Merlin Place – North East Cambridge
A developer called Kadans Science Partner is proposing to redevelop the Merlin Place site (currently home to the Taylor Vinters building) as part of the North East Cambridge scheme.
Issues
This section lists issues - problems on the street network and related matters.
Issues always relate to some geographical location, whether very local or perhaps city-wide.
You can create a new issue using the button on the right.
Listed issues, most recent first, limited to the area of Cambridge Cycling Campaign:
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Removing exclusionary barriers across Cambridgeshire
Camcycle's time and energy is consistently taken up removing exclusionary barriers (e.g. Biomedical Campus, A14 active travel bridges, Warren Road). We need to consider long-term ways to prevent new barriers going in and remove existing ones which prevent people of all ages and abilities cycling.
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Romsey Labour Club - Mill Road (2022)
There have been issues with the cycle parking in the past so this need examining again.
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Private? farm roads
I'm new here, so this has probably been done before, but I haven't sussed out how to find any relevant previous discussion using the search. So sorry if this is repetition.
There are lots of farm roads around Cambridge, some of which have locked gates and "bicycles by written permission only" notices, others are signed as permissive routes, others have no signs but in practice nobody actually shouts at you as you cycle through what turns out to be a farmyard.
Are there any resources that enable us to work out in advance, before discovering the sign and the locked gate, which of these roads are passable by bike, with possibly a rather long route home if the answer is "no"?
Just as an example, how about Battle Gate Road?
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"Our Place In Space"- temporary obstruction on the Haling Way
A series of temporary obstructions are planned for the Haling Way path
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Trumpington Road/Bentley Road
Cars regularly cut across cyclists in the southbound bus/cycle lane.
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Consultation on a proposal to re-surface part of Longstanton Bridleway 10
From the county:
In addition to the notification which I sent to you on Monday 11 April 2022 regarding the order to divert part of Longstanton Bridleway 10, I am emailing you to consult you on a proposal to re-surface the northern part of Longstanton Bridleway 10 between the new bridge across the access road to Northstowe and the southern end of the Wilsons Road by Falcon Park.
The proposal to re-surface the northern part of Longstanton Bridleway 10 is related to Condition 59 of Northstowe Phase 2 (S/2011/14/OL) which is subject to submission of details to Greater Cambridge Shared Planning consultation S/2011/14/COND59. In order to achieve a continuous all-weather NMU link between Longstanton, Bar Hill and the new A14 NMU path I am consulting you on what type of surfacing you would like to see on the route (coloured in pink on the attached plan). The route will need to provide an upgraded route that caters for all non-motorised users (walkers, cyclists and horse-riders) all year round.
The southern section of Longstanton Bridleway 10 between the A1307 and the new NMU bridge over the Northstowe access road was surfaced last year and I am interested in whether a similar type of surface would be suitable on the northern section of the bridleway. The northern section of Longstanton Bridleway 10 is generally quite wide and located between tree/hedge lines. I am proposing that any re-surfacing on the northern part of the bridleway follows the principle of providing a 50-50 parallel surface (50% retaining grass/natural surface next to 50% smooth surface suitable for cyclists and pedestrians such as the surface which is in place on the southern part of Longstanton Bridleway 10 or the surface which has just been completed on Reynolds Drove, Rampton north of the busway). Between the boundary features on the northern part of Longstanton Bridleway 10 there is generally at least 5 metres of width available which in theory could accommodate 2.5 metres of natural surface next to 2.5 metres of foot/cycling surface.
The re-surfacing of the bridleway associated with the planning condition is for the developer (Homes England) to deliver, but I am seeking your opinions on what you would like to see in this location which I will then use to inform my feedback to Homes England and Greater Cambridge Planning on the condition which needs to deliver improvements to the northern part of Longstanton Bridleway 10.
I would be much obliged if I could have your comments back on this matter by Friday 29 April 2022.
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Tagalongs, FollowMes and child-adult tandems/triplets
I'm writing an article for the next Camcycle magazine on family cycling options with pedalling kids (so FollowMe, Tagalong and tandems/triplets). Could anyone share their experiences of using these?
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Obstructive anti-cycle barriers between Charles Street and Rustat Road.
There are 1970s-style barriers separating Charles Street and Rustat Road. This means that the large numbers of cyclists heading in both directions often have to give way to each other. These barriers need replacing by a removable bollard in the centre of the route, so cyclists can easily pass on the correct side as they would any other traffic island but cars can't get through. This is a literal barrier to easy safe convenient cycling and has no place in 21st Century Cambridge. Especially when there is an easy solution around it.
