Leading Labour councillors in Abbey Ward have called for Grosvenor to rethink its strategy to cope with the additional traffic demands from their plans to redevelop the Cambridge United football stadium in Newmarket Road.

Councillor Richard Johnson, who is the City’s Executive Councillor for Communities and an Abbey City Councillor since 2012, said: “We want Grosvenor’s ambitious new Abbey Stadium plans for the football club to succeed, but it’s clear that their transport statement falls short of what is needed for this. On match days the average attendance is now over 5,000, and the proposals aim to increase this even more, but the the planning application uses a supporter survey and attendance data from over 5 years ago when average attendance was less than half that. On match days, hundreds of cars already park in nearby streets, so it is vital that this issue is fully considered in the proposals for the site especially as Grosvenor are suggesting reducing the car park capacity at the stadium by half.”

Councillor Johnson added: “If the stadium and club are to expand further we must be confident that there is a robust transport assessment and travel plan to cope not only with match day traffic but also with the planned student and residential accommodation for the site. We would like to see an in-depth look at what is needed to increase the capacity of the Park and Ride service to the site as well as better provision for cyclists at the stadium. “

Councillor Joan Whitehead, the County Councillor for Abbey, said “Stagecoach have indicated their willingness to run ‘special’ bus services for supporters, so the club and Grosvenor therefore need to indicate what provision they are going to make to allow extra buses pick up and drop off supporters at the football ground. I am also concerned that car parking spaces are to be reduced as part of the plans.”