Elections

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Question 16 - we asked:

What are your views on the current plans for the widening of the A14 which will remove the current (awkward, but at least possible) route for non-motorised users between the north of the village of Girton and Madingley?

We asked this question only in Girton.

3 of the 5 candidates (60%) who were asked this question responded as below.

Thomas Dominic BYGOTT
(Conservative Party)

From the Girton Road bridge over the A14, there is a sign saying '222 casualties on the A14 in 2008'. Each delay to the upgrade means more deaths and injuries. Leaving the road as it is simply isn't an option.

Trying to reduce driving by making the road network inefficient is counter-productive. Most vehicles are at their most efficient between 50 and 60mph; when traffic stops and starts, it produces more pollution and wastes fuel. I favour encouraging people to cycle with better infrastructure, rather than punishing motorists and forcing them out of their cars.

However, we need more, not fewer, cycle paths and walking tracks crossing the A14. I would like to see a new and safer route built between Girton and Madingley, sound barriers along the whole length of the widened motorway and green corridors on either side. Green corridors could help with biodiversity by connecting isolated patches of woodland; they would offset pollution from the traffic and would be a great place to construct cycle paths.

Teal RILEY
(Green Party)

I am not in support of any widening scheme of the A14. Plans to expand the east coast ports are already being tabled to make use of an expanded highway. It would provide traffic relief for 2-3 years, before congestion would again become the norm, but accompanied by greater air pollution, increased noise and even greater frustration to road users.

Aubrey Malcolm CHAPMAN
(UK Independence Party)

The A14 has long been one of the biggest bones of contention in this area, hasn't it? It is a problem for which there is no simple answer, but we certainly agree that there should be practicable routes for cyclists between places as close to one another as Girton and Madingley. And to quote from our Transport Policy document, "UKIP believes off road dedicated lanes are preferable to a confusing maze of cycle lanes on unsuitable or dangerous roads,"

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.