Locals claim that a road that has “over 100 potholes” is “crumbling apart” – and it is causing a danger to drivers. People from St Neots and on the Cambridgeshire border are using Barford Road daily as an alternative to avoid roadworks on the A1 at the Black Cat roundabout.

However, this road is filled with potholes. Cristian Lambourne said there is an “epidemic” of potholes along this road.

“Someone said on Facebook they counted over 100 potholes along the road – it’s ridiculous,” said Cristian. He added: “When you travel down that road, you see a lot of people swerve.

“They are facing oncoming traffic, which isn’t good. I had one incident the other day when I was travelling around 50mph and it sounded like something physically smashed in my car.

“It seems crazy there are so many.” Cristian said potholes are temporarily fixed, but they are not “fixed properly”.

He added: “We are expected to have an MOT done on our cars, but the roads are damaging our cars.”

Lynne Otto travelled down the road daily to visit her husband in a hospice. During the last two weeks, her tyre blew and it cost £140 to repair. “It was a cost I didn’t need,” said Lynne.

She added: “I am not working as I’m visiting my husband daily.” Lynne used the road as a way to avoid the Black Cat Roundabout works. However, she is now enduring a longer journey on the A1 to avoid other problems.

She said: “I can’t risk getting another problem. When my tyre blew, I was in a stream of traffic and I couldn’t stop.

“It’s shocking. In the day you can swerve, but in the dark you can’t. The road has gotten that bad because everyone uses the road rather than the A1. It should be a priority.”

Steven Ellmers said the road is “dangerous”. He has experienced some “near misses” along the road. Steven said: “The whole road needs resurfacing. It’s especially bad when it’s dark and raining.”

Leah Martin lives in Tempsford and has “no choice” but to travel on the road daily. She said: “In January, the top mount of my front wheel collapsed after hitting one [pothole] and that then caused my brake caliper to lock onto my brake disk. I was £640 out of my pocket, caused by the state of the stretch of road.”

Leah said it is an “accident waiting to happen” along the road. Leah added: “I’m pretty angry at having to fix my van due to the neglect of this road.

“The Black Cat Roundabout roadworks have had numerous detour routes along this road the last couple of months. The sheer amount of traffic and lorries have had to use it has contributed hugely to the state of it.

“It simply can’t handle the amount of traffic.” Jay Tucker said driving along the road in the morning is a “nightmare”.

He said: “You have to weave around them [potholes] which sometimes mean going into the other lane. It always worries me that if I hit one, I’ll damage my car.”

David Watson claims there is a pothole “every few yards” and drivers need to weave around potholes. “I have to drive along it at night to get to my evening job and I dread it”.

Central Bedfordshire Council oversees the stretch of road. Councillor John Baker, executive member for finance and highways at the council said: ‘We are currently undertaking carriageway resurfacing and patching works on this road, which are scheduled to be completed by close of play Monday (February 23). We also carried out emergency repairs a few weeks ago to ensure the road remained safe for all users.”

Some have said that they have seen a negative impact on their businesses, while others said that it has made a positive effect on the area by reducing congestion

A controversial Cambridge bus gate continues to divide opinions nearly a year after it came into operation. Cambridgeshire County Council installed a permanent bus gate on Mill Road in 2025, with the first fines being issued from March.

The bus gate prevents all non-exempt vehicles passing through, meaning that they must use alternative routes. Those who breach this are issued with a Penalty Charge Notice of £70, discounted to £35 if paid within 21 days. Those exempt who can pass through without receiving a fine include buses, taxis, cyclists, and emergency vehicles.

More than 4,600 fines were issued in the first seven weeks after the bus gate was made operational, according a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Local Democracy Service. Nearly a year since the bus gate was introduced, we headed to Mill Road to find out what people now think about the bus gate.

A 23-year-old, who asked not to be named, works at Hilary’s Greengrocers. He claimed that some places on Mill Road have lost more than half of their business since the bridge closed to private vehicles.

“It has actually been a big problem”, he added. He said that he finds that there have been fewer people on the road, and said sometimes “you won’t be able to see a single person around here”.

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: “We want Mill Road to be an enjoyable, safe place to visit, where local businesses are supported. Mill Road bridge is open to buses, those walking, wheeling, and cycling, emergency services, taxis, and vehicles that are exempt, such as those being driven by blue badge holders.”

A 50-year-old lady who gave her name as Guzel runs a business in Mill Road. She said that it has “really badly affected us” and in her opinion “it is pointless because for people using a car, when the bridge was open, it was a shortcut but otherwise they are going triple [the amount of] time to reach the other side”. Guzel said that she hopes for a good environment and fresh air. However, this “was not my solution”, she said.

Others have said that the bus gate has made a positive impact. Mill Road For People (MR4P), a group of local residents and traders, said: “One year on from the implementation of the Mill Road bus gate, we have seen a big reduction in congestion (especially on the Romsey side), cleaner air, and fewer collisions.

“There has also been a significant rise in the number of people walking and cycling, with all the health and environmental benefits that brings.” The group continued: “Many people have told us that they feel safer walking and cycling, especially with their children, building up healthy habits for the future.”

