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:
I'm thinking of convening a workshop or possibly simply an informal gathering (possibly at a pub or cafe) to discuss techniques and ideas for responding to planning applications. The timing is right, I think, with the approval of the new Local Plans for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire.
All are welcome, whether you already participate or are just interested in getting involved.
I would like to gauge interest first and then we can pick a suitable time and place.
no cycle parking
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Erection of a new three bedroom dwelling to the rear of 233 Milton Road with driveway access, amenity spaces and landscaping.
233 Milton Road Cambridge CB4 1XQ
Cambridge
Application reference : 18/1476/FUL
no cycle parking
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Erection of a 1-bed, 2 storey dwelling to the rear of 25/25A Cockerell Road.
25 And 25A Cockerell Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 3RU
Cambridge
Application reference : 18/1500/FUL
Proposed site plan: it looks like they are extending an existing set of wheel-benders by adding more wheel-benders.
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Extension to the building, extension to an external plant compound, new generator compound, extension to existing cycle parking and new bin enclosure.
436, Cambridge Science Park, Milton, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB4 0QA
http://plan.scambs.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=S/3269/18/FL
South Cambridgeshire
Application reference : S/3269/18/FL
Cycle parking provision consists of a plan marked with 'Alcove used for bicycle storage (using a purpose made bike rack)'
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Erection of an attached building containing 3 dwellings. Single storey rear extension following demolition of existing conservatory and rear box dormer with Juliet balcony to main dwelling. Retrospective subdivision of main dwelling into two flats.
38 Ramsden Square Cambridge CB4 2BL
Cambridge
Application reference : 18/1397/FUL
The applicant very strongly claims that there are 81 residential cycle parking spaces (including in a follow-up email to the case officer to correct some errors in the application) and 5 visitor spaces.
Revised Planning Statement: "Communal residents’ cycle store (81 spaces) in basement at both the Chesterton Road end of the site (59 spaces) and the Sandy Lane end of the site (22 spaces)"
I can only count 46 residential cycle parking spaces in the diagrams, split between 24 spaces in the Block A (front) basement and the Block B (rear) ground floor. ALL of the cycle parking spaces, including visitor, are of the non-compliant 'wheel bender' variety. The Block B does not even have an access aisle for the wheel benders.
The Block A basement cycle park is accessible through either the rear car lift or the regular building lift in the front. Both appear to be large enough, however I would want to see a planning condition to ensure that both lifts are always available for use by people with cycles (to prevent any officious 'health and safety' concerns from killing the access).
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Proposed serviced apartments (sui generis) comprising 32 x studio and 14 x 1 bed units together with hard and soft landscaping, an external garden room, cycle and refuse stores, basement car parking spaces and visitor cycle parking
Former Hamilton Lodge Hotel 156 - 160 Chesterton Road And Land Rear Of 162 Chesterton Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire
Cambridge
Application reference : 18/1245/FUL
15 affordable dwelling units providing 26 bedrooms, with 26 cycle parking spaces, and 17 car parking spaces.
Block A cycle parking (2 areas) has some substandard dimensions:
* detached area (8 spaces) has a substandard door less than 90cm
* integral area (9 spaces) has door positioned badly such that the first cycle parking space may occlude over 30cm of the entry, and there is a 90cm pinch point along the aisle
There are also 3 detached houses with 'garden sheds' for cycle parking:
* access to the gardens is through substandard 90cm doors
* insufficient detail is shown about the sheds to determine their layout, except that they appear to be about 200cm by 250cm in width and length, which should be OK and details can be secured through condition, although the shed doors may also be 90cm, which is substandard.
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Demolition of existing flats and erection of 12no affordable apartments and 3no affordable dwellings with associated access, car parking and landscaping.
9-10A Ventress Close Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB1 8QX
Cambridge
Application reference : 18/1470/FUL
Created by Anna Williams – Head of Campaigns & Engagement // 5 threads
The magazine cheanged to a quarterly publication from December 2018 and is published seasonally in Spring (March), Summer (June), Autumn (September) and Winter (December).
The aims of the magazine are to:
– Continue to provide an update to our members and supporters on Camcycle's recent work and campaigns
– Continue to cover all aspects of cycling from planning application to personal stories and build on this foundation to make sure we are giving a voice to people of all ages and backgrounds
– Continue to strike the balance between a professional-looking magazine with a grassroots feel
– Proactively set the agenda for decision-makers, clearly communicating our vision through in-depth features on aspects of our policy and manifesto
– Develop and showcase our work with local partners including businesses and organisations who support our charity's aims and/or provide examples of best practice in working for more, better and safer cycling in and around Cambridge
– Drive forward bold and successful campaigns for cycling, providing all who read the magazine with clear calls to action so that they can get involved and amplify our voice
– Provide rewarding and sustainable roles to volunteers; attracting new members to the team and recognising long-term contributors.
– Appeal to non-members of Camcycle and even non-cyclists; taking them on the journey from awareness to action. Join. Donate. Volunteer. Share our vision. Support our work and help create a vibrant and people-friendly city.
