Greater Cambridge Partnership faces backlash against green belt plans
An MP has urged the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) to “prove it can take the blinkers off and listen to local people and experts with an open mind” over its controversial busway plans.
Anthony Browne’s comments came after he joined a cross-party group of elected representatives and campaigners calling on the GCP to pause its £132million Cambridge South East busway scheme, due to be discussed at a key meeting today (Thursday).
The group said in the letter that “public trust and confidence in the GCP are seriously low”.
The Conservative MP for South Cambridgeshire told the Cambridge Independent: “The GCP started out with good intentions, attempting to fix a problem we all agree is a priority – fast, efficient public transport in and around Cambridge city.
“Sadly, fast or efficient cannot be used to describe the GCP. Its decision-making process is deeply flawed, labouring under a blinkered view around damaging busways.
“With a remit constantly challenged by overlapping public bodies, it has become democratically unaccountable with an ever-changing board and baffling governance arrangements that would challenge the most hardened constitutional scholar.”
But the GCP has hit back and said the government recognised the “significant success and progress” it had made when it unlocked a further £200m following a ‘gateway review’ last year.
Meanwhile, a petition launched by the chair of the Smarter Cambridge Transport campaign group, Edward Leigh, calling for the GCP’s strategy of new busways and Park & Rides to be scrapped, had received 1,845 signatures by the time the Cambridge Independent went to press.
In May, Mr Browne had called for a “pause” on both the Cambourne to Cambridge and Cambridge South East Transport busway plans.
He said the GCP must “reassess the suitability of both schemes” as they had been due to form part of the plans for the £2billion Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro, which the county’s new mayor, Dr Nik Johnson, has vowed to scrap.
This week, Mr Browne continued: “It is time for the GCP to prove it can take the blinkers off and listen to local people and experts with an open mind.
“They must implement the ‘quick wins’ that residents need now and work with the mayor to give us truly integrated public transport that is good value for taxpayers’ money and works for local people.”
A GCP spokesperson said: “The Greater Cambridge Partnership is creating a fully integrated transport network to provide faster, greener and more reliable journeys to help people get to work, education and other opportunities.
“The government recognised the ‘significant success and progress’ the GCP has made when it unlocked a further £200m for our ambitious programme following a successful ‘gateway review’ last year. The governance of the GCP was set up with the government at the inception of the City Deal and includes voting members who are democratically elected to the city, county and district councils.
“The Cambridge South East Transport project will provide reliable and frequent journeys for growing communities to the south-east and link to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and other key employment sites.
“The scheme has been in development for five years and subject to three public consultations in accordance with Department for Transport guidelines. The GCP executive board will consider the next steps for the project later this week.”
Greater Cambridge Partnership is creating a fully integrated transport network to provide faster, greener and more reliable journeys to help people get to work, education and other opportunities.
“The government recognised the ‘significant success and progress’ the GCP has made when it unlocked a further £200m for our ambitious programme following a successful ‘gateway review’ last year. The governance of the GCP was set up with the government at the inception of the City Deal and includes voting members who are democratically elected to the city, county and district councils.
“The Cambridge South East Transport project will provide reliable and frequent journeys for growing communities to the south-east and link to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and other key employment sites.
“The scheme has been in development for five years and subject to three public consultations in accordance with Department for Transport guidelines. The GCP executive board will consider the next steps for the project later this week.”
Read more:
Protest called over £130m Cambridge South East Transport scheme
Petition calls for multi-million pound Greater Cambridge Partnership busways to be scrapped
