Consultation findings on proposals to upgrade Newmarket Road to be discussed

A report outlining the findings to a public consultation and the next steps for the Cambridge Eastern Access project has been published today.

Earlier this year, the Greater Cambridge Partnership asked people for their views on proposals to deliver new bus lanes and upgraded walking and cycling links along Newmarket Road to the east - including a relocated Park & Ride - to help cut congestion and improve air quality and journeys.

Next month, the GCP’s Joint Assembly and Executive Board will consider the findings of the public consultation and set out the next steps for the project.

The report recommends that phase A of the scheme should be considered in three sections to reflect issues raised during consultation and other activity in the area:

• Phase A1 - Coldham's Brook to Meadowlands: includes proposals for a new CYCLOPS junction at the Barnwell Road roundabout which would complement plans to regenerate the East Barnwell area, improve road safety and would link into the Chisholm Trail. It is recommended that this section of the scheme is taken forward.
• Phase A2 - Meadowlands to Airport Way: this would include new cycleways and bus lanes to connect Airport Way with the proposed relocated Park & Ride site. It is also recommended that this section is taken forward.
• Phase A3 - Elizabeth Way to Coldham's Brook: this segment, including the proposal to infill the Elizabeth Way roundabout, would be paused, subject to the outcome of the Making Connections proposals and ongoing discussions around the future of the Beehive Centre and Grafton Centre sites.

The GCP also proposes to progress the recommended P1 Park and Ride site, just east of Airport Way, which was the most popular site in the consultation, and begin the process for a planning application in order to relocate the existing Newmarket Road Park and Ride.

Proposals for a new dedicated busway from Cambridge to the east of the city would be taken forward as part of Phase B of project and are dependent on the Marshall’s site being allocated for development in the Greater Cambridge Local Plan.

Jo Baker, Project Manager at Greater Cambridge Partnership, said:

“Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their views with us through the public consultation. We will use the feedback to further develop the Cambridge Eastern Access project in line with any decisions taken by the Joint Assembly and Executive Board.”

For more information about Cambridge Eastern Access visit www.greatercambridge.org.uk/cea. The Cambridge Eastern Access paper to the Joint Assembly can be found on Cambridgeshire County Council's website.