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Ideas put forward to transform Mill Road in Cambridge provoke debate




Campaigners’ proposals to update and upgrade Mill Road in Cambridge have provoked lively debate.

Mill Road 4 People (MR4P) put forward a series of ideas to make it “a place to go to, not a street to drive through”, including widening the pavements by reducing the road space in some areas, adding more seating and planting and larger-scale plans for four public areas, as reported by the Cambridge Independent.

How the Broadway area of Mill Road could be redesigned. Picture: LDA Design
How the Broadway area of Mill Road could be redesigned. Picture: LDA Design

Cambridgeshire Action Group, a group that opposed the bus gate installed on Mill Road, said this week that it “supports public realm improvements to Mill Road”, but has “serious concerns” about the prospect of narrowing the carriageway in some places to only 4.5 metres,

“The Department of Transport’s guidance clearly states that a 4.5 metre carriageway width is insufficient for two vehicles to pass each other travelling in opposite directions. This is essentially a proposal to implement modal filters by stealth,” said the group.

MR4P, which put forward the ideas in a call for investment in Mill Road, said the narrower carriageway should be considered where pavements are particularly narrow, and would mean drivers giving way to one another.

Susie Williams, from Cambridgeshire Action Group, said: “How is this going to work, with buses and lorries travelling in two directions? What happens when a bus stops to let on passengers - everyone just waits behind? They just want to make life as difficult as possible for anyone who drives, or for any trader who relies on deliveries.”

How the Bath House could look. Picture: LDA Design
How the Bath House could look. Picture: LDA Design

She argued: “They take an essential functioning road and decide to redefine it as basically a string of parklets. They put their wish for a ‘more pleasant’ environment above all else — even though in Cambridge we have plenty of nearby green space.”

Susie suggested the closure of the bridge to most private motor vehicles had already caused “massive inconvenience and considerable economic loss” in Mill Road.

Fellow member Sandie Blickem added: "All the bridge closure does is send traffic on long diversionary routes, creating more congestion elsewhere. Road closures of any kind are not the solution for congestion, they're the cause.

“Better public transport is a must. Better routes, better connections. It's the only solution. Money spent on improving buses to lure people out of their cars is the best way forward. A deal needs to be done, or, have a council run service. The latter works successfully in New Zealand in the similar sized town of Hamilton. Staggered work hours might also help.”

Others wrote to the Cambridge Independent to welcome the “positive” ideas.

Among them was Debbie Allen, who called it an “exciting opportunity to create an environment fit for our expanding residential area, as well as for the many new businesses choosing to move into our street and thrive”.

She added: “Mill Road deserves to be so much more than a sad, neglected traffic corridor. I cannot wait for such ideas to become reality.”

The bridge closure, approved by the county council after consultations showed a majority of respondents in favour, remains subject to another court challenge, which will be heard on 10 June.



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