Public inquiry under way to decide fate of controversial busway plan

AROUND 300 OBJECTIONS WERE LODGED AGAINST SCHEME, SAYS LEAD INSPECTOR

- By HANNAH BROWN Local democracy reporter

THE public inquiry has formally opened into the controversial project to build the new Cambourne to Cambridge (C2C) busway.

Those in support said the busway is needed to help “unleash Cambridge’s economic potential’, as well as enabling further housing and jobs growth in the area. However, others questioned the justification for the project and argued an alternative off-road scheme would meet overarching objectives and be less harmful to the environment.

The project to build the new bus-way has been put together by the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP).

The scheme outlines a dedicated guided busway, with a pathway alongside it for pedestrians and cyclists to use, with a travel hub also planned at Scotland Farm.

The planned busway route runs from Cambourne to Cambridge via the new Bourn Airfield development, Hardwick, Coton, and the West Cambridge site.

Cambridgeshire County Council submitted a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) to the Department for Transport to ask for permission to build the new busway. While the project is being led by the GCP, the organisation is not able to submit the TWAO itself, which is why the county council as the highways authority has made the formal application.

The public inquiry into the project opened on Tuesday (September 16), and is due to continue into November.

Richard Clegg, the lead inspector at the inquiry, told the hearing that around 300 objections had been submitted against the busway, with 13 representations of support, and 12 other representations made.

In his opening statement, Neil Cameron KC, representing the county council, said there was “universal agreement” that a reliable public transport service between Cambourne and Cambridge is needed.

He said this agreement was “striking” but “not surprising” due to the need for transport infrastructure to support the national and local plans for growth in the Greater Cambridge area.