Greater Cambridge Local Plan Preferred Options

I am making a response on behalf of the Cambridge Group of the Ramblers, a statutory consultee.

Our primary concern is the total lack of specific proposals for improving both access and connectivity for people wishing to move around the Greater Cambridge area on foot, away from motorised traffic. Well-meaning comments are made about the value of public rights of way, but there is no mention of what should be identified as priorities for action. The inadequate provision of open space as access land is identified, but no areas are identified for safe-guarding to meet this. Funding of paths and open access land is not addressed at all.

Consequently we see no incentives for developers to meet existing, let alone future, need.

The Group would like to put forward a list of specific proposals which should be included in the Plan, so that ‘development taxes’ can be targeted at achieving these.

An off road NMU route from Cherry Hinton Road up to the Beechwoods and Roman Road; negotiations with landowners are required to start ASAP. A large population of SE Cambridge has no off-road access to some of our best landscape area;. Lime Kiln Hill is extremely dangerous and an alternative is required NOW. There is a track behind the Peterhouse Technology Park which might provide a good start!
Links from the new Marleigh development to the PROW network in the Wilbrahams/Teversham area as well as Fen Ditton/Lode;
Rights of way between Great Shelford and Hauxton to link with Trumpington Meadows Park and Hobson Park; the permissive path between Great Shelford and Hauxton must be upgraded to a PROW and there needs to be an alternative to the Genome path, possibly using existing permissive paths, augmented by off-road paths.

PROW paths are required between Magog Down and the City, including the Nine Wells development and Biomedical campus.

Planned development on the Marshalls Airport site must be connected by a ‘green lung’ to Teversham and Fulbourn rights of way.

There is a desperate need for at least one, probably two, major new country parks; Nature Reserves DO NOT meet this need because of pressures which numbers of people place on fragile biosystems. These require visitor facilities such as car parks and toilets. It would be even better if they can be accessed by public transport. Milton CP and Wandlebury are already over-subscribed. Coton Reserve has limited access due to agricultural tenancies taking up much of the land and a lack of facilities for visitors. Wimpole is very unclear about its role as only National Trust members can use the Estate car park in order to enter the parkland without a very high fee being payable. The Beds, Cambs & Northants Wildlife Trust is unwilling to accept open access unless there is a PROW; the RSPB at Fowlmere is even more restrictive.The Local Plan should identify prospective areas for the creation of such parks, requesting bids from landowners and potential managers. Funding should be through S106/CIL received through the new developments.

The Local Plan requires definite schemes and funding through development, not general aspirations which won’t be achieved.