Results revealed: Support for bus gate in Mill Road bridge in Cambridge narrowly outweighs objections

The result of a consultation on an order to prevent most private motor vehicles crossing Mill Road bridge in Cambridge has found respondents supported the proposal by a narrow margin.

Some 48 per cent of respondents to the six-week consultation were ‘wholly’ in support compared with 45 per cent who were ‘wholly’ opposed. A further 4.8 percent partly supported the scheme and 1.5 percent of respondents partly objected to it.

Cambridgeshire County Council officers are now recommending that a Traffic Regulation Order to install a bus gate on the bridge - with fines for non-exempt vehicles - be approved at a meeting in Alconbury on Friday, 4 October. The expectation is work could begin on the bridge to implement the scheme in November.

If approved, the TRO would restrict motorised traffic over the railway bridge, with exemptions for local buses, cyclists, pedestrians, taxis and vehicles in a disabled tax class, NHS tax-exempt vehicles, and vehicles on the council’s permitted vehicles List for the Mill Road.

The council states its “intention is generally to permit Blue Badge holders to register up to two vehicles which may be either their own vehicle or a vehicle belonging to a carer.”

The officers' report, which will be heard at the meeting of the council’s highways and transport committee on Friday, notes that the council’s ambition is: “Creating a greener, fairer and more caring Cambridgeshire”.

Officers add to this end: “Reducing traffic levels on Mill Road and particularly removing through movements would encourage more environmentally sustainable travel choices.”

The report also notes the council’s ambition to reach Net Carbon Zero emissions by 2045 and states that the bridge closure would be a move towards this based on evidence from another street in Cambridge.

It states: “In light of the experience following the introduction of a modal filter on Vinery Road, officers are of the opinion that the proposals are likely to result in some shift away from car use towards active travel uses and public transport, which is capable of having a positive impact on greenhouse gas emissions from transport. “

The key objections noted from the consultation were: impact on traffic and congestion on alternative routes; impact on local businesses; accessibility concerns; environmental impact and pollution; Impact on local residents; alternative solutions to reduce traffic; concerns for minority groups; preservation of Mill Road’s character; adverse impact on carers, health and emergency services.

The most common objection was about the prospect of traffic displacement, with 1,272 out of 1,894 who objected to the scheme mentioning the impact of traffic and congestion on other roads.

Tenison Road, Ross Street, Cavendish Road were all cited, in particular with relation to access to the station avoiding Hills Road.

The council officer’s response was: “Monitoring of alternative routes will be ongoing and mitigating measures put in place if issues arise.”

Those commenting in support of the scheme mentioned safety improvements, active travel benefits; environmental benefits; traffic reduction; place-making; benefits to businesses. The council officer noted: “By removing traffic, it is believed that a great deal of progress can be made making Mill Road safer, and more attractive to travel, do business and live life.”

If the TRO is approved by the committee, the next steps would be:

- From 4 October 2024, Blue Badge holders would be able to register up to two vehicles for exemption via an online application form.

- In November 2024, works to implement the bus gate including cameras, signs and road markings would be installed at either end of the railway bridge. Signs would also be installed along Mill Road and on nearby streets to inform drivers about the new road layout and to advise drivers that businesses on Mill Road remain accessible and open as usual. These works would be completed by early December 2024.

Graphs, reproduced here, showing a breakdown of responses by ward revealed that a majority of respondents in Romsey, Petersfield and Abbey were in favour of the scheme while a majority in the wards of Cherry Hinton, Market and Fulbourn were against.

The scheme has had a long and controversial history, dating back to the pandemic, when the bridge was first closed to motor vehicle under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order.

The Cambridge Independent has reported this week how the government offered funding for electric buses on the condition that schemes to improve bus travel, including the bus gate on Mill Road bridge, proceeded.

An earlier Traffic Regulation Order from the county council to make it permanent was subsequently quashed in the High Court, when it was challenged on technical grounds by the Friends of Mill Road Bridge.

Another consultation on a new Traffic Regulation Order was then carried out, ending earlier this month.