Histon & Impington Parish Council regularly applies for funding through the County Council’s Local Highways Initiative (LHI). These applications are managed by the Highways, Drainage, and Formal Spaces Committee. The LHI fund enables local groups, including Parish Councils, to propose transport infrastructure improvements with matched funding from the County Council. This match funding allows for larger projects than these groups could undertake directly. It also provides access to experienced engineers for project design and implementation. Previous successful applications have led to the installation of a raised table pedestrian crossing at Brook Close, with another currently planned for Station Road.
Survey Purpose and Methodology
In autumn 2024, the Parish Council conducted a survey to identify priorities for future highway improvements within the LHI funding scheme. The survey focused on issues affecting pedestrians and cyclists, aligning with the local plan (specifically Project P2) and the Parish Council’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions following a declaration of Climate Emergency. Additionally, the LHI selection criteria emphasize safety and sustainable transport improvements, making these key areas for competitive applications. All concerns in the survey were previously raised by residents, either directly to Councillors or through past Parish Council surveys.
The survey was available online from August 28 to October 15 2024 and was promoted through the Parish Council website, Hi-Hub weekly newsletter, and local social media. A total of 103 responses were received during that time. Redacted (for GDPR requirement) data is available on the Parish Council website [link].
Key Findings
Residents were asked to prioritise eleven identified concerns using five response options: Most Important, Important, Not Important, Not Interested, and Opposed. These concerns are based on previous surveys and direct feedback to councillors. The issues surveyed were:
- A) Difficulty traveling along Station Road due to high traffic levels
- B) Difficulty crossing the High Street in the area between Stir / Library and St Andrew’s Centre / Red Lion
- C) Difficulty crossing Glebe Way around the Pages Close area
- D) Not having a safe, well surfaced off-road option between Histon and Girton, resulting in a longer, less pleasant trip
- E) Issues crossing the Crescent (north end) due to large opening
- F) Frustration at long journey length between the Guided Busway and the Recreation Ground / New Road
- G) Difficulty crossing Tesco car park entrance
- H) Unpleasant/Unsafe environment along narrow sections of Burgoynes Road
- I-a) Issues around Park Primary due to speed of cars on Glebe Way (B1049)
- I-b) Large numbers of cars parking in Narrow Close and Cottenham Road
- J) Issues along New Road due to traffic levels, narrow pavements and amount of car parking
- K) Crossing Home Close where it joins the High Street
Chart 1 presents responses ranked by “Most Important.” The highest support was for addressing issues near schools. Chart can be viewed larger by clicking on ‘Chart 1’
Chart 2 categorises responses into Positive (Most Important + Important), Neutral (Not Interested), and Negative (Not Important + Opposed). The strongest positive sentiment was for issues near the schools and close to the High Street. Chart can be viewed larger by clicking on ‘Chart 2’
Additional Comments and Emerging Themes
The survey also invited open-ended feedback, revealing several recurring themes:
Potholes were the most frequently mentioned issue. The Parish Council is aware of the poor state of roads within the villages and the impact this has on driving and cycling. While the Parish Council continues to urge the County Council to carry out these repairs, pothole maintenance was intentionally excluded from this survey, as LHI funding does not typically support maintenance projects. This is also the case for respondents concerned with damaged pavements and faded road markings.
Vehicle Speed on the B1049 was another major concern, with mixed opinions. Some respondents believed 20mph zones were excessive and caused delays, while others felt speeds were still too high. The Parish Council will continue monitoring these zones.
Perceived Cyclist Bias was noted by some respondents, however, 9 of the 13 issues related to pedestrian access. Some respondents also felt the selection of issues had ignored the requirements of drivers. The evaluation criteria and Local Neighbourhood Plan guided the focus towards sustainable travel; walking and cycling. The survey aimed to prioritise problem areas for these road users as raised by residents, with solutions designed later considering the needs of all road users. Any area taken forward with the LHI scheme will be consulted upon as part of the process.
Parking Issues were raised beyond Park Primary School, highlighting locations where new restrictions or enforcement could be considered. However, creating new standalone car parks is unlikely to receive LHI funding and planning permission.
Additional Infrastructure Suggestions included new pedestrian paths, pedestrian crossings, cycleways, and dropped curbs, which will be considered in future planning.
Next Steps
The Parish Council appreciates all the responses and suggested solutions. While this survey focused on prioritising issues rather than prescribing solutions, this feedback will inform future LHI applications. There will be further opportunities for input as specific projects progress through the LHI process.
The Parish Council is grateful to all residents who contributed to this important discussion. Thank you.