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Cambourne cuts car use

2 May 2002

For those of us who commute miles to work by car or train each day, lunch time often conjures up a rather forlorn picture of a sad sandwich eaten in the speldid isolation of our desks.

Not so for the new residents of Cambourne, where an increasing number are taking advantage of working close to home.

Lunchtimes are more likely to involve residents rustling up a tasty home cooked snack in the comfort of their own kitchens, while the environment breathes a small sigh of relief from fewer exhaust fumes.

One example of a Cambourne 'walker to work' is Mark Shanahan, who says "I got a job as financial controller with Convergys on the Cambourne Business Park in July last year, then bought a house at Cambourne with my girlfriend and daughter last November. One of the reasons we chose to live at Cambourne was to be close to my work. This means I get to spend more time with my family and it's definately less stressful than commuting which I did in my last job - plus walking is free! After a hard day at work it's nice to be home in a flash. My partner works part time so it's also good to be able to pop home for lunch when she is not working."

When the original masterplan was drawn up around 15 years ago, the idea of people leaving the car at home in favour of walking or cycling to work occured to very few. However the developers took the pioneering approach of incorporating emerging government ideas on environmental protection and sustainability by making provision for the creation of the Business Park.

The many benefits of this forward planning are now becoming fully apparant to Cambourne residents. The provision of walking and cycling routes throughout the pioneering settlement means that all areas are easily accessible by foot or bicycle, with many paths running through wooded areas and green spaces.

Resident Joanne Bramwell, who works for Regus on the Business Park, says "What we really loved about Cambourne was the fact that the developers are keeping so may green areas. We bought our house here two years ago, and soon after I was offered a job at Regus. It's great as I can walk to work now, which only takes about 10 - 15 minutes, and it's along a nicely landscaped route. I feel there are a number of benefits to this; first it keeps me fit and also I like to think I am doing my bit to contribute to a better environment for everyone. There's a knock-on effect for my fiance too, as we have only one car between us and in my last job he had to pick me up after work - it costs us less in petrol now and saves time too."

Recent research has shown that if every car commuter used an alternative to the car on just one day a week, car usage levels would be equivalent to school holidays, when roads are 20 per cent clearer.

To address this kind of environmental issue, Development Securities, the developers of the Buisness Park, have set up travel initiatives in order to keep environmental impacts to a minimum and create cleaner air by reducing car fumes. To achieve this the Business Park has put in place a green travel plan, drawn up in accordance with the government's 'Travel to Work' guidelines - which provides education, and facilites to enable employees to get to and from work in alternative ways to the car.

Lesley Scobell, the Business Park's 'Travel to Work' co-ordinator says "There are a number of things we've put in place, one of them being the provision of covered parking for cycles and changing rooms and showers for use by cyclists and pedestrians."

However, the Business Park also recognises that in some cases the car is the only viable means of transport - indeed, nationally, around 70% of all journeys to work are made by car and 80% of those are of single occupancy. To address this, a car sharing club is being set up for anyone who lives or works at Cambourne.

Lesley adds "Employees need not commmit to car sharing every day - even sharing once a week can make a difference."