The proposals also include restoring a ‘hazardous’ waste site

A Cambridgeshire quarry could be expanded and restored and a waste site restored at the site. Cambridgeshire County Council has submitted a scoping application about Block Fen Quarry in Chatteris.

The scoping application proposes to extend the quarry and restore an inert, hazardous and stable non-reactive hazardous waste site. The plans could see mineral extraction take place on site and restoration of wet grasslands.

The applicant said the proposals could “extend the duration of the development by at least 15 years”. The scoping application was submitted to Fenland District Council (FDC). Other authorities consulted include the Environment Agency, Natural England, FDC, and other teams at Cambridgeshire County Council.

The EA raised concerns that the potential three excavation sites could be “potentially contaminative”. It said any possible contamination “should be given due consideration”. It suggested an environmental permit may be needed.

The EA also suggested a Hydrogeological Impact Appraisal (HIA) should be produced, to allow groundwater levels to be assessed. The EA didn’t raise any flood risks.

Natural England said more information needed to be provided on the handling, storing and reuse of peat in “order to minimise carbon loss and prevent its degradation”. It said: “A robust assessment of environmental impacts and opportunities based on relevant and up to date environmental information should be undertaken prior to a decision on whether to grant planning permission.”

FDC also requested a number of specific requirements for assessments, including the ecological impact assessment, hydrogeological risk assessment, and the cumulative impact the extension and waste site could have on the environment.

The county council addressed a number of concerns in a scoping opinion letter. It said the “daily number of HGV movements” would not exceed those that were previously consented for Block Fen Quarry and the Witcham Meadlands Quarry, another approved quarry next to the proposed site.

The mineral extraction would not be close to homes and the hours of operation would be permitted to 7am until 7pm from Mondays to Fridays and 7am until 1pm on Saturdays. The council said it has also “taken into consideration” the other concerns raised by the consulted authorities.

The yellow boards were placed on the bridge due to the fixings being broken

There is currently no date set for repairs to be completed on a bridge in Cambridge. The Equiano Bridge found along the River Cam near Chesterton has had yellow boards placed over the weaker parts of the bridge for several months.

The yellow boards first appeared on the bridge around September 2025. They are on the pedestrian side of the bridge with no boards being placed on the cyclists’ side.

The boards were put over certain parts of the bridge due to the fixings being broken. Cambridgeshire County Council has reassured residents that “the structure is safe” and will continue to make sure it can be used by the public. The council is trying to establish “a suitable plan for the required permanent repairs”.

Originally known as the Riverside Bridge, the bridge was first constructed in 2008. It was renamed the Equiano Bridge in 2022 after the anti-slavery activist Olaudah Equiano, who lived in Soham after buying his freedom from slavery.

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: “We don’t yet have a date set for when Equiano Bridge will be fully repaired. We are continuing to ensure the structure is safe whilst establishing a suitable plan for the required permanent repairs.”

To get more breaking news and top stories delivered directly to your phone, join our new WhatsApp community. Click this link to receive your daily dose of CambridgeshireLive content.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Some areas of the county will see bigger rises than others

Council tax bills are set to rise for most households in the country from April. The bulk of councils are set to increase bills by the maximum amount. This stands at 4.99 percent without town halls having to trigger a referendum.

Peterborough council falls into this category. It means Band D bills in the city will be increasing by £88 a year to £1,851. That’s not including any extras like parish precepts or police and fire services.

Increases vary across the rest of Cambridgeshire. The County Council is upping its bills by 4.99 percent. Huntingdonshire District Council are increasing their bills by 3.01 percent, while Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire are increasing theirs by 2.99 percent. Both East Cambridgeshire and Fenland are set to freeze their portion of people’s bills.

It means people in Cambridge will see their Band D bills rise by £92 to £2,025 when including the county council increase. In Huntingdonshire, Band D bills will be up by £90 to £1,956, in South Cambridgeshire by £90 to £1,966, in East Cambridgeshire by £85 to £1,928, and in Fenland by £85 to £2,040.

Some local authorities in England were given special permission by the government to go beyond the maximum. North Somerset and Shropshire will both be increasing bills by 8.99 percent. Worcestershire County council, meanwhile, will be putting up bills by 8.98 percent.

Both Trafford and Windsor & Maidenhead will be increasing by 7.49 percent, and Warrington by 7.48 percent.

