Clare Hall criticises Greater Cambridge Partnership’s ‘flawed’ choice of off-road busway route
A University of Cambridge college that says it will be impacted by plans to build a £200million off-road busway says work to select the route was “flawed”.
Clare Hall is among 312 interested parties to submit an objection to the 8.5-mile (13.6km) £200million Cambourne to Cambridge busway devised by the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP).
It is particularly concerned as to “the soundness of the applicant’s approach” to route selection and says the proposals would result in a series of significant adverse environmental impacts, which “have not been properly assessed”.
An on-road, the college argues, would be far less damaging.
Law firm Denton, on behalf of the college, suggests the decision-making of the GCP was “flawed throughout the option appraisal process”.
The busway has faced huge opposition from campaigners for the off-road route it is due to take through the West Fields at Coton, which will mean cutting down hundreds of mature trees at Coton Orchard.
The college says it is important to note that it is not objecting to the scheme in its entirety and supports the provision of sustainable transport developments in Cambridge.
However, it objects to the preferred route as it progresses along Rifle Range Road in Cambridge.
The GCP had explored an alternative route ending at the start of Adams Road in Cambridge, but this was ruled out in 2019 after then mayor James Palmer and others objected.
Residents and others argued that ending the scheme in Adams Road would have a detrimental impact on cyclists and others who use it.
Last week, the Department for Transport confirmed that the inquiry into the plans is provisionally due to be held from the week commencing 15 September until 21 November.
It follows the submissions of a Transport and Works Act Order to construct the busway submitted by highways authority, Cambridgeshire County Council, on behalf of the GCP.
The comments of interested parties, supporters and those who would like to make a representation to the inquiry have been published online. Alongside the 312 objections, there have been 12 representations and 13 letters of support.
Lawyers explain the route alignment of the proposed scheme passes “very close” along the southern boundary of Clare Hall.
They argue the scheme’s “relatively intense” proposed use of Rifle Range Road “removes any ability for Clare Hall to be able to adequately access its land and buildings” via the street.
“It is not clear from these drawings, or indeed the applicant’s responses to further requests for information, how Clare Hall will be able to make use of its existing access rights along Rifle Range Road in order to access its buildings,” they write in the college’s statement of case to the inquiry.
They continue: “Despite requests by Clare Hall for a response explaining how it will be expected to access the southern boundary of its properties and use Rifle Range Road in line with its existing rights, and indeed how that will work in practical terms, these matters have not been made clear by the applicant, either in correspondence, or the draft drawings provided.
“It is apparent that the applicant has not given this issue any appropriate consideration either in selecting the current route, assessing its likely impacts, or generally in promoting the proposed scheme.
“It is clear, however, that the engagement with Clare Hall to date has done very little to reassure the college that its rights will be protected.”
The college also believes that, based on detailed flood modelling and mitigation reporting it has commissioned, there is significant increased flood risk associated with the scheme and that these risks have been “inadequately assessed”.
The comments are echoed by the Environment Agency, which has objected to the scheme on flood risk grounds.
“The primary concern regarding flood risk for the proposed development is the crossing of the Bin Brook. The proposed scheme has the potential to elevate flood risk both upstream and downstream,” Alison Craggs, sustainable places planning adviser, writes.
She continues: “When water levels are high, otters are known to cross roads rather than use the water course below a bridge, leading to an increased risk of mortality through traffic collision.”
Application documents show the busway is due to run from Sterling Way in Cambourne to Grange Road in Cambridge and will be segregated from roads except for stretches running along St Neots Road in Hardwick and on Charles Babbage Road, within the University of Cambridge’s West Cambridge site.
There will be bus stops along the route and an emergency and maintenance access track running alongside it for most of the length, which would be accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. Most of this track will also act as a bridleway or permissive bridleway.
A new travel hub building and Park & Ride site would be constructed at Scotland Farm in Dry Drayton, providing access for the buses over the existing A428 bridge.
Clare Hall’s lawyers also hit out at the applicant for failing to give “proper consideration” to the college’s heritage listing and architectural and historical importance.
“The scheme, as proposed, would directly impact Clare Hall’s designation and impact its ability to maintain and conserve its buildings,” they argue, adding: “The applicant has also failed to demonstrate how significant adverse effects of noise and vibrations, resulting from traffic noise, will be mitigated.”
The lawyers say work commissioned by Clare Hall has confirmed that the original option of an “on-road route via Adams Road presents a less environmentally damaging (by utilising existing highway), cheaper, and less operationally difficult route for the scheme to follow in its final phase”.
Among those who will also argue against the route proposed will be the conservation charity Cambridge Past, Present and Future and Coton Parish Council. It will argue that an on-road inbound bus lane down Madingley Hill would deliver almost identical savings in journey times than the GCP’s off-road route through Green Belt land and Coton Orchard at a fraction of the price – and would avoid ploughing through numerous locally-designated wildlife sites.
Clare Hall’s lawyers say: “Clare Hall is objecting to the position/alignment of a small section of the preferred route as it progresses along Rifle Range Road, as opposed to a less costly and environmentally impactful alternative route along Adams Road.”
A GCP spokesperson said: “During the inquiry our scheme to connect existing and new communities to the west of Cambridge with the city via the new Bourn Airfield development, Hardwick, Coton and the West Cambridge site will be presented, along with the viewpoints of others who have outlined their position via statements of case.”
A Freedom of Information Act request revealed Clare Hall had spent at least £21,586.80 on legal advice around the proposed busway.
As of March 2023, the postgraduate-only college had consulted law firm Dentons and transport consultancy Pulsar.
