Elections
Elections to Cambridgeshire County Council 2017: Abbey
Summary: | Elections to Cambridgeshire County Council, May 2017 |
Polling date: | Thursday 4th May 2017 |
Division: |
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Candidates (by surname): |
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Questions for Abbey division candidates (7 questions)
Jump to question: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
# Question 1
What experience do you and your family have of cycling? Do you have any different concerns about younger or older family members cycling than you do for yourself?
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Kevin FRANCIS (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Monica HONE (Green Party) |
My older daughter cycles from Abbey to Chesterton Community College every day. My husband cycles to work. |
Nicky SHEPARD (Liberal Democrat) |
I cycle as my daily commute, and as my children get older we increasingly cycle as a family. However, the road surfaces and cycle routes in Abbey are poor and there isn’t a route that feels safe to get from home to the City Centre. As my children approach secondary age, I am very aware of the less than adequate routes to secondary schools in our area, as children are typically expected to cycle independently at that age. I am very worried about younger and older people, or those with reduced mobility riding on the routes in Abbey, as the road surfaces are broken and poorly maintained, many are sloped and both shared bus-lanes and shared pavement are very unsafe and unpopular. |
Joan WHITEHEAD (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 2
What challenges do people face in your area that prevent them from cycling, especially children and those using cycling as a mobility aid, and how will you address them?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Kevin FRANCIS (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Monica HONE (Green Party) |
I think the cycle lanes along the main roads are inadequate and cyclists should have priority over cars at junctions. |
Nicky SHEPARD (Liberal Democrat) |
While some parts of Abbey have good sections of cycle lane, in many places they are not joined up, or drop you into a road or mixed use path with little warning or markings. Some areas, specifically along Riverside, need clear signage or painting to show right of way and clarify which sections are mixed use. Many of the paths and walkways in Abbey are truly atrocious, making them completely unsuitable for anyone with limited mobility or for wheelchair users. The on-road cycle lanes, shared bus and cycle lanes, shared paths and lack of safe crossings on Newmarket Road make it an extremely unsafe place for both cyclists and pedestrians. This will need to be improved as a matter of urgency. |
Joan WHITEHEAD (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 3
Which aspects of current City Deal proposals do you support, and what additional measures which have not been officially proposed do you think should be explored?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Kevin FRANCIS (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Monica HONE (Green Party) |
The candidate did not enter a response for this question. |
Nicky SHEPARD (Liberal Democrat) |
I am optimistic that the Chisholm Trail will have a really positive impact on cycling in Abbey. The Abbey to Chesterton bridge is something that myself and other Lib Dem campaigners and Councillors have consistently supported. It’s an essential part of the north-south cycle route and will provide a safe and pleasant journey, away from main roads. Pedestrians, cyclists and drivers all regularly ask me to campaign for segregated cycle lanes on Newmarket Rd, which seem like they would be safer for everyone. With the current arrangement, it’s hard to see why anyone would want to cycle into the City from Abbey. I have been very disappointed in the lack of consultation and public involvement in the City Deal so far. I would work to see this changed. |
Joan WHITEHEAD (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 4
Which junctions in your area need to be improved to increase safety for people cycling, and how what can be done to fix them?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Kevin FRANCIS (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Monica HONE (Green Party) |
McDonald's roundabout. |
Nicky SHEPARD (Liberal Democrat) |
The three major junctions on Newmarket Road, with Elizabeth Way, Barnwell Road and Ditton Lane are all extremely unsafe for cyclists. I championed improvements to the Barnwell Road/Newmarket Road junction on behalf of residents and I’m glad to see that changes to improve visibility of the pedestrian crossing will soon be implemented. As part of phase 2 of the City Deal I would work to ensure that these junctions are improved and that the public are fully involved in that process. Councillors have long promised a pedestrian crossing at the Ditton Lane junction but nothing has been delivered. |
Joan WHITEHEAD (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 5
With Park Street due for demolition, and Grand Arcade cycle park frequently beyond capacity, where do you think a third covered city centre cycle park should be located? What other additional actions do you propose to increase cycle parking capacity on our city centre streets?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Kevin FRANCIS (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Monica HONE (Green Party) |
I would explore reducing car parking spaces in favour of more cycle parking, and reducing demand for car parking in the city through a combination of higher parking fees, improved alternative access, such as more Park and Rides, or free bike hire. |
Nicky SHEPARD (Liberal Democrat) |
Anyone who has been to the City can clearly see the need for more cycle parking, especially to ensure that paths remain clear and accessible to users of wheelchairs and mobility aids. Many people have spoken to me about the need for spaces for cargo bikes, trikes and trailers. Taking part in the Cambridge Transport Hack showed me that with innovative thinking there are lots of exciting solutions to our current problems. I would like to explore more areas to fully pedestrianise in the City Centre, with further on-street cycle parking in those areas. The area behind the Grafton Centre could also be explored for cycle parking. However, I would also push for better community facilities in areas like Abbey, to reduce trips into the City Centre. If elected, I’ll be championing the regeneration of Barnwell Square with better homes and more shops, restaurants and cafés. |
Joan WHITEHEAD (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 6
What measures would you support to boost cycle commuting into Cambridge? For instance, the City Deal Greenways proposal, reuse of old railway alignments, or new bridges over main roads?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Kevin FRANCIS (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Monica HONE (Green Party) |
I think we should invest in making cycling more attractive, so that it is actually easier than driving. That is not the case right now. |
Nicky SHEPARD (Liberal Democrat) |
I live in the City, so I could be wrong, but I think what cycle commuters coming in from further afield want are direct routes into town which are away from busy roads and have a good surface to cycle on. With the number of punctures I get on some of the dreadful cycle paths in Abbey, if my commute was four or five miles longer I think I’d be very nervous of being stranded far from home or work. I would support the reuse of old railway lines and with the new Cambridge North Station and proposed Chisholm Trail bridge, I wonder if a widened and resurfaced Cam tow path has a role to play also. Members of the public have also mentioned that they'd like a way to bring bikes on the longer distance buses, to allow people to cycle on to their destinations once they reach stops in the city. I would like to see this explored further. |
Joan WHITEHEAD (Labour Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
# Question 7
What improvements for cycling would you like to see on Newmarket Road?
Relevant links (each opens in a new window):
Responses to this question from all divisions…
Kevin FRANCIS (Conservative Party) |
The candidate has not responded to the survey. |
Monica HONE (Green Party) |
I would like to see a dedicated and physically separate cycle lane. I'd like to explore the feasibility of some of the main arteries into and out of Cambridge becoming one way to allow for this kind of provision. |
Nicky SHEPARD (Liberal Democrat) |
As outlined in the earlier question, a huge number of people I’ve spoken to on the doorstep have asked me to fight for segregated cycle lanes on Newmarket Road. Residents on Newmarket Road often feel genuinely scared to step out of their front doors. They accept, of course, that cyclists are using the shared paths quite legally, but with such a wide road available they can’t understand why they are put in unnecessary danger. Likewise, cyclists too feel in danger when forced to share a lane with buses and the road surface in these areas is some of the worst I’ve seen anywhere. Segregated cycle lanes on Newmarket Rd would be better for cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles. We have the space, we have the City Deal funding. It’s time we got on with it. |
Joan WHITEHEAD (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.