New team to cut city congestion

Congestion problems in Cambridge are to be looked at by a team of private and public sector groups.

The new commission, which could include the city council, Addenbrooke's Hospital, police and the universities, has been set up by the county council.

The move comes after the council made a bid for £500m of government funds for a plan, including for congestion charging, which was not well supported. The commission's aim is to come up with ideas to curb the city's congestion.

Jill Tuck, leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, said: "We have listened carefully over the last few months and it is clear that the Transport Innovation Fund scheme we put forward for consultation last autumn does not have sufficient support either from other key organisations or the public.

"It needs, at the very least, refinement.

"The £500m we have requested is way in excess of anything we would ever raise locally but such a huge cash injection does have to be accompanied by a congestion charging scheme.

"It will be for the commission to determine what is best for Cambridge but any scheme must have support from key public and private organisations and also the public."