'Money down the toilet for another misguided busway to nowhere...'

READERS have been voicing their opinions on the Cambourne to Cambridge busway proposal, with many questioning its purpose, expense and consequences.

- By DAVID PRINCE

The public inquiry has officially commenced into the contentious project to construct the new Cambourne to Cambridge (C2C) busway. Supporters argued the busway is essential to help “unleash Cambridge’s economic potential”, whilst also facilitating additional housing and employment growth across the region.

Nevertheless, critics challenged the rationale behind the project and contended an alternative off-road solution would achieve the primary goals whilst causing less environmental damage. The initiative to construct the new busway has been developed by the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP).

The proposal involves building a dedicated guided busway, accompanied by a pathway for pedestrian and cyclist use, with a transport hub also planned at Scotland Farm. The busway route is intended to run from Cambourne to Cambridge through the new Bourn Airfield development, Hardwick, Coton and the West Cambridge site. Some of the people reacting on The News's website targeted the scheme's backers. Calumen Nomen commented: “The project to build the new busway has been put together by the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP). Says pretty much all you need to know. In what conceivable world can a few bus stops ‘unleash economic potential’? And, no offence to Cambourne, but last time I was there it did not look full of people who knew how to unleash economic potential. Maybe it will be different once they can get a bus to Grange Road.”