Histon & Impington Parish Council is submitting the following as a summary of its concerns to the Planning Inspectorate to register as an interested party.

Residents and other parties are welcome to use all or part of our statement for submission to register for themselves. The deadline to register is tomorrow (Thursday 12th March 11:59pm) and can be done here:

http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/eastern/a14-cambridge-to-huntingdon-improvement-scheme/

An overview of the scheme is here:

http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/a14-cambridge-to-huntingdon-improvement-scheme/?latest

The statement is as follows:

Histon & Impington Parish Council wish to make the following statement to summarise our concerns on the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme:

Scheme Design

1. The scheme is designed for off-peak levels of traffic, including our own junction. We already have a scheme like that and are spending £1.5Bn to rectify it.

2. Scheme ends abruptly at Milton Interchange, leaving a flawed topology (3 lanes to 2 AND having an off slip – re A10-M25 junction until fixed). Scheme should be extended eg 200m

3. Restricted access onto A14 Southbound at Oakington could force more traffic on to B1049 exacerbating peak-congestion at the Histon Interchange

Air Quality

4. PM2.5s are not properly addressed – and are considered more hazardous to health then PM10s and NO_xs

5. Lack of baseline air quality data for PM10s and PM2.5s in existing Air Quality Management Area, especially on north side of Carriageway

Noise

6. Lack of baseline noise data in all conditions (weather and traffic) andat multiple residential sites around Histon and Impington

7. Absolute noise levels are already too high (European Union and World Health Organisation standards)

8. WHO standards were adopted by The Inspectorate at the Public Inquiry into the Guided Busway, and therefore (by case-law) will be regarded as minimum standard for the A14

9. Noise barriersmust be absorptive not reflective – developer installed reflective at Orchard Park and exacerbated problems in Histon and Impington

10. Sound-reducing surface and be properly maintained as such especially in open landscape between Girton and Milton.

11. Earth bunds and vegetation cover required to reduce visual, light and sound pollution & intrusion as well as providing pollutant absorption given the correct choice of species

Drainage

12. Water runoff from the carriageway between Histon and Girton with any pollutants ending up in Award Drain 164 which runs to The Green at Histon

Speed Limit

13. Slower speeds at the Girton-Interchange would allow safer merging on an overly-complex junction with dangerously high speed differentials – a 50 or 60mph limit through Impington would also increase the capacity and throughput of the road, reduce fuel consumption, noise and pollution. eg the M1 near Sheffield, the A34 past Oxford, the A3 by Guildford and at the A1 Black Cat Roundabout approach and at Elkesley and proposed for the M3

Histon-Milton

14. Effect of Assymetric widening on residents with line-of-sight to the A14

15. Viability and stability of earthworks for Assymetric widening by lake

16. Viability of well-used maintenance footpath between embankment foot and Chivers Lake

Guided Busway

17. Lighting issues under bridge at Orchard Park.

Construction

18. Construction traffic must be kept off the B1049 and road network as a whole during peak hours

Non-Motorised Users (NMU)

19. Opening the Woodhouse (or NIAB) Accomodation Bridge would match what is proposed along most of the rest of the scheme

March 2015

Clerk to Histon & Impington Parish Council

Parish Office, New Road, Impington, CB24 9LU

01223 235906

clerk@hisimp.net