Let citizens decide Cambridge's Future

Cambridge is one of the loveliest cities in the world and we are privileged to live in it. But we should not take the city, with all its charms and attractions, for granted. Cities are organic and like all organisms they have a full-grown or optimum size. Go beyond that ideal scale and the organism starts to perish.

And that is what will happen to Cambridge if present growth plans go ahead. Traffic congestion, pollution, low level crime, litter and environmental degradation, overcrowded streets and a sense that the city no longer belongs to those who live in it will all get worse.

Cllr Hipkin (the petition organiser) says: ‘Fortunately we can reverse this disastrous trend. Recently the City Council announced that it ‘welcomes petitions and recognises that they are one way in which people can let us know their concerns.’ It goes on: ‘All petitions sent or presented to the council will receive an acknowledgement…and we will set out what we plan to do with the petition.’ One option is for the council to offer to organise a city-wide referendum and, if the result supports it, to change policy. That is what I shall be pressing for in this Petition.’

‘Another positive is that the Coalition government wants local people to take greater control over the planning and fashioning of their communities. They call it ‘localism’ and they intend bringing it into law in the near future. I support their efforts and I urge Cambridge residents to seize this opportunity to help Cambridge keep its compact scale and pleasant character.