Significance

The 'West Fields' of Cambridge occupy a large open area of farmland between the back of Grange Road houses and the M11, stretching down to Gough Way and Barton Road on the South side. These fields are critical for the Green Belt, and integral to the unique setting of historic Cambridge as a ‘compact city' with 'green corridors' from the countryside into the heart of the city.

Fields such as Coe Fen and the West Fields, still used by cows or for growing crops, are an essential part of Cambridge's rural character, and link the University of Cambridge with its medieval past. Historically the West Fields were once part of Grantchester Parish and form part of the same special landscape as Grantchester Meadows. Any urbanisation of them directly impacts the experience of Grantchester and the River.

Bringing countryside to within one kilometre of King's College Chapel, the West Fields are 'Cambridge's most neglected monument' (CP Hall, in The West Fields of Cambridge). 

Threat

-- The landowners (mainly Colleges) are arguing for large-scale development over the fields as a site that could accommodate thousands of new houses, which goes against protections provided in the Local Plan; 

-- A two-way bus road cutting right through the heart of the West Fields, devastating this precious landscape and making housing development much easier, is an option ('option 1C') shortly to be considered in a public consultation; 

-- The proposed massive densification of the adjoining 165-acre, University-owned West Cambridge Site, another huge science park similar in scale to that of the new 140-acre Cambridge Biomedical Campus on the city’s Southern approaches, may also damage views of the West Fields.

 

How you can help

We want the County Council and the City Deal Executive to look at wider issues of transport, congestion and private-car use, and come up with more imaginative and forward-looking proposals that will support the Local Plan (which was signed off after a three-year process of democratic consultation across the city), and not to cut a damaging bus road, or allow any building at all, over the West Fields. We accept that ensuring a sustainable transport solution is fundamental for the city to deliver the Local Plan's proposed growth, and therefore it is vital that a bus route from Cambourne be established as part of this. However, option 1C (the route across the West Fields) should not be considered when other less damaging routes are available.  

Please join us by signing the petition to preserve the West Fields as they are, free from the urbanisation of roads and housing. With your help, we may be able to influence the decision and save the historic fields for future generations.

Note: This electronic petition is the same petition as the substantial Save the West Fields paper petition, which we are circulating in West Cambridge, Grantchester, Coton and generally in the QTSQ. Any signatures submitted electronically will be merged with the paper petition which is already underway to produce an overall number. To avoid duplication, therefore, if you have already signed the paper petition, then please do not sign this petition.

 

Thank you.