Elections

Cambridgeshire County Council elections, May 2021: Trumpington

Summary: Cambridgeshire County Council elections, May 2021
Polling date: Thursday 6th May 2021
Division:
Candidates
(by surname):
  • Ceri GALLOWAY  (Green Party)
  • Steven Michael GEORGE  (Conservative Party)
  • Philippa SLATTER  (Liberal Democrat)
  • Pam STACEY  (Labour Party)

Questions for Trumpington division candidates (6 questions)

Jump to question:  1   2   3   4   5   6 

# Question 1

Safe and responsible 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?

Ceri GALLOWAY
(Green Party)

As greens we agree that responsible use of the roads is important and that vulnerable users including pedestrians should be protected from aggressive behaviour from driver or cyclists. Traffic policing, of all groups of road and pavement users (cyclists, drivers, pedestrians etc.) should be proportionate and well researched. I welcome Cam Cycles detailed document on “Responsible Legal Cycling” and agree managing safer road use has be focused on not only policing to reduce bad behaviour but appropriate levels of infrastructure such as better road signage and layout and review of key junctions to see if these can be modified to help cyclists and drivers to navigate them more safety.

At present there is no real long term strategy for improving infrastructure in the county that supports policing efforts. Improving behaviour is not just a matter of police time but appropriate signage and education would help leaving the police to deal with the worst infringements. As a police priority is set against their work on issues such as domestic violence, burglary and fraud. Increasing education such as more cycle training for children at school and for first time and nervous cyclists.
In terms of infrastructure there has been a lot of peace meal and often unconnected projects in towns and while Cambridge with its small streets and hinterland has faired better it is no longer a small town, it has had more funding than other parts of the region however this is nowhere near enough to provide the level of infrastructure needed. Cash strapped local councils put in short runs of pavement cycling infrastructure that force cyclist and pedestrians to mix space making pedestrians feel unsafe, older people, people with buggies and wheelchairs in particular.
There has been some work being done between South Cambs and Cambridge and Greater Cambridgeshire Authority to improve long distance cycling facilities across the county, but this infrastructure is inconsistent and needs much more work.
A long term plan of action to work towards change in the county has been complicated by Conservative government putting in place a hugely confusing arrangements for transport planning. While the County Council had most planning power this is ebbing away to the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
I would work within the County Council to influence what happens for the area I represent and lead on joined up thinking and fight to get adequate funding from National Government.

Steven Michael GEORGE
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Philippa SLATTER
(Liberal Democrat)

Collisions and injuries can and do occur between all types of users of our roads and footways. but obviously the most serious injuries are caused when soft bodies collide at speed with hard surfaces.
Sometimes it is possible and desirable to physically separate the groups, but generally we need to defend those who are vulnerable because they cannot see, hear, avoid or understand a potential danger, while designing and using shared spaces as considerately as we can.
In practice, my priorities would be lower vehicle speeds and better signage, combined with lifelong learning.

Pam STACEY
(Labour Party)

Anyone who commits an offence should be punished according to how serious the incident is. We all know of good and bad behavior from all groups, nearly every time I'm at a pedestrian crossing a cyclist will ignore the red light must to the dismay of other cyclists who behave correctly.
People constantly complain about the danger of speeding vehicles, particularly drivers not obeying the 20mph speed limits on many streets in the City. Police should enforce the speed limits as a priority. Although there were limited trials addressing the dangers to cyclists of “close passing” the police need to put more resources into a public campaign to raise awareness and prosecute drivers where necessary.

Tackling cycle theft needs to be treated as a priority by the police and thefts have been a big problem particularly on the new developments in Trumpington.
Where there are shared space cycleways/ pathways there should be signage to remind cyclists to respect and be aware of pedestrians.

# Question 2

How will you ensure safe cycling and walking links with adequate capacity are provided at Cambridge South Station and the surrounding area? How will you ensure there is capacity for meeting future demand, particularly for cycle parking?

