East West Railway (EWR) Project

Great Shelford Parish Council takes issue with the Option E route corridor being selected without proper consideration of the alternatives and believes that EWR should undertake analysis and full public consultation on a northern route.

GSPC notes the cumulative impact of current infrastructure projects in our locality.

All route options through Great Shelford will have a net detrimental impact on the village.

We responded in detail to the 2021 Non-Statutory Consultation.

We have pledged £25,000 to Cambridge Approaches to represent GSPC’s position in a Judicial Review.

GSPC is engaging fully in EWR’s new Local Representatives Groups, which are groups of local representatives that have been formed to provide feedback to EWR regarding the project.  Our group includes nearby Parish Councils including Harston, Little Shelford, Hauxton and Newton, plus Cambridge City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council elected representatives.  The Local Representatives Groups are expected to meet every quarter.

As of March 2022, EWR believes that it will publish the report regarding the results of its 2021 non statutory consultation in Summer 2022.

Communications Policy re. EWR

Great Shelford Parish Council will:

• Publish EWR’s preferred route alignment(s) and any further proposals on the council’s website and notice boards as soon as it is available.
• Explain the council’s position to the district and county council, the Mayor, the Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority, our local MP, and candidates for the forthcoming local elections and solicit their support.
• Work with Cambridge Approaches to ensure that if it is necessary to spend money pledged to them, this is done wisely and to the greatest effect.
• Inform residents of the GSPC position and provide links to the EWR, Cambridge Approaches and CamBedRailRoad websites.
• Engage with the media to present our position.  The Chair of the Parish Council will coordinate these actions and will act as spokesperson for the parish council on EWR matters.

Key Points leading to GSPC’s Position

• GSPC believes it was not consulted effectively by EWR on this project during the 2000 Non-Statutory Consultation after which the critical decision to adopt Option E as the preferred route option was taken.
• The 2021 Non-Statutory Consultation states that a grade separated junction at Shepreth Branch Junction is being considered by EWR.  GSPC is concerned that this would cause significant environmental damage to the village.
• At present, the line is planned as non-electrified.  This means that unless new sources of traction power emerge, EWR trains will be diesel-powered, with the attendant noise and particulate pollution.
• It is not yet certain whether the line will be freight-compatible, and this is not EWR’s decision.  However, as it features in Network Rail’s freight strategy, we should envisage that the line will carry freight, and because of the loading on the lines around Cambridge, it is likely to run at night.
• As things stand, there is no net benefit to the village from EWR.  This imbalance between benefits and disadvantages has led GSPC to oppose Option E (the current route alignment) and support a new review and full public consultation of the northern route.
• Detailed route alignment options being considered by EWR outside Great Shelford, but which will influence us, are a cause for concern including road closures in Little Shelford and Harston.
• At present, the business case for EWR is uncertain and the Benefit-Cost Ratio may not meet Treasury rules for such a project.