Elections

Local elections (City), May 2018: Romsey

Summary: Elections to Cambridge City Council in May 2018
Polling date: Thursday 3rd May 2018
Ward:
Candidates
(by surname):
  • Dave BAIGENT  (Labour Party)
  • Joshua BLANCHARD LEWIS  (Liberal Democrat)
  • Martin KEEGAN  (Conservative Party)
  • Caitlin PATTERSON  (Green Party)

Questions for Romsey ward candidates (9 questions)

Jump to question:  1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9 

# 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 yourself?

Dave BAIGENT
(Labour Party)

I am the cyclist in my family. I cycle 'everyday'.
My main concern is that we do not do enough to give cyclists the priority they should have in the city.
I am extremely concerned about safety on Mill Road and I am frequently campaigning to make it safer.
I am also extremely concerned about the attitude of some drivers to cyclists.
It also has to be accepted that some cyclists do cycle faster than other road users may believe is appropriate.
AS A CITY COUNCILLOR I work closely with 'the campaign' to make things happen.

Joshua BLANCHARD LEWIS
(Liberal Democrat)

As someone who works all over Cambridge, and uses facilities across the whole city, I am on my bike most days, and at all hours of the day. I also do some medium distance journeys for leisure, including cycling out to the villages and places like Ely. I admire families who take their children out and teach them to ride on the roads, but there are some places, such as Mill Road, some central areas, and Queen's Road, where I would be very concerned for less confident cyclists. Although my partner is able-bodied, she isn't a confident cyclist, and often talks to me about the areas she finds difficult to ride in.

Martin KEEGAN
(Conservative Party)

I have never learnt to drive a car, thus I get around by cycle, train, Uber, planes, taxis and buses.

I was seriously injured in an accident on the Chisholm Trail last year when I fell off my own bicycle, and saw Stewart Milne on the ground as the ambulance arrived at the site of the crash that killed him, just a minute or two from where I now live. I can't imagine what it was like for his family.

These incidents have given me an even greater awareness of the importance of cycle safety. Having become able to cycle again a few weeks ago, I am now much more careful about the routes I take.

I live alone; if I had kids, I'd try to ensure they were risk-aware enough to be able to cycle independently, as I did from about the age of seven.

Caitlin PATTERSON
(Green Party)

I live with my partner on Madras Road. We both cycle as our main form of transport, both for getting to work and for leisure. I'm concerned about our safety cycling as we have both had many near misses when cycling around Cambridge when we could have been injured.

# Question 2

A key aim of our organisation is enabling more people to cycle, by the provision of protected space for cycling away from traffic, not shared with pedestrians, thus reducing traffic and providing transport choice. This best-practice is outlined in our guide, Making Space For Cycling, endorsed by all national cycling organisations. Do you support these principles, and if so, where could they most effectively be applied in your ward?

Dave BAIGENT
(Labour Party)

I support these principles.
When I drive I follow cyclists rather than overtake them on narrow roads. On Mill Road it is difficult to overtake a cyclist safely so I normally don't overtake.
Most of my ward could only achieve a safe space for cyclists by closing the roads to cars. An interesting thought but currently just that.
What we need to do together is to improve the space given to cyclists and work to create a slow environment where cyclists and cars co-exist.

Joshua BLANCHARD LEWIS
(Liberal Democrat)

I am glad to see our national cycling organisations working together to influence policy and encourage safer, better cycling for all. I would love to see clearer guidelines and signage in place for the many side-streets off Mill Road, where there has been a lot of uncertainty and even hostility towards cyclists around the one-way roads changing to two-way for bikes. We would also benefit from more on-street Sheffield stands and dedicated parking areas, particularly on Mill Road itself, which can fill up very quickly, particularly around our eating establishments. Finally, I would be very supportive of exploring the proposed Chisholm Trail and its role in connecting up the busways and providing an excellent, safe through route for cyclists across our city.

Martin KEEGAN
(Conservative Party)

I am a big believer in segregating cycling space from traffic and pedestrians, less so in reducing traffic per se. Transport choice is partly a matter for the private sector and partly the state: the Conservative government recently introduced the Bus Services Act 2017 allowing more local government involvement in organising bus services.

In terms of actual road infrastructure: motorists have been the principal beneficiaries of design decisions for several decades; this has influenced current attitudes and the cost of new measures. I do not approve of the "creepy demand management" measures that seem to crop up to try to coerce transport users' behaviour, in particular any congestion charging scheme that would undermine personal privacy.

