South Cambridgeshire district council plans to bulldoze a precious orchard of 100 year old fruit trees to build a £230 million ‘green’ electric busway… are at government approval stage.
They will chop down 520 apple, pear & plum trees, including six Bramleys dating back to the 1920s.
The route of the proposed Cambourne to Cambridge (CtoC) bus road, would cut across the countryside and destroy Coton Orchard.
Unfortunately, despite strong advocacy from experts, leading organisations, and local people, the application for a Transport and Works Act Order for the CtoC scheme has now been submitted. This means the local community now faces a costly public inquiry that will decide whether permission is granted.
The ISSUE
The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) want to build a new road from Cambourne to Cambridge (C2C). The road is only for buses (known as a busway). The proposed route will cut through fields, woodland and an ancient orchard. It will irreversibly damage landscape, views and habitats. It will bring unjustified urbanisation to the village of Coton – and it will cost a minimum of £200 million.
This C2C off-road busway would be a tragedy –
For wildlife and local ecology …
causes significant destruction of scrub, meadow and woodland habitats
desecrates an ancient orchard – where no amount of new planting can compensate for the loss
bisects priority Green Corridors – which are key to ecological recovery
carves up Green Belt land with restrictive covenants in favour of the National Trust
For local heritage and local people …
ruins some of loveliest, most unspoiled views anywhere around Cambridge
encroaches on paths used by walkers
imposes unjustified urbanisation on the rural, historic village of Coton
For taxpayers and commuters …
does not make journey times to Cambridge significantly faster – a difference of only 1.5–3.5 minutes between on-road and off-road routes
does not provide easy journeys to actual destinations apart from the West Cambridge Campus
does not take into account current road usage data or evolving working–commuting patterns
has a minimum price tag of £200 million and a benefit–cost ratio of only 0.43 – so is poor value for taxpayers’ money.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
There is a viable alternative route, along existing transport corridors which:
• is less damaging to the environment
• is far less expensive
• also offers better journeys to actual destinations.
The new bus road has been consistently rejected by the general public at every stage of consultation. And yet the GCP continues to pursue this option, comparing it only to the option of doing almost nothing.
The local community supports improved transport networks around the fast-developing city of Cambridge, but do not accept that this off-road busway is the best or only solution.
They call on the Greater Cambridge Partnership/Cambridgeshire County Council to listen to public opinion, save the green corridor, spare the orchard and find a better solution.
Tree Weaver 