Cambourne to Cambridge busway inquiry to continue after blunder
A public inquiry over the Cambourne to Cambridge busway is continuing today (Wednesday) after inspectors ruled it could press ahead.
There had been concerns that the inquiry would be postponed after it came to light that there had been a procedural “oversight” ahead of the inquiry.
Notices had not been published, as required, in “one or more places where public notices are usually posted”.
However, the legal team representing Cambridgeshire County Council argued the notices had now been placed and given the inquiry will run for eight weeks, this would still give time for people to see them and attend.
Inspector Richard Clegg told the inquiry today (Wednesday) that the government had confirmed overnight that a decision over whether to continue was “a matter for the discretion of the inspectors”.
He continued: “In this case, we’ve considered the situation very carefully in the light of what we’ve heard and what we’ve read.
“Our view is that, given the steps that the applicant has now taken, the publicity that was already under way, and in particular, the length of this inquiry, which extends for eight weeks, over a 10 week period that the failure to comply with rule 13(6) in this case, does not cause prejudice, if the inquiry is to continue.
“And with this, we’re content, therefore, to proceed as originally intended.”
Opposition leader at South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cllr Heather Williams (Con, The Mordens) responded: “It really is shocking that they get to this point on one of the most controversial things and still not get it right. They got through today by their skin of their teeth. This is not what you expect from local authorities funded by us the taxpayer.
“If it had been postponed that would have cost more money coming out of our taxes for their failures. I am extremely disappointed that such a basic but fundamental error was made, and it does then make us questions and ponder what else hasn’t happened correctly.”
The two-way 8.5-mile (13.6km) busway has been devised by the GCP on behalf of the highways authority, Cambridgeshire County Council, to improve public transport between the town and the city.
But the busway, expected to cost at least £200million, has faced huge opposition from campaigners for the off-road route it is due to take through the West Fields at Coton, which will mean cutting down hundreds of mature trees at Coton Orchard.
The inquiry is scheduled to sit each week from Tuesday to Friday until Friday, 21 November. It will not meet during the weeks of 6-10 October and 27-31 October.