Petition launched opposing GCP’s proposed £5 daily charge to use Cambridge roads

A petition has been launched opposing the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s proposals for a £5 road user charge for the city.

Launched on change.org by Liam Geraghty, the petition describes the controversial plans as a “tax predominantly affecting the working poor and the residents of Cambridge”.

The GCP’s plan is to create a ‘Sustainable Travel Zone’, within which drivers of private vehicles would be charged between 7am and 7pm on weekdays.

Cars, motorbikes and mopeds would be charged £5 a day for driving in the zone, even if it begins within it.

The money raised would help fund a dramatically improved bus network, with more services running for longer hours, and cheaper flat fares.

The GCP says it would cost £1 to travel within the city, while in the wider ‘travel to work’ area a ticket would cost £2.

But many residents and commuters have argued that it is not feasible for everyone to use buses to travel everywhere, leaving them with a major bill in a city with high living costs.

Launching his petition, Mr Geraghty argues: “I strongly believe this will greatly impact businesses and individuals at a time when they can ill afford it. This will do nothing to help congestion as most drivers, especially those whose journeys start from outside the city, have very little option but to drive for work or to carry out their business.

“The city needs to at least look long-term into providing clean efficient alternatives to combustion vehicles, including the diesel buses which it seems to favour.”

The GCP’s plans follow its ‘Making Connections’ consultation last year, in which there was broad support for improved public transport and the aim of cutting pollution and congestion.

GCP transport director Peter Blake said: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a world-class transport network for Greater Cambridge and the wider area to drive a real step change in the way we travel.

“We’ve listened to the views of the public to create a future bus network with cheaper fares, more services to more locations – including rural areas – and faster, more frequent services with longer operating hours to make public transport a reliable and competitive choice for everyone.”

But the proposals have prompted widespread debate already.

Signing the change.org petition, Cambridge resident Ellen Cogan wrote: “As a resident I feel strongly opposed to being effectively trapped within the congestion zone, unable to even drive out of the city without paying the charge.

Another who signed it, Mo Pantall, argued: “This is just another form of tax. I pay my Council taxes in full. As pensioners we can't walk or cycle everywhere. Or get buses to where we need to go. This is outrageous and entirely inappropriate!!

The plans are due for discussion by the GCP’s joint assembly on September 8.

The executive board will discuss them later in the month and could approve plans for a public consultation this autumn, before the business case is considered in spring 2023.

Public transport improvements would be delivered first under the plans, with some changes potentially from as early as summer 2023, but the new road charge - if approved - would not be in place until 2026 or 2027.

The petition, signed by more than 700 as of 7pm on Wednesday, can be found here.

Look out for five pages of analysis and reaction on the plans inside this week’s Cambridge Independent, out now.