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Cambridge Congestion Charge

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Congestion Charge UK road traffic sign symbol

The Cambridge Congestion Charge, or Sustainable Travel Zone was a scrapped congestion pricing scheme proposed by the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) in England, which was scheduled for completion in 2027/28. The GCP believed the scheme would help fund transport provision and reduce congestion in the city of Cambridge. The scheme proposed a £5 minimum daily charge on vehicles entering the city, increased to £10 for vans and to £50 for heavy goods vehicles and coaches. Exceptions were proposed for "emergency vehicles, disabled tax class vehicles and breakdown services", among others. The scheme became the subject of local controversy, with 58% of respondents recording their opposition in an official consultation, and was scrapped in September 2023.

Background

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Cambridge is a small university city in England, United Kingdom with a population of 145,700 as of the 2021 United Kingdom census.[1] The city is served by two National Rail stations – Cambridge and Cambridge North, with bus links principally provided by Stagecoach including guided busway and park and ride services. In October 2022, Stagecoach cancelled 18 Cambridgeshire bus routes due to "significant falls in passenger numbers" resulting in local backlash.[2] In the 2021 census, just 41% of residents reported to use "private motorised vehicles" as their main means by which they commute to work compared to 49% by cycle or foot, with Cambridge having the highest level of city cycle usage in the UK.[3]

Proposal

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Proposals for the Sustainable Travel Zone were first published by the Greater Cambridge Partnership in August 2022, putting forward a planned £5 minimum charge for entering the city of Cambridge by motor vehicle operating weekdays from 7am-7pm.[4] The proposed charge levels were set out at:

Proposed charge levels[5]
CategoryProposed charge (per day)Notes
Cars, mopeds, motorbikes£5The GCP has noted the "potential to explore a 50% discount for zero emissions vehicles"
Vans, vehicles with more than 9 seats£10Excludes coaches and buses
Coaches, HGVs£50
Registered buses, taxis, private hire vehiclesFree

Exceptions were proposed for:[5]

  • Emergency vehicles
  • Military vehicles
  • Disabled tax class vehicles
  • Breakdown services
  • Dial-a-ride services
  • "Certain local authority operational vehicles, e.g. refuse collection vehicles"
  • Blue badge holders (up to two vehicles)
  • People on low-incomes ("tapered discount 25–100%")
  • Car club vehicles

In June 2023, a selection of alternative proposals were put forward for consideration by the GCP board, with further collaboration with Cambridgeshire County Council, after the GCP announced that the proposals should be modified.[6] These included:

  • Cars only being charged £5 between 07:00 and 19:00 on weekdays or charging only at peak travel times (in comparison to the previous proposal that placed no exceptions on the times at which the charge would be in force)
  • Providing 330 free-days for drivers tiered within the first 4 years of operation
  • Exemptions for hospital trips
  • Rejecting any Congestion Charging proposal all-together[7]

Response

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In response to an official consultation, 58% of respondents recorded their opposition to the scheme, which the Greater Cambridge Partnership believed would raise necessary funds for sustainable transport provision and reduce congestion on the city's roads. Opponents raised issues related to burdens placed on low income earners, the impact on local businesses and the lack of transport alternatives.[8][9] The proposals were challenged by the local Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green parties, though only the local Conservative Party definitively rejected any potential congestion pricing scheme outright.[10][11] The proposed congestion charge was a major issue in the 2023 Cambridge City Council election.[12]

In July 2023, the Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper criticised the proposed scheme, calling for the plans to go "back to the drawing board". He accused the Liberal Democrats and Labour of "choosing to pursue an ideological anti-car agenda", stating that they "must listen to local residents".[6] The scheme was scrapped in September 2023 after Liberal Democratic councillors expressed concerns and the Labour Party group withdrew their support.[13] In October 2023, some councillors discussed retaining a congestion charging scheme as an option for future consideration.[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Population and household estimates, England and Wales: Census 2021 – Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "Mayor slams 'unacceptable' cuts as Stagecoach reveals plans to axe 18 Cambridgeshire bus routes". 22 September 2022.
  3. ↑ "Cambridgeshire Insight – Population – Census 2021 – Topic Summaries – Travel To Work". cambridgeshireinsight.org.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "Greater Cambridge Partnership sets out plans for £5 road user charge and bus network shake-up with £1 fares". Cambridge Independent. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Making Connections presentation 07 11 22" (PDF). Greater Cambridge Partnership. 7 November 2022. pp. 9–10.
  6. 1 2 "Cambridge congestion charge needs re-examining, says transport minister". BBC News. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "Cambridge congestion charge plans move ahead but face changes". BBC News. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "Making Connections 2022 Consultation Report" (PDF). Greater Cambridge Partnership. pp. 55–103. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  9. ↑ "Cambridge city congestion charge plans set to continue". BBC News. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  10. ↑ "Local elections 2023: Might congestion charge plan decide Cambridge vote?". BBC News. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  11. ↑ Brown, Hannah (14 April 2023). "Political parties on the potential Cambridge congestion charge". CambridgeshireLive. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  12. ↑ "Local elections 2023: Might congestion charge plan decide Cambridge vote?". BBC News. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  13. ↑ "Cambridge congestion charge plans 'are not going ahead'". BBC News. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  14. ↑ "Future Cambridge congestion charge could be considered". BBC News. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
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