Plans to re-route Fulbourn Greenway along Mill Road in Cambridge

Plans have been unveiled to reroute the Fulbourn Greenway cycle path along Mill Road in meeting papers released for the Greater Cambridge Partnership yesterday (Tuesday).

The route for phase three of the new cycleway will be presented at the GCP’s joint assembly meeting on 20 February and then will go to the GCP’s executive board.

Officers at the GCP say in a report that the route is more direct for cyclists who want to reach the railway station and city centre and that following the installation of the Mill Road bus gate, which will become active in March, “motor vehicle levels are anticipated to reduce, which would enable active travel users to more safely use this travel corridor.”

The plans have been welcomed by cycling charity Camcycle.

Anna Williams, head of campaigns and engagement at the charity, said: “Camcycle is pleased to see GCP funding for the urban sections of the Comberton and Fulbourn Greenways being directed to make already-busy links better for people walking, wheeling and cycling. We’re grateful to the community groups in north Newnham and Mill Road who have been campaigning for these improvements and we encourage the GCP to continue to engage positively with local people to ensure the best possible outcomes for these communities.”

But campaigners Friends of Mill Road Bridge 2, who are taking Cambridgeshire County Council to judicial review over the decision to close Mill Road bridge to most motor traffic, believe the greenway plans should not be decided until after the court process has been completed.

Will Bannell, of Friends of Mill Road Bridge 2, said: “It’s a bit surprising to see them pushing ahead, even though there’s still the court case hearing which could overturn everything. I think it just shows they were planning this all along.”

Permission will be sought from the GCP’s board to work with partners and stakeholders to develop a new alignment for the greenway using part of Mill Road.

Phase three of the 5.5km route linking Fulbourn to central Cambridge is currently proposed to run from the A1134 (Brooks Road) junction to Greville Road, where it will tie in with the Chisholm Trail phase two.

The GCP said in a statement: “This route uses the existing active travel network but is not direct, has a number of pinchpoints between residential properties, and would require the purchase of private land.

“This section was originally designed before the implementation of the Mill Road railway bridge bus gate – so had previously been discounted due to high levels of through traffic, which combined with high number of pedestrians and cyclists, contributes to significant congestion.

“Following the recent changes made by Cambridgeshire County Council, an alignment using Mill Road is now viable.”

The joint assembly will also hear plans to upgrade Burrell’s Walk, a busy thoroughfare for pedestrians and cyclists linking the centre of Cambridge to the University Library and Cambridge West. The Burrell’s Walk upgrade is being proposed as latest estimates show that 2,500 cyclists use the mainly off-road route every day, but the current bridge over Bin Brook is very narrow, measuring 1.7m wide inside the handrails. This means there is limited space for pedestrians and cyclists to pass each other, posing safety issues for both user groups.

Community groups and councillors have highlighted this area as a place which could be improved as part of the Comberton Greenway, which is one of 12 routes intended to make active travel in Greater Cambridge safer and easier.

The proposal would involve constructing a new, widened bridge over Bin Brook to facilitate easier, safer passage along Burrell’s Walk for pedestrians and cyclists.

Thomas Fitzpatrick, head of programme at the GCP, said: “Burrell’s Walk is already used by thousands of pedestrians and cyclists every day and there are regularly bottlenecks on the bridge that put pedestrians and cyclists at risk. The 1.7m width of the bridge is well below the recommended width for a bridge shared by walkers and cyclists – and the number of users is set to increase when Comberton Greenway opens.

“That’s why we’re proposing a new, wider bridge over Bin Brook as part of our greenways programme, which supports local aspirations for a safer crossing that reduces congestion on the bridge. By adding the bridge to the 150km network of greenways, we’re able to deliver long-overdue improvements to this well-used and much-loved active travel route.”