Save Waterbeach Homes campaign: We urge GCP board members to safeguard family properties

Board members at the Greater Cambridge Partnership have welcomed the views being expressed by the community over plans for a new segregated public transport route that could lead to the demolition of homes in Waterbeach.

The Cambridge Independent is campaigning to protect the cottages in the Cambridge Road/Glebe Road area, which a new busway could plough through under proposals out for consultation until December 14.

More than 1,500 people have signed our petition at chng.it/DRp2xQ6yZ9 calling on the GCP to consider alternative routes to Cambridge that do not require the homes to be knocked down.

The Cambridge Independent has also written to each of the GCP board members calling on them to pledge to safeguard the homes and put worried residents’ minds at ease.

The board will determine how to proceed in the new year, following analysis of the consultation responses – which will include our petition.

While the board members said they could not guarantee how they would vote while the consultation was ongoing, as predetermination of decisions is not allowed, they all welcomed the feedback.

Conservative county councillor Roger Hickford, who chairs the board, said: “It is vital the GCP hears from as many residents and stakeholders as possible in our consultation, which closes on December 14. We will then be able to consider all responses in any decision making going forward.”

Cllr Neil Gough, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Cottenham, who represents South Cambridgeshire District Council on the board, said: “I appreciate the concerns that people have raised in relation to the Waterbeach to Cambridge consultation.

“It is very important to stress that at this stage there is no planned route and suggestions as to potential alternative routes are welcomed.

“The GCP will consider all viable options before identifying a preferred scheme that works best for the area. I encourage people to respond to our consultation and make their views heard.”

Cllr Lewis Herbert, the Labour leader of Cambridge City Council, which he represents on the GCP board, said he understood the concerns, welcomed the discussion and stressed that compulsory purchase of properties would always be “the choice of last resort” for the GCP, one which it has so far avoided on any project.

There are two other non-voting members of the board.

One of them is Claire Ruskin, of Cambridge Network, who said: “We all appreciate it is very sensitive and we need to come up with solutions all around Cambridge that make a positive difference to congestion, air and general quality of life – less time for people in traffic and more time at their destination. So getting people to think and suggest and comment is great, and it is much better to have strong input near the beginning of the process than at the end.

“As a GCP board member much of my role is to listen to the views and make decisions at each stage once we’ve heard the evidence.”

She added: “We believe the current suggestions could be delivered without affecting homes and our starting point for all projects is that we do not carry out compulsory purchases of residential homes and gardens. However, it is always the case that the process means we cannot rule out any option until we have received and reviewed all feedback. We will spend a considerable time listening and looking at views before developing a scheme.

“Cambridge Independent readers can definitely help by responding to the GCP consultation and getting their views in.”

The other non-voting board member is Prof Phil Allmendinger, from the Department of Land Economy at the University of Cambridge, and a fellow of Clare College, who told us: “I’m aware this is a sensitive issue that has generated concern. GCP is an evidence-based body and I avoid taking a position without seeing all of the evidence, including public opinion. I’m not a voting member of the board in any case but I do have a voice. I’m sure the GCP will be discussing this much more before any decisions are taken and I welcome all views as part of that process.”

Although the consultation brochure does not specify it, three of the four routes proposed for the new busway could run through homes.

You can see the consultation at consultcambs.uk.engagementhq.com/w2c-consultation-2020 and sign our petition at chng.it/DRp2xQ6yZ9.

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