Many of you have contacted both the Parish Council and Harston Residents’ Group regarding the East West Rail (EWR) consultation, asking what it means for the village, and how you can respond. The short answer is: we’re working on it. We will be submitting a response on behalf of Harston Parish and are very keen to ensure that it reflects the broadest possible view of the Harston community. The activities we will undertake in the coming weeks will feed into this response.
If you saw the flyer which went to every household in the village last month, you’ll know that there’s an East West Rail Action Group in Harston comprising parish councillors, HRG members and other concerned residents, many of whom have the experience and contacts we’ll need to respond properly to the consultation.
We have over the past week been offered help to create 3D visuals of the proposed route through Harston, noise modelling by an acoustics specialist, and we will be seeking advice on the potential impact on air quality from an embankment which will effectively encircle the south-east corner of the village, just a few hundred metres from the school and many homes. So thanks to everyone who’s come forward to offer their help.
Everyone in this group – and the others campaigning against the worst excesses of the proposed EWR route – is a volunteer. Many of us work and have families or other commitments. We are all having to rapidly become experts in engineering and working in partnership with a range of different groups and stakeholders. So whilst we appreciate your need for information, advice and guidance at this worrying time, pease be patient with us. We’ll be updating you on our progress and seeking your views as frequently as possible.
The proposed East West Rail route
Whilst we are concerned about EWR’s impact on the whole Cambourne to Cambridge section (and will be working with neighbouring groups), we’ll be focussing our response on the Harston section. If you haven’t already done so, please read the consultation documentation. The Harston section is covered in varying degrees of detail in:
- The full consultation document;
- The Harlton to Hauxton document; and
- The Technical Report for this section, starting on Page 372.
Key features of the proposed line:
- EWR’s remit is for passenger rail but the line will undoubtedly also carry freight, potentially throughout the night.
- The track will be raised on a 10-metre-high earth embankment with a viaduct where the track crosses the River Cam south of Church Street.
- The embankment needs to be at least 2m wide for every metre of height. There will need to be space for access, plus some sort of security enclosure. No dimensions are currently given but estimates for the total width of the line range from 50 to 150m (except for the viaduct).
- EWR’s preference is for a “grade-separated” track (a flyover) where the new EWR line meets the current Kings Cross line, merging to ground level before the M11 bridge at Little Shelford.
- The current Kings Cross line passing Harston would move south-east from its current position to further up Newton Road. As a result, Harston’s level crossing could close and would not be replaced, as is national rail policy, potentially severing the road connection between Harston and Newton permanently.
- The level crossing between Hauxton and Little Shelford may also close, severing the road link between those villages.
Potential impacts:
- Noise. There is the potential for very serious disturbance from passing trains, particularly freight trains which can be up to half-a-mile long.
- Pollution. The current proposal is for diesel trains. Furthermore, with a high earth embankment enclosing the south-east of Harston, there is the potential for both rail and A10 pollution to become trapped.
- Increase in traffic on Harston High St and London Road. The potential closure of some local roads will necessitate longer journeys to and from surrounding villages, many of which will include the A10.
- Communities severed. Children from Harston & Newton Community Primary School would have to travel 2-3 times the current distance and on the A10, a congested road during peak times.
What about the “northern approach”?
There are clearly pros and cons to both the northern and southern approaches. EWR has set out the reasons why they do not consider the northern approach (following the A428 from Cambourne to arrive at Cambridge North Station) to be the best outcome for the line in Appendix F of the consultation.
You may agree with the Cambridge Approaches stance of including the northern approach in the public consultation. If you think that the northern route following the A428 warrants greater consideration, sign this petition.
Cambridge Approaches is currently fundraising for a judicial review – a type of court proceeding in which a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public body. If you want to support that action, donate here.
What are the next steps?
As a group, we are working towards a formal response to the consultation. We have already discussed our options with our MP, Anthony Browne, as well as district councillor Ian Sollom. Over the coming weeks, we hope to present further evidence that the plans as presented are an affront to the people and environment on the proposed route.
The proposals represent a direct threat to our hard work in building a case to reopen a station at Harston. We are working with our local MP to flag this matter up with the Department of Transport to ensure our aspirations are not just overridden but properly reconsidered.
Furthermore, the proposals as presented are likely to permanently deprive Harston of the option of a bypass, however unlikely that currently seems. We must ensure that consideration is given to the full range of knock-on effect that this line will have for the next 150+ years.
What you can do
Join East West Rail’s upcoming online events for our area
- Public event one: Thursday 15 April 7pm – 8pm. Please join by following this link.
- Public event two Tuesday 11 May 11am – 12pm. Please join by following this link.
Come to our public information event in Harston: 15 May, 2-4pm at Harston Recreation Ground
Harston Residents’ Group is organising an East West Rail Impact & Action open-air meeting. Speakers: Anthony Browne, MP, Ian Sollom (SCDC Councillor) & Dominic Bellamy, Harston Parish Councillor.
Respond
It is vital that the individual voices of those affected by the route are heard by EWR. You have until Wednesday 9 June to make comment via the East West Rail website or the paper forms that should be coming to every home along the route.
