This is an update on where we are with resident parking plans for the Chesterton Triangle area, and the idea of a possible merger with the Ascham area.

Further to https://www.cambridgelibdems.org.uk/whitworth_house_closure_update_1 , the County Council has relased a "breifing note" for Councillors about housing related support in general, part of which addresses the Whitworth House Closure.  I'm publishing it in full here, but am still chasing the actual detail of the report mentioned that led to the removal of the funding for Whitworth - when it's stated that Whitworth didn't provide best value:

What is the detail that led to this calculation?
What consultation was done with Whitworth?

Further, the fact is that we may be in a situation where Orwell moves out of Cambridgeshire, so I've written to them to ask their intentions. 

A full presentation for Councillors has been arranged soon, so please do contact me if you've any further specific questions you'd like addressed. 

Major works are planned to replace the damaged bridge expansion joints to Elizabeth Bridge on Elizabeth Way, Cambridge over the River Cam.

Both Cllr Jamie Dalzell and I (Cllr Ian Manning ) are working to respond to this:  https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/whitworth-house-saved-my-life-now-they-want-to-close-it-9061552/

This is a a decision driven by County Council cuts, but primarily by the results of a report into provision of this and similar types.

This report was produced based partly on the St Bail's pathway concept - https://stbasils.org.uk/how-we-help/ .  

I've asked for a copy of the report, and for what consultation was done with Whitworth and/or Orwell over this.

An update you on progress on parking schemes in West Chesterton;  this covers: 

• the Hurst Park Area (Hurst Park Avenue, Highfield, Orchard, Leys Road & Avenue, Arbury Road, Mulberry Close & Highworth Avenue) - in the County Chesterton division so under County Councillor Ian Manning's remit
• the "Chesterton Triangle" (Springfield Road to Hawthorn Way and those streets inbetween (ie Herbert, George, Chesterton Hall Crescent) - in the County Chesterton division so under County Councillor Ian Manning's remit
• The Ascham area - outside the County Chesterton division
• The Victoria road area  - outside the County Chesterton division

The latter two were subject to decisions to go ahead with schemes we do not believe are adequate at the CJAC meeting of 2018-11-27.

I'm posting this as a few queries have come in recently, and although we did feature this in newsletter update, thought it worth adding another post here.

As you'll be aware there is a City Deal project to bring in parking controls across Cambridge City.  We alerted people to this last year https://www.cambridgelibdems.org.uk/east_chesterton_parking_further_notes .

After consultation online and on the doorstep, there was clearly no desire overall to bring in controls, so we've decided to not consider them further for now.  The only reason for saying "for now" is that other nearby areas are progressing, so we may want to reassess if there is a knock on effect of displacement parking.

Latest update: Arbury Road likely to be closed until Friday 2019-01-18 - three way temporary lights will go in at the Milton Road junction from today/tomorrow and crews are working overnight to fix the leak.

I've asked for some analysis to be done on the effect of traffic elsewhere in the City on the closure.

The County Council publishes a highlights newsletter each month, this is the latest - please bear in mind this is the County's own view, not mine or a Liberal Democrat view on the Conservative-led Council!

https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/council/briefings/member-newsletter-january-2019/

Apologies for the delay in getting this survey live, due to my illness.  The survey can now be found here:

http://www.cambridgelibdems.org.uk/hurst_parking_survey_2019

Liberal Democrat Councillors have judged the latest City Deal’s Milton Road proposals as “Close, but oh so far”.

“It’s right we recognise the huge strides forward the project has taken under the project manager appointed last year” said Cllr Ian Manning “but there are still fundamental flaws in the proposals that must be fixed before the project can progress.”.

The Lib Dems have identified the following headline issues:

1. Junction design that favours road widths over safety and convenience of pedestrians and cyclists.
2. Confusing forward stop lines that will stop the Copenhagen style crossings working properly.
3. Imaginative design concepts around the library area, which came out of resident workshops, seem to have been totally forgotten.
4. There’s still no guarantee the beautiful tree line will be replaced with the same quality as is there now.
5. With the aim of getting buses to Mitcham’s Corner more quickly, we still don’t have a convincing explanation for how this will integrate with potential changes to the gyratory system

Newly elected Cllr Jamie Dalzell said: “I’m worried that, with Mayor Palmer’s pressure for delivery over quality, we’re getting less than the full picture here.  There are many unanswered questions, and a disappointingly large amount of shared use pedestrian/cycle path, which are dangerous for both groups.”

Read on for more detailed comments from the team: