Latest news with #MillRoad
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Cambridge Mill Road court challenge against bus gate dismissed
A court challenge against traffic restrictions being introduced to a busy city centre road has been dismissed.A legal case was launched at the High Court in November against a motor vehicle ban on part of Mill Road in Cambridge, exempting buses, cyclists, emergency services, taxis and blue badge County Council said the restrictions, which were reintroduced in March, would remain in place after its decision was Friends of Mill Road Bridge 2, the campaign group that brought forward the case, said in a post on social media it had been a "long and bitter struggle". The post said the group was not currently considering an appeal due to the "significant sums" involved in pursuing the case."A legal challenge was our only option once it became clear that the voices of the majority were not being heard."To give up and do nothing would have been too difficult to live with."According to the council, the case against it argued the traffic restrictions were unsupported by evidence and that a consultation on the plans was group also claimed there was a failure to provide legally adequate reasons for the restrictions and that the council had failed to take into account "material considerations" in relation to petitions. 'Huge benefits' Cambridgeshire County Council previously said the restrictions on Mill Road, which were introduced on a temporary basis in 2020 to 2021 before being made permanent, would make the area a "more enjoyable, safe place to visit".It is the second legal challenge the authority has faced against the bus gate, with a previous case being dropped last introducing the restrictions in March, the council has issued on average 100 fines a day to drivers illegally using the caught can be issued a Penalty Charge Notice of £70, discounted to £35 if paid within 21 Road 4 People, a campaign group that believes the bus gate brings "huge benefits" to the area, welcomed the outcome of the case. "This decision has shown definitively that the installation of the bus gate on Mill Road was neither undemocratic nor illegal in any way," a spokesperson said. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Telegraph
22-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Horse and cart helps trader avoid bus gate fine
A trader has resorted to using a horse and cart to avoid a controversial bus gate restriction. John Ball, the owner of Cut Price Carpets in Cambridge, is using his two-year-old mare Sybil to deliver his carpets to customers over Mill Road Bridge. It was placed under a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) in March which restricted most traffic from using the bridge. The exceptions include buses, pedestrians, cyclists, emergency services, taxis and Blue Badge holders' registered vehicles. Cambridgeshire county council insisted the move would improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists, creating 'a more enjoyable, safer place to visit'. But Mr Ball claimed the measure had created a 'rat run for taxis' that was destroying independent businesses. 'I got the horse and cart to go over and do deliveries and estimates over the other side of the bridge because they can't fine me for taking it over the bridge,' he said. 'I've been here for 29 years for a reason because we're good at what we do and we're reasonable – we look after people. 'We've been in the same shop, serving the local community. I'd just love for them to open the bridge back up because it's destroying us little independent businesses.' He added: 'You stand outside the front of my shop – it is just a rat run for taxis. 'The taxis are using it as a cut-through and they're flying up and down there. 'Mill Road is a main arterial road. It's the main high street of Cambridge. But it's just a dying road.' 'Mill Road is open for business' Since introducing the bus gate, the council has issued an average of 100 fines a day to drivers illegally using the bridge, which has been fitted with ANPR cameras. The Penalty Charge Notice for the bridge is £70, which is discounted to £35 if paid within 21 days. A total of 4,600 fines were issued in its first seven weeks, according to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by the BBC. Alex Beckett, the chairman of the highways and transport committee at Cambridgeshire county council, said: 'I'd like to be clear – Mill Road is open for business. Mill Road bridge is open to buses, those walking, wheeling, and cycling, emergency services, taxis, and vehicles that are exempt, such as those being driven by blue badge holders. 'Mill Road is the centre of a community. We want it to be a more enjoyable, safer place to visit and to encourage more people to come into the area. Reducing motorised through traffic and installing the bus gate will help achieve this. What's important is that we now move forward with developing plans for public realm improvements supporting local businesses and allowing Mill Road to thrive.'
BBC News
02-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Mill Road bus gate: More than 4,600 fines issued to drivers
A council has been issuing around 100 fines a day on average to drivers for illegally using a bus Mill Road bridge bus gate in Cambridge was introduced on 11 March, banning vehicles except for buses, emergency services, taxis and blue badge holders' registered vehicles.A Freedom of Information request submitted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service shows more than 4,600 fines were issued in its first seven Alex Beckett, chair of Cambridgeshire County Council's highways and transport committee, said "nobody wants to fine people" but that the restrictions made Mill Road a "more enjoyable, safer place to visit". He said: "Mill Road is the centre of a community. We want it to be a more enjoyable, safer place to visit and to encourage more people to come into the area."Reducing motorised through traffic and installing the bus gate will help achieve this."Anyone driving illegally through the bus gate can be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice of £70, discounted to £35 if paid within 21 fines were due to begin on March 11, enforcement was suspended for two days due to emergency work to fix a burst water main in the area, with fines starting on March the first seven weeks of the bus gate being fully operational, 4,677 fines were issued to drivers who breached the restrictions. In the first full week of its operation, commencing March 16, there were 857 fines highest number of fines issued in one week was in the week commencing March 30, when 887 fines were issued to drivers. Cambridgeshire County Council agreed last year to issue a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to install a bus gate on the was the second time the authority agreed to issue a TRO after the first was quashed following a legal restrictions created under the TRO closed the bridge to all motor vehicles. There were exemptions for local buses, taxis, emergency services, blue badge holders registered vehicles, vehicles in a disabled tax class, and vehicles on the council's permitted vehicles who fit into one of the categories still have to apply to the county council for a bus gate and cyclists were also still allowed to continue to cross the county council put in place a formal warning period at the start of the year, issuing warning PCNs to drivers who breached the bus gate restrictions, but not actual were also put up at the bridge to warn drivers about the new restrictions. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- RNZ News
One dead after dirtbike, vehicle crash in Auckland
Photo: One person has died following a crash in Takanini, a southern suburb of Auckland, on Thursday night. Emergency services were called to the crash between a vehicle and a dirtbike on Mill Road just before 8.30pm. One person died at the scene, police said. The Serious Crash Unit attended and enquiries to determine the circumstances of the crash are continuing.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
If you're under 25 in this pub you'll have to be out early on busy nights
A Welsh pub said it has banned under 25s from drinking there on Friday and Saturday nights. The Masons Arms in Caerphilly announced its rule change in a public Facebook post on Saturday. The statement said the "minority have spoilt it" and contributed to a "lack of respect for the pub and its patrons." The post, which asks "please everyone read and share", goes on to explain that nobody below the age of 25 will be allowed in the Mill Road premises after 7pm on a Friday or Saturday. Those who are already present at the pub will be served their last drink at 6.30pm. The post, shared on The New Masons Arms Facebook page reads: "As a pub from day one we have tried to do our best for the community, we have a lot of sports teams and sponsor a lot of young individuals in their chosen sport. READ MORE: Met Office issues 10-hour thunderstorm warning for Wales READ MORE: Crackdown on 'cunning' tactic drivers are using to dodge speed cameras "We try and do as many fundraisers as possible and always have our customers' interests first. "The pub is changing how it runs on a Friday and Saturday night, the minority have spoilt it for the rest of you. "It's getting to a point that there's a lack of respect for the pub and its patrons. "After 7pm on a Friday and Saturday there will be no person under the age of 25 allowed in the pub. "If you're here before that time your last drink will be served by 6.30. "Anybody caught or suspected of using any kind of drug will be banned, anyone refusing a search will be banned. "Drugs or lack of respect for the older patrons of the pub will not be tolerated. Please share." Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice