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Combined Authority Board
The Combined Authority Board is chaired by the elected Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The purpose of the Board is to ensure that the decisions and actions of the Combined Authority deliver key outcomes for the people of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
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Pedestrian Crossing on Victoria Av (Jesus Gn SE Corner) Blocked
Two large Red barriers have been placed to deliberately close the pedestrian crossing, both sides of road.
There seems no reason to block off this vital route. No alternative is provided (no kerb drop etc)
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Airport way blocked with no provision for cyclists .
The cycleway is blocked by building work with a footway separated from the road which is too narrow to cycle and with no ramps to
leave or join the road .
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22/00758/FUL: 9apartments (1 building), 303 Histon Road
Erection of 9 dwellings within 1 apartment building comprising studios, one and two bedroom apartments, together with landscaping, parking arrangements, bike and bin provision and associated infrastructure (following demolition of the existing dwelling)
303 Histon Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 3NF
Application reference: 22/00758/FUL
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22/00712: 2 storey building, Hills Road 6th form College, Hills Road
Construction of a new three storey educational building, including associated hard and soft landscaping.
Hills Road Sixth Form College Hills Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB2 8PE
Application reference: 22/00712/FUL
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22/00655: retail unti & 3no. apartments, Burleigh Street
Demolition of Numbers 16 and 16A Burleigh Street and the construction of a three-storey building comprising a retail unit on the ground floor and 3 no. apartments on the first and second floors providing bin and cycle stores on land to the rear of the new retail unit and access to the proposed apartments will be from Burleigh Place, while the retail element will remain accessible from the front (i.e. Burleigh Street).
16 And 16A Burleigh Street Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB1 1DG
Application reference: 22/00655/FUL
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A1303 Little Wilbraham Road
This is a dangerous junction for people on bikes. How can it be improved?
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[fixed] Ditton Meadows / Ditton Walk path blocked by fallen tree
The path / cut-through between Ditton Meadows and Ditton Walk (next to Ronald Rolph Court) is currently blocked by a fallen tree.
It's possible to squeeze under it with a standard bicycle if you're agile.
Looks like someone attempted to block the path with red/white tape at the southern entrance, but it's all come down of course. I didn't see any warning at the northern entrance.
There's a report on the County Council site (387287), but it's marked as 'closed' on the 21st Feb. Tree was still there on 22nd.
[later:] It was gone by 15 March (probably long before).
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22/00293: extension to create 4 flats, 184 Thoday Street
22/00293/FUL | Two storey side, single storey rear and roof extension to create 4 flats
184 Thoday Street Cambridge CB1 3AX
Application reference: 22/00293/FUL
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22/00583/FUL: 14no houses, Aragon Close and Sackville Close
Demolition of existing garages and hardstanding and erection of 14no houses (7 at Aragon Close and 7 at Sackville Close) together with car parking, green space, landscaping, bin and bike stores and associated infrastructure.
Land At Aragon Close And Sackville Close Cambridge Cambridgeshire
Cambridge
Application reference : 22/00583/FUL
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22/00469/FUL: 2bed bungalow to the rear of 157 Green End Road
Erection of 2bed bungalow to the rear of 157 Green End Road
157 Green End Road Cambridge CB4 1RW
Cambridge
Application reference : 22/00469/FUL
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19/1453/CONDA: conditions of planning permission 19/1453/FUL Shah Jalal Mosque.
Submission of details required by conditions 10 (Cycle Parking layout) and 15 (Traffic Management Plan) of planning permission 19/1453/FUL.
107 Shah Jalal Mosque Darwin Drive Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 3HQ
Cambridge
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East Road/Mill Road junction not detecting cyclists
A member of the public has informed us that the signals at the junction of East Road and Mill Road are not detecting people on bikes on the lane in front of the fire station heading east on Mill Road. Has anyone else experienced this? We can get an email to the signals team.
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Election campaign 2022
It is important that we engage with the candidates at each election, scrutinise their views, and press for their commitments to cycling.
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Broken cattle grid (Midsummer Common entrance opp Fair St)
Rods at this cattle grid have either sheared off or been vandalised (not that recently). It already appears on the county fault report site ref 372428, from June 2021, but nothing appears to have been done about it.
This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:
The most popular issues, based on the number of votes:
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Chisholm Trail
Proposed route along the rail corridor through Cambridge, part of which is in the Cambridge Local Plan.
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NCN route 11 and the Waterbeach Gap
I've visited Riverside to Waterbeach with William Rayner of county cycling team. He's revising signage here and providing it along the St Ives corridor, with the old NCN 51 being renamed Regional Route 24 (blue patch). We've decided finally to continue to sign NCN 11 from Riverside Bridge to Waterbeach Station, and he's looking at suitable (hopefully temporary) wording to advise to follow NCN 51 to Bottisham for destinations beyond Waterbeach, which will hopefully eliminate misrouting those from outside the area.
