Author: Milton Parish Council

The Parish Council have been asked to share the following note:-

The more organised among us might have started doing, or planning, our Christmas shopping. With that in mind, one of the big gift requests this festive season is likely to be an electric scooter, or e-scooter.

We are aware that e-scooter use causes concern to residents across the District, and the South Cambs Community Safety Partnership wanted to provide you with some helpful information about e-scooter use.

We also need to highlight to you Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service’s current Take Charge & Be Safe campaign: https://www.cambsfire.gov.uk/community-safety/take-charge-and-be-safe/. This features advice on how to charge, and buy replacements for e-scooter and e-bike batteries as safely as possible and is an important resource.

It’s currently against the law to ride an e-scooter on a public road or pavement. The only exception to this is in zones where trials are taking place, such as some areas within the city of Cambridge. In these areas, hired scooters can be used on the road and on cycle paths.

E-scooters can never be used on the pavement, and e-scooters you may purchase can never be used:

• On a public road without complying with several legal requirements, which users will find very difficult
• In spaces that are set aside for use by pedestrians, cyclists, and horse-riders; this includes on the pavement and in cycle lanes

You can buy e-scooters from many popular retailers, and your children may report to you that all their friends already have one. However, the law is clear – the only place an e-scooter can be used is on private land. So, right now, you can buy one, but you can’t ride it on a UK public road, cycle lane or pavement.

If you are stopped by police while using an e-scooter illegally, they will advise you of the current law about how to use one legally and ask you to take your e-scooter home. They may however still penalise you depending on the nature and gravity of the offence.

This is all because e-scooters are classed as a motor vehicle in the same way that motorbikes and cars are. This means they are subject to the same legal requirements, such as MOT, licensing, tax, and insurance. As e-scooters do not have numberplates, indicators, and do not always have visible rear lights, they cannot be used legally on the roads. Further details can be found on the following Government website at www.gov.uk/government/publications/powered-transporters/information-sheet-guidance-on-powered-transporters

Cambridgeshire Police say: “We understand the public’s support for environmentally friendly modes of transport. We want to work with the public to make sure the roads are safe for everyone. The UK Government is currently taking part in “Future Transport Zone” trials for e-scooter hire, with a view to making them legal to use on the roads. You can find details of the trails closest to you, at www.gov.uk/guidance/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-users”

If you have a question, contact Project Officer – Community Safety Partnership, Beth Watson, on Beth.Watson@scambs.gov.uk

Since September 2024, Milton Parish Council has been undertaking a continuous traffic survey along the High Street close to the shops to understand better the number of users there are on the exisiting road and pathways.

The data below was taken over a typical week from 14^th October to 20^th October. From a total of 40,586 movements during this period the split shows 80.86% were motorised vehicles, 11.69% were pedestrians and 7.44% cyclists.

These figures will be used by MPC when discussing with other groups, their plans to change or alter routes through Milton. The next set of data to be produced in the coming weeks will be along Landbeach Road.

In November 2023, Milton Parish Council held a public meeting to inform residents what the Greater Cambridge Partnership plans for the Waterbeach Greenway meant for the roads, cycleways, and footpaths through Milton. Throughout the process, Milton Parish Council has been closely following the plans of the GCP and trying to represent the views of the residents wherever possible.

The GCP held a consultation event in Milton and asked people to complete a consultation questionnaire which closed in December 2023. MPC encouraged people in the village to complete the questionnaire, if they could, since the outcome would have a significant effect within the village. After a delay, GCP have now released the outcome of the consultation, and which can be seen on their website. However, as a summary, these are the key points of interest to residents of Milton.

The overall response to the consultation showed 187 respondents were against the scheme and 173 respondents in favour of the scheme. More generally, respondents were unsupportive of the proposal to use a shared use by-directional path for pedestrians and cyclists throughout the village.

Specifically, for the section between Coles Road and Fen Road there was a request from a local group who wanted the scheme to be more ambitious by restricting motorised traffic through the High Street. This is something previously rejected by Milton Parish Council and many residents in the village, and which will continue to be resisted.

There was also objection to the removal of on-street parking outside the shops. This is a concern to many since lack of parking would affect the viability of the businesses and the continued convenience of having High Street shopping.

Concern was also raised about having a shared used path and space for equestrian users, cyclists, and pedestrians along this very narrow corridor through Milton and hence needs reconsideration.

The alternative routing through Coles Road was not well supported since it was felt the route would not be used, as it was a deviation from the more direct High Street route.

The GCP have concluded that since there were mixed levels of support for some sections of the Greenway proposals, it is necessary to revisit the design for some areas. It has therefore been suggested that alternative designs, including, the shared use path proposals and removal of on-street parking through the High Street section, are examined again. A key challenge that needs to be resolved is highway land constraints in the village, which prevents full segregation for walking and cycling and that an on-carriageway solution for cyclists through Milton may need to be explored. Furthermore, work to determine how to reduce motorised traffic levels and speed needs to be considered.

Milton Parish Council is collaborating with local councillors and other groups to develop some alternative ideas which at the appropriate time will be shared with the village and the GCP.

You may have seen that The Rowans Play Area is close to completion with the surface having been installed last week.

Unfortunately there is evidence that some people are visiting the unfinished park as damage has been done to the new climbing net. We would like to point out that this is still a building site and as such prohibits unauthorised entry as clearly shown on the warning signs attached to the security fencing. We would appreciate it if people stay away from park until it is opened.

Once the net has been repaired by the manufacturer we can schedule the required safety check of the area. Just as soon as we are allowed and the equipment is fit to play on, the security fencing will be removed. We hope to formally open the new play area later in July.

The Milton Parish Council project to renovate the village sign has now been completed.

This work was undertaken as yet another arts based project commissioned by Milton Parish Council using developer funding and at no cost to residents.

Milton Parish Council are pleased to announce that after a successful consultation, where several residents and their children made comments on the proposed design for The Rowans play area refurbishment, a decision has now been reached. The inclusive EIBE design, which is aimed for the under 10’s, received the most positive comments and this has now been approved by the Parish Council.

The contract with EIBE has now been placed. Since the equipment is built to order we anticipate installation in April or May. We will keep people informed on the progress and of course will announce the opening date in due course.