Further proposals for the Haslingfield Greenway are being put to the public, as reports outlining the next steps on three other key walking and cycling routes will be discussed this week.

The 150km network of Greenways being developed by the Greater Cambridge Partnership aim to help people walk and cycle more between Cambridge and surrounding villages.

Coinciding with National Bike week, the public are being asked to comment on proposals for one 2.5-kilometre section of Greenway through Grantchester, connecting it with Haslingfield and Cambridge. The designs out for consultation include:

• new, off-road shared use paths as well as upgrades to some existing off-road paths from Grantchester to the M11 bridge in the south and Newnham in the north
• traffic calming features in Grantchester sensitive to the village’s conservation area status including; improvements to junctions to make them safer to cross or travel through and wider footways

Thomas Fitzpatrick, Transport Programme Manager at the Greater Cambridge Partnership, said:

“The proposals, which we are putting out to consultation, aim to provide people with a safer and easier way to walk or cycle around Grantchester and on to Cambridge or Haslingfield.

“I’d encourage anyone with an interest in Grantchester and the Haslingfield Greenway route to take a look at the proposals and share their views.

“The Parish Council have been extremely helpful as we developed these proposals and we look forward to hearing feedback from the public. This will help to inform where the route goes and what, if any, further changes should be made to it.”

Feedback received on three other Greenways routes will be considered by the GCP’s Joint Assembly and Executive Board this month, following two public consultations and one engagement held in the spring.

Members on the GCP’s boards will make decisions on the Greenway routes which connect to the guided busway path from Fen Drayton, Over, Oakington, Westwick and Cottenham. The guided busway path would also be rebranded and sign-posted as the St Ives Greenway. Flood monitoring is underway in the Swavesey area as part of the proposals to alleviate the issue.

The Joint Assembly and Executive Board will also consider the reports of public feedback on the Swaffhams and Bottisham Greenways, which would connect the East Cambridgeshire villages with the city via the Newmarket Road and Stow-cum-Quy.

Thomas Fitzpatrick added:

“The reports summarise the feedback received from local parishes, residents and businesses along the Swaffhams, Bottisham and St Ives Greenway routes and what we are proposing to do in response.

“Any decisions the Executive Board take will mark a big milestone in these three routes as we look to finalise plans, seek the relevant permissions with authorities and landowners to start building the improvements.

“By 2025, the Greenways will connect communities across our region and provide greener, cheaper and healthier travel options."

How to take part in the Haslingfield Consultation

To find out more, a virtual public event will be held on the evening of Tuesday 20 June, and an in-person event on the afternoon of Thursday 22 June in Grantchester Village Hall.

The public consultation will run for eight weeks and will close at midday on 28 July.

Feedback can be submitted via an online survey. To find out more, visit: www.greatercambridge.org.uk/haslingfield-greenway

Following the consultation, a report will go to the GCP Executive Board for a decision on the next steps.