Elections

South Cambridgeshire District Council elections, May 2022: Caxton & Papworth

Summary: Elections to South Cambridgeshire District Council, May 2022
Polling date: Thursday 5th May 2022
Ward:
Candidates
(by surname):
  • Gaynor CLEMENTS  (Green Party)
  • Tanya GRAY  (Conservative Party)
  • Mark HOWELL  (Conservative Party)
  • Sean LINDSAY-SMITH  (Liberal Democrat)
  • Peter SANDFORD  (Liberal Democrat)

Questions for Caxton & Papworth ward candidates (6 questions)

Jump to question:  1   2   3   4   5   6 

# Question 1

How would you improve the South Cambridgeshire District Council cycle parking policy? How would you bring inclusive cycle parking into the Local Plan? Also, how would you ensure that cycle parking policies are enforced in subsequent planning applications?

Gaynor CLEMENTS
(Green Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Tanya GRAY
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Mark HOWELL
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Sean LINDSAY-SMITH
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Peter SANDFORD
(Liberal Democrat)

South Cambs DC cycle parking policy focuses on new developments. This is good but is largely irrelevant to Caxton and Papworth ward where no major new developments are included in the Local Plan. Similar provisions should be retrofitted in recent (5 year and older) developments where no secure cycle parking is provided. I'm not clear on the point of the second question - it is the job of the planning department to ensure new planning applications comply with council policy and that includes cycle parking. No application should be granted unless there is compliance.

# Question 2

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?

Gaynor CLEMENTS
(Green Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Tanya GRAY
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Mark HOWELL
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Sean LINDSAY-SMITH
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Peter SANDFORD
(Liberal Democrat)

The main improvement I support is a 20MPH speed limit in every village, which must be enforced vigorously by the police and/or local speed monitoring teams. I can't remember the last time I saw a mobile speed camera in one of our villages and cars significantly exceed the existing 30MPH limit. A review of speed limits on rural roads between the villages should be considered.

# Question 3

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?

Gaynor CLEMENTS
(Green Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Tanya GRAY
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Mark HOWELL
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Sean LINDSAY-SMITH
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Peter SANDFORD
(Liberal Democrat)

Our local primary school should encourage students to walk or cycle more often. A "star cyclist" badge or similar incentives might have some effect. More parking restrictions to prevent parents parking close to schools should be considered.
With respect to older residents, we are days away from the completion of the Papworth-Caxton Gibbet foot/cycle path. The LibDems had been asking for this facility for the best part of a decade and it was only after the arrival of the new administration in County Hall that the funding was found. Papworth residents will now be able to cycle all the way into Cambridge in relative safety. Hopefully it will be well used, otherwise some "marketing" may be necessary.

# Question 4

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?

Gaynor CLEMENTS
(Green Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Tanya GRAY
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Mark HOWELL
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Sean LINDSAY-SMITH
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Peter SANDFORD
(Liberal Democrat)

Better, more frequent and more reliable public transport. If the Cambourne-Cambridge busway is ever built, sufficient cycle parking should be provided at the Cambourne terminus. Any car parking should be charged at a level that discourages long term use of parking spaces. Likewise, if East-West Rail is ever built, the Cambourne station should be planned to encourage residents of surrounding villages to cycle to it (ideally, there should be adequate space to carry cycles on the trains, as happens in the Netherlands. However that is outside the control of the District Council.)

# Question 5

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?

Gaynor CLEMENTS
(Green Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Tanya GRAY
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Mark HOWELL
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Sean LINDSAY-SMITH
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Peter SANDFORD
(Liberal Democrat)

All of the previous points seem perfectly reasonable and I would support them. I already mentioned the need to encourage our village residents to cycle to Cambourne to make use of C-to-C or EWR. In an ideal world, local buses would have sufficient space to carry cycles but I can't see that happening until the buse fleets are refreshed. Other countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands have been far more successful than the U.K. in encouraging cycling and walking - we should look at what they have implemented and borrow ideas that would work here.

# Question 6

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?

Gaynor CLEMENTS
(Green Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Tanya GRAY
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Mark HOWELL
(Conservative Party)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Sean LINDSAY-SMITH
(Liberal Democrat)
The candidate has not responded to the survey.
Peter SANDFORD
(Liberal Democrat)

I walk for recreational and health purposes, both in the local area and in places such as Wimpole Hall. I do not own a cycle, mainly due to the lack of secure storage. Perhaps the local residents should be surveyed to see what barriers they have to active travel? I hesitate to speak for everyone!

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.