You can find out how much your bills will increase by using our interactive. Simply enter your postcode to see the increase by your council.

The percentage increases have been collected thanks to extensive research by the Mirror. They cover the rises in every lower tier and upper tier council. They do not include, however, police and fire increases, parish council precepts or mayoral increases.

A consultation has been launched over the restructuring of the council’s education services

Employees in a council’s education department could face redundancy. A consultation has been launched for people in the education department at Cambridgeshire County Council over possible redundancies.

The council is proposing to restructure its education services. A council spokesperson said: “The council has not announced any compulsory redundancies to teaching staff.

“A formal consultation proposing a restructuring of our education services is currently underway. We are engaging with and listening to colleagues and will actively work to avoid any compulsory redundancies. No decisions will be made until the consultation concludes and any issues raised have been responded to.”

Trade union GMB is involved in the consultation process. A GMB spokesperson said: “There is a consultation ongoing in relation to possible redundancies in the education department at Cambridgeshire County Council.

“GMB is involved in the consultation process, and we are actively engaging with our members across the service, as well as our fellow unions.”

Do you want more of the latest Cambridgeshire news as it comes in from across the county? Sign up to our dedicated newsletter to make sure you never miss a big story from Cambridge or anywhere else in the county. You can also sign up to our dedicated Traffic and Crime newsletters for the latest updates on the topics you are most interested in.

A Cambridge University worker has criticised dangerous potholes and damaged pavements on Sidney Street, St Andrew’s Street and Downing Street

CambridgeshireLive readers have joined with a local resident who has urged Cambridgeshire County Council to find long term solutions to the city’s “dangerous” roads and pavements. Francesca Re Manning, who works at Cambridge University, said getting around can be difficult because of their poor condition.

She said the issue became clear when she had to use crutches after surgery. “It was tricky to get around. I also struggled with a pushchair and sometimes had to step into the road to avoid damaged pavements. It’s not safe, but it can feel unavoidable.”

Mrs Re Manning said many potholes are “huge”, posing risks for cyclists and drivers. “I know someone who fell off her bike because of a pothole and broke her hip. They’re even more dangerous in the rain because water hides how deep they are.” She also highlighted badly damaged pavements, pointing to Sidney Street, St Andrew’s Street and Downing Street as some of the worst.

Many slabs, she said, are “loose and cracked”, with pieces missing or poorly fixed, leaving them unstable. She fears some elderly people may avoid certain streets because they are worried about tripping. “I hear lots of people complaining,” she said. “Many say it’s a disgrace that Cambridge has such a problem with its roads and pavements.”

She believes the council should focus on lasting repairs rather than repeated patching. “The same problems keep coming back. Streets need proper resurfacing with materials that last.”

Cambridgeshire County Council said safe travel is a key priority and confirmed it has invested £43 million in additional highways maintenance since 2023. A spokesperson said Cambridge’s roads and footpaths see exceptionally high use and are regularly inspected. Residents are encouraged to report problems through the council’s website.

Commenter Archer3747 thinks: “They’re not interested in public safety. The roads and pavements should have been properly maintained, and the consequences are plain to see. No doubt the extra costs will end up being passed on to motorists.”

Brexit498 agrees: “It is inconceivable that the county council does not know which roads are in a desperately poor condition. Indeed, the potholes on the half marathon route were highlighted in yellow paint. If the council needs to know of some roads that have potholes try: Leys Rd; Hobson St /King Street; Ferry Path; Victoria Avenue; Malcolm Street.”

Banthebikes points out: “It’s not just Cambridge, it’s everywhere, surely every council has a duty of care to keep people safe?”

Desperatedanno replies: “ All the GCP’s pet projects should be put on permanent hold until this problem is sorted. They had the gall to put in seven car-breaking speed bumps in the space of a quarter of a mile in Barton, apparently oblivious to the fact that all road users are already facing a constant slalom between potholes on every street in Cambridge and the surrounding area. And yes, we pedestrians and cyclists are paying the same price.”

Sinnikal complains: “Market Street is the worst road we’ve encountered in Cambridge, with kerb edges sticking up several inches. In St Neots, the roads and footpaths are just as bad. One footpath has been reported to the county council repeatedly over the years, but nothing has been done. I’ve fallen there once and my wife twice, the last time needing help from two nearby workmen. I’ve stopped reporting it. The council clearly isn’t interested.”

