A141 & St Ives Improvements Scheme – December 2024

Overview by Chair:

The deferment of decision taking on HDCs Local Plan leaves a considerable vacuum in provision of public information on the details and the timings of local proposals in industrial and retail development and in housing. For instance, there is no indication if there is a preference for smaller developments scattered across the villages or for large developments, either of which would significantly affect the volume of traffic and water management needs of St Ives in different ways.

The Civic Society can’t therefore comment with any particular insights. Our position is there should be no more housing or industrial development until the road water management and sewerage infrastructure is improved, particularly in high flood risk areas.

Highway flooding, whether from rivers rising, heavy rainwater build-up or the incapacity of St Ives drainage and sewerage systems is a cause for concern. We call for effective cooperation between the Environment Agency, Anglia Water and CC to ensure regular maintenance of roads and gulleys is undertaken, to alleviate future flooding.

Discussions about a third river crossing to divert traffic and reduce congestion around St Ives and Huntingdon have taken place over many years but have never been progressed. The reasons for not approving this are not understood. We propose the Council reconsiders developing a raised causeway from the Needingworth A1123 roundabout to Mill Rd, Fen Drayton to join the A1307 near Banolds Supplies & Services, similar to the elevated section of Harrison Way. The proposed bus route extensions are commendable and will be popular with, and increase the quality of life of, many residents of currently under-served villages. From that point of view the Civic Society wholeheartedly supports the proposals, however, we query whether these are feasible, given that present providers of existing services struggle to attract sufficient staff to drive the buses and coaches, or to run their routes profitably.