Protests Impede Bus Gate Work on Cambridge’s Mill Road

Demonstrators have persistently interfered with efforts to put in place a bus gate, an installation designed to limit the majority of vehicle traffic on a bridge in the city centre. Cambridgeshire County Council stated that the project on Mill Road, Cambridge, was scheduled to commence on 11 November, but the appointed contractors have been prevented from starting. The council reported that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras had been subjected to vandalism and affirmed that such criminal damage would not be accepted. It issued a statement: “Everyone has the right to a peaceful protest, however the safety of our workforce and welfare of other road users is paramount.” A BBC journalist present at the location on Wednesday observed approximately 60 demonstrators, who had halted all work for the third night in a row. The reporter characterized the demonstration as peaceful, but noted that contractors had taken bollards from the road and departed the site around 19:15 GMT. The council indicated that any tampering with equipment might lead to police involvement. It stated: “We would urge those wishing to protest to do so peacefully and not to interfere with the works as this may present a risk to the workforce and other road users.” Will Bannell, a participant in the protest and an adversary of the initiative, described the proposals to implement the bus gate as “baffling.” He commented: “More like [the council is] ramming it through the front door, it’s quite blatant. It has become quite shocking some of the ways the council has commenced the whole thing – brazen, you should say.” He further claimed that the demonstrators had “succeeded,” resulting in the cessation of work and the return of workers to their vehicles. While he expressed that it would be “lovely” to experience Mill Road with reduced congestion and pollution, he voiced his disagreement with the current plans. Conversely, certain local inhabitants have endorsed the proposals. Katie Hawks, who serves as the vice-chair of Mill Road 4 People, asserted that traffic limitations were necessary on Mill Road Bridge and that those protesting the plan constituted a “minority.” She further suggested that a reduction in motor vehicle traffic would lead to increased patronage for businesses on the road. Ms Hawks elaborated: “Mill Road is a high street which still has independent shops and eateries… but something which puts people off, makes people feel unsafe and contributes to pollution and accidents is the amount of traffic.” She continued: “This traffic was a problem in 1973 and is even more of a problem now as it’s increased hugely. “The protests are the latest attempt by a small number of people to get in the way of a democratic process – and a genuinely popular decision.” The council had initially indicated that the installation of the bus gate would conclude by 25 November, involving overnight closures from 19:00 to 06:00. The resolution to implement the gate was passed during a special session of the Highways and Transport Committee in October. The majority of vehicles, including private automobiles, would be prohibited from the bridge. A local advocacy group had previously contested the authority’s intention to impose these restrictions, contending that penalties for crossing the bridge would displace traffic to other areas. In August, the council ceased a legal dispute with the local advocacy organization, Friends of Mill Road Bridge, following the group’s opposition to the authority’s proposals for a traffic prohibition on a section of the road, which would exempt buses, cyclists, emergency services, taxis, and blue badge holders. Earlier, Pamela Wesson, the chair of Friends of Mill Road Bridge, posted on Facebook that the confrontation resembled “a David-vs-Goliath struggle.” She stated that the group’s legal challenge incorporated the assertion that the council had “made a mistake of fact in relation to how the decision affected individuals with disabilities.” For updates on Cambridgeshire news, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.