Month: November 2025

I’m a great believer in developing an integrated transport strategy that makes the best possible use of railways, and I’ve been the chair of the East West Main Line Partnership for some months now. The Partnership brings together the various local authorities and other bodies with an interest in EWR. The Partnership is not responsible for the design and route of the Oxford-Cambridge scheme – that is the responsibility of the East West Railway Company – but we are key to establishing the vision for this vital route.

Today I was briefed about current progress, and will have a further meeting with two planning officers who are now dedicated to the work of EWR and the implications for South Cambs and Cambridge. This follows the announcement from the Department for Transport about the development of the service and includes hybrid battery-electric trains to deliver faster, greener services along the partially electrified route while keeping costs down, a new eastern entrance at Cambridge station and – finally – formal plans for a new Cambridge East station. This is something I’ve been advocating for years and it’s great to see it come to pass. And it’s good to see that the announcements are in line with the submission to the consultation made by the Shared Planning Service on behalf of South Cambs and the Cambridge City Council.

Continue reading “A Future for Rail in Cambridge”

I had an interesting day on Saturday, beginning by trying to avoid being run over by cars or cyclists as I draped a tape measure across Ainsworth Street in the company of my fellow councillor, Richard Robertson, followed by a deep discussion about the future of the whole of Greater Cambridge at an event organised by local historian and advocate for democracy, Anthony Carpen. From the gutter to the far horizons.

First the gutters. The County Council is consider a resident parking scheme for Ainsworth Street, and parts of Hooper Street, Sturton Street Sleaford Steet, Abbey Walk, and Fairsford Place in Petersfield ward. It has been under consideration for several years and while most people agree that a scheme is required some people have serious concerns about the details and the proposed final locations of parking spaces.

One issue is whether streets are wide enough to allow safe parking on both sides or if it must be restricted. At the moment Ainsworth Street has parking on both sides along most of its length, and the scheme proposes a change to parking only on one side.

Continue reading “Roads and plans”