Until recently, I lived on Great Eastern Street in Romsey, which is basically a pedestrian-unfriendly car-park and occasional building site. Workmen would literally use the road outside my bedroom for preparing building materials, and there were often considerable difficulties parking bicycles in a manner which didn't interfere with pedestrian access given the very narrow pavements.

The speed-bumps and other anti-car infrastructure in the heart of Romsey make life difficult for cyclists as well. Romsey has unusual arrangements for car parking and traffic; measures clearly designed for facilitating cycling, like those little single-lane cycle paths too often end up benefiting no-one as they're used for parking wheelie bins and otherwise obstructed.

Caitlin PATTERSON
(Green Party)

Yes, I have previously read the campaign's guide and support the principles. There are many places in Romsey where cyclists need greater protection from traffic and I would support making this happen through the planning process and by lobbying as necessary.

# Question 3

Safe use of the roads is a major issue. Our view is 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. What are your thoughts, and where would your priorities be?

Dave BAIGENT
(Labour Party)

The notion of 'threat risk and harm' which is used by the police to prioritise their work does not seem to recognise that this really applies to cyclists. We should make the effort to point this out to police: a campaign may be appropriate - in fact it should happen. Someone should think of a clever slogan and we should all use it.

From my studies of police I would ask the question if protecting cyclists is not a priority because it is not 'exciting' enough work for a police officer.

Joshua BLANCHARD LEWIS
(Liberal Democrat)

I was very glad to see our local police force agreeing to and implementing Operation Velo, with a view to protecting our cyclists and re-educating drivers about safe road practices around bikes. I would also be keen to see greater enforcement around the double-yellow lines on Mill Road itself, both on our side of the bridge and the Petersfield end, to prevent dangerous and illegal parking from taxis and deliveries. I would hope to see more local businesses working together to co-ordinate delivery times and share available spaces sensibly, such as the Co-Op's rear car park and the car park on Cavendish Road.

Martin KEEGAN
(Conservative Party)

The question doesn't distinguish between the cost of harm, the probably of harm, and the costs of preventing or mitigating harm.

Caitlin PATTERSON
(Green Party)

I largely agree, I am a junior sister on a ward specialising in trauma and orthopaedics and see have to care for many, many people involved in road-traffic collisions locally. These happen far too often and are very damaging for people.

My priorities would be firstly to ensure that there is protected space for cyclists as much as possible.

Secondly I agree with awareness raising campaigns to try and improve respect and tolerance between different groups on the roads, particularly to ensure cyclists are given safe space. I would also like to see further action taken by the police to police close passes and aggressive behaviour towards cyclists

We also believe in there being better measures and training for groups such as bus and taxi drivers, to ensure they are as careful as possible to protect people cycling and pedestrians.

# Question 4

We are keen to see more children being able to cycle safely to school independently. Ideas from our members to assist this include protected space for cycling, parking/pickup bans 200m of schools, cycle parking. What measures would you suggest?

Dave BAIGENT
(Labour Party)

This would be a great idea but ....
see http://romsey.cambridgelabour.org.uk/collecting_children_from_st_phillips
this explains about how we have double yellow lines outside St Philips School to make it safer for children. Parents park on them to collect or deliver their children. I have mounted facebook campaigns to stop this with photos put online to shame parents. Outcome - nothing changes. It is so frustrating.

Joshua BLANCHARD LEWIS
(Liberal Democrat)

I would be very keen to see greater facilities for cycle parking in schools locally, as well as more support and training opportunities for young cyclists. When I was at school in Spain, all children received free cycle training and advice, in a similar scheme to cycling proficiency, and I would look to encourage more of this to happen locally. I am sure spaces like Romsey Recreation Ground would be perfect for training courses for children, from the likes of Bikeability.

Martin KEEGAN
(Conservative Party)

I don't have kids, and am not an expert. I grew up in a different era, in a city much more conducive to safer cycling by children. The types of measures contemplated in the question don't strike me as likely to be practical in making a difference. There is probably a way of changing the culture, but it should be done gradually and by consent.

Caitlin PATTERSON
(Green Party)

I fully agree with the measures the cycling campaign suggests and would like to cooperate in making them happen.

I also think we need to increase the number of off-road protected routes for children to cycle so that parents can be confident their children are safe when cycling to school. I also think the council could be working more with schools to promote cycling through awareness raising of the benefits and possibly events where cycling is encouraged.

# Question 5

Our volunteers spend a lot of time scrutinising planning applications for failures such as lack of secure cycle parking, poor access, failure to fund nearby improvements to make the roads safer, and so on. Many of these things get let through by officers and Councillors in clear contravention of the Local Plan. The lack of a full-time cycling officer makes this situation even worse. What are your main concerns about the planning system, and how would you seek to make improvements?