Our inspection of existing signs showed that only one new signboard was provided on completion 5 years ago of Riverside Bridge. Signboards still send people via Green Dragon. Sustrans considers signage is an important part of any route project.
The intention is to sign Milton Country Park as a destination, not as part of the route, removing route signs within the park, and probably retaining Coles Road as the signed route through the village, though it would be much preferable to have improvements past the shops and the village green, pubs etc.
Retaining the route to Waterbeach as NCN will help keep the gap in people's awareness.
I am planning to contact again the landowner of the missing link between Bottisham Lock and Fen Road, Lode with a suggestion for a low-level route, southeast side of the Bottisham Lode floodbank which is the route of the public footpath, where signs forbid cycling. It might be considered more visually acceptable. All parish councils are for the route, including the one of which he is a member.
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Safer Walking and Cycling between NW Cambridge and Girton
Our campaign for safer walking and cycling to/from NWCambridge now has a petition and a first video (of five) summarising our position.
See our new video summarising our petition:
https://youtu.be/hIlQAzsU0js?t=1sI’d be delighted if you could promote this to your networks. Time is of the essence because a Senate House discussion is coming up [3 Nov 2015], and I will report the number of signatures on our petition there. (But signatures after the date will still be useful.)
More information:
http://tinyurl.com/EddingtonSafetyThe petition:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/EddingtonSafetyAnyone is welcome to sign the petition; we ask people to use the Comment field to let us know if they are University Member / University employee / City resident / SouthCambs resident / etc.
For twitter purposes the recommended hashtag is #EddingtonSafety and there is an @EddingtonSafety account too.
Thanks very much
David
David J C MacKay FRS
djcm1@cam.ac.ukRegius Professor of Engineering,
Cambridge University Engineering DepartmentAuthor of “Sustainable Energy - without the hot air” www.withouthotair.com
and “Information Theory, Inference, and Learning Algorithms” www.inference.eng.cam.ac.uk/mackay/Girton resident and parent.
Cambridge Cycling Campaign Member -
Lack of cycle routes to Cambridge Business Park, Waterbeach
My employer is planning to relocate from central cambridge to the Cambridge Business Park (near Waterbeach). There is currently no decent cycle (or footpath!) access to this business park which avoids riding along the A10. I am a confident cyclist but I am not looking forward to riding to work along sections of the A10.
Are there any plans for cycle route construction which the campaign can, perhaps, help accelerate?
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Bar Hill to Cambridge Cycleway
There is a campaign for a cycle route between Bar Hill and Cambridge, also connecting Dry Drayton, Madingley and Coton to North-West Cambridge.
Currently cycle provision for these villages is poor. Bar Hill has lower rates of cycling than other villages that are closer to Cambridge.
The campaign site is: http://www.bhddmadcycle.com/
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Reach Fair Ride
The Reach Fair ride takes place on the early Bank Holiday Monday (May Day) in May.
The web page for it is:
http://www.camcycle.org.uk/events/rides/The planning overview is summarised:
http://www.camcycle.org.uk/events/rides/timeline.htmlI've created this issue to help plan this event.
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Replace Hooper Street gates with bollard
The permeability gate between Hooper Street and Kingston Street is obstructive as it only allows passage in one direction at a time.
Given the ever-increasing amount of cycling in areas like this, it's time to get this replaced with a simple bollard arrangement that would allow two-way passage whilst still enable the emergency services to unlock for access in an emergency.
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Dangerous to cross Milton Road diagonally at Toucan crossing
As the bridleway crosses Milton Road, it swaps sides of the busway, so most pedestrians and cyclists want to cross diagonally. However the toucan crossing only protects people crossing Milton Road. It doesn't stop busway traffic.
This is confusing and dangerous. When the road traffic stops at red lights, and the Toucan crossing turns green, it feels very safe to cross the busway. Yet buses can come from three directions (busway west, busway east, Milton Road south) at speeds of 30 mph.
Cyclists in particular are tempted to cross diagonally from north west to south east. Last week I saw a near accident.
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A14 very hostile for cycling
The A14 is a very hostile, dangerous road for cycling.
Improvements to it, as well as broader changes to the national framework for cyclist crossings of major roads, are needed.
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Parking policy review
The County appointed an officer back in June to review parking policy across the County, starting with the City.
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The 'Milton Road Effect'
Vehicles are continually abusing cyclists who use the road here because the bus lane on the other side forces the carriageway to be narrow.
