Issues
This section lists issues - problems on the street network and related matters.
Issues always relate to some geographical location, whether very local or perhaps city-wide.
You can create a new issue using the button on the right.
Listed issues, most recent first:
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20/01979/PRI03M - change of use, new dwelling
Prior approval for a change of use from Class A1 to Class C3 to become a dwelling. | 153 High Street Chesterton Cambridge CB4 1NL
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20/01501/PRI0 30 - change of use - 68 new dwellings, Huntingdon Rd
Prior Approval notification of proposed change of use from B1(a) (offices) to Class C3 (dwellinghouses) to create 68 dwellings. | National Institute Of Agricultural Botany Huntingdon Road Cambridge CB3 0LE
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20/01426/FUL - 87 2 bed apartments, assisted-living, Maris Lane
Construction of 87 2bedroomed apartments, flanking a new public park to the south of Anstey Hall in order to provide assisted-living accommodation for people over 65. The Listed house will be adapted to serve as the central facilities for the retirement community. | Anstey Hall Maris Lane Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB2 9LG
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20/01368/FUL - Two 2bed dwellings, Trefoil Terrace, Budleigh Close
Erection of 2no 2bed semi-detached dwellings with associated external works and drainage, with access via existing parking area at Trefoil Terrace. | Trefoil Terrace Budleigh Close Cambridge CB1 3BJ
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20/01318/FUL - Three 3bed houses, Coldhams Lane
Demolition of existing single storey bungalow and erection of a terrace of 3no. 3bedroom houses along with new parking arrangements and associated works. | 248 Coldhams Lane Cambridge CB1 3HN
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20/01101/FUL - Two dwellings, Marshall Rd
Subdivision of 1 Marshall Road, Cambridge to form two dwellings | 1 Marshall Road Cambridge CB1 7TY
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20/01329/FUL - 9 person HMO, Mill Road
Change of use from staff accommodation to Large HMO (9 person). | Flat 111 - 113 Mill Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB1 2AZ
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20/01847/PRI03O - 2 bed house plus study units, Newnham Rd
Prior Approval notification of proposed change of use from B1(a) (offices) to Class C3 (dwellinghouses) to create 1no 2bedroom plus study unit. | 32 Newnham Road Cambridge CB3 9EY
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20/01273/FUL - new 1 bed dwelling at 95 Cherry Hinton Rd
Erection of new one bedroom dwelling on land to the rear of 95 Cherry Hinton Road Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB1 7BS
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20/01355/FUL - demolition & construction of 9 dwellings, Newmarket Rd
Application for demolition of existing and construction of 9 dwellings and associated external works.
P4 of Design and Access Statement states: 'Covered & secure cycle spaces are illustrated on the drawing and under current standard guidelines for new residences. They are generally near the entrances to each flat or available for visitors.'
However, 'Sheffield hoop under stair' is only indication I can see on site plan, so looks as though they are light on detail here and difficult to see if sufficient provision will be made for cycles.
Documents here:
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Cycle contraflows in London Borough of Barnet
I have had an enquiry about cycle contraflows in the London Borough of Barnet. The only one I am aware of is in Church Lane in East Finchley. Is anyone aware of any others?
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Coldhams Lane Roundabout
What can be done to make the Coldhams Lane roundabout safer for all road users?
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Northern Gateway Proposals
Turnstone Estates is pleased to present updated plans for a state of the art leisure facility at the Northern Gateway, Colchester. We want the local community to be able to have their say in advance of a revised planning application being made to Colchester Borough Council. This is to ensure that local input can be fully considered and addressed prior to the submission of the updated application.
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20/02072/PRI03O: Prior Approval notification. Change use offices to 33 dwellings
Prior Approval notification of proposed change of use from B1(a) (offices) to Class C3 (dwellinghouses) to create 2 studio apartments and 31 x 1bed units.
509 Coldhams Lane Cambridge CB1 3JS
Cambridge
Application reference : 20/02072/PRI03O
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Layer Road Cycle Infrastructure Changes
Feedback provided to ECC Highways on poor quality cycle infrastructure added to Layer Road, Colchester in Q1 2020
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Abolition of Cambridge Joint Area and Joint Development Control Committees
Constitution and Ethics Committee
Date/Time: 22 Apr 2020 - 14:00 to 16:00
Virtual Meeting
The County Council's Constitution and Ethics Committee is asked to recommend the changes to the County Council Constitution, as set out in the report, to full Council:
i) the abolition of the Economy and Environment and Highways and Infrastructure Committees;
ii) the introduction of the Environment and Sustainability and Highways and Transport Committees;
iii) revisions to the terms of reference of the General Purposes, Adults, Children and Young People, Commercial and Investment, Communities and Partnership and Health Committees;
iv) the abolition of the Cambridge Joint Area Committee by the end of July 2020 following the discussions set out in paragraph 3.3 of this report;
v) the withdrawal from the Joint Development Control Committee for Cambridge Fringes by the end of July 2020 following the discussions set out in paragraph 4.4 of this report; and
vi) increase the membership of General Purposes Committee from fifteen to seventeen.
