Milton Road Local Liaison Forum 30th January 2018 Meeting Summary
Posted on Monday 5 February 2018
Summary of Meeting
There was an excellent turn out of approximately 100 people.
Introduction
Jocelynne Scutt, chair of the LLF, introduced the councillors for the area, the chairs of Milton Road Residents Association (RA), Hurst Park Estates RA and Old Chesterton RA and gave the audience a summary of the original plans and how the residents and councillors had made them more acceptable. The plans described at this meeting are based on the Final Concept passed by the Greater Cambridge Partnership Board last July.
Engineers Paul van de Bulk, officer for the GCP and Neil Poulton from WSP consultants gave the presentation and questions were asked following this.
Assessment of cycling design
We were told there was not enough room for two segregated cycle lanes on the outbound NW side, an inbound cycle lane on the SE side, trees and verges and a bus lane. The engineers had discussed removing the inbound cycleway but this meant cyclists would use the bus lane and paths.
They had listened to the residents who knew that unless there were Copenhagen crossings over the side roads, cycling would take place on the road. However there was a safety problem with two cycleways on the NW side as it restricted the view of car drivers coming out of the side roads.
Therefore their decision was to have an single inbound and outbound cycleway protected from the road by trees and verges and separated from pedestrians. On the NW side next to the outbound 2m cycleway, they would make a wide path of 3m so it would become shared use for pedestrians and cyclists riding inbound. This happens now, close to Ascham Road, because of the school. Widening the cycle ways and making them segregated along the whole of Milton Road would make them far safer and could encourage cycling rather than using cars.
There were a lot of questions concerning the safety of a shared area. More work will need to be done on this.
Bus Stops and Crossings
Most bus stops and crossings will stay similar to where they are now with the exception of the stops by Union Lane, which holds up the traffic lights, and outside the Co-op where lorries unload. There will be more work on this.
At the workshops residents were given an option of 6 kinds of bus stops. At the time there was disappointment in what we were offered because of the conflict between cyclists and pedestrians and exits from driveways in four of the options which did not give those at the workshops a safe option choice for all users. At the present time there are floating bus stops but Cllr Gerri Bird and other bus users were concerned for those who are disabled as the new plans would make cycling faster.
Trees and Landscaping
There had been a workshop about trees and landscaping but the specimens offered did not include much choice. The officers envisage large trees such as limes and tulip trees between the Busway and Elizabeth Way with smaller birches and flowering trees from Elizabeth Way to Mitcham’s Corner. An external landscape architect will be advising shortly so the road has a green feel about it. This requires more work and Cllr Scutt has this in hand.
Elizabeth Way roundabout
The area will stay a roundabout and will be controlled by traffic lights. Safety is a big issue here especially on the inbound road where cars usually turn into Elizabeth Way and cyclists tend to go straight over.
There are concerns too over the entrances to a few houses leading directly onto the roundabout.
Mitcham’s Corner
It is intended that the future design of this area should integrate with that of Milton Road.
The inbound cycle path will be next to the path outside the shops here with short term parking in bays for
3 cars with areas for trees between the bays to keep the feel of an avenue of trees.
Bus Lanes
Neil said he had listened to the residents about reducing the bus lanes as they are not used the majority of time.
There will be Smart Traffic Lights that will give priority to buses.
Bus patronage is falling in Cambridge and the use of the P & R at Milton has dropped by 15%. If a
metro is introduced for Cambridge it is envisaged more people will travel by public transport so MRRA
believe that there will be less need for bus lanes.
Discussions with shop keepers near Arbury Road
Paul had talked to the shops owners near Arbury Road. The majority wanted parking for customers outside their shops. The exception was 121 café which encouraged cyclists. The area in front of the shops is owned by the shops whereas the path is owned by the county council. There will be a problem with dropped curbs for cyclists, making it a very bumpy ride, as well as having to give way to cars trying to park.
The officers were aiming to make a safer and better environment but to do this some parking spaces may be lost.
Parking
There will be no parking anywhere on Milton Road. Those with no off road parking would park in side streets. An audit would be carried out to see how many households were affected. Also free dropped curbs, where appropriate would be offered free of charge. To keep cars off the verges there may be deep curbs and trees close together. At the moment some cars from Herbert Road and George Street park on Milton Road as well as some parking there instead of in their drives plus several houses do not have a dropped kerb and park on the verges.
It is up to residents on neighbouring streets whether they want to introduce residents’ parking
Next steps
There will be another LLF before for next designs go to the GCP Executive Board for approval next July and this will be followed by a wider public consultation.
A video by Richard Taylor is available here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfdbmB7XlFE
The Milton Road Project Manager is Paul van de Bulk, so please email him direct if you have any particular concerns: