Date published: 2009/06/09
The Cambridge News says:
Hundreds of Cambridge businesses fear road jams in the city have reached a "critical" level but they do not want a congestion charge, says a new report.
Many believe the charge would drive up business costs - and force companies to move out of the city.
The report, drawn up by consultants hired by Cambridgeshire County Council, was spearheaded by a survey of 800 companies in and around Cambridge.
Four out of 10 said that traffic congestion at peak times was "very bad" or "at a critical level" - and that action must be taken to tackle the crisis for the sake of the future prosperity of the area.
The current gridlock is making it hard for customers and clients to get in and out of the city, and for firms to make business journeys and deliveries.
Only 4 per cent of those questioned rated public transport in Cambridge as very good, and among the solutions demanded were more reliable and more frequent buses - including earlier and later timetables and more capacity at park and ride sites.
Bus fares should also be made "competitive to travel by car".
Asked whether they supported the congestion charge scheme, only one in 10 Cambridge businesses said they were strongly in favour of it, with a further 17 per cent saying they "tend to support it."
But around one in three, 35 per cent, said they "strongly oppose it", with an additional 18 per cent saying they "tend to oppose it".
This adds up to 27 per cent in favour - and 53 per cent against.
A big majority, 76 per cent, believed the transport proposals would increase their costs.
And 41 per cent reckoned they would "encourage businesses to move out of Cambridge."
More bad news for the bureaucrats and politicians who run Cambridgeshire County Council. Even their own (no doubt slanted) survey could not produce the result they wanted.
A lot of the "gridlock" is down to the incompetence and anti-car mentality of the council transport "planners". They are more part of the problem than part of the solution.
Transport issues in general, and the so-called congestion charge in particular, will definitely "encourage businesses to move out of Cambridge".
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