Melbourn Greenway: Foxton FAQs

Ahead of works starting on the Foxton spur of the Melbourn Greenway, we’ve put together some FAQs to help residents understand why we’re delivering these improvements, and what the project involves.

Melbourn Greenway is one of twelve Greater Cambridge greenways being constructured in South Cambridgeshire to provide better and safer walking ad cycling routes into the city of Cambridge.

This greenway starts at Royston and connects to the villages of Meldreth, Melbourn, Shepreth, Foxton and Harston before going into Cambridge through Trumpington meadows and the guided busway.

The Melbourn Greenway will make it easier for people to walk, wheel or cycle between the villages and Cambridge, with provision for horse riding wherever possible. The length of the greenway is approximately twelve miles and it consists of new routes and enhancements to the existing network to create an end-to-end walking and cycling route.

The whole of the Melbourn Greenway is due to be built in 2025.

However, sections of the Melbourn Greenway were identified as being suitable for delivery early. The Foxton spur has been identified as one section that can be delivered in 2024.

A sinusoidal speed hump is a round-topped hump that extends the width of the carriageway.

Sinusoidal speed humps are designed to be quieter than flat-topped speed humps and are smoother to cycle over.

A Copenhagen crossing is a slightly raised crossing over a junction.

It allows for people walking to have right of way over a crossing (as set out in the highway code) and slows a car's speed when turning into the junction. Copenhagen crossings can be block paved or tarmacked. The proposal for Foxton is to use a tarmacked approach.

The implementation of a 20mph zone without physical traffic calming measures is unlikely to be adhered to by all.

The police do not have the resources to continuously monitor driver behaviour through the village.

The purpose of the traffic calming interventions is also to ensure that the carriageway is safer for people to cross on foot, or cycle along, regardless of age or ability. This means that the scheme must be in accordance with LTN 1/20, which is guidance developed by the Department for Transport and is the expected standard that should be applied to all local traffic schemes.

The scheme has also been subjected to two independent road safety audits, which test the safety of the scheme in all weather conditions and at different times of day.

Since the online public meeting on Wednesday 31 January and subsequent public meeting on Monday 5 February, what changes have you made?

We have:

Delayed the start of the works in Foxton to further review the plans following feedback. We are looking to start works in the spring.
Restarted work to look at creating a separate footpath on Shepreth Road. This will not form part of the early works, but we are committed to improve Shepreth Road as part of the Melbourn Greenway.
Reconfirmed our commitment to the route over the A10 level crossing as part of the later phase of works to be completed in 2025.
Removed our proposals to create a short section of diagonal footpath following a ‘desire line’ on Challis Close.
Moved speed humps placed in front of driveways or near to sensitive listed buildings.
Replaced the priority chicane measure on the High Street with a speed hump.
Relocated the speed hump between The Green and Caxton Lane to avoid resident’s access.
Increased the amount of footway (pavement) space at the junction of West Hill Road to maintain the rose bushes.
Reduced the size of the raised crossing area at the junction of Caxton Lane and The Green to reduce the impact on greenery.
Committed to work with Cambridgeshire County Council to implement a 20mph zone on Fowlmere Road – likely to be delivered as part of the phase 2 works.

Improvements and changes to the scheme

Need for improvements to Shepreth Road	We will assess the possibility of creating a footpath along the road We had not taken this forward at this stage as the challenges on the northern section of Shepreth Road make it likely that a large area of land will need to be acquired from private landowners This will be looked into further and be delivered as phase 2 works
Concerns about speedbump placement in front of driveways	Where possible, speed humps have been relocated
Suggestion for inclusion of automatic speed reminder sign	This is not included in the scheme
Need for speed reduction measures on Fowlmere Rd or 20mph Zone	This is being reviewed for delivery as phase 2 works with Cambridgeshire County Council
Need for improvements for Foxton level crossing	The Melbourn Greenway will include improvements to the Foxton level crossing for walking and cycling. This is part of the second phase of works. The designs need to be reworked due to Foxton travel hub plans being paused. They also need to go through further checks with Network Rail as we are building near a busy railway.
Request for traffic-calming measures in Barrington Road	Not included in the phase 1 scheme but may be included in the works to the A10 level crossing as part of phase 2
Request for traffic-calming measures in Chalk Hill	Not included in phase 1 scheme. A 20mph zone will be considered for delivery as a phase 2 scheme

