The process for re-modelling Milton Road has now reached the point where plans have been sent out for
public consultation. If you live on or near Milton Road you should have received a leaflet and
questionnaire, but you may not have one because the distribution was patchy. However, you can also
complete the questionnaire online at https://consultcambs.uk.engagementhq.com/milton-road/survey_tools/MiltonRoadSurvey2018.
Please do look at the plans and complete the questionnaire to make your views known.
MRRA Committee has examined the plans and questionnaire in detail and their opinion is that the plans are
a great improvement on those originally proposed over two years ago, but that there are still some areas
which could be improved. The following is the Milton Road Residents Association response to the
questionnaire:
Question 1: Individual Elements
We support or strongly support all elements of Question 1 except:
11. New outbound bus lane approaching Elizabeth Way roundabout: strongly
oppose
12. Elizabeth Way roundabout redesign: oppose
18. Retain inbound bus lane approaching Arbury Road junction: strongly
oppose
Our reasons are given in Question 2.
Question 2: Further Comments on Individual Elements
11. We strongly oppose the new outbound bus lane because it takes away space that can be used for safe,
protected inbound and outbound cycleways and better verges which will allow school traffic in the morning
to cycle legally between Highworth Ave and Ascham Road, the most intensely used part of the school route.
12. We feel obliged to oppose the Elizabeth Way roundabout redesign because of the very narrow and unsafe
shared-use pinch-points for people walking and cycling. These problems could be fixed by retaining the
present single traffic lane on Milton Road outbound at the approach to the roundabout and segregating the
cycleway from the footway.
18. We believe that the inbound bus lane approaching Arbury Road junction is too long and that space would
be better used for improved verges and footways.
There should be no illuminated advertisements on floating bus stops and the panel on the approach side
should be kept clear so that bus drivers can see if anyone is waiting.
Question 3: Segregated Cycleways and Copenhagen Crossings
We strongly support the design of the new segregated cycleways
and Copenhagen-style priority crossings.
Question 4: Tree Planting Scheme
We strongly support the proposed concept for tree planting
along Milton Road.
Question 5: Shared-use Pavement or Pedestrian Only
We believe that the pavements should be pedestrian only and that cycleways should always
be segregated from footways. Not only would a shared-use pavement be unsafe and intimidating for
vulnerable pedestrians, it would also encourage people to cycle in close proximity with the many driveways
on the north-west side of Milton Road leading to an increased risk of collision with vehicles exiting from
driveways. Frequent crossing points over Milton Road are therefore needed.
Question 6: Parking on Grass Verges
We strongly support the implementation of a Traffic Regulation
Order to prevent parking on grass verges. Some form of physical barrier is needed to protect these verges.
Short term parking for carers, delivery vehicles, etc, can be provided by:
a. Using driveways; or where none is available
b. Accepting that they will use the existing exemption which allows deliverers to park on double yellow
lines for up to 10 minutes; a special rule analogous to the disabled parking system might have to be
created for carers and doctors; or
c. Enforcing the rule that requires those needing longer periods of parking to apply for prior
authorisation.
Question 8: Crossing Near Westbrook Drive
We believe there should be a crossing near Westbrook Drive (Option 4A).
Question 9: Crossings at Downham’s Lane and Fraser Road
We believe there should be crossings at both Downham’s Lane (Option 19A) and Fraser Road (Option
19B). This is to help people from the large estates on either side of Milton Road to cross the
road and access bus stops and the unidirectional cycleway on the other side of the road.
Question 10: Duties Under the Equality Act
The proposed shared-use pavements are dangerous and intimidating for people with disabilities who
are walking or using a mobility device. We oppose shared-use pavements. Instead, cycleways should
always be separate from footways.
Segregated footways and cycleways are much safer, easier to navigate and comfortable for all
users. Where a footway has to cross a cycleway, such as at a bus stop, Zebra markings on a raised
platform should be used, preceded by rumble strips on the cycleway and tactile paving on the
pedestrian approaches.
