The need to protect the setting of listed buildings and the conservation area has led an independent planning inspector to uphold Cambridge City Council’s refusal for a new building at Bradmore Street/Bradmore Lane adjacent to the ARU campus.

The inspector found that the proposed building did not, as it should, provide a positive elevation towards neighbouring buildings, but had an “uninspiring” rear elevation. It would have a negative impact on the appearance of the Conservation Area and the setting of the Listed buildings.

The inspector also found that the building failed to meet planning policy because it did not ”contribute positively to making places better for people”. She had “ no doubt that this building would make the area worse for those living at both Petersfield Terrace and Bradmore Court”.

This is a good outcome for residents who were determined not to accept less than the best for their area. And I think it’s a good outcome for all of us who want to see our historic environment given appropriate protection.

Cambridgeshire County Council’s Transport Innovation Fund project has been rejected by the government as part of public spending cuts. The scheme would have provided the truly huge sum of £500million to improve transport systems in Cambridgeshire, that is 100 times the yearly transport schemes grant received from government.

It’s a major blow that the government has backed out at this late stage, but quite frankly the real villains of this piece are the County Council Conservatives. There is little doubt that had they shown some guts and signed up to the scheme two years ago, we would have got the money. That was the right moment, when all the research was complete and the public consultation showed that many people understood the need for bold action to tackle congestion. Instead they dithered for 18 months, inventing the Transport Commission as an excuse for delay, and the critical moment was lost. This is the Conservatives’ second dismal failure, along with the Guided Bus debacle, to deliver major transport projects.

The challenge now is to come up with a ‘plan B’. Obviously there is no possibility of funding on the TIF scale from any other source, so some creative thinking will be required. It seems to me that the idea of a congestion charge is far from dead and needs to be looked at with fresh eyes. I am a member of the County/City/South Cambs Joint Transport Forum which will play a part in finding a new strategy, and I will report on its work in due course.

The Lib Dem Cambridge City Council’s policy for 40% of new housing development to be ‘affordable’ (rented ot sold at subsidy) is intact and stronger today after government inspectors refused a developer’s planning appeal. Read the rest of this entry.

The Lib Dem City Council’s determination to prevent Tesco from selling alcohol from the Mill Road store has been vindicated in an appeal decision by city magistrates: Tesco’s appeal has been turned down and the Council has been awarded costs. Read the rest of this entry.

In the next few weeks a new on-carriageway cycle lane is to be constructed on the southbound side of Hills Road all the way from the Gonville Place junction to Brooklands Avenue.

The lane will be 1.5 - 1.7 metres wide and will be constructed to a high standard by planing out the existing surface and inlaying with red tarmac, similar to the cycle lane in Devonshire Road approaching Tenison Road. It will be marked as an advisory cycle lane.

This scheme is part of the Cycling Town programme run by the City and County councils and will massively improve the running surface for cyclists heading from the City Centre to the Station, and onwards to Brooklands Avenue.

Also in the next few months, the trial cycle lanes on Hills Road bridge will be made permanent, so there’s quite a bit to celebrate.

The planning committee has refused applications for two hotels, the proposed Travelodge at Newmarket Road/Harvest Way and a site on Station Road, in both cases on grounds of traffic impact and poor design. In both cases, planning officers had recommended that the applications were approved.

I spoke at committee in relation to the Travelodge proposal, to support local residents who have worked tirelessly to construct a strong case against the application. It was a relief to see the planning committee vote unanimously to refuse the application, giving the council the best possible chance of success if the applicants decide to lodge an appeal. 

The Lib Dem City Council is holding a public debate about the future for tall buildings in Cambridge and the edge-of-city growth areas. Do come and listen to the speakers and have your say.

The meeting will be on 3rd March at 6.30 for 7pm at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Wilberforce Road, CB3 0WA. Here is a poster with more details.

The trial cycle lanes on Hills Road bridge have been given permanent approval, but with some alterations. Read the rest of this entry.

Following public consultation last autumn, the Area Joint Committee has approved a 20mph speed limit for Mill Road. I think this is really good news, improving the atmosphere of the street as well as road safety. Read the rest of this entry.

I am late reporting this important news because I have been away for a week’s holiday. But before I went, it was good to attend the lively hustings at which Julian was selected from a very strong shortlist of 6. There’s no doubt that the Lib Dems have chosen a really strong candidate to replace David Howarth in the fight to retain the Cambridge parliamentary seat at the general election. David is stepping down from parliament to return to his academic career at Cambridge University.

I’ve known Julian for 10 years and have worked under his leadership at the County Council. He’s a Liberal through and through, and as a local person he knows the problems and opportunities facing Cambridge and will be a doughty fighter for our local interests. As a scientist he will make a welcome addition to the paltry number of scientists in parliament - we need experts across the scientific spectrum to help government make rational decisions on many complex subjects, not least the vital issue of climate change.

