The £160 million Cambourne to Cambridge (C2C) busway is part of the South Cambs Liberal Democrats’ plan to reduce congestion and air pollution. But this ‘eco-friendly’ busway involves cutting down hundreds of fruit trees in greenbelt land dating back to 1922. That doesn’t sound very ‘eco-friendly’.
The 8.6 mile C2C busway linking Cambridge and Cambourne would cut through Coton Orchard – destroying around 500 trees. The new 30-acre park and ride north of Hardwick would also require cutting down more trees.
Conservative Cllr Lina Nieto, who represents Hardwick, says she does not think this solution is “the right one”.
The Conservative group’s 2022 manifesto supports the need for improved public transport – but furiously opposes the C2C busway as the wrong option.
Cllr Heather Williams, Leader of the Conservative group, said the proposed route runs far too close to Coton and that the felling of trees in Coton Orchard is despicable.
The plans make a mockery of previous Lib Dem commitments. A 2017 Lib Dem leaflet opposed destructive plans for an off-road busway in Cambourne due to environmental damage to greenbelt land.
And yet, now leading the council, South Cambs Lib Dems are prepared to destroy a historic orchard on greenbelt land for the very same busway they previously opposed.
So, the Lib Dems’ plans for the C2C busway are contradictory, through and through. Such blatant hypocrisy cannot be ignored.
