The bridge in Waterbeach forms part of an off-road route between Waterbeach and Cambridge

Cambridgeshire Live readers have mostly welcomed news that a new bridge for pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders across a major road in Cambridgeshire has officially opened. The bridge forms part of an off-road route connecting Waterbeach with Cambridge.

Local residents were among the first to cross the bridge on foot and by bike, with the formal opening planned for May once landscaping work is completed. The route is intended to a safer, off-road alternative for travelling between Waterbeach and Cambridge. It passes landmarks such as Cambridge Science Park and Cambridge Regional College, before continuing into the city centre.

Fiona Reardon-Rose, Communications and Partnership Manager for the Waterbeach development, said: “The new bridge encourages active, low-carbon travel for residents and the wider community, whether commuting, exercising, or exploring with the family over the Easter break.

“It also makes journeys significantly safer by removing the need for pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders to cross the A10 at road level. There has been a lot of excitement about the bridge, and now that installation and safety checks are complete, we wanted residents to start using it right away. We look forward to the official opening in the coming weeks.”

Commenter Freddly thinks: “This seems not only a useful and attractive asset, but also appealing because spending on active travel means the money wasn’t available for the endless demands of the motoring lobby. It’s a small win compared to the billions spent on them, but a win nonetheless.”

Gabriel B writes: “With the town set to have over 11,500 homes once complete, and a connection to the new park and ride by the bridge, it’s bound to be well used.”

Michael F agrees: “It’s set to be a fantastic asset for cyclists, walkers, and horse riders alike. I can’t wait to try it and see how it brings everyone together while making journeys safer and more enjoyable.”

Linda B complains: “Another thing for cyclists, I doubt pedestrians will use it, given how recklessly some of these cyclists ride.”

Michael F retorts: “In Cambridge, pedestrians use all the shared cycling and pedestrian bridges without any real problems. Aside from a very small minority, most cyclists are considerate, giving plenty of space and waiting patiently for pedestrians to cross safely.”

Squeaks33 thinks: “It definitely needs some lighting for safety, especially for early mornings, evenings, and during the darker months, to ensure it’s usable and secure for everyone.”

Meanwhile, Skipper says: “Meanwhile, potholes keep multiplying with insufficient funding, causing damage to people’s cars. Will CCC now run a month-long survey to check how much this bridge is actually used and by whom, to determine if the spending was justified? The bridge seems wide enough for cars, so it could be converted for vehicle use if push bikes rarely use it. From the photo, it doesn’t look heavily trafficked.”

Windypants retorts: “Car owners have worn out roads, pavements, and cycleways with their overweight vehicles, yet don’t pay enough tax to fix them. Better suspension could help.”

This new bridge seems like a great boost for cyclists, walkers, and horse riders. Would this make you ditch the car for short trips? Have your say in our comments section.

The claimant said Cambridgeshire Police had falsified reports after he was involved in a crash

A senior judge has said complaints against the police should not be “swept under the carpet” as he allowed a cyclist’s £4.8 million court battle against three forces to proceed to trial. Sir Geoffrey Vos said that it was ‘critical’ for public confidence in policing that complaints against forces were not ‘ignored’ amid a legal claim over allegations of “misfeasance in a public office”.

Gijsbert van Buuren is suing the Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire forces, as well as the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). He claims that all four bodies helped to conceal Cambridgeshire Police’s falsifying reports after he was knocked off his bike in Histon, near Cambridge, in August 2013.

The crash caused him serious injuries and required him to be taken to hospital by police. While Cambridgeshire Police officers reported that he had fallen off his bike, Mr van Buuren was later told by witnesses that he had been clipped by a passing car.

Mr van Buuren, who has no recollection of the crash and is representing himself, is now suing for £4.8 million in damages. In January last year, he had most of his claim against Cambridgeshire Police thrown out, as well as all of his claim against the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Constabularies and the IOPC.

He challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal, claiming at a hearing last week that the High Court should have ruled in his favour before a trial as he had received no explanation for what had happened and was the victim of “untargeted malice”.

In a ruling on Tuesday, Sir Geoffrey, sitting with Lady Justice Asplin and Lady Justice Elisabeth Laing, said that lawyers for the three constabularies and the IOPC conceded at the hearing that the bodies consented to the claims against them being reinstated.

The judges also separately dismissed Mr van Buuren’s challenge to the High Court’s decision not to rule in his favour before a trial. Sir Geoffrey stated: “I do not think that the defendants have ‘no real prospect’ of successfully defending the claim.”

He said: “There are some concerning allegations about Mr van Buuren’s physical treatment at the scene of the accident and in relation to how and when he was taken to hospital, which I would not discount as necessarily irrelevant at this stage.”

He continued: “I suggested in the course of the hearing that the defendants may not have been taking the allegations made against them sufficiently seriously. This case is troubling. It is critical, if public confidence in the police and in the complaints processes relating to them are to be maintained, that cases of this kind are neither ignored nor swept under the carpet.”

A trial in the claim could take place before the end of the year.