Campaigners told to keep heads high after Cambridgeshire busway decision
Questions have been raised if the bus link will deliver its aims
Campaigners are being told their efforts to stop a busway between Cambourne and Cambridge from being built must not go in vain.
The bus link will now go ahead after inspectors said "there is widespread recognition, including by objectors, of the need to improve public transport on this corridor."
Hundreds of objections have been made around the plans, such as on environmental impact.
Cambridgeshire County Council is hoping a contractor will help build the 8.7 mile busway from January 2027 to the end of 2030, something that's raised concerns due to local government reorganisation expected within that time.
"What they (campaigners) did was amazing; they created awareness and they will have helped others who are facing similar situations," Councillor Heather Williams, leader of the Conservative group on South Cambridgeshire District Council, said.
"I think that's the most important thing; you can't have all that time wasted and we don't want people to feel that way."
In their report, inspectors said the busway would "bring benefits in accessibility to jobs, housing and education", as well as "a significant shift from use of the private car for journeys to and from Cambridge".
One of the places to be directly affected by the plans is Coton Orchard.
Anna Gazeley's father bought the 60-acre Orchard in the 1960s and is home to hundreds of trees, including apple trees and endangered birds.
Speaking to us previously, Anna - who gave evidence at a public inquiry last year - said the scheme "doesn't add up on any level.
"Environmentally it's catastrophic, so to be quietly going forward I think is quite arrogant."
Busway 'desperately needed'
The busway will run from Cambourne via the Bourn Airfield development, Hardwick, Coton, and the West Cambridge site.
A pathway alongside the busway is also proposed for pedestrians and cyclists, while a travel hub is also planned at Scotland Farm.
Cllr Brian Milnes, chair of the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s executive board, believes the scheme will make life easier for people travelling to and from the city.
"With thousands more houses planned for the area, this new route will be a desperately needed new transport link," he said.
"Whilst many objectors wanted Cambourne to Cambridge to take a different route, almost all of them agreed that improved public transport is essential for our area."
Lack of 'common sense'
Cllr Williams supports the aim of the busway, but wonders if this will cause more problems than it will solve them.
"I feel incredibly saddened for those who have put so much (effort) into objecting to this and hoping common sense would prevail and it hasn't," she added.
"I've said Cambourne does need transport solutions.
"This busway is just getting people to the edge of the city; it doesn't help once you get in there, which we all know is the main crux of the problem when it comes to reducing journey times."