A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign

Annual General Meeting

15 January 2025, 7:30-8:30PM

TTP, behind Melbourn Science Park

An agenda can be viewed or downloaded here

East West Rail Non-statutory Consultation 

This report is by Mike Stapleton who attended the consultation at Great Shelford Rugby Club on 22/11/2024. 

Future Consultation in the Cambridge area: 

Comberton, Comberton Village Hall, 10 January 2025, 2pm – 7pm 

Cambridge, The Clayton Hotel, 18 January 2025, 12pm – 5pm 

Cherry Hinton, St Andrews, 21 January 2025, 2pm – 7pm 

It appears that East West Rail have decided that the southern route meets their needs in spite of many objections. Accordingly I have considered the affects of their plans. 

Details of the plans can be found at :  

First navigate to the bottom of the document. Click here to access “our consultation document” 

This web site is hard to navigate as it first comes up with a welcome screen which has a vague icon lower right which enables access to their consultation room. The consultation room does not mention that you can scan round to the left or right and this enables access to the back room where you can find boards that show details of the plans. Boards 16 & 17 are relevant to Comberton to Cambridge. You can find more info in the Consultation document. 

These plans are not as detailed as those at the consultation in Gt Shelford. 

The consultation was attended by several hundred people. 

My main interests are from Harlton to Shelford but I have looked at plans for Cambridge and the Cherry Hinton turn around. The plans around Comberton and Cambourne are sketchy but there are one or two points that interest cyclists/pedestrians. 

Cambourne Station is about a mile away from the town centre. 

The railway crosses the A603 on a bridge. Comberton Road will be moved NE and Washpit Lane will be SW of the new bridge. 

More detailed consultation for the rest of the route. 

1. Haslingfield Road Harlton. There will be a new road bridge over the railway. 

2. Haslingfield Chapel Hill. There will be a tunnel under the hill. 

3. Rhee Valley. The railway will be on a low embankment and a viaduct over the River Rhee. The footpath should be maintained under the viaduct. 

4. A10 south of Harston. There will be a new road bridge a little to the East of the existing road. This will extend as far as the Harston Mill turning. So the cycle Path will be rebuilt. 

5. Option 1, which is not preferred, provides a new road from Mill Hill on the Harston to Newton Rd to the A10 near Huffers Brook. Could be a dangerous crossing particularly for cyclists. 

6. Both Options. The Harston crossing would be closed. E-W Rail will not agree to a bridge or subway due to the configuration of the railway at this point. 

7. Options 1 and 4 both envisage a new pedestrian bridge about 400M NE of Harston crossing. There would be a long ramp from Station Road for cyclists. There would be a link to the location of crossing 37, which would be closed, probably via steps.  This would only provided if there is a high level of public demand so we have make applications from as many of our members as possible. 

8. Option 4. There would be a new road along the line of the existing trackbed linking London Rd to Station Rd Harston. 

9. London Rd Harston will be diverted east on a new road which will cross the railway & Shelford Rd on bridges. Shelford Rd will be reworked to climb up to a junction on the south west side of London Rd. 

10. A new road will be provided from just east of the M11 bridge on Hauxton Rd to join Newton Rd SW of Little Shelford. 

11. The crossing on Hauxton Rd will be closed. A Pedestrian & cycle  Bridge could be provided just north of the existing crossing. Cyclists are mentioned in a document sent to Harston Parish Council. It might also be placed along the line of Hauxton Rd. This would only provided if there is a high level of public demand so we have make applications from as many of our members as possible. 

Generally I think the provisions are relatively good for cyclists. Items 5, 7 and 11 are important matters for cyclists.  

I would have liked the pedestrian bridge, envisaged in item 7, be placed closer to the existing crossing. The grading on the west side would have to be considered as the bridge is high.  

Time line. 

No one has offered a definative time line. 

There are several steps before the application for a Development Consent order can be submitted. When this is granted there will be a period when the initial legal tasks go ahead. Then they can start construction. I guess 2030 is the earliest spades in the ground start date. There will be some disruption to cycle routes particularly the Harston to Newton route. I expect construction will take about 5 years so earliest completion 2035. 

Mike Stapleton. 24^th Nov 2024. 

Vegetation cutback: 

Cambridgeshire Highways will shortly be cutting back vegetation in these locations: 

• M11 Junction along the A10 to London Toad B1368. 

• Mill Road Harston along the A10 to Frog end Shepreth. 

• Top of Dunsbridge Turnpike where the road meets the path coming off the ‘new’ A10 island crossing – bramble spread. 

Low tree branches will be removed, and the edges of both verges cut back to reveal the markings and solar lights. 

South Cambridgeshire District Council will be alerted when the job is done so as to bring in the path sweeping team. 

Thanks to all who have used Cambridgeshire Report a Fault to indicate any specific areas that need attention.  Report a highways fault | Cambridgeshire County Council 

Feel free to share any log reference numbers if action seems delayed. 

A big thank you to all those who ride with secateurs and tend to brambles and more along their way. 

