FAQs

In 2015, the Greater Cambridge Partnership received £500million to make vital improvements to Greater Cambridge’s walking, cycling and public transport network.  

The Greenway routes were initially proposed to GCP partner, Cambridgeshire County Council, by Nigel Brigham associates in a report that was commissioned in 2016. They have since been revised following public consultations between 2017 and 2019. 

The routes and potential types of intervention were agreed following this consultation and at meetings of the GCP Executive Board throughout 2020.   

We are now focused on designs for the routes with the help of local communities.  

We have been running a rolling programme of public engagement and public consultation on routes since summer 2022. Meetings are being held with the public, key stakeholders, community groups and Parish Councils to present the technical design and gather feedback on the design of the routes. 

For further information on the specific route engagement events, please head to the GCP Greenways webpage and select the Greenway you wish to find out more. 

The Linton Greenway is currently under construction and we have conducted public engagement on six of the 11 remaining Greenways: 

We will conduct public engagement on the remaining five in 2023, including: 

In addition, we also will hold a further public consultation on the Grantchester section of the Haslingfield Greenway in 2023. 

You can contact us at any time to share your thoughts on the Greenways project by emailing us at consultations@greatercambridge.org.uk(External link)(External link) or via phone: 01223 699906  

Your feedback will be used by the project team to update current designs for these Greenways, before they are progressed to detailed design and approved for further development by the GCP Executive Board.  

Designs will be developed in detail alongside other preparatory works, such as ecological surveys and obtaining planning consents before construction and building can begin.  

Traffic surveys will help us to determine existing traffic flows, speeds and the number of pedestrians and / or cyclists that use an existing road, crossing point or existing footpath. This data will help us to determine where we could improve safety and what impact this may have. 

We are also undertaking parking surveys to look in detail at how parking is used along sections of the routes. To make the routes safer for walking and cycling, it may be necessary to alter, move or remove some parking along certain sections of the routes. 

The number and location of parking bays to be changed will be determined by surveys at the next stage of design. 

Trees and hedgerows are important for local wildlife and provide shade and shelter for people on the Greenways.  

As such, we are designing the route so that impacts on trees and hedgerows are minimised. The Greenways will provide a minimum of 10% biodiversity net gain. 

During the next phase of work, detailed, non-invasive tree and hedgerow surveys will be undertaken to determine the precise impact of the Greenway on any existing trees and hedgerows. A tree specialist will recommend ways to mitigate these impacts during construction, including root protection plans and good practice construction methods, for example. They will also identify any further planting or enhancements required to increase biodiversity and meet the 10% net gain requirement. 

The  grass verge is available for all soft surface users, such as horse riders, walkers and joggers. 

We are looking at lighting for the routes as part of the next stage of design.  

We will undertake a lighting assessment, which will consider all aspects of lighting along the Greenway.  

It may not be practical to provide lighting along the entire length of the Greenway since lighting can have an adverse impact on wildlife. In some sections we are considering low level lighting, which illuminates the path without impacting wildlife, for example through use of solar studs. 

Our designers will engage an ecologist during the planning and design stage of the route to explore what technology could be used to light certain sections. As a general principle, lighting would be provided wherever the Greenway meets the public roads, or where road safety concerns exist. Any street lighting proposals will be discussed with the Cambridgeshire County Council. 

The landscape designs for the Greenway will consider the inclusion of street furniture such as benches at appropriate locations and will need to include consideration of funding and maintenance for these. 

The current legal position is that horse riders do not have the right to use routes marked with the blue “pedestrian/cycle only” or cycle stencil sign. In order to allow equestrians on existing routes which are currently signed as “pedestrian/cycle only”, the Department for Transport would need to change the current definition of a “pedestrian/cycle only” share use path.  

There are currently two signs in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 relating to shared use paths.

The sign indicating a shared route for bicycles, horses and pedestrians must only be placed to indicate the effect of an Act, order, regulation, bylaw, resolution or notice which prohibits or restricts the traffic on the road.   

Allowing equestrians to use routes that are currently shared cycle and pedestrian use only, would require a change which Cambridge County Council Members would need to approve. This could be done on a case-by-case basis where it is appropriate. However, there would need to be consideration about the width of the route, additional head height clearance required and what crossing facilities are in place at any formal crossing points, as these should include provisions suitable for horses. 

