Council demands transport plan to reduce greenhouse gases

12.00.00pm GMT Sun 12th Mar 2006

Cambridge City Councillors have today called for a reduction in emissions produced in Cambridgeshire and a greater sense of urgency in planning transport in Cambridge.

The call is a response to Cambridgeshire County Council's Local Transport Plan and the outline Long Term Transport Strategy.

Cllr Jenny Bailey, Executive Councillor for Planning and Transport, commented:

"One of the City Council's overriding aims is to reduce CO2 emissions from all sources and so I'm worried that the Local Transport Plan suggests a projected increase in CO2 emissions. We need to be minimising the need to travel, minimising the need to use private cars and maximising the use of less polluting or shared cars and the use of public transport, cycling and walking. We have planned our urban extensions to work towards these goals. It is vital that the CO2 impact of all transport initiatives must be formally measured at the planning and decision-making stage. The time to plan these schemes is now.

"The Long Term Transport Strategy already incorporates the need to reduce emissions and the County Council must make sure that this is reflected in the Local Transport Plan as well."

The Liberal Democrat City Council has also welcomed the proposals within the Local Transport Plan for public transport improvements in Cambridge including 15 minute frequency bus services along key routes into the city, supported where needed by bus priority measures and a new rail station at Chesterton.

Cllr Bailey added:

"We're very pleased to see the emphasis on improving public transport in and around Cambridge, especially the suggestion of introducing a Bus Punctuality Improvement Partnership to address the causes of the delays. It is essential that we all work towards making public transport a regular and reliable alternative to the car."