Cambridge Evening News: Cyclists’ bridge to make way for buses?

A new £2 million bridge for cyclists could be replaced as part of plans to create a new town. The Jane Coston bridge links Milton to the north of Cambridge and was opened in May 2004 following a campaign for a life-saving crossing to stop pedestrians and cyclists having to cross the potentially lethal A14 roundabout. But less than three years after its opening developer Barton Willmore Partnerhip has applied to Cambridge City Council to replace it with a new bridge for bus, pedestrian and cycle use.

Jane Coston, the Milton parish councillor whose name the bridge bears, said:

“The bridge is packed during peak times and when the roads are blocked it is the only way people from Milton can get to services such as the park and ride. It took an awful long time to get and then build, and it was designed to stay there for years.”

The developer claims the council told it earlier no planning permission would be needed for the move and now it wants an official ruling on the issue.

The scheme is part of plans for Mereham, a town of 5,000 houses which could be built between Ely and Cambridge.

Construction giant Multiplex Stannifer is behind the scheme which was turned down by East Cambridgeshire District Council earlier this year. The company has lodged an appeal against that decision.

James Woodburn, spokesman for the Cambridge Cycling Campaign said: “The bridge, as it is, is very important as it takes cyclists off the Milton interchange and works really, really well.

“We have not seen the plans and would like to look at any proposals on that basis.”

David Barker, a planner for Barton Willmore Partnership, said: “A planning application was put in 12 months ago. The council considered a planning application wasn’t needed for that development and wrote to us to that effect. All this application is asking is for the council to formally consent.”

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire County Council said: “We continue to object to proposals to build the development called Mereham in East Cambridgeshire and we believe proposals for a bridge are unachievable.”

A spokeswoman for the Highways Agency, which built the bridge, said: “We are aware of the proposals and are in discussions with the developer.”