'No guarantees' that C2C busway has role in franchising, says Mayor as he gives 'voice' to campaigners

PAUL BRISTOW POINTS TO ALTERNATIVES, SOMETHING THAT 'DOES NOT PLOUGH THROUGH COTON ORCHARD'

- By HANNAH BROWN Local democracy reporter

A Cambourne to Cambridge busway campaign poster

THE Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has said he could not guarantee support for running bus services along the Cambourne to Cambridge (C2C) Busway if it is built.

Paul Bristow told the project’s public inquiry on Tuesday (September 30) that an assumption had been made about the level of bus services on the busway, which he said could not be guaranteed.

He said under bus franchising he would have to consider a number of things before agreeing to a new route, including safety and the impact on existing bus services.

Plans to build the new busway have been put together by the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP).

The scheme proposes a new guided busway, with a path alongside it for pedestrians and cyclists, and a travel hub at Scotland Farm in Dry Drayton.

County Council submitted a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) application to the Department for Transport for permission to build the new busway.

The GCP is not able to submit the TWAO itself, which is why the county council as the highways authority has made the formal application.

A public inquiry into the project opened last month and has heard evidence both supporting and opposing the scheme.

The project has proved controversial, with around 300 objections submitted to the inquiry.

Mr Bristow told the inquiry that opposing the C2C Busway was one of the issues he campaigned on before his election as Mayor.