Congestion in Cambridge 3

Just done the online questionnaire that Cambridge Council have put up.

Very badly put together this! Almost deliberate in it's way that it leads you....

You have to be careful here, the way that the questions are asked and the order that they are given is that it assumes that there is a high level of congestion and that you will want to reduce it. In fact, it is a very biased questionnaire and one that will give the council the answers that they want to hear.

If you only traveled in Cambridge at rush hour, you are led to believe and it is implied that the congestion is particularly bad here.

Also, with being online and with anyone in the world able to answer it, there is a major opportunity for the council to get people to answer the questions and so 'load' the results in their favor. What is to stop people completing the questionaire using an elderly neighbours name and address when they know that they will not have a computer in their home?

Not saying that this will happen but it is a distinct possibility.

Congestion in Cambridge 2

Been looking at other blogs for views on the congestion charges that are currently beng considered for Cambridge.

Interesting reading...three blogs were of particular interest.

That Canadian Girls blog outlines an email that she recieved when asked about the consultation process. It seems that you either have to go online to register your comment (which of course disadvantages the vast amount of car drivers that do not access the net) or attend one of the roadshows staged at various venues across the county and in Suffolk. Interesting to note that these roadshows occur at a diverse set of venues including;

• Park and Ride places (you would expect those that use P'n'R to be more on favor, would you not?)
• Towns such as St Ives and Ely whose residents may or nay not frequent Cambridge and hence be considerably less concerned about the charge.
• Towns that are further away such as Haverhill and Newmarket which are in Suffolk. Does the fate of the congestion charge lie on their hands?

All in all, this is a disgraceful way to fnd out the opinions of those that matter in this case.

The Daily Maybe also comments on the charge and has some very interesting remarks about the polictical nature of all of this including comment regarding possible impropriety. There is also a reason given for not giving the residents of Cambridge the referendum that they should have, the comments made by the council about 'overbidding' the amount needed and the way that businesses will change their working days to avoid paying the charge. I just hope the reast of the country follows suit. As if...

Phil Smith's blog is a little more extreme and cynical in its view though nothing would surprose me here. He may be on the wrong track (sic) but I can see that maybe he is not. You never know in this world.

Incidentally, if you do want to go and complete Cambridge City Council's online questionaire, then please go here.