Additional controlled crossings of Milton Road will help all people to be able to cross the road
safely, regardless of ability.
Today the Greater Cambridge Partnership has announced the next phase of the Milton Road consultation. The
following is an excerpt from their message:
The consultation runs from Monday 17 September to Monday 29 October 2018. Brochures will be
distributed throughout the Milton Road area including the village of Milton, and the consultation is
being widely advertised with the use of bus stop adverts, A5 flyers, posters and press releases to the
local media. This also includes a social media campaign via Facebook and Twitter.
Information about what is being proposed, both the need for the scheme and benefits, as well as
further information and how to have your say, can be found on our website at: www.greatercambridge.org.uk/MiltonRoadConsultation.
Location: All Saints Church
Date: Tuesday 9 October 2018
Time: 4pm – 7pm
Address: All Saints Church, Church Lane, Milton, Cambridge, CB24 6AB
Location: St George’s Church
Date: Tuesday 23 October 2018
Time: 5pm – 8pm
Address: St George’s Church, Chesterfield Road, Chesterton, Cambridge, CB4 1LN
This is the best chance that you will get to influence the future shape of our road and it is important
that the planners have your input: after all, you know more than anyone else about the place where you
live and the journeys you undertake.
Mini bus tour of 8 sites in respect to possible tree selection for the Milton Road scheme under the city
deal - 24th April 2018
You can download the original PDF version of this report written by Anne Hamill here: trees_report.pdf
Participants: Paul van de Bulk, 2 tree officers (Kenny McGregor, Dinah Foley-Norman),
Landscape Architect (Henry Casement), Cllr Joceylnne Scutt and 5 local residents [Dorcas Fowler, Anne
Hamill, Maureen Mace, Rowland Thomas, Richard Swift].
Introduction
KM explained the role of the tree officers and their team. With regard to maintenance, a tour of all the
trees in Cambridge was carried out every 3 years to inspect health. It was important to choose new trees
which would withstand the site conditions, be species with best resistance to known pathogens, and those
which would enhance the streetscape. There had been mistakes in some of the tree plantings in Cambridge in
the past and he reassured participants that learning had taken place as a result of these failures.
PvB informed the group that approx. £23million was earmarked for the Milton Road scheme, but no specific
allocation for planting as yet.
During the course of the tour KM explained that, due to the increasing number of pathogens (possibly as a
result of climate change), it was wise to have, say, two species of trees comprising an avenue as a form
of protection, these varying on the three different sections of Milton Road. Milton Road was wider in some
parts than others and this would affect choice. However, there were possible planting areas suitable for a
group of trees, not all of the same species, e.g. by the Golden Hind, which could accommodate larger
specimens.
Map showing all sites to be visited
Site 1 - Metcalfe Road
Species Viewed: Early Mature Birch
Birches grew well, enriched the soil by fixing nitrogen, were durable (i.e. 80 – max. 120 years), and had
low water demand.
Site 2 - Drive-Through Site - Queens' Road
Species viewed from minibus, Lime trees (not clear whether these were the non-sap producing variety). Some
Council-planted, some on University land; an example of how mature, medium canopy trees can be planted on
a major thoroughfare without causing issues for vehicles.
Site 3 - Sidgwick Avenue
Species Viewed: Mature London Plane
Species Viewed: Tulip Tree
London Plane trees were “bombproof”. Long lasting, surviving pathogens (although some early warning
recently reported in Europe), could be pollarded (although this was dangerous to tree surgeons in narrow
areas close to roads). In Sidgwick Avenue, roots broke up pavements making problems for push
chairs/wheelchairs.
Tulip trees were a suitable choice for larger spaces. Lower branches could be pruned. Robust, pollutant-
and heat- resistant. No known pathogens. Less flare at base of trunk than London planes. Quick growing.