Dave BAIGENT
(Labour Party)

I frequently challenge planning applications
I have worked with Cambridge Cycling Campaign including meeting them to look at issues - this has applied when trying to implement change or stop current applications. This is an ongoing process and I will continue to support and meet with the Cycling Campaign.

Joshua BLANCHARD LEWIS
(Liberal Democrat)

As a very dedicated cyclist and enthusiastic environmentalist, I would certainly look out for cycling matters and concerns in planning applications and developments. I would be eager to speak with organisations looking to build locally, and remind them of their obligations to respect the local culture and transportation needs. I would be eager to hear from Cambridge Cycling Campaign about how a cycling officer would help, and what their suggestions are for implementing such a role.

Martin KEEGAN
(Conservative Party)

The planning system is not fit for purpose. It's a very complicated problem that can only really be solved by Parliament, but the last few decades have presented numerous legislative opportunities to all the major parties, and the Liberal Democrats.

Conservative councillors such as Chris Howell were vocal in opposing the Station Square catastrophe. We are less likely to take an indulgent attitude to the officers, and we need to get back on the city council to resume this spirited opposition.

Caitlin PATTERSON
(Green Party)

I am very frustrated by the way many significant developments in Cambridge have taken place without due regard for promoting our ability to cycle around the city safely or use public transport. In particular the train station 'piazza' redevelopment is awful in this regard. Too often developers are not held to account for these failings.

I would scrutinise these applications closely and work with community and voluntary groups to try and suggest and implement improvements. I would be very happy to work cross-party on this.

# Question 6

Mill Road is one of the premier high streets in the country. It is also an important cycle route since it crosses the railway. But it is also covered with badly-parked cars and plagued by speeding motorists who disregard the safety of people walking and cycling. During the Mill Road Winter Fair we get a glimpse of an alternative Mill Road, one that provides an amazing public space that people can really enjoy. For the rest of the year, how would you like to see Mill Road improved so that it can be a better place for people living there, shopping and visiting?

Dave BAIGENT
(Labour Party)

I would like to Mill Road closed at the area around the swimming pool. This could be controlled by CCTV and only allow bikes, buses and emergency vehicles would be allowed to pass the CCTV without a penalty.

Joshua BLANCHARD LEWIS
(Liberal Democrat)

As I mentioned for general safety question, I would be keen to see greater enforcement around the double-yellow lines on Mill Road itself, both on our side of the bridge and the Petersfield end, to prevent dangerous and illegal parking from taxis and deliveries. I would hope to see more local businesses working together to co-ordinate delivery times and share available stopping and unloading spaces sensibly, such as the Co-Op's rear car park and the car park on Cavendish Road.

I like the idea of bringing in greater pedestrianisation and cycle lanes instead of traffic for certain times of the week, perhaps on Saturday afternoons and Sundays, to create a better community environment at peak family and shopping times; I believe access to Mill Road via the side street routes (Argyle St, St Philip's Road, Coldham's Lane) would still allow most people living locally to reach their usual parking areas, as well as business being able to obtain emergency deliveries.

Martin KEEGAN
(Conservative Party)

My phones' image galleries are full of badly parked cars on Mill Road, albeit the bit that's in Petersfield, but the tailbacks that can be caused by a single illegally parked car can stretch all the way to Romsey (I had a photo of this too somewhere).

As it happens, I am not a big fan of closing roads for the Winter Fair and I don't agree with the premise that it provides an amazing public space. Some people don't feel welcome and I am one of them.

The Mill Road traders have recently had a tough couple of years but it must be possible to improve the way deliveries are currently handled.

Caitlin PATTERSON
(Green Party)

One suggestion the Green Party has made in recent years in the city has been for more regular days where cars are not allowed to enter city - centre or 'hub' areas, such as been happening in Bristol and Paris recently. Obviously Mill Road is an important thoroughfare and this would need to be taken into account but we think people would love this idea. It would reduce air pollution on certain days and let people enjoy their local area more on certain occasions.

We badly need investment to ensure the pavements and road on Mill Road are improved to be safe for those using wheelchairs and prams, and everyone using the road. Because Mill Road is so narrow it's difficult to see how cycling space can be made but I would be happy to look at this with local groups and the cycling campaign.

I cycle on Mill Road regularly and there are often aggressive drivers and cars squeezing past cyclists, particularly on the railway bridge. This needs to stop and there should be better policing to discourage it from happening.