Splodger agrees: “I’ve reported the lake near Shelley Road at least ten times in the recent past. CCC replied that it will be fixed within 12 weeks. No mention is made of the year they propose the work to be done however.”

Cambridge residents say they’re forced into the road to avoid broken pavements and huge potholes. Do you think councils are doing enough to maintain local roads and footpaths where you live? Have your say in our comments section.

The application deadline is March 25, and interviews will be held in April

Four farms in Cambridgeshire are offering 10-year leases for developing rural businesses. Cambridgeshire County Council’s Farms Estate, one of the largest publicly owned estates in England and Wales, is offering the leases starting from October 2026.

The four farms offering leases this year are Roswells Farm in Warboys, Flegcroft Farm in Whittlesey, Red House Farm near March, and Whitehall Farm in Littleport. Each of the farms also comes with a house and various outbuildings. The properties are being offered on a 10-year farm business tenancy.

Roswells Farm is the largest of the available farms with just under 345 acres of land along with a four-bedroom detached house, and five general-purpose storage buildings.

Flegcroft Farm is set in over 300 acres of land including a reservoir of approximately 12,000m3. The tenancy includes a four-bedroom bungalow with solar panels along with additional buildings, such as an office and meeting room.

Red House Farm is also available with just under 170-acres of land. The farm comes with a three-bedroom detached bungalow and a general-purpose building.

Continually, Whitehall Farm in Littleport is just under 50-acres and has been run as a market garden for many years, growing a wide range of vegetables for sale at Cambridgeshire markets. The farm comes with a three-bedroom detached bungalow and a general-purpose building.

The application deadline is March 25, and interviews will be held in April.

Chair of the Assets and Procurement Committee, Cllr Karen Young, said: “We’re very lucky in Cambridgeshire to have access to vast amounts of rural land. With this, comes opportunity and we’re pleased to be able to offer some of this land to those with ambitions to start, or develop a business.”

Cllr Young added: “We’re open to all sorts of suggestions that help to support our vison of creating a healthy, fair and sustainable Cambridgeshire, so if you have a business idea, we’d encourage you to enquire before the deadline.”

Further details about the farms and the application process can be found here.

Cambridgeshire County Council has approved £58 million for road maintenance in 2026/27, with key routes including A1307 Hills Road in Cambridge

Cambridgeshire Live readers are sceptical at the news that the County Council has approved nearly £60 million for road maintenance and improvements in 2026/27. The funding will focus on preventative work to extend the life of roads and reduce costly repairs.

Key routes include Hills Road in Cambridge, Cambridge Road in Great Shelford, and Ely Road in Soham. The investment aims to improve safety, resilience, and the overall condition of the county’s highways, according to the council.

Councillor Alex Beckett, chair of the highways and transport committee, said the programme is one of the council’s largest ever investments in local roads. The funding will also be used for maintaining signs and road markings, improving footpaths and cycleways, upgrading drainage, strengthening bridges, and other safety measures.

Most work is scheduled to take place between April 2026 and March 2027.

Commenter Freddly believes: “This needs to go alongside punitive measures to deter SUVs, for example much higher parking charges for SUVs and super-size transit vans, otherwise the pot-holes will soon be back.”

Windypants agrees: “Honestly, SUVs are wrecking our roads with potholes, and their drivers really ought to be paying way more for the damage, we’re talking bigger charges and fines, more often. A simple fix? Set speed cameras 10mph lower just for SUVs. That way, we’d actually get the cash needed to fix all the road damage they cause. Seriously, these vehicles belong off-road, not clogging up our cities, and they pump out more fumes than normal cars, which is why their taxes should constantly go up. The bottom line is we need to make owning an SUV so expensive and annoying that drivers just give up and switch to something sensible, like a bike, the best way to get around, hands down.”

Feelgood66 adds: “We should also be banning all the heavy electric vehicles, some weigh 2.5 tons, I wouldn’t want to be hit by one.”

Q06 complains: “Years of neglect, road injuries, and vehicle damage and this is the amount set aside to fix it all? I’d love to know where all our tax money actually goes.”

Martinjm agrees: “It’s a drop in the ocean. No major road work for nearly fifty years and lorries, buses and dustbin lorries are much bigger and heavier than the roads were designed for. Electric buses must be extremely heavy. If just cars, including SUVs were the only road users it would not be a problem. Commercial traffic is the problem. The problem has gone beyond potholes. I had to buy two new tyres in February and cars go through a lot of wear and tear because of the road surface. It is potentially lethal for cyclists.”