Ceri GALLOWAY
(Green Party)

As proposed in my submission to the consultation for Cambridge South Station I am keen to see a bridge for a cycle only path over the rail line and sited next to the guided busway to access the eastern side of the station that will take most of the cycle traffic to that side of the station. I also proposed extra cycle parking on eastern side of the site on the green space next to Papworth Hospital. There is plenty of space for cycle parking on that side of the road. Aslo to create an improved junction between the guided busway and pedestrian/cycle bridge and the crossing to the Papworth side. In fact a cycle bridge could actually cross Francis Crick Ave and finish in the cycle parking space. I agree we need much more cycle parking.
However the Hobson Country Park needs to be protected from rogue cycle parking and damage by over use of footfall by additional paths and desire lines and cycling. I’m proposing a locked cycle facility on the western side with direct access to the station platform and no external cycle parking as I’m concerned that the newly developing area of biodiversity in Country Park will be damaged by over use. This is sensitive area and all we have for easy access to green space for people on the western side of the new developments and the council estate. Already during Lock down some areas that are fragile have been overused. The lack of rain to our region does not help when pathways become like concrete.
Overhead cycle parking on the station platform as proposed by the cycle campaign would increase the visual stimulus to people accessing Hobson’s Park we already have to look at a lot of very ugly buildings when we are trying to access natural space. Though it could shield the residents from increased noise at the station from announcements and also reduce the noise from through trains the station due to increase in freight and passenger trains on East West line if built. It would be important to consider Trumpington residents who have had so much intrusion over the recent years are concered about sound and in their visual space, these are important considerations too. I would work for the best outcome for Cycle access and parking while protecting the Biodiversty of the Country Park that is in it's infancy.

Steven Michael GEORGE
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Philippa SLATTER
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate did not enter a response for this question.
Pam STACEY
(Labour Party)

Currently there is still a long way to go before the station is built but there must be easy access for all and until it is in use it is difficult to judge how many cycle racks will be needed but there must be a way for cyclists and pedestrians to get across the track via a bridge. We must look at how Cambridge North has worked out as well as at the main station

# Question 3

How would you approach the apparently growing problem of reported attacks on personal safety on cycling and walking routes in your division?

Ceri GALLOWAY
(Green Party)

Feeling safe is important and the recent attacks on cyclists on the guided busway between the station and Trumpington mean cyclists feel unsafe. While in General Trumpington is the second safest ward in Cambridge for assault and theft in the street if it happens to you it isn’t feel that way and you aren’t a statistic. This issue requires a number of responses, firstly an increase in policing in the area most affected with regular patrols of officers. But also a Cambridge wide policing strategy for cycling that includes regular hubs at places of high offending attended by community support officers where people using the route can get advice about keeping safe, get their bike registered so it can be traced after theft. It needs a more robust response and follow up on thefts by the police and this means better funding for the police, we all know, now, that there is money at government level if needed. As Greens we are not fans of the prison as it does more to reinforce offending in the future. We need stronger citizen approaches to policing as taken in Denmark. We also need restorative justice approach such as meetings between people who are attacked with their attackers. For victims who feel able to do this so that offenders to hear about the psychological fall out of their behaviour and this approach could be pioneered in film and other methods. This doesn’t mean no punishment, it means fines and community service and that people must pay back for costs with their time to the community in meaningful ways which can be much harder for the offender than prison and treatment for offenders if addicted. Of course for those who continue to offend it does mean prison.

Steven Michael GEORGE
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Philippa SLATTER
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate did not enter a response for this question.
Pam STACEY
(Labour Party)

The Police have said that the Guided Busway is safer than walking on Hills Road, but not surprisingly, when there have been incidents these have made local news as it is very worrying for residents. Residents have been very good at reporting incidents, and this issue has been raised at South Area Committee meetings where Police attend and ask what their priorities should be. The Police have been very responsive, including using plainclothes officers to carry out undercover work to catch people involved in attacks or intimidation, and this seems to have been successful. We'll continue to monitor the situation and ask for police action as needed. We'll continue to monitor the situation and ask for police action as needed. We also should look at better lighting and use of CCTV.

# Question 4

The Newtown area has been made significantly safer and more pleasant by the removal of through traffic. Do you support making the Experimental TROs permanent?

