Cambridge congestion charge ‘still unfair’ and more change needed

The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has revealed revised plans for the ‘Sustainable Travel Zone’ where a road charge could apply. 

It has proposed to reduce the amount of time the charge would be in force and set out more discounts and exemptions. 

However, with no changes planned to the boundary of the zone, people living along the border say they still have concerns. 

The revised proposals have been put forward after 58 per cent of the people who responded to the consultation about the plans said they opposed the congestion charge, with 70 per cent saying they supported the proposed expanded bus network. 

The original proposals put forward by the GCP included a weekday £5 charge between 7am and 7pm. 

This has been changed to only applying in peak time hours in the morning and afternoon. 

Under the new plans the people who create an account to pay the charge would also receive 50 free days, and motorbikes are now proposed to be exempt from the charge. 

Small businesses in Cambridge are proposed to get a 50 per cent discount for delivery lorries and vans, and a 50 per cent discount is proposed for people on low incomes. 

Exemptions are also planned for most people who need to go to hospital by car and for anyone in receipt of carers benefits and mobility PIP. 

However, the congestion charge cost is proposed to stay the same, and the original boundary has also been kept. 

Rachel Stopard, the chief executive at the GCP, said they had listened to people’s concerns, and that the revised proposals were “fair to everybody”. 

Gazelle Way marks the edge of the proposed zone boundary around the outskirts of Cherry Hinton. 

One woman who lives just inside this border said she and her family would face paying the charge when going to their jobs in Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds. 

She said: “We never go into Cambridge except by bicycle, we never drive into town, but when we go out that way for work in Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds we will have to pay for it. 

“I do not think it will enhance Cambridge, I think it will yet again make it a more expensive place to live.” 

She added that she thought the proposed 50 free days were a good idea, but questioned how this would be monitored. 

Amy Toronto said she thought the new proposals were “leaning” in the right direction, but said she still thought more could be done. 

She said: “Understanding the cost of living here and not knowing how most people here do it, it makes things even harder to live here and seems unfair and not caring about people. 

“Having peak times makes much more sense if they really want to do something about congestion. 

“I do not know if [the discount] is enough for small businesses, they are already on a fine line in terms of budgets. 

“We have people who come from outside of Cambridge to our church and activities, which is in the zone, and this will make it even harder for them to come in. 

“It is leaning towards, but I think more could be done. They cannot just rely on public transport to solve the problem, there has to be a lot more solutions.” 

One man said he did not drive and already used the bus to reach his job in the city. He said he could “see both sides” of the debate, but questioned the impact this could have on small businesses. 

He said: “A congestion charge could incentivise people to use buses, but deliveries cannot use buses, it will be an added cost. 

“I understand congestion is an issue and it makes sense to use fewer cars and more public transport, but I guess it should only apply to people who can switch to another mode of transport.” 

Further north along the proposed congestion charge boundary off Airport Way is Teversham. 

Sitting just on the other side of the border, people here said they were still concerned about the impact the congestion charge could have on their lives. 

Christine Shaw said: “We are right on the literal edge of it. I still work and it will make life really difficult. I do go to the park and ride, but there are days I use the car and that is £5 every time. 

“If we go to Cherry Hinton that will cost us £5, the Tesco is free, but people on the estate opposite Tesco will have to pay £5.” 

Ms Shaw said she wanted to see the whole idea “cut”, but said she was not against a charge applying to just the city centre, where she said congestion was a problem. 

Felicity Collins said she was not in favour of the charge and said she was worried the original proposals would reemerge if the scheme was put in place. 

Another woman in the village said she did not think the congestion charge was a good idea, but that if it did happen, then she said the village needed at least a half hourly bus service. 

She said: “I think it is not a good idea, I think it is expensive for people, especially for people here, we have not got any buses, we have to go by car to places every time, it would put us in a difficult financial situation. 

“If they are going to bring in the congestion charge they need to make sure there are buses and not just in the town area, but buses to all the villages, at least every half hour.” 

According to the GCP interactive planner for the proposed bus network, the village could go from having one bus a day to Cambridge, to getting one bus an hour to the Newmarket Road Park and Ride, and one bus an hour to Newmarket. 

The new proposals are due to be debated for the first time at a GCP meeting next week on September 7.