Month: August 2024

New proposed Mill Road Bridge Traffic Regulation Order (TRO)

[Update, 4 Sept: you may have seen the article in the Cambridge Independent today saying that I have asked for the TRO plan to be ‘halted until evidence can be shown of the impact on residents, businesss and active travel.’ I have not asked this, but do want to see data on the likely impact of the proposed TRO and for the County Council to consider it. This is not about halting the process but making sure we get the right outcome for everyone.]

A County Council decision in March 2023 to put a bus gate on Mill Road bridge under a Traffic Regulation Order was reversed after the Friends of Mill Road Bridge challenged the way that it had been processed, and instead of appealing that decision the council decided to start consultation about a new order.

The consultation is now open, and people have until Friday 13 September to make comments on the plan to close the bridge to all vehicles except buses, bicycles, emergency services, taxis, and blue badge holders. The details are online.

To me as a local city councillor and Petersfield resident this is a very important move, and one that could change the way Mill Road works as a centre of the life of Petersfield and Romsey wards.  The City Council doesn’t get to make the decision here, but as a ward councillor I will always represent the views of residents and work to make sure that the steps the county council takes are the right ones.

I’ve had four different homes within Petersfield over the 38 years that I have been in Cambridge, and it’s a great place to live. But the ways we experience our neighbourhoods are significantly affected by how we choose to move around the streets, and as I walk, cycle and drive, I’m aware of the problems we face and the complex choices we must make as we try to improve our streets and open spaces.

Continue reading “New proposed Mill Road Bridge Traffic Regulation Order (TRO)”

Let’s talk about the Beehive Centre

In mid 2023 Railpen submitted an outline planning application for the redevelopment of the Beehive Centre, which backs onto several streets in Petersfield Ward.  The proposed remodelling of the retail centre as a life sciences facility with offices and some retail was not well-received, particularly by residents of the streets affected.  

Petersfield ward city councillors were also highly critical of the scheme. Mike Davey and Richard Robertson  were especially concerned about the scale of the buildings, their height and the proportions, and particularly the impact on the view from the rear gardens of York Street.

There was a formal consultation to which many of you contributed, and Mike Davey and Richard Robertson continued to speak out and met representatives of Railpen.  

Following the public response, Railpen is working on a revised scheme which they will then submit for planning approval.  They have prepared one version of this, and they are now carrying out their own, private, pre-submission consultation as part of their community engagement.

We expect them to make a formal submission the council based on the results of the consultation, but what they submit could well be different from what is in the leaflets and presentations.

Until that happens your ward councillors are monitoring things, talking to residents and will meet the developers of they feel it’s necessary. I am a member of the planning committee and I can’t pre-judge applications which I then decide on, not because I don’t care but because there is a later stage where I need to be able to act in accordance with planning law and in the best interests of Cambridge.

The discussion about the future of the Beehive has been heated and sometimes angry. It is understandable that feelings run high over  a major development like this, and as a City Council we are working hard to make sure that we listen to concerns and that the process for doing that is open and honest. 

In March the Council published its statement of community engagement which includes how we will run planning consultations. At the time I said ‘it’s through a concerted effort by everyone involved in planning that we can work towards improved transparency and arrive at a place of mutual trust’. I still hold to these principles

It is vitally important that everyone knows how to influence development in our area and make their voice heard. That remains a central principle, when it comes to the Beehive or any other planning application.

If you want to know more, please get in touch.