Wednesday’s Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority meeting saw local Liberal Democrat and Labour politicians voting for the proposed Local Transport and Connectivity Plan.
The Lib Dems and Labour voted for option A: ‘Approve the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan’.
But the Plan’s recommendations included options for ‘congestion charging’ – a proposal previously due to be taken off the table by the Greater Cambridge Partnership following public outcry.
The Lib Dems and Labour tried to use the Combined Authority proposal as a Trojan horse to force through road charging – demonstrating total ignorance to public opposition.
Despite this political stunt, the Plan was rejected by the Combined Authority after Conservative Cllr Wayne Fitzgerald, Leader of Peterborough City Council, voted against it.
In response, Mayor Nik Johnson (Labour) pulled a paper that would have funded a new electric bus depot at Peterborough. This was despite the Mayor describing bus improvements as a “revolution for public transport.”
Cllr Heather Williams, Leader of the South Cambridgeshire Conservative group, reacted to the meeting’s events.
“Today’s vote at the Combined Authority just shows what an utter mess the Lib Dems and Labour have got us into over road charging. They are not being transparent with residents about what they stand for.
“We cannot trust that they will oppose congestion charging and road charging of any form for the foreseeable future. No doubt we have been given warm words ahead of a general election, then we will all have to suffer after.
“I will not be silenced and I will continue to campaign against road charging in Cambridgeshire.”
