Date: 16 July 2006 19:14

COUNCILLORS BACK PUBLIC'S VIEW ON NEW PARK AND RIDE SITE

Transport chiefs have agreed Cowley Road Park and Ride should be relocated 
to near Milton after hearing the result of a massive public consultation.

More than 1,000 people answered a questionnaire about the £3 million scheme 
to relocate and improve the current Cowley Road Park and Ride site.

Members of Cambridgeshire County Council's Cabinet agreed with the public 
that the site should be built on land off the A10 at Milton, South of Butt 
Lane.

The Park and Ride service needs to move from its current location to enable 
development to take place at the site. The new location should help reduce 
travel times for all users and provide more modern and improved facilities.

Users of the service along with residents and businesses in the area were 
asked their views on 10 alternative locations. This included the Council's 
two preferred site options on the A10 at Milton, either side of the Butt 
Lane junction. They are also being asked on what improved facilities they 
would like to see at the new site.

Around 47 per cent of respondents wanted to see the site on the south side 
of Butt Lane while around 20 per cent wanted it built to the north of the 
junction. While 6 per cent didn't mind which of the two was chosen.

The majority of respondents wanted to see modern facilities at the site 
including a co-ordinator, waiting area, toilets, vending machines, secure 
cycle parking and CCTV.

The scheme will also include changing and improving the Butt Lane junction.

The County Council has successfully bid for the £3 million from the 
Government to move the site, which currently has spaces for 700 cars. 
Proposals for the new site include more modern facilities starting off with 
750 spaces but having room to expand to 1,000 as demand grows.

Councillors agreed to approve the new site and supported moves to buy the 
land.

Cambridgeshire County Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for 
Environment and Community Services, said: "I would like to thank all those 
who took part in the consultation. We have listened very carefully to the 
public's views which were very useful and helped us come to a decision. 
Moving Cowley Road Park and Ride is vital to help relieve congestion by 
providing an easily accessible public transport option. Work will now start 
on making this move a reality. The new site will have modern facilities and 
make it easier for people to get to as well as reduce the congestion on the 
busy A14 junction and local roads into Cambridge. We will continue to 
consult with people as more detailed plans are worked up."

A planning application for the site is likely to be submitted in October 
this year and the scheme completed by March 2008.

John Reynolds