Elections
Elections to Cambridgeshire County Council 2017: Trumpington
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 Trumpington division candidates (6 questions)
# 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…
Donald ADEY (Liberal Democrat) |
Both my partner and I cycle. The new routes along Hills Rd have made it much safer for him to get to work at Addenbrookes. We must continue to drive up the quality of safe cycle routes. |
Ceri GALLOWAY (Green Party) |
I have been cycling in Britain since 1981, travelling widely in the UK on holiday using public transport and bicycle. Some areas of the UK are much easier to cycle in than others and Trumpington Ward is well served by cycle paths by comparison with most other cities in UK. |
Shapour MEFTAH (Conservative Party) |
I live in Trumpington and cycle in the local area. I have done the Cambridge-London cycle several times. |
Katie THORNBURROW (Labour Party) |
I have lived in Cambridgeshire for over thirty years and have always cycled - when I’ve lived in the City it’s been my main way of getting around. All of my family members cycle regularly and our garage is filled with bikes. I’m obviously concerned about road safety for my children, and myself as I grow older. I'm frustrated that I'm not able to do bike maintenance well and wish I had learnt some of the mechanical skills at school, but now I'm planning to join an evening class. |
# 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…
Donald ADEY (Liberal Democrat) |
Trumpington Rd......where it comes into the High St is a pinch point. I wish to see the whole route to the Brooklands Ave corner given the Hills Rd treatment |
Ceri GALLOWAY (Green Party) |
In my last entry in 2016 I raised concerns about the provision at the new cycle parking next to the station for people with disabilities and special needs (see my 2016 entry). Though some dedicated parking for parents on cargo bikes, three wheelers and different shape and sized bikes has now been arranged there is nowhere for these cyclists to lock their cycles which must affect their insurance provision and cause concern about theft reducing users confidence to use the site effectively. There has also not been an effort to reduce congestion on ground floor at the ground level cycle parking to provide parking for less able cyclists. Notices indicating that the ground floor level cycle parking on the bottom of the racks should be left for older people/and younger people with disability needs would be welcome. If you are not sure of being able to park easily without causing yourself physical pain, as in my case, or feel security is appropriate for your needs this means people will avoid parking there and reduce options for their daily activities. It also beggars belief that this provision was built without any large cycle lift to upper floors that could help to relieve this problem. External parking on level ground in the area is no longer available due to the private nature of ownership of the land so you have to park there. |
Shapour MEFTAH (Conservative Party) |
High speed roads with no provision for cycling means children and mobility-affected users can’t cycle safely in some parts of the Trumpington ward. Hauxton Road and the junctions around Waitrose require cyclists to change lanes across fast-moving traffic - too dangerous for children and other users. The new developments mean there are lots of cyclists cycling through Waitrose now and getting into difficulties on Maris Lane. I would like to work with cycle campaigners and planning experts to look at how to make the area safer. I want a complete review of these junctions. They are unsafe and also causing big traffic tailbacks. |
Katie THORNBURROW (Labour Party) |
There are many, from obvious ones like the perceived dangers from traffic and other road users and lack of cycleways to poor cycle parking facilities that mean bikes are locked to street furniture and cause obstructions or are vulnerable to theft. I believe that we need to take a wider view of transport issues across the county - where we can separate bikes, pedestrians and motor vehicles we should; where junctions can be designed to accommodate the needs of cyclists we should invest in them; and businesses should be encouraged to be more bike-friendly. There’s very limited public cycle parking on the new developments in Trumpington, and I’d like to see more, to encourage people to visit by bike. |
# 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…
Donald ADEY (Liberal Democrat) |
The network of routes out to the villages.brooklans |
Ceri GALLOWAY (Green Party) |
I am concerned that we use the money available wisely with greater emphasis on cycle provision. We need to start to implement not only Cambridge wide integrated cycle provision but also much better infrastructure between the city to the villages. I support the Chisholm Trail and the potential investment in the new Greenways cycle routes into villages and areas surrounding Cambridge City. I like and support the idea of the Workforce Parking Levy as a way of reducing commuter traffic into the city, it will raise significant money to invest in new public transport infrastructure also which could benefit the city. I would like to see protected cycle ways from the park and ride sites into the city centre which I don't think has been explore. Also more protected, safe cycle storage at park and ride sites which would mean people could get to the sites by car or other means and travel from there into the city by bike. As a party we have a strategic vision for transport across the region which includes many more ideas, you can read this here; https://cambridge.greenparty.org.uk/site/Cambridge/files/Transport_Policy_2017.pdf |
Shapour MEFTAH (Conservative Party) |
Chisholm Trail. Many Trumpington residents work in the Science Park. They should have a safe and convenient pathway to work, on a good quality route. For Trumpington residents, the station square area is a route, not just a destination, so the square has to let cyclists through. If light rail goes ahead, we must insist on getting good quality cycle routes next to any new tracks, just like the Trumpington section of the Chisholm Trail. |
Katie THORNBURROW (Labour Party) |
I support the Cross City cycle routes, the Chilsholm Trail, the proposals for segregated routes and improvements of dangerous junctions. I'd like to see the full Greenway routes built as quickly as possible so that the danger of cycle routes starting and stopping along roads are reduced or eliminated. I'd also like to see more great routes between the villages. I'd like the needs for different cyclists to be considered separately. What can really help residents and those living close to Cambridge? What can help visitors? What can help those who cycle as part of their work. How can we improve cycling 'literacy'? For cyclists, for pedestrians and all road users? |
