Public transport must come first in station plans

9.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 6th Jun 2007

Lib Dems on Cambridge City Council have demanded that the County Council publish details of their plans for a transport interchange at Cambridge station.

The demand comes ahead of consultation on the station area later this month by property firm Ashwells which hopes to develop the site.

Councillor Sian Reid, Executive City Councillor for Climate Change and Growth, commented:

"Creating a proper public transport interchange at Cambridge station is one of the biggest opportunities we have to improve transport in the city. Missing this chance will have serious consequences for Cambridge. We have to put public transport first in any plans for developing the area.

"The County Council must publish their Station Area Interchange Study and ensure that provision is made for long distance coaches at the station and make sure that any bus travelling up Hills Road uses the station, rather than the already crowded city centre, for layover and driver changing. If we could do this the pressure of buses waiting in the city centre could be reduced by a quarter, reducing congestion and making the centre safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Cllr Sian Reid

"With the public consultation coming up soon, I hope that Ashwells listens carefully to the views of Cambridge residents to make sure that we get a development that is a real asset to the area."