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20/01972/OUT Netherhall Farm - up to 200 dwellings
Outline application (all matters reserved except for means of Access) for the erection of up to 200 residential dwellings, with associated infrastructure works, including access (vehicular, pedestrian and cycle), drainage, public open space and landscape.
Netherhall Farm Worts Causeway Cambridge CB1 8RJ
Cambridge
Application reference : 20/01972/OUT
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Campaigning during the Coronavirus pandemic
Campaigning for cycling during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic. What temporary changes should we campaign for? What longer-term changes should we be pushing for now?
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20/01293/FUL - 6 new 1 bed flats, Cherry Hinton Road
Proposed conversion and extension of an existing HMO with one self contained flat into 6 x 1 bedroom self contained flats.
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20/01261/FUL - extension & construction of new dwelling, Leete Road
First floor rear extension and demolition of outbuildings to the rear & construction of new 1 person single storey dwelling.
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Upgraded cycleway from Cambourne to Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Hardwick is seen as a commuter village for Cambridge but currently there are no cycle paths at all within the village, other than a 2 mile long on-road advisory shared with 40 mph traffic. There is also no cycle path north-south through the village - just over a mile. This is a village of around 1250 homes currently being extended to around 1500 but with little attention being paid to cycling yet.
In the S.106 Agreement for West Cambourne construction (2350 homes), SCDC Planning Reference S/2903/14/OL, Cambridge County Council have included an upgraded Cycle and footpath from West Cambourne to Cambridge passing through Hardwick. This can be seen in the S.106 Agreement Schedule 13 and is shown as Fully Funded in the current Cambridge County Council Transport Investment Plan, Scheme number 123.
Before construction of this goes ahead, will there be consultation with villages and residents along the route and do we have any indication of when this might commence? I note there should be plans available but these plans should be readable, clarified and modified with input from the villages on the route including Hardwick.
In the original plan submitted it seems the cycle paths proposed pass directly in front of 150 or so businesses and residential properties accesses and driveways which would seem to be entirely inappropriate for serious cycle-to-work opportunities.
This route appears to be independent from the Cambridge County Council "Greenways" initiative which also did not engage with Hardwick either
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Contraflow on Park Terrace
The section of Park Terrace behind the hotel is wide enough for a cycle contraflow.
Although people can cycle in front of the pavilion, this is shared use and can be busy with pedestrians. It also means encountering traffic lights involving a wait unnecessarily.
Given that there is space, there seems no good reason not to provide a contraflow - in line with the principle that two-way cycling should be possible unless there is no space to do so.
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Micromobility - Future of Transport Call for Evidence
A discussion about the Dept for Transport's new Call for Evidence about changing the law regarding e-scooters and other similar vehicles. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/873363/future-of-transport-regulatory-review-call-for-evidence.pdf
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20/01640/REM 286 No. dwellings, Cambourne
Approval of matters reserved for appearance, landscaping, layout and scale following outline planning permission S/2903/14/OL for 286 No. dwellings including affordable housing, associated hard and soft landscaping and all ancillary works.
Parcels 1.3B, 1.3C, 1.3E, 1.4A And 1.4B Sheepfold Lane Cambourne Cambs CB23 6EA
Cambridge
Application reference : 20/01640/REM
This map shows all issues, whether points, routes, or areas:
The most popular issues, based on the number of votes:
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Failing to maintain NCN paths
Over the past couple of years of regularly cycling between Waterbeach and Cambridge on NCN11 I have noticed that the path between Waterbeach and Baits Bite Lock is in really bad repair and is getting gradually worse. I have been in touch with the council to ask them to repair it, and they told me that as far as they are concerned the path is only a footpath, and they have no obligation to maintain it to a standard suitable for bikes. Sustrans tells me they have no responsibility for maintaining that section of the route, and that the council should be responsible for it.
It seems absurd to allow the path to fall into total disrepair, but at the moment it doesn't seem like anyone recognises any obligation for its upkeep.
I am happy to go out occasionally with some secateurs and chop off the more annoying bits of greenery, but the path needs resurfacing and that feels a bit beyond me!