Site 4 - Brooklands Avenue
Species Viewed: Mature Hornbeam and Dawyck Beech
There were some problems with the hornbeams (rust), possibly caused by salting roads in winter. Viewed in
tight area i.e. narrow verges. An example of how two different species worked well together. [Together,
these two species formed a very dense canopy, which was OK on Brooklands Avenue as properties set far back
from trees, but would occlude light from adjacent houses where front gardens are small or absent.]
Site 5 - Aura Development in Great Kneighton
Species Viewed: Semi-Mature Lime Trees - Small-Leaved Variety
Very costly with regular maintenance in expensive development area. Survival in other areas would be high
risk (KM).
NB. There are varieties of lime trees which do not produce sticky sap, as they have hairy leaves which
aphids avoid. [Think these are that variety.]
Site 6 - Brampton Road
Species Viewed: Pears (Chanticleer), Crab Apples, Whitebeam
Flowering pears conical shape, have flowers and autumn colour, grow in poor sites. Suitable for narrower
stretches of Milton Road. Crab apples – problem with mushy fruit on the ground (objections from
residents). Whitebeam – tough trees, light coloured leaves, get broad but would be suitable for “break out
points” along the road.
Site 7 - Wadloes Road
Species Viewed: Mature Cherries and Field Maples
Cherries – upright Y-shaped conical, quite tough, fit in narrow sites. Could use bigger cherry (e.g prunus
avium) on corner, say, of a group of larger trees.
NB Horsechestnuts being devastated by pathogen, will soon become rare.
Site 8 - Riverside
Species Viewed: Semi-Mature Italian Alders in Rootcell System (i.e. No Verge for
Planting)
Commonly used in urban sites in Europe. Well-behaved trees. Rootcell system effective for providing water
needed. Slender with heart shaped leaves. Yellow autumn colour.
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.
The plans for Milton Road continue to develop. In July the Greater Cambridge Partnership Executive Board
agreed an outline plan called the Final Concept. Then over the autumn and winter a number of workshops
were held to discuss details of particular points, e.g. the Elizabeth Way roundabout, cycle paths.
Next the Local Liaison Forum (LLF) is to meet on Tuesday 30th January to discuss issues
arising from the workshops and where this leads in terms of design, what is likely to be changed, what
needs to be done and what inputs are still required. This is an important stage, because after this the
consultants will be tasked to draw up the preliminary design which is to go to the Board in June or July.
Though we will be consulted again in this process, it is always more effective to get our wishes
incorporated into the design at the start, rather than trying to get it changed later.
So please come along and make your views known at the meeting of the LLF on Tuesday 30th
January at 6.00 p.m. in Chesterton Community College. I look forward to seeing and hearing from
you there.
Since the workshops in September (Bus Stops and Crossings) and October on Trees, there have been four
Design Group Meetings where MRRA representatives have met with the Milton Road Project Manager, Paul van
de Bulk and Traffic Engineers to discuss:
Elizabeth Way Roundabout
Cycle Lane between Mitcham’s Corner and Elizabeth Way Roundabout
Mitcham’s Corner interaction with the Milton Road scheme
Bus Lane lengths
See GCP web link above for details of these Design Group meetings.
What Happens Next
The County Officers and WSP Consultants will now work up detailed plans, taking into account the Workshop
and Design Group feedback. These plans will then be presented to the Milton Road Local Liaison Forum (MR
LLF) at a public meeting in January 2018 for residents and stakeholder comments.
The Officers aim is then to take the Preferred Option design and outline business case to the Assembly and
Executive Board in the March meeting. That will mean they need to get all the work done by the first week
of February 2018 so the reports can be approved, edited and published in advance. They will be asking for
approval from the Board to take this Preferred Option design out to public consultation, probably in May
2018.
Following analysis of feedback from the consultation and any changes that may instigate, they will then
need to go back to the Board in the Autumn of 2018 to present the outcomes and ask for approval to go
ahead with the Detailed Engineering Design.
