A community drop-in event related to the village’s new Busway crossing has been pushed back to later in the spring. Cambridgeshire County Council was due to hold the public engagement event this month – but has now confirmed it will be held in May instead, likely after the local elections.
Last year, the Council controversially closed informal crossing points along the Guided Busway as part of ongoing measures which involve installing safety fencing.
After extensive community campaigning, the Council’s Highways and Transport Committee allocated £2 million towards new and improved crossings along the route, including reinstating one at Histon. Two separate surveys with the public have revealed the Community Orchard would be the most-used and preferred location.
Campaigner Helena Perry says she was “not surprised” to hear the March drop-in session was being postponed and remains concerned no date for May has been confirmed yet.
She said: “I’ve reached a point where I don’t expect the County Council to work within its own predicted timelines any more – but at least they are listening to us now.
“What I am also concerned about is that the lack of access is normalised over time, and people are getting used to not being able to cross to the wonderful green space we have.
“It is still in the public consciousness that the crossings were closed so suddenly last year – the way it was carried out was such a massive injustice for the community.”
Crossing design
Lee Harris, the County Council’s interim Executive Director for Place and Sustainability, responded to campaigners last week saying design work is underway for the crossing and separation fencing at Histon, between the Busway and the path alongside it.
In his letter, he said: “The proposed design for the crossing will align with the design standards set out for a guided busway, as detailed in the Britpave Guided Busway Design Handbook.
“Additionally, we are currently reviewing what improvements may be required to connect the new crossing to the public rights of way network. It is important that the new crossing design provides a safe and accessible facility for the public.”
The County Council added the designs for the new crossing and footpath improvements will be presented to the public at May’s drop-in session.
“Holding this event in May means we can provide an update on related active travel connections to Girton which are currently under development,” the Council’s latest busway newsletter says.
It is hoped construction work for the Histon crossing and fencing will begin later in the year.
READ MORE: Busway crossing closures – the community has its say
‘Proper consultation’
H&I County Councillor Ros Hathorn says while it is “frustrating” the drop-in event has been pushed back, the Council is committed to delivering the crossing.
She said: “The community needs to be clear and organised about what it wants at the May meeting – and the fight against palisade fencing in particular has to be meaningful if we’re going to get rid of it.”
Meanwhile, Helena said campaigners also want to ensure the drop-in is “a proper consultation and not just a box-ticking exercise”.
She said: “We want the County Council to be properly prepared, armed with valuable information and ready to listen to our input.”
Fencing update
The County Council’s fencing works along the entire route of the Busway continue.
In an update, works on the Pagram Way, Orchard Park to Cambridge Road, Impington section are due to be completed by 17 April. This also includes some additional work around the Orchard Park junction. It means this section of the Busway between H&I and the Orchard Park turning will reopen to buses, cyclists and pedestrians.
There will also be works to replace the temporary boundary fencing near to the levelling ponds in Impington with permanent 1.8m high green mesh fencing between the fields and Busway.
The Council says the mesh fencing will have gaps to allow small mammals to pass and it will not need to remove any trees or vegetation for the installation. This work is anticipated to take a fortnight and will be completed under the current closure.
For the latest information on the Busway works, visit the Cambridgeshire County Council website here.
