A campaign group plans to sue the council over a £200 million “sustainable green bus route” proposed from Cambourne to Cambridge, which would disrupt 4.5 miles of rural countryside, including historic cotton orchards. The charity, Cambridge Past, Present and Future, argues the route will cause significant environmental damage and should utilize existing infrastructure to mitigate degradation. Over 22,200 people have signed a petition urging local politicians to avoid unnecessary harm to wildlife habitats. Despite concerns from local farmers and environmentalists, the Greater Cambridge Partnership maintains the corridor is essential for connecting housing developments and improving public transport, with plans to plant over 1,000 trees for compensation.
A campaign group plans to take the council to court over plans to build a £200m “sustainable green bus route” through rural countryside.
Cambridge Past, Present and Future magazine says the proposed Cambourne to Cambridge bus corridor would tear apart 4.5 miles of countryside, including historic cotton orchards, and cause widespread “environmental damage”. states.
The charity claims the route, which will be built on new off-road tracks and include cycle lanes, should run on existing infrastructure to reduce “environmental degradation” on rural land. I am doing it.
The campaign’s chief executive, James Littlewood, told the Telegraph: “We can improve bus services without building roads through four wildlife habitats and our charity’s land. It is possible,” he said.
“More than 22,200 people have signed a petition calling on local politicians to build bus lanes instead of bus lanes to avoid unnecessary environmental damage.
“However, they are pushing ahead with their plans and we have lodged a challenge with the government, which will result in a public inquiry being launched.”
The proposed bus road would cut through Cotton Orchard, a 60-acre property that dates back to 1922. This orchard is the 8th largest traditional orchard in the country.
It is described online as follows: “Undisturbed by cultivation or pesticides for decades, the remains of the county’s orchard heritage, a mix of fruit trees, meadows, hedgerows, wild shrubs and copses, are home to a rich community of flora and fauna. .’
Campaigners have voiced outrage at the proposed route that would tear apart cotton orchards (pictured)
Activists claim local farmers are “deeply concerned” about the damage the proposed bus route will cause to surrounding agriculture.
Broadcaster Clive Anderson, chairman of the Woodland Trust, told the Telegraph that while the bus route could make a “small contribution” to the fight against the climate crisis, it would be He said it would be “very unfortunate” if only this were possible. The biodiversity crisis will get worse. ”
He planned to rip out the cotton orchard’s mature trees, “once lost, lost forever.”
The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP), whose backers include Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridge City Council, claims the eight-mile route will help connect people living in planned housing developments.
It will also “help car drivers transfer to buses” before facing “traffic jams” in the city.
The buses will be ‘optically guided’ electric or hybrid vehicles and will be able to get you from Cambourne to Cambridge in under 19 minutes.
A park and ride is also planned to be built north of Hardwick village.
GCP claims online that there are “no reasonable alternatives” to cultivating orchards, and that it is aware of the “environmental impacts” and has “taken numerous steps to limit environmental impacts.” We are taking lessons,” he added.
Cotton Orchard (pictured) is the largest traditional orchard in Cambridgeshire and the eighth largest in the country.
Examples of guided busways in Cambridge. There was great opposition to the plan.
More than 1,000 trees will be planted to compensate for some of the damage caused by the planned construction of the route.
A GCP spokesperson told the Telegraph: “We have not been notified by Cambridge Past Present Future of any intention to commence legal proceedings.”
“If we receive any relevant documents, we will review and discuss them with our legal representatives and take appropriate action.”
MailOnline also contacted GCP.
