Cambridge trader uses horse and cart to avoid Mill Road fine

A trader has taken to using a horse and cart to avoid a longer journey and a fine after restrictions were introduced to a bridge.

John Ball, who runs a carpet shop in Cambridge, said a two-minute journey across the Mill Road bridge had become a longer 90-minute trip in the car after most vehicles were banned from using the crossing.

“The council is forcing us to revert back to the old ways from the 18th Century,” he said.

Cambridgeshire County Council said it wanted the area to be “a more enjoyable, safer place to visit” and the travel restrictions via the bus gate would help achieve this.

“I can’t take a delivery on a cycle, I will use my horse and cart to go over there because they can’t fine my horse and cart,” said Mr Ball.

“We’ve got to get our deliveries over the bridge and this is the only feasible way.”

As a member of the Friends of the Mill Road Bridge 2 campaign group, Mr Ball was at the High Court last week challenging the council’s traffic restriction order on the bridge, which started in March.

Buses, emergency services, taxis and blue badge holders’ are among those who can still use the bridge.

“We need a solution. It’s just devastating for businesses, on either side of the bridge,” Mr Ball said.

“The solution is to open the bridge to all traffic, make the cyclists use the designated cycle bridge which is 100 meters down the track. Or make the cyclists dismount and walk over the bridge.”

Alex Beckett, chairman of the highways and transport committee at Cambridgeshire County Council previously said: “Mill Road is the centre of a community. We want it to be a more enjoyable, safer place to visit and to encourage more people to come into the area.

“Reducing motorised through traffic and installing the bus gate will help achieve this.

“What’s important is that we now move forward with developing plans for public realm improvements supporting local businesses and allowing Mill Road to thrive.”

Since introducing the bus gate the council has issued on average 100 fines a day to drivers illegally using the bridge.

The High Court is expected to come back with its decision on the bridge appeal in a few weeks’ time.