At a protest against the proposed implementation of a congestion charge in Cambridge, hundreds of people showed up.
To be implemented by 2027–2028, the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has suggested a £5 charge for private vehicles on weekdays between 7:00 and 19:00.
According to it, the money raised could be used to enhance bus services and reduce traffic by 50%.
It was the city's second protest in the last three months; the first one was in December.
A "sustainable travel zone" that encompasses most of the city has been proposed by the Greater Cambridge Partnership, an organization made up of three local councils, businesses, and the University of Cambridge.
By charging £5 for cars, £10 for vans, and £50 for lorries, the GCP estimates it will gain £50 million.
The program's three main objectives are to increase sustainable travel options, such as better walking and cycling connections, and to impose a road user charge in order to reduce air pollution and congestion. The bus network will also be improved through more services and lower fares.
Participating in the rally on Sunday was South Cambridgeshire District Council independent councillor Dan Lentell.
There are parking fees for businesses, he said. There are numerous alternatives available that do not place a burden on the most vulnerable members of society—the sick and the poor. ".
It's simply not practical, according to Sharon Williamson, to rely solely on buses to complete any task in Cambridge, including going grocery shopping, shopping, or visiting a garden center. ".
Find another way, there is another way, advised Neil Mackay of the Cambridgeshire Residents Group. A tourist tax is something that I personally favor.
"We can't just give up, so we won't.
"We must prevent it from happening. For Cambridge, it would be disastrous. ".
A petition opposing the plans has received close to 28,000 signatures.
