Sustainable Travel Zone supporters take to streets of Cambridge

Supporters of the proposed Sustainable Travel Zone in Cambridge took to the streets at this weekend’s ‘Let’s Say Yes to Better Buses’ event.

The family-friendly event on Saturday morning was organised by Cambridge Parents for the Sustainable Travel Zone (STZ) and began with a walk from Parker’s Piece to Drummer Street bus station, with speeches, cake and music.

Supporters of the STZ are backing the plan for ‘better buses, safer roads and a more sustainable future for the people of Cambridge’. The STZ includes a proposal for a controversial congestion charge which would include Addenbrooke's Hospital and the rest of the BioMedical Campus, operating between 7am and 7pm on weekdays.

The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) is consulting on the proposals which would be introduced in 2026-27 and involve car drivers paying £5 per day, while van drivers would pay £10 and lorry drivers pay £50. The money, says the GCP, would be used to fund an upgraded bus network. The GCP says the money raised would help fund a dramatically upgraded bus network, with flat fares of £1 within the city or £2 from outside, up to a maximum of £4.

“It was a really inspiring march,” said attendee Markus Gehring. “The people who attended were from loads of different ages and all parts of Cambridge, with lots of parents with really young children.”

Elisa Meschini, Labour councillor and chair of the Greater Cambridge Partnership which is looking to put forward the plans, said: “We have to come clean about the challenges we face.

“All we ask at this point is that people appreciate the extent of the challenge we have to address. We haven’t made a final decision and it’s important people understand it isn’t an easy solution.”

The event follows a protest march against the proposals on November 27.

You can respond to the consultation until midday on December 23 via the Consult Cambs website.