Elections

Cambridge City Council elections, May 2022: Petersfield

Summary: Elections to Cambridge City Council, May 2022
Polling date: Thursday 5th May 2022
Ward:
Candidates
(by surname):
  • Emmanuel CARRAUD  (Liberal Democrat)
  • Mohamed HOSSAIN  (Conservative Party)
  • Richard ROBERTSON  (Labour Party)
  • Eddie WILKINSON  (Green Party)

Questions for Petersfield ward candidates (8 questions)

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

# Question 1

Currently there is no residential cycle parking in almost every street of Petersfield. Would you agree with our view that cycle parking should have equal status with car parking? If so, would you support requests from residents who do not own cars to have space in the vicinity of their house reallocated to small bays of cycle parking, without requiring a wider consultation?

Emmanuel CARRAUD
(Liberal Democrat)

I am very supportive of providing on-street cycle parking and am willing to encourage neighbourhoods to consider it and would expect to see attitudes changing over it. However, no individual ‘owns’ stretches of the highway and decisions about reallocation of use would need to involve wider consultation and a public decision process.

Mohamed HOSSAIN
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Richard ROBERTSON
(Labour Party)

Parking for residents in the ward will be reviewed in the near future commencing with the area not yet covered by a residents’ parking zone. As part of these reviews we will be looking for and consulting on space for bike parking on the road.

Eddie WILKINSON
(Green Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.

# Question 2

Mill Road has long suffered from a very high rate of collisions, poor air quality, narrow pavements, lack of cycle parking, pavement parking, no space for deliveries and lack of parking for disabled people and shoppers. Would you support the principle of removing through-traffic from Mill Road, and what changes would you propose to make to better use of the space freed-up from queueing traffic? We know that there has been a consultation - our question is about hearing your own vision.

Emmanuel CARRAUD
(Liberal Democrat)

The removal of most through traffic in Mill Road would be a beneficial outcome, but the divisive effect it has had so far within the community is regrettable. If elected, we would use our roles to build a better consensus around it, using the output from the recent consultations. We see Mill Road as remaining an important public transport route and requiring other exemptions to avoid disadvantaging groups with fewer alternative choices. It would be advantageous to envisage the change occurring along with citywide measures to reduce car journeys, which would avoid displacement and reduce traffic on other roads too. We would like to see a wider footway on the east side to the north of the bridge, a more controlled regime for deliveries to businesses and a better system for preventing pavement and kerbside parking. We would improve the space by rationalising existing street clutter, master-planning convenient cycle parking, avoiding creating obstructions and adding some greenery. It should as a result be possible to produce more dwell space and for more businesses to add outside pavement tables and chairs, producing a more relaxed environment. With some adjustment, we see this as representing an opportunity for many businesses and would like the council to fund the establishment of a dedicated Mill Road Business Improvement District to assist this process.

Mohamed HOSSAIN
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Richard ROBERTSON
(Labour Party)

I strongly support proposals for reducing traffic especially vehicles using Mill Road as a through road to elsewhere. There should also be wider pavements, a ban on pavement parking, more pedestrian crossings, a series of build outs and chicanes constructed on Mill Rd, and consideration given the maximum speed of all traffic on Mill Rd reduced to 10 mph if possible.

Eddie WILKINSON
(Green Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.

# Question 3

Do you support the long-overdue introduction of a Residents' Parking scheme for the York Street and Ainsworth Street area? Previous resident surveys show almost 50/50 support, and the street is a major cycle route that deserves not having commuters hoping to avoid paying for parking.

Emmanuel CARRAUD
(Liberal Democrat)

The previous Tory administration at the county council froze all new residents parking schemes. This has now ended and the GCP is taking over the function from the county council, with our support. Additional schemes across the city makes general sense, both to ensure residents and their visitors can get to park in their own neighbourhoods and that the general availability of on-street parking does not encourage commuter, workplace, tourist or retail car trips within the city, which we are trying nudge towards public or active transport. But areas of the city experience the growth in these pressures at different rates and most neighbourhoods include residents with a mixture of needs. So it is important that residents see the time as right for a scheme in their area and therefore that the consultation is thorough. The subject can be very divisive and so it is always best, if you think your area needs a scheme, to be calling for consultation rather than calling the outcome in advance. This may be less the case if a previous consultation already showed clear support. Unfortunately, much of the consultation that had previously been carried out on pending schemes is too old to proceed with – the exception being a scheme for Romsey West, which may soon go to formal consultation. Other schemes deferred because of earlier consultation feedback are: York, Stretton, Stourbridge, Chesterton West, Chesterton East and Chesterton South. A very recent citywide GCP consultation seeks to re-set priorities and enable progress, but we do not know the outcome yet. York looks to be worth pressing for new consultation on.

