A six-week consultation for residents to highlight the key bus services and cycling and walking routes in East Cambridgeshire has been given the go ahead.

At the 6^th February East Cambridgeshire District Council (ECDC) Finance and Assets Committee, members approved the launch of the district’s bus, cycling and walking consultation which will commence on 9^th March 2020.

The aim of the consultation is to identify bus, cycling and walking routes that residents would like to see delivered, or where improvements need to be made.  

Building on the success of the Ely Zipper service, the Council is looking to identify bus routes that can, over time, attract sufficient ridership to make them viable and to present a business case to the Combined Authority as it makes decisions about the future of bus services across the county.

The Council has also developed a map of cycling and walking infrastructure, on which it is keen to receive input from residents.  The map will form part of an overall strategy to try to secure improvements to cycle and footpaths over time as and when funding becomes available.

A questionnaire will be sent to every household in the district during the week of 9^th March, so all residents can have their say on the routes that are most important to them.  Residents can also complete the survey online - details are included on the hard copy survey.

All completed questionnaires need to be returned to the council by Sunday 19^th April 2020. Hard copy questionnaires can be returned to the district council offices in Ely or placed in one of thirty drop boxes kindly hosted in various locations in local communities -  the full list of locations is printed on the questionnaire.

Councillor David Brown, chairman of ECDC’s Finance and Assets Committee, said: “We are determined to get a better deal on alternative forms of transport for our district.  The more responses we get, the better the case we can make for funding, so I urge everyone to have their say.”

Councillor Anna Bailey, leader of ECDC, added: “Bus services are not in the remit of the District Council, but we want a better deal for our residents, and we will be working hard to prove our case to the Combined Authority. Central Government and the Combined Authority are prioritising alternatives to the car in their transport strategies and so are we. We therefore need to develop a comprehensive cycling and walking strategy so we can bid for funding as money becomes available.”

“I call on everyone to have their say by completing the questionnaire and returning it to us by mid-April to help inform our plan,” urged Cllr Bailey. “We are interested in hearing from everyone, drivers, walkers, horse riders and cyclists, bus service and taxi users. We would also like to hear the views of hiking groups, cycling groups, parish councils, businesses, and schools who walk or cycle as part of their daily work or for pleasure.”

The consultation will start on Monday 9^th March 2020 and run to Sunday 19^th April 2020. To complete the questionnaire online visit www.eastcambs.gov.uk/buscyclewalk To find out more about the consultation e-mail buscyclewalk@eastcambs.gov.uk or call (01353) 665555.