Building a Road bridge across the railway (with designated cycle and pedestrian access) and closing the Fen Road level crossing or creating a commercial vehicle restriction on it, is a much safer and environmentally friendly long term solution!

Although I am in favor of the principles in the current proposal, I would much prefer to see an access bridge that included a road crossing. I am therefore opposed to the current proposal because of my concern that a cycle and footbridge would take up space and funding that could be alocated to a vehicle crossing is possible. In the long term, I would like to see the level crossing closed or replaced with a road underpass or with commerciallarger vehecle restriction .

Cycle and pedestrian safety:

I live on Fen Road and, along with all the other residents in East Chesterton, we experience high volumes of commercial traffic accessing the industrial estate which is currently locked between the river and the railway. Although some of this traffic is destined for central Cambridge, a journey that would not be vastly extended via Cowley Road, much of it is destined for the A14 and alternative routes or could be diverted away from the city centre by opening up an access road from Fen road to the North East over the railway line.

Fen Road has always been a dangerous place for pedestrians and cyclists. In my sixteen years living here, I have been knocked off my bicycle twice and run off the road on several other occasions. As a pedestrian, I have had multiple narrow escapes as light goods vehicles and transits have mounted the pavement. Several years ago my parked car was nearly written off by a lorry trying to pass oncoming traffic on the narrow road, recently two bags of cement fell off a truck and rendered my car worthless, on a separate incident my neighbor's wall was destroyed by another loose load falling off a trailer. These events have luckily only ended in damage to property, but each time a cyclist or pedestrian could have been killed. My son, my partner and nearly all of my neighbours cycle as our primary form of transport. A cyclist was seriously injured in 2018 not far from my home. With the current road formation, it is only a matter of time before someone is killed!

Since the opening of the station at Cambridge North, and the extension of the guided busway cycle path and new cycleway along the side of Cowley Road, Fen Road has seen far greater use by pedestrians and cyclists. Although this is very welcome, these people all now face the same currently dangerous stretch of road, with very limited protection from the traffic. The numbers will only grow if a bridge is opened. I believe that to take measure that will increase cycle and pedestrian numbers on this stretch of road, without a strategy to prioritize them or minimize motor and commercial traffic, is irresponsible.

Structural and environmental damage:

The commercial vehicles that use Fen Road cause my house to shake as they pass over the speed cushions and I am sure these are responsible for cracks in the brickwork. The drains in the road are damaged and in heavy weather back up to flood my neighbor opposite home - the large lorries on a narrow residential street cannot help this situation. I am in favor of the local plan and its stated strategy to create green corridors into Cambridge. I believe that the route along Fen Road is vital for opening up access to Stourbridge common and the towpath for sustainable use by the rapidly growing population in the North East of the city. At the moment the volume of traffic, and specifically commercial traffic, creates sound and air pollution as well as jeopardizes the contamination of the river cam. the level crossing means that traffic often comes in heavy waves and increases all of the above risks.