Haslingfield Greenway route through Grantchester approved by GCP board despite village objections

Grantchester may be the “victim of its own beauty”, a council leader has suggested, as plans to build a new cycleway through the village move forward despite objections from residents.

The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP)’s executive board supported proposals for the Haslingfield Greenway project, which aims to create a “sustainable travel corridor” between Haslingfield and Cambridge for cycling and walking.

The route is one of the 12 greenways from the GCP, which aim to enable those around Cambridge to travel into the city without using a car.

Part of the Haslingfield Greenway proposes to go through Grantchester. In a public consultation, 73 per cent of people in Grantchester said they opposed the Greenway going through the village. The parish council had suggested alternatives that would have gone around the historic village.

But the GCP’s board noted that in the overall feedback, a majority of people – 64 per cent – supported the route, so agreed to proceed.

A GCP report said: “The currently proposed route would provide the most direct connection between Haslingfield, Grantchester and Cambridge, and would also allow the M11 bridge to become step-free.

“However, if this section does not go ahead, Haslingfield Greenway users would use the link alongside the M11 to join the Barton Greenway and continue their journey using the Baulk Path or Barton Road.”

The chair of Grantchester Parish Council, Cllr Lesley Sherratt, urged the board not to move forward with the Grantchester section of the greenway at its meeting on Monday (January 4).

She said it would have a “detrimental aesthetic impact” on the village.

She also claimed there was a “democratic deficit” in separating the village consultation response from the overall response and then “discounting” it.

Cllr Sherratt argued the alternative route through the Baulk Path on the Barton Greenway should be investigated instead.

Members of the board said they believed people would still cycle or walk through Grantchester whether the greenway went ahead as planned or not.

Labour’s Cllr Elisa Meschini, the board chair and representative from Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “I have been to Grantchester, I have cycled down what I think is the [proposed] route.

“I think people will cycle through Grantchester and walk through Grantchester whether there is a cycleway or not.

“I know that you cannot always please everyone, but I do think this is the best decision.”

Cllr Mike Davey, Labour leader of Cambridge City Council, asked whether Grantchester was the “victim of its own beauty”, suggesting people would go through the village regardless of whether the GCP put a cycle route in place.

Peter Blake, the transport director at the GCP, said he thought that was right.

He said: “Cyclists, like most people, do want to take the short and faster route. The proposal tries to make that as safe as possible for all road users.”

Mr Blake stressed that the majority of people who responded to the overall consultation were in favour.

He said discussions had taken place with the people who owned the land required for the suggested alternative route and they were not supportive of that idea.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Brian Milnes, the representative from South Cambridgeshire District Council, believed the proposed route through Grantchester would be able to accommodate more cyclists and said he supported the plans.

The executive board unanimously agreed to progress the Haslingfield Greenway scheme.

The board also approved the outline business case for the Fulbourn Greenway.

Work on the detailed designs for both schemes is now expected to take place, including requesting the required agreements and permissions.

The GCP has said construction of the first phase of the Fulbourn Greenway could begin later this year.