Mohamed HOSSAIN
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Richard ROBERTSON
(Labour Party)

It was a majority decision by residents to reject the first proposed residents' parking scheme and then the conservative led County Council cancelled all further work on scheme proposals. Following the change of control of the County Council my Labour colleagues and I have ensured that work on residents’ parking schemes has restarted.

The York St/Ainsworth St area is the only part of the ward which has no parking restrictions, and its proximity to the Grafton centre, ARU and the station make it a target for outsiders to drive in and park. It also means they frequently drive around and around looking for spaces to park and polluting the air.

As a first stage in seeking to address this I recently spent two hours walking around the area with highways engineers from the GCP looking at the opportunities for providing space for parking motor vehicles and bicycles. This was in preparation for the area to be prioritised for consultation on residents’ parking. I was able to show the engineers ways to improve on the scheme that was turned down, and with these changes a new consultation will hopefully be found acceptable to a majority of residents in the area.

Eddie WILKINSON
(Green Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.

# Question 4

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Road Safety Partnership (now the Vision Zero Partnership) aimed to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries to cyclists by 40% between 2015 and 2020, but it actually rose 2% during that time. Too many people are being hurt on our roads.

What do you think would most improve safety for people walking, cycling, using mobility aids and riding horses on the roads in your area? Which routes and junctions need the most urgent improvement?

Emmanuel CARRAUD
(Liberal Democrat)

The goals of Vision Zero clearly need more effective policy interventions if they are going to be achieved. Liberal Democrats in Cambridge brought in the existing 20mph speed limits in many parts of the city in 2014 and support current moves through the county council to expand these further in conjunction with communities. Within the city, we also believe the GCP’s ‘Making Connections’ goals of reducing the number of car journeys will support Vision Zero. We would like to see provision wherever feasible segregated between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles and that government guidance known as LTN/120 is embraced in the design of new infrastructure. Routes and junctions which need urgent improvement in my area include: Mill Road, junctions of Devonshire Road, Tenison Road, junction of Great Northern Road

Mohamed HOSSAIN
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Richard ROBERTSON
(Labour Party)

• a reduction in the volume and speed of motor vehicles and electric mopeds
• more pedestrian crossings and greatly improved respect for them by cyclists, scooters and mopeds
• provision of wider pavements, a ban on parking motor vehicles on pavements
• prevention of driving on pavements by motor vehicles, bicycles (except by children), and electric scooters and mopeds

In Petersfield: Mill Road, Hills Road and Great Northern Road all need the most urgent improvement

Eddie WILKINSON
(Green Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.

# Question 5

Cambridgeshire County Council’s draft Active Travel Strategy says that our region’s transport network must put public health at its core. It points out that almost a third of 10 and 11 year olds in Cambridgeshire are obese and rates of cycling and walking are lowest among the over 40s.

What role do you think cycling can play in improving local residents’ health and wellbeing? What specific changes are needed to help the youngest and oldest residents in your area choose active modes, including walking, for more journeys?

Emmanuel CARRAUD
(Liberal Democrat)

Cycling participation, for those who are able, has the capacity to improve health. Increasing safety in cycle usage is key. We support the GCP’s investment in cycling provision, both through schemes dedicated mainly to cycling (Chisholm Trail, cross-city cycling schemes, Greenways and future Cycling Plus) and through the incorporation of more generous and dedicated cycling provision in wider projects such as Milton and Histon Roads and the future radial busway projects. We are proud that much of the funding for these developments has come from the City Deal, negotiated from the central government by the city council when under Lib Dem's control. Contingent on local consultation, we also support many of the low traffic neighbourhood schemes across the city, which provide a calmer street environment which is more conducive to starting to cycle from home. More of these may become possible if policy is adopted across the whole city to discourage car journeys. In planning we want to see new developments designed around low usage of motor vehicles and incorporation of domestic provision for cycles as a norm. In Petersfield, much needed improvements on Mill Road would made a difference. The Chisholm Trail should also improve connections with other parts of the city.

