Making Connections 2022 closes

Over ten weeks, the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has received more than 23,000 responses to an online survey about the proposals.

In addition, nearly 900 emails have been received with various questions and over 100 stakeholder responses have been submitted following over 100 public meetings, virtual and outreach events as well as 50 focus group events.

Work will now begin to analyse the huge amount of data and information which has been collected, including the many written answers which were an important feature of the survey.

The results of the consultation will be included in a final report on the proposals and next steps, scheduled for the GCP Board in June 2023. At that time, the GCP Board will make a recommendation to Cambridgeshire County Council on whether to proceed with the scheme.

Between now and then, some of the conversations that have begun with stakeholders around potential exemptions, discounts and reimbursements for the proposed Road User Charge will continue. This will move us closer to having solutions for these rather than leaving key questions unanswered, should the proposals be taken forward.

Cllr Elisa Meschini, Chair of the GCP’s Executive Board, said: “There has never been a more important time for us to find ways to create and provide a modern transport network that is fit for our growing and thriving region, so I would like to thank the thousands of people that contributed to the debate over the last ten weeks. It has been incredibly important to us to hear from as many residents, businesses, voluntary groups and organisations as possible so to have had 23,000 surveys completed reflects the wide nature of the engagement.”

The GCP put forward a package to transform the region’s bus network with cheap £1 and £2 bus journeys with operating longer hours to more locations, including more villages, alongside significant investment to improve walking and cycling routes.

The upgrades would be paid upfront by the GCP and phased in over four years ahead of the proposed introduction of a Sustainable Travel Zone with a road user charge which would cut congestion, free up space for people and buses, and fund the network in the future.

An extensive package of exemptions, discounts and reimbursements for the STZ is proposed to help people on lower incomes, blue badge holders, NHS patients and other groups.

For more information about the GCP’s programme, visit: www.greatercambridge.org.uk/mc