Elections

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Question 13 - we asked:

What do you think should be done, in addition to the measures already approved, to improve the poor walking and cycling environment on Mill Road?

We asked this question in these 2 wards: Petersfield, Romsey.

8 of the 13 candidates (62%) who were asked this question responded as below.

Joshua William Shubra HORDERN
(Conservative Party)

Again, many of the issues which are faced by cyclists like myself on Mill Road could be averted by better awareness by motorists of the needs of cyclists. I welcome many of the approved measures.

Shayne MITCHELL
(Green Party)

Mill Road bridge one-way (traffic lights) and cycle lanes. Enforce ban on pavement parking. Reduce street furniture + clutter. Benches, especially at bus stops.

Kevin Wayne BLENCOWE
(Labour & Co-operative)

I would like to see the pavements repaired and in many parts replaced because they are a disgrace. Clearly the junctions where high accident levels are evidenced need practical solutions. I believe the use of distinct road materials at these points should be considered.

Browne Edward Bengt CARLSSON
(Labour Party)

I cannot support the Cycle Campaign's vision for a largely car-free Mill Road. I do not believe that this is workable, as the rest of Cambridge's road network can barely cope with its present load and would collapse if motorists were driven out of Mill Road, whilst the effect on local businesses would be likely to be serious. Nor am I entirely convinced by the traffic calming scheme mentioned in Newsletter 86.

This obviously lessens the improvements that can be made to the walking and cycling environment. The former would tend to require more pavement, and this cannot be delivered whilst Mill Road is used by cars. In the case of the latter, I would suggest that speed cameras may be needed by Brookfield's Hospital to slow motorists down. However, the narrowness of the street currently renders it difficult to accomplish any particularly radical change.

I would therefore say that the main improvement that could be made is for existing restrictions to be enforced more strongly on Mill Road.

Gail Elizabeth MARCHANT-DAISLEY
(Labour Party)

Reduce the speed limit; improve the surfaces; examine crossing options (eg at Kingston Street junction, Tenison Road), look at practicability of loading time restrictions in consultation with retailers.

Sarah Elizabeth BROWN
(Liberal Democrat)

Mill Road is currently the subject of some attention in this area, and together with county councillor Nichola Harrison I am keen to examine proposals to improve the street environment. I am concerned about pavement clutter, traffic levels and queueing traffic which is present on Mill Road during much of the day. The limited space available complicates the situation, but I believe there are other European cities which have managed to make progress with shared-space type arrangements. I am concerned that any changes should take into consideration users with particular needs, however, such as blind and partially sighted people. I welcome the input of the Cycling Campaign on this issue - the more ideas we can examine for improving the Mill Road environment, the better.

Andrea Curti REINER
(Liberal Democrat)

Mill Road is indeed a dangerous run in the middle of our city. There is no question it is unpleasant for all users – cyclists, pedestrians and motorists. Reducing speed limits and enforcing those speed limits with speed bumps would help improve Mill Road for walking and cycling (and I believe motorists as well, because the traffic would be calmer).

Paul SAUNDERS
(Liberal Democrat)

It is hard to deal with Romsey in isolation. We need to challenge the county council presumption of priority for the needs of motor traffic with a city wide traffic management plan that took real account of future cycling and pedestrian needs. Could, for example, key amenity areas, such as Mill Road, be made less attractive to through-traffic? Could through traffic on these routes be one-way?

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.