AfriPulse
A new train station that opened with 1,000 spaces for bicycles but no parking for cars has been branded ‘anti-motorist’ and a ‘terrible’ idea by locals.
Cambridge South station has been built at an estimated cost of £250million to serve the 23,000 people working at a nearby biomedical campus.
There will be just six spaces for cars to pick up and drop off passengers – with three of the bays assigned to taxis and £100 fines for overstaying.
The site has also provided only five bays for vehicles with blue badges, sparking complaints from disabled drivers.
People living in the area fear there will be ‘chaos’ as drivers use the station to dump their cars outside their homes and catch direct services to destinations including London Liverpool St and King’s Cross, Stansted Airport, Norwich, Brighton and Birmingham.
Retired retail worker Margaret Perry, 84, said of the lack of a car park: ‘It’s terrible. I think it’s disgusting.
‘Cambridge is chock-a-block and it can come to a standstill. They [the council] are trying to stop people driving their cars.
‘But people my age need to drive their cars. I don’t have a blue badge. I don’t need a blue badge but my daughter has one.
Cambridge South railway station opened on Sunday – with 1,000 spaces for bikes but no car park
‘You’re not going to get on a bike at my age. This decision [to have no car park] stops us using the train. It’s very restrictive.’
Haitao Zheng, 52, an engineer who lives on Rutherford Road, complained: ‘There are a lot of cars already using the spaces. When the station opens there will be more cars.
‘We really worry that it [the road] will be over-occupied. Of course they should have built a car park at the station.’
Hani Bal, 46, a carer, who lives on Holbrook Road, said: ‘We already have lots of people parking on this road, so this will make it worse.’
Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: ‘It’s just a total missed opportunity.
‘Banning cars just means those that can’t use here [the new station] will fight their way into places like Cambridge Central, which is a nightmare to get to and park.’
Another local, Jenny Atkins, previously warned: ‘It’s ridiculous. There is no parking in that area, so drivers will try to park in the nearby streets which will cause chaos.
‘I understand the need to encourage people to use public transport but to have no car park option is crazy.’
One homeowner branded the scheme ‘anti-motorist’, adding: ‘They’ve [local authorities and planners] got it in for anyone with an engine around here.’
Source: Dailymail.co.uk | Read the Full Story…
