Inspectors shown ‘runway’ through fields as Cambourne to Cambridge busway’s economic benefits highlighted

The Cambourne to Cambridge busway would appear like a “runway” through the countryside, campaigners have claimed – but the chair of Cambridge Growth Company says it would help the region’s economy take off.

Fierce clashes over route options and claims over the impact on investment have dominated the opening week of the public inquiry.

The inspectors visited the site last week – and were greeted by 600 orange stakes planted by farmer Rob Sadler across his fields along the proposed route to illustrate the scheme’s scale.

Anna Gazeley, whose family own and run Coton Orchard, continued the stakes through her land. She said the view “looked like a Heathrow runway,” starkly showing the impact on farmland and veteran trees.

“For that brief moment, it showed, very starkly, what’s at stake,” she told the Cambridge Independent.

But Peter Freeman, chair of Cambridge Growth Company, told the inquiry that failure to deliver the £200million scheme after more than a decade would send “a negative signal” to investors and weaken confidence in government backing for the city.

The plans to build the new busway have been devised by the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP). The scheme proposes to build a dedicated guided busway, with a pathway alongside it for pedestrians and cyclists to use, with a 2,000-space travel hub also proposed at Scotland Farm in Dry Drayton.

The route is proposed to be built from Cambourne to Cambridge, via the new Bourn Airfield development, Hardwick, Coton and the West Cambridge site.

Cambridgeshire County Council – as highways authority – submitted a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) to the Department for Transport to ask for permission to build the busway.

The project has proved controversial, with around 300 objections being submitted to the inquiry.

Many of those objecting have opposed the plans to build the busway through Coton Orchard, and have argued that an alternative route along Madingley Road could be pursued instead.

Attention turned to the GCP’s route appraisal when the inquiry resumed yesterday (Tuesday) in Cambourne.

Objectors, including Cambridge Past, Present and Future (CPPF) and Coton Parish Council (CPC), argued that less intrusive on-road options along the A1303 had strong public support, but were dismissed too quickly.

During the inquiry, it was noted that the off-road busway option received majority opposition in a 2017 consultation, with 65.5 per cent against.

Jack Parker, counsel on behalf of CPPF and CPC, highlighted that the alternative on-road option they wanted explored had “a high level of support” while the route GCP eventually chose had “majority opposition”.

Jo Baker, GCP project manager, responded that “both combinations [options] were taken forward” after consultation and stressed that “we did not make a decision on a final route” at that stage.

He also noted that route selection considers multiple factors, acknowledging that there was a “greater level of support for an online road route”, which was taken into account.

But the alternatives were deemed “undeliverable” due to the environmental constraints near Madingley Wood and the American Cemetery, engineering limits and safety standards, he explained.

Throughout the questioning, Mr Parker pressed Mr Baker to confirm the preferred route at that time had majority opposition.

Mr Baker repeatedly clarified points to distinguish the consultation process from final route decisions.

“I know that Mr Baker,” said Mr Parker, before adding: “Just answer my question. I’ve asked a couple of times now. And just my question for the third time – the option which GCP chose as its preferred route has majority opposition. That’s right, isn’t it? At this stage?”

“At this stage? Yes,” Mr Baker responded.

He explained that some aspects of the 2017 consultation documents, such as journey times and cost estimates, were based on early modelling and preliminary assessments.

He noted that as projects progress, estimates become more detailed and accurate.

“This is a long time ago and not pertinent to the decisions that have been finally made.

“However, I imagine the journey times may well have come from modelling at the time, and cost estimates are prepared at different levels of detail as projects progress.

“So you start with a fairly crude assessment of a typical cost of a typical cross section, and as the project proceeds, you get more granularity about design and more accuracy,” he said.

The inquiry continues. It is due 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.

All sessions will take place at the Cambridge Belfry hotel in Cambourne, except for the final day, which will be held at South Cambridgeshire District Council’s offices in Cambourne.