Elections
Local elections (County), May 2013: Newnham
Summary: | Elections to Cambridgeshire County Council in May 2013. |
Polling date: | Thursday 2nd May 2013 |
Division: |
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Candidates (by surname): |
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Questions for Newnham division candidates (10 questions)
Jump to question: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
# Question 1
What experience do you have of cycling in the Cambridgeshire area?
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Jonathan Rodney FARMER (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Lucy Kathleen NETHSINGHA (Liberal Democrat) |
I have cycled in the Cambridge area very frequently and under a variety of circumstances since I moved to Cambridge. The pleasure of cycling through Cambridge without thick gloves and several scarves is one of the great joys of spring in Cambridge. |
Peter SARRIS (Labour Party) |
I have been a keen cyclist and pedestrian since moving here in 2000. I try, wherever possible, to avoid using a car. |
Tom WATKINS (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 2
Cambridge is seeing massive housing growth, with tens of thousands of new journeys into the city expected daily. Given that building tunnels, knocking down houses, or providing new public transport is very expensive, would you agree that creating very high-quality cycling routes to encourage new people to cycle offers by far the best cost-benefit ratio for transport improvements that facilitate growth of the City and surrounding areas?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Jonathan Rodney FARMER (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Lucy Kathleen NETHSINGHA (Liberal Democrat) |
yes |
Peter SARRIS (Labour Party) |
Yes - high quality cycle routes are vital to ensure sustainable expansion and a healthier population. |
Tom WATKINS (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 3
Do you support our view that traffic policing, of all groups of road users (cyclists, drivers, etc), should become a greater police priority, and that this should be evidence-based, namely based on the relative levels of danger presented by each such group?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Jonathan Rodney FARMER (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Lucy Kathleen NETHSINGHA (Liberal Democrat) |
yes |
Peter SARRIS (Labour Party) |
I am strongly in favour of more visible and assertive policing and a 'zero tolerance' policy against irresponsible road users of all sorts. In Newnham, pedestrians and cyclists are especially vulnerable because the pavements and cycle paths (such as along the Madingley Road) are in a dreadful state and the sitting Lib Dem councillor has been utterly ineffectual - Madingley Road is a case in point - it is just round the corner from where she lives! |
Tom WATKINS (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 4
London’s Mayor has launched plans for proper prioritisation of space for cycling in London, with a 15-mile substantially-segregated route by removing traffic lanes from cars, three ‘mini-Hollands’ and more. Do you and your party support a new London-style bike plan for Cambridgeshire?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Jonathan Rodney FARMER (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Lucy Kathleen NETHSINGHA (Liberal Democrat) |
I think it sounds a very interesting idea. The details would be very important. |
Peter SARRIS (Labour Party) |
I support a new Cambridgeshire bike plan, learning in particular from Dutch towns and country cycling, given the topgraphical similarity (i.e. similar flatness) of Cambridgeshire and Holland. But I'd rather think of it as learning from the Dutch than learning from Boris! |
Tom WATKINS (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 5
The County Council now has responsibility for public heath. As a member of the Council, how would you address such urgent and diverse issues as air quality, obesity, children’s independence, and the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Jonathan Rodney FARMER (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Lucy Kathleen NETHSINGHA (Liberal Democrat) |
I think the ability of children and young people in Cambridge to cycle around their city is a wonderful benefit of living here. The freedom it allows children and parents to live independent lives is just as important as the health benefits, although these are clearly huge. |
Peter SARRIS (Labour Party) |
I would encourage cycling and walking to work and school, encourage greater provision for school cycling clubs and classes, and ensure air quality is properly monitored.I would also encourage the revival of school 'countryside clubs' to foster greater appreciation of nature, the countryside, and our native ecology. |
Tom WATKINS (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 6
Do you believe that Dutch-quality cycle provision, with cycle tracks that are separate both from pedestrians and motor traffic and that have priority over side roads, should a) be included within all new traffic schemes and b) be considered and consulted on for all modifications to existing schemes?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Jonathan Rodney FARMER (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Lucy Kathleen NETHSINGHA (Liberal Democrat) |
I think Dutch style cycle provision, with cycles separated from both pedestrians and cars is clearly the gold standard. However while where it is achievable this is highly desirable, I would not want to insist that all schemes would achieve this, as it might be better to get a less perfect scheme, but get it more quickly, (or in some case at all.) |
Peter SARRIS (Labour Party) |
Yes, wherever possible (given road layouts and the constraints of some very narrow Cambridge roads) |
Tom WATKINS (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 7
Do you agree that 20mph should become the norm for local streets in Cambridge and surrounding villages? Do you support this on all roads, all roads except major roads, or not at all?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Jonathan Rodney FARMER (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Lucy Kathleen NETHSINGHA (Liberal Democrat) |
Certainly for local streets in my area of Cambridge, I would not want to offer an opinion on local villages, as that decision would need to be made by the residents of those villages, and each village would have different circumstances. |
Peter SARRIS (Labour Party) |
Yes, but only condition that residents are consulted and agree. There is also a strong case for lowering the limit on many of the country roads that connect villages and which come into Cambridge (especially so as to ensure there is not too sharp a difference between limits on roads into and within populated areas). |
Tom WATKINS (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 8
Do you support the principle of a considerable improvement for cycling along the inner ring road, in the form of a Newnham to Newmarket (N2N) cycleway? In our view, 2.1m wide cycle tracks could be achieved for much of this while in many places not affecting vehicle capacity.
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Jonathan Rodney FARMER (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Lucy Kathleen NETHSINGHA (Liberal Democrat) |
This sounds like a fantastic idea, but again the details would be very important. |
Peter SARRIS (Labour Party) |
Yes, in principle I am very supportive of this, and having cycling and pedestrian priority on all roads from the inner ring road inwards |
Tom WATKINS (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 9
We would like to see the Pembroke Street / Mill Lane route becoming the default priority direction at its junction with Trumpington Street. This would enable the high pedestrian and cycle flows to be catered for better. Do you support this idea?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Jonathan Rodney FARMER (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Lucy Kathleen NETHSINGHA (Liberal Democrat) |
I am well aware that this is a very difficult junction for cyclists, and it is particularly important for young people cycling from Newnham to Parkside. Improvements for cyclists at this junction would be highly desirable, but I would want to see more details about how this suggested solution would affect other traffic flows in that area. |
Peter SARRIS (Labour Party) |
The idea has much merit, but to proceed we would need the support of local residents and stake-holders, who should be consulted. |
Tom WATKINS (Green Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 10
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 recent past?
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Jonathan Rodney FARMER (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Lucy Kathleen NETHSINGHA (Liberal Democrat) |
I think that the ability to use cycling as a major way of getting around is one of the best things about Cambridge. We should be rightly proud of the cities role in trailblazing as a leading cycling city. Cambridge (with the help of the Cambridge Cycle Campaign) has some excellent cycle facilities, but we need more! |
Peter SARRIS (Labour Party) |
I am committed to restoring the post of Cycling Safety Officer in Cambridgeshire to ensure better scrutiny of conditions and provision for cyclists. I make a point (and have always made a point) of walking or cycling wherever possible. I am also committed to greater investment in public transport to address 'transport poverty' across Cambridgeshire, and bringing buses back under democratic regulation and control. |
Tom WATKINS (Green 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.