# 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…
Donald ADEY (Liberal Democrat) |
Brooklands Ave....Trumpington Rd corner. CleRly needs a Dutch specialist. |
Ceri GALLOWAY (Green Party) |
The junction at Long Road and Trumpington Road has improved recently but still feels very difficult traveling straight ahead to the Village from town. It needs dedicated cycle feeder across the junction. |
Shapour MEFTAH (Conservative Party) |
The junctions around Waitrose are a major problem for cycling safety and traffic. We need a complete review to improve cycling safety and reduce traffic congestion. We need to find a way to link up cycling from the Trumpington Park and Ride up to the start of the High St cycle lane near the village hall. The roundabouts where Fen Causeway meets Trumpington Rd causes a lot of accidents for cyclists and needs to be looked at, although this area is now outside of Trumpington ward at county level. |
Katie THORNBURROW (Labour Party) |
The corner of Long Road/Trumpington Road is poor for cyclists wanting to turn right into Long Road. The Waitrose junction at Hauxton road is a problem for cars, pedestrians and cyclists. The cycle way across Latham Road is dangerous with many children and adults cycling at peak traffic times. It's not just the road junctions that require improvements. Some cycleway require re-surfacing or even a good made up surface. The route from the far west of Latham Road to Chaucer Road and over Vicar's brook needs attention as does the route from route south of Fawcett School going east to Hobson's Brook and onto the hospital. There isn’t a simple solution here - as an architect who has designed driveways that join main roads I know how complex it gets. It doesn’t always make sense to give bikes priority as this can lead to traffic queues and cycling past them is a danger in itself. I want to review problem junctions carefully. |
# 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…
Donald ADEY (Liberal Democrat) |
There are numerous free cycle stands in Downing Place......these could be expanded, and covered. |
Ceri GALLOWAY (Green Party) |
The loss of current secure cycle parking at Park Street without plans for a new site seems to be remiss on city council part. It would be better to have more cycle parking in a central location. However central Cambridge is very short of spaces to build more provision. Some part of Lyon Yard car park could have dedicated for provision for cycle parking. And on the Park Street site an underground cycle parking provision must be built with large cycle friendly lifts and changing provision and showers could be provided for office workers in the area. I would be happy to look into the proposals with the county council and local residents for provision on small brown field sites in the city too. We support the idea of turning a proportion of private car parking space provided by the council over to cycle parking each year, as a way of encouraging travel by bike and reducing the incentives to commute by car into the overcrowded and polluted city centre. I also like and support the Cycle campaign's proposal to turn certain amounts of on street parking in city areas over to bike storage. |
Shapour MEFTAH (Conservative Party) |
There isn’t much free space in town centre so I think we should consider underground cycle parks. |
Katie THORNBURROW (Labour Party) |
A small number of large cycle parks means that one of the advantages of cycling - the flexibility - is lost, as you may have to park and walk some distance. I think the modern cycle racks look attractive and I’d explore more locations for them, including on private land where the owners were willing to grant permission. |
# 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…
Donald ADEY (Liberal Democrat) |
Yes, support. |
Ceri GALLOWAY (Green Party) |
Providing bicycle storage at park and ride sites and protected off road cycle ways in and from all sites to city centre and key employment and transport hubs e.g. Addenbrookes/biomedical Park, station and North Cambridge Business Park etc. is essential priority to Green county councillors. We fully support the investment in the Greenways proposal and if I'm elected will push for the proposals to happen as soon as possible and to as high a standard as possible. A number of measures to reduce overall congestion in our transport vision for the region (https://cambridge.greenparty.org.uk/site/Cambridge/files/Transport_Policy_2017.pdf ) would make commuting by bicycle more attractive. A new Green Mayor would work to ensure that new workplaces, new business hubs etc. were all provided with safe cycling routes to work. This should be a priority for the City Deal too. There should be encouragement and incentives for businesses to provide safe cycling storage and good facilities for cyclists to change and shower etc. when they arrive at work. Finally a concern that is raised with me frequently is about the management of clearing waste materials for the cycle path at the guided busway next to Clare College cricket ground. Over time the path has become narrowed by the composting of material on the side of the path by up to 3/4 feet in places. Many residents bring up these issues up a. the narrowing of the path which at peak times makes congestion on the path more serious and b. the danger to cyclists of cycling over the material especially at dusk and night time. The college or the county council cut the hedge next the cycle way and leave the cuttings on the path and during storms such as “Doris” the large trees, which are real asset to the green space, drop small branches on the cycle path. As result cycling can be perilous at some times of the year until the cuttings and the branches have been broken down by cyclists riding over them. Many people find this quite alarming and feel it is dangerous. It would be a good ideas for the County Council to come and clear the path after storms and to negotiate with Clare College to remove their cuttings or take them away themselves if they are doing this. |
Shapour MEFTAH (Conservative Party) |
Link up existing trails such as with the Hauxton trail link into Cambridge. This will encourage fewer people to drive in to Cambridge, which causes congestion and pollution. As Cambridge grows in the southwest and northwest, we need good cycle routes connecting these areas so that people don't have to go through the town centre. |
Katie THORNBURROW (Labour Party) |
All of these ideas have merit, but we can afford to take a more radical approach too - for example, if there was secure cycle storage at Park and Ride sites along with showers then people from villages might be encouraged to cycle in, shower and then take the bus into the city centre. We don’t necessarily want more bikes just in Cambridge - we want a solution for the whole County and indeed the country. |
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.