You can read about Julian on his website: www.julianhuppert.org.uk.

A lot of campaigning has gone on to persuade station managers National Express East Anglia to provide more space for cycle parking at the railway station, and to manage the existing spaces better so that they are not three-quarters full of dead and dumped bikes. Read the rest of this entry.

The County Council’s Bikeability cycle training scheme for adults is available to anyone who feels they need some help with how to be confident and safe as a cyclist in Cambridge.

Sessions cost £5 per hour, which seems very reasonable to me. You can arrange one by emailing bikeability@cambridgeshire.gov.uk, and there are webpages at http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/bikeability.

The City Council’s licensing committee has turned down an alcohol licence application from Tesco for their planned Express store on East Road. P Read the rest of this entry.

I’ve been pushing Cambridgeshire County Council since before Christmas to issue advice to members of the public considering clearing snow from pavements and paths. Many people worry that they risk being sued if someone has an accident on a surface which they have attempted to clear. The issue has been passed from pillar to post within the council which has appeared very reluctant to say anything at all on the subject, but finally some minimal advice has been issued. Read the rest of this entry.

The City Council has blue recycling bins available free of charge to householders who want one. Read the rest of this entry.

The excellent news has come through that the Department for Transport has AT LONG LAST agreed to trial “No entry except cyclists” signs in a few streets with cycle ‘contraflow’ arrangements. Cambridge is to have one trial site and it’s Mawson Road. Read the rest of this entry.

Cambridge Liberal Democrats have reacted with anger after Government ministers have chosen the city to push its national ID card scheme in through the back door. Read the rest of this entry.

The joint County/City Cycle Cambridge project is proposing a number of locations for additional cycle parking in the Petersfield area. A report will be taken to the Area Joint Traffic Management Committee in January asking for approval to advertise the necessary Traffic Regulation Orders. If you would like to comment on any of the locations, or have ideas for other possible locations, do let me know. Read the rest of this entry.

A local resident has contacted me to say that she was threatened with arrest by the police because she chose to walk on the carriageway along Mill Road during the recent freeze, as the pavements were too slippery. She is disabled by a knee injury. Read the rest of this entry.

Many city residents are contacting their local councillors to complain that pavements and cycle paths have not been gritted.  Read the rest of this entry.

It seems that Conservative tax policy is becoming ever harsher towards ordinary people. Read the rest of this entry.

The Lib Dem City Council’s action on climate change ranges from strategic planning policy (eg the recent success in securing the highest environmental construction standards for the University’s planned North-West Cambridge development) to more modest services such as the city’s Christmas lights. Read the rest of this entry.

120 “leaders and influencers” from across Cambridgeshire are working on a project which will, according to the Leader of Conservative-run Cambridgeshire County Council, “lead to the radical change we need”. But these big-wigs are meeting in private, with no published papers, and no possibility for the public to get involved. Read the rest of this entry.

The county council has come up with some modified ideas for the cycle lanes. Read the rest of this entry.

If you keep abreast of local news, you’ll know that Cambridgeshire County Council’s Guided Bus scheme is in trouble. Read the rest of this entry.

I have reported earlier my concern that vehicle speeding has not been given proper consideration by the police in Cambridge. I am pleased to say that things are beginning to change. Read the rest of this entry.

In case you aren’t aware, the police have for some time been running a system called E-Cops which will send you a weekly email with information about crimes committed in Petersfield, and advice about how to report and prevent crime, and how to contact our neighbourhood policing team. Read the rest of this entry.

The County Council has warmed to the idea of greater use of 20mph speed limits and is proposing a trial 20mph limit throughout the area within the inner ring road (except for Victoria Avenue). There is a chance to comment of the proposal Read the rest of this entry.

The City Council’s planning committee is about to consider a phasing plan proposed by developer Ashwell for the C1 scheme. You can read the report and see the plan at http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/public/councillors/agenda/2009/1118plan/05_1.pdf. 

Read the rest of this entry.

Plans to create a major new city quarter on the airport site, to meet the long term housing, employment and service needs of Cambridge, were approved through the local democratic process more than 6 years ago. Read the rest of this entry. Read the rest of this entry.

I have been along Mill Road with a County Council cycling officer to identify places where new cycle racks/hoops could be put. Read the rest of this entry. Read the rest of this entry.

As a cyclist, I find this busy access into the city centre intimidating and uncomfortable. Read the rest of this entry.

Councillors, the police and city and county council officers have met to discuss how we can achieve better speeding enforcement and road user education in the East Area of Cambridge. Read the rest of this entry.

