Some residents ‘unaware’ of one-way street consultation about Canterbury Street in Cambridge
Concerns have been raised that some residents who would be affected by the introduction of a proposed one-way restriction in Cambridge are not aware a consultation is taking place.
People who live in and around Canterbury Close, Arbury, received a letter from Cambridgeshire County Council on December 18 giving them four weeks to reply to a consultation on closing part of nearby Canterbury Street or making the street one-way.
This change would mean residents of the Canterbury Close cul-de-sac would need to take a large three-sided detour if they wanted to access their homes from Histon Road.
But the proposal follows complaints from residents in the Canterbury Street area that lorries use the route as a rat-run, causing safety issues and damage to their properties.
The county council letter, which neighbours said was not delivered to all homes affected, explained a consultation on the proposal would end at 5pm on January 15, but after residents’ concerns were raised by the Cambridge Independent, the council agreed to extend the deadline to February 12. A ward meeting was called by councillors yesterday (Tuesday) to hear from residents, but not everyone was able to attend.
The proposed closure or one-way traffic restriction would apply to the eastern section of Canterbury Street, between Histon Road and North Street.
One Canterbury Close resident said: “This will put residents of Canterbury Close at quite a disadvantage and means they will have to drive a long way around to reach their houses. I was very surprised to receive a letter from the county council on December 18. They didn’t give people much time to respond, especially over Christmas when people are often away or may not have noticed this letter.
“I tried talking to my neighbours about it and lots said they hadn’t even received the letter and I couldn’t find anything about it online. I had a leaflet from campaigners who want the restrictions saying there would be a ward meeting about it on Tuesday (yesterday) but most people can’t make it at such short notice.”
The letter sent to residents by the council said it was “undertaking an informal consultation” on two design options for “the proposed one-way system on Canterbury Street”.
Both would feature one-way traffic on Canterbury Street’s east arm, with no entry to Canterbury Street’s east arm from Histon Road. Option one would feature no entry to Canterbury Street’s west arm from North Street, while option two would allow no entry to Canterbury Street’s west arm from Histon Road.
A website – weneedtoclosecanterburystreet.uk – has been set up by campaigners who want to see the restrictions brought in. The site explains that lorries have caused damage to some local properties.
It says: “For many years residents on Canterbury and Benson Streets have witnessed dangerous incidents from rat-run drivers avoiding the junction of Histon and Huntingdon Roads. A survey in 2016 showed that damage to property from rat-run traffic was in excess of £20,000, and further damage has occurred since then.
“‘No to HGV’ advisory signage was erected on Huntingdon and Histon Roads in 2022, but still we have HGVs and other vehicles mounting and damaging our kerbs. The east end of Canterbury Street is a funnel – a narrow route accessed by traffic from the wider area encompassing all entrances on Histon and Huntingdon Roads.
“After extensive local consultation considering a multiplicity of alternatives, we now, at last, have county council permission to make the east end of Canterbury Street one-way. As yet we have not had access to plans, so do not know how this will be detailed, but hope residents in the wider area will understand our issues.”
A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: “This is a local highway improvement project for Canterbury Street to help with congestion and was raised to us by Canterbury Street residents (who applied for the local highway improvement). We’re carrying out an informal consultation with residents in the Benson area about two options for a proposed one-way system.
“We are very much in the early stages, and these are proposals for consideration; we’d like to hear from residents with their feedback to get a full picture of the appetite locally for this proposed change.
“We sent out 213 letters to residents in the area including Benson Street, North Street, Westfield Lane, Priory Street, Canterbury Street, Benson Place and Halifax Road, about the proposals.
“People can also send their feedback to local.projects@cambridgeshire.gov.uk by 5pm on Monday, February 12.
“We have extended the deadline for people to let us know their comments. At this stage, we’d like residents to decide on which proposal they would like to see – if any. If there is a favourable option, a more formal consultation will follow.”