Created by David Green // 1 thread
I cycle commute to the Science Park every day, riding Northbound on new cycle path past Cambridge North station. Over the past few weeks I've noticed a mobile tea wagon set up on the grass beside the new cycle/foot path directly opposite the station. I have no idea whether this has been sanctioned by the station authorities, or is just a trader using his initiative.
I'm concerned that the position of this mobile wagon is making my commute less safe:
- location obscures the view for cyclists as they ride towards the station. Location is on a curve in the path and it obstructs the otherwise clear view in both directions for cyclists, obstructing the view of cycle traffic approaching from opposite direction.
- location restricts the path width, particularly when pedestrians are buying refreshment. There are a couple of 'bar stools' set up and the wagon itself encourages pedestrians to cross the a busy cycle path.
- the fold-up roof of the wagon protrudes out over the path. It is a thin flat roof hard to see even in daylight. (As mornings get darker it will be invisible.). Tall cyclists, or any cyclists standing up on the pedals, could easily collide with this roof. There is a danger of serious injury/decapitation.
Last week I stopped and politely mentioned these matters to the owner. I have asked him to instead set up in the wide lay-by 50 m further up the path but he has not moved yet.
The roadway has double yellow lines. I believe this means that Please note that yellow lines apply from the centre of the road to the edge of the highway. This means that you cannot park on the pavement or verge either.
Does the CCyC have any contacts at Cambridge North station who we can take this up with on safety grounds? If not, how can we get this waggon moved? It is only a matter of time that a Science Park cycle commuter has a serious accident here.
Created by Roxanne (Cycling Campaign Officer) // 1 thread
The City and South Cambridgeshire councils are working in collaboration to prepare an Area Action Plan (AAP) to govern the future redevelopment and regeneration of the Cambridge Northern Fringe area.
Outline planning permission for a new mixed use village comprising residential development of approximately 3,500 dwellings; mixed uses comprising employment, retail, hotel, leisure, residential institutions; education, community facilities, open space including parks, ecological areas and woodlands, landscaping; engineering for foul and sustainable urban drainage systems; footpaths, cycle ways, public transport infrastructure; highways including a principal eastern access from the roundabout on St Neots Road and western access with Broadway including first section of strategic public transport route; associated infrastructure, groundworks and demolition; with all matters reserved except for the principal highway junctions from the St Neots Road roundabout and onto Broadway with some matters reserved except for access. This application is subject to an Environmental impact assessment.
Bourn Airfield, St Neots Road, Bourn, Cambridge, CB23 2TQ
http://plan.scambs.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=S/3440/18/OL
South Cambridgeshire
Application reference : S/3440/18/OL
Created by Liz Irvin // 9 threads
In a recent newsletter edition, CamCycle presented a vision for Mill Road with reduced through traffic, allowing more room for cycling, pedestrians, buses and 'people parking'. Now that this vision has been presented, we would like to organise two public consultation sessions to get the views of people who live, work and travel in the area. The plan is to hold one session of each side of the bridge so we cover Petersfield and Romsey.
The Petersfield event will be held at St Barnabas church on Tuesday, October 16 from 4-7pm (to capture the after school, after work crowd). The Romsey event will be held at St Philips church hopefully the following week, but I am yet to confirm a date.
It would be great to get some input into these events, as I am new to the area so getting some historical/planning background would help. And if anyone would like to help with organising them that would be great as well. We're planning on printing off big maps of Mill Road and having them spread out for people to draw and write on. We will also have stickers for people to add to points they agree with.
It would be great if we could have an online method of contributing as well, as I know sometimes turning up in person isn't possible. I think an interactive map that people can add comments to and then other people can 'like' would be a good way to do this. So if anyone has ideas about building something like this, that would be very useful.
Still has high low stands as applicant indicated in prior correspondence.
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Demolition of 51-55 Elizabeth Way and construction of a new three storey block of flats comprising twelve apartments, associated amenity space and cycle parking provision (Resubmission of application 18/0532/FUL)
51-55 Elizabeth Way Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB4 1DB
Cambridge
Application reference : 18/1427/FUL
Created by David Green // 1 thread
There are places available on the 'Wheel Building 1' course in Cambridge on Sat 13/10/18. This is aimed at people with little or no experience of wheel building.
For information and to enrol, please visit:
http://www.cambridgewheelbuilding.co.uk/
David Green
3x 2BR semi-detached houses.
Cycle parking provided by 'sheds', unclear on detail, except that they appear to be 1.5m by 2.1m in dimension.
Access to plot 1 is open, access to plot 2 garden is via a 0.8cm gate, and access to plot 3 garden is via an 0.7m gate and 0.7m corridor of 8.5m length.
6 car parking spaces, which exceeds the limit.
The driveway narrows to 3.5m for a significant length, although they claim to have discussed this with Highways already.
3 houses on Drayton Close have their rear gardens abutting this site and apparently gain access to their rear gardens through it. There is proposed laneway access to maintain that, at 1m width. This may pose an issue for the people living in those 3 houses.
