Road restriction bad for business, shopkeeper says

A shop owner said business had dropped by almost a quarter because of traffic restrictions on a street.

Only buses, emergency services, taxis and holders of blue badges have been allowed on the Mill Road bridge in Cambridge since December.

Abdul Arain of Al-Amin grocery store admitted it was "a bit early" to fully assess the impact but feared businesses could have to close due to a fall in customers.

Mill Road 4 People, a group that campaigned for a bus gate, said the restriction had encouraged more people to walk or cycle, increasing footfall.

In addition to a drop in business, Mr Arain also believed it was causing congestion to build on the city side of the bridge.

"You can almost taste the smog and the petrol fumes," he said.

"We used to leave the windows and doors open, but now you need to close them, particularly the ones close to the junction."

Cambridgeshire County Council said it had issued about 100 penalty charge notices a day in the three weeks from 13 March, when cameras were switched back on after a burst water main was fixed.

It added it would not comment on the impact of the bus gate restriction until after the local elections.

The authority temporarily banned most cars from the bridge in June 2020 for 11 months and was met with opposition when it tried to re-introduce the restrictions.

A traffic regulation order was imposed in December after a consultation and warning notices began to be sent in February.

Katie Hawks from Mill Road 4 People said high streets benefited from pedestrians and cyclists because they spent more money than car drivers.

She said: "Nearly 2,000 more journeys were done on foot and by bike along Mill Road in March this year, up on last year, which has actually increased footfall."

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