Does anyone have any experience with this sort of problem? Have they come across it on other sections of the NCN? -
Public rights-of-way mapping
On 1 January 2026, historic routes in England that aren’t properly recorded will be lost to the public forever. We are looking for people to volunteer their time to help us identify and register these routes before it is too late.
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Holywells Park Cycle Route
Holywells Park has a section of cycle route 51 running through it, linking South East Ipswich to the centre with a pleasant and safe route down to the waterfront.
During Winter, the park is closed at dusk, sometimes as early as 4, meaning that just when the roads are most dangerous (dark and wet) cyclists are forced onto steep and busy routes either along Cliff Lane or up Bishops Hill.
The closures are largely at the request of the Park Friends group. I've spoken to them, and their concerns seem to be largely about what might go on after dark. It's not clear that there is any evidence for this, nor that the current situation of locking the main gates but leaving others would do anything to deter misbehaviour.
Keeping it open as a cycle route would ensure a legitimate presence in the park, and help provide less confident cyclists in the area with a safe route to and from town.
I'd propose either locking later, or for a trial period leaving the park unlocked.
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MMW/Forrest Rd
Longstanding issue about 'optimum' design, particularly to reduce conflict caused by vehicles turning from Teviot Pl due to signal phases.
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Calton Gardens / Holloway
A dropped kerb at this point would improve the route that people can take to cycle between Bear Flat and the city centre - making it easier to use Calton Gardens to avoid the section of footpath on the alternative via Holloway and St Marks Church.
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Cycle track priority over A14 slip roads
It would be much safer to have cyclist priority on the slip roads here as is done in The Netherlands http://www.flickr.com/photos/smsm1/10046288016/ , or even the following example from Britain: http://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/photos/good-cycling-facility-of-the-week/good-cycling-facility-of-the-week-14th-november-2013-0
The slip roads also need to be narrowed to slow motor vehicle speeds as does the turning radii of the roundabout.
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Lower Mortlake Road side roads
All the sideroads between Richmond Circus and Manor Circus are a danger to cyclists on the cycleway.
There is no warning to motorists that there will be crossing cyclists and the building angles make it hard to see if anything is coming.
Turning traffic from the A316 can have an obscured view of the cycleway due to foliage.
Decrease corner radii.
Make road hump more pronounced.
Make cycle surface colour continuous across roadway.
Add markings across roadway.
Add warning signage.
Move give way lines back to before cycleway or add additional give way lines. -
Turn Dock Street entrance into continuous pavement/cycle track
The entrance to Dock Street should be turned into a continuous footway with pedestrian and cyclist priority over turning vehicles akin to this Danish junction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcnmLU1ClTo
This would improve sight lines for pedestrians too as the dropped kerbs are away from the junction, and it would also go with the pedestrian desire line as many tend to cross closer to the junction than the dropped kerbs. It would also slow down the vehicles entering the narrow street.
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Merging of cycle lane with The Ride
Where the quite good segregated cycle lane joins The Ride, DfT advice was certainly NOT followed. As per DfT advice, when cycle lanes are merged with the carriageway, it should be done via a length of dropped kerb that is flush with the carriageway and the cycle lane shouldn't be joined at a 90 degree angle to the road.
Here, the cycle lane runs parallel to the road for a short distance before it loops around a large boulder specifically placed to force cyclists around and then finally joins the road at a 90 degree angle.
The kerb, though dropped, is far from flush and creates a risk for cyclists joining the track from the road.
This junction between the road and the track should be scrapped and redone according to DfT guidelines.
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City centre - road designations
The (draft / emerging) 1Core Strategy seems to hint at a bus loop (Policy UC7) and a motor vehicle "ring road" (Policy UC9) too. It mentions pedestrian routes but there's no mention of cycle routes. See attached photo. (I didn't mark up the map, as it might become a tad too messy)
The "ring road" is just like Scott / esde84 described before http://newcycling.org/space4cycling/part2 (in comments)
The photo in the attachment is from "Newcastle Proposals Map" listed here http://onecorestrategyng-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/examination_library (not sure how long thi link will stay live, link rot may happen)
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Ramped access required
There needs to be a ramped access to the school grounds at this point to replace or bypass the 6 steps currently there.
This would not only improve access to the school but also improve connection between the East Craigs Path Network and North Gyle and the only toucan crossing on the A8 in Edinburgh on Dechmont Road. -
Sheendale Rd / St Marys Grove railway bridge
Railway footbridge should have a ramp/trough added to make it easier for cyclists to cross the railway. This would then create a quiet north/south route to Marshgate school as an alternative to Manor Road.
