Your Voice, Your Vote: Transport, pay and services
George Byrne wants to see if the candidates vying for his vote understand the issues that matter to the new Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency
- Published
A lack of public transport, low rural wages and the impact on local services caused by an ever-growing Cambridge.
These are the issues that matter to retired businessman George Byrne, who lives in a rural area near Ely that used to be part of the North East Cambridgeshire constituency.
Now living in the new Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency, he got in touch with the BBC via Your Voice, Your Vote.
"Do the candidates understand the area, its issues and what specifically will they do to tackle these?" he asked.
Mr Byrne, 59, moved to East Cambridgeshire about three years ago with his wife and two adult sons.
"We have four people and three cars and sometimes we're still a bit short because we can't go anywhere unless we've got a car," he said.
"It feels stupid to have so many cars - but living between two villages, it's a mile walk along a 60mph road without a pavement to get to the nearest bus stop."
Six ElyZipper buses run a day between his nearest village and Ely.
However, operator Stagecoach reduced its number 9 route, between Littleport and Cambridge, from 10 services to three a day in April, so A2B filled some of the gaps in service, subsidised by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
Mr Byrne is also aware that the rural economy "does not always have the best paid jobs - and that is a challenge with recruiting".
Meanwhile, Cambridge is "15 miles away according to the sat nav".
Mr Byrne said: "There's a lot of development in Cambridge and plans for many thousands more homes.
"That brings businesses and industry to the city - but it doesn't take into account the overspill on places like Ely.
"More and more people are living here and no one is considering the impact on the services in our areas."
In alphabetical order by surname, here is what the candidates from the main parties standing in Ely and East Cambridgeshire said.
Charlotte Cane, Liberal Democrats
Charlotte Cane supports the Combined Authority's investigation into possibly franchising local bus services
"Poor public transport is a huge issue for our area", says Charlotte Cane, the Liberal Democrat candidate, who added she campaigned for better buses.
While Littleport, Ely and Waterbeach have good rail links, "most other areas must rely on buses or taxis".
She supports the Combined Authority's investigation into possibly franchising local bus services "restoring democratic control over routes, timetables, and fares".
Ms Cane also highlighted the "significant" wage disparity in the constituency, with "many lower paid employees effectively priced out of the area... also adding to journey times".
"Too many young people’s horizons are narrowed not by their interest or ability, but by the availability of transport to reach the college that offers their desired course," she said.
"We need to support local businesses and revive our struggling high streets."
Ms Cane also said the huge growth proposed in and around Cambridge was "a challenge in terms of water, transport and many other ways".
"Elected representatives should oversee development in our area in partnership with local communities, and be accountable for it," she said.
She added more homes needed to be built "including 150,000 more units of social housing per year, to reduce the costs of housing and bring homes within reach of those priced out of the market".
Andy Cogan, Green Party
Andy Cogan believes decision-making for all building development should be devolved
Green candidate Andy Cogan said: "We need to properly fund local government to rebuild our public realm, including council housing that is affordable, decent and lifelong if need be, and develop our energy, water, sewage, road, rail, bike and path infrastructure and make it once again something to be proud of," he said.
He is also calling for "Scandinavian levels of tax on the wealthiest individuals and corporations in Britain to reduce the widening inequalities between rich and poor" and wants utilities renationalised.
Mr Cogan said: "We need to invest in our adult, continuing and lifelong learning, so our current and future generations can, via low cost training, turn hobbies and interests into employment, crafts and skills that meet our future needs in the high-tech, AI driven world."
He believes the solution to the impact of a growing Cambridge on the constituency is to devolve decision-making powers on all building development "to local communities, parishes, towns and districts, so that long term local needs come first".
Ryan Coogan, Reform UK
Ryan Coogan says public transport budgets have been stretched too far
"I am aware that public transport budgets have been stretched to the point of breaking point. Certainly there is room for reform in this area," said Reform UK candidate Ryan Coogan.
He pointed to "well used" train services, while bus services are not "frequent or lavish in their routes".
He believes technology could be the solution "matching demand to the actual supply and using AI technology to simplify these algorithms".
"This will create a far better more efficiently managed and run service more advanced for the future, he said, adding this could save money which could be reinvested in more services.
Mr Coogan said Reform plans to reduce fuel duty to 20p and increase the income tax threshold to £20,000, meaning service users would be "be better off by some £4,500 per annum".
This would "support those on low wages", pull about seven million low-earners out of income tax and ease the cost of living crisis, he said.
The party plans to purchase 50% shares in our utility providers and "ensure the profits are reinvested in the infrastructure our country so badly needs".
"I would also like to see a cohesive bike road system that is not integrated with the danger of the road network," he said.
"This would revolutionise travel in the region."
Lucy Frazer, Conservative
Lucy Frazer said she will work "to ensure we get better healthcare, better transport provision on our roads and rail and a successful local economy"
Good transport networks are "crucial" for the rural constituency, said Conservative candidate Lucy Frazer.
"That’s why I have worked to improve our roads by helping to deliver the Ely Southern Bypass, helping to build the new station in Soham and securing £2m from the government to start to make progress on upgrades to the A10," she said, adding she wants the whole road dualled, with an accompanying cycle path.
She said the bus network was "critical" and she had campaigned to prevent bus route closures.
"I believe that we should empower people, young and old, to get the right skills so that they can get the right job for them," said Ms Frazer.
She said this was why she had campaigned for improved school funding, bringing more government money to local schools and she had also "worked to ensure we have good apprenticeship provision".
When it came to local services, she opposed the proposed closure of the Princess of Wales Hospital in Ely, and said she had helped secure funding for a community diagnostic centre, meaning people can be scanned locally.
"I have also supported the new cancer and children’s hospitals at Addenbrooke’s [and] local GPs surgeries in Ely, Soham and Sutton," she said.
"It is vital that our area gets the services it deserves, in particular our healthcare and dealing with crime."
Elizabeth McWilliams, Labour
Elizabeth McWilliams believes "ending fire and rehire" would help "make work pay" in the rural constituency
"Labour's plan for better buses is about giving local leaders the power and freedom to adopt the model that is right for their areas," said the party's candidate Elizabeth McWilliams.
No local transport authority will be forced to move to bus franchising, but "evidence from Manchester and London suggests that over time [it helps] deliver savings to local authorities by driving up passenger numbers".
The Labour mayor for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough had provided "a £1 fare for young people", she said
A full-time job should mean earning enough to afford a reasonable standard of living "but this is often not the case in our rural areas, especially with low pay and seasonal work".
She said "delivering a genuine living wage, banning exploitative zero hour contracts, and ending fire and rehire" would help "make work pay".
Ms McWilliams said Cambridge is "too expensive for many, which is driving up housing costs across the whole county".
"We need to ensure people can have the dream of home ownership, while strengthening protections for renters," she added.
The NHS's "record waiting lists" should be tackled, she said.
She added the county had seen a 70% rise in the number of children eligible for free school meals in the past four years.
"Labour has pledged to introduce breakfast clubs at every primary school, so our children are ready to learn," she said.
Also standing are Robert Bayley, Social Democratic Party, Hoo-Ray Henry, Monster Raving Loony Party, Obi Monye, Independent and Rob Rawlins, Independent.
A full list of candidates can be found here.
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