Residents and motoring groups have slammed the green city council in Cambridge for approving a new railway station with 1,000 cycle spaces - but NO car park.
Cambridge South station, on Francis Crick Avenue, at the city's Biomedical Campus, is set to be sustainable with solar panels and wildflowers on the roof.
Network Rail say the station, which is expected to open in early 2026, is next to a 'guided busway' service and connects with local cycleways and footpaths.
But locals have criticised the lack of car parking - which stands in contrast to the Cambridge mainline station, which has 400 spaces.
Resident Jenny Atkins said: 'It's ridiculous, there is no parking in that area, so drivers will try to park in the nearby streets which will cause chaos.
'I understand the need to encourage people to use public transport but to have no car park option is crazy.'
The site is next to a nature reserve and city councillors hope the no parking option will encourage residents to cycle, walk or take the bus.
Olaf Hauk, a Liberal Democrat city councillor in Trumpington, said: 'I think it is as ecologically beneficial as it can be, but I think the biggest advantage, of course, is that it will get people off the road.'
A computer generated view of the new Cambridge South station, on Francis Crick Avenue, at the city's Biomedical Campus
The new Cambridge Railway will have no car park but room for a 1,000 bikes, as well as solar panels and wildflowers on the roof
Local residents have criticised the lack of car parking - which stands in contrast to the Cambridge mainline station, which has 400 spaces
Stephen Deaville, senior communications manager for Network Rail Anglia, said: 'We really wanted to make Cambridge South station a sustainable transport option for passengers.'
He said the station would 'open up railway' for Trumpington residents, as well as visitors and workers at the Biomedical Campus.
The railway system will connect with Stansted Airport, London, the Eurostar and Birmingham.
As well as pushback from the local community, the decision to omit car parking has also gone down badly with motoring groups.
Hugh Bladon, of the Alliance of British Drivers, said: 'Frankly I can't understand why they should do that. Why should people only use public transport?
'If you want people to use the trains, then you should make it as easy as possible to get to the station. People unable to cycle or not near a bus should be allowed to use their car.
'The more people who use the train, the better, but make it easy for people to use it, including people who are driving from outside the city.'
The proposals have also come under fire from local cycling groups such as Cambridge Cycling Campaign.
A computer-rendered portrait of the exterior of the new station, which has come under fire from both motoring and cyclist groups
In a statement they said: 'Overall, the proposals for the new station are inadequate for the expected volume of people who will use it and do not allow for expansion.
'The cycle access to and through the station area is insufficient and 1,000 cycle parking spaces are unlikely to be enough. The layout of bus stops, entry hall and platforms will make walking distances unnecessarily long.
'The narrow staircases will become congested at peak times. It is unclear whether the vexing issue of cycle parking security has been considered from the start.
'It is disappointing that, yet again, lessons have not been learned from the problems with Cambridge and Cambridge North stations.'
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