GCP’s Haslingfield Greenway plans through Grantchester to Cambridge go out for public consultation

Consultation has begun on the latest proposals for the Haslingfield Greenway, with three options for a 2.5km stretch through Grantchester.

The walking and cycling route is part of the wider 150km network of greenways being created by the Greater Cambridge Partnership, linking the city and surrounding villages.

The designs out for consultation for the Grantchester section of Haslingfield greenway include new, off-road shared use paths as well as upgrades to some existing off-road paths from Grantchester to the M11 bridge in the south and Newnham in the north, plus traffic-calming features in Grantchester that the GCP say will be sensitive to the village’s conservation area status. This includes improvements to junctions to make them safer to cross or travel through and wider footways.

Thomas Fitzpatrick, the GCP’s transport programme manager, said: “The proposals, which we are putting out to consultation, aim to provide people with a safer and easier way to walk or cycle around Grantchester and on to Cambridge or Haslingfield.

“I’d encourage anyone with an interest in Grantchester and the Haslingfield Greenway route to take a look at the proposals and share their views.

“The parish council have been extremely helpful as we developed these proposals and we look forward to hearing feedback from the public. This will help to inform where the route goes and what, if any, further changes should be made to it.”

A virtual public event will be held on the evening of Tuesday, June 20, and an in-person event on the afternoon of Thursday, June 22 in Grantchester Village Hall, with the eight-week consultation due to close at midday on July 28, 2023.

Feedback can be submitted via an online survey at greatercambridge.org.uk/haslingfield-greenway.

Meanwhile, three other greenways were discussed by the GCP’s joint assembly last Thursday and will head to the executive board later this month, following two public consultations and one engagement in the spring.

They will make decisions on the routes that connect to the guided busway path from Fen Drayton, Over, Oakington, Westwick and Cottenham. The guided busway path would also be rebranded and sign-posted as the St Ives Greenway. Flood monitoring is under way in the Swavesey area as part of proposals to alleviate the issue.

They will also consider the reports of public feedback on the Swaffhams and Bottisham Greenways, which would connect the villages with the city via the Newmarket Road and Stow-cum-Quy.

The greenways are due to be in place by 2025.

Mr Fitzpatrick said: “Any decisions the executive board take will mark a big milestone in these three routes as we look to finalise plans, seek the relevant permissions with authorities and landowners to start building the improvements.

“By 2025, the greenways will connect communities across our region and provide greener, cheaper and healthier travel options."