Ahead of early works starting on the Shepreth spur of the Melbourn Greenway, we’ve put together some FAQs to help residents understand why we’re delivering these improvements, and what the project involves.
Melbourn Greenway is one of twelve Greater Cambridge greenways being constructed within Greater Cambridge to provide better and safer walking and cycling routes into Cambridge.
The greenway starts at Royston and connects to the villages of Melbourn, Meldreth, Shepreth, Foxton and Harston before routing on to Cambridge via Trumpington Meadows and the guided busway.
The length of the greenway is approximately 12 miles (20 kilometres) and consists of a range of improvements to streets, paths and pavements to create an end-to-end walking and cycling route.
The Shepreth spur will create a link from the Melbourn Greenway on the A10 (Royston Road) to Shepreth railway station.
It will address several transport issues in the village, including the dominance of traffic and careless on-street parking by introducing traffic-calming and parking restrictions to make roads safer.
The Shepreth spur starts approximately 130 metres north the A10/Fowlmere Road priority t-junction.
Improvements to the junction of Fowlmere Road will be delivered in 2025 with other improvements to the A10. These include a crossing for people walking or cycling near to the Shepreth Road into Foxton.
The full Melbourn Greenway will be constructed in 2025.
But some sections of the greenway are being built sooner. The Shepreth spur has been identified as one section that could be delivered this year.
The works are planned to take seven weeks.
To improve safety, four traffic calming measures will be implemented between the A10 (Royston Road), along Fowlmere Road and Station Road up until the Shepreth railway station crossing.
- Speed limit reduction and speed humps
We will introduce a 30mph speed limit between Barron’s Green t-junction and the A10 will (reduced from 60mph) which will enhance safety and reduce traffic noise on the route into the village. Discussions will take place with residents about introducing a 20mph zone from the junction of Barron’s Green to Station Road. A 20mph zone would enhance safety in the village, making the road easier to cross, safer to walk alongside, or drive or cycle along. Smoother, sinusoidal speed humps will be constructed along Fowlmere Road to ensure everyone follows the safer speed limit. A final speed hump will also be constructed approximately 85m north of Barron’s Green t-junction along Fowlmere Road. Street lighting will be introduced to improve visibility. - Double yellow lines
Double yellow lines will be introduced to prevent problem parking where it affects visibility at points on Station Road, Angle Lane, Fowlmere Road and on side road junctions. - Junction tightening and raised tables
Three side road junctions (Barron’s Green, Angle Lane and Meldreth Road) will be reduced in width. The widespread practice slows vehicles making turnings and enhances safety. The road surface at these junctions will be slightly raised to support speed reduction; make the crossings more accessible; and support the new Highway Code, which requires drivers to yield to pedestrians crossing side roads. - Footway
A new footway will continue across the entrance to Docwra’s Close cul-de-sac to give priority to people crossing. Further discussions will take place with residents to ensure that a solution can be found to prevent rail users from parking on the residential estate. Footways will be widened at the side road junctions of Barron’s Green and Angle Lane.
Three consultations have taken place with residents and people will be able to make representations to the county council when we advertise the traffic regulation order.
Public responses to each consultation have helped to shape the proposals for Shepreth. The designs have also been developed in line with the government’s guidance for walking and cycling schemes and they have undergone two independent road safety audits, which assess the safety of the proposed scheme.
Previous consultation and engagement is listed below:
- 2017-18
During the development of the Melbourn Greenway route, we conducted a consultation to gauge public opinion. - 2019
During the development of the proposals for the Melbourn Greenway, a consultation on key elements of the Shepreth Spur. This consultation received support from residents for the scheme. - 2022
During the early design stage of the scheme, we shared proposals for the scheme, which showed traffic calming measures through the village.
People will be able to give their views to the county council when we advertise the traffic regulation order. These are legal documents that regulate how parking and movement is managed on the public highway.
We continue to listen to the views of residents.
We will be holding an engagement event with Shepreth Parish Council where plans will be available for residents to view and officers on hand to provide answers to any quesitons you may have.
Further information on when the engagement event will be held will be made available in advance and promoted by the parish council.
After this there will be a final opportunity for people to provide formal feedback to the county council when they advertise the traffic regulation order for the scheme.
Traffic regulation orders are legal documents that regulate how parking and movement is managed on the public highways, including changes to yellow lines, speed limits and traffic calming. Before they are advertised to the public we consult in detail with the emergency services. Once advertised, anyone can make a representation to the county council about the proposals. They will then be considered and responded to when a decision is reached.
The Shepreth spur will help to address several transport issues in the village, such as speeding and careless on-street parking.
Traffic regulation orders are legal documents that regulate how parking and movement is managed on the public highways, including changes to yellow lines, speed limits and traffic calming.
Before they are advertised to the public we consult in detail with the emergency services. Once advertised, anyone can make a representation to the county council about the proposals. They will then be considered and responded to when a decision is reached.
A sinusoidal speed hump is a round topped hump that extends the width of the carriageway.
Sinusoidal speed humps are designed to be quieter than flat topped speed humps and provide more comfort for people cycling.
A continuous footway or ‘Copenhagen’ crossing is when the footway continues over a quiet side-road junction, rather than the pavement giving way to the carriageway.
It allows for pedestrians to have right over way over a crossing (as set out in the Highway Code) and slows a car’s speed when turning into the junction. Copenhagen crossings can be block paved or tarmacked. The proposal for Shepreth would use tarmac.
As part of the engagement with residents, we want to discuss a 20mph zone.
A 20mph zone with traffic calming provides the safest possible streets, while still allowing people to drive through and around the village at safer speeds. This will help more people to feel more comfortable walking or cycling in the village and to access the existing walking and cycling path on the A10 for longer journeys. It will significantly reduce the chances of collisions in Shepreth.