Calls for South Cambs council to back congestion charge …
Calls for South Cambridgeshire District Council to back a congestion charge referendum failed to get enough support from councillors. A motion was put forward by the leader of the Conservative group at the district council asking for the authority to show support for a referendum on the issue.
Councillor Heather Williams said a lot of people were worried about the potential road charge and felt they had not had an opportunity to have a say. However, other councillors argued a referendum would not enable everyone who was impacted to vote, and highlighted the previous public consultation on the plans.
The Greater Cambridge Partnership[1] (GCP) set out its plans for a Sustainable Travel Zone (STZ) last year. The zone proposed a road charge of £5 on weekdays between 7am and 7pm for drivers travelling in and around Cambridge[2]. A number of exemptions to the charge were proposed, including for people on low incomes.
The charge was suggested to help fund an expanded bus network, including more frequent services with cheaper fares. The GCP said it would implement the public transport improvements before any potential congestion charge[4] was introduced. A public consultation on the proposals was held and received over 23,000 responses. A report on the findings from the consultation is expected to be published in June.
Calls for a referendum on the charge have been raised before, with Cambridgeshire County Council voting down a motion earlier this month[5] that proposed to hold a referendum. At a full council meeting earlier today (March 30), Cllr Williams said the district council should be “pushing for a referendum” as a representative at the GCP. She said: “How can we turn round and tell those people your voice does not matter, it is wrong for democracy. I hope that whatever your thoughts on the proposals themselves you support this motion.”
Councillor Graham Cone (Conservative) said he had received a “vast amount of correspondence” from people about the issue. He said it was something people “clearly feel passionate about” and that he believed it was “entirely appropriate” for people “to have their say”. Councillor Daniel Lentell (Independent) said there was no mandate to introduce a congestion charge, and highlighted that a petition had been signed by over 15,000 people calling for a referendum.
Councillor Richard Stobart (Liberal Democrat) said young people under the age of 18 would be impacted by any changes, but would be “excluded” from a referendum vote. Councillor Stephen Drew (Liberal Democrat) highlighted that people travel in from other areas to work in Cambridgeshire and would have an interest in the STZ proposals, but would also not be able to vote in a referendum.
Councillor Dr Martin Cahn (Liberal Democrat) said he did not believe it was the “best solution” to “take something complicated and give a simple yes or no answer”. He added that the proposals could change and said he did not think a referendum was the right choice “at this stage”.
Councillor Richard Williams (Conservative) said the arguments that a referendum should not be held due to young people and those who live out of the area being excluded “assumed people are too stupid and too selfish to think of the interests of others”. He said people were capable of voting in elections and thinking of the interests of others. When the motion was put to a vote eight councillors voted in favour, 20 voted against, and one councillor abstained.
References
- ^ Greater Cambridge Partnership (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
- ^ Cambridge (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
- ^ Controversial Cambourne to Cambridge busway plan sees charity launch fundraiser to fight scheme (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
- ^ congestion charge (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
- ^ voting down a motion earlier this month (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)