As you may know, the Greater Cambridge Partnership (or 'GCP', previously known as the Greater Cambridge City Deal) is a delivery body (comprising Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, the University of Cambridge and the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership) in a city deal with central government to improve infrastructure, employment and housing in the area. The deal will bring around £1 billion of investment into the region over fifteen years. So far, so good and you can see more about the work of the GCP by going to their website - www.greatercambridge.org.uk.

However, it is important to know that those in positions of power are, inevitably, looking to use this funding to further their own political agendas and pet projects. That of course, is fine - that is what we elect politicians for. But what is becoming increasingly apparent is that many of these partnership bodies are promoting infrastructure projects that directly, and often indirectly, support other schemes which the public do not prefer.
 
Between now and January 2018, the GCP is consulting with the public on preferred bus routes from Cambourne to Cambridge. We are aware that many local people are unaware of this consultation process. In particular those of you who oppose the development of Bourn Airfield may like to know that the route favoured by the GCP and most strongly promoted by them in their material - Route C - will be developed over Green Belt land and is likely to cost significantly more (c.£100m) than advertised.

A group of local campaigners has put together a leaflet challenging the information in the official GCP brochure. The Local Liaison Forum (LLF) for thé A428 corridor comprises district and parish councillors from South Cambridgeshire and councillors and residents' groups from Cambridge. Their leaflet draws attention to a series of important errors and omissions on the GCP's consultation brochure. These include:

•  Misleading information on the cost of schemes
•  Vital missing information on Green Belt impact
•  Major errors in the description of the community option, Route B
•  Incorrect information on journey times and reliability
•  Critical omissions in the comparison of Park & Ride sites

Please see the attached leaflet below for further details. Most importantly do look at the GCP's consultation website here and make your views known. We urge you to support Route B.

Some of you will have heard news yesterday suggesting that the Inspectors have approved the Local Plan including 3,500 new homes at Bourn Airfield. 

We were rather surprised to hear that as the Inspectors have yet to make their decision known. 

It is clear that South Cambs District Council and Cambridge City Council have been premature in briefing the press, and others, on the ‘outcome' to the Local Plan Examination. The outcome has certainly not yet been determined. Furthermore, we can report that the Inspectors were surprised and unhappy at the councils' precipitate action. They have written a strongly worded letter to the councils and have specifically asked them to publish their letter to avoid any perception that they have reached a fixed conclusion.

We have attached the Inspectors' letter below. Do let us have your comments.