Response to: Consultation – Swaffham and Bottisham Greenway 23

Greenway Consultation

Greater Cambridge Partnership

By email to: consultations@greatercambridge.org.uk

24 March 2023

Dear Sirs,

Response to: Consultation – Swaffham and Bottisham Greenway 23

We refer to the above consultation and submit the comments of Fen Ditton Parish Council relating to the routing through Ditton Meadows, our Parish and Newmarket Rd. We continue to be broadly supportive of the proposals. We consider that by linking and improving existing sections, the proposals should benefit our residents in Marleigh when cycling into Cambridge as well as more generally facilitating leisure use, access to Darwin Farm Nursery and providing a better alternative for some cyclists who use High Ditch Road.

Our letter of 10 Nov 2019 raised a number of points that we are pleased to see have been addressed but a few issues remain as described below.

  1. As a general point, we note that there is no details of which trees are to be removed. This information should be presented in a subsequent consultation before clearance takes place.
  2. Sheet 10. The A14 underpass needs better drainage, lighting and visibility on the approaches and entrance/exits. There are drainage and ponding issues which are exacerbated by inflows and sediment on the approaches which need to be designed out rather the relying on frequent maintenance.
  3. Sheet 10. We are concerned about the omission of widening and improvement of the bridges over Quy Water and the Lode.
  4. Sheet 9. We request advance ‘Give Way’ signage and some form of speed reduction measures on High Ditch Road to be added before the Greenway crosses High Ditch Road slightly away from its junction with Newmarket Road.
  5. Sheet 9. The Greenway crosses the entrance and exits of Darwin Farm Nursery where visibility and crossing space for cars and bikes remains poor and requires improvement. Has moving the start of the 1.5 m grass verge east of the Darwin exit crossing and moving the Greenway away from the fence line been considered? This would allow better visibility between the Greenway and existing cars and vans.
  6. Sheet 9. Is there any reason why path widening north of the runway has been omitted from the Drawings?
  7. Sheet 8. The Fison Lane Crossing. We would be grateful for confirmation that there will be no further reduction in the kerb radius on the south east corner since buses already oversail across the northbound side lane of Ditton Lane when exiting Fison Road and turning south.
  8. We have noted in previous letters about the Chisholm Trail that the link between the existing Millenium Path and the new trail arm going towards the Leper Chapel involves a staggered junction. We confirm that, as predicted, cyclists and pedestrians tend to cut the corner and the cattle grid/gate is very awkward for through cyclists. This was not resolved by the Chisholm Trail contract packages and should be included in this Greenway Project.

We would be happy to meet your representatives to go through these points if any clarification is required.

Yours faithfully,

Charles Jones

Vice – Chairman

c/c Sarah Smart;

Parish Clerk

pp, Fen Ditton Parish Council

email: clerk@fenditton-pc.org.uk

Coun. Anna Bradnam

Coun. Graham Cone

Coun. Claire Daunton

Coun. Carla Hofman

Coun. John Williams

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