Innovative solutions needed to fix ‘significantly’ damaged Fen roads

Innovative solutions are needed to replace and fix “significantly” damaged Fen roads. Councillors shared their support for looking at new ways to tackle the “massive issue” being faced. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has said it is planning to look at the economic impact of damage on roads built over peat soil deposits.

The authority said it has been working with various councils in the area to look at the impacts of climate change on the Fenland soils and how this is causing problems for the roads in the area. A trial is also being planned to test “innovative solutions” to address the continuing maintenance and safety problems being faced on the peat soil affected roads. Three roads have been picked to be considered for the trial, including Prickwillow Road in Isleham, Holme Road in Ramsey St Mary, and Herne Road in Ramsey St Mary.

The trial is proposed to be managed by Cambridgeshire County Council, once a funding agreement has been reached. Officers at the Combined Authority also said they were hoping to be able to gather information to show the Department for Transport the economic impact of the damaged Fenland roads in the hope of getting more support to address the issues.

Read more: Call for Mayor funding to be used to keep £2 bus fares after government announces increase

Read more: Project to reopen Wisbech railway could cost £230million

Councillor Anna Smith, Deputy Mayor and representative from Cambridge City Council, said the project was “incredibly important work”. She said: “We are not talking here about a couple little cracks and bumps, these are significantly affected roads and it is incredibly important that this work is being done.”

Councillor Neil Shailer, from the county council, said it was not about “patching” up the damaged roads, but about replacing them. He added that he hoped there would be help from others on new technology that could address the issues being faced in the Fenland area. Officers said it was not just new technology being looked at, but explained they were also looking at whether existing technologies could be used in a different way.

Councillor Chris Seaton, from Fenland District Council, said one of the biggest problems being faced on the peat soil affected roads was lorries using them when main routes are closed. He said lorries were being diverted onto roads that were not made for them and said more roads should have access restrictions for certain types of vehicles.

Councillor Alan Sharp, from East Cambridgeshire District Council, said he had been pushing for this work for the last two years and was “frustrated” at the county council. He said the damage being caused on the peat soil affected roads was a “massive issue” that was impacting a lot of people.

The Mayor for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson, said the problems with the Fenland roads had been there for years. He said there had been “lots of underinvestment over many years” at both a local and national level. The Mayor added that the plans being looked at by the Combined Authority represented “meaningful investment in the Fens” in order to “make the difference for people”.