Jam L adds: “They had better be paved with gold for that price. This is where our council tax hikes are going.”

Lucy H says: “I drove along Granhams Road yesterday, the only road fully resurfaced, and remembered what driving used to be like when you could just drive without needing 4WD skills to navigate a combat zone. I’ve already damaged two tyres on potholes this week and they will never fix them all.”

What do you think of Cambridgeshire’s £60 million road plan? Will it make a real difference to safety and travel, or is it just more patching up? Share your thoughts in our comments section.

Six roads have been chosen to get the funding for repairs

The roads that will benefit from repairs have been announced, as a council has agreed to nearly £60 million in funding. Today (Tuesday, March 3), Cambridgeshire County Council’s highways and transport committee agreed a £58 million highways maintenance and improvement programme for 2026/27.

The funding will focus on preventative maintenance, aimed at extending the life of roads and reducing the need for continued reconstruction. Key routes that will benefit are:

• A1307 Hills Road, Cambridge
• A1301 Cambridge Road, Great Shelford
• A142 Ely Road, Soham
• A1123 Hill Road Causeway, Haddenham
• A605 Elton
• B1099 Upwell Road, March

Councillor Alex Beckett, chair of the highways and transport committee, said: “We all need a road network that is safe, resilient and fit for the future, however we travel. This year’s programme represents one of the most significant investments we’ve ever made into Cambridgeshire’s highways.

“By focusing on preventative maintenance, we’re extending the life of our roads, and reducing the need for costly reconstruction later on. We’re also working hard to develop long‑term solutions to the challenges posed by our soil affected roads, which account for a huge 40% of our network.

“Although the challenges we face are significant, this programme marks real progress. I’m looking forward to seeing this work get underway and the positive impact it will have for everyone who travels around our county.”

The funding will also be used for maintenance of over 1,600 road signs, renewal of 800km of road markings and improvement in footpaths, cycleways, drainage, bridge strengthening and road safety measures.

Other allocations of the money will be used for:

• £1.31 million for local transport improvements, delivering small and medium‑sized schemes such junction safety improvements in Wisbech St Mary, a new footpath on New Barns Avenue in Ely and widening an existing walking and wheeling route in Huntingdon on Ambury Road.
• £820,000 for community‑led local highway improvements.
• Funding for road safety schemes, accessibility improvements, traffic management upgrades and air‑quality monitoring.
• £36.5 million for carriageway maintenance, including resurfacing and preventative treatments.
• £2.5 million for repairing peat soil‑affected roads.
• £4.5 million to maintain and improve footways and cycle routes.
• £3.25 million for drainage works.
• £3 million for strengthening bridges and structures.
• £1 million to replace traffic signals.
• £1.6 million to renew road signs and lines.
• £850,000 for design, network surveys, and investigation work.
• £550,000 for local minor schemes.

Further allocations are expected to be confirmed by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority this month. Most construction will take place between April 2026 and March 2027.

Pupils have found out which secondary school they will be attending

A higher proportion of pupils in Cambridgeshire received one of their top three secondary school choices for September 2026, according to the county council. This year, 96.7% of pupils were offered one of their first, second or third preference schools.

It marks a slight increase from 96.5% in 2025. The number of pupils who did not receive any of their top three preferences has also reduced, falling from 3.5% in 2025 to 3.3% in 2026.

The total number of applications went down, with 7,141 applications received in 2025, and 7,050 applications received in 2026. That marks a reduction of 91 applications year-on-year.

Councillor Edna Murphy, Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Committee said: “I’m really pleased to see that even more families have secured one of their top three choices schools this year.

“Our admissions and place planning teams work incredibly hard to make sure every child is supported through this important transition, and these improved outcomes show their dedication is making a real difference.

“Ensuring that as many pupils as possible can attend a school that suits their needs helps lay the groundwork for a confident and successful start to secondary education.”

Supporters of the plans for a 20mph zone in Swavesey said the lower limits will make the village safer, but others questioned whether the limits will be followed.

A new 20mph zone is proposed in a village facing “nightmare traffic” where some claim speeding drivers can travel at 60/70mph on a 30mph road. Cambridgeshire County Council is considering implementing 20mph speed limits on most residential roads in Swavesey, with the exception of several more lightly-built up roads.