Grant funding award: 

The campaign has been awarded a £5K community grant from Bruntwood Sci Tech at Melbourn Science Park, for supplementary vegetation maintenance.  Last year’s grant was spent just before nesting season on a hard cutback to side and overhanging vegetation along the whole of the A10 path, and a siding out of the path in spring. 

We will assess the state of things after Highways’ autumn work in order to assess how this year’s grant can be best deployed. 

A10 path wayfinding 

Following several representations to Google Maps there have been some reports of the A10 path showing up on searches, but not consistently.  We will continue to press the case. 

Wayfinding signage needs significant improvement, and this has been signalled to the Greater Cambridge Partnership. In particular, we have asked for  

• Signage indicating the Trumpington Meadows diversion path from the A10 path at Hauxton on the M11 approach, and at the other end of the diversion along Hauxton Road Trumpington.  

• Wayfinding for those entering Trumpington Park and Ride, from all entry points, and for prominent destinations in all directions, especially from points south to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Addenbrooke’s Hospital. 

The GCP is now assessing this and we look forward to hearing the results. 

Best wishes, 

Susan van de Ven and Adam Bostanci 

We hope you’re having a great summer, being out and about on bikes and on foot. 

A few updates for you: 

Cambridgeshire Active Travel Hierarchy consultation: 

Active Travel Hierarchy | Consult Cambridgeshire (engagementhq.com)  

This consultation gives people a chance to consider the current hierarchy of local road classification for active travel maintenance purposes, and to say whether you think changes are needed in particular areas.   The consultation consists of a mapping exercise where you can raise concerns about very local areas, and a survey on general principles.   

Please feel free to raise any concerns you’d like us to convey in the campaign response.   

The consultation closes on 16 September. 

Thank you – cycling with secateurs  

We’d like to thank those A10 cyclists who during lunch breaks have been taking their secateurs out to tidy up vegetation overgrowth at hot spots on the A10 path.   

If you’d like to head out with your secateurs and need any support, please let us know.  

Meanwhile, we have reported to Cambridgeshire Highways the need for urgent attention to vegetation overgrowth along the path. 

Please report any faults you encounter along the path, such as vegetation overgrowth, at Report a highways fault | Cambridgeshire County Council 

Vegetation maintenance grant, courtesy of Bruntwood Sci Tech 

We’d like to thank Bruntwood Sci Tech at Melbourn Science Park for their generous grant of £5K for the coming year, toward vegetation maintenance. This will allow us to commission a significant cutback of overhanging vegetation, which we propose to do just before nesting season, something we were able to do last year again thanks to Bruntwood. 

Melbourn-Meldreth Station path upgrade 

This is part of the ‘Melbourn Greenway’ delivered by the Greater Cambridge Partnership, whose remit is to deliver infrastructure improvements through ring-fenced national funding.  Eventually the Melbourn Greenway is designed make some improvements for active travel in Melbourn High Street, and to create a new off-road path and bridge connecting Melbourn to Royston. 

The current works on the field path between Melbourn and Meldreth Station are well underway with much attention having been put into the diversionary footway along Station Rd – a fundamentally difficult route and indeed one of the reasons for improving the field path.  The diversion has had vegetation cut way back (and we have pointed out that this needs to be a year-round standard) and has been tested by a local resident rail user and her guide dog.  Some signage has gone missing; please get in touch if you spot anything that needs tweaking. 

The new path will be lit and will accommodate all forms of active travel, whereas the old path incorporated no cycling provision. Some cycle parking will be installed at the base of the London platform.  Together with the Wonderpass and its public art (which will be receiving some remedial paint work and tidy up during the construction period), the new route will have a well-supported feel. 

Greater accessibility needed at Meldreth Station 

Meldreth Station is owned by Network Rail and leased to the Train Operating Company, GTR. 

Meldreth Station inaccessibility (over the tracks, and to the London platform from the field path) has been actively taken up by the Meldreth Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership over the past 15 years.  The Community Rail Partnership works with the rail industry toward local access and service improvements. 

Lifts: Meldreth station is relatively small in terms of footfall so lags behind the Letchworths and Roystons.  A ramp from Meldreth Station car park to the Cambridge platform was achieved some ten years ago.  Partial funding from a TTP (Melbourn Science Park) Section 106 agreement has been allocated for a ramp from the path to the London platform but the rest needs to come from the rail industry.  An Access for All application to the Dept for Transport for that ramp funding due for determination last year was delayed then announced as unsuccessful just before the General Election.  GTR have told us they will try again.  Meanwhile the Community Rail Partnership helps with signposting to GTR’s Mobility Assistance scheme at Meldreth Station. 

Wheeling channel, stairs over tracks at Meldreth Station: 

We know that only small, lightweight bikes are manageable for hoisting over the station foot bridge steps, along the narrow and steep wheeling channel.  We have asked but sadly regulations don’t allow for the modifications people have suggested (wider and both sides of steps). 

Best wishes 

 
Susan van de Ven and Adam Bostanci 

It was great to see you all on another very successful ride and it’s always good to meet you all.