Specific changes

Concern over the location of double-yellow lines	The double-yellow lines are a way of achieving a safer environment in Foxton. Residents and parish council have asked for extension to double-yellow lines Our engineers have proposed the double-yellow lines in places where parking limits visibility and creates a safety problem, typically, next to junctions and around tight bends in the road
Need for a traffic-light-controlled crossing at the A10	Works on the A10 are more complex and require further planning and detailed coordination In 2025, we will install a new traffic-light-controlled crossing of the A10 near the junction with Shepreth Road
Concern over the proximity of speed hump on Station Road being too close to grade 2 listed property	With regard to potential damage to buildings it is very unlikely that even superficial damage could be caused by the installation of humps and cushions [1]
Concern of raised table crossing being too far north on Station Road	This crossing will remain in place and forms part of a key route to the high school and railway station.
Concern over removal of widened footway at Challis Close Corner	We will not remove the recently widened footway
Concern over the impact of the scheme on floral tribute	There will be no impact on the floral tribute, as the path widening has been removed from our proposals.
Concern over low drain on corner of Station Road	Drainage issues have been accounted for
Concern over flooding experienced around the parish green near to The Green	Drainage issues have been accounted for

[1] Transport Research Laboratory (1999) traffic calming: vehicle generated noise and ground-borne vibration alongside sinusoidal, round-top and flat-top road humps

Overall concerns

Concern over plans not considering other projects taking place at the village	Detailed discussions have taken place with Cambridgeshire County Council’s street works team (who licence and coordinate road work permits) and with the Burlington Press developers to coordinate our activities
Concern over the project’s impact on the character of the village	All traffic-calming features in the village will use standard highway materials in standard colours. The speed humps and raised tables will be black-topped tarmac. Different colours are used on the plans to highlight new features. They do not reflect how the scheme will look A small section of the green space in the centre of the village will be used to provide a footpath to link with the rest of the footpaths that connect the village. We are ensuring that we take as little land as possible
Concern over agricultural vehicles navigating the village	Engineers have reviewed the designs against turning movements of large vehicles and agricultural traffic
Concern over the maintenance of the roads	Funding has been set aside for the maintenance of the greenway schemes by Cambridgeshire County Council
Concern about increased noise and air pollution from speed humps	Any changes to noise or air pollution are likely to be negligible or positive. Vehicles are typically quieter at slower speeds and the speed hump design we have chosen is a smoother profile for vehicles traveling over them There will be a much more significant health benefits from the 20mph zone and its impact on activity, noise and road safety
Request for clarification over the necessity of traffic calming features	A 20mph zone with traffic-calming features will make sure the speed limit is adhered to at all times of the day by the vast majority of users without the need for police or community enforcement The scheme also aims to help people of all ages and abilities feel more confident cycling on the road. This means that it has to be in accordance with UK government guidance (LTN 1/20) The scheme has been through two independent Road Safety Audits, which test the safety of the scheme in all weather conditions, at different times of the day and recommended the inclusion of traffic-calming features Previous consultation/engagement saw requests for speed humps as opposed to chicanes
Request for clarification over the budget of the project	The scheme is being paid from city deal funding, which was awarded to the Greater Cambridge Partnership to better balance and support our region’s growth

