East Cambridgeshire District Council has welcomed the decision of the Greater Cambridge Partnership Executive Board not to endorse the Making Connections outline business case.

While the district council supports many of the concepts of the business case it had been concerned that road charging proposals would have a detrimental impact on people living in East Cambridgeshire.

It means the full business case, which included the option of a road charge across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, will not go to the Cambridgeshire County Council's Highways and Transport Committee, as originally proposed. 

In July this year East Cambridgeshire District Council passed a motion urging the Greater Cambridge Partnership, together with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and Cambridgeshire County Council to cease work on the implementation of road charging.

Instead, it urged all partner organisations, MPs, businesses and organisations across Cambridgeshire to work together to develop alternative proposals that demonstrate public support and focus on the early delivery of multiple small improvements as well as accelerating work on larger projects that can and will encourage people away from private vehicle use.

Councillor Anna Bailey, leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “I welcome this decision from the Greater Cambridge Partnership and I will continue to champion for partner organisations to work together to deliver an innovative, safe and cost efficient alternative to the car.”