Histon & Impington Parish Council (HIPC) have been working to improve accessibility for pedestrians throughout the villages. Many features – such as metal chicanes across footpath entrances, barriers across cul-de-sac ends, and unnecessary gates – present challenges for people moving around the village. These are particularly problematic for people using wheelchairs, mobility scooters or pushchairs, often making routes very difficult or impassable.
Removing such barriers aligns with Section 20 of the Equalities Act 2010, which outlines the legal requirement to make reasonable adjustments where physical features put disabled people at a substantial disadvantage. This includes:
- Removing the feature,
- Altering it, or
- Providing an alternative means of access.
While the primary focus is accessibility, improvements will also benefit:
- Families walking to Brook Primary School, by removing restrictions that cause queuing;
- Cyclists and pedestrians, by creating safer and quieter routes away from busy roads;
- Public transport users, through better connectivity to bus stops and onward trips by public transport.
- All enable more trip undertaken by sustainable modes reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions due to private motor vehicles.
The committee feels these changes support Priority 4 of the Histon & Impington Neighbourhood Plan “To develop a network of sustainable, accessible transport links within and around the villages to create safe and inviting routes for all and especially for pedestrians and cyclists.”
They also contribute towards Project 14 , which “Recognises the importance of walking and cycling routes in the Plan Area as a way of accessing key services and green infrastructure in the Plan Area and connecting with Cambridge and other neighbouring communities”, and “Seeks to protect and enhance the network of walking and cycling routes.”
A Phased and Considered Approach
The committee has reviewed locations across the village, categorising them as,
- Suitable for simple removal,
- Suitable for modification (e.g. replacing barriers with bollards),
- Requiring a larger redesign.
Proposals aim meet the dual goals of improved accessibility without detrimental impact on road safety.
Initial assessments began in Spring 2022, with both councillors and residents identifying problematic locations. In October 2022, a Road Safety Audit (RSA) was commissioned. The RSA raised no major safety issues, noting only minor concerns such as:
- Overgrown vegetation,
- Worn path surfaces,
- Potential increases in cycling speeds.
County Council officers reviewed and supported all proposed changes, and even recommended converting some planned replacements into simple removals to reduce costs. Only one location—on the bridleway to Girton—will undergo further review due to concerns from the Byways team.
First Phase Works
The Parish Council has approved funding for an initial round (Phase 1) of barrier removals. The first phase prioritises seven locations suitable for straightforward removal:
- The Coppice – Central
- The Coppice – South
- Henry Morris Road
- Symonds Close
- Parlour Close
- Narrow Close
- Parr Close
Resident Feedback: January 2025 Survey
To gather local views, the Parish Council conducted a three week survey in January 2025. It was publisised on the Parish Website, HI-Hub news page and at the proposed locations. Redacted (for GDPR requirement) data is available on the Parish Council website.
Respondents gave their overall view on each of the seven locations proposed for changes.
Chart 1: response breakdown per location.
Chart 2: overall positive vs. negative sentiment at each location.
The results show overall support for the removing the barriers at each of the seven locations.
What Residents Told Us
The survey also invited open-ended feedback, revealing several recurring themes:
Safety Concerns: A number of respondents strongly oppose the removal. Their primary concern is safety. They argue that the barriers are essential for slowing down cyclists, electric scooters, and even motorbikes, preventing collisions with pedestrians, especially children, elderly individuals, and those with disabilities. They cite instances of near misses and accidents, and fear that removing the barriers will encourage speeding and dangerous use of the paths by cyclists. Several residents specifically mention the danger of blind corners and the increased risk to pedestrians, especially children, exiting onto roads.
Accessibility Concerns: While some residents acknowledge the accessibility issues the barriers pose for wheelchair users and those with mobility scooters, they argue that alternative routes or slight modifications to the existing barriers could address these concerns without compromising safety. Some suggest that the current setup is already sufficient for wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
Support for Removal: Other residents fully support the removal of the barriers, citing improved accessibility for wheelchair users, mobility scooters, prams, and cyclists with trailers. They view the barriers as an inconvenience and believe that they hinder rather than help pedestrian safety. Some argue that the paths are already used by cyclists and that removing the barriers will simply formalise the existing situation. They also suggest that concerns about speeding cyclists and motorbikes are overstated and that these issues should be addressed through enforcement rather than barriers.
Broader feedback: Several residents raise additional concerns, including:
- Pavement parking and overgrown hedges: These are seen as other obstacles to pedestrian movement.
- Condition of the paths: Some point out that the paths themselves are uneven and poorly maintained, making them unsuitable for wheelchair users even if the barriers are removed.
- Speed limits and traffic calming: Some suggest that the focus should be on enforcing existing speed limits and implementing other traffic calming measures to improve safety for all users.
- Cost of removal: A few residents question the cost of removing the barriers and suggest that the money could be better spent on other improvements, such as pothole repair.
- Lack of consultation: Some feel that the consultation process has not adequately addressed their concerns.
Proposed Alternatives: Some residents suggest alternative solutions, such as replacing the barriers with bollards (to prevent motorbike access), widening the gaps in the barriers, or implementing better signage to indicate permitted users. There are requests for more lighting in some areas. Others were concerned that barriers which affect their journeys are not being considered for improvement.
Addressing Community Concerns
The Parish Council takes all feedback seriously. In response:
- Safety: The proposals have been reviewed by County Road Safety officers for the impact on safety for all road users. They have supported our suggestions and our prioritisation for phase one is on the simpler removals. Safety concerns over poor path surfaces or overgrown plants raised by the Road Safety Audit (RSA) would be addressed by any works. Where similar removals have occurred elsewhere, perceived safety concerns have not been realised.
- Accessibility: The Combined Authority’s accessibility officers have endorsed the plans. If approved the project hopes to improve accessibility within the village.
- Budget: The Council has budgeted £5,000 for first phase removal, quotes for the proposed work are around £800. Many respondents felt that the money would be better spent improving roads for private motor vehicles. By comparison the Asphalt Industry Alliance’s (AIA) Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) gives the average cost of a planned pothole repair in England (excluding London) as approximately £45.83 per pothole. Rising to an average around £71.40 per pothole in England (excluding London) reactive, unplanned and often urgent repairs. The budget is not taken from a pot that would be used for pothole repair.
- Alternate Solutions: Later phases may include wider design changes, such as bollards or increased signs, requested by commentors. However, these were not selected for the initial phase of work. Only those locations where a direct removal of the existing barriers are proposed are included at this stage. Further phases will come to consultation in due course.
What’s Next?
The Parish Council appreciates all the responses. The Highways Drainage & Formal Spaces Committee voted to approve Phase 1 of the project (the seven locations identified above) based on the survey data received at the meeting held 22nd April 2025 (click here to view the minutes). Any future phases will involve further public consultation and may include wider design work on bollards, lighting or improved signs.
The Parish Council is grateful to all residents who took part in this consultation. Your input is vital to ensuring our village becomes more inclusive, accessible, and connected. Thank you.