Other comments

Requests for clarification of the consultation process	Designed to extend opportunities for people to walk, wheel or cycle, more safely and easily, the scheme has been developed to support the objectives in the Foxton neighbourhood plan (2021) and is based on feedback gathered from residents in three previous rounds of consultation/engagement (2017-18, 2019 and 2022). A copy of the Foxton neighbourhood plan is available here: Foxton Neighbourhood Plan In addition, we have run three previous rounds of engagement on the project: 2017/2018: When considering route options for the Melbourn Greenway -we conducted a consultation in the winter to gauge public opinion. An overview of the feedback is noted in our March 2019 report. 2019: When considering the features of the agreed route, we conducted a more detailed consultation in the summer. This included key elements, such as a route through Foxton and the 20mph limit. Both elements received majority support. Some respondents said the route ‘…would improve access for Foxton residents and offered a quieter route away from the A10’. A copy of the consultation report is available here: Melbourn-Greenway-Consultation-Report-September-2019 (greatercambridge.org.uk) 2022: When finalising designs for the scheme in October we shared proposals, which showed traffic-calming measures through the village
Request for more consultation with residents	We have conducted further engagement via the parish council and have had two further meetings with residents We are reviewing feedback received and acting, where possible, to change designs The last step will be one more drop-in event and to advertise a Traffic Order, where anyone can submit comments to the County Council, which must formally be considered.
Contact information for raising issues.	Email contactus@greatercambridge.org.uk or phone 01223 699906
Request for clarification on consultation with all statutory consultees	All statutory consultees were consulted during the original consultation period. We are engaging the emergency services before advertising the traffic order and the designs have been through two independent road safety audits.
Need to engage more with schools/children/parents/carers	We acknowledge the challenge of engaging with young people and young families, who like everyone, have busy lives Our events are always programmed to run at times when parents or carers of young children may be able to join us, and the provision of virtual events allows anyone to attend from anywhere whether they have internet access
Too much reliance on digital communications	We have delivered materials to residents at each stage and promote them in the local media and through local councillors and parish councils to share information and help spread the word Anyone can request a paper copy, submit comments in writing, or speak to us over the phone
Requests for clarification over the need for an embargo of the early works plan	We can only publish and make public a design when it is finalised. Before this we seek feedback on our designs from local councillors, parish councils and other stakeholders as representatives of a particular community, or user groups

Background info

Purpose of the project	We're working to bring forward changes to streets in Foxton to make a safer, quieter and easier environment to walk or cycle in the village The scheme has been developed as part of the Melbourn Greenway, which will provide a safer and more reliable walking and cycling route between the Trumpington park and ride and Royston, connecting to villages along the way, including Foxton The scheme will make streets safer, quieter and calmer by: reducing traffic speeds in the village; and providing a 20mph zone from the High Street and Station Road with associated speed calming measures. This approach has been shown to reduce road danger significantly and help more people to cycle on the carriageway, who don’t feel safe doing so today
Request for sharing traffic data – speeds, volume, accidents	The purpose of the speed reduction measures is to prevent road traffic collisions and to provide a more inviting place for people to walk and cycle, as well as deliver schemes in line with the government’s walking and cycling guidance We take a proactive approach to improve safety regardless of records of traffic collisions and reduce the dominance of traffic on everyday life (for example, noise, putting people off walking or cycling, busy roads dividing communities and the air pollution) Many slight injuries will go unreported to the police and there is no recording of near misses in official data sources The Foxton neighbourhood plan identified traffic calming and slower speeds as objectives for the village owing to concerns about the dominance of traffic on local streets Between January 2017 and January 2023 there were four recorded road traffic collisions within the extents of the Foxton scheme: Two collisions at the junction of Shepreth Road with the A10, both between motor vehicles One collision involving a motor vehicle and a pedestrian to the west of the Station Road/High Street junction One collision involving a motor vehicle and a cyclist, on Royston Road (A10) near the junction with Station Road
Request for statistics regarding cyclists using the route	The scheme aims to make cycling a more realistic option for anyone, by making the local environment safer, easier and more attractive – with better crossings and slower speeds Current demand statistics for walking and cycling are contained in the Outline Business Case for the Melbourn Greenway Whereas cycling levels were low, walking levels were high. The low levels of cycling could point to people not feeling safe to cycle in the area and so this will be monitored again after the greenways scheme has been delivered
Request for clarification on the decision-making process	Formal decisions were taken by the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s executive board in: June 2020, following public consultation March 2023, following a report of the autumn 2022 public engagement
How to proceed with daily activities during construction	Roads and paths will remain open throughout the project. Exceptions to this include some possible overnight closures to resurface roads when they are least busy Our engineers and construction professionals will aim to minimise the impact of construction works on the local community
Requests for fact sheets about the project	All the information about the project can be found on the Melbourn Greenway page
The GCP does not seem to have followed the statutory requirement in the Highways Act 1980 90(c) 2 and issued the required notification of the proposals on site as well as the 21-day consultation	Cambridgeshire County Council will advertise a traffic regulation order in due course, for which anyone can make a representation within 21 days of the notice being published. This will be promoted locally by the county council