In order to legally change an existing “pedestrian and cycle only” route to allow equestrians, the route would need to be re-dedicated by way of a notice and updated to include the “bicycle, equestrian and pedestrian”. This would have a cost implication to make the changes, particularly if changes are required at crossing points or additional height clearance or width is required.  Given the current financial climate unfortunately there are no County Council funds available to progress any changes on existing routes at this time.   

The BHS have delivered an information session for County Council officers to help them identify these issues for future schemes.

All signage included along the Greenway Routes will be set out in a prescribed way, in accordance with the latest guidance and in line with the latest version of the Highway Code. This includes signage to advise users of the presence of pedestrians, cyclists and, where appropriate, horse riders, along the Greenway Network.   

We are also preparing a wayfinding strategy, that will detail the types and signs to be used to way find along the route and signpost people to locations and destinations.   

A detailed schedule of proposed signage, including types of signage and locations, will be included as part of the detailed drawings in the next stages of the design.  

We are happy to receive feedback and comments from the public and stakeholders as part of this engagement process, on any signage which we should consider.

There will be opportunities for further engagement before construction starts. 

Your feedback in this engagement will be considered as the designs are progressed and landowners will continue to be engaged where their agreement is needed to deliver the route. 

Since the previous consultation in 2019, the Bottisham Greenway route alignment has been extended further west towards the Cutter Ferry Bridge. Localised improvements are also proposed along the existing bridge for pedestrians and cyclists that links Cutter Ferry Lane with Midsummer Common.  

The plan is subject to planning applications, the outcome of Traffic Regulation Orders, land negotiations, potential Compulsory Purchase Orders longer term, and agreement of permits by Cambridgeshire County Council Street Works for proposed construction periods. The designs may also alter depending on the feedback of the current round of engagement. 

Public consultation on the proposed route alignments was held in 2018/19. Further design work on the routes was approved by Councillors at the GCP Executive Board in June 2020. You can find more details on our Greenways webpage at: https://www.greatercambridge.org.uk/sustainable-transport-programme/active-travel-projects/greater-cambridge-greenways  

To progress the schemes, GCP have commissioned site surveys along the planned route, and instructed consultants to progress designs for the alignment agreed by the GCP Executive Board. 

Three junctions would be improved as part of the Bottisham Greenway: 

We are proposing to realign the Albert Road junction with Newmarket Road, to allow for a safer and direct crossing over Albert Road. The proposal will involve realigning the carriageway at Albert Road to curve more towards west, allowing Albert Road to meet Newmarket Road at a 90-degree angle, providing improved visibility and a smoother transition. A three-metre-wide central refuge island will allow for a safe crossing. White painted give-way markings on the carriageway are proposed on the approach to the junction, allowing vehicles to give way to pedestrians and cyclists travelling east to west and slow down vehicular traffic joining Newmarket Road. In addition, new wayfinding signage and lighting are proposed to guide users and highlight the greenway. This proposal would be subject to landowner agreement. 

We are also proposing a parallel crossing over Fison Road, to enable cyclists and pedestrians to cross with the same level of priority as a zebra crossing but with a dedicated parallel cycle crossing alongside the zebra crossing for pedestrians.  

Currently, the Bell Road / High Street junction provides ambiguity in terms of priority for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers. To resolve this issue, raised tables with give way markings are proposed (along with block-paving surface) to highlight the provision of a shared surface for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles progressing onto the High Street. Signage is proposed to ensure that vehicles are cautious of cyclists and pedestrians.

There are two sections of quiet street on the Greenway: Lode Road and Bell Road. 

On Lode Road we are proposing to introduce a reduced speed limit of 20mph, cycle symbol road markings at regular intervals and red asphalt surfacing on the carriageway, with the aim of highlighting the primary position of the cyclist in the centre of the traffic lane.  

The proposal for Bell Road is to widen the existing shared use path on the western side of Bell Road to three metres (where possible) up until the existing farm access, whilst retaining a grass verge buffer to separate the shared path from the farmland. At this point, cyclists travelling north will transition onto the proposed quiet street via a buildout. This has been proposed to allow for a safer movement for cyclists in and out of the quiet street, by giving them priority over motorised vehicles using give way markings. Wayfinding signage and lighting will also be implemented to guide users and highlight the Greenway. On Bell Road, the existing speed limit is 30mph on the approach to Bottisham. This 30mph speed limit would be retained up to the buildout, where the speed limit is proposed to be reduced to 20mph. This speed reduction allows for non-motorised users to safely transition from the shared use path to the proposed quiet street. The speed limit of 20mph is then maintained until the Bell Road junction with High Street and Lode Road, where the quiet street environment continues.  