Steve Bezzant, 55, runs The Retro Shed on Mill Road. He said that “people are still coming up with push bikes or walking, so even now, it is not really affecting me.” He added: “I get most people coming in, just walking in. If they need to have a car here, they can put it there [near his store], so it hasn’t really affected me.“

Jake, who asked to use only his first name, works at Halls of Cambridge. He said that the bus gate “has slowed down business a bit more for traders than the general public“.

Rather than improving traffic, Jake believes that “it just puts congestion elsewhere“. He said that it he is not personally affected by the bus gate because he doesn’t come from that way.

A 35-year-old who works at Ocean Supermarket said that “people avoid coming here to pick up their groceries” and they “avoid coming to this area to avoid traffic”.

The Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson added: “We are currently working with our partners to explore options for future public realm improvements for Mill Road. Over the next year, we will be hosting several public events and stakeholder meetings to bring forward ideas for the street that align with the requirements of local community groups, as well as businesses, faith organisations, and charities.”

The road has been closed for several hours after the crash

A person has been seriously injured after a crash in Cambridgeshire. They have been taken to hospital following a head-on crash involving a truck and another vehicle which has left the A1307 Babraham westbound closed since around 6am on Friday (February 20).

Police were called to the scene at 5.25am and closed the road. Ambulance crews also attended.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “Two people have been taken to hospital, one with serious injuries and one with minor injuries, and an investigation has been launched.”

A spokesperson for East of England Ambulance Service said: “Two ambulances and a paramedic car were sent to the A1307 at Barbraham this morning following reports of a road traffic collision. Two patients were transported to Addenbrooke’s Hospital for further assessment and care.”

Several roads leading into and around St Neots will be closed for roadworks throughout February

Over the next month, multiple roads in Cambridgeshire are set to be closed whilst roadworks are carried out. Several roads around St Neots will be closed by National Highways with diversions being put in place.

From Monday, February 9, until Saturday, February 14, the A1 southbound between Wyboston and Tempsford will be closed from 9pm to 5am to allow for new street lighting, permanent signage, and CCTV to be installed. There will be a diversion in place by exiting the A1 at Wyboston Interchange, taking the A428 towards St Neots, and re-joining the A1 at Tempsford Interchange.

To allow for the installation of new drainage, kerbs, and resurfacing, Potton Road from the B1046 junction to south of Eynesbury Plant Hire and the B1046 from Potton Road rail bridge to Lansbury Farm will also be closed. The closure will be in place from 9am on Friday, February 13, until 6am on Monday, February 23.

Traffic will be diverted south on Barford Road taking the first exit onto the A428 eastbound to then continue on A428 towards St Neots. You can then head onto south on B1046 at Eltisley and take Gransden Road and re-join St Neots Road.

The A421 westbound between the Black Cat junction and Renhold Interchange and Bedford Road between Roxton Garden Centre and the Black Cat roundabout will be closed overnight from Monday, February 16, to Saturday, February 21. The roads will be closed from 9pm to 5am to allow for the installation of new street lighting, permanent signage, and CCTV.

A diversion will be in place for drivers to continue south on the A1 and then take the A603 towards Bedford. Drivers will then re-join the A421 westbound at Cardington Interchange.

National Highways is installing rigid grids near to the A421 westbound and will be closing the road between the Black Cat junction and Renhold Interchange. The closure will be in place from 9pm on Friday, February 20, until 5am on Monday, February 23.

For the diversion, drivers will continue south on the A1 and take the A603 towards Bedford. Drivers will then re-join the A421 westbound at Cardington Interchange.

National Highways has said road closure can change at short notice. You should check the National Highways website for its daily closures when you travel.

The police officer was responding to an emergency when they drove into the car trap

A police officer has been suspended from driving after getting stuck in the notorious car trap on the Guided Busway in Cambridgeshire. Cambridgeshire Police has confirmed a police car got stuck in the car trap on Station Road in St Ives on Saturday, February 7.

The police car was responding to an emergency when it became stuck in the car trap at around 12:40am. The police have reported that no one was injured during the incident.

The vehicle was recovered from the area at around 3am. An investigation into the crash is underway.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “A police vehicle was responding to an emergency when it became stuck in a car trap in Station Road, St Ives at about 12.40am on 7 February. No injuries sustained.

“Vehicle was recovered by about 3am. The officer has been suspended from driving while an investigation takes place.”

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Police found the vehicle in the early hours of the morning, with no driver to be seen.

An abandoned lorry was found blocking both lanes on a Cambridgeshire road. Cambridgeshire Police were called to the abandoned vehicle on Toll Bar Way, Sawtry, at around 3.20am on January 26.

Officers found the lorry in an unsuitable condition. It had a flat tyre, split to the side of it and a mini digger in the back.

No driver was found for the vehicle. An investigation is being carried out to try and find the owner of the vehicle.

A police spokesperson said: “Officers were called to Toll Bar Way in Sawtry [on January 26]. This lorry had been left abandoned and was blocking both lanes.

“It had a split to the side of it, a flat tyre and a mini digger in the back, but no driver to be seen. Officers searched the area, but unfortunately there was no one found. The investigation continues.”

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