Mohamed HOSSAIN
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Richard ROBERTSON
(Labour Party)

• a reduction in motor traffic and an improvement in the environment and safety of roads and pavements.
• more cycle proficiency training, especially for children but also for anyone not used to cycling.
• improved maintenance of pavements and roads including planing and resurfacing in some cases, not just filling potholes.
• Improved security for bicycles with more bike racks where needed and the major overhaul of the security at the Cycle Point bike park at the station for which my Labour colleagues and I have managed to get a large grant.

Eddie WILKINSON
(Green Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.

# Question 6

In June 2021, the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority agreed to act on the Independent Commission on Climate’s recommendation to reduce car miles driven in the region by 15% by 2030.

Suggested actions needed to achieve this goal include installing safe cycle routes from new developments, working with employers to increase uptake in sustainable options for commuting, improving existing cycle infrastructure and encouraging the use of e-bikes. What changes do you think are needed to help people in your area reduce car mileage?

Emmanuel CARRAUD
(Liberal Democrat)

All these suggestions are important. Securing the train station bike parking should be of high priority. This kind of improvement needs support in the bigger picture by a transformation of public transport, which is only feasible both through funding for a bigger bus network operating over longer hours, with more frequency and more inclusive ticket pricing and measures to reduce the current congestion which prevents their efficiency. This is the agenda that the GCP’s ‘Making Connections’ is working on, which we support.

Mohamed HOSSAIN
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Richard ROBERTSON
(Labour Party)

Crucial to encouraging a reduction in motor vehicle mileage are improvements in the environment and safety aspects of walking and cycling. The Chisholm Trail and the Greenways radial cycling routes to and from the villages are strong examples of the developments needed which will encourage people away from cars. To this end I have:

• ensured that a section of the Chisholm trail was included in the implementation of the development on the new Ironworks site.
• pressed the developers of the Travis Perkins site on Devonshire Road to include the next stage of the Trail in their plans.
• addressed the County Council’s Highways Committee about the dangers of the cycleway south of Cambridge station and ensured that a fence was provided to protect pedestrians and cyclists on the pathway.

Eddie WILKINSON
(Green Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.

# Question 7

National charity Cycling UK's manifesto for English elections includes the following asks:

1: Create safe space for cycling: put the delivery of a connected network of routes at the heart of transport and development plans;

2: Improve delivery: ensure schemes meet the government’s cycle design standards laid out in LTN 1/20 and the Gear Change policy;

3: Make neighbourhoods more attractive for cycling & people: for example, by making 20mph the default for residential and shopping streets, and increasing secure cycle parking;

4: Enable rural & urban communities to cycle: integrate cycling and walking with public transport, make cycle training available for all and improve access to local green space.

Will you support this manifesto? What policies would you champion in your area to increase levels of walking and cycling?

Emmanuel CARRAUD
(Liberal Democrat)

This broadly supports my answers to your other questions and I am happy to use it as a good checklist for policy going forward.

Mohamed HOSSAIN
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Richard ROBERTSON
(Labour Party)

I support this manifesto and if re-elected will do what I can to get it applied using the proposals listed in my responses to this questionnaire.

Eddie WILKINSON
(Green Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.

# Question 8

What is your personal experience of walking and cycling in your area? What barriers do you think local people face that may prevent them from choosing active travel for everyday journeys?

Emmanuel CARRAUD
(Liberal Democrat)

I am a keen cyclist and walker and use my bike every day to cycle across town in Petersfield and Mill Road. an improvement of Mill Road and a secure cycle parking will increase the usage of cycle in Petersfield.

Mohamed HOSSAIN
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Richard ROBERTSON
(Labour Party)

• excessive speed of motor vehicles,
• parking on pavements,
• cycling and scooting on pavements,
• narrow pavements,
• cyclists, scooters and electric mopeds ignoring pedestrian crossings and traffic lights,
• inadequate facilities for cycle parking especially in the city centre where too many bike racks are not available for short term use having been used for 24 hour parking by large numbers of cyclists.
• Insecure bike parking especially at the station’s Cycle Point which should be an exemplar of good security.
• poor maintenance of pavements and roads
• high level of bike theft.

Eddie WILKINSON
(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.