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Cycle/Pedestrian Path between Great Wilbraham and Fulbourn
The Road between Great Wilbraham and Fulbourn is very well used by Cyclists, runners and walkers throughout the year. It is a single track road with a 60 MPH speed limit. A bicycle path here would encourage more people to cycle to Fulbourn and Cambridge. The path would significantly improve safety for cars, pedestrians and cyclists.
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Palewell Fields pedestrian route - obstruction
The path linking Bank Lane to Palewell Fields is currently pedestrian only, with gates across it. Opening this up to cyclists would improve permeability and provide a quiet route to Richmond Park Academy school from Roehampton (east-west); and to Ibstock Place school from Sheen (west-east).
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Route south of Arkwright Town on the Great Central Railway
The railway path from Sheffield down through Staveley & Poolsbrook stops at Arkwright Town. Since an opencast / landfill was south of this point, there is no trace of the former railway line to join to the trails at Sutton Spring Wood. This is an important local link.
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Should Cambridge 'Go Dutch' (or Danish)
London Cycling Campaign has reorientated its policy towards a 'Go Dutch' approach.
This aims to learn from best practice abroad rather than continuing with the 'hierarchy of provision' that, in 20 years in the UK, has arguably failed to deliver meaningful change.
This is an overarching issue for conceptual discussion of this issue.
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Crossing roundabouts on A167
The route on the east side of the A167 past Crossgate Moor and Framwellgate Moor crosses a number of roundabouts. The cycle-path leads you across the roads very close to the roundabout, via the central refuge in the middle of the road. Some of these roads have two lane entry to the roundabout. Crossing both lanes at once is tricky as you have to have an eye on whether the traffic is about to move out onto the roundabout. If you have a longer vehicle, such as a bus, waiting, then the route to the refuge is blocked. There are no road markings to warn motorists that cyclists might be expected.
The route is probably going to be improved as part of the Great North Cycleway. If these roundabouts are to be made safe enough for children to use, major alterations will be required. (The route goes past Durham Johnston School so should be available to children.) The route should cross further from the mouth of the roundabout, preferably on a different-coloured surface, maybe raised.
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Insufficient cycle parking at Abergavenny Railway Station
There are currently around 6 or 8 cages for cycle parking. One bike per cage. While this is great for anyone lucky manages to find an unused cage, often they're all used. Some additional Sheffield type stands required.
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Upgrading Milton Road to Dutch standards
Milton Road, like other main roads in the city, is a mix of typically bad bits of cycle infrastructure. There is considerable scope, possibly within the City Deal funding, to rework the whole streetscape to Dutch standards.
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Link Meadlands Drive to Ham Avenues - surfacing
Providing a cycle-friendly surface on the path from Meadlands Drive to the road serving the German School and the Polo Club would improve cycling access to Strathmore and Russell Schools and help provide a better quiet route from Meadlands Drive area towards Richmond - providing more/better options for avoiding the busy Petersham Road.
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Regent Street (Route 9)
Meeting with Leeds City Council to discuss possible remedial works due to high casualty rates.
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Dangerous A54 crossing
The A54 is an extremely busy arterial road from Chester to the East. The local lanes are very popular with cyclists but any journey has to cross the A54 at some point. One of the few available is between Wicker Lane and Stamford Lane. This is a staggered cross with about 100 yds along the A54 between the lanes. An attempt has been made to make this crossing safer for cyclists with a central refuge and a footpath type cycle lane along the road. However it is still very dangerous and cyclist have to somehow get across the traffic which is very dense and at times very fast. Short of having a bridge or tunnel I think the only cost effective solution is the installation of traffic lights.
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Chicane on slope, creates unnecessary conflict
The chicane at the west end of the Magdalene Glen path interrupts the flow when going uphills, particularly unpleasant for people with weak knees. It also forces cyclists uphills often to stop and start when there are other people going through, as it's not wide enough to pass.
It doesn't serve any useful purpose at it is on the top of the slope where cyclists are very slow anyway. As it's uphills, there is little danger that e.g. kids run out onto the wide pavement of Duddingston Pk South. Cyclists from the West are slow at this point anyway as they turn into the path.
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St Andrew's St - Emmanuel St Junction
further to the piece in newsletter 128, I wonder if any thought has been given to the difficulty of turning right into Emmanuel Street if you are coming towards the town centre from St Andrew's Street? We go fairly often to the Arts Cinema and this is the obvious way for us to go home, but it is impossible to turn right on the correct side of the bollard at present as it is designed only for left turning cycles coming out of town. There is, however, nothing to suggest that such a right turn is illegal.
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Upper Richmond Rd West / Sheen Rd cycle lanes
Westbound cycle lane is painted about 2m out from the kerb for no reason; child cyclists tend to follow paint rather than the common sense option which is to cycle next to the kerb.