Punt Wars

October 2007

Cambridge Labour Councillors have welcomed the announcement that the Lib Dem city council plans to end the regular summer encampment of independent punt operators on Jesus Green, a move that Labour asked for last summer as part of its package of proposals to end the city's annual and damaging summer ‘punt wars’, and end aggressive punt touting.

Labour Councillors have welcomed signs that the City Council is finally willing to restore the reputation of the city’s greatest attraction - a punt trip on the Cam on a sunny day after years of ever-increasing problems and inaction by the city council, and have called for a city council commitment that 2008 will be trouble-free.

This follows repeated claims by the Lib Dem city council that they have cracked the punt tout problem

- that it would be solved by the Lib Dems touting bylaw - failed

- then, last summer that ‘aggressive touting ASBOs’ would sort it - also failed.

Cllr Miriam Lynn, Labour’s Arts and Recreation Spokes said ‘We want a commitment from Lib Dem Councillors that they will sort out punt touting BEFORE next summer, with a full package of measures. We also want them to appoint a Councillor to lead on this issue, instead of ducking and diving while major damage is being caused to the city's number one tourist attraction, and to the city’s reputation and sanity.’

Cllr Lewis Herbert, Leader of the City Council Labour Group added ‘Along with harassed local residents and visitors, we want an end to punt touting across the city, except on the river frontage itself. We don’t want this city action simply to result in people being harassed elsewhere around the city and river area next year.’