Graffiti in favour of bus gate appears on Cambridge’s Mill Road bridge

The campaign group Mill Road 4 People has said it “beggars belief” that the bus gate n Mill Road bridge in Cambridge has yet to be implemented.

A giant 72 percent was parked in chalk onto both sides of the bridge, which the campaigners say serves to remind politicians of the result of “one of the most elaborate and well-publicised consultations Cambridge has ever seen”.

A consultation carried out by Cambridgeshire County Council about the potential closure f Mill Road bridge to private traffic found that the majority of respondents was in favour.

Chair of Mill Road 4 People Paul Lythgoe said: “This result was published in April 2022 – it beggars belief that we are still waiting for it to be implemented.”

The group says it has “stepped up” it’s campaigning in response to delays on implementing the bus gate and that 5,000 leaflets are being distributed to homes to remind them of the result of the consultation.

However, Cambridgeshire County Council has previously confirmed that it is awaiting the result of legal action by the Friends of Mill Road Bridge group, which has taken steps towards a judicial review of the bridge closure decision. A council spokesperson has said: “We have received a legal challenge regarding the Mill Road Bridge decision. We have responded to the claim and are waiting for the court to determine the outcome of the challenge.”

Councillors voted in favour of plans in March this year to restrict who can cross Mill Road bridge. Under the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), private cars and other motor vehicles will be banned from crossing or face fines, while buses, cyclists, emergency services, taxis and Blue Badge holders will still be able to use it.

Drivers who are not exempt could face fines for travelling through the bus gate, which is expected to be enforced by automatic number plate recognition cameras.