Call for Cambridge ‘roadmap’ as complaints rise

Cambridgeshire County Council is to clamp down on coaches using the west side of Queens Road in Cambridge as a pick-up point.

The move follows a spate of complaints and photos of traffic stuck behind coaches pulled up on the double yellow lines. There is four-hour parking along the east side of the road. The council says: “We’re aware of the issue around Queen’s Road. We are monitoring this and will use enforcement powers to address inappropriate parking.

“At busy times, some coaches allow passengers to get on and off while stopped on double yellow lines. This is allowed, as long as the coach is not parked and waiting.”

Richard Grey of nearby Greys of Ely says the situation is the same for six weeks every summer: “There are roadworks on Milton Road, ironically to install a bus lane, so that may have had extra impact. But this happens every year,” he told Bus & Coach Buyer.

“There is inadequate drop-off and lay-over space in Cambridge but the core of the problem is that there is no proper roadmap for coaches coming to Cambridge. To some extent it’s OK for my drivers because they have local knowledge, but most of the coaches are from outside of the area.”

Richard believes that there may be a lay-over solution by using the many Park & Ride sites around Cambridge, which have toilets and would allow the driver to get into the city for food: “I think this is do-able by Cambridge but someone has to step up to the plate and make a decision.”

Simon Dew of Dews of Somersham agreed with him: “The fact is, the arrangements for coaches have always been poor in Cambridge.”