Ceri GALLOWAY
(Green Party)

I am very much in favour of low traffic Neighbourhoods (TRO) it is good for children play and for sense of peace and safety in our communities and this is national Green Party policy. In Trumpington we have some good examples of safer area for householders in the new developments but it is very haphazard and not across the whole of Trumpington we need it to be safer in every area. But I believe in order to reduce traffic and make it safer for everyone we need better public transport and cycling infrastructure. In order to do this as councillors we need to have more control over the decisions that are being made. This means a different type of government and more planning power and real opportunities for citizen engagement. The TRO’s that have been least welcome are the ones where shopkeepers and house holders have not been consulted as in Mill Road and solutions looked for.
I have dream that one day we will join up Old Trumpington, Maris Lane and Church Lane and Waitrose and Trumpington Meadows side to the Trumpington Estate and the new development so you could walk from say the Church to Addenbrookes in relative safety. And that all the people in surrounding area experience reduced traffic noise and calming in their home areas and that more community events can take place in our streets. These kind of connected and well planned communities are normal in Holland where shops for basics and schools need to be easy to reach and essential in a world with a lower carbon footprint and should be a dream but reality.
To do this we would need to reroute all the traffic away from the High Street to the motorway and make each area around become a TRO. This will require a great deal of long term planning and consultation with an overall plan and sub plans for each area. The Green Party is interested in planning for long term results. We would work for this if elected.

Steven Michael GEORGE
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Philippa SLATTER
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate did not enter a response for this question.
Pam STACEY
(Labour Party)

Newtown is now a much more pleasant area to walk and cycle in and of course is now in Market Ward. For Trumpington ,where these are existing roads it is important that there is consultation with local residents, to ensure the success of any scheme. We should support the active travel hierarchy as per LTN 1/20 in the Local Plan.

# Question 5

What do you think should be done to enable more children to walk and cycle safely to school? How can the county support more school communities to implement School Street schemes?

Ceri GALLOWAY
(Green Party)

Initially as greens county councillors we would complete a full review of all the research that has been done in the field, talk to teachers, parents and children about the difficulties to get to school safely by cycle and walking in our local areas. We believe meaningfull consultation is central to wise use of financial resources and getting people on side. We also believe that in this cases the people on the ground know the problems and will be able to help officers to understand the issues. We would help to create a county wide strategy tailored for each school and work were possible to coordinate purchase of materials such as cycle parking, and signage and educational resources and engage full time officers to work with the public.
Long term planning for good signage, cycling infrastructure and safe routes to school will be central and where needed while this is being completed offer funding to schools for assistance with dangerous road crossing. Every School should have Cycle training to increase safety, support with training to help families maintain and advice on provision with lights and panniers etc. For families with children who do not have bike we would work with charities that refurbish bikes and help also to set up systems for passing bikes that are no longer suitable to the next generation. We make sure there are fully trained school assistants who can work with the parents and children to create walking buses to school with volunteers who suitably vetted.

Steven Michael GEORGE
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Philippa SLATTER
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate did not enter a response for this question.
Pam STACEY
(Labour Party)

In Trumpington most of the schools are not on major routes so I'm not certain how a Street scheme would work out. The school on Trumpington Road seems to have many of the children picked up by car every day and the cars are allowed to park there thus blocking the bus lane, I've never understood why this allowed. The schemes would work must easier in the more rural areas.

# Question 6

LTN 1/20 is the government's new cycling design manual, with a focus on inclusivity and accessibility for all. How would you support our call for the county to affirm that they will use LTN 1/20 (and its successor documents) in all current and future schemes related to cycling?

Ceri GALLOWAY
(Green Party)

We would consult this document ourselves and become conversant with the information and bring attention to and work with officers to understand detail in the proposed document. In the light of the document we would also consult bodies such as Cam Cycle to see if we have fully understood the implications of future planning documents we want to promote cycling and safe mobility.
We would like to look long term at reducing shared routes creating many different types of routes to facilitate differing user’s needs. This would not mean supporting some types of cyclist or pedestrians over others but would mean that for users with differing needs they could be supported better. While this might not always be possible as some of our towns and cities have historically narrow streets there will be areas where this is possible especially in new developments. A person with a background in Occupational therapy trained to work with people with disabilities and different needs to look at barriers to mobility and cycling physical and sensory would make a good team member alongside cycling officers and planners.

Steven Michael GEORGE
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Philippa SLATTER
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate did not enter a response for this question.
Pam STACEY
(Labour Party)
The candidate did not enter a response for this question.

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.