A report outlining the results from the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s Making Connections public consultation has been published today.

More than 24,000 people responded to the consultation, which proposed measures to transform the bus network alongside better walking and cycling infrastructure that would be funded in the long term by the phased introduction of a road-user charge. The plans were also designed to significantly reduce use of congestion – freeing up road space for buses to run more reliably and cycling to be safer.

The key findings and the wide-ranging views – both in favour and against the proposals – are contained in a paper to the GCP’s Joint Assembly which meets on 8 June. The headlines are:

• Over 70% of people were in favour of the future transport network – with more buses to more locations, cheaper fares and longer operating times supported by better walking and cycling infrastructure to give people faster, cheaper and more reliable travel alternatives to the car.
• 58% of respondents opposed the proposed Sustainable Travel Zone (STZ) as the means for delivering the transport vision. Opposition increased with age from 35 to 64 with 55–64-year-olds the most likely to oppose. Those who lived outside of Cambridge were also more likely to oppose.
• 34% of people support the STZ as proposed. Support was highest among the youngest and the oldest respondents, who are more likely to find it most difficult to access education and healthcare due to the limitations of the existing bus network. Support was highest in the city centre and west of the city.
• Around half of those who oppose the STZ did support the vision for better buses.
• The views from organisations such as business, healthcare and others were broadly supportive of the plans but with caveats about the impact on staff or those who were vulnerable.
• Additional representative opinion polling was carried out which showed opposition and support for a road user charge was more balanced.

The reasons for supporting or opposing varied but covered a variety of areas:

• Those who supported the proposals were keen to get more frequent bus services, would be able to cycle more safely and generally were positive towards the idea of a charge to tackle climate change and reduce congestion.
• While those who opposed felt the exemptions didn’t go far enough, and perceived a charge to be unfair, in particular on those travelling to Addenbrooke’s and Papworth hospitals, and also believed there would be a negative impact on jobs.

With a large number of free text responses in the survey to supplement the ‘closed questions’, a lot of detail is now available about what people feel could be positive amendments to the scheme. These included changing the rate for cars, changing the hours, amending the discounts and exemptions, and altering the boundaries.

Cllr Elisa Meschini, Chair of the GCP’s Executive Board, said:

“I would like to thank everyone for their responses to the Making Connections consultation. I appreciate the time everyone has put into their thoughtful and detailed answers, which will guide our work going forward. A huge amount of work has gone in over the last few months to produce the report which we have published today and it tells us a lot of things.

“People have told us they want more buses and better cycle infrastructure – they want alternatives to the car so they don’t feel isolated at home or prevented from getting to work or to school by services they can’t rely on. It is also clear there is considerable concern over the introduction of a road user charge.

“So what do we do now? Over the next few weeks, the GCP Assembly and Executive Board will digest the report and the data behind it in detail. We will work with our partners on the Combined Authority on how to deliver a fully franchised, improved transport network while listening to the people who do not yet believe we have developed the fairest way of funding it.

"We cannot be blind to the need for change – the congestion on our roads is real, with all its negative impacts around health, wellbeing and climate; economic and population growth in our area continues apace, and we must remain focused on ensuring the corresponding prosperity is shared by everyone.”

Professor Andy Neely OBE, Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise and Business Relations and GCP executive board member, said:

“The report published today gives the top level response to the consultation and is being made available just a couple of weeks after data processing has been completed.

"Given the richness of the data collected there will be more work to come drilling into the detail and nuance, especially of the concerns and suggestions for improvements, to support any future work on next steps.”

Cllr Brian Milnes, Deputy Leader at South Cambridgeshire District Councillor and GCP Executive Board member, said: “

We have heard people’s worries about the proposed changes, their concerns about a charge to drive into or across the city and its impact on their budgets. All of which is wholly understandable and we recognise how people feel.

"The consultation has also clearly told us a number of things that people really want in terms of better services and infrastructure. Respondents have told us where they want us to reconsider the proposals. So those proposals will need to change, and we will now take time to consider how, while delivering on the benefits people so clearly want to see.”

To read the report outlining the findings to the consultation in full visit the Making Connections 2022 section of our website.