Although I think the County Council has been doing good work in drawing up ideas for the Mill Road ‘accident reduction’ scheme, with a successful public consultation earlier this autumn, I am not convinced we have yet found the best possible solution for dealing with all sections of this busy and complex street. Read the rest of this entry.

Council tax payers will have to meet the six figure cost arising from the delayed re-opening of Cambridge’s Central Library.

The County Council’s library project opened last month 18 months later than expected, after a closure of three years. The council’s Conservative Cabinet has now admitted that there will be an overspend of £171,000 shortfall in the libraries budget this year - “mainly due to the late opening of Central Library”.

The council claims it is owed £450,000 by building contractor Verry which went into administration ealier this year, but it will clearly be difficult to recover this money.

County councillors from all the main parties have voted in favour of stage 1 of a scheme which would raise £500 million through the government’s Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) to invest in improvements to public transport, cycling and walking infrastructure and transport services in and around Cambridge. The scheme also provides for the introduction of a congestion charge, but that would only happen if, once the transport improvements are complete and all other possible efforts to change people’s travel patterns have been exhausted, congestion continues to worsen and reaches an agreed critical level. The earliest date when the improvements could be complete and the trigger point reached would be 2017. Under current plans, a congestion charge would operate between 7.30am and 9.30am on weekdays, to encourage commuters to leave their cars at home. Read the rest of this entry.

The Trumpington Meadows residential development, part of the Cambridge Southern Fringe Growth Area, has been granted outline planning permission. It will provide 1,200 homes, of which 40% will be affordable, and includes a new primary school with co-located community facilities. Read the rest of this entry.

The City and County councils have sent a proposal to government which could see £25 million raised to improve the Hills Road corridor between the city centre and Cherry Hinton Road. Read the rest of this entry.

Cambridge Central Library reopens on September 29th, after a closure of nearly three years. Entrance to the library is from the Grand Arcade. Opening hours will be Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 9am - 7pm; Wednesdays 9am - 8pm; Saturdays 9am - 6pm; Sundays 12noon - 4pm. Baby changing facilities are located on floors one and three.

Details of the new library services and facilities can be found at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/libraries.

Along with other Lib Dem councillors representing city residents affected by the extremely long delays in the completion of the refurbishment project, I am pushing the County Council to review what went wrong with the management of the project. I hope this will be handled by the Environment and Community Services scrutiny committee, which is a cross-party committee.

Along with many of my Lib Dem councillor colleagues across the city and county, I have signed up for the 10:10 campaign which means committing to reducing my carbon footprint by 10% in 2010. Read the rest of this entry.

The Liberal Democrats have revealed that Cambridgeshire taxpayers have paid out £2.9 million in compensation payouts for accidents on the county’s pavements over the last five years. Read the rest of this entry.

County council officials tell me that the public consultation over accident reduction measures for Mill Road is going well. The exhibition at Romsey Mill last week was very well attended and, as expected, many local people have got strong views and are keen to have a say. Read the rest of this entry.

I am glad to say that in future county councillors like myself will be able to vote at Area Committees when it comes to setting priorities for local policing. 

It has never been clear to me why county councillors were excluded from participating fully. After all, the county council is as much involved with policing as district councils like Cambridge City.

Some time ago I made a request to this effect and I am pleased it has now been agreed. It will strengthen the local democratic process and help deliver better joined-up thinking between the various authorities. I welcome the fact that local people will be able to hold me accountable for my work in this field.

East Area Committee will meet at 7pm on Thurs 3rd September, Thurs 29th October and Thurs 17th December, all at Cherry Trees, St Matthews Street.

The County Council is about to start a public consultation about how Mill Road can be made safer. At present the street has one of the worst accident records in the county and local councillors have campaigned for funding to tackle it. Read the rest of this entry.

A government planning inspector has approved the ambitious environmental standards demanded by Cambridge’s Liberal Democrat City Council for the North West Cambridge urban extension. Read the rest of this entry.

It’s really disappointing to see that the County Council is not making progress towards the government’s target for new schools to be ‘zero carbon’ by 2016. Read the rest of this entry.

Here is a (sorry, not very good) picture of one of the new cycle hoops being trialled in the Mill Road area. Read the rest of this entry.

The County Council has announced that the refurbished central library will re-open at the end of September, 18 months later than expected.

I know many local people will be relieved to hear this news - we’re all hoping the new facility is going to be pretty special, and we’ve waited a long time for it.

With my Lib Dem colleagues, I am now calling for a review to find out what went wrong with the timing of the project. The County Council is involved with many major projects using huge sums of taxpayers’ money, and it is important that it learns lessons when problems arise.

Many thanks to all those who supported me in the county council elections on 4 June - I am delighted to have been elected to serve for another four years. Read the rest of this entry.

