[Announce] How to save £8m and reduce environmental impacts of the Chisholm Trail

[John Lawton]

This could save Ditton Meadows from being trashed.

Begin forwarded message:
> 
> Friends of Coldhams Common have an idea that could save the city £8 million and reduce the environmental impacts of the Chisholm Trail - the Cheap as Chips option.
> 
> Based on 123 900 people in Cambridge, and the new Abbey-Chesterton Bridge costing at least £4.5 million, it will cost each Cambridge citizen £36.32 to fund building the bridge (*). The Chisholm Trail costs another £8 million and even with this only 3150 people will use the bridge ( **). The cost of the bridge alone - £4.5m over 3150 users - equates to £1429 per user.  With additional costs of the Chisholm Trail, the cost per user rises to £3,867.37 or £193.37 per user assuming 20 years lifespan ( ****).  
> 
> However only about 10% use of the headline figure for the bridge would be an immediate "modal shift" i.e. instead of car, train or bus, they are cycling or walking.  Most of the people are simply switching from the three other bridges nearby or going to Chesterton train station instead of Cambridge.  Actual present trips switched from car to walking or cycling is 381 ONE WAY TRIPS (304 cycle and 77 pedestrians) (***) equivalent to 190 individuals based on return journey, equivalent to £11,842.11 per user.  This figure includes some switches from bus, so may be lower.
> 
> If the project is to proceed, costs must be reduced. Friends of Coldhams Common propose the Cheap as Chips option - a modification of the Chisholm Trail to use existing infrastructure as far as possible and focusing on signposting, resurfacing existing paths and fixing potholes in roads. This would increase attractiveness to cyclists, but also reduce environmental impacts ( since the as the "Cheap as Chips" option already exists ).  [We have shown how on the attached map.]
> 
> We will be contacting City Deal to suggest that they take up this "Cheap as Chips" option or demonstrate how their extra expenditure is justified. Based on a Cost Benefit Ratio of 30:1 as indicated by council officers, the benefit of each switch from motorist to cycling or walking would be £354,330.71. We feel this is unlikely.
> 
> Friends of Coldhams Common are also organising a petition to put their case forward.
> 
> (**) 6300 single trips = 3150 return trips
> 
> (***) Figures from Atkins ( 25 May 2016 ) Chesterton Bridge : Chesterton Bridge Demand Forecasting for Cambridgeshire County Council. On planning app website - figs on p14.
> 
> (****) Since there is already a well developed plan for an Addenbrokes Station and Riverside Bridge is only a few years old, 20 years seems optimistic. 
> 
-------------- next part --------------