GUIDED BUS MISERY CONTINUES FOR HISTON AND IMPINGTON

6.41.04pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 9th Aug 2007

The Cambridgeshire Guided Bus team has announced plans to close the road between Histon and Oakington/Girton for four months later this year.

Following the chaos caused by a similar road closure earlier this year, local residents and traders are furious. At a recent guided bus liaison forum residents asked for alternatives to be explored to try to avoid the complete closure. Officers at the meeting were reluctant to consider any other options.

Local Lib Dem County Councillor David Jenkins said that he understood their concerns:

"This may be one road closure too many. We are all fully aware of the impact on local trade of the previous closure and it's not difficult to estimate the effect it will have on travel times.

"There is also the environmental impact of the extra travel and the knock on effect of increased congestion on routes used for diversions.

"Managing the building of the guide-way is certainly a challenging task and staying on schedule and within budget is clearly important but the County Council must not neglect its other responsibilities. The Council talks about supporting our villages and making them more sustainable but to do this it must consider the impact of the planned closure on the economy of Histon and Impington. The County Council must look at the costs on all sides, not just those related to the Guided Bus."