Although there is the cycleway, it has the usual problems of loss of priority at sideroads, bins in the way, people going in and out of driveways, etc.
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Upgrading Milton Road to Dutch standards
Milton Road, like other main roads in the city, is a mix of typically bad bits of cycle infrastructure. There is considerable scope, possibly within the City Deal funding, to rework the whole streetscape to Dutch standards.
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Cottenham to Histon Cycleway
The Cottenham to Histon cycleway needs improvement.
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Improved cycling facilities on A603 in Barton
The current Barton to Cambridge off road cycle path starts at the White Horse in Barton. During term time Cambridge bound traffic is now backed up and slow moving throughout Barton along the A603. This leaves no clear safe route for cyclists. The road has white hatchings down the middle and would be wide enough for a proper on-road cycle lane to leave a safe passage past the queuing vehicles.
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Poor exit from West Cambridge site onto Clerk Maxwell Road
There's a very poor dogleg right-angle with barriers at the entrance/exit from the West Cambridge site to Clerk Maxwell Road.
This should be turned into a wide splay with good visibility.
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State of Waterbeach-Lode link
Has there been any improvement in the "new" NCN 11 route from Waterbeach to Lode since last summer? Last time I went that way I had to wheel the bike across fields and carry it over two or three stiles.
Any information, including a forecast date when a proper route is likely to be built, welcome. Thanks.
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Emmanuel College 12/0029/FUL
Starting a thread about this application here so we can continue on from the previous planning list discussion.
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Northstowe Planning Application
Major planning application here - c. 10,000 homes
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Railway Route between Cambridge and Cherry Hinton
The railway line from Cambridge to Newmarket turns out across Coldham's Common and right through the middle of Cherry Hinton, and then carries on passing to the north of Fulbourn.
There are currently (2013) two main routes from the east of Cambridge to Cherry Hinton - the Tins and Snakey Path. However both have long very narrow sections involving pedestrian conflict.
The railway line is single track - but satellite images show the bridges crossing Barnwell Road and Coldham's Lane were both built for dual track. So this means there should easily be enough room to accommodate a cycleway alongside the railway.
This route could then connect up with the Chisholm Trail and provide a direct fast cycle route to and from the city and the Science Park area.
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Landbeach to Cambridge Cycleway
The Landbeach Parish Council would like the bridgeway from Landbeach to Cambridge to be upgraded to a cycleway.
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Should Cambridge 'Go Dutch' (or Danish)
London Cycling Campaign has reorientated its policy towards a 'Go Dutch' approach.
This aims to learn from best practice abroad rather than continuing with the 'hierarchy of provision' that, in 20 years in the UK, has arguably failed to deliver meaningful change.
This is an overarching issue for conceptual discussion of this issue.
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Girton Interchange "Improvements"
At the moment it is possible to cycle from Cambridge Road, near Madingley, to Girton, on a bridleway that crosses over the A428 and then passes under the M11 at the Girton Interchange. You can then cross three roads (A1307) and reach a pavement on the North-East side of the Interchange. Using the pavement you can then reach Washpit Lane and cycle up towards Girton. (The pavement is marked as a shared-use route on the OSM Cycle map, although I am not sure that it really is.)
Apart from having to be careful when crossing the A1307 junction it is a rather pleasant route to ride.
The Girton Interchange is being "improved" to reduce the bottleneck for cars. Does anyone know what plans there are to ensure that the current route through remains open and whether there are plans to improve the bridleway route through? Or will this be another example of roads being developed to the detriment of footpaths/bridleways.
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Proper cycle provision on Cherry Hinton Road needed
Cherry Hinton Road is currently mainly typical 'blue sign on a pavement' provision, despite having the edge-to-edge width in places for proper cycle provision. A longer-term objective should be to upgrade this.
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Evil posts on busway cycleway
There are some evil short grey posts on the busway cycleway that are really hard to see in the dark. I have heard of a number of people hitting them with disastrous consequences
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Cambridge Cycling Campaign's "Project Orange"
Project Orange is an attempt develop our general strategy during the year 2013.
It involves
1) Should Cambridge Go Dutch (or Copenhagenize)
2) A more assertive stance in our interactions with agencies: Demanding of them to make feasible what seems infeasible
3) focus on a regional area 10 miles (15 km) around Cambridge and a dartboard network structure to connect villages,
4) the development of a Bicycle Infrastructure Assessment Tool (BIAC) which will allow us to grade and praise provision
5) Priority over sideroads as part of a Dutch-style approach
5) Development of Visualisation Tools for major projects (Chisholm Trail, Newnham to Newmarket Rd, Mitcham's Corner)