# Question 7

All-day free parking by commuters on residential streets increases traffic on already congested roads. This has an impact on cycle safety. Many times cars are parked on pavements or across dropped kerbs, making access difficult for people with disabilities or pushing prams. How would you solve this problem?

Dave BAIGENT
(Labour Party)

Resident parking is a first step and this must be put in place as soon as possible. I have been a strongly supportive member of the Joint Area Committee that will be implementing this scheme.

Joshua BLANCHARD LEWIS
(Liberal Democrat)

The side streets around Mill Road and Coldham's Lane are a long-term issue, and affect a number of families with young children and disabilities who I know. I believe significant changes will need to be made to resolve this in the longer term, but at the moment the biggest impact for cycling would be greater clarity and signposting for the one-way/two-way cycle roads, which I have seen causing confrontations between drivers and cyclists.

Martin KEEGAN
(Conservative Party)

Improve enforcement, both publicly through the council's staff and privately.

Caitlin PATTERSON
(Green Party)

Across the city we would like to see more resident's parking zones being looked at with local people. Our Green councillor in Market has been trying to ensure the council promotes more car clubs which would be a good way of reducing the volumes of parked cars and introducing more electric vehicles. I would also like there to be more cycle parking on street for residents and would explore this with local people.

# Question 8

Overtaking on Mill Road Bridge is highly dangerous and scary for many people who cycle, from parents with children to very experienced people. The police response so far has been extremely limited. Instead, we would like to see high-profile, concerted action resulting in prosecutions. What are your views?

Dave BAIGENT
(Labour Party)

The police are unlikely to take any but a sporadic response to the safety of cyclists.
We need to push for some large signs asking cars to respect cyclists and not overtake on Mill Road. Something like 'the person in front of you on a bicycle could be a member of your family - slow down and only overtake when it is safe to do so'

Joshua BLANCHARD LEWIS
(Liberal Democrat)

Schemes such as Operation Velo, recently implemented by our police force, would work especially well on Mill Road, considering the proximity we have to the Police Station. I would encourage the local forces involved with this to use Mill Road as a regular entry/exit route to the East, and to be especially watchful over the Bridge as I agree that overtaking is far too frequently carried out before the crest, and often dangerously. I would also like to see a police officer stationed there from time to time, in the same way as sometimes happens with speeding hotspots, to look out for and challenge these dangerous practices.

Martin KEEGAN
(Conservative Party)

I have always advocated crowdfunding private criminal prosecutions where the police and the CPS are letting crime get out of hand and the community needs to act, though I don't expect the Cambridge Cycling Campaign to share my radicalism in this matter.

Caitlin PATTERSON
(Green Party)

I agree, it is a safety issue and many cyclists are injured by it.

# Question 9

Providing secure places to park bicycles is a simple and effective way to encourage cycling by making people on bikes feel welcome. In some areas of Cambridge residents have got used to all the spare street space being allocated to the storage of motor vehicles and very little for bikes. The result has been badly-parked bikes cluttering hallways, clinging to drainpipes and other street furniture. Our Street Cycle Parking project aims to tackle this. Which streets do you think would benefit from on-street cycle parking, and what would you do to implement this?

Dave BAIGENT
(Labour Party)

We have discussed this. I have proposed specific ideas to yourselves that should increase cycle parking at every junction off Mill Road.

Joshua BLANCHARD LEWIS
(Liberal Democrat)

Although many areas of Romsey are residential and have private cycle parking facilities, some of the main roads, particularly around businesses, could use far more dedicated space for bike parking. I would like to see some more areas on the North side of Mill Road set aside for Sheffield Stands, for instance, as well as some pavements near the Royal Standard, Earl of Beaconsfield, and Brook pubs, which can get quite packed with bikes on busy evenings. There has been an increase in cycle parking spaces in some side-streets, which are well used, and help to prevent bike theft.

Martin KEEGAN
(Conservative Party)

Whereas the tradeoffs between storing (as you put it) a car versus storing several cycles in the same location mean that Romsey may well benefit from trading some car parking spaces for bike parking spaces, there are many people who won't use on street parking because it's just donating a bike to the criminals.

I have written at length elsewhere what I think about cycle theft in relation to London: https://blog.ucant.org/post/538.html and it applies similarly to Cambridge.

Caitlin PATTERSON
(Green Party)

Many of the streets around Madras Road suffer from this problem and I would be keen to work with local residents to try and get more of these implemented. Ross Street, Thoday Street and Catharine Street would also appear to need more. But I would want to survey local people's views and hear this from them also as your councillor.

As I mentioned previously, introducing more 'car clubs' across Cambridge would also be a good way to reduce the numbers of parked cars left around and free up more room for cycle parking.

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.