The county council said the lower speed limits could encourage drivers to slow down to improve road safety. A short extension of the 30mph speed limit in Rose and Crown Road is also proposed, as well as a 40mph buffer limit in Boxworth End.

Several other measures are proposed to cut the speed of drivers in the village. These include a priority give-way narrowing, with kerb build-out and cycle bypass in Boxworth End and Ramper Road, and “visual road narrowings” at two locations in Boxworth End.

The county council said proposals would be paid for from developer contributions from Northstowe, which had been provided to install traffic measures in neighbouring villages, such as Swavesey, to mitigate against increased traffic.

A statutory consultation was held by the county council to gather views on the plans, with 27 respondents objecting, 16 offering support, and two sharing neutral views. Some of those who shared support for the plans highlighted concerns about the extent of existing speeding issues they said the village is facing.

One supporter said: “This scheme is drastically needed to slow traffic down through the village, particularly at the part of Boxworth End that straightens out and cars are able to speed up, rarely sticking to 30mph. In some cases it has been recorded nearer 60/70mph.”

Another supporter said they had also seen drivers travelling at high speeds through the village. They said: “Some cars are travelling so fast along Boxworth End that it is impossible to even decipher what type of car they are driving. Some cars are exceeding 60mph and somebody will get killed if this is not sorted out.”

Another person said the traffic in the village is a “nightmare” and that they believed 20mph speed limits would make the area safer.

’20mph speed limits won’t stop speeding drivers’

Objectors questioned whether drivers will follow the proposed lower speed limits. One objector said: “20mph speed limit will do very little to deter people who will compulsively speed, no matter what the speed limit is. It will only serve to add to journey times for those of us who live near the Guided Busway end of the village and require access to the A14.”

Another objector also argued that the 20mph limits would “not stop speeders if they are already breaking 30mph and 40mph limits”. Concerns were also raised about some of the physical measures proposed to slow traffic.

Some objectors raised concerns that lane restrictions could “cause unnecessary traffic build up”. One objector said: “I feel that the proposed traffic calming measures will create more problems than solutions. It will create unnecessary congestion during peak hours. Most people abide by the speed limit, so it feels unnecessary to impose these restrictions.”

Cambridgeshire Constabulary said the force had no objection to the plans, but raised concerns about compliance with the proposed lower speed limits on some roads in particular. These included the High Street, School Lane, Fen Drayton Road, and Middle Watch.

The county council report acknowledged the concerns, recognising that the roads highlighted by the force are “relatively straight, wide, have more through-traffic importance and less on-street parking”.

However, they said the county council’s policy is to encourage 20mph speed limits to be implemented on a “zonal basis”, and that removing individual roads is “generally not recommended” as it had “practical implications”, including extra signage being needed.

The report added that if there is evidence of drivers not following the lower speed limits, additional measures could be considered to slow traffic. The report said: “The traffic calming measures have been designed to lower speeds on specific lengths of road where current traffic speeds are relatively high.

“They have been designed to avoid any undue inconvenience to residents, for example, the features will not prevent access to adjacent driveways. Only two give-way priority narrowings are proposed, so they are unlikely to create any widespread congestion or traffic jams.

“It is acknowledged that opinions vary on 20mph speed limits. In the case of Swavesey, there appears to be some opposition to a village-wide 20mph limit. However, the recent statutory process and the earlier parish council engagement exercises suggest that there is also a reasonable level of local support.

“Traffic calming and lower speed limit can have a secondary benefit of encouraging drivers to select an alternative route, which may be more appropriate. In summary, 20mph limits are widely used to encourage drivers to travel at lower speeds, particularly in residential areas where it is common for more vulnerable road users to be present.

“In addition, there are likely to be higher numbers of pedestrians and cyclists, who will feel safer and more confident if motorised vehicles are travelling at reduced speeds.

“20mph speed limits represent a relatively cost-effective way to improve road safety and encourage more sustainable modes of transport. Consequently, it is recommended that the proposed 20mph speed limit for Swavesey be implemented.”

A decision on whether to implement the 20mph zone and traffic calming measures is due to be made on February 25.

To get more breaking news and top stories delivered directly to your phone, join our new WhatsApp community. Click this link to receive your daily dose of CambridgeshireLive content.