Yesterday Market ward councillors Sarah Whitebread and Colin Rosenstiel attended the County Council Cabinet meeting, where a vote was held on the increase in residents parking charges across the city.

Three County Councillors from the city – Cllr Whitebread, Nichola Harrison (Petersfield) and Tariq Sadiq (Coleridge) spoke against the rises.  The point was made that by using the on street parking account to pay for other transport measures, the charge had changed from essentially a charge for a service to a tax.

Cllr Whitebread also spoke in support of Market residents in particular, who are being hit by a hike from £50 per year to £81.  At the Area Join Traffic Committee last year local councillors suggested that the cost increases were spread more evenly, so Market residents wouldn’t be so badly hit.  Cllr Whitebread made this case again yesterday, but her points were not addressed by the ruling Conservative group (none of whom incidentally live in Cambridge).

Cllr Whitebread commented “These rises are incredibly steep and unfair on residents, especially given the service they are receiving is if anything getting worse rather than better.  I was amazed that the County’s Cabinet showed so little respect for the views of local residents.  There were over 40 objection letters and representations from three local councillors, but it made no difference.  The price hikes were nodded through, with an assurance from Council Leader Nick Clarke that they will continue to go up and up in future years.”

As you might have seen reported in the local press, the city centre is going to benefit from some new “no entry except cycle” signs.  Previously streets with contraflow cycle lanes had been either marked by the confusing “flying motorbike” symbol, or a red no entry sign with a blue cycle sign above it, as on Malcolm Street (see right).  Following a successful trial of the “no entry except cycle” signs in streets off Mill Road, the new signs are now going to be put in in four locations in the city, two of which are in the city centre.

Both Malcolm Street (at the junction with Jesus Lane) and Benet Street (at the junction with Kings Parade) will benefit from the new signs.

Cllr Sarah Whitebread commented “This is a breakthrough for common sense, and I hope will make things clearer for both motorists and cyclists at these junctions.  Thanks must go to the Cambridge Cycling Campaign, as well as County Councillor Nichola Harrison from Petersfield, for pushing this issue with the Department for Transport.”

Cllr Sarah Whitebread met with local residents and representatives from Streetworks, the Highways department, EDF and the Varsity Hotel today to discuss the problems of the uneven stretch of road on Thompson’s Lane outside the entrance to the new Varsity Hotel.  The camber of the road is currently very uneven, causing drainage problems.  There is also concern that the double yellow lines which should run right along the road by the entrance to the hotel have never been replaced.  This makes it difficult to enforce restrictions on cars stopping there.  At the moment cars frequently stop there, forcing passing vehicles onto the wrong side of the road to meet vehicles travelling the other way from the New Park Street junction.

The Highways department have agreed to resurface the stretch of road outside the hotel and also replace the double yellow lines.  The resurfacing will happen in September, with the double yellows possibly sooner.

Cllr Sarah Whitebread commented “It was a useful meeting and good to get residents and representatives from the hotel and council staff together to talk things through.  I’m very pleased the highways team have agreed to carry out the resurfacing work and repaint the yellow lines – this should go some way to resolving the problems at this junction.”

City Centre Team Member, Councillor Tim Bick, has welcomed police reassurance that the city centre’s 20mph speed limits will be enforced.

Cllr Bick, responsible for community safety as Executive Councillor for Community Development, and fellow councillors were given the news at a meeting recently.

Cambridgeshire’s new Chief Constable, Simon Parr, told them he had authorised his commanders to enforce the new speed limits and those throughout the county.

Residents had been worried that the introduction of the new limits was hollow without police enforcement.

“This was a very welcome clarification from the Chief Constable,” said Cllr Bick, who represents Market ward. “Lower speeds greatly reduce the risk of accidents and injury, so the new limits are enormously valued by residents, and other pedestrians and cyclists using the streets concerned.

“Although everyone accepts that the conduct of enforcement needs to be fitted in with other police priorities, it is important that drivers should know that the possibility exists of getting caught. People were worried that without enforcement, the introduction of the 20mph limits was hollow.

“This is one part of the picture, but the other is awareness. Most motorists will observe a limit, so long as their attention is effectively drawn to it. Although the current signage apparently adequately meets legal standards, many people feel it is easily missed and it would be a pity if they received penalties for that reason. So we await the county council’s review of the visibility of its signage and the possibility of other measures to improve awareness.”