A14 Underpass: 

The Bottisham Greenway would use the existing shared use provision at the A14 underpass.  

Currently, the ramp at the northern end of the underpass onto the Quy Mill Hotel Access Road is quite steep. As such, the proposals will seek to reduce the ramp gradient to make it safer and easier to use. This will involve extending the northern approach ramp into the underpass, which will also help address drainage issues such as water ponding during periods of heavy rainfall.  We are also proposing to slow down vehicle speeds at the northern end of the underpass where cyclists exit onto the carriageway to make it safer.  

At the southern end of the underpass, we propose to provide a more direct route for pedestrians and cyclists entering the underpass and improve onward visibility through the underpass. This will involve straightening the approach alignment and clearing some of the vegetation in front of the underpass. Where visibility is restricted or there are blind spots, mirrors will be implemented to allow Greenway users to see further ahead. We would also upgrade the lighting within the underpass to provide better sightlines and improve visibility.  

Riverside:  

A quiet street environment is proposed throughout Riverside, this would be achieved via the existing speed limit of 20mph, cycle symbol road markings at regular intervals and red asphalt surfacing on the carriageway, to allow cyclists to take a primary position in the centre of the traffic lane. Most parking bays along this section of the route will be retained, with the addition of a proposed safety buffer zone, to ensure there is sufficient space for drivers to get out of their vehicles without colliding with the cyclists on the carriageway. Formalised parking bays are proposed for residents and users of Stourbridge Common. Wayfinding signage will also be proposed to guide users and highlight the Greenway. 

This plan is subject to planning applications, the outcome of Traffic Regulation Orders, land negotiations, potential Compulsory Purchase Orders longer term, and agreement of permits by Cambridgeshire County Council Street Works for proposed construction periods. The designs may also alter depending on the feedback of the current round of engagement. 

The Bottisham Greenway links to the Horningsea Greenway at the bowtie and links to Swaffhams Greenways at Church Road. These Greenways were previously consulted on, and the feedback received from residents and other local stakeholders in 2019 has informed the choice of route and shaped the proposals. The proposed routes have been approved by Councillors at the GCP Executive Board in June 2020. 

The Swaffhams Greenway links to the Bottisham Greenways at the Quy Mill Hotel Access Road. 

Feasibility work has revealed significant challenges to deliver the underpass, such as utilities, flood risk and land acquisition. Concerns were also raised about the safety of underpasses in these areas which are isolated for use by pedestrians. 

A high-pressure gas main was also identified within the vicinity of the proposed underpass alignment. We would have to relocate this gas main to build the underpass, resulting in extensive and very costly groundworks.  

Underpasses would therefore represent poor value for money. Instead, we are proposing improved paths and improvements to existing street-level signalised crossings that would allow users to cross safely. 

Both routes serve different places and destinations in the city and will enhance the regions active travel network. 

To transition from the off-carriageway sections of the Greenway to the Quiet Streets and vice versa, buildouts will be proposed along the route. These will allow cyclists to keep their priority and continue the route without forcing them to stop.  

The route seeks to provide a three-metre-wide shared use path, wherever possible, through widening of the existing footpath. At locations where the speed limits are 60mph, a grass verge with a minimum width of two metres is proposed to separate Greenway users from road traffic. However, for the section between Lode and Swaffham Prior we propose to reduce the speed limit to 40mph to improve safety on the greenway where only a one-metre safety verge between the shared use path and the carriageway is possible.  

Finally, the route will improve the lighting of the existing path along Colliers Lane, connecting Abbey Lane with Quy Court. 

At all five junctions along the Swaffhams Greenway, safety improvements are proposed. 

Where applicable, priority will be given to people walking or cycling over motorised vehicles by using raised tables, 10-metre setbacks from the main carriageway and the appropriate priority signage and markings. A setback arrangement helps cyclists cross minor arms of junctions in a safe manner without losing priority. An example of what a setback arrangement may look like is shown below.  

Figure 1 – Example of cycle priority at side roads (full setback, 5-metres or more)