Save the Date! A10 Awareness Ride/Walk/Scooter, Sunday June 9th

Please join us once again for the annual A10 Awareness Ride/Walk/Scooter on Sunday June 9th.

· By bicycle – from Trumpington Park and Ride, departing 10:30 AM, cycling off-road to the Phillimore Garden Centre front lawn.

· On foot or scooter – from outside the Melbourn Hub, departing 11:00AM, walking or scootering to Phillimore Garden Centre front lawn.

Refreshments on the front lawn at Phillimore: Donations of cake or other edibles would be greatly appreciated. Please bring your own water bottle!

Can you help as a marshal, to help with key crossing points along the cycle ride? If so, please get in touch!

Best wishes,

Susan, Adam, Terry, Tina and Ian – your A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign Committee

Contacta10cycle@gmail.com

We are delighted to invite you to the A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign AGM and update meeting, to be held in person on March 18, 7:30-8:30PM.  

TTP have kindly offered to host us.   Please enter Melbourn Science Park on Cambridge Road, and follow the signs for TTP Campus (straight on through from the MSP entrance to the new TTP building).    

An agenda can be viewed or downloaded from the events and memoranda page. 

The county council has announced a SIX WEEK CLOSURE of the cycleway along the guided busway in southern Cambridge. This affects the section from the start of the guideway near Hills Road bridge to the junction with the spur to Addenbrooke’s. It will be closed from Mon 12 Feb to Fri 29 Mar and will re-open on Sat 30 Mar.

The council is installing a permanent fence between the busway and the cycleway, replacing the temporary one that is there now.

https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/news/guided-busway-works-begin-to-allow-closure-to-be-lifted

A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign – path maintenance update

Thanks to a vegetation maintenance grant from a local business, Bruntwood Sci Tech, the A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign has been able to commission a good deal of path maintenance work this month, before nesting season begins.

A hard cut-back to side and overhanging growth on much of the path has now taken place, and a siding out and blow away of wet leaf fall accumulation will start this week.

This is the most thorough vegetation maintenance to take place in recent years.

Things will of course start growing again but hopefully a good clear ride can be enjoyed over the coming months. After that, please do travel with secateurs for any enthusiastic brambles!

Best wishes

Susan, Adam, Terry, Ian and Tina – your campaign committee.

Contacta10cycle@gmail.com

A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign – October 2023 Update

Lots of news:

Funding for the path and bridge connecting Melbourn and Royston was approved by the Greater Cambridge Partnership on September 28. This will comprise an off-road path on the east side of the A10 and the cycle/pedestrian bridge over the A505 just to the east of the A10 roundabout, landing on the existing path round the Twigden estate. More steps lie ahead including a statutory public consultation and planning permission; this will take time, but if all goes well, we hope to see construction in 2026. Contributions from local businesses and Hertfordshire local authorities plus funds raised directly by the A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign will form the total funding package.

We’d like to thank each and every one of you for your continued support over many years. Nothing is guaranteed as we have learned over the years, and we need to keep going!

Special thanks to Iris and Yunus, now of Melbourn Village College and previously of Meldreth Primary School, for their third visit to the Board meeting over five years, to make the case.

Thanks also to CamCycle, who spoke at the Board meeting in support of the Royston link, also pointing out that critical safety work along the existing path, especially on junctions, is needed.

Path upgrade, Melbourn-Meldreth Station: Lots of required background work has been taking place but things are moving, and we expect the upgrade to happen in 2024.

Path maintenance: A light cut-back of side and overhanging vegetation along the existing path between Mebourn and Harston took place in September, thanks to a communities grant from Bruntwood SciTech to the A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign, which arranged for work to be carried out by Herts and Cambs Grounds Maintenance. A hard cutback will take place prior to nesting season, and a siding out of the path will take place in spring.

Foxton Travel Hub has been paused, partly due to very significant inflationary pressures on GCP funds and a consequent reprioritization of schemes. The A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign and CamCycle worked hard to ensure that, whatever one’s views on the project, the Foxton Travel Hub would see the optimum adaptations for pedestrians and cyclists.

Making Connections – This is the major GCP package of measures including a Cambridge Sustainable Travel Zone road charge, the freeing up of road space to allow buses to run to schedule, transformational investment in bus services, and additional investment in active travel infrastructure. The STZ road charge was arrived at over a period of 7-8 years’ work, sifting through all possible tools for congestion relief, revenue generation for public and active travel, and the undertaking of in-depth public consultations. Despite very significant adaptations to meet public consultation concerns, a collapse in political support caused the GCP to decide not to progress this project. Serious questions about the future of traffic and travel in our area require answers, as congestion worsens and need for further investment in walking and cycling routes only grows (including on aspects of the Melbourn Greenway, as pointed out by CamCycle at the GCP Board meeting).

Meeting up in person – we’ll be in touch before long about an in-person meeting, if only to raise a glad to continued working together on our quest for safer cycling along the A10 corridor between Cambridge and Royston.

Best wishes Susan van de Ven and Adam Bostanci for the A10 Corridor Cycling Campaign