Greenway Plan Faces Safety Concerns From Worried Village Residents

People in a village are worried about a new greenway plan. This greenway is one of twelve proposed by the GCP, linking the Swaffhams villages to Lode and Cambridge. The path should make travel easier for walkers and cyclists. Some Swaffham Bulbeck residents feel it could be unsafe, as they think it will bypass their village.

One person said they support active travel around Cambridge, but they don’t support bad plans for active travel. They worry about mixing large farm vehicles and bikes. The road gets muddy, so it’s dangerous for cyclists and unpleasant for pedestrians.

The source said Swaffham Bulbeck wasn’t designed for greenways. A narrow, tight S-bend exists in the village and lacks enough room for a greenway. Planners want a three-meter width, which causes a difficult problem.

The greenway starts in Swaffham Prior, then it goes along the B1102 through Swaffham Bulbeck. It continues past Anglesey Abbey and through Lode, finally connecting to the Bottisham Greenway in Stow Cum Quy.

Another person wants action soon on the greenway project. Bike path access is poor in this area, and the path between Lode and Longmeadow is narrow and breaking apart each month. Two people cannot pass each other easily. This person is eager for improvements.

If the path fails, the alternative is the B road, where traffic travels at 60 mph; the resident doesn’t feel safe cycling there. A detour via White Fen Road was suggested, which they see as a bypass that doesn’t help villagers.

The resident wants progress and doesn’t understand the reason for delay. A temporary route via Whitedrove Way and Abbey Lane was proposed for Swaffham Bulbeck, but the parish council doesn’t like this idea. Their letter said it won’t help cyclists in the village, and mud and debris will make it unusable often.

Greenways should last for decades, so flawed solutions are unacceptable as the council wants the right route and design. The Swaffham Bulbeck Parish Council held a vote, where only seventeen of thirty-seven people supported the route. The council stated that it is against greenway design since it does not connect Swaffham Bulbeck with Cambridge.

Ben Hathway works for the GCP, and he said the greenway will improve journeys, connecting the Swaffhams, Lode, and Cambridge. The White Droveway route is not the long-term plan; it’s a temporary way to improve safety. The final greenway will link Abbey Lane to the Denny via Manor Farm.

The temporary route improves safety; it helps cyclists from Swaffham Prior commute towards Cambridge. Safety is the GCP’s top priority, and they are checking for debris risks.