Our Transport Future: Summary for Cambridge Past, Present and Future

Our Transport Future is a new project aimed at creating impetus in the debate over Cambridgeshire’s transport future. Led by independent county councillor Nichola Harrison, it has been launched through the website www.ourtransportfuture.org and is offering information, ideas and a place for public debate about transport problems and solutions.

The project’s goal is the creation of an effective, fair and sustainable transport system for the benefit of motorists and other travellers now and for the long term.

It rests on the proposition that good transport is vital for our quality of life, economy and environment - but under-funding over many years means that the transport system is failing many individuals, businesses and other organisations. Public spending cuts and population and traffic growth are going to make matters much worse.

Problems vary across the county from congestion and poor public transport, to out-dated and deteriorating roads and pavements and environmental damage. It is important to understand these and to decide on the wish-list of transport improvements, but that is not enough.

According to Our Transport Future, Cambridgeshire can solve its problems if it has the will to do so, but that will involve finding a new way to raise money for investing in transport. One way or another, that means digging into our own pockets.

The idea put forward on the website is Charge & Spend, in which a variable charge on vehicle trips is used to fund a major transport investment programme. With the charge income ring-fenced for transport and the scheme locally designed and controlled by local people through a Public Trust, Charge & Spend could guarantee stable, long term improvements and the creation of a world class transport system.

Since motorists would pay a charge under this plan, it is essential that they are rewarded with a safe, modernised, less crowded, well-maintained road network. It is also vital that the charge is fair and reasonable, which means it must be variable on the basis of time, distance, location and type of vehicle. Finally, all travellers must have access to convenient and affordable transport choices - walking, cycling and public transport.

Road user charging is a controversial issue, but the idea is gaining ground with motoring organisations like the RAC Foundation and the Roads Users Alliance, who see the potential benefits for motorists. The CBI has acknowledged the benefits road charging can have for businesses and the economy. Much of the thinking so far has assumed that national road pricing is the way ahead, but Our Transport Future challenges this view, asserting that a locally designed and controlled scheme is much more likely to meet our needs and be acceptable to local people.

Our Transport Future aims to promote a public debate in an atmosphere that is realistic, hopeful and focused on action. By offering opportunities to comment on a multitude of issues and vote in opinion polls, the website will accumulate a valuable insight into public opinion, which can be used by politicians and other leaders to develop plans for the future.

Our Transport Futureis an independent project led by county councillor Nichola Harrison. A local councillor since 1999, Nichola has been involved in planning, economy and transport issues in Cambridgeshire throughout these years. She recently left party politics in order to pursue this project from an independent standpoint.