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18/1414/FUL | Demolition of garages and erection of 3no. affordable dwellings, partial widening of access and associated works | Colville Road Garages Colville Road Cambridge CB1 9EH
REVISED EIXSITNG [sic] AND PROPOSED PLANS AND ELEVATIONS: 'New wall-mounted vertical bicycle stands to provide 6 no. bicycle'
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Just a quick look over reveals some serious problems.
Planning Statement Section 2.3 - 'main' cycle/pedestrian route is somewhat indirect and appears to run within the blind-spot of several driveways.
Planning Statement Section 4.4 - a litany of how NOT to design cycle parking.
Layout - missing pedestrian crossings at several minor junctions - although there also appear to be some continuous footways at others, curiously enough.
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Approval of reserved matters for appearance, landscaping, layout and scale following Outline planning permission S/0388/12/OL for the erection of 240 dwellings along with garages, roads, sewers and all ancillary, the outline application was subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
http://plan.scambs.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=S/3405/18/RM&theTabNo=3
S/3405/18/RM
sound+fury // 1 thread
Consultation regarding demolition and new residential building in its place.
Created by Roxanne (Cycling Campaign Officer) // 1 thread
Change of use from Office (B1(a)) to Student Accommodation (C2) with associated works.
Hillcross Bells School Red Cross Lane Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB2 0QU
Cambridge
Application reference : 18/1355/FUL
Space for 20 students to stay there buy only 'up to 11' cycle parking spaces provided.
Created by Roxanne (Cycling Campaign Officer) // 1 thread
18/1365/B1C3 | Prior Approval notification of proposed change of use from B1(a)(Office) to Class C3 (dwellinghouses) to create 6no. 1xbedroom units. | 23 Tenison Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB1 2DG
No cycle parking shown in drawings
Created by Roxanne (Cycling Campaign Officer) // 1 thread
Applicant has failed to provide adequate information about their cycle parking. I'm concerned this will be passed as there is *still* no cycling officer to review the application.
Condition 3 - Cycle Parking
73 Bridewell Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB1 9EN
Cambridge
Application reference : 14/0470/COND3
D&A mentions there is space for cycle parking but the site layout doesn't show it.
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Application for outline planning permission for residential development of 2 no. 3 bed room houses with all matters reserved apart from appearance, landscaping, layout and scale.
http://plan.scambs.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=S/3043/18/OL&theTabNo=3
The Erection of 2 No. 1-Bed flats and 1No. 2-bed two-storey semi-detached dwelling following the demolition of the existing dwelling
89 and 89A, Cambridge Road, Girton, Cambridge, CB3 0PN
http://plan.scambs.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/WPHAPPDETAIL.DisplayUrl?theApnID=S/3220/18/FL
South Cambridgeshire
Application reference : S/3220/18/FL
no cycle parking
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Proposed three bed dwelling
24 Elfleda Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB5 8LZ
Cambridge
Application reference : 18/1319/FUL
Detached rear garden flat. Cycle parking vaguely specified to be in a corridor next to the building. Shows 1 car parking space for the new flat and 2 car parking spaces next to the new flat that are unclear in use. Also claims that the front garden will be used for car parking, which has attracted the attention of Highways noting that there is no existing permission for an access onto Hills Road, and they would oppose any that required reversing onto Hills Road.
(note: the houses on this stretch of Hills Road almost all appear to have this form of illegal front garden parking, sigh)
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Erection of a detatched one bed dwelling.
99 Hills Road Cambridge CB2 1PG
Cambridge
Application reference : 18/1339/FUL
This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:
The most popular issues, based on the number of votes:
Martin Lucas-Smith // 29 threads
Proposed route along the rail corridor through Cambridge, part of which is in the Cambridge Local Plan.
Created by Rohan Wilson // 1 thread
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.
Created by David MacKay FRS // 1 thread
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=1s
I’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/EddingtonSafety
The petition:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/EddingtonSafety
Anyone 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.uk
Regius Professor of Engineering,
Cambridge University Engineering Department
Author 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
Created by David Green // 1 thread
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?
Created by Hester Wells // 1 thread
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/
Created by Simon Nuttall // 19 threads
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.html
I've created this issue to help plan this event.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
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.
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.
Created by Robin Heydon // 9 threads
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.
Created by Cllr Ian Manning // 1 thread
The County appointed an officer back in June to review parking policy across the County, starting with the City.
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.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 10 threads
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.
Created by Robin Heydon // 1 thread
The Cottenham to Histon cycleway needs improvement.
Created by Anne Clarke // 1 thread
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.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
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.
Created by Colin Bell // 1 thread
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.
Starting a thread about this application here so we can continue on from the previous planning list discussion.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 11 threads
Major planning application here - c. 10,000 homes
Created by Simon Nuttall // 3 threads
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.
Created by Robin Heydon // 2 threads
The Landbeach Parish Council would like the bridgeway from Landbeach to Cambridge to be upgraded to a cycleway.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 4 threads
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.
Created by Jamie // 1 thread
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.
Martin Lucas-Smith // 1 thread
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.
Created by David Earl // 4 threads
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
Created by velocipedus@gmail.com // 12 threads
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)