GCP Assembly and Executive Board Meetings – Important Dates for Milton Road
The Assembly and Board meetings are open to the public who can ask a question if submitted three working
days beforehand. Documents for these meetings are posted on the South Cambs website at least a week in
advance, along with protocol for asking questions. See link via the GCP website on the Events Page for all
meetings.
But most important is to lobby the decision makers for the best possible design for Milton Road for future
generations.
The ‘Final Concept’ plans, approved by the GCP in July 2017, include a full length bus lane, albeit
alternating between the north and south side. We believe a bus lane will not bring the desired modal
change and at most only save a couple of minutes on the rare occasions when the traffic is queuing, before
reaching
Mitcham’s Corner. We are therefore hopeful that we can get these bus lane lengths reduced since we believe
that this is valuable space that could be used for safer walking and cycling, segregated by a tree-lined
avenue of trees and verges the whole length of Milton Road; a safer and more environmentally worthy
landscape for one of the main gateways into our beautiful city.
Just three councillors will decide the fate of Milton Road. Please continue to let them know what you want
for Milton Road:
The GCP Executive Board (the ultimate decision-making body)
There have been two workshops recently, one on bus stops and pedestrian crossings and another on street
trees. Attendance at these workshops was by application to GCP. Each workshop followed a similar format:
An initial Presentation giving the tasks and parameters for the evening, followed by discussions in small
groups. Milton Road was divided, either side of Arbury Road, for separate discussions and feedback.
Workshop 1 - Bus Stops and Crossings - 19th September
The GCP workshop presentation was given by Officers and the WSP Consultant and participants discussed
preferred design type and location of bus stops and crossings along both sections of Milton Road. At this
meeting the bus lane ran the length of MR unlike our Do Optimum plans.
Presentations were given by the City Council’s Tree Officers who proposed a few tree options and Kieran
Perkins, an urban realm architect, who presented ideas for a sense of place. Participants, in small
groups, were asked to choose species for each section of Milton Road from the pre-selection offered.
Afterwards the groups were allocated one of four potential public spaces for ideas on how these spaces
should be used (Milton Road Library, Shop area near Arbury Road, Land by Woodhead Drive and the King’s
Hedges junction).
Concern was expressed that the current GSP ‘Final Concept’ design left little green space for the promised
grass verge and tree-lined avenue. The Presentation slides can be viewed on the GCP website here: Milton Road Replacement Tree Planting
The County Officers and WSP Consultant will now work up detailed plans, taking into account the workshops
feedback. Followed by:
Presentation to the MR LLF in November/December 2017 and January 2018
Consideration for the final detailed design as a basis for Public Consultation Questionnaire by the
Joint Assembly (28th February 2018) and the Executive Board (21st March 2018)
Public Consultation Questionnaire from May 2018
Consideration of Public Consultation by the Joint Assembly (20th September 2018) and Final detailed
design approval by the Executive Board (11th October 2018)
Forecast completion date of Milton Road remodelling is 2021
Check for Milton Road project updates on the
GCP website and come to the GCP Assembly and Executive Board Meetings.
But most important is to keep lobbying the decision makers for the best possible design for Milton Road
for future generations.
GCP’s current ‘Final Concept’ plans include a full length bus lane, albeit alternating between the north
and south side. We believe a bus lane will not bring the desired modal change and at most only save a
couple of minutes on the rare occasions when the traffic is queuing, before reaching Mitcham’s Corner. We
believe that this is valuable space that could be used for safer walking and cycling, segregated by a
tree-lined avenue of trees and verges the whole length of Milton Road; a safer more environmentally worthy
landscape for one of the main gateways into our beautiful city.
Just three councillors can vote to decide the fate of Milton Road. Please email them with your views.
The GCP Executive Board (the ultimate decision-making body)