The Conservatives in charge of the County Council continue to dither over a future transport strategy for Cambridge and its region. Read the rest of this entry. Read the rest of this entry.

The government remains intransigent over the use of No Entry signs at junctions where ‘contraflow’ cycling is permitted and no physical cycle lane exists. Read the rest of this entry.

Cambridge residents are being encouraged to take up offers of free swimming and keep fit through schemes being run across the city. Read the rest of this entry.

It recently emerged that councils which invested money in the collapsed Icelandic banks, are likely to get
most of their money back. The payout, estimated at 80%, could be nearer to 90% if market conditions
improve. This will come to a relief to councils who have been battling for the return of this money since
Iceland’s financial system seized up last October.

Two planning applications for development at the ARU campus were decided by the planning committee today. Read the rest of this entry.

News (see previous article) that Labour councillors are campaigning for the city’s airfield to expand to a full-scale regional passenger airport, makes this a topical moment to report that Marshall Aerospace have confirmed their commitment to relocating the airfield away from Cambridge. This would allow the airfield site to be developed as an urban extension to house the long term growth of the city.  Read the rest of this entry.

Cambridge Labour councillors have announced at a meeting of the City Council that they want to see the city’s airport expanded, making it capable of accommodating major passenger planes such as Easy Jet. Read the rest of this entry.

The County Lib Dems’ campaign to promote 20mph speed limits in the city (see my article of 4th August 2008) has paid off in part, with a U-turn by the Council’s Cabinet over the circumstances when 20mph limits will be permitted. Read the rest of this entry.

Following on from previous articles, a fact sheet is available giving some basic statistics about trees in the city.

It shows that of the 45,000 trees on public land (highway, housing and parks/commons), 317 were felled in the year 2008/9  and 413 new trees were planted.

You can read the factsheet here .

Cambridge Liberal Democrats have responded to residents’ concerns about tree felling in the city by putting forward a new City Council protocol. Read the rest of this entry.

Fury and despair has greeted the County Council’s latest fiasco over the delivery of a major project - a week ago the Guided Bus, and now the Central Library. Read the rest of this entry.

The County Council Liberal Democrats have published their manifesto for the elections to be held on 4th June. Nichola will be standing for re-election in Petersfield ward.

The Manifesto promises to continue the Lib Dems’ policy to keep Council Tax as low as possible - for example, this year the Lib Dems proposed a rise of 2.45%, compared to the 3.9% approved by the Conservatives in charge of the County Council. The national average increase was 2.6%. Read the rest of this entry.

Cambridgeshire County Council broke its promise to the city when it felled trees on the station forecourt without prior warning. Read the rest of this entry.

The City Council has issued a note explaining about the plan for felling and replacement of trees within the CB1 railway station area redevelopment scheme. Read the rest of this entry.

The County Council’s Liberal Democrats have revealed that the Council is wasting millions on its contracts with bus and taxi operators for transporting pupils to school. Read the rest of this entry.

Nichola has renewed her call for the government to allow No Entry signs, together with an exception sign for cyclists, at the entrance to contraflow cycling streets. Read the rest of this entry.

The Conservatives in charge of the County Council have announced that they will not allow a Liberal Democrat member to sit on the Cambridge Car Club Steering group, preferring instead a Conservative councillor from Sawston, a village 7 miles south of the city.

Nichola says “The car club is a local city scheme aimed to meet the needs of city dwellers, and a local, city-based councillor who represents city residents and understands the issues involved would be the right person to sit on this steering group. It is silly for a councillor from Sawston to be given the place just because she is from the County Council’s ruling Conservative group.”

The Lib Dems have played a big part in bringing  the car club to Cambridge, making parking spaces involved in the city’s car parks and helping to promote the idea to residents.The operator is Streetcar, which has cars based in the City Council’s car parks and elsewhere. See http://www.streetcar.co.uk.

Following a series of assaults in Mortimer Road, off Mill Road, pressure is mounting on the County Council to tackle the poor street lighting there. On 8th April, Nichola will be attending a site meeting with the street lighting and community safety teams and will be pressing for urgent action. More news shortly.

The City Council has approved spending of £10,000 to improve safety in the Mackenzie Road and Kingston Street cycle contraflows. Read the rest of this entry.

After a year of waiting, the County Council has promised to replace the double yellow lines in Covent Garden that were removed when the contra-flow cycle lane was laid. Hopefully the work will be done this coming Sunday and will mean that parking wardens have the power to enforce against vehicles parking on that side of the street.

How ridiculous that local residents have been made to wait so long for such a tiny task to be completed.

After a depressing day yesterday at the County Council’s annual budget setting meeting, Nichola has sent the following letter to the Cambridge News:

Daylight robbery has been perpetrated by the Conservatives at the County Council. Read the rest of this entry.