Relocation of Stagecoach bus depot in Peterborough stalls due to coronavirus as new metro investigated

A progress update on recommendations to improve air quality in Peterborough has revealed that discussions to move the depot from Lincoln Road to another site has stopped for the time being.

In April 2019, the Peterborough Telegraph revealed that the council was negotiating with Stagecoach to buy the land where its Millfield depot is located, with the bus company seeking a new base elsewhere in the city where traffic is less of an issue.

However, a report submitted to councillors states: “Early discussions have taken place with the council, the CPCA (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority) and Stagecoach to discuss the requirements for a new site and potential locations.

“However, these discussions have stalled recently due to the impacts of the pandemic. Officers will continue to progress this item of work in due course.”

Relocating the depot was one of nine recommendations made by a cross-party working group to improve air quality in Peterborough.

The group was set up by council leader Cllr John Holdich, with its recommendations endorsed by the Conservative Cabinet.

Moving the Stagecoach depot was part of a wider package of changes relating to public transport which included reducing bus emissions and encouraging young people to use public transport.

However, the report notes: “All aspects of this recommendation have been significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

While work is ongoing, it adds: “The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and government messages to avoid using public transport have severely reduced ridership.”

The coronavirus crisis has also halted efforts to identify the feasibility of introducing a workplace parking levy.

Moreover, a further recommendation from the working group was to develop a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) proposal for the city.

The combined authority has been investigating whether its new metro in the south of the county can be extended all the way to Peterborough.

The progress report states: “A council have commissioned and completed a Mass Rapid Transit study, funded by the CPCA.

“The CPCA are now in the process of identifying if and how elements of this study can be taken forward in line with the work they are undertaking on bus reform and the Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro. This meeting is due to take place in late September.”

Further updates include a study into long term demand for car parking provision in the city being commissioned which will explore issues (including the need for electric vehicle charging points) which is expected to conclude in October.

However, the report states that no new schemes have been identified to “install or maximise the benefits of green infrastructure to provide barriers between people and emissions” or to introduce “further pedestrianisation in all future public realm works,” although both recommendations will continue to be brought up at future meetings.

Peterborough currently holds the aspiration to be the Environment Capital of the UK and last year declared a climate emergency which saw the council pledge to achieve 100 per cent clean energy across its buildings and services by 2030.

Matthew Barber, head of partnerships (Midlands and East) at sustainable transport charity Sustrans, said: “Our position at Sustrans is very clear - we need to act now to reduce the number of polluting motor vehicles on our roads, and make it easier for people to walk and cycle. If we improve air quality we improve quality of life for everyone.

“In terms of Peterborough’s air quality proposals I think they’re really interesting. Just to hear the city council acknowledging that they need to reduced single car occupancy rates, and that they’re looking into reducing the availability of car parking, and they’re investigating whether the introduction of a workplace parking levy could work, is a positive step, but actions will always speaker louder than words.

“One word is regularly used when it comes to trying to get more people walking and cycling and it’s ‘encourage’; however, I think we need to change that to ‘enable’.

“And the only way to enable more walking and cycling is by ensuring there is safe, continuous, coherent and well-maintained infrastructure. The city council has developed a positive and ambitious Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, and now is the time to accelerate the delivery of it.

“We know that 56 per cent of car trips are less than five miles and that approximately 78 per cent of people who work in Peterborough also live in Peterborough; so there are clearly a lot of people regularly driving short distances. How we enable them to change their behaviour is what is important.

“In the UK’s largest attitudinal study of perceptions of cycling, Bike Life found that there is strong public support for walking and cycling infrastructure, and restricting vehicles.

“But actions speak louder than words, and whilst much of the above should be ‘when’ not ‘if’, especially considering the recently declared climate emergency by the city council, for changes to occur we will need strong, resolute, committed political leadership to create cleaner, healthier and greener communities in Peterborough.”