine M CARTER (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Keith EDKINS (Liberal Democrat) |
Bicycling is my normal method of transport around Cambridge (even though I now have a bus pass). I subscribe to the sustainable transport charity Sustrans, and I took part in this year's Cycle Rally to Reach Fair. |
Neil A FORD (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Charles S HARCOURT (Conservative Party) |
Parts of Cherry Hinton Road have wide pedestrian pavements. I would like to see a cycle path here. As far as support, the best thing I